[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3705-3706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 PHYSICIANS SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Ms. PINGREE of Maine asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I want to read a letter I got from 
a doctor talking about the disproportionate effect of our health care 
system on women. She says, ``As a health care provider, I see patients 
in my office frequently who need surgery or medicine but who cannot get 
the health care they really need because they do not have insurance.
  ``These are young, otherwise healthy women who are coping the best 
they can with their personal health issues. It doesn't make the 
national press, but the idea of these women suffering day after day 
tugs at my heartstrings.
  ``We all have sisters, daughters, and cousins without insurance. We 
are all touched by someone who does not qualify for government 
insurance or cannot afford a private policy. At what point do you 
decide that enough is enough and that private insurance companies 
aren't doing their job?''

[[Page 3706]]

  That doctor is right. That is why I support this bill. There are many 
provisions in the health care bill that we will be taking up this week 
that make sure that women are not disproportionately affected by the 
lack of coverage.
  I look forward to voting for this bill.

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