Frank Pallone: “You know, I hear from the other side about the American Dream, but I want to say, the American Dream doesn't mean that…”

“You know, I hear from the other side about the American Dream, but I want to say, the American Dream doesn't mean that the government shouldn't get involved to end discrimination. We have a long history in this country of the government getting involved to end discrimination. And that's a big part of this health care reform, because right now, people who have preexisting conditions cannot get health insurance, or, if they can, they have to pay prohibitive costs which are not acceptable and make it impossible for them to get health insurance. What we're doing in this health care reform bill is ending discrimination, so that if you have a preexisting condition, if you've had cancer, you can still get health insurance. Immediately after this bill becomes law--and it actually has become law; the President signed it--children cannot be excluded from policies because of preexisting conditions. And gradually that will occur for every American, that they cannot be discriminated against. People are discriminated against now. Women are charged more than men. That's not right. That's not part of the American Dream. We are ending discrimination with this legislation, and I was so proud to see the President sign it on Tuesday.”