[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 26908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY PROTECTION ACT

  (Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Well, it's finally here. The long-promised 
Republican health care bill was rolled out Tuesday night. Republicans 
controlled Congress from 1994 to 2006, so you could say that we've 
actually waited 15 years for their bill. But after 15 years of waiting, 
the Republican bill maintains the status quo and allows insurance 
companies to continue engaging in unfair practices that boost their 
profits at the expense of the American consumer.
  Indeed, the Republican plan amounts to a ``health insurance company 
protection act'' and shows once and for all that Republicans don't want 
real reform and will fight to protect the status quo every step of the 
way. At least it's consistent with their message of ``no.'' Does it 
cover 96 percent of the American public? No. Does it end denials 
because of a preexisting condition? No. Does it emphasize wellness and 
prevention? No. Does it rein in health care costs? No.
  The Republican health insurance company protection act, it says 
``no'' to Americans and ``yes'' to insurance company CEOs.

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