[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ANTITRUST EXEMPTION REPEAL

  (Mr. HALL of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HALL of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House took a major 
step forward by repealing the antitrust exemption for health insurance 
companies. For more than 65 years, insurance companies have been able 
to play by a different set of rules, and the result has been disastrous 
for my constituents and for families across the country.
  Americans deserve choices. They deserve the ability to pick the 
health plan they want at an affordable price, but because of these 
health insurance exemptions from antitrust, they were denied that 
trust. Insurance companies have been shielded from legal liability for 
price fixing, for sabotaging their competitors in order to drive them 
out of the market. In most industries, these behaviors would be 
unacceptable, but for the insurance industry, it's just another play in 
the book.
  I have been a long and strong proponent of repealing this antitrust 
exemption. I'm thrilled that the House acted in such a bipartisan 
fashion to do so, and I urge the Senate to quickly pass this 
legislation so that all of our constituents can have a choice.

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