Xavier Becerra: “Madam Speaker, let's remember why we're here. Less than 2 weeks before Christmas, and we're talking about whether or not…”

“Madam Speaker, let's remember why we're here. Less than 2 weeks before Christmas, and we're talking about whether or not 10 million children, the children of hardworking American families, when we know that the cost of health care has increased, we're talking about whether or not 10 million children, 2 weeks before Christmas, will have access to health care. Madam Speaker, the bill we're attempting to override is a responsible bill. It does not increase the deficit in providing health care access to our children. It is completely paid for. Madam Speaker, this bill speaks for itself. Regardless of what's been said by either side, read the bill, it speaks for itself. This is about children's health care. And it's only for children who are citizens, who are legally in this country. And it is for modest-income Americans who are in this country. Madam Speaker, let some numbers speak for themselves: 43, 100, 10 million. Forty-three, that is the number of our Republican colleagues who voted on a bipartisan basis to override President Bush's veto of this children's health care bill. One hundred, we have been in the process of talking to our Republican colleagues and trying to resolve our differences for over 100 days, as the gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) herself stated. Ten million, that's the price. Ten million children in this country who will not have access to health care if we don't do anything.”