[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    EMPOWER PATIENTS, NOT GOVERNMENT

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, President Obama and his 
Democrat allies in Congress have said that they want those who 
currently like their health care plans to keep them. Then they publicly 
endorse a government-run health care insurance plan that would crowd 
out and eliminate the private insurance plans millions of Americans 
currently enjoy. They cannot have it both ways.
  The Democrat big government proposals claim to increase access and 
affordability by letting government determine what will and will not be 
paid for. As the only game in town, a government insurance plan would 
be the sole provider and decider of the quality of health care 
available. Conversely, Republicans have long argued that health care 
reform should focus on expanding access so more Americans can afford a 
higher quality of care.
  We should be focused on empowering more individuals and families to 
afford the level of care they want. If Congress chooses to empower the 
government and itself in crafting a new government-run insurance plan, 
it will directly undermine the doctor-patient relationship that is the 
foundation of quality American health care.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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