Political Quotes

“today I have organized my freshman Democratic colleagues to speak out on an issue of great importance to our country, that is, on the issue of health care. I understand that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) has already spoken, and I thank my colleague for his participation. Mr. Speaker, many of us were elected in large part because we vowed to reform our health care system, to make quality medical care and prescription drugs affordable for all Americans. Today nearly 44 million Americans under the age of 65, 11 million of whom are children, do not have health insurance. In the State of Rhode Island, my home, 1 out of 10 people lack health insurance. As we all know, health insurance is critical to obtaining necessary, affordable care. Those without insurance often pay two, even three times more for medical care than an insured person pays for that very same service. The uninsured are hospitalized at least 50 percent more often than the insured for avoidable conditions. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with later-stage cancer than those with insurance. Even newborn infants born to uninsured mothers have a 31 percent greater risk for adverse health outcomes. This inequity in access to medical care reflects the unfair disparity and health care costs the uninsured face on a regular basis.”