"They are desperate. Our entrepreneurs, whose ingenuity and hard work ethic have driven the American economy, have run out of options to battle this health-care crisis. They need our help. And today, we bring forward a great option -- Association Health Plans -- to help control these outrageous costs and continue offering vital health insurance to their employees and their families."

Chairman, House Small Business Committee, speaking at The Association Health Plans Coalition Press Conference, Feb. 11, 2003