[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                       HEALTH CARE REFORMS CLOSER

  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, with each House of Congress finally 
preparing to bring a health care bill to the floor, we are now closer 
to reform than we have been in decades. And while we still have a few 
hurdles to jump before the finish line, there are major issues on which 
there is widespread agreement. So what can the American people be sure 
will be in any health care reform bill that is passed?
  That it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your 
coverage once you get sick and that they will no longer be able to 
exclude you based on a preexisting condition; routine checkups and 
preventive care will be covered without copayment; and your insurance 
plan will be portable, even when you change jobs.
  In short, Americans will be able to keep the coverage they have and 
be safeguarded against losing it when they change jobs or get sick. 
These reforms are long overdue, but they are now one step closer to 
reality.

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