[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Ms. CASTOR of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. My colleague from Florida, my good friend, is 
incorrect: health care reform is great news for small business owners 
and middle class families. For folks that already have insurance, there 
are important consumer protections. If you are paying your premiums and 
copays, these insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel you 
if you get sick. If you switch jobs, you will no longer be barred if 
you have a preexisting condition like asthma or diabetes. For parents, 
now your children will be able to stay on your policy until age 26, and 
we will ensure that the bulk of your payments and copays will actually 
go to health care rather than CEO salaries and bonuses.
  My colleague is incorrect. Medicare will get stronger. Our parents, 
our grandparents, and our neighbors will see substantial improvements 
in their benefits. Not one benefit will be cut. Instead, we are going 
to pay Medicare doctors more to stay in Medicare. We are going to close 
the doughnut hole and make prescription drugs more affordable, and we 
are going to emphasize preventive care so they don't skip their 
checkups.
  And for small businesses owners and families who don't have 
insurance, they will have a new shopping exchange and new tax credits 
to ensure you can afford your health care.

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