[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18579]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HEALTH CARE REFORM WILL MAKE INSURANCE COMPANIES COMPETE FOR CUSTOMERS

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, we already know that the Republicans have 
committed themselves to doing everything possible to prevent this body 
from passing the health care reform that the American people 
desperately need and want. Yesterday and today, we've heard a Greek 
chorus of Republican talking points designed to misrepresent what we 
are trying to do to help the American people maintain and gain access 
to affordable quality care. Among the most glaring misrepresentations 
is that we're somehow going to force the American people to be insured 
in a public plan. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  The essence of our proposal is to provide choice and competition so 
that insurance companies will have to compete for the American people's 
business rather than the American people having to beg for coverage, 
only to find that their coverage isn't adequate when they really need 
it. This is the type of reform that we need for this country, for the 
American people; and no Republican misrepresentations will prevent this 
body from acting.

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