It's been a frustrating week for us. The tax credit to businesses for health care is our number one issue. We definitely supported [the House bill] as originally written. As soon as they introduced the minimum wage we stopped supporting it. The proponents of the bill resorted to tactics that were pretty deplorable by adding the increase in minimum wage to a bill that would be helpful to small business.

President Bush recognizes the challenges faced by those who lack health insurance and remains committed to ensuring that every American looking for a job is able to find one and to expanding access to affordable health care for all Americans,

We applaud President Bush and his commitment to greater consumer health care empowerment. The evidence is mounting to show that informed consumers who control their own health care spending are also more likely to make better personal health care choices.

Rural Australia is now remote in terms of health services but our funding has not reflected that.

Our costliest health care problems -- in both economic and human measures -- are related to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. We know that many of the lifestyle choices we make every day can prevent or delay the onset of these diseases. Employers are learning that the more they help employees determine their health risks and the more opportunities they provide employees to make better choices, the greater the rewards -- a healthier, more productive workplace.

It works for paint, it works for squad cars, it works for insurance. Why not health care?