[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             HEALTH REFORM

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am very encouraged by the progress being 
made on health insurance reform in this Congress. Where we are in this 
health care debate is truly historic. However, we're not there yet, and 
we cannot let this opportunity pass us by.
  For millions of people without insurance, health reform will mean 
access to affordable, quality coverage. But what will it mean for 
people who already have coverage? For them, health reform will create 
stronger consumer protections that ensure coverage isn't dropped or 
scaled back when they get sick. It will ensure a lower out-of-pocket 
cost to make coverage more affordable, and it will provide greater 
access to routine checkups and preventive care. It will ensure real 
competition and transparency in the health insurance market so the 
American people are getting the best plans at an affordable price.
  In short, health reform will mean security and stability for millions 
of Americans, and we should not make them wait any longer for these 
commonsense reforms. The time to act is now. This is a historic 
opportunity for the American people, and this Congress cannot let them 
down.

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