[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26083]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IT'S TIME FOR DEMOCRATS TO SCRAP THEIR HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN AND WORK 
                            WITH REPUBLICANS

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, a majority of Americans have had enough with 
the idea of the government taking over their health care. Americans 
love freedom and deserve the freedom to choose the health plan that is 
best for their family.
  This week, in the great State of Kansas, a coalition of State leaders 
has unveiled the Health Care Freedom Amendment that reserves the right 
for Kansans to manage their own health care options. As Kansans, we 
don't want Washington bureaucrats getting in the middle of medical 
decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors. We believe 
Kansans and the American people deserve better. That is why I am 
pleased to be a cosponsor of the Empowering Patients First Act that 
allows Americans who like their health care coverage the freedom to 
keep it, and gives Americans the opportunity to choose the health plan 
that best meets their needs.
  Our bill also ensures medical decisions are made by patients and 
their physicians and improves Americans' lives through effective 
prevention, wellness and disease management programs. This is the only 
bill that won't dampen the development of new treatments that cure 
life-threatening diseases.
  It's time for the Democrats to scrap their current plan, stop the 
backroom dealing, and start working with Republicans on real health 
care reform that ensures all Americans have the right to manage their 
health care options.

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