Alcee Hastings: “when I hear my good friend from Texas speak of regular order on this particular measure, it would presume, among other…”

“when I hear my good friend from Texas speak of regular order on this particular measure, it would presume, among other things, I guess, that no one in this body knows that there is a significant number of children who are uninsured and that this measure, once offered in 1997, did begin the process that today we wish to continue and that still does not complete the task that most of us feel is necessary in order to insure all of the children in this country. Madam Speaker, this is a good rule for a critically important bill. Although this bill cannot repair all of the flaws that are intrinsic in America's health care system, it undoubtedly serves as a strong and honorable prelude to facilitating comprehensive health care reform. Mahatma Gandhi, among many things, said that you can learn about a country's condition by looking at its most weak and vulnerable people. The alarming rate of uninsured and poverty-stricken children in this country tells us that the richest country on Earth is in poor condition. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this rule so that we may support a bill that will give millions of children the basic right to health so that they can become leaders and productive citizens.”