[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK

  (Mr. BARROW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BARROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
rising number of uninsured in America. Right now, nearly 50 million 
Americans have no health insurance. That is nearly one in six. One in 
six.
  These aren't just numbers on a page. This has real effects on the 
rest of us, because when millions of Americans who have no health 
insurance get sick enough, they end up in the emergency room of the 
nearest hospital. But the care they get there costs six times as much 
as preventive care--and is far less effective.
  Those of us who pay the full cost of our health care end up picking 
up the tab for the care we provide the uninsured in the emergency room. 
That's just one reason we as a Nation pay far more for health care than 
we get back in return. In fact, on average, every American spends about 
$900 each year to pay the cost of treating the uninsured badly. That is 
pure waste.
  There are some good signs coming out of the current health care 
debate. Congress and this President have already extended health 
coverage to an additional 4 million children this year by enacting a 
bipartisan expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
  We waited too long to address this problem. We've paid a huge price 
by not confronting it sooner. I look forward to working with the 
President and my colleagues on commonsense solutions that will extend 
coverage to all Americans.

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