Ann Marie Buerkle: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Here in Washington, we are divided on many issues, but whether we are a Republican or a…”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Here in Washington, we are divided on many issues, but whether we are a Republican or a Democrat, Members of Congress recognize the essential role that our hospitals play in our communities. Hospitals provide care for the sick, and the clinics provide essential care to many. They are engaged in important medical research, and teaching hospitals are educating doctors and nurses to provide care for future generations. In many districts across the country, including mine, New York's 25th Congressional District, our hospitals are our major employers. They're perhaps the largest single employer a congressional district may have. The health care sector constitutes nearly 18 percent of the United States' economy, and it is one of the more stable portions of our economy. American hospitals employ more than 5.4 million people; and as hospitals and hospital employees buy goods and services from other businesses, they create additional jobs. The economic impact is felt throughout the community. Hospitals are a vital part of our local and our national economy. In New York State, particularly in my home district, hospitals are the largest single employer. I want to call your attention to this chart, Mr. Speaker, with data provided by the Hospital Association of New York, which shows the importance hospitals have on my district's local economy. Five hospitals in my district employ over 18,000 people.…”