Mr. Speaker, this is a remarkable, historic moment. Passage of health insurance reform is a -Franklin Roosevelt- moment, right up there with the creation of Social Security.
We have debated this issue for almost 100 years, since Teddy Roosevelt ran as a Bull Moose. This year alone, House committees have spent nearly 100 hours in hearings on health reform; heard from 181 witnesses; spent 83 hours in Committee markups; and considered 239 amendments. The Rules Committee spent almost 12 hours hearing testimony last night. This has been a very thorough, thoughtful process.
The time for talk has come to an end.
Now is the time for action.
The need for reform is clear: Since 2000, employer sponsored health insurance premiums for American families have more than doubled.
Because of crushing health care costs, small businesses are losing their ability to compete in the global marketplace.
If we do nothing, family premiums will increase an average of $1,800 every year, and the number of uninsured will reach 61 MILLION people by 2020.
Not only that, but skyrocketing health care costs will bankrupt this country. By the time my kids retire, health care will take up 50% - half - of our entire economy. We simply cannot leave that kind of debt for future generations.
My Republican friends see this differently. Their prescription is take two tax breaks and call me in the morning.
For twelve years, Republicans had their chance to improve healthcare in America. And for twelve years, they let the number of uninsured skyrocket all while letting the insurance companies make money hand over fist.
Those who vote against this bill are on the wrong side of history.
With passage of this bill, we stand for the uninsured; for the underinsured; for those who are discriminated against by insurance companies because they had preexisting conditions or because of their gender.
Mr. Speaker, this is a historic moment. I urge my colleagues to seize it. Vote yes on this rule, vote yes on this bill. Let's deliver real health insurance reform for the American people.
