[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H8356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1010
                         THE VIRGINIA DECISION

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, Virginia Judge Henry Hudson's decision 2 
days ago striking down one section of the Health Care Reform Act was 
about a lot less than all the noise in the last 24 hours. Despite the 
Virginia Attorney General's request, Judge Hudson did not strike down 
the whole law, and despite Virginia's request, he refused to delay its 
implementation.
  That is good news for millions of young Americans now covered under 
their parents' health plans due to the health care law's age 26 
dependent coverage, good news for millions of seniors in the Medicare 
doughnut hole who will get a 50 percent discount on life-saving 
medication, and good news for seniors for whom Medicare will finally 
cover checkups, cancer screenings and flu vaccinations.
  Unfortunately, Hudson did rule against the law's system of shared 
responsibility for all Americans to have coverage, which would 
stabilize a health insurance market that has been collapsing for the 
last 10 years and would provide access to Americans with preexisting 
conditions. Fortunately, two other judges have ruled the other way, 
upholding the Nation's need for a stable insurance market in interstate 
commerce.
  One thing Hudson did get right in his decision was his conclusion 
where he said, ``The final word will reside with a higher court.''
  Thank goodness.

                          ____________________