[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 6931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in many years, this 
Congress is moving forward with long overdue legislation to reform our 
Nation's health care system. With 47 million Americans without health 
insurance and costs rising well above the rate of inflation, health 
reform is an issue that can no longer be ignored. Health care affects 
every individual, every family and every business in America. Less than 
half of all small businesses in this country can afford to offer health 
insurance to their employees. Tens of millions of insured Americans 
live in fear of losing their coverage due to skyrocketing health care 
costs, and families are one accident or illness away from losing 
everything.
  Together we can put an end to the decades of roadblocks that have 
prevented meaningful health care reform. Let us not let this 
opportunity pass us by again.

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