[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17050]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. Every week my office in San Bernardino, California, 
receives phone calls from constituents seeking assistance for their 
health care needs.
  The cost of health care is flying through the roof. American families 
are struggling to pay premiums that are going up three times faster 
than the wages. The health care system is broken. This is not just 
disturbing, this is inhumane and un-American when you're being denied 
health care or can't get the health care coverage you need.
  In my district, local small businesses are faced with choosing 
between offering health care coverage to employees or closing their 
doors. I met with local health care leaders in my district. Among other 
problems, we are seeing sharp increases in emergency room use. If we 
don't have the health coverage, then we, the taxpayers, will end up 
picking up the cost.
  Rising unemployment rates lead to higher numbers of uninsured and 
sharp declines of normal doctor visits. No one should be denied; they 
should be able to have access to health care.
  Health care reform will not be an easy task. We must act on behalf of 
the American families that we represent. I urge my colleagues to give 
American families peace of mind again by working towards a true health 
care reform.

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