On the recordJanuary 19, 2011
While America desperately wants more and better jobs, Washington Republicans want to waste time today debating a health care repeal charade. But let's look at what health care reform repeal would actually do. In my congressional district alone, repealing this law would allow insurance companies to deny coverage for up to 360,000 individuals with preexisting conditions, including up to 45,000 children. Let's mend this act, don't end it. A repeal would eliminate health care tax credits for up to 19,000 small businesses and 164,000 families. Mend it, don't end it. A repeal would eliminate new health care coverage options for 3,100 uninsured young adults. It is time to mend it and not to end it. In 50 years, Mr. Speaker, health care reform will stand beside Social Security, the GI bill, and Medicare as a pillar of American health care and humane values. The people of that time will not understand why it was hard to pass in the first place or why we are spending time today rehashing old business. It's time to fix health care reform's remaining deficits and to mend it, not to end it.
