[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[HOU]
[Page 26703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, on the most important issue this Congress 
will consider, what was so egregious that dozens of my Republican 
colleagues paraded to the floor yesterday to make passionate speeches 
in opposition to the Affordable Health Care for America Act? I shall 
tell you. It was the fact that the word ``shall'' appeared 3,400 times 
in the bill.
  Well, that is an interesting point, but it also reveals a certain 
amount of amnesia about law writing and civilization. After all, one of 
our most important and formative laws had the word ``shall'' in every 
sentence: You shall honor your father and mother. You shall recognize 
the Sabbath to keep it holy. You shall not covet. You shall not steal. 
You shall not murder. And most importantly probably for this debate in 
this House, You shall not bear false witness.
  Mr. Speaker, if this is all the Republicans have, I say let's talk 
about font size or paper color. No, millions of Americans are suffering 
because of lack of health care. They cannot afford it. Eighteen 
thousand are dying a year. Almost a million are going bankrupt because 
of health care costs. We shall give America the health care reform they 
deserve.

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