William Bryan: “today is remarkable. At long last--on the floor of the Senate--we are considering health care reform legislation that…”

“today is remarkable. At long last--on the floor of the Senate--we are considering health care reform legislation that the American people both want and support. And at long last, it is legislation with significant bipartisan support. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. It will provide health care insurance protection for thousands of Nevadans, and millions of Americans. This incremental bill is our best opportunity to get working Americans the health care access they deserve. We have been close to this point before. It seems like ancient history when I think back to cosponsoring former Senator Lloyd Bentsen's small business insurance health care reform. It too had incremental insurance coverage improvements that many in this body supported--yet once again, the final hurdle could not be overcome. Many times--and over many years--Nevadans have shared with me their heart breaking stories. Families whose children have medical conditions that prevent the family from being able to purchase health insurance, because no insurer will take a child with a preexisting condition. Working individuals who develop chronic health conditions, and cannot leave their current employment for fear of not being able to get health insurance in their new job. Health insurance is often denied for the very illnesses most likely to require medical care.”