[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 22]
[House]
[Page 29845]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               EXTENDED COBRA CONTINUATION PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. SESTAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House to quickly 
pass the Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act to ensure health 
coverage for millions of Americans who, through no fault of their own, 
have lost their jobs and now, because Wall Street gambled with their 
savings, cannot afford the COBRA premiums to keep their health care 
from their former employer.
  So, in the economic stimulus bill we provided 65 percent of the cost 
of those premiums, but those benefits are now running out for those who 
were laid off first. I ask this House to quickly pass the bill to 
extend those COBRA premium subsidies for 6 months.
  Take a woman in my district. She pays $535 for her 35 percent share 
of the premiums. It will go over $1,500 very soon if we do not act. And 
she has a preexisting condition and must keep on her health care plan.
  Hundreds have contacted my office regarding this, and I ask this 
House to quickly help. As we come out of this savage recession, it's 
not just economic security, but it's health security we must address.

                          ____________________