[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. GRAVES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my opposition to 
this piece of legislation. This is a government takeover of health 
care. Over the last few months, the American people have voiced their 
opposition to this bill loud and clear. They know that this bill is 
being pushed with false promises and backroom deals, and they have had 
enough. This bill will put the American Government between patients and 
their doctors. It's going to raise taxes and increase regulations. It 
will hurt small business owners, the very people who create 7 out of 
every 10 jobs in this country, by hitting them with impossible 
mandates.
  Make no mistake: this bill will destroy jobs in this country and 
freeze our economic recovery.
  Madam Speaker, Americans know that the answer to the problems in our 
health care system is not bigger government and more bureaucrats. The 
answer is more competition and better choices. My colleagues and I have 
introduced several commonsense reform pieces, but they have been 
ignored by the majority. It's not too late to start over on legislation 
that will increase access for all Americans and help control costs. 
However, this bill is not the answer. I urge my colleagues to vote 
against it.

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