[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    DON'T REPEAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, yesterday was an unfortunate day in this 
Chamber. The majority party voted to bring our Nation back to a system 
where insurance companies' needs are placed before those of middle 
class Americans.
  The truth is that millions of Americans are already benefiting from 
health care reform. Insurers are no longer allowed to discriminate 
against children and others who are sick; small businesses are 
receiving billions of dollars in tax credits; and seniors are saving 
money on prescription drugs and are receiving free preventive care 
through Medicare, including 72,000 seniors in my district alone.
  If repealed, these benefits will be removed and the impact on my 
district will be devastating. The number of uninsured in my district 
will increase by 104,000 people; 326,000 residents would yet again be 
vulnerable to insurers' devious practices, such as lifetime limits and 
rescission; and insurers could once more deny coverage for up to 
294,000 individuals in my district alone, including 35,000 children 
with a preexisting condition.
  Madam Speaker, we should concentrate on creating jobs, not repealing 
health reform for middle class Americans.

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