[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 15069]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               LISTEN TO THE FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY

  (Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, despite the GOP's best efforts, 
health care exchanges across this country opened. In the first 24 
hours, healthcare.gov was visited by 4.7 million visitors. In 
Massachusetts, where we've had an exchange for years, thousands began 
the process of signing up for expanded care.
  Yesterday, in one of the local papers in my district, the Lawrence 
Eagle-Tribune, a reader wrote about the benefits that people are 
already enjoying under the Affordable Care Act.
  This grateful parent stated:

       I have been happy with ObamaCare. For the past 2 years, my 
     two recent college grads have been on my insurance. We have 
     saved over $4,000. Originally, one was kicked off our plan at 
     age 22. Republicans say young and healthy kids do not need 
     insurance. They are wrong. One of our children was hit by a 
     car walking, and the other had gallbladder surgery. The 
     hospital bills were over $50,000.

  It is evident that families all over this country are grateful that 
their loved ones will have access to affordable health coverage. To my 
colleagues across the aisle, please listen to them.

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