[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NOW IS THE TIME FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand here in the name of a 
film producer named Noelle, who, in the midst of trying to show the 
tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, was succumbed by breast cancer--did not 
die, but became very ill. During the midst of that time, her insurance 
was dropped.
  I come in the name of Eric, a young lawyer who did pro bono work, who 
had a cold and was treated by an emergency room, given medicine for a 
pain in the neck, but yet died a few days later of a bacterial virus.
  I come in the name of sick people across America to say that H.R. 
3200, which will bring down the cost of premiums, which will provide a 
robust public option, will get rid of preexisting conditions that keep 
you from getting insurance--which is wanted by over 70 percent of 
Americans, Republicans and Democrats. I come in their name to say it is 
time now to pass a robust health care reform package with a vigorous 
public option that addresses the needs of Americans and brings down the 
cost of premiums for all Americans, those with employer-based insurance 
and those who need the public option. It is time now. Martin Luther 
King said, ``Now is the time.''

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