[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REGARDING HEALTH CARE REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 28, 2009

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to show you the headlines 
from my community: ``It's Official: It's a Stinker.'' And what's a 
stinker? According to the U.S. Census and the American Community 
Survey, in Los Angeles County 22.3 percent of the people do not have 
health insurance. In Long Beach, 18.8 percent have no insurance; in 
Compton, 25.5 percent. In other words, one out of four people are 
without health insurance. And that should matter to all of us.
  Why are we the only industrialized nation that doesn't provide health 
care? Why is it that my friends on the other side of the aisle can 
support spending billions for a war, but we can't spend the same for 
health care? Something is wrong.
  Today, the rising number of uninsured, along with the increasing 
costs of healthcare, has adversely affected our economy. The rising 
cost of health care burdens American businesses as they weigh health 
benefit costs against other business investments. It is estimated that 
by 2015, the share of the national economy devoted to health care will 
increase from 14 to 20 percent. Growing health care expenses make our 
businesses much less competitive in the global marketplace, and 
restrict job creation here at home. In addition, every percentage 
increase in the unemployment rate results in 1 million more people 
becoming uninsured. Providing health care for the uninsured costs 
insured American families an extra $100 billion every year.
  I applaud Congress and the Senate for stepping up and tackling this 
problem. We need to do this, and we need to do it now. The hour is 
late, the need is great, we cannot wait. Congress must pass 
comprehensive legislation this year.

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