ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 33

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman CRECCO and Assemblyman FELICE

A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the United States Congress to include its members and employees in any national health care legislation it passes in 1994 or thereafter.

Whereas, The issue of health care reform has received much discussion in the government policy-making arena, as well as in the national media; and

Whereas, President Bill Clinton has developed a comprehensive legislative proposal, the American Health Security Act, that he is seeking to get the United States Congress to enact which would implement a national health care system; and

Whereas, It is imminent that some form of comprehensive health care legislation will be enacted by Congress in 1994 or thereafter, even if it is not President Clinton's American Health Security Act; and

Whereas, Any such comprehensive legislation will have substantial economic impact on Americans at all levels, especially on small, private businesses; and

Whereas, Such legislation also will likely place significant regulatory and administrative responsibilities and burdens on State and local governmental bodies and agencies; and

Whereas, The United States Congress has a history of exempting its members and employees from comprehensive legislation that has substantial impact on the rest of the nation; and

Whereas, The members and employees of either one or both houses of the United States Congress are exempted in whole or in part from the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, in addition to other enactments; and

Whereas, It does not seem fair, nor does it make sound government policy, for Congress to continuously exempt its members and employees from legislative initiatives that have such substantial impact on the rest of the nation; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

    1. The Legislature of this State respectfully memorializes the United States Congress to include its members and employees in whatever national health care legislation it passes in 1994 or thereafter.

    2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution memorializes Congress to include its members and employees in whatever national health care legislation it passes in 1994 or thereafter.

Memorializes Congress to include its members and employees in whatever national health care legislation it passes in 1994 or thereafter.