Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, And Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

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Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Congress needs to make reforms to expand health care coverage so that everyone in this great Nation has health insurance. The problem with the legislation the majority is bringing to the floor today is that it will seriously and unnecessarily hurt our economy. It will cause severe job losses, and that's most unfortunate.

The Republican alternative has some very good aspects. It will expand health care coverage to millions who currently do not have it, and it does not include the fatal flaw in the Democrats' bill--massive tax increases on small businesses; tax increases and regulations that will kill jobs.

The Republican alternative allows small businesses to pool together, allows people to buy insurance across State lines. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it actually brings down the cost of health care premiums.

The Democrats' bill will raise taxes, according to the CBO by over $700 billion and cut Medicare by approximately $500 billion. It will make much worse our economic situation, increase unemployment, take the country in the wrong direction at a time when unemployment is already over 10 percent.

Especially, Mr. Speaker, when you consider that there is a bipartisan consensus in this Nation on the need to increase access to health insurance to those who do not have it today, it is sad that this destructive legislative product is being brought to the floor.

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