Myth: Americans Don't Want Broad Health Reform

Floor Speech

MYTH: AMERICANS DON'T WANT BROAD HEALTH REFORM -- (House of Representatives - April 28, 2009)

(Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, another health care myth. It is amazing that opponents of comprehensive health care reform still make the argument that Americans don't want it, but they do, and it is time to debunk it. According to an April 2009 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, just from this month, 59 percent of Americans say that it is more important now than ever to pass health care reform, 59 percent. And it is easy to understand why. Because of costs, 42 percent of Americans reported that they didn't see a doctor in the past year; 36 percent skipped dental care; 27 percent skipped a recommended medical test or treatment; and 18 percent of Americans reported that they cut their pills in half because they couldn't afford it.

This isn't time for small ideas. This isn't time to just protect the status quo. Americans demand comprehensive health care reform, and it is time that this Congress gives it to them this year.

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