[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 ONE OF THE GREATEST BENEFITS FOR SMALL BUSINESS IS HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, one of the myths that's being perpetrated 
by those who are trying to stop health care reform is that this is 
going to be somehow dangerous to small businesses. Well, small 
businesses know what it is to feel the pain of the dysfunctional health 
care system. They know that 60 percent of their owners and workers and 
their families are uninsured. They know that their premiums have gone 
up 129 percent in just the last 9 years. They know that they pay 18 
percent more in premiums and their deductibles are twice as much as 
somebody working for a large firm.
  Our reform measure creates competition so that small businesses have 
the same bargaining power, the same opportunities as the largest 
companies in this country to provide health care for their families and 
their owners.
  We also know that we're providing a tax credit to help those small 
businesses do what they want to do, which is to provide their employees 
with health care.
  So forget the myths. Rely on the facts. This is one of the greatest 
benefits for small business that we could possibly provide, helping 
them help their families and their employees provide stability in their 
health care situation.

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