In a few hours, the House leadership will finally introduce a rescission package on health care which will reduce our deficit over the next two decades to lower numbers than would either the House-passed or Senate-passed health bills. As a Blue Dog, I commend this. But I stand here this morning specifically to say that information just released by the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve, shows a very favorable impact on my district from the bill, which I intend to support. I have received thousands of calls and emails from constituents. I will post this information on my Web site immediately after speaking this morning. But in a nutshell, the bill improves coverage for 427,000 of my constituents who already have health care. It gives tax credits and other assistance to up to 137,000 families and 15,100 small businesses. It improves Medicare coverage for 81,000 constituents by helping to close the doughnut hole. It extends coverage to 67,500 uninsured, guarantees coverage for people with preexisting conditions, and permits kids under 26 to stay on their parents' policies. I ask my colleagues to support the bill.
Editor's note · Context
The speaker discusses the positive impact of a health care bill on their district and urges support for it.
Share
More from Jane Harman
I suppose, in an ironic way, Richard would smile at the enormous impact he had on friend and foe alike. He was a life force, a force of nature--someone always operating on multiple levels, in high gear, and in more than three dimensions…
I am very disappointed about the way it was handled. I personally think the gentleman from Michigan is correct, and I applaud what he is doing. As we debate this bill, we must thank again the thousands of patriotic and courageous women and…
Today's health care repeal debate reminds me of tennis great John McEnroe's famous rant, ``You can't be serious.'' Everyone knows this vote is symbolic, putting off for another day the hard work of revising portions of this historic law…
Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Stenholm and Wise balanced budget amendments. It has become a cliche to say that there is no easy way to arrest our deficit problem. We've learned that reducing our borrowing levels is about making…





