[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19557]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DROWNING UNDER THE RISING COSTS OF HEALTH CARE

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's interesting 
what I'm listening to. This sounds like 15 years ago when President 
Clinton tried to reform the health care system. This time we must do 
it. The increase just for small businesses to cover their employees has 
gone up 129 percent since the year 2000. Workers pay more. Small 
business workers pay an average of 18 percent more in premiums. How far 
does this have to go before we have the common sense to change it?
  If anybody disagrees with the bill, read it. That's the first thing 
we must do. Read the bill. I have read the bill. It's a good bill. It's 
so unfortunate that the influence on this House is coming from 
insurance companies who have been in control of health care for the 
last 30 years. We must change that. They've given out $100 million 
around here. We must change it. The people need this health care reform 
right now.

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