Frank Lautenberg: “I thank Senator Baucus for his leadership on this health care reform effort that is underway. This is the most…”

“I thank Senator Baucus for his leadership on this health care reform effort that is underway. This is the most astounding thing. For all these weeks, our friends on the other side have said no, no, no to health care. Not one good word. Not one of them stood and said: Yes, we should cover 32 million people who don't have coverage; yes, we should cover young people who want to join their parents' health insurance policy. They said no to small businesses that need help in providing affordable health coverage to their employees. Many know that recently I was stricken with an illness. Five weeks ago this time, I was in an ambulance on my way to the hospital, bleeding profusely, very sick. I was lucky. I had health care coverage. The doctors were there waiting for me. They were there to give me transfusions. They were there to give me intravenous fluids. They were there to care for me. I had nursing care, and I came through a crisis, as my children stood by, my four children stood by with their fingers crossed, pleading for my health to return. It was because I had health care coverage that I am standing here today on my way to a full cure-- less hair but still willing to fight the fight for the people I represent, for the people across this country who are being denied coverage in any way they can do it. What we see is obstructionism at its worst.”