Eleanor Holmes Norton: “For the tax-paying residents of the District of Columbia, I rise in strong support of the health care reform bill before…”

“For the tax-paying residents of the District of Columbia, I rise in strong support of the health care reform bill before us today. Mr. Speaker, if I could cast a vote on behalf of the residents of the District of Columbia, on final passage of the health care bill before us today, I would cast a critical ``aye.'' Unfortunately, however, the D.C. Voting Rights Act, like most bills this year, is in line behind health care reform. Fortunately for me, however, the most important point of contribution to a bill is usually not when the work is done, and all that needs to be done is to register your vote for the majority. The most critical point in this legislation was when it was being crafted. I believe that the many hours I have put into the health care bill to ensure that it served D.C. residents have been more than worth it. For example, beyond the many benefits for all Americans in the bill, D.C. will be relieved of the $50 million it has generously used to fund its D.C. Health Alliance for people who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford health insurance, a cost seldom picked up by other states.”