[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8903-H8904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
                             WE CANNOT WAIT

  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, at least 46 million Americans are 
uninsured. By

[[Page H8904]]

the end of the day, 14,000 more Americans will lose their coverage. 
Over the past decade, health care costs have risen on average four 
times faster than workers' earnings. We cannot wait. We must act now 
with reform that guarantees that everyone has access to high quality 
care, regardless of income, employment or preexisting conditions. We 
also must bring down the cost of care to make health insurance 
affordable for everyone.
  That's why we must pass a bill with a robust public plan, a plan 
without a trigger. A robust public plan will increase competition. It 
will bring down costs. The public plan must be tied to the current 
Medicare provider network infrastructure and rates so that it will be 
able to start immediately. This connection will also increase the 
savings provided by a public plan. We must pass a health bill with a 
robust public plan, and we must pass it now. The American people cannot 
go any longer without high quality, affordable coverage.

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