[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   ADDRESSING THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
join my colleagues in addressing our health care crisis. The facts are 
clear: too many Americans lack access to quality, affordable health 
care.
  Today, more than 47 million Americans, including 9 million children, 
lack health insurance. Last year, nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults 
struggled to pay medical bills, went without needed care because of 
costs, or were uninsured. Nearly 9 million people have lost their 
health insurance since 2000. This is unacceptable. In fact, in the 
richest nation in the world, it's absolutely shameful.
  Countless Americans lay awake at night trying to figure out how they 
will pay mounting medical bills, whether they should go to the doctor 
for that recurring pain, or wondering if their health insurance will 
actually cover tests their doctor recommended. With soaring gas and 
food prices, working families across the United States are forced to 
make tough financial choices, often sacrificing needed health care and 
health insurance.
  It is reality for Laura T. whose son Christopher was diagnosed with 
Burkitt's lymphoma in 2003. Though this family had insurance, the 
insurer refused to cover the treatments proven to help Christopher. No 
mother should ever have to fight with an insurance company for the life 
of her child, but that's exactly what this brave woman did. Laura 
fought these insurance companies and won. Because he received the 
appropriate treatments, Christopher is alive today. However, months of 
fighting for her child's life took a tremendous toll on her family. 
Laura and her three children lost their home. Her credit is ruined. 
Unfortunately, Laura and her family are not alone. Even more 
unfortunate is the fact that these families don't always win. Families 
across America are dealing with these situations every day.
  While there are several issues that we disagree on, I am confident 
that we can all agree that no parent should have to fight for the 
medical treatment necessary for her child's survival. No family should 
have to forego needed health care because of money. Health care should 
not be a privilege to be reserved for the wealthy few. I urge my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and fix our 
Nation's broken health care system.

                          ____________________