[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21220]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 THE PRESIDENT'S JOINT SESSION ADDRESS

  (Mrs. BIGGERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, tonight when the President addresses the 
joint session of Congress, I hope that he will turn a new page in the 
health care debate, setting aside demands for a government-run, 
taxpayer-funded health care system and instead he will express support 
for real reforms that will reduce costs and increase access to quality 
health care for everyone regardless of preexisting conditions.
  I hope to hear that the President finally will fix the medical 
malpractice crisis that continues to drive costs up and drives doctors 
out of Illinois and other States. I hope the President will finally 
commit to our small businesses by allowing them to band together in an 
association health plan so that they can provide affordable health care 
to their employees. And, finally, I hope that the President will join 
Members on both sides of the aisle to end waste, fraud and abuse 
plaguing Medicare and robbing seniors of much-needed health benefits.
  It is my hope that after tonight's address the President and 
congressional Democrats will focus on bipartisan, commonsense reforms 
that will actually increase health care affordability and accessibility 
for all.

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