Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman from Maine for yielding the time. I also want to salute the chairwoman of the Rules Committee, Ms. Slaughter, who has been a champion for American families when it comes to standing up for their needs, especially in health care. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4626, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, and the underlying rule. It is time for policymakers in Washington to determine whose side are they on; are they on the side of the health insurance companies or are they on the side of American families and small businesses? I urge my colleagues to stand up for hardworking families across America and pass this Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act today because the state of the current law is unfair. Health insurance companies currently enjoy an exemption from antitrust laws with no good justification. Meanwhile, American families are held hostage to rising health care costs and a nagging insecurity that even though they pay their premiums and they pay their copays, they could be canceled at any time, even when they get sick, or they're going to have to fight through the red tape to get the benefits they're entitled to. Last year, the five largest health insurance companies made a record $12.2 billion profit, a 56 percent jump, while dropping coverage for 2.7 million Americans. Health insurers appear to be cherry-picking who they will cover in order to make a huge profit.…”