[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          NEW HEALTH CARE PLAN BENEFICIAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I am glad to report that two of our 
committees have already reported out the health care reform bill. CBO 
indicated that 97 percent of the non-elderly, in other words, those who 
are not on Medicare now, would be covered by the health reform plan 
that our committees are now considering. Small businesses would benefit 
greatly. There is a 50 percent tax credit for premiums that are paid by 
employers of small businesses.
  So this legislation has the opportunity to allow small businesses to 
benefit significantly, to cover their employees, to cover 97 percent of 
Americans who are not covered currently by Medicare. And it is moving. 
We expect it will be out of committee by next week and on the House 
floor by the end of this month. And, finally, Americans will know that 
their guaranteed health coverage, reduced costs, and 97 percent of 
Americans not in Medicare will achieve health care coverage.
  I am very happy about the fact that we're proceeding with this along 
the promise of President Obama.

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