[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1245
                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, a new Gallup poll says 
that 39 percent of Americans want their Member of Congress to vote 
against a health care overhaul while 37 percent want their 
Representative to support it. An Associated Press poll shows 49 percent 
oppose a health care overhaul. The numbers show a deep division in the 
Nation, one that was evident in August townhall meetings where the 
American people had their say. These were people who took the time to 
read the House bill and decide against it because of cost, complication 
and controversy.
  Yet there are elements in all the proposals before Congress on which 
people can agree, and it's time to go back to the drawing board and be 
inclusive. As a former health care provider, I'd very much like to be a 
part of the solutions that will help the situation without breaking the 
bank. Tort reform is a must to reduce the cost of health care. Allowing 
insurers to compete across State lines will increase competition and 
thereby lower costs. Addressing workforce issues is crucial as baby 
boomer doctors, nurses and technicians retire.
  Let's look at the approximately 13 million Americans out of 303 
million who don't have an option for insurance and find a way to help 
the population that actually needs our help.

                          ____________________