[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. WALZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, last week I, too, had a chance to be out in my 
local district. I was on Main Street in St. Peter, Minnesota. We had 
great conversations about how small businesses can continue to create 
and revitalize our economy. But do you know what they talked about 
most? Health care. They shared stories about double-digit increases in 
premiums. They shared stories about a difficult time hiring new 
employees because of the cost of health insurance. But one story in 
particular stuck with me.
  I walked into Julee's Jewelry Store in St. Peter, Minnesota. Julee is 
a woman who has poured her life into making her business work, but she 
also shared a story with me.
  Her son Trevor was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. So as she 
and Trevor fight for his life, they are also fighting their insurance 
company to pay for the chemotherapy that their doctor ordered. She also 
told me she fears her son will never be able to change jobs because of 
a preexisting condition. Our current health system is limiting our 
ability to innovate and grow our economy.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, I represent the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, 
Minnesota. I am proud to do so because of the high quality, low cost 
care that they provide.
  I would like to leave you with a quote last week from the Mayo 
Clinic: ``Reforming health care in America is absolutely essential. The 
status quo is not sustainable.''

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