[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1020
                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Ms. PINGREE of Maine asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, repealing the historic health care 
legislation that we passed last year would pull the rug out from under 
millions of Americans and add billions to the deficit.
  We can and should talk about CBO scores, tax credits, and 
unemployment numbers. But what this health care reform is really about 
is improving the lives of millions of Americans. It's about children 
with preexisting conditions who can no longer be denied coverage. It's 
about senior citizens who can now afford to get screened for diabetes 
or get a mammogram. It's about working families that no longer have to 
worry that their insurance will be canceled if they get sick.
  It's about people like Geralyn from South Portland, Maine, who wrote 
to me. She said, ``My son turned 19 last May and promptly lost his 
insurance coverage. He has high blood pressure and had to go to the 
doctor a number of times to get his medication right. It was a struggle 
to keep up with the bills. He works two part-time jobs, and that 
doesn't get him health care. As of December 1, I was able to get him 
back on my insurance and it is a relief knowing he is covered. If this 
was repealed, it would hurt my son's health.''
  That's why we need to stick with the health care plan and vote 
``no.''

                          ____________________