Political Quotes

“I rise today in support of Cover the Uninsured Week, to highlight the deplorable fact that over 47 million Americans-- including 9 million children, lack health insurance in our country. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that health care is a basic human right. Yet far too many people have no access to even the most basic health services. Contrary to popular belief, 8 out of 10 Americans who lack health insurance come from working families who just can't afford the high cost. Minority communities also disproportionately suffer from a lack of health coverage. More than one-third of the Hispanic population in our country and more than one-quarter of Native Americans live without health insurance. Nearly 22 percent of African Americans and 20 percent of Asian Americans also lack health insurance. These statistics are just plain shameful. What's worse is that because these individuals lack health coverage they are more likely to wait to seek treatment until they are really sick, which in turn further drives up health care costs and creates a vicious cycle of un-insurance. Mr. Speaker, the sad truth is that over the last 8 years of this administration, the number of uninsured Americans has been steadily rising.”