On the recordJanuary 18, 2011
I rise to speak very forcefully, I hope, about the importance of proceeding with the health care bill, the health care law that we had in place and the critical protections that it is providing to literally millions of Americans in each and every one of our districts; and each of us, I think, have heard from them. The new health care law reduces the deficit. We're here talking about, from the Budget Committee, it is going to reduce the deficit while promoting more efficient and higher quality care. Reducing the deficit and slowing the growth of health care costs means real savings to American families, American businesses and to the Federal Government. And yet their first major act in the majority, congressional Republicans want to repeal this law. Repealing the protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. We just heard this morning the Washington Post reported on a study that says that one-half of all Americans under the age of 65 have a preexisting condition. So this isn't just about a few of us. Really it's about almost all of us. We all know someone and we may all love someone who has a preexisting condition.
