Health Care

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, health reform is a moral and national imperative.

As a physician, my experience in treating uninsured patients at public hospitals teaches me that empowering patients is the best way to lower costs and improve patients' health. Patients are the best guardians of health care dollars. Real reform empowers patients to make wise decisions for their wallets and their health.

Unfortunately, this bill introduced last week empowers government, not patients. And this 2,000-page bill, and this is half of it, a trillion dollars, is concentrating power in Washington, taking it away from States and citizens. For example, it creates 111 boards, bureaucracies, and commissions and has $730 billion in taxes.

This government-centered plan won't work. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office says that it increases the cost to patients and taxpayers.

The patient-centered alternative offered by Republicans will save patients money, save taxpayers money, and expand access to quality care.

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