[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT LINDA SOBEL KATZ URGING CONGRESS TO HELP 
               CANCER PATIENTS GET THE CARE THEY DESERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JAMIE RASKIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2017

  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues a 
beautiful letter I received from my constituent Linda Sobel Katz, a 
former legislative aide to one of my predecessors in the House of 
Representatives from Maryland's 8th Congressional District, 
Representative Michael Barnes. To summarize Linda's thoughts would be a 
disservice to her passionate and eloquent message about America's 
priorities today, so I will simply include in the Record her letter:

        ``In the late 70s and early 80s, I was honored to be an 
     aide to Maryland Congressman Mike Barnes on international 
     human rights issues. It was my job to help Rep. Barnes speak 
     out for those suffering discrimination and worse in their 
     homelands. The climate in Congress was different then. 
     Democrats and Republicans willingly forged coalitions to 
     protect and rescue individuals from hostile leadership far 
     from our shores. As a communications consultant, this is the 
     path I have chosen for my life's work--to champion causes to 
     help better humanity and our environment.
        ``Never did I ever think I would need to speak out for 
     myself, especially to the esteemed U.S. Congress--once a 
     beacon of democracy, fairness, and justice to the free world 
     and those silenced by totalitarianism.
        ``As an American citizen who deeply cherishes our land, I 
     am horrified by the indifference of the majority in Congress 
     who would strike out against innocent Americans. First, 
     against children who are losing their CHIP coverage. To what 
     gain? And now, against Americans suffering from one of 
     humankind's worst diseases--cancer. To what benefit?
        ``What you are doing is causing a sense of powerlessness 
     and despair among those you have a sworn duty to protect. I 
     am such a constituent. As of this writing, you still have not 
     restored the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, which 
     expired September 30. And you show the worst side of your 
     natures by denying coverage for cancer treatment to those 
     over 65 and paying for Medicare.
        ``I have been raising my granddaughter Sabrina, as her 
     legal guardian, for the past 10 years since the death of her 
     mother when Sabrina was four. During this time, I also spent 
     seven years caring for a husband with Alzheimer's. Formerly 
     co-owner of an insurance agency, my husband Hershel was 
     denied long-term care coverage because of two prior heart 
     attacks in his 40s and 50s. CHIP has been a godsend.
        ``We paid for Hershel's huge health needs out of pocket, 
     and it was nerve-wracking to consider whether our family 
     could survive financially.
        ``I am grateful that we are able to live in my home of 
     nearly 40 years in a comforting neighborhood of Silver 
     Spring, just outside the Nation's Capital.
        ``Less than a year after my husband's passing in November 
     2015--with no symptoms, other than a yellow tinge to my 
     eyeballs, and feeling in good health--I was diagnosed with 
     pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly forms of this 
     insidious disease. I have been in chemotherapy at Georgetown 
     University Hospital for a year and remain stable after an 
     initial setback that prevented me from undergoing a 
     previously planned Whipple surgery to remove the tumor.
        ``But chemotherapy is not a permanent fix and has its own 
     limiting side effects. With my oncologist, we must explore 
     clinical trials and other emerging treatments to find a way 
     for me to stay alive so I can continue to raise my 
     granddaughter, now 13 and in 8th grade. Robust federal 
     funding for cancer research is so critical to the survival of 
     cancer patients. And so is the reassurance of coverage for 
     treatment through Medicare.
        ``Dear Members of Congress, do not wash your hands of 
     cancer patients on Medicare. So many of us continue to 
     contribute to family life and society in myriad, constructive 
     ways. Surely, you must have family members, friends, and 
     constituents suffering from cancer through no fault of their 
     own. Why strip away our hope and ability to live fully and be 
     useful members of our communities? Why choose to be cruel, 
     heartless, and mindless leaders lacking compassion for your 
     fellow citizens? You are fostering an unjust world, not the 
     America that sets the example for civilized behavior and wins 
     universal respect.
        ``I have a personal wish to live five more years so that I 
     can continue to raise my beautiful, bright, and wise 
     granddaughter and see her graduate from high school and be 
     launched into a future of service and commitment in a 
     gracious and caring world.
        ``Yes, she does wonder what will happen to her if I die 
     because cancer treatment is no longer accessible to me, 
     especially knowing that her U.S. government precipitated this 
     hostile action. What a tremendous burden for a young teen!
        ``So, I ask: What will you do to ensure that children have 
     a healthy future and that cancer patients get the care they 
     deserve? Our health care system should be a model in a world 
     still craving for leadership from America. Do not let us 
     down.''

   In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to heed this 
thoughtful message and ensure that children in our country have 
meaningful access to health care; to have the courage to stand up for 
the cancer patients, the sick and suffering, the chronically-ill and 
their families who rely on Medicare to keep them alive; and to 
demonstrate, as Linda says, true American leadership. America is 
counting on Congress. Let us act with wisdom and decency comporting 
with our highest values.

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