[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[HO]
[Page 4091]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
                          HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Today we have an historic opportunity, more than a 
century after President Teddy Roosevelt first raised this subject, to 
establish the foundation for health care reform.
  We have some of finest health care in the world, but for too many 
Americans, they're unable to get it, millions are uninsured, hundreds 
of thousands of people with health insurance are going bankrupt each 
year from medical costs.
  Today, the House will enact landmark legislation to save Medicare, 
improve quality, which is not just fully paid for but actually helps 
reduce the deficit. Americans will enjoy benefits not just in the 
future but this year. More tax credits to help small business provide 
care, kids able to be on their parents' insurance until age 26, help 
for seniors paying for prescription drug costs.
  But the real story is not numbers and slogans. Today, Congress will 
finally give Americans the health care they need and deserve.

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