[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 24740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
               HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

  (Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise today just weeks before 
Halloween to unmask the health insurance industry. At long last they've 
revealed themselves to the American people as profit-mongers and 
protectors of CEO salaries.
  For months, the industry engaged in a game of pretense. They danced 
with the President, the Congress and the American people, pretending 
that they care about reform. Now we see the industry and their 
lobbyists for what they are: a little shop of horrors. They're so 
opposed to reform that they're making up their own data, manipulating 
the results, and writing a so-called independent report to threaten the 
American people with increased premiums.
  Mr. Speaker, this industry is not interested in health care or 
reform. For them it's profits, profits, and more profits at the expense 
of millions of Americans. Enough.
  We have one message for the insurance industry, its lobbyists and 
millionaire CEOs: with or without you, we will achieve quality, 
affordable, and accessible health care for all Americans, with choice. 
What they've done is proved the need for a robust public health 
insurance option for real competition, affordability and accountability 
for the industry.
  Let me close by thanking the health insurance industry for delivering 
this gift that proves that they can't be trusted. It's time for the 
industry to turn in their costumes. Happy Halloween. We're on to you.

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