[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14570]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, from the creation of Medicare and 
Medicaid in 1965 to the reauthorization of SCHIP earlier this year, we 
have come a long way toward ensuring that every American has access to 
affordable, quality health care. These programs, Mr. Speaker, ensure 
that our children and the disabled and the elderly have access to 
health care. Now it is time to get serious and to help those people in 
the middle who have been left out.
  Family health care costs are increasing. Families cannot afford the 
rising cost of health premiums, many employer-sponsored plans are 
providing less coverage and higher deductibles, and there are 45 
million Americans with no insurance.
  We must seize this opportunity to enact reforms that reduce costs, 
protect existing plans, preserve our choices in doctors, hospitals and 
care, and ensure affordable quality health care for all. I support 
President Obama and the Democratic leadership. We must act now.

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