[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H656-H657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, the news that private health insurance 
companies earned a record $12.2 billion in profits last year is a stark 
reminder of the need for enacting health reform now. Their profits are 
up 56 percent from the previous year, yet more and more Americans can't 
afford health insurance and are being dropped when they get sick.
  As we have seen with Anthem Blue Cross in California, insurance 
companies are raising their premiums on individuals by as much as 40 
percent. This is ridiculous. Fortunately, we have a plan to address 
this huge problem.
  Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle may think the status 
quo is fine. I certainly don't. We must enact health reform 
legislation, holding insurance companies accountable, ensuring that 
patients have access to affordable care, improving the quality of 
health care for everyone.
  I welcome the release of the President's proposal to achieve these 
important goals. I look forward to the outcome of Thursday's summit. As 
these outrageous premium increases show, we have an urgent need to move 
forward on health care reform.

[[Page H657]]



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