[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17229]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PUBLIC OPTION IN HEALTH REFORM

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for a strong 
public option as part of our health reform bill. Health care is not a 
place for playing political games; it is simply too precious. That is 
why we need to pass a meaningful bill, one that actually achieves the 
goal of providing everyone with affordable access to quality care.
  If private competition alone could have achieved this, it would have 
already. I am supporting comprehensive health reform for patients, for 
each one of us who has a loved one who has needed care but was denied 
by their insurance company and couldn't afford the out-of-pocket 
expenses. Let's give those companies a reason to provide us with 
better, more affordable coverage, and give patients greater choice in 
who will be their insurer.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the inclusion of a 
viable public option in our health reform legislation.

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