Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, we all know that health care costs are unsustainable. They're still crushing families, small businesses and large companies alike. When people lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance. Even people who do have jobs and want coverage but have preexisting conditions still couldn't get coverage.

We are closer than ever to reforming our Nation's broken health insurance system with a plan that puts America back in control of their health care choices, holds insurance companies accountable, and makes coverage more affordable.

As we move forward through this legislative process, I am confident that our bill will make health insurance affordable for the middle class and small businesses by reducing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, give millions of Americans access to affordable insurance choices through a new, competitive health insurance market, and hold insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of coverage, including for preexisting conditions. And it will close the disastrous doughnut hole that seniors are having to chose between lifesaving medication and food to eat.

For over 12 years, the once Republican-led Congress has failed to do this. We're going to do it now.

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