2:14:19 to 2:14:39( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: we have been working now not only through the 108th congress but all the way up to the 111th congress. and we pride ourselves on coming to the floor talking about issues that are not only facing americans, but the challenge we have as policy makers here in washington, d.c. to make sure that we provide the kind of

2:15:03 to 2:15:26( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: order, mr. speaker, and members, just want us to continue to stay focused on what's going on not only domestically but throughout the world. you know, our men and women that are in uniform and those that work not only in the diplomatic corps and the state deparent are deployed throughout the world. we do know that we have

2:15:49 to 2:16:11( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: death toll in iraq is 4,347 troops and soldiers. those that are wounded in action, returned to duty is 17,633. also wounded in action, not returning to duty, 3,861. the death toll in afghanistan,

2:16:33 to 2:16:53( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: the opportunity, we definitely appreciate not only those that are enlisted now, reservists and national guard units and also their families, but we must show them a great deal of appreciation, allow them to -- allow us to salute one flag, also for the many veterans out there who have served.

2:17:17 to 2:17:37( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: florida, but also he has the honor, along with many heroes and sheroes to have his final resting place at arlington national cemetery. mr. speaker, there's been a lot of discussion about this issue of health care, and i think that it's important that we continue to have not only that

2:18:00 to 2:18:21( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: discussion going back and forth , need it be republican caucus, democratic caucus or the two independents over in the u.s. senate. a great discussion, great discourse a lot of congressional record statements made a lot entered without official statement on the

2:18:43 to 2:19:04( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: those of us that are here in washington, working toward some rest more sooner tn later to make sure that insurance companies are no longer doing what they're doing to the american people and what they have done to the american people.

2:19:26 to 2:19:47( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: their families. i'm not going to stand here and tell you they were able to do that on their own. they were ab the c.e.o. benefits at the levels they are, benefits that the average american would never see or the paycheck an average american would never see. t live in the gated communities some of these insurance

2:20:09 to 2:20:32( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: environment to live that way and to be able to stand in health care ev when there's a doctor that's recommending that their patient receives a certain procedure or a test that has to be carried out. the environment would not be

2:20:54 to 2:21:14( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: for me because i need an operation or my husband needs an operation or my child needs an operation, we cannot operate call their member of congress or their elected official or the mayor to be able to stand for them. it's important, and i want to come to the floor today to say

2:21:36 to 2:21:56( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: it was last week. he talked about passing a health care package that would not add one red cent to the day. i think that's important. i think that's a value that this congress can embrace on both sides of the aisle. he also said that he would not sign a bill that would allow insurance companies to deny

2:22:18 to 2:22:40( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: that was one of them. no longer allowing insurance companies to deny individuals on family history or pre-existing conditions. that was major. as far as i'm concern i was once upon a time just a in florida and even before that, my occupation, before i

2:23:02 to 2:23:22( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: get hurt because i don't have the kind of insurance i need as a skycap. now it's important that we take this no longer being denied on pre-existing conditions or history should no longer be a

2:23:45 to 2:24:06( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: yes to that, for democrats to say yes to that, for republicans to say yes to that, for our senate to say they agree with that as a principle and bedrock of this health care reform. i think something that's also so very, very important. we look at many times on this floor, we have a discussion of urban versus rural.

2:24:30 to 2:24:51( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: into the high 90's have an insurance card and they're able to go in and get preventive care and also go in and get the procedure they need and to do that, they have to have a medical home. we're talking about community health centers having more capacity to be able to take on everyday americans.

2:25:14 to 2:25:34( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: to their medical home, a community health center or they could go to their own doctor, but they'll at least have the capacity to be able to have that medical home. this is important in rural america and in rural florida. right now, as i travel throughout the state of florida, there are a number of people saying, you know, kendrick, i -- you know, i kind

2:25:56 to 2:26:17( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: so when you have -- afloat. so when you have not only in the 3200 or other product here's in congress, these community health centers as a foundation a base, a bedrock of this health care reform package, i think we look at it from the standpoint of saying that people will have a medical home to go to. they will no longer have are to

2:26:40 to 2:27:01( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: there and those medical professionals to stay there, but to provide a medical home. now i want to let you know that as we look at the different proposals and we know that members have their own version of what they feel health care

2:27:26 to 2:27:47( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: one that has a private exchange along with a public option that will allow those who can cannot afford to be part of the private exchange to no longer find themselves in the ranks of the uninsured. why do i say that, members? i say that it's key and that it's important so that individuals who do have

2:28:12 to 2:28:36( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: the reason why we have the $20 aspirin. that's the reason why a box of tissues in the hospital is far beyond anything you would ever pay for, even if you were to go into the gift shop at the ritz carlton to buy a pox of tissue, it costs me in the public hospital or private hospital than it costs at some five-star hotel because that cost has to

2:28:58 to 2:29:20( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: their insurance every week. that's a reality. that's what's going on. and to just use that statistic as some sort of backdrop for a political speech or a backdrop to just make a point is really robbery to those individuals of

2:29:44 to 2:30:06( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: insurance every year and that automatically we know for that 80% or super majority of the floridians who have insurance, many of whom, i must add, mr. speaker, are on medicare, which i must say is a public option that a lot of people would do -- carry out a lot of choice

2:30:31 to 2:30:53( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: i have a book of statistics pro and con. it's not going to make sure individuals become bankrupt because one of their family members have a medical emergency and insurance ran out in the first 10 days and now they're in open water and we have som facilities, believe it or not, legal or illegal, denying care

2:31:16 to 2:31:36( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: we have a lot of 50-somethings and early 60-somethings that are waiting for medicare to get a procedure that they should have gotten seven years ago. it's not only going to cost me more but everyone i represent in florida more, because of the paralysis of analysis that have

2:32:00 to 2:32:20( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: i'm a second generation member, mr. speaker, as you can also appreciate. second generation. my mother before me served in this house for some 10 ye then before that, she served in the legislature and the senate and house of representatives and worked at a community college. and so we come from a family of

2:32:43 to 2:33:04( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: getting too little. this health care reform package is more of a bill of rights for those of us who are here punching in and out every day, making sure we raise our children and doing the things we need to do to make this country strong, this bill and this concept of reform of not only health care insurance, but

2:33:28 to 2:33:50( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: or non-organic eggs should not be based on the fact that well, i have to pay $300 every pay period to be able to cover health care costs for my family to be there when we need it and then find themselves in a situation that when they need it, they pull the card out of

2:34:13 to 2:34:33( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: out of pocket even before some $1,600 they didn't have in the first place, going to the credit union, trying to get a signature loan -- this is for real. this is what happens in america. this is what happens in florida every day. calling family members, disclosing to third cousins personal medical crisis that

2:34:56 to 2:35:16( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: members and pleased to see that the debate is now moving toward -we agreed that something should happen and something will happen. and the leadership has been provided from the executive branch to the legislative leaders saying if they're constructive components that can

2:35:38 to 2:35:58( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: that's not what it's about, even though we know tre's a medicare -- something close toe -- to a plan, similar, but not the same, but medicare has a -- has private entities that are there that are helping close the

2:36:20 to 2:36:41( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: experience that real americans and i would add, floridians are going through today, i want to make sure members and i wanted to come today which is really a voice of the every day individual what they are paying and what they're getting.

2:37:04 to 2:37:25( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: have -- i must say i have had family members that have had a medical dilemma. i haven't been denied anything. i'm a member of congress. i don't think my constituents -- i said it last week and this week, elected me to say, i want you, your wife and two children

2:37:49 to 2:38:10( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: and because the every day americans is making sure that its government will not be a part of the hand-shake deal. neither be democrat or republican administration, the fact that doctors are spending more and more time on the phone

2:38:32 to 2:38:52( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: if you are paying for it, you get it. that's the school i come from. i think it's important that no matter what your economic background is, you go into work every day, you buy health care insurance, you're in an exchange, you will have put forth a sacrifice that you were not to put dollars into a

2:39:14 to 2:39:35( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: synagogue, camp to study more or the mosque and you could not go, because financially, you are too busy paying more every year into your health care insurance. it's not on that individual trying to get it to get adequate health care. it's on us.

2:39:57 to 2:40:18( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: at a disadvantage because of the lack of policy on this floor to set the stage, they are at a disadvantage. and when they're at a disadvant provide jobs. that goes all the way down to that small business. i talk to small businessmen and women every day, be it through

2:40:42 to 2:41:03( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: because i'm in a rural part of florida where probably the diet is not what it should be or whatever the case may be or family history or what have you and that plays a factor. i talk to businessmen and women that have a plant here and plant there and costs more at the plant here in this county versus the other county.

2:41:26 to 2:41:48( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: kind of life they celebrate, they care a individuals because those individuals made their company and built their family name if the company is named after their family to what it is today. so there is an attachment that's there. when we look at this health care issue, we have to look at it that not only does it deal with

2:42:10 to 2:42:33( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: who has been in the profession and even primary care doctors that we're going to need an army of these primary care doctors to create what we call this medical home so people have somewhere to go with their insurance card, to have them in a profession that they know that's bleeding constantly and that's hooked up

2:42:56 to 2:43:16( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: like mine in florida, i helped pass legislation as regards to nursing home staffing levels and making sure that our frail and most vulnerable have the kind of staffing they deserve. but when it becomes a challenge on the reimbursement rate to be able to make sure that their staffer is there for that

2:43:38 to 2:43:59( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: you that my family -- we work a schedule out to go sit with my mother in the hospital because the staffing level is not what it should be. that's what's going on out there. now, if something were to happen to me right now, mr. speaker and i hope it doesn't, but if something were to happen to i wouldn't be worried. i would get over to bethesda.

2:44:22 to 2:44:43( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: to find common ground on health care. i challenge our members here in this congress, you can talk about the side shows, you can talk about the small things that are going on or could be imrtant back home, but when you have an issue like health care reform that's before this congress, tt it took great

2:45:05 to 2:45:25( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: kind of inheritance they would like to leave to their children to be able to leave survivor benefits for a child or a spouse, or when you look at when someone's injured on the job with social security and they fall under disability, social serity is there, it's not

2:45:48 to 2:46:10( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: fought it back with not only dialogue on the floor, amendments in committee, holding town hall meetings back home, we fought it back and if social security and folks had private cous out there running in the stock market and last september, where would social security be right now and the trust fund? i want to make sure everyone

2:46:32 to 2:46:52( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: insurance, that this country will not turn their back on them. and now in this legislation, we expand the medicare trust fund and really work towards find wasting out corruption and bringing it under some sort of control so we don't find

2:47:15 to 2:47:36( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: now talking about these issues. some of the individuals talking about the debt. i'm like, where were you when all of this was happening? and you said nothing about it and you did nothing about it, and now we're trying to do something about it in a bipartisan way to make sure that we don't put onto the debt i think makes perfect sense. but medicare, looking at it for

2:47:59 to 2:48:20( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: the exchange to get the private insurance. but you also have to be insured and covered. that means individuals that don't have skin in the game now, people that are saying, hey, i'm going to throw the dice, i am going to go to c.v.s., walgreens and i am going to medicate myself and find myself in a situation

2:48:44 to 2:49:07( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: can look forward to $1,000, $1,200 either in co-pays or premiums the following year because that individual is not insured. now, some people make that choice of saying i just want extra money to spend. some people make that choice, most make that choic they can't afford insurance. i think it's important that we have to note that the congress

2:49:30 to 2:49:50( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: had, and, mr. speaker, i had town hall meetings. there was no prerequirements. you didn't have to come to my office and pick up, you know, show thaw live in the 17th congressional district in florida. you didn't have to, you know, go toing the magnotometr. 500 seats, have a civil

2:50:12 to 2:50:33( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: this plan right now the way it stands will not be fully implemented until 2013. that's a long time. some of it will be implemented as it relates to patient rights and insurance rights faster than other components of the bill. but i want to tell the members, and i want to share with the

2:50:55 to 2:51:15( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: they don't need tdo -- this congress is made up of individuals that have elected, especially here in the house -- you have the greatest democracy here in this chamberecause you cannot be appointed to this unless you are appointed to be the chair while, you know, we're trying to find a speaker or what have you. but as it relates to a general member of congress, there's a

2:51:37 to 2:51:57( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: fired up on an issue and started knocking on doors and found themselves in this chamber. but so many times in washington we look at this change agenda, we get stuck on this thing of who we had lunch with last or how leaders get drawn out. i don't think that leaders come to washington, d.c. to sell

2:52:19 to 2:52:40( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: you start listening to those individuals even though it's ok to get compliments versus those individuals that are back home that are fighting this health care crisis. and that we have to make sure that everyone understands that. and so i tell my constituents, if you agree with the last word out of my mouth or not, you

2:53:05 to 2:53:25( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: by saying it's important that we continue to get input from the public. it's important that we continue to share with our colleagues the importance of bipartisanship. it's important that we are responsible for what we say and put into the congressional

2:53:48 to 2:54:08( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: and every piece of landmark legislation, mr. speaker and members, there are always -- there will always be sections and components of that legislation that a member would disagree with. i haven't seen a member say, you know, i am 100 -- everything in that bill i love it. that's like reading a book saying i agree with every chapter.

2:54:30 to 2:54:51( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: every city council person, every member of congress has to be engaged and has to make sure that it's not about their health care. it's about th the people that they represent. so if you have health care, i'm bringing your health care costs down because you will have more

2:55:15 to 2:55:36( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: your health care. the ongoing bleeding of medicare reform. the ongoing health care crisis in so many communities that are weighing down small businesses will be better because of action. and so i think that there is

2:55:58 to 2:56:18( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: leadership. it's time for you to cheat up to second base and try to take it, because you're taking it because you want to win. and we want to make sure that the people in this great country of ours win. we want to make sure that they have health care. we want to make sure that small businesses are able to provide health care to their employees. we want to make sure that

2:56:40 to 2:57:00( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: better. mr. speaker, it was once again an honor to come before the house, and i look forward to coming back. and as we break for this week, hopefully we will come back ready to do business at the top