[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, the United States has the most 
expensive health care in the world, which is a tremendous burden on the 
American family and businesses and threatens our economic future. The 
status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable, and I applaud all of the 
committees for their hard work on the draft proposal released last 
week. It is an important step forward to ensure that every American has 
access to quality, affordable health care.
  But I believe if we are to meet the stated goals of reform, it is 
also critical that a robust public plan option be linked with the 
strengths of Medicare. It is a system that we know and, in particular, 
has an existing health provider network so that a public plan can truly 
compete in the private market and lower costs for all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, health care must be accessible. And in order to be 
accessible to Americans living in both rural and urban areas, it has to 
be accepted by providers. It has to have doctors. I am concerned that 
the initial version does not provide the provider infrastructure 
already in place for Medicare. We know it and we can use it, and this 
is a serious oversight that needs to be revisited.
  Mr. Speaker, I know we can meet the challenges for health care for 
all Americans, a uniquely American plan unparalleled in quality, low 
cost and real choice. Let's do it.

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