[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, one of the most serious challenges facing our 
Nation is the need for health care reform to ensure access to quality 
and affordable health care for all families.
  It is shocking that nearly 46 million Americans in the United States 
have no health care coverage. Unless we act, estimates from the 
Congressional Budget Office warn that the number of Americans without 
health insurance will grow to about 54 million during the next 10 
years.
  In meeting with health care professionals and with my constituents in 
New Jersey, everyone agrees that changes in our current system are 
needed. Congress has already taken some important steps. Working with 
President Obama, we have enacted into law a much-needed expansion of 
the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, to ensure that 
the 7 seven million children who currently participate in the program 
continue to receive coverage.
  We also worked to provide $20 billion in crucial funding in the 
economic recovery package to modernize our health care system through 
the adoption of health information technology.
  Mr. Speaker, we want to see these moves continue.

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