Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 -- Continued --

Floor Speech

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Ms. DeLAURO. I would just like to remind the gentlelady that I understand she was not here, but we did debate health care in this body for approximately 18 months, so there was a very healthy and robust discussion about health care.

This amendment is a further demonstration of the majority's special interest priorities as they have to do with insurance companies. It really demonstrates the hypocrisy on job creation and deficit reduction as well.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentlelady from Connecticut has 1 1/2 minutes remaining.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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Ms. DeLAURO. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Gingrey of Georgia). The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield myself 1 1/2 minutes.

Defunding the health insurance exchanges that we created in the Affordable Care Act will hurt small businesses, which are the driving force of our economy. It destroys jobs, takes away consumer choice and increases the deficit.

By gaining access to the exchanges, small businesses will prosper from what large employers have enjoyed for years: large group rates, lower administrative costs and greater transparency. The exchanges also give small businesses and their employees access to a fuller range of plans. They give families across America access to the information that they need in order to be able to buy the best plan at a competitive price that suits their needs.

The exchange has created a competitive marketplace for health insurance so that small businesses and middle class families across America can benefit from lower prices and more choices.

This is basic free market principles at work. One would think the majority would support any attempt to bring competition to health care but, instead, they are carrying the water for big insurance companies who do not want competition. They want to preserve their monopoly. They want a captive market, forced to pay whatever exorbitant rates they feel like charging. That will not bring down health care costs or cut the deficit. The health insurance exchanges help slow the surging cost of health care by introducing competition into the marketplace.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment which will threaten our economy, harm our small businesses and will destroy jobs.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, do I have any time left?

The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut has 13 seconds remaining.

Ms. DeLAURO. In my 13 remaining seconds, to quote Mr. Garamendi here, What are the health insurance exchanges? It's called the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. We in the Congress have the benefit of enjoying a health care exchange where we can have our choice, pick the plan that suits our needs, get it at competitive rates. Why do we not want to extend this for the rest of the country? It should not just be the purview of those who serve in the United States Congress.

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