[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I previously had an opportunity to 
welcome my friend, the majority leader, back and welcome all our other 
colleagues from an active month in August. I know we always enjoy 
spending this time with our constituents and hearing their particular 
concerns. This year, most of us got an earful, and I hope the 
experience has an effect on our work as we move forward.
  Health care reform is clearly a critical issue for many Americans, 
and I think we have an obligation to show them we have been listening 
closely to their concerns.
  At this point, there should be no doubt about where the American 
people stand: The status quo is not acceptable but neither are any of 
the proposals we have seen from the White House or the Democrats in 
Congress so far.
  The White House has attempted to retool its message on health care 
many times. It should be clear by now that the problem is not the sales 
pitch. The problem is what they are selling.
  Over the past several weeks, I have visited with a lot of doctors, 
nurses, seniors, hospital workers, small business men and women and a 
whole lot of other citizens across Kentucky and, for that matter, 
throughout the country. None of them would call our current health care 
system perfect. But all of them are worried about so-called reforms 
that would undermine the things they like about the American health 
care system.
  The American people are asking us to start over. They want reforms, 
but they want the right reforms, not some grand scheme that increases 
the national debt, expands the Federal Government, raises taxes, cuts 
seniors' benefits, and forces Americans off the plans they currently 
have and like. They want reforms that work within the system we have.
  We have a lot of work to do in the weeks ahead, but these past few 
weeks have given us all something valuable. They have given us real 
clarity about the direction Americans want us to take and, as 
importantly, the direction they do not want us to take. Now it is our 
turn to show them we have been listening and to act.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I believe I have 15 minutes, and I 
would ask the Chair to let me know when 2 minutes remains.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair will do so.

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