[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20095-20096]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION

  (Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, not in six decades have we been this close to 
achieving the most crucial task of reforming our health care system. 
Let me be clear: we would be derelict in our duty to the American 
people if we let this opportunity go to waste.
  Now, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that this 
legislation amounts to the government takeover of health care and that 
Americans will be stripped of their choices of doctors and plans, but 
the reality is that everybody in this country will lose if they don't 
have health care reform.
  People like Mary Smith, a 45-year-old with diabetes who just lost her 
job, she will no longer have to worry about whether she can get 
insurance again.

[[Page 20096]]

Certainly, in my district, everybody will benefit, the 155,000 who lack 
health care coverage but, also, the majority of my constituents who are 
insured. They will have stability, security and peace of mind in having 
health care that they can count on no matter what happens. You will 
always have options for coverage even if you change or lose your job. 
You will never be denied coverage if you get sick.
  Doing nothing is not an option.

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