[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 19667]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                 WE MUST NOT LET OUR CONSTITUENTS DOWN

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as the Congress is working to resolve our 
Nation's health care crisis, I would like to take a moment to read an 
excerpt from a constituent's letter which I hope will serve as a 
reminder of why we are fighting for health care reform.
  ``Dear Congressman Langevin,
  ``Ten years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As a single 
mother raising two children, I was nervous about supporting, feeding, 
clothing, and providing a roof over my children's heads. After my brain 
tumor was removed, I spent 30 days in the hospital. I was then 
terminated from my job. When I lost my job, I lost my health benefits. 
So I faced a choice that I don't want any other American to have to 
make--pay my mortgage or my COBRA premiums for continuing health 
coverage.''
  Signed, Nancy from Warwick, RI.
  Mr. Speaker, choosing between your home and your life, it's not a 
decision that any American should have to face. In fact, catastrophic 
illness or accident is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in 
America, and that shouldn't happen. We have an opportunity and an 
obligation to reform our health care system. We must not let our 
constituents down.

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