[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17834]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. KENNEDY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, anyone ever heard the expression, ``the 
proof is in the pudding''? Well, when the private health insurance 
companies found out that there may not be a government option, you know 
what happened to the health insurance stocks on Wall Street? They went 
through the roof. Profits skyrocketed because, you know why? The health 
insurance companies make money off of the consumers when they don't 
have competition, when they're able to cut your health care and make 
profits out of denying you health insurance. That's how the private 
marketplace makes money, by denying you health care. They only want to 
cover the healthy and well.
  We have the government option, the public option, to guarantee the 
American people that they get the health care that they paid for. * * *
  We're on the side of the American people. We want to protect the 
people so that they can get their health care, irrespective of a 
preexisting health care condition.
  I'm proud that this health care plan covers all preexisting 
conditions, including mental health parity as covered by the Mental 
Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that was passed and signed by 
President Bush.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, the words were just said that the 
Republicans, pointing over here, are bought and paid for. I would ask 
that those words be taken down.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members will suspend. The gentleman from 
Rhode Island has taken a seat.
  The Clerk will report the words.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I did not mean to impugn the reputation of 
any individual Member. I was merely speaking about the party that was 
representing the insurance companies.
  I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the words.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Rhode Island?
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my request that the words be 
taken down since they are withdrawn and I appreciate my friend doing 
so.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the words are withdrawn.
  There was no objection.

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