House Proceeding 10-22-09 on Oct 22nd, 2009 :: 2:39:10 to 2:41:55
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2:39:06 to 2:39:27( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: kid, pays a lot for a basic program that's not even comprehensive. there are tens of millions of families that have benefited -- that will benefit from us passing health care reform now. mr. ellison: let me share a story, written down, it happened to me when i had a town hall forum in

2:39:10 to 2:41:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Keith Ellison

2:39:28 to 2:39:48( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: my district in minnesota. we had a packed room, i had a friend who was actually helping me get boards i was using for presentation and she is just a wonderful person. known her many years, she was running around, getting boards, getting coffee, helping people out, getting people signed in who showed up, that's the kind of person she is.

2:39:49 to 2:40:09( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: she's good people. anyway, she -- after it was all over, it was pretty emotional, wasn't bad, but it was strong, powerful. she said, she gave me one of those looks, mr. speaker, where it's like, she said to me, i've got to talk to you. and i said, ok.

2:40:10 to 2:40:30( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: because i could have said, you know, don't you see all th people, i'm busy. but the way she looked at me, i said, ok. so i said, you guys hang on. we went over to sort of like the corner of the room, people were filing out. and she looked at me with eyes full of water, she looked like

2:40:31 to 2:40:52( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: she could cry at that moment. she sa, you know, i just need to tell you this. i'm 39 years old, i have two teenage sons, my mother and my mother's sister, my aunt, both had breast cancer, and we lost

2:40:53 to 2:41:13( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: my aunt last year. my sister has had a positive diagnosis on a mammogram, she's being treated now. i don't know what to do because i kn that i need to go get the exam. but i also know that if i get

2:41:14 to 2:41:34( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: it, they're probably going to say i have a pre-existing condition. i could be dropped. this young woman, full of life, full of care and concern about everyone else, said to me, i'm too young to die. i've got teenagers. wh worried about.

2:41:35 to 2:41:55( Edit History Discussion )

Keith Ellison: she said, if i get the test, they could drop me for having a pre-existing condition. if i don't get the test, i don't know what illness is growing within me. and i don't know what to do. i said, you know what, i'll make a personal pledge to do everything i can do to make sure that there's answers for