John Spratt: “Mr. Speaker, beyond the walls of this Capitol, there are millions of Americans who can't afford health insurance and…”

“Mr. Speaker, beyond the walls of this Capitol, there are millions of Americans who can't afford health insurance and they live in fear of getting sick. Millions more are discriminated against by insurance companies because they have preexisting medical conditions. In my own life, as a child and as an adult, I've lived without health insurance. A dear, dear niece of mine has a preexisting condition that makes her uninsurable. Passing health insurance reform is not a political game. It's personal. It's about real people's lives. When we pass this bill, we will save lives. Families will be protected. Millions of Americans will no longer live in fear. Today I will vote to end discrimination against people with preexisting conditions. Today I will vote to extend health care to 32 million Americans. And when this bill becomes law, health care security will finally become a reality for the American people.”