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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Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, the rule being debated makes in order the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Smith-Kaptur-Dahlkemper pro-life amendment that would apply the longstanding Hyde amendment, which states no public funding for abortion.

I appreciate the willingness of Speaker Pelosi to work with all Democrats through the day and night Friday to reach an agreement on language. Ultimately, the agreement we reached fell apart, and the only appropriate consideration was to make our amendment in order.

The Speaker recognizes that Members deserve the chance to vote their conscience and have their voices heard on this most important matter.

There are a number of critical reforms in this bill, such as a repeal to the health insurance industry's antitrust exemption to inject competition into the industry, a prohibition on insurance companies discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, elimination of the practice of recision, except in the cases of fraud, and a transition to a health care reimbursement system that addresses geographic disparities and rewards quality of care over quantity of procedures performed.

Now is the time to pass health care reform and provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and to support the Stupak amendment later today.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

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