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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Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying bill.

Over the month of August, I spoke with over 20,000 of my constituents about health care, and one subject in particular kept surfacing over and over--the skyrocketing cost of insurance premiums. In fact, a recent survey filled out by over six thousand residents of the 13th District showed that, at nearly 47 percent, rising costs were far and away the number one concern when it comes to health care. Families in my district simply cannot keep pace with ever-mounting health care bills. And it's no wonder when over the past year, health care costs rose at twice the rate of inflation.

Unfortunately, this bill would do absolutely nothing to address this pressing concern. Instead, it cuts seniors' Medicare benefits, taxes small businesses struggling to stay afloat, and places government bureaucracy between you and your doctor.

Fortunately, we're offering a better, commonsense alternative to increase competition, improve portability for those between jobs, and expand coverage for pre-existing conditions--without job-threatening tax increases.

That is why I am very pleased that according to experts at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, our Republican alternative will reduce your premiums by as much as 10 percent. In addition, the bill would save the government $68 billion. You heard that right--it would save the government--your tax dollars--money.

And this bill doesn't have any complicated budgetary gimmicks that will inflate numbers or circumvent accurate analysis. This bill has real reforms like association health plans for small businesses, allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines, and medical malpractice reform.

In addition, the bill would change current law to ensure that insurance companies can't drop Americans who play by the rules just because they get sick. And no one can be denied treatment because of annual or lifetime benefit caps.

Mr. Speaker, we need reform, not revolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting an alternative that will provide real help to struggling Americans.

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