[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 107 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8270-H8271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                              HEALTH CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kratovil). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Energy and 
Commerce, Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees for working 
diligently on America's Affordable Health Choices Act. This bill is a 
historic first step to moving towards providing affordable health care 
options for all Americans.
  Comprehensive health care coverage will cost taxpayers initially. The 
current CBO estimate projects a government investment of $1 trillion 
over the next 10 years, but we must not forget that this investment in 
the health of Americans is not about the cost but about the savings for 
American families. According to CBO estimates, streamlining 
administrative costs may save Medicare $500 billion. Providing the 
public plan with the ability to negotiate for Medicare rates will 
increase those savings.
  Advocates for laissez-faire economics have continually noted that 
competition drives down costs and spurs innovation. With the public 
plan, we are finally giving the government a tool to

[[Page H8271]]

reduce the costs of health care for Americans. For years, insurance 
companies have monopolized the market and have driven up costs for 
consumers. In many communities, the only available health option can 
impose astounding rates that consumers are forced to pay. The public 
plan will introduce fair price competition, forcing private insurers to 
keep apace with efficiency and with innovation. With the public plan, 
we offer Americans personal patient choice and the freedom to stay 
healthy.
  The America's Affordable Health Choices Act provides 97 percent of 
Americans with health care options. However, border States, such as my 
own, California, will continue to experience many of the same problems 
in their busy hospitals. The State of California is home to 22 percent 
of the Nation's undocumented immigrants. It is true that many of these 
immigrants will continue to travel to Mexico for care, but they will 
also continue to clog emergency rooms, which will result in exorbitant 
costs due to emergency care. We cannot run down costs in States like 
California without addressing this issue. We must provide hospitals 
with a mechanism for recovering these costs.
  In addition to the public plan, the House's Affordable Health Choices 
Act introduces improvements to both Medicare and Medicaid. Individuals 
and families with incomes at or below 133 percent of the Federal 
poverty level will be eligible for an expanded and improved Medicare. 
This will ensure that more children remain healthy. Improving rebates 
to seniors will help close the Medicare part D doughnut hole and will 
ensure that they do not have to decide between purchasing food or their 
medications.
  This bill has taken many steps to improve Medicare and the care we 
provide to seniors. However, we must remember that improving care for 
seniors is not the same as long-term care. If California does not fix 
its budget crisis by August, residents will lose many Medicare and 
Medicaid benefits, such as home care for seniors and for the disabled. 
The House health care bill does not address this problem. Providing the 
option for home care is another way to reduce costs and to allow 
seniors to keep their freedom, and it is something we should strongly 
consider.
  Again, America's Affordable Health Choices Act is certainly an 
impressive first step. We must be careful not to weaken a national 
public plan, and we must equally encourage our Senate colleagues to 
support a robust national public plan.
  Though local co-ops or State-level systems may seem to offer savings 
and freedoms for the American people, they raise a host of problems. 
Duplicating public plans in various locales raises administrative 
costs. It creates too many levels of bureaucracy that are simply not 
necessary. Therefore, I support the House version of America's 
Affordable Health Choices Act. I truly hope this is the historic first 
step on the road to making health care for all Americans possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on this 
issue.

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