House Proceeding 07-30-09 on Jul 30th, 2009 :: 1:05:00 to 1:11:15
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1:04:57 to 1:05:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: because the case we have is a winning case, the hand we have is a winning hand and we know that the american people will embrace what we are attempting to do. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. . the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from minnesota, mrs.

1:05:00 to 1:11:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jim McDermott

1:05:20 to 1:05:42( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: bachmann. the gentleman from washingto mr. mcdermott. without objection, so ordered. mr. mcdermott: health care reform may be the single most important issue members will vote on during

1:05:43 to 1:06:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: their entire legislative career. the issue effects every american. health care effects our economy at home and our ability to compete internationally. for the first time in almost 20 years we have a real opportunity to solve america's health care cris, and the american people have spoken clearly, overwhelminglythat they want

1:06:04 to 1:06:24( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: congress to produce a solution that puts the american people's interest ahead of special interests. to say there is urgency in what we need to do is an understatement. for the last several months the three committees in the house have been working separately and collaboratively on health care legislatio two of the committees, including the ways and means where i

1:06:25 to 1:06:46( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: serve, reported bills out of committee to the floor. i want to explain why the ways and means committee bill is the best bill and is vital to the success of health care reform. let's start with medicare. for senior citizens, medicare is health security. the program is so effectively managed that 97 cents of every

1:06:47 to 1:07:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: dollar goes for patient care. and that means it's 97% efficient. in many private insurance company programs, every dollar simply goes for overhead, advertising, paper, not delivering health care. so the smart choice is to develop health care legislation based on a proven model and

1:07:09 to 1:07:29( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: that'shat we did in the ways and means committee. a new model with a strong public option based on the medicare model which has delivered quality health care to seniors and a very comfortable living to doctors and other medical professionals across this country, that's what we need today. without a strong plic option,

1:07:30 to 1:07:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: health care reform is just a slogan. and without real cost control, health care reform is just another press release. america spends twice as mh on industrialized nation in the world, and run away costs are bankrupting average americans and consuming an even greater part of our gross domestic

1:07:51 to 1:08:11( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: product than before. the situation is unsustainable. we talk about the need to address pre-existing conditions when it comes to health care, and we should. but run away costs are a pre-existing economic condition we must fix in the new legislation or we are setting ourselves up for failure.

1:08:12 to 1:08:32( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: recent changes to the legislation have scrapped the proven legislative effective and fair model we have in medicare and substituted negotiated rates making the government negotiate with doctors. on the surface it may look fair, but looks can be deceiving. the private sector has had

1:08:33 to 1:08:53( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: decades of opportunities to make health care work and the economic wreckage of that is everywhere to be seen. now they want more. the legislation now would call for negotiateations. let me tell what you 245 means -- that means. so call negotiated rates does not limit what could be charged

1:08:54 to 1:09:14( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: or the rate of increase each year. a public option tied to medicare is the only way to control the cost. otherwise health care cost also keep going up and americans will keep getting left out. while the rich can always take care of themselves, health care and disadvantaged will remain

1:09:15 to 1:09:36( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: one accident or illness away from financial ruin in the richest country in the world. that sounds like the status quo, right? we don't need anymore of that. under the chairmanship of charlie rangel, the ways and means committee tackled these tough issues and proud health care reform legislation that's fair for providers and affordable for the people.

1:09:37 to 1:09:58( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: you have seen what happens when the private marketplace decides what's best for the american people. wall street, housing market. remember, when they say the market will take care of itself, they mean just exactly that. and we need someone to take care of the american people. that's what the ways and means bill is all about. it comes down to this.

1:09:59 to 1:10:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: who do you trust? the private health insurance industry companies have had years since mrs. clinton and the president tried to change it in 1993-1994. and there's nothing happened except more people losing their

1:10:20 to 1:10:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: insurance. or you can trust the people who designed medicare which has given every citizen in this country, every senior citizen real health security. the choice will be made in september. the american people will have a month to think about this,

1:10:42 to 1:11:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: listen to their legislators, ask questions, read the bill. it's online. you can find it. there are plenty of ways to find out what's happening. but you have to tell your for the ways and means committee. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: mr.

1:11:04 to 1:11:17( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: bishop of utah. >> i ask unanimous consent to claim my time. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to