[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NEED FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mrs. DAHLKEMPER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the need 
for health care reform in this country, reform that must ensure 
patients can choose their doctor, is portable, and gives stability to 
our citizens as they grow old, change jobs, and face health problems. 
It must protect those with preexisting conditions and address 
prevention.
  I've received countless calls from constituents about the need to fix 
what is broken and protect what works in this health care system.
  Last night, on this floor, I heard a colleague on the other side of 
the aisle say that all Americans have health care today, the emergency 
room. Well, tell that to my constituents like Carla, who called about 
her sister Edith, who's been without insurance since last September.
  Edith is 49 years old and suffers from severe osteoarthritis. Injured 
at work, she had to change jobs because she was denied workmen's comp. 
And then, after she got a job that offered some coverage, she was laid 
off due to economic conditions.
  Now unemployed, Edith is without health insurance, insurance she 
desperately needs to help cover her doctors visits and her 
prescriptions. Edith is a victim of a failed system.
  Madam Speaker, we need health care reform in this country to ensure 
that Edith and countless others are not left behind.

                          ____________________