people outside the capitol are to cause prop. host: our last voice of the day. view comments on the topic of health care. a quick explanation for her, please? guest: there are going to be zhurns exchange in 2014. insurance companies will have to keep and some people wanted a public option. that is not in this bill. it is going to be public. insurance companies are competing against each other. some people say that right now many people only have a choice of one insurance company in many parts of the country. they are going to have to compete against each other in the exchange. host: why the four-year lead in on the insurance exchange? guest: i have never gotten an explanation on that.

it is such a big transition. it takes a while to get something like that up and running. it takes a while to change the system. part it have is cost. it does cost money to provide all these things. host: we now have a live picture from the floor of the house of representatives. .

>> john boehner will take some time, read the bill, try to get people to oppose it. speaker nancy pelosi will also speak. she has an unlimited amount of time, as does the steny hoyer. then you'll have the final two of votes, on the reconciliation and then on to the senate bill.

it is a fascinating, historic day. host: if you go to rollc all.com, you can follow his website. are you committed the following this? guest: absolutely. we are part of the congressional quarterly will call group. together, every piece of this bill, every markup is part of our coverage. host: the house is coming into session. . . the speaker: the house will be in order. the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father congress land. chap chap this is the day the lord -- chaplain coughlin: this is the day the lord has made. let us rejoice and be glad. in many ways every day is fresh and a new beginning.

the past is more easily forgotten, the future is less uncertain. but today is especially for us -- new for us, lord, so we praise you and it we thank you. the cold winter and blankets of snow are set aside and the sunlight brings forth new life, the long waiting is over, hope and promise are in the air. for us, lord, it is spring. the equinox has silent he will occurred but we may not have been aware because our earth was spinning so fast and we did not notice our tilt to your sun. help us, lord, to understand our ever-changing world better. never let us lose perspective. although it is spring for us, for another half of the world it is the beginning of fall. help us to hold onto you, lord,

now and forever. amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stand as i prove. >> mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon rise? >> i request the question be put on agreeing to the speaker's approval of the journal. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on agreeing of the speaker's approval of the journal. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker. mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon rise? mr. blumenauer: i respectfully request the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those favoring the vote by the yeas and nays will rise. a sufficient number having

arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on the question are postponed. the pledge of allegiance today will be led by congressman poe. mr. poe: please join me in the pledge. and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, -- i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain up to five requests for one-minute speeches on each side of the aisle. for what purpose does the gentlelady from pennsylvania rise? without objection, the gentlelady is recognized. ms. schwartz: today we will act on a uniquely american solution to health care reform. our action will bring down health care costs for middle income families, will help small

businesses afford coverage for their employees, will improve coverage for our seniors, will rein in wasteful spending and provide access to 32 million uninsured americans. for those with insurance starting right away, insurance companies will be prohibited from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, from placing annual or lifetime caps on coverage and from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. it is time to put american families back in control of their health care. it's time to hold insurance companies accountable, to keep premiums down and to stop their denial of care and coverage. and it's time to ensure that 95% of americans have access to affordable, meaningful health care choices. it's time to file six medicare -- fix the medicare doughnut hole and provide seniors with preventative and primary care and it's time to rein in the federal deficit by reducing it by $1.2 million. it's time to vote yes on health

care reform. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from tennessee rise? mrs. blackburn: address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mrs. blackburn: thank you, mr. speaker. my colleagues are celebrating the birth of a great new entitlement program today, only they see dependency on the federal government and the death of freedom as a cause for celebration. my colleagues celebrate this day as being like the days when social security, medicare, medicaid were passed. they forget that today those programs are insol vept and will likely crush our children under their debt. my colleagues are overjoyed that soon their goal of having americans dependent on the federal government for mortgages, student loans, retirement and health care will be realized. that is a chilling goal. my colleagues cheer that this bill is paid for. they ignore the fact that it is our children who will pay for their greed.

my colleagues shame us for scaring the american people he about the contents of this bill. we know the consequences of this bill will be frightening and horrible. freedom dies a little bit today, unfortunately some are celebrating. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from washington rise? >> address the house for one minute, revise and extends. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. inslee: we the people of the united states in order to form a more perfect union, that is what got america started. and when we form a more perfect union it is always a continuous and controversial process. social security, medicare, civil rights, at those times it was always controversial. but americans are going to vote confident in this for two reasons. number one, we know that all americans should have a choice in mealt care. it shouldn't be the government's choice, it shouldn't be the

insurance company's choice, it should be individual americans' choice and that's what they will get today. number two, we know that a nation is truly healthy only when all of its citizens have health care. today we will have choice, today we will have health care, today we are forming a more perfect union in the tradition of this great country. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina rise? >> mr. speaker, i ask permission to -- permission to address the house for one minute, revise and extends my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, as we vote on health care takeover, i urge members of both parties to pay attention to the council of the national federation of independent business, the nation's leading small business association. small businesses have been struggling with health care costs for decades. and our members need help now. these bills are not the answer, they compound current problems and make health care even more expensive for small businesses.

costing nearly $1 trillion. these bills will send health insurance costs soaring, increase the cost of doing business and set our economic recovery backwards with destructive policies, including a tax on small business health plans, targeting small construction firms with destructive new mandates and unprecedented increases in medicare payroll tax. in july nfib warned a similar bill would kill $1 -- 1.6 million jobs. in conclusion, god bless our troops and we will never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. as we vote today i share the concern of former d.s.s. directer bill walker that the bill will be a pre-ticket, no show. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from texas rise? ms. jackson lee: address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, over the last two days human beings who happen to be members of congress have been called the n word, have been spat on and

just recently someone asked me why my braids were so tight. but i know there is a better way and i know that because members of the congressional black caucus worship this morninged at the mount zion baptist church and pastor smith said to us, the call upon healing the land. we'll be able to heal the land by voting this evening on a health care bill that will help those who cannot help themselves. those single mothers, those people with pre-existing disease, and i have the dishonor of being a member of congress representing the state of texas that has the highest number of uninsured. and so today there will be no shame in my vote because i'll vote for those texans who are not here and cannot speak for themselves. and seniors will have insurance and 95% of americans will have insurance. this is a day. >> mr. speaker, the house is not

in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. would members take their conversations off the floor? the gentlelady deserves to be heard. the gentleman deserves to be heard. ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, this is a day -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. ms. jackson lee: that courage will be the call of the day. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise? >> ask permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> over the past 14 months i have held 235 meetings and town hall meetings -- the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. will members take their conversations off the floor? the gentleman deserves to be the gentleman deserves to be heard.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will continue. >> thank you, mr. speaker. over the past year i've held hundreds of town hall meetings, received and sent hundreds of thousands of emails and heard from my constituents loud and clear. there is much we can agree on with each side of the aisle and we did not fix the underproblem of health care. we still have will have $ 7 -- 700 bill -- $700 billion in waste. we'll have a medicare program that's going bankrupt and instead we take another $500 billion from medicare. we take $52 billion from social security. we cannot confuse anger with action, passion with policy or rancor with results.

we have to understand that we will not give up ow on real health care reform that really cuts costs and saves lives to make it acceptable to all. we will never, never, never give up. the speaker pro tempore: will members to my left please control their comments? the gentleman deserves to be heard. the gentleman will continue. mr. murphy: but above all, we have to make sure this is not a moment that divides america. to use the words of abraham lincoln, we must end this debate with understanding that we must have malice toward none with charity toward all and to bind up the nation's wounds that will include working together in the future to make sure we have real health care reform and help take care of those in need.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon rise? the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. blumenauer: today we have a chance to set a record for establishing health care reform. we have some of the finest health care in the world, but too many are unable to get it, hundreds of thousands going bankrupt each year from medical costs. people with health insurance. today, the house will enact landmark legislation to save medicare, improve quality, not just fully paid for, but actually help reduce the deficit. the americans will enjoy benefits, not just into the future, but this year. more tax credits to help small business provide care, kids on their parents' insurance until age 26, seniors help paying for prescription drug costs. but the real story is not

numbers and slogans. today, congress will finally give americans the health care they need and deserve. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. gohmert: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask my colleagues across the aisle, sometimes i raise my voice, i'm not going to do this, so i need you to listen. i'm very sincere. i know that there are some wonderful-hearted people who have been standing against this bill from a pro-life position. they're good hearts. but they've been sold a bill of goods. you don't have to believe me. i have an incredible nonreversal rate as a judge and chief justice, as a lawyer, very successful. but let me tell you, there are people waiting to get the executive order struck down the moment it is signed. you needed to hear from somebody who is wanting -- who

understands your heart and understands where you're coming from. the executive order won't work and in the end, your standout will have been for nothing. please take another look at it. this is the wrong thing to have your vote swayed by. you can't say you weren't warned. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin rise? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. kagen: today in the house of representatives we must take a positive step forward and guarantee an end, and end to the discrimination against all citizens regardless of the way they were born or the ailments they have. this bill will save lives and save jobs by putting patients first, strengthen medicare and

guaranteeing access for all of us. no longer will a child's illness cause a family to go broke and lose their home. senior citizens will see stronger and better medicare as we begin to close the prescription drug program doughnut hole. small business owners like myself will be able to buy health insurance for all their employees at the same discounts that big corporations do. we're beginning to fix what's broken in our health care system and improve on what we already have at a price we can all afford to pay because this bill will be not only paid for, but will cut our deficit by $1 trillion over time. i yield back. >> mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. the house is not in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. poe: request per noigs address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one

minute. mr. poe: mr. speaker, today is a defining moment in this nation's history. will we choose the path of individual liberty or choose the path of government tyranny. will we choose the path to be in kohl of our own health or will we choose to go the way of a european nanny state where government forces health choices upon us? will we choose to uphold the sacred motto, we the people? or will we return to the chains and slavery of government and choose, we, the subjects? the choice is clear, the american people don't desire for apressive, intrusive government in charge of their health. the people want to control their own lives. thomas payne said these are the times that try men's souls. tyranny, like hell is not easily conquered. our founders made the right, difficult choice. so will we at this time on this day, this hour, stand for government tyranny or personal

liberty. i choose we the people, not we the subjects. and that's just the way it is. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. >> mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey rise? >> i seek unanimous consent to change the number of one minutes to unlimited. the speaker pro tempore: recognitions for one minute is within the discretion of the chair. >> mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey. >> i seek unanimous consent to extend the number of one minutes to 10. mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the chair is using its discretion not to recognize more than five minutes on each side. >> parliamentary inquiry.

parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his inquiry. >> within the discretion of the chair, is the chair responsible for explaining the basis for not expanding the number of one minutes so the american people can have the opportunity to hear the debate continue before the vote is taken today? the speaker pro tempore: no. pusuant to clause 8 of rule 20 proceedings will resume on motions of questions previously postponed. votes will be taken in the following order, h.r. 4840, by the yeas and nays. motion to suspend the rules on h.res. 1174 by the yeas and nays. approval of the journal by the yeas and nays. motions to suspend the rules on h.res. 1075 by the yeas and nays. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. the remaining ewill --

electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. the unfinished business is a vote on the motion of the gentlewoman from california, ms. speier, to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 4840 on which the yeas and nays are order. the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: a bill to designate the facility of the united states postal service located at 1979 cleveland avenue in columbus, ohio, as the clarence d. lumpkin post office. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill.

without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is on the question of agreeing to the speaker's approval of the journal on which the yeas and nays are requested. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: the chair notices a disturbance in the gallery in contravention of the rules of the house. the serget at arms will remove the persons responsible for the disturbance and restore order to the gallery. the house will be in order.

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 224, the nays are 188, the journal stands as the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 229, the the nays are 189, the journal stands

as approved. the unfinished business is on the vote of the jotion of the gentleman from missouri to agree to 1075 of which the yeas and nays were ordered. the clerk will report their title of the resolution. the clerk: house resolution 1075, resolution commending the members of the agri-business development teams of the national guard for their efforts together with personnel of the department of agriculture and the united states agency for international development, to modernize agricultural practices and increase food production in war-torn countries. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and agree to the resolution as amended. member will record their votes by electronic device -- device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly

prohibited by the u.s. house of

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 418, the nays are three. 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the resolution is agreed to and without objection the motion to reconsider laid on the table. without objection the title is amended. the house will be in order.

for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> mr. speaker, i have a unanimous consent request. mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his request. >> i ask unanimous consent due to previous district commitments in houston yesterday i was not able to vote on roll call votes taken during the evening of march 19 and march 20 and i rise today to notify the house and the public on aye of voted on those missed roll call votes. roll call vote, house vote 144, yes, 145, yes, 146, yes, 147, yes, 148, no, 149, yes, 150, yes, 151, yes, 153, yes, 152, yes, 154 yes. i take my voting responsibilities -- i don't take them lightly. my voting percentage in congress in the 111th congress is 96%. i rarely miss votes but with the

long week in washington, like all of us had, i had previous commitments i couldn't miss in the district and i ask unanimous consent. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. the house will be in order. the chair will make an announcement. on september 27, 1995, after a misuse of handouts on the floor of the house and after bipartisan request -- at the bipartisan request of the committee of standards of official conduct the chair announced that any handout distributed in or around the chamber during proceedings of the house must bear the name of the member authorizing this distribution. that the content of a handout must comport with the standard of propriety and apply toward spoken and debate or inserted in the record and that failure to comply with these requirements may constitute a breach of

decorum and could give rise to a question of privilege. on january 7, 1997, the speaker reiterated these standards as guidelines for the 105th congress and they have been so reiterated but the successive speakers and each successive congress. the chair takes this opportunity to remind all members of the need to maintain the level of decorum that properly dignyifies the proceedings of this house. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york rise? ms. slaughter: mr. speaker. by direction of the committee on rules, i call up house resolution h.res. 1203 and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the -- -- the bill.

the clerk: resolved, that upon the adoption to modify the first time home buyers credit and the case of members of the armed forces and certain other federal employees and for other purposes. and the topics addressed by the bill h.r. 4872, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010, for two hours equally divided and controlled by the majority leader and minority leader or their respective designees. section 2, after debate pursuant to the first section of this resolution it shall be in order to take from the speaker's table the bill h.r. 3590, to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to modify the firm time home buyers' credit and certain other federal employees. and for other purposes with the senate amendment thereto and to consider in the house without

intervention of any point of order except those arising under clause 10 of rule 21 a single motion offered by the majority leader or his designee that the house concur in the senate amendments. the senate amendments and the motion shall be considered as read. the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question. section 3, if the motion specified in section 2 is adopted, it shall be in order to consider in the house the bill h.r. 4872, it to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010, if called up by the majority leader or his designee. all points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 10 of rule 21. the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part a of the report of the committee on rules accompanying this resolution modified by the the amendment printed in part b of

the report of the committee on rules shall be considered as adopted. the bill as amended shall be considered as read. all points of order against provisions in the bill as amended are waived. the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill as amended to final passage without intervening motion except for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. section 4, until completion of proceedings enabled by the first three sections of this resolution, a, the chair may decline to entertain any intervening motion except as expressly provided herein, resolution, question, or notice. b, the chair may decline to entertain the question of consideration. c, the chair may postpone such proceedings to such time as -- as may be designated by the speaker. d, the second sentence of clause 1-a of rule 19 shall not apply and, a, -- e, any proposition admissible under the first three sections of this resolution

shall be considered as read. section 5, and the engrossment of 4872, the clerk shall amend the title so as to read, an act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title 2 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010, senate concurrent resolution 13 the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin rise? >> i raise a point of order against this because it violates section 426-a of the congressional budget acts. it waives all points of order except those arriving under clause 10 of rule 21, which includes a waiver of section 425 of the congressional budget act and on that, mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct, the house will be in order. the gentleman makes a point of order that the resolution

violates section 426-a of 1974 and the gentleman -- the gentleman has met the threshold of the rule and the gentleman from wisconsin and a member opposed will each control 10 minutes of debate. the chair recognizes the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. ryan: let me quote from a letter to the director of the congressional budget office, quote, estimated that the total cost of those mandates to state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector would greatly exceed the annual thresholds established under the unfunded man cates reform act. -- mandates reform act. this bill is the mother of all unfunded mandates. there are mandates on states. the new medicare mandate is expected to cost $20 billion additional on states. mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order.

the gentleman deserves to be heard. the gentleman may continue. mr. ryan: let's start with a state mandate, $20 billion on states in medicaid. democratic governors have been speaking out against this. let me quote governor rendell of pennsylvania, quote, i think it's an unfunded mandate we don't have the wherewithal to absorb the cost of this bill without new sources of revenue. there's an individual mandate, mandating individuals purchase health insurance or face a fine by the i.r.s. which will need $10 billion additional dollars to police and enforce this mandate thravepls business mandates that mandates businesses provide health insurance or face penalties. if you don't offer health insurance coverage you pay $2,000 per employees. if you do offer health insurance coverage, but one of your employees decides to take the federal subsidy, you have to pay up to $,000 per employee

anyway. there's a health plan mandate. there are mandates on health plans to comply with new federal benefits, mandates without any funds to meet these new requirements. there are new medical loss ratios of 80% orle -- 85%. this hardly jibes with the thought that if you have like what you have you can keep it. there's a provider mandate that mandates many providers must actually provide exactly what washington says. they're forced to take unilateral reimbursement cuts from a new independent payment advisory board. at this time, i want to elaborate quite a bit more but i'll reserve the balance of of my time. the speaker: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. does anyone wish to claim time in opposition. >> yes, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york is recognized. >> i yield myself such time as

i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognize. ms. slaughter: this is about -- in reality this is about blocking much-needed health care reform in this nation. those who oppose the process don't want debates or votes on health care itself, they want to make reform go away. i know my colleagues on our side will vote yes so we can consider this important legislation on its merits and not stop it on a procedural motion. let's stop wasting time on parliamentary loopholes so those who -- because they can vote against it on final passage. we must pass this important legislation today and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. ryan: may i inquire how much time is remaining between the two sides, mr. speaker? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin has

eight minutes and the gentlelady from new york has 9 1/4 minutes. mr. ryan: let's look at the fiscal consequences of the bill. i think we'll hear long today how this bill reduces the deficit according to the congressional budget office. i would simply say the oldest trick in the book in washington is you can manipulate a piece of legislation to manipulate the final score that comes out. let's take a look at the subsequent analysis by the congressional budget office. let's look at the claims being made and the reality we're facing. this bill double counts billions of dollars. it takes $70 billion of premiums from the class act to spend on this new government program, not instead of going to the class act. it take $53 billion and -- in social security taxes and spends it on this new program. the congressional budget office is telling us, in order to fulfill all the discretionary requirements, $71 billion will be required to manage this new

government-run health care system. they're saying, the congressional budget office, that medicare part a trust mund, the trust fund itself will be raided to the tune of $398 billion. so if we actually count a dollar once, which is how law and math works this bill has a $454 billion deficit. i find it interesting and note worthy that two days ago the speaker of the house said we'll be passing legislation in april doing the doc fix. that's $208 billion. according to the congressional budget office, when that will pass, combined with the double counting and gimmicks and smoke and mirror, we'll have a $662 billion deficit under this bill alone. now, mr. speaker, let's think about the economic consequences. because the economic consequences that will be born by this bill are truly horrific. people are losing jobs in this country. our unemployment rate is near

10%. for us to get our unemployment rate back to where it was tpwhever economic crisis, back to 5%, we will literally have to create 250,000 jobs every month for five years in this nation. so what does this bill do? it imposes a new tax increase of $569.2 trillion over half a trillion in new taxes on labor, on capital, on families, on small businesses, on work, on jobs. and look at what we're looking at. before even passing this bill, mr. speaker, we are going into a tidal wave of red ink of debt. the interest alone on the national debt that's about to befall us will be crushing to our economy. i ask the congressional budget office, what would my three children's -- children face when they're my age? mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. the gentleman deserves to be heard.

i ask all members and staff to take their conversations off the floor. the gentleman will continue. mr. ryan: mr. speaker, what we have heard from the c.b.o. is just alarming. by the time my three kids are my age, i'm 40 and they're 5, 6, and 8 years old, the c.b.o. said the path we are on before passing this bill, the tax rate on that generation by the time they're 40 years old will be, the 10% bracket goes up to 25%. middle income taxpayers pay 63% and the top rate small businesses pay will be 88%. this is the legacy we're leaving the next generation. last year, the general accountability office said the unfunded liability of the federal government, meaning the debt we owe to the promises being made, was $62 trillion. you know what they say today? $76 trillion.

and what are we doing here? a $2.4 trillion new, unfunded entitlement on top of all of that. we can't even afford the government we've got right now, and we're going to be putting this new, unfunded entitlement on top of it? mr. speaker, at the end of the day, though, what's most insidious, what's most concerning, what's most troubling about this bill, is what the future holds this bill subscribes to the arrogant idea that washington knows best. that washington can organize and micro manage the entire health care sector of this country. 17% of our economy. 1/6 of our economy. let me give you a glimpse into that future, mr. speaker. this is the treasury's 2009 financial report. it tells us that we are walking into an ocean of red ink of debt, of deficit, of spending.

and the only way to get this under control, the only way to stop a debt crisis from befalling this country much like europe is about to walk into, if you have government-ruve tal government the rest of the health care sector over, is to deeply and systematically ration health care. think about what's in this legislation. we have a new competitive effectiveness research board, placed in the stimulus legislation that decides what treatments are worth paying for. we have a new medicare commission called the independent payment advisory board that makes independent cuts based on cost considerations, bipassing the authority of congress. we have a new u.s. preventive task force, an agency that recently said women in their 40's don't need to do mammograms. that's given unprecedented power to make decisions that are normally made by patients and doctors. what this bill does is it says this. we are no longer going to trust

the will, the interest, and the decisions of patients and their doctors. they don't know you have enough. we're going to take the poe you are and -- power and money from the citizens, washington knows best. washington will set up elaborate boards and bureaucracies of technocrats who can better micromanage those decisions. and the only way to get this debt crisis under control, the only way to get it under control is to ration care. with that, mechanic, i -- mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i ask unanimous consent to submit the following for the record. a one-page document explaining why the requirements in the bill are not unconstitutional. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. slaughter: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from

rhode island who is not only a valued member of the house, but whose father dedicated his life to helping with this. mr. kennedy. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. kennedy: i urge us to go forward with the rule on what have of -- on behalf of the 22% of my constituents under the age of 65 who are uninsured because they're too young to qualify for medicare or too middle class to qualify for medicaid. quote, no memorial, oration, or eulogy could more eloquently honor his memory than the earliest possible passage of this bill. for which he fought so long, his herlt and his soul are in this bill. while the above quote could

easily refer to my father, and the context could easily describe this health care debate, these words were in fact spoken by my father as he rose on the senate floor to honor his brother, president kennedy, during the debate on the 1964 civil rights act. the parallels between the struggle for civil rights and the fight to make quality, affordable health care accessible to all americans are significant. it was dr. martin lewiser king jr. who said, of all forms of in-- dr. mart inluther king jr. who said, of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane. thank you, madam speaker, for your political and moral leadership for helping those to secure a more advanced protections and benefits, especially in the area of mental health and addiction.

thank you, president obama for delivering on your promise of providing the politics of hope rather than the politics of fear. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. ryan: -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from vermont, mr. welch. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. welch:, mr. speaker, this debate has been long but it's not complete and the arguments have been very contentious but it's now time to decide. in the bill before us -- and the bill before us is long. but the question that we face is really very simple. will congress today choose on behalf of the american people who elected us to build a health care system where every american

has access to health care and where every american shares in the responsibility of paying for it? will we today reinvigorate the american dream so that no parent with a sick child will wake up wondering if they're going to have access to a doctor, so that no father who loses health care because he loses his job is going to wonder how his family is going to be provided for, so no mother who becomes success success -- sick will lose the health care she has because she is sick? will we today free ourselves from the shackles of a broken status quo, one that enriches health care companies but is punishing, punishing american families, punishing american employers and punishing american taxpayers? that's the question, mr.

speaker, that we face today, in this congress -- and this congress has a choice to act like the confident nation we are that faces head-on the challenges that we face. we will do so today by voting yes to move us so that we have a health care system in this country where every american is covered and we all help pay. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. ryan: may i inquire to the gentleman from new york how many speakers she has remaining? ms. slaughter: certainly, mr. speaker, i have three. mr. ryan: i will reserve my time then. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, you i'm pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. farr. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. farr: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i rise today to enter a letter from my nextdoor neighbor. born with spina bifida, told by his parents to leave him in the hospital because he would be

mentally retarded, he'd never be able to get out of an institutional care. his parents loved him and got him into schools, he went through public high schools, went to the university of california, graduated and got into special olympics. he tried to get a job. his coaches told him, you'll never be able to afford a job. you have a pre-existing condition. you can't afford the insurance. you'll have to stay on medicare the rest of your life. medicaid the rest of your life. he writes this letter to me, dear congressman, it goes on to say in closing, i ask that you please pass comprehensive health care package so that today's kids aren't told the same thing i was told, never again should boys and girls with disabilities hear from their mentors, you cannot afford to work. advance people into the work force, allow them to have insurance without pre-existing conditions. i'm proud that he's sitting here today in that corner, i'm proud that he's a constituent of this great country. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired.

the gentleman from wisconsin. the gentleman from wisconsin continues to reserve. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: thank you very much. let me remind us of a man that does not live today but edward kennedy told us that he had a vision and a resolve, that the health care of americans would no longer count on whether or not they were wealthy americans. and we're reminded of the words of john f. kennedy that said, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. this is not an unfunded mandate because we know so well that the c.b.o. has said that this is one that will take care of itself, that the deficit will be reduced by $130 billion, that's a deficit -- that the deficit will be cut by $1.2 trillion, it

eliminates the medicare doughnut and it ensures some -- insures some 32 million people. but i am standing here today because 45,000 americans die every year like eric, a 32-year-old lawyer who went to the emergency room not once but three times. they sent him away with antibodies ands a prince but he died -- aspirins but he died. i cannot tolerate that and today we will heal this land and we will vote for the health care bill. it is not an unfunded mandate. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentleman from wisconsin. continues to reserve. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from illinois, mr. hear. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. hare: thank you, mr. speaker. i was here last november and i talked about my father and my mother. my dad was ill, we lost our house and everything that we ever had and when i came home from my sister's wedding there

was a deputy sheriff with a notice to evict and my dad thought that somehow he had let us down. two days before his death, a death that came way too early for somebody at 67, i sat by his bed and he said, just do two things for me, two promises. take care of your mother and the girls. but the pain that the loss of this house has caused and the pain this family has had to go through, whatever you do, please do not let another family have to go through this. last november i cast my vote in favor of our bill on behalf of my dad, my family and for those people and tonight i will cast my vote in favor of this bill not for just my dad but for the people who every eight seconds in this nation file bankruptcy and foreclosure notices because of health care. it is time to stand up, it is time to be counted and tonight i will stand up and i will be counted among the yeses. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin.

the gentleman from wisconsin continues to reserve. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from wisconsin, dr. kagen. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. kagen: mr. speaker, today in the house of representatives we're going to answer the essential question, what kind of nation are we? what kind of nation would deny 30 million citizens access to health care? what kind of nation would allow a child's illness to cause their family to go broke and lose their home? what kind of nation would turn its back on neighbors who are in need, our seniors, our children and millions of unemployed workers who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs and soon their hope? what kind of nation are we? and what kind of nation will we become if we do not pass this rule and pass essential health care legislation that we need? this bill will save lives, it will save jobs by putting patients first and guarantee that made care will be there when we need it -- medicare will be there when we need it. no longer will a child's illness

cause their family to go broke and lose their home. senior citizens will benefit by gaining access to prevention services with no co-payments, no deductibles. this is going to be our time and i'd encourage all of us to stop pointing fingers and start joining hands. pass this essential legislation. save our nation. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from wisconsin has two minutes left. the gentlelady from new york has 1 1/4 minutes. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, let me yield 45 seconds to the gentlelady from california, ms. lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california is recognized for 25 seconds. ms. slaughter: mr. fattah. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for 3/4 of a minute. mr. fattah: i rise to thank the chairwoman and in support of the rule. this easter season we're reminded again that if we can just hold on past friday, sunday will come.

and america's been holding on for over 100 years. we've seen bankruptcies, we've seen needless deaths, we've seen families denied insurance and children denied needed health care but sunday has come. and this majority in this house is going to rise to the occasion. we'll beat back that ipt -- this point of order but much more importantly we're going to beat these insurance companies and give the american public a health insurance reform bill that we all can be proud of. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. ryan: mr. speaker, we can do better. it doesn't have to be this way. this is not democracy. this is not good government. one of the cornerstone principles of this nation that our founders created upon is the principle that we govern by consent of the governed. that principle is being turned on its head here today. more to the point, the shame of

all of this is we've been offering constructive solutions from the very beginning. we have asked to you work with us on a bipartisan basis, step by step, piece by piece, work on the uninsured, work on pre-existing conditions, work on costs, work on prices, work on the deficit, all along the other side said, no, we're doing it our way. one party rule. this bill clearly violates the house rules. we shouldn't be waiving our rules and imposing these costly mandates. we're going to hear many emotional appeals today. let me tell you a little bit about my own. i've got the best mother-in-law a man could ever ask for. she's five years in a phasing stage three ovarian cancer and she's still fighting it because of a drug call that's keeping her alive. well, if she was a british citizen she wouldn't have it because they deny this drug to their cancer patients. we're setting up the identical

same bureaucracies they have there here. this bill explodes the deficit, it explodes the debt and the only way to fix it is to put that kind of rationing in place. that is not what our government should be doing. this bill is a fiscal frankenstein. it's a government takeover, it's not democratic. mr. speaker, my colleagues, it is not too late to get it right. let's start over, let's defeat this bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. has 30 seconds. ms. slaughter: i don't believe my colleague yielded back. may i ask if that's his intention? i'm sorry if i missed that. mr. speaker, i want to urge my colleagues again to vote yes on this motion to consider so we can debate and pass the important legislation today and

i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. all time for debate has expired. the question is shall the house now consider the resolution. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. mr. ryan: mr. speaker. mr. speaker, on that i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays have been requested. all those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. members will record their vothe by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] t because they are using the

unprecedented reconciliation process, for a bill of this size, they dropped the 60-vote threshold down to 51. i do not see how republicans can -- host: what about republicans putting forward amendments? guest: they had 20 amendments. i do not see the likelihood of having one pass. host: our line for democrats is 202-737-0002. republicans, 202-737-0001. you can send us an email. can you give us a sense of the flavor of the debate on the floor? you got a lot of angry comments aimed at a couple of your colleagues, including barney frank and john lewis us thing te "n" word as he walked through the halls of the capitol.

guest: when you use a totalitarian tactics, people can do whatever they want. it is not a proper. i think i would stop short of characterizing the 20,000 people protesting, that all of them were doing that. host: those are some of the stories. guest: of course. i think the left loves to play a couple of incidents in here or there, anything to draw attention from what they are doing and that is that they have 250-some democrats in the house. they do not have them. they are buying votes. the rules committee finished at midnight last night. it is called slaughter house rules right now, named after the chairwoman of the committee. this is the first time in history where we have not had an open rule. i do not want to get stuck on procedure, but they never

allowed republicans to offer amendments. today's rule that the health care bill is under, that is being called a super max rule, we have no ability to even ask the chair anything during the debate. and the debate will be only an hour of debate, for a 1/6 takeover of our economy. this is some crazy totalitarian tactics. host: you think the vote could happen as early as 2:00? guest: we come into session at 1:00. if we had the votes, we will get to the bill. if they do not have the votes, we will see this go into the night until they can buy more votes prepar. caller: from alabama. i am really tired, as a republican, i am a conservative -- i am tired of hearing the

republicans a vote no, no, no. the fact is, the democrats could have passed this thing through if they wanted to. they have a super majority in the senate. they have a super majority in congress. i am tired of hearing? that no, no about republicans' third gue. guest: that is what i was talking about. to make claims that the republicans are using dilatory tactics. we have never had the chance to say yes. the caller is right. they have 253 votes, and they haveneed 216 to pass the bill. host: your republican colleague

did support the bill? do think he will support it today? guest: i cannot imagine he would, especially with the abortion language. whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, most people agree, most americans agree that they do not want taxpayer money to be used to fund abortion. they do not want our tax dollars to be used to kill unborn children. this will make it legal. i cannot imagine that congressman go or bart stupak will go for that. host: and your catholic? guest: i am catholic. and i am pro-life. a lot of people who are pro- choice did not want their tax payer money being used to fund abortion. host: the catholic bishops -- catholic bishops came down on this bill.

you have catholic nuns saying this would help children and older americans did not have insurance. guest: the leadership of the churches to the bishops structure and not through other organizations. there are other organizations that use catholic in their names. i am not saying catholic hospitals are leftist. the key is can we keep the left for running the government? it appears that if this bill passes, this will -- this will move us into a european, socialist type of state. host: our guest is a republican from california, congressman devin nunes. bonnie from maryland. caller: i have a comment and question. first the government interfered with the house and we have a collapse. then they interfered with the banks.

another one to take over the health care. my question is, because i have arrested more than once -- asked it more than once, with all these revenues from the closing of banks, where will the money come from, the revenue to pay for this health care? it is ridiculous. it is not all right -- a right to force everybody to have health care. if you need it, there is a way to get it. there is local governments -- they are taxing us to death to pay for people cannot afford it. why is it the federal government's responsibility to set in an override the state's to take our money. host: we will get a response. guest: the country cannot afford it. when you hear the democrats say things that this is paid for, and cbo scores this, and it will

save $1.4 chilly and over 10 years. it is not true. they have used -- $1.4 trillion over 10 years. you cannot take medicare and medicaid, which are totally broke, and then take 30 million people who are uninsured in this country and give them government-run insurance and think that will not cost anything. it is not believable and it is not true. if you believe that this is not going to cost the government anything, you are likely to see it leprechauns on writing on unicorns with pots of gold circling the capital. host: it is an interesting analogy. steve, joining us on the independent line in daytona beach, florida. good morning.

caller: i am a veteran. most of my life i was a republican. when bill clinton was in, he helped veterans get insurance which helped me out. i benefit from it today. it is government insurance. i love it. it is the best health care i have ever had in my life. it's sad that republicans throw all these fear tactics passed the general public. it is ridiculous, it is too liberal, if they are supposed to be conservatives. i am for the health care. i am very happy at what the president is doing. thank you very much. host: what you pay for health care? caller: i have a co-pay of $5 or

$10. host: 2 pay a monthly premium? -- do you pay a monthly premium? caller: no, i do not. i had one of these sleep apnea machines. they did extensive research on my sleep apnea. it has been very helpful for me. i never have a problem. i go to the v.a. clinic. it is the same thing congressman have appeared so many friends of mine have children and they are uninsured, i do not see why they cannot have the same insurance that i have in that congressmen have. guest: i was starting to say we are not using fear tactics. if you are fearful for what is happening right now, you should be. although the gentleman has a

veterans' benefits, the problem with the veterans' benefits as ben that the hospitals continued to be inefficient, continue to spend more money every year. the congress has been very generous to make sure that anyone who has served in the military has access to health care. i deal with constant issues dealing with veterans and their health care benefits. why? because it is a government run health care program. it is easy to sit there and say you have all these problems and you are not paying for them. if we could just give money to everyone, sprinkle it out like i made the joke earlier about the leprechaun or the easter bunny, there is no free lunch anymore. we will run 1.5 trillion dollars deficit this year and every year after. now is not the time to be creating a new government run health care system when we know that medicaid is a government run, it is broke.

medicare is a government run and broke. we are putting more people into medicaid on this bill. they will cut medicare advantage. if you are on that, that will be cut. there will be more people on basic medicare. if you look at the veterans' benefits, and they will not touch that in this bill, those programs do not work that well. as much as we would like for everyone to have health care, it just cannot happen. the federal government should leave this to the states. the states aren't working with local communities. we need less government, not more -- the states are working with local communities. the more we tax and create big government programs, the worse off our country will be in the long run. host: what impact will this bill have on california? guest: only 20% of the doctors in my district will see medicaid patients.

now you will double the number of people on medicaid in this bill? our doctors will quit. they cannot afford to operate the way they are now. one of the things not even in this bill, they love to see the bills scored zero, in fact it does not. medicare is shorting doctors right now. doctors are looking at a 25% cut right now. that fix is not in this bill. when you add that back into the bill, the bill goes into a- score. host: mary, republican line from florida. good morning. caller: good morning. someone had said earlier they had passed the prescription for the elderly are few years ago, but they did not pay for. that was one part of the health care bill, just a small part. this is a major one. what i wanna know is since there

are no republicans supporting this, independence are not supporting this, is there any way to have a bill that the democrats are the ones, with their families and their kids for future generations and the unions who support them are the ones to pay for this? guest: that is one of the proposals we offered in the committee structure. i want to go back to this totalitarian tactics they are using. we cannot even offer an amendment like that. we would love to offer amendments that would be created, exempt certain states. some of the senators have been able to exempt certain states. we had a bailout for louisiana. these were all tactics used to buy votes. they are tactics that are anti- democratic. i do not know if this bill will

pass or not. my bet is that they will buy enough votes to get the votes. there is no way to change this bill. the way they have structured the rule until midnight last night, for the first time ever we have a role like this. it is a very dangerous situation. host: anne from chattanooga, tennessee. good morning.

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 228, the nays are 195. the question of consideration is decided in the affirmative. without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

the house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? >> mr. speaker, i rise to a point of order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his point of order. >> mr. speaker, i make a point of order against consideration of resolution. the resolution violate it's clause 9 of rule 21 by waiving that rule against consideration of h.r. 4872. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california makes a point of order that the resolution violates clause 9-b of rule 21. under clause 9-b of rule 21 the gentleman from california and a member opposed each will control 10 minutes of debate on the question of consideration. following that debate the chair will put into question of

consideration, the chair recognizes the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, mr. speaker the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. the house will be in order. the gentleman deserves to be heard will members take their conversations off the floor? the gentleman will continue. mr. issa: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, my point of order is quite simple. in the last two weeks both the house republicans and the house democrats have passed sweeping anti-earmark resolutions. moreover, the leadership of the house has said that they will ensure that earmarks are in the past. but, mr. speaker, this legislation is still -- filled with earmarks. not the least of which is the louisiana purchase. not the least of which is the bismarck provision.

mr. speaker, the amount of earmarks violating both republican and democratic house rules against earmarks is beyond the counting of any of us. so, my point of order is intended to stop the bill until earmarks can be removed from the bill. i might note, mr. speaker, last night, until late at night, for more than 13 hours, republicans offered 80 amendments, many of which could have fixed portions of this bill, none, i repeat, mr. speaker, none were ruled in order. mr. speaker, i make a point of order that an earmark is tantamount to a bribe. an earmark to receive a vote is clearly a way to get a vote in return for something of value. mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman deserves to be heard. the house will be in order.

mr. issa: mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will continue to suspend. the house will be in order. members will take their seats, staff will take their seats, remove their conversations from the floor. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, this legislation is a vast tax increase and a vast increase in the reach of government. it deserves to be considered on its merit not based on promises and bribes or financial gain to various members' districts. therefore it is clear we must remove all earmarks before this legislation can move forward. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. for what purpose does the

gentlelady from new york rise? ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentlelady rise in opposition to the motion? ms. slaughter: i do. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for as much time as she may consume. ms. slaughter: thank you, mr. speaker. my friends on the other side of the aisle are attempting to use a purely technical violation of the earmark identification rule to try and block the house from even considering the underlying legislation. in fact, the budget committee did include an earmark statement in their committee report. however, a minor technical error in that statement made the legislation subject to a point of order. the budget committee has since filed two clarifying earmark statements in the congressional record. clearly these statements, as well as the initial statement in the committee report, should show that it is not -- it does not violate the spirit of earmark rule. i have copies of these

statements for any members who need clarification. the rule on the underlying legislation is served to be debated on the merit, not stopped by purely procedural motions. i urge my colleagues to vote yes so we can consider this important legislation so important to the american people. let's not waste any more time and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, does that -- i'm flabbergasted, perhaps the gentlelady from new york could tell me, does that mean that under the rule that the louisiana purchase, the cornhusker kickback, the gator aid and the bismarck bank job will be removed from the legislation after its passage? ms. slaughter: i'm happy to tell you that. the final bill will not have specific provisions. the provisions that are in apply to multiple states and a provision in the education

portion of the reconciliation bill regarding state-owned banks is being struck by the manager's amendment. mr. issa: reclaiming my time. i'm going to simply state for the record that our reading is that all of these will go to the president in the bill and of course if by some miracle a bribe for one becomes a bribe for many states, somehow i don't think the american people will find that particularly a happy day for anyone except for perhaps the few states that receive for a short time a special consideration. with that i yield to the gentleman from arizona, mr. flake. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from arizona is recognized for one minute. mr. flake: i thank the gentleman for yielding -- yielding. we're all aware of the special provisions or earmarks in the bill. the cornhusker kickback, the louisiana purchase, the gator aid. these earmarks, though, apart from the role they play in greasing the skids for this bill, are probably the least offensive part of the

legislation. we desperately need health care reform. reform that others will costs and improves quality through competition and market discipline. but such measures such as allowing the purchase of health care across state lines and allowing individuals to purchase insurance with pre-tax dollars are -- pretax dollars are absent from the bill. nid the bill contains increases in taxes, bureaucracy that will only serve to further shield the health care industry from true competition. competition that is so desperately needed. mr. speaker, without this bill the fiscal challenges that we face are incredibly steep. with this bill they are almost insurmountable. there will come a day that the piper will have to be paid. we've shown ourselves unwilling to fess up to the challenges today. we can only hope that those elected this november in the year -- and in the years to come will show more courage than week of shown today. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from florida, ms.

castor. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from florida is recognized for two minutes, but just before she begins, the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentlelady from florida is recognized. ms. castor: well, i thank the chairwoman of the rules committee, ms. slaughter, for yielding the time. we're going to fight through these tactics today and side with the american people. and side with families all across this great country. for families that have health insurance, the insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel your coverage if you get sick. and if you switch jobs the insurance companies will not be able to bar you from coverage just because you have a pre-existing condition. like asthma or diabetes or some other disease that happens to run in your family. and for our parents and our grandparents and our neighbors who rely on medicare, medicare will get stronger. not one benefit will be cut. not one. despite the scare tactics from the other side of the aisle,

medicare will be stronger, the prescription drug coverage will improve, we're going to focus on prevention because prevention works, it saves money and it saves lives. we're going to pay doctors that serve medicare patients more money because it -- mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady will suspend. the gentlelady's correct. the house will be in order. members will cease their conversations, remove their conversations from the floor. the gentlelady from florida deserves to be heard. ms. castor: thank you, mr. speaker. yes, medicare will get stronger. we're going to focus on prevention because prevention works, it saves lives and it saves money. we're going to pay doctors that serve medicare patients more money so that the medicare patients can keep their doctor and we can keep those smart doctors that serve medicare patients working for all of us. and for small business owners and families that do not have

affordable health coverage today, we're going to create a new shopping exchange where they can compare plans in transparent way and also provide new tax credits for small business owners and families all across america. yes, we're going to side with american families today because they're not just members of congress. we're daughters and sons and parents. we're grandchildren. and for once and for all, we're going to ensure that all families all across america have what members of congress have, we're going to side with the families against the insurance companies, slide through these tactics and pass this historic landmark legislation. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: i would at this time yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from texas, mr. poe. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for 45 seconds. mr. poe: this bill has special deals for special folks.

the louisiana purchase, special deal for florida. special deal for two states in new england. and a special deal for connecticut. and as much as my friends like to rail on the insurance companies, they give a special deal to michigan blue cross so they don't have to get the new tax increases. why is that? because it's special deals for special folks. this bill is unconstitutional. texas state attorney general plus 30 other attorneys general will sue the federal government if this bill passes because of special deals for special folks. and also this bill is unconstitutional because it forces the american people to buy a product. nowhere in the constitution does the federal government have the authority to force to you buy anything, whether it's insurance, a car or a box of doughnuts. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas' time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves. the gentleman from california. the gentleman from california. .(3 is is mr. speaker, the ranking

member needs 15 seconds to enter into a colloquy and i yield 15 seconds for a question. mr. dreier: i would like to engage in a colloquy with my committee chair. ms. slaughter: if we use your time. mr. dreier: the one thing we are guaranteed and tell me if i'm wrong, one thing we are guaranteed is that the senate bill is the only thing that if it passes today will become public law, is that correct? is that correct? ms. slaughter: i'm sorry, i couldn't hear. mr. dreier: the rule that was drafted and reported out last night, is it not true that the only thing we are guaranteed to have become public law at the end of this day if the votes are there, is in fact, the senate bill --. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman's time has expired. is is mr. speaker i yield -- ms. slaughter: mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. ms. slaughter: i yield one minute to the the gentleman from michigan, mr. kildee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. kildee: mr. speaker, i spent six years in the catholic see himary studying to be a priest and i will be 81 years old this september. certainly at this stage in my life i'm not going to change my mind and support abortion and not jeopardyize my eternal salvation. i sought counsel from my priest, family, friends and constituents and read the senate prohibition more than a dozen times. i'm convinced that the original prohibition of the hyde amendment is in the senate bill. no federal funds can be used for abortion except in the case of

rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. i am a pro-life member both for the born and unborn. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan yields back. the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from california is recognized. is is i hear a parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kansas has a parliamentary inquiry. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, it was my understanding that the chair woman of the rules committee just said that if the language in the senate bill that was referred to by the gentleman from california is going to be changed, would that not mean that the senate bill would have to go back to the senate for further action on that body? mr. speaker, in order to keep the american public informed, let meno carrierringconnect 120

the speaker pro tempore: not interpretting the pending resolution. mr. tiahrt: further inquiry, mr. speaker. mr. tiahrt: i'm asking a question that if a bill is changed, does it not have to go back to the other body for further action? because the the gentlewoman from new york has assured the gentleman from california that his concerns about specific sections that were used to get specific votes is going to be changed by the manager's amendment, would that not change the underlying senate bill, which would then have to go back

to the other body for further action? is that not true. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will not interpret the meaning of the pending resolution as it is being debated by members in the present debate. the gentleman from california. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, i'm a little confused then. perhaps in a parliamentary inquiry explain to me that if a bill is changed once it comes from the other body, does it not have to return to that body for further action? the speaker pro tempore: i will not respond to a member's characterization as to what the bill's intention is. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: under the rules of the house, if the house is not in order as it was not when the gentlelady from new york whern she said she could not hear the question, wouldn't the time not tally, thus allowing her to get the question even though we gave 25 seconds for that process?

the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognized the gentleman from california for 10 seconds. the time expired before you completed your question. the gentlelady does not have the right to request time for time she does not control. mr. issa: if you recall, mr. speaker, i yielded an additional 10 and the gentlelady from new york repeated that she could not hear the question. in fairness to the tally of the time, how can that time run when she could not hear and wouldn't we be entitled to be entitled to the time lost in debate because the house was not in order and she could not hear? the speaker pro tempore: the chair may have -- may stop the clock while obtaining order. the chair acknowledges that in the 15 seconds first allotted to the the gentleman from california, he had not completed the question. in the 10 seconds that was subsequently lent to the the

gentleman from california, he still did not finish his question and at no point in time did any member suggest they needed order from those who controlled the time, which was the gentleman from california. for what purpose does the gentleman from kansas rise? mr. tiahrt: was not the gentleman from california yielded 10 seconds and he did not get to use it? the speaker pro tempore: all time has been used. for what purpose does the gentlelady from new york rise? ms. slaughter: i'm pleased to yield one minute to the the gentlewoman from california, ms. lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california is recognized for one minute. ms. lee: i thank the gentlelady for yielding for her wonderful bold leadership. today, we will pass this historic vote to improve the health and wellness of millions of americans who suffer because they are uninsured or underinsured and because of massive gaps in the nation's health care system. i want to just say on behalf of

the congressional black caucus, we have to thank congresswoman donna christensen and our health task force, danny davis, donna edwards, chairman rangel, our majority whip, mr. clyburn, for their stellar leadership. we all cast our votes for all of the people who deserve health care, but simply cannot afford it. we cast our votes for senior citizens who will see their prescription drug costs go down. we cast our votes for all of those who have no health care and end up in emergency rooms. and we cast our votes for our children and our grandchildren so they will live longer and healthier lives. and we cast our vote in memory of those people who didn't have preventative health care and died prematurely. health care will become a right for all. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. the the gentlewoman from new york's time has expired. the gentleman from california.

mr. issa: i yield 1 1/2 minutes to mr. smith. and i would ask that the house be in order before he begins. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for 1 1/2. submit submit for those who recognize abortion is exploittation against women, prohibition of public funding satisfies the demands of social justice. regret apply the language that emerged from the senate is weak and ineffective, not by accident, but by design. it will open up the flood gates of public funding for abortion in a myriad of programs that will result in more dead babies and wounded mothers. the senate-passed bill permits health care plans and policies funded with tax credits to pay for abortions so long as the issuer of the federally-subsidized plan collects a new congressesally mandated fee from every enrollee

in the plan to pay for other peoples' abortions. the senate-passed bill creates a community fund. the stupak amendment does not apply. either the obama administration or a court will compel funding there. o.p.m., the bill creates a huge new program that would manage two or more new multistate or regional health plans -- >> the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: all members, please remove their conversations from the floor. the gentleman from new jersey deserves to be heard. the gentleman from new jersey. submit submit legislation says only one -- mr. smith: ledge says only one plan. what about the other multistate plans administered? why are those plans including abortion? this represents a radical did he pat tur from current policy.

abortion isn't health care. it is not preventative health care. we live in an age of ultrasound imaging. the ultimate window into the womb. let's protect the unborn child and its mother. this is the biggest increase in taxpayer funding ever. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves. gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i yield two minutes to the the gentleman from rhode island. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, tonight, we cast a vote to address one of our nation's greatest unsolved challenges and that is solving our nation's health care crisis. this congress is being given a once in a lifetime opportunity to fix a broken health care system that has left millions of families without the coverage and care that they deserve or struggling to keep the health care coverage that they do have.

if we seize this opportunity tonight, we can enensure that a working mom in west warwick, rhode island can wake up knowing she can afford. a dad in providence will know he can take his daughter to the doctor when she gets sick. a small business owner in westerly will be able to wake up and give his employees the coverage that he has always intended and a cancer survivor in narragansett will know she won't be denied because of a pre-existing condition. mr. speaker, after an injury left me paralyzed almost 30 years ago, members of my community rallied behind me and my family at a time when i needed it the most. it's that time in my life that december inspired me to go into public service so i could give back to the community that gave me so much at a time when i needed it the most.

tonight, i know with all of my being, i'm fulfilling that promise and i urge my colleagues to do the same by supporting this important piece of legislation. and finally give america the kind of health care coverage that it deserves. thank you, mr. speaker. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from rhode island yields back. goling from new york reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, ms. chu. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california is recognized for one minute. ms. chu: health care reform will make life better for your son, daughter, your mother and father and the people you see every day and would have made life better for eric a young man on my staff. he was 22 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes.

his family paid thousands of dollars and find lower cost care. at least they have insurance. the crisis came when he reached the age of 24 and was going to be kicked off his parents' insurance. he tried to buy insurance but was denied because of a pre-existing condition. thank goodness he got a job with us. if he had health care reform, he wouldn't have to fear because children will be covered up until their 27th birthday. with health care reform, we have a chance to save lives. for the sake of young people like eric, we must pass health care reform. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: could i inquire as to how much time each side has remaining? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california has 2 1/2 minutes. the gentlelady from new york has 2 1/4.

the gentleman from california. mr. issa: at this time, i yield 45 seconds to the the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. sensenbrenner. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin is recognized for 45 seconds. mr. sensenbrenner: the gentleman from new jersey, mr. smith, is right on. this bill expands abortion funding to the greatest extent in history. i have heard that the president is contemplating issuing an executive order to try to limit this. members should not be fooled. executive orders cannot override the clear intent of a stute. secondly, yesterday, -- statute, yesterday, everybody voted in favor of the tricare bill which reserved the d.o.d.'s right to administer this program. if an executive order moves the abortion funding in this bill away from where it is now, it will be struck down as

unconstitutional because executive orders cannot constitutionally do that. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i yield one minute to the the gentleman from georgia, mr. scott. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia is recognized for one minute. . mr. scott: thank you very much, mr. speaker. it's very significant that we're having this debate on sunday, the lord's day, because this is a day of faith and we're going to have to step forward on fate and courage. there are many people out here who have been warning us and threatening us as to whether or not what will happen to us in the november elections if we vote on this bill. that's not the question. the question is not what will happen to us in november, the question is, what will happen to the american people if we do not vote on this bill? that is why we've got to step out on faith, we've got to step out on courage. the american people are expecting it. each and every one of us were elected here for some great

purpose, at some great time. well, that great purpose is for health care for all the american people and the time is now. vote yes for this bill. and make america proud. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, point of inquiry. did i just hear an allegation of a threat? would that be a threat against an action on members of congress? is that in fact an allegation that we should consider at this time since that's what i think i heard, that members were being threatened. the speaker pro tempore: the chair cannot characterize the remarks used in a debate. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: with that, mr. speaker, i would yield the full one minute to the ranking member -- ask unanimous consent that the house is nully in order so

his question can be properly heard. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the house will be in order. mr. issa: mr. speaker, i still hear voices that could make it impossible for the question to be heard. could i ask that all members cease their conversations? the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. members and staff, including the staff behind the member, will take their seats. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: thank you, mr. speaker. at this time i yield the gentleman from california one minute for a question. >> mr. speaker, i'd like to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chair of the committee on rules and ask the question as follows. is it not true that the only thing that we know with absolute certainty if in fact that it passes is that the senate bill will become public law?

we have heard, we have heard all about, all about this reconciliation package and the gentlewoman seems to be certain of its passage. but is it not true that this rule guarantees that the only thing that will be law for sure is the senate bill which has the cornhusker kickback, the louisiana purchase and those other items? ms. slaughter: mr. dreier, s trulyly -- absolute will you true that the senate bill does contain those things, it has already been passed and requires no further action in the senate. what we will do today is pass the bill which will then be sent to the president and become law. we will this afternoon pass -- mr. dreier: reclaiming my time. the gentlewoman has just stated -- ms. slaughter: please let me answer. please let me answer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california controls the time. mr. dreier: madam speaker, mr. speaker, we now know with absolute certainty that the only thing -- ms. slaughter: no, you don't. no, you don't. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, the house is not in order. ms. slaughter: you don't know that. mr. dreier: mr. speaker.

mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the gentlelady from new york will suspend. the gentleman from california controls the time. the gentleman from california has been recognized. mr. dreier: madam speaker, mr. speaker, i encourage everyone to read the rule because the only thing that we are guaranteed upon its passage is that the senate bill with the cornhusker kickback, gator aid, the louisiana purchase and -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. dreier: becomes public law. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield myself one minute. yes, the senate bill will become law today. followed by the reconciliation bill which contains the amendments to the law which contains what everybody here wants us to take out. mr. dreier: will the gentlewoman yield? ms. slaughter: the best way they can achieve their end of removing the things that are objectionable from the senate bill is to support reconciliation. and let's see if you can do it.

mr. dreier: mr. speaker, will the gentlewoman yield? ms. slaughter: i reserve the balance. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california has not been recognized. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, part of particle -- point of parliamentary inquiry. is it not against the rules of the house to urge an action in the senate? such as voting for or assisting in reconciliation? the speaker pro tempore: researches to the senate are in order as long as they -- avoid personality. mr. issa: avoid what, mr. speaker? the speaker pro tempore: avoid personalities. mr. issa: it is now acceptable to lobby the senate from the house floor in any and all conduct and question? the speaker pro tempore: remarks addressed to the senate are not necessarily out of order. mr. issa: thank you, mr. speaker. i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i did not address the senate.

i want that to be clearly on the record and i will yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from the virgin islands, dr. kristenson. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from the virgin islands is recognized for 30 seconds. mrs. christensen: thank you. mr. speaker, as a physician and chair of health for the congressional black caucus, someone who has worked long to bring quality health care to the underserved in our country and inclusion of the virgin islands and other territories, i thank for the commitment and determination that has brought us to the brink of this great victory for all of the people of this great country. today we will make insurance accessible and affordable to 32 million americans, begin to ehe eliminate health disparts, provide our children for their full potential and ensure our seniors and disabled get the care they need. let's get on with the bill and voting yes on this bill for a healthy america and a better america. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, can i inquire as to how much time each side has remaining?

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california has 45 seconds remaining. the gentlelady from new york has 15 seconds remaining. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: i would continue to reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i have been yielded back, i'm sorry, mr. speaker, has the time been yielded back on the other side? the speaker pro tempore: it has not and the gentleman from california has the right to close. ms. slaughter: i reserve the right to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new york, i apologize, has the right to close. ms. slaughter: i reserve the balance of my time until it is given up on the other side. the speaker pro tempore: and reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. issa: mr. speaker, i wanted to inquire as to whether the gentlelady has any additional speakers other than the right to close? ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i do not. mr. issa: mr. speaker, at this time i'd like to yield to the gentleman from georgia 30 seconds to give his view of the

louisiana kickback. and purchase. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds. >> i thank the gentleman for yielding. i have to ask my friends, if the bill is as good as you say it is, why are there any bribes in the bill to begin with? president said january 25, quote, it is an ugly process and it looks like there are a bunch of backroom deals. and here's something that does not come out in the reconciliation process, $7.5 million no to hawaii, page 2,132. montana, something about biohazard. frontier states, $2 billion, page 2,238. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. kingston: it goes on. the louisiana purchase. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman's time has expired. mr. kingston: and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: mr. speaker, i regret that i have but 15 more seconds to give to my colleague.

mr. kingston: i thank the gentleman. mr. issa: mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the house is not in order. the house is not in order. >> mr. speaker, parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has been yielded 15 seconds and he controls the time. the gentleman may yield for the inquiry but it comes out of your time. mr. kingston: not one of those things comes out in the reconciliation process. my question is, the bill is so good, where has the transparency been? why all the backroom deals? why this week alone has the president had 64 calls and visits to the white house to twist arm? why the sweet ners? you know the bill is not as good as advertised. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. kingston: let's work for a bipartisan bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. >> mr. speaker, parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kansas. >> mr. speaker, it was the assumption of the body here that

all the earmarks that were contained in the senate bill would be taken care of in the reconciliation bill. if it's true that they are not all taken consideration for, do the earmark rules then apply to the rest of the bill? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will restate his parliamentary inquiry? mr. tiahrt: yes. i would be glad to. it was given the impression to the members and the people of the united states that the reconciliation bill would take care of all the earmarks in the senate bill. however, we now know that there aren't earmarks in the senate bill that are not being taken care of. so, do not the house rules on earmarks apply to the remainder of the senate bill? the speaker pro tempore: the chair will make a brief statement about the process of entertaining parliamentary inquiries. recognition for parliamentary inquiries is a matter committed to the discretion of the chair.

and exercising that discretion, the chair endeavors to supply ordinary injures i prudence principles. a parliamentary inquiry should relate in some practical sense to the proceedings. it should not seek an advisory condition. the chair fails to respond to hypothetical questions and to pend proceedings in historical context. members should not expect to engage the chair in argument. a member seeking to make a point on the merits of an issue may do so by engaging in debate. but a member should not expect to have the presiding officer or forum or validate such a point. the chair appreciates the understanding of members. with that said, with that said, the gentleman from california's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, i'm asking for an inquiry on the house rules. do the house rules apply or not? the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york has been recognized. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, is it not the purpose of your role to

make sure the rules of the house are incorporated in the discussions? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kansas -- the gentlelady from new york has been recognized. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, again, i want to urge my colleagues to vote yes on this motion to consider so that we may debate and pass this important legislation today and i yield back -- mr. speaker, i'm certain that i heard you say that the gentleman's time has expired is that not correct? the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired as well. all time having beening been ex- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend.

parliamentary inquiry from the gentleman from kansas. rules are being applied. the point of order was made and was being debated. all time has expired. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, clarification. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, shall the house now consider the resolution. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, clarification on the point of order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from kansas. mr. tiahrt: is it my understanding that you said that the rules will apply to the senate bill on earmarks that were not covered by the reconciliation bill? the speaker pro tempore: the point of order was raised against the pending resolution. the point of order was debated. the question is shall the house now consider the resolution. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: on this we demand the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. all those in favor of taking

this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will be a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 230, the nays are 200. the question of consideration is decided in the affirmative. the gentlelady from new york is recognized for one hour. the gentlelady will suspend. the house will be in order. the gentlelady will continue to su members will take their seats. staff will take their seats on both sides of the aisle. the gentlelady from new york deserves to be heard. the house will be in order.

the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: thank you, mr. speaker. for the purpose of debate only, i yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlelady from california, mr. dreier, and all time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, these have been solemn day, not just because of the important legislation before us. yesterday, just steps away from where we are now standing, a group of protesters engaged in dangerous and derogatory

behavior toward four of our members. i believe the attacks yesterday were a step back for this country a stark reminder of where we used to be and a reminder of how much further we must travel to fulfill the promise of equality. it was only two weeks ago that my colleague, john lewis, marked the 45th anniversary -- >> the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is creblingt. the house is not in order. the gentlelady will suspend. the chair asks all members to take their conversations off the floor and allow the gentlelady to be heard. the house is still not in order. in the rear of the chamber if members will take their conversations to the cloakroom and off the floor.

the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: it was only two weeks ago that my colleague, john lewis, marked the 45th anniversary of bloody sunday in selma, alabama, yet this civil rights acoon -- icon was accosted yesterday while walking here to ast a vote. the use of racist, homophobic and inflammatory rhetoric and the reports that the protesters attempted to spit on a member of congress is heartbreaking this type of display should alarm every american and encourage us to work harder to put aside the divisions and come together to bridge the volatile spirit tearing apart our country. the anger isn't just contained outside of the capital. last week, someone hurled a brick through my office window in the dark of night.

i would like to show an incredible document given me this week by the national archives, from the collection of franklin delano roosevelt's original records. as the father of social security, roosevelt has an honored place in this battle to create a national insurance plan for our country. this message, dated january 23, 1939, over 70 years ago, was entitled, to the congress of the united states, talks plainly about the need of the government to provide health care for its citizens. it was recognized at the time a comprehensive health care program was required as an essential link to our national defenses against individual and social insecurity. roosevelt wrote shelt a major concern and ill health is a major cause of major suffering, economic loss and dependency. good health is essential to the security and progress of the

nation. i would like to read directly because i think the familiarity is overwhelming. i've been concerned by the evidence of inequalities that exist among states as to personalities -- personnel and facilities for health service. these inequalities create handicaps for parts of the country and the groups of our people which most sorely need the benefits of modern medical science. the objective of a national health program is to make available in all parts of our country and for all groups of our people the scientific knowledge and skill at our command to prevent and care for sickness and disability. to safeguard mothers, infants, and children, and to offset through social insurance the loss of earnings among workers who are temporarily or permanently disabled. i will tell you that, mr.

speaker, that reading from that piece of paper with his hand notes scribbled on it take misbreath away. but it is a reminder that the eyes of history are watching us. future generations will look at what we do today and it will be a guide post to who we were as a people. the effort to reform the health care system goes back to at least theodore roosevelt that great president who campaigned in 1912 by promising, quote, we pledge ourselveses to work increasingly in state and nation for protection of home life against the hazards of sickness, end quote. still later, harry truman tackled reform, as did president clinton in the 1990's, a battle i was here before. before that, the -- i was here for. before that, the last time was led by president nixon. our final mill bill may wind up being less progressive than

what nixon would have supported. yet still the forces of the other side whip up opposition. i want to share a story from a constituent in buffalo. it is about a young man who moved to new york from california and california, his insurance only allowed him to visit the emergency room for seizures. when he got to new york, his insurance didn't cover that except in new york city, so his father has to drive him from buffalo to new york city and he says, i am slowly going poor. we have to cover americans in a fiscally responsible way that improves medicare benefits, holds insurance companies accountable and helps small business owners with coverage. we are finally gaining ground against insurance special interests. small businesses, the back bone of our economy, will get tax credits if they make health care coverage available for their workers. we offer free preventive care for people on medicare.

we help people who have retired at 55, 10 years before they are eligible for medicare. and we ban the lifetime and yearly limit on coverage. all these provisions have the potential to transform the way we deliver health care in the country. the fight has been long and contentious and the public has been grievously and purposely lied to. this week, the congressional budget office which is nonpartisan estimates we will cut the deficit by $143 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion over the following 10. what do our opponent says? that we can't afford this legislation. the fact of the matter is, we cannot afford to do this legislation. for the 100 years we worked toward this goal and all the obstacles, we are here today to do our job. harry truman said if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. i consider the rules committee

is the kitch end of the house of representatives. i am proud to be the cook. i'm proud to stand up and say -- i'm proud to stand up and say that this bill is the right thing to do and the time to act is now. i am delighted to vote yes today and i yield -- i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. the house will be in order. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i thank my good friend and distinguished chair of the committee on rules for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, i yield myself such time as i might consume and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. dreier: as the debate on how to reform our health care system has proceeded a great deal of attention has been focused on how partisan this house is. i concur with the gentlewoman about the horror that took place here yesterday with the

awful treatment of our colleagues, it's totally unacceptable. . one of those who has lamented the loss of bipartisan cooperation and substantive debate on the most important issues confronting our country. but i think there's at least one thing that we all will agree on and that is the fact that the measure before us will have enormous repercussions for the american people for years to come. for many of us, the votes that we are to cast today will be among the most significant that we have ever cast. health care represents 1/6 of our nation's economy. that fact alone makes any health care overhaul a tremendously important issue. but it's a lot more personal than that. the care that families receive, the choices that are available, and the quality of those choices, these issues couldn't be more important. for many at some point in their lives access to quality health care will become literally a matter of life or death.

we just heard a story from the distinguished chairwoman of the committee on rules, and we will hear story after story of tragedies. we all have them, that our constituents face. we must all recognize what a sobering and weighty matter lies before us today. which is why this utterly ill-conceived bill is so dangerous and is such an unfortunate missed opportunity for a good bipartisan solution. in addition to the divisiveness surrounding this measure, a great deal of attention has also been focused on the process by which this has been brought to the floor. speaker pelosi has argued that the american people care far more about the final product than the process by which it is considered. now, in a warped, bizarre way, mr. speaker, she's absolutely right. as egregious as this process has been, the american people will suffer the consequences of

the substance of the bill in even more significant and lasting way. as much as the public was outraged by procedural tactics to avoid a transparent vote on the senate health care bill, the greatest outrage has always been reserved for the bill itself. this is not a bill that will increase access to care or improve its quality. it will not rein in costs. what it will do is add an enormous amounts of new government bureaucracy -- amount of new government bureaucracy to our existing system. it will spend $1.2 trillion at a time when our deficit is already $1.4 trillion and our total national debt exceeds $12 trillion. it will cripple the small businesses that are already struggling in this economy and will further drive up unemployment. it will exponentially increase the waste and potential for fraud and abuse that drive up

costs while reducing access to quality. it will undoubtedly gut medicare and potentially threaten the benefits and health care choices for nearly 11 million seniors enrolled in medicare advantage. it gives no guarantee to the more than eight million americans enrolled in health savings accounts that they will be able to keep their current coverage if they so choose. and it will implement all of the backroom deals that have so outraged the american people and which we gus f discussed here today. the louisiana purchase, cornhusker kickback. this is what the senate bill will do and this is, as i said in my exchange with the distinguished chairman earlier, this is the only bill, this is the only bill that has the potential of being a law of the land by the end of this day. mr. speaker, this is a bad bill that grows even more unpopular every single day. but while speaker pelosi may be

right that the substance of the bill will be remembered longer than the process, the process has been so tainted that we cannot simply gloss over it. the democratic leadership charged forward recklessly all the past week or two with plans to try to avoid, to try to avoid a transparent up or down vote on the senate's health care bill despite enormous public outrage and harsh bipartisan critics, bipartisan criticism that came from their colleagues to the democratic leadership. for days they ignored the demands of the american people to dispense with the senate health care bill in an accountable way. in an accountable way. but when democratic members began demonstrating their outrage, the democratic leadership had no choice since the american people got it and understood what was taking place here, they had no choice but to abandon their plans.

the rule before us today will allow for votes on two questions, mr. speaker. will the senate health care bill become law? and will a second reconciliation bill be advanced to the senate for further consideration? so again only one measure will become law. while the decision to actually hold a vote, i have to admit is a welcomed one, i hope very much that that my colleagues will forgive my lack of exuberance over this development. i can't quite bring myself to congratulate the democratic leadership for agreeing to uphold the democratic process and actually have a vote on their legislation. it's a sad commentary on the state of our institution when simply holding a vote to make a hopelessfully flawed bill the law of the land feel like progress. but that's the reality, unfortunately, of where we stand today. and while the democratic leadership, as we all know, had no choice but to agree to hold a vote on the senate bill, they

have still completely closed down the debate. yesterday we had a very rigorous debate in the rules committee where countless concerns were raised. mr. speaker, none of those concerns will be voted on today. we went 13 1/2 hours yesterday, yet none of those concerns will be addressed today. while the debate over health care has gone on for over a year, today we will be voting on a reconciliation package that was only fully made available last night. violating the 72-hour requirement. yes, we will be having an actual vote today. but without open debate, the opportunity for amendments, or the chance to fully analyze the legislation, we still do not have full transparency or accountable. -- accountability. what we do have -- what we do have the opportunity to do today is to answer two different questions. one, will the senate health care become the law of the

land, and will a separate reconciliation package be advanced to the senate for further consideration? mr. speaker, it is absolutely critical to emphasize this two-track process. because the democratic leadership would very much like to, as we have seen from the exchanges earlier, muddle this crucial fact. if they prevail today, mr. speaker, if they prevail today, the senate bill and only the senate bill will become public law. the senate bill with all of its backroom deals and serious problems that are widely recognized by all, that is the only thing that will become law. the democratic leadership has tried to claim that the reconciliation package will fix all of the problems in the senate bill. that claim is far from accurate. the fundamental approach to health care reform put forth by the senate bill, which is fatally flawed. will remain intact.

but putting aside that hard truth for just a moment, the more immediate issue is that the reconciliation package will not become law today. it will merely be sent to our friends, our colleagues in the other body. where it will be slowly picked apart like everything else that is sent to the other body. maybe the senate will amend it and send it back here for further action, mr. speaker. maybe it will fail to act at all. no matter what anyone says in this institution, mr. speaker, no one knows, no one has any idea what takes place those many, many, many miles away, it seems, down that hallway. the only thing that can be sent to the president for signature today is the senate bill that virtually no one supports. let's cut through all of the misrepresentations and distortions. passage of the underlying measures will ensure one thing

and one thing only. enactment of the senate bill, and i challenge anyone to take me on on that one. a vote for these measures today is a vote for all those things that i mentioned, the louisiana purchase, the cornhusker kickback which senator nelson wants taken out. this bismarck bank job, and the gatorade. all these things. vote for new taxes and government bureaucracy. it's a vote for a trillion dollar bill that does nothing, does nothing to improve access or quality in our health care system. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to reject this rule. the democratic leadership has demonstrated that when they are left with no other option, they can be forced into doing the right thing. mr. speaker, let's start fresh and find the real solutions for the american people that are so critically needed. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from massachusetts, a member of the rules committee, mr. mcgovern. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for three minutes. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, this is an historic day for all of us in the house. we have the opportunity to enact real, meaningful health insurance reform that will improve the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. we can end the most abusive practices of the insurance companies. we can provide coverage to millions of hardworking families. we can bring down the cost of health care for families and small businesses. we can close the doughnut hole in medicare and extend the solvency of that vital program and pass the biggest deficit reduction package in 25 years. all we need is the courage to do what is right. today it is especially meaningful for those of us from massachusetts. as we all know seven months ooling our friend and mentor ted kennedy lost his battle with brain cancer. when he passed away, i said

that while no one could ever fill his shoes, we can and we must follow in his footsteps and that is exactly what we are doing today. we have already taken important steps in massachusetts to deal with the health care issue. and i'm proud to say that my congressional district has the highest rate of coverage over the -- 97% of any district in the country. people back home often ask me why do we need to pass a federal bill when we already have insurance here in our state? i would like to talk for a moment about what reform means for massachusetts. 75,000 additional middle class people will receive help to pay for their premiums. nearly 180,000 of our seniors will receive a 50% discount on their prescription drugs. 70,000 small businesses. the innovators, job creators will receive credit to cover the costs. our community health centers, hospitals, medical research centers all will receive support to continue their great work. and we will no longer be forced to subsidize through higher premiums and higher medicare,

medicaid costs the uncompensated care of people in our states who do not have health insurance. if we want to create jobs, then passing this bill is absolutely essential. a few weeks ago i talked to a small business owner in my district. business has picked up lately. he wanted to hire another employee. but then he got his health insurance bill and realized he couldn't afford it. he'll just have to work harder and spend less time with his family. that's who this debate is all about. that's why today is so important. i regret the fact that my republican friends are not standing with us. i regret the fact they deliberately try to obstruct this process. you know what? the republicans opposed social security, they opposed medicare, they were on the wrong side of history then. they are on the wrong side of history today. senator kennedy said that providing access to health care is, and i quote, a fundamental principle of justice and the character of our country. as usual he was right and today in this house the work goes on and the cause endures. i urge my colleagues to support this bill.

i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts yields back the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: at this time i'm happy to yield two minutes to my very, very hardworking rules committee colleague, the gentleman from moi, mr. diaz-balart. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida is recognized for two minutes. mr. diaz-balart: thank you. mr. speaker, i truly hope this massive bill is not passed by the house today. if it does become law, it will constitute a decisive step in the weakening of the united states. at precisely the time when we should be implementing necessary reforms to strengthen and save medicare, for example, this legislation will raise medicare -- raid medicare by more than $500 billion to pay for a new massive entitlement. as a time when it would still be possible to enact entitlement reforms to prevent a grease style fiscal capacity in the future, when genuinely painful medicine will be needed, we are creating a massive new entitlement. we could have avoided the

social convulsion and profound pain that prolonged fiscal irresponsibility brings to nations, but this president went with doing -- doing ma instead. did -- dogma instead. when the time comes and painful reforms are implemented, the u.s. military posture, our standard of living, the american middle class as we know it, those interconnected realities which have been so wonderful in characterizing modern america and which this president and this congressional majority apparently seem to take for granted, those realities will be but historical memories. this legislation is dishonest, it is irresponsible. it should be defeated. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida yield back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield three minutes to the gentleman from florida, a member of the rules, mr. hastings. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida is recognized for three minutes.

. mr. hastings: thank you very much, my hero, you have done a great job getting us to this point. i also thank the staffers who have done such a great job, the police officers who protect us here, the reporters, and our pages who are here to see the enormous history we're going to make today. i believe all of us want our great nation to prosper, so today we celebrate the greatest nation on earth. we do so by a visionary step in our nation's future. we are in an -- we are an intense people and we celebrate today the immensity of our intensity. we all know, based on this harsh winter that just passed, and here on a spring-like day with summer soon coming that winter will come again and it will ask, what were you doing last summer?

i wanted to be -- i want it to be said i was doing something to try to save the lives of 45,000 americans that die every year because they are uninsured. i don't want to be with that crowd that can best be described as cynics. i picked up today's paper and a friend of mine, the former speaker of this house, says that what we are about to do is grand social experiment, radical, he says, social experiment. well in my congressional district if it is, that i am to help improvement of 290,000 residents, give tax credits to 177,000 families, and 22,500 small businesses, put me in the radical column. if it's to improve medicare beneficiaries, extend coverage to 161,000 uninsured people in

the district i'm privileged to serve, then i'm radical. if it's going protect 1,100 families from bankruptcy, radicalize me. if it's going to allow 60,000 young adults to obtain coverage in the congressional district i represent on their parent's insurance plan, then newt, please know, i'm radical. as we go forward here today, i guess, perhaps, it would be good to look back on some from yesterday. ronald reagan said, there are no easyances, but there are simpleance -- there are no easy answers but there are simple answers. we must have the courage to do what is morally right. that was ronald reagan, an icon by all standards. another one says, each time someone stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a

tiny ripple of hope. now i saw around this capitol yesterday and around this nation a lot of lack of hope. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california is recognize. mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield such time as he may consume, the gentleman from dallas, mr. sessions. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for as much time as he may consume. mr. sessions: thank you, mr. speaker, i thank the gentleman. in texas we have a law called the deceptive trade practice. if this were being done in texas, it would be against the law because this is deceptive, what we are talking about here today. what's being sold is deceptive. we're hearing about the 35 million americans that will be covered but the other 23 million that will not be covered, they are not talking about, and secondly, they are not talking about the $500

trillion of physician reimbursement not included in this bill. if people think you've got insurance or you can change insurance, just give everybody coverage if you don't have a doctor to go to who will be paid for, you won't get to see the dr. this is deceptive what's being put on the table here today. the gentleman says call him a radical, i will, i call him a radical. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas yields back, the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from new york. ms. slaughter: i'm delighted to yield three minutes to a member of the rules committee, the gentlewoman from california, ms. matsui. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. mat sue swee: thank you. i wasn't here 10, 20, or 30

years ago as the debates about this flowed. i am here today. and as an old friend said to me today, there are not too many times in politics you get to do something monumental and this is the day. we have the opportunity to vote for a health insurance reform bill that improves the quality of life for millions of american families. it will also control costs, improve medicare and reduce the deficit. if we do nothing, the health care system will continue to work better for the insurance companies than it does for the american people. our plan gives people in my hometown of sacramento more consume brother texts and puts medical decisions back in the hands of patients and their doctors. insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions or from rescinding policies from people once they're sick. i've heard so many personal stories from my constituents who are struggling to make ends

meet and who are burdened by the current insurance market. tim cull sullivan called my office two days ago, he's a small business person who lives day-to-day in fear of losing his insurance because as someone who has glaucoma, his rates are going up and up every single year. tim called me to ask why the current system discouraged entrepreneurs. average americans with a brileynt -- brilliant idea who can't go out on their own because they can't afford their own insurance. for millions of americans like tim, we have created insurance exchanges that will help him have the same buying power as big business or a member of congress. elizabeth bell recently graduated from college and does not yet have a full-time job with benefits. she reached the age where she was dropped from her parents' plan and now has to pay expensive monthly premiums. elizabeth wrote to ask, what would i do if i didn't have

insurance? for elizabeth and millions of americans like her, our health care bill allows young adults to stay on their parent's plan through their 26th birthday. the current system is not working for tim or elizabeth or millions more americans in districts throughout our country. and if it's not working for them, mr. speaker, it is not working for me. and that is why i'll be proud to cast my vote for the bill before us today and with that, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california yields back the plans of her time. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from north carolina, ms. foxx. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. foxx: thank you, mr. speaker. the legislation we're about to vote on represents one of the most offensive pieces of social engineering legislation in the history of the united states. and the american people

recognize this simple truth. even the ruling democrats recognize how unpopular this proposal is, but have chosen to ignore the overwhelming outcry and convinced their wavering colleagues that the government and politicians in washington, d.c. know better than their constituents. what arrogance. although this may be shocking to many americans this arrogance reflects the approach the ruling democrats have taken since they regained the majority in 2007. we will be voting on legislation that even the liberal democrat chairwoman of the rules committee said, quote, will do almost nothing to reform health care and that, quote, it's time that we draw the line on this weak bill and ask the senate to go back to the drawing board. the american people deserve at least that. on that we agree. this legislation contains taxpayer funding for elective abortions and -- an unprecedented proposal that offends the conscience of

american taxpayers. it increases the cost of insurance, strangles private competition and ultimately leads to a complete federal takeover of the health care industry. vote nothing on this rule and this legislation will give congress a renewed opportunity to do what should have been done from the beginning, vote for effective bipartisan legislation that rises to the challenge facing so many people seeking reasonable health care reform. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from north carolina yields back her time. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time and has 16 minutes remaining. the gentlelady from new york is recognized and has 14 minutes remaining. ms. slaughter: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from california a member of the rules committee, mr. car doest sa. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. cardoza: mr. speaker, my

wife has been a family doctor for 23ees and comes home every single night telling me stories about her patients who have paid their premiums, but when they get sick, and need coverage, they're denied the care. by the same companies who are trying to kill this legislation here today. i have heard her on the phone fighting those very insurance company executives to let her practice medicine the way she was trained at the university of california at davis medical school. what a concept, to have your doctor right your prescription. not someone on the other end of an insurance company authorization line. this is not socialized medicine, far from it. we are making sure that the doctors -- the doctor is making the decisions not the insurance company. mr. speaker, my brother runs a company, a business a small business, that has been in my family for 50 years. two weeks ago, he was told his

premiums are going up by 75%. to add insult to injury, on that very day, my sister-in-law had had knee replacement surgery and the doctor thought she needed a few extra days in the hospital because they were afraid she might get blood clots. she was told by her insurance company they couldn't have that time initially because it was too expensive. there was a little girl in my hometown who had lieu chemoyasm the insurance company told her she couldn't go to the hospital with the best success rate to fix her disease. she had to go to the hospital with a much lesser success rate because it was cheaper there. her parents called me and tried -- i tried desperately to get her to the other hospital. i failed. she died. that is what is happening in america right now. that is what we have to deal with today. that is what the american

people want fixed and that is precisely what this reform is all about. mr. speaker, when i was 22 years old, i was an intern here in this very capitol. mr. kennedy was holding hearings on health care reform for all americans. i listened to the very same arguments by the people trying to kill this bill here today back then. they're the same people that were fighting health care. they don't care about patients. all they care about is the bottom line for the profits for the insurance company. we have waited for this day far too long already. if we don't take a stand and do the right thing here today, the very same debate will be taking place in another 30 years. so i'm going to vote for this bill, mr. speaker. i'm going to vote for it proudly because the reform is so desperately needed and it's also desperately long overdue. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california yield

back. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: at this time, i'm happy to yield one minute to a former member of the rules committee but always hard-work, the gentleman from oklahoma, mr. cole. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. cole: ski unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. cole: i rise today to oppose this rule and the underlying legislation. frankly this rule sets a deplorable precedent derek employerable in terms of limiting member participation and silencing millions of voters who they represent. this bill cuts $523 billion out of medicare and devotes to an entirely new entitlement. 65 members filed a new amendment offering new ideas and better approaches, none of those were made in order my amendment would have prohibited cuts in medicare, would have kept the money saved in medicare in that program.

the democrats are turning a blind eye to the future unfunded obligations to that program just as baby boomers are retiring by the millions upon millions. this rule is flawed, this bill is fiscally irresponsible. we should vote no. i urge a no vote on the rule and the bill. thank you, mr. speaker, i return the balance of my time. po the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from colorado, mr. perlmutter a member of the rules committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. . you, mr. speaker. thank you, madam chair. this marks a historic time for our country. the current system is broken and there's still a lot of work to be done and i am committed to continuing this work.

but no is not an option. just say no, just vote no. that you hear from the other side, the status quo is not an option. today we can improve our health care system by extending coverage to people with pre-existing conditions like my daughter and 16,800 of my constituents in the 7th congressional district in colorado. i have talked with my constituents in the 7th congressional district meetings and the government at the grocery meetings i have, telephone town halls, and they know the system is broken and something has to be done. for me this is personal. i have a daughter with epilepsy. she didn't ask to get it. just part of her chemistry. i dare say everybody in this room has somebody in their family, a close friend, a neighbor with a pre-existing condition. and our system, our health care system discriminates against those people. the 14th amendment to the constitution guarantees that every american has the right to

equal protection of the laws. the system that we have right now is probably unconstitutional and i believe down right immoral. more and more families and businesses can no longer bear the burden of this broken health care system. this issue touches every person in their own unique way. because there are millions and millions of people affected by our health care system. we have to change this, the status quo will not work for us any longer. i'm proud to support this bill. i ask for a yes vote on the rule and a vote to change our health care system. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from colorado yields back the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. drier-e: at this time i'm happy to continue -- mr. dreier: at this time i'm happy to continue the former rules committee lineup, the gentleman from marietta, georgia, mr. gingrey. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. mr. dreier: i think it was out

in the hallway, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia is recognized for two minutes. mr. gingrey: i thank mr. dreier for yielding. i left behind my medical practice of almost 30 years to run for congress. it's hard to put into records the joy i felt each time i helped bring a new life, actually 5,200 new lives into this world. yet my heart i felt strongly in the need to improve health care in this country. but, mr. speaker, this bill is not the health care reform that i had in mind. raiding $500 billion from medicare is not reform. the cornhusker compromise is not reform. the louisiana purchase is not reform. turning the i.r.s. agents, in fact 17,000 new one noose health care czars is not reform. -- new ones into health care czars is not a -- not reform. i would say to my moderate and curve defensive democratic friends who have been told by

speaker pelosi and the president, just vote for this bill. don't worry about your constituents. we'll take care of you. well, there there's a dear colleague being passed around as i speak of pictures of democratic members, who were told the same thing back in 1993 on the issue of the clinton tax increases. none of them who voted yes are in congress today. mr. speaker, let me quote president obama from his speech yesterday. if you don't think your constituents would be helped by this, then vote no. i know americans would not be helped by this bill. i cannot support it. i will not support it. i will be voting no. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i'm slighted to yield two minutes to the -- delighted to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from maine, a member of the rules committee, ms. pingree.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from maine is recognized for two minutes. ms. pingree: thank you to the hardworking rules committee chair, ms. slaughter, for yielding me the time. as we get ready to cast a vote to finally reform our health care system. i want to tell you what i hear from my home state of maine where people are frustrated and struggling. a woman named margaret told me about her business. i employ a small business that employs 10 residents. anthem announce add 23% increase in my rates. in four years the rate has almost doubled. i cannot afford to supply health insurance to my employees. my wife has been paying more than 1/3 of our entire income for her health insurance costs, and that doesn't cover the high co-pays and prescription drug costs. she just received a notice from her insurance company that they are raising her rates another 30%. it's impossible. we can't do it. and one told me about living on the edge. he said i was out of work and

lost my insurance for 18 months. i'm a cardiac patient and other chronic illnesses that require constant care and prescription drugs. after 18 months with no insurance, i lost everything. these people wrote to me from maine but the stories are told every day in every state. americans are denied insurance, have their coverage canceled, or find themselves bankrupt just because they got sick. today we will change that with our vote. today we will start to end the worst practices of the insurance companies. like denying coverage for pre-existing conditions or canceling your policy when you get sick. today we'll improve health care for our seniors, strengthening medicare, closing the doughnut hole. reducing prescription drug prices and making sure they don't have to pay to get a checkup or get screened for diseases like cancer or diabetes. today we'll make sure that americans don't go bankrupt because of medical bills. and today we will make it easier for small businesses and individuals to afford coverage.

bringing the largest health insurance tax break in history for small businesses and individuals. we have a chance to truly reform our system. i will be voting yes. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from maine's time has expired. members are also reminded not to traffic the well while another member is speaking. the gentleman from massachusetts has seven minutes remaining. the gentleman from california has 13 1/2 minutes remaining. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. at this time i yield a minute to hardworking new member from clarence new york, mr. lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. mr. lee: thank you. since discussions on health care reform began in washington, i have heard from thousands of western new yorkers opposed to this trillion dollar government-run takeover. one such comment comes from a western new yorker who writes, i'm retired air force. i have government health care now. if anyone thinks government health care is a picnic, i invite them to try it. another western new yorker

wrote, she strongly believes we need health care reform, however, she is particularly worried about the level of debt that our chern and grandchildren will inherit. like a household, the government has to learn to live within its means. these two constituents summarize well the majority of comments i received. there were two certainties if this bill were to pass. one, it will raise taxes by over $500 billion. and two t. will cut hundreds of billions of dollars from existing medicare programs for seniors. all in support of another government entitlement program. the proposal before us is not what western new yorkers have asked for. not what they can afford. and surely not what they deserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from colorado, a member of the rules committee, mr. polis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from colorado is recognized for two minutes. mr. polis: thank you, mr. speaker. this has been a long process

writing this bill. i have been honored as a new member of congress to be at the table. along the way, scoring some wins and some losses with regard to the final product. where i'd like to see it. overall i think it's a very strong product. i'm excited that we have the real ability to bend the cost curve with a strengthened imac over the house version. i'm also thrilled this new version will reduce the deficit by over $150 billion. we really can't afford not to do it. with regard to taxes and the impact on business, there's also been very positive developments since the house version. the initial house version would have raised the tax rate that small businesses pay, i'm happy to say that did not survive this process. this bill is extremely beneficial for small businesses to help them save money. i think there's great potential going forward to reduce the need for tax increases. in fact allow tax cuts if we can pass comprehensive immigration reform.

one of the baseline assumptions in this bill is that there will be 50% more undocumented immigrants after 10 years. this nation can't afford to have 20 million undocumented imgrants. this nation can't afford to have 10 million. this nation needs to have zero undocumented immigrants. and that will have substantial savings in health care and economic sure the taxpayers are not forced to subsidize the care of an undocumented population that should not be here. that's why i'm a proud sponsor of a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the house and also efforts underway in the senate between senator graham and senator schumer that will have substantial savings for health care and return that money to the american people. that's why i'm proud to support this rule and this bill to build the momentum with hundreds of people this week advocating comprehensive immigration reform. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from california. mr. delier -- mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield to our thoughtful colleague

from athens, georgia, mr. brown. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia is recognized for one minute. mr. broun: mr. speaker, the simple truth is, this health care bill is a killer. it kills over five million jobs and future job creation, with $52 billion in mandates and taxes. it kills economic freedom and the american entrepreneurial spirit. it kills the family budget with over $17 billion in more mandates and taxes. primarily aimed at the poor and its seniors. it kills our future. by allowing taxpayer funded abortions. make no mistake about it. if you vote for this bill, you can never call yourself pro-life again. no executive order can change this. as a family doctor, i know we

can have commonsense health care reform that provides lower cost without a government takeover and without killing our economy. i urge my colleagues to listen to the american people. and kill this bill. i yield back. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. against this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgov: -- mr. mcgovern: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: mr. mcgovern chose to reserve. mr. speaker, may i inquire how much time remains on each side? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has 11 1/2 minutes remaining. the gentleman from massachusetts has five minutes remaining. the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. at this time i'm happy to yield one minute to my very good friend from fort myers, florida, mr. mack. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida is

recognized for one minute. mr. mack: thank you, mr. speaker. the democrats believe that they can rewrite the constitution. they believe in the power of government not the power of the people. they believe that a better america goes through more and more and more government. and it's clear they do not believe in the american people. americans have spoken loud and clear. we are saying no to more government control of our lives. we are saying no to higher taxes and deficits. we are saying no to this takeover of health care. the american people want washington to get its irresponsible hands out of their pockets and stop their unconstitutional power grab. the american people deserve to be respected. they deserve to be listened to. they deserve freedom. they deserve security. and they deserve prosperity. the democrats need to stop and listen to the american people and hear me now. you may win this vote today

through arm twisting tricks and backroom deals, but let's see who is still here after the american people speak loud and clear in november. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: i see a congo line developing over there. i will reserve my time. mr. dreier: let me just say to my friend there arexdá many pe -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman -- the gentleman from mass plifes the balance of his time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: at this time i'm happy to yield for a unanimous consent request to another former rules committee member, the distinguished ranking member of the committee on resources, mr. hastings. the speaker pro tempore: the the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. the gentleman from washington is recognized. mr. hastings: thank you, mr. speaker.

mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed piece of legislation. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the distinguished vice chair of the republican conference. the gentlewoman from washington. mrs. mcmorris rodgers: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from south carolina, mr. brown. mr. brown: i rise today to revise and extend and to give note that i'm against this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: distinguished ranking member of the committee on foreign affairs, the gentlewoman from miami, ms. ros-lehtinen. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you. i would ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the distinguished gentleman from texas, mr. neugebauer. mr. neugebauer: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentlewoman from texas, ms. granger. ms. granger: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. which willson. mr. wilson:, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: mr. fleming. mr. fleming: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: our soft-spoken colleague from texas, mr. culberson. mr. culberson: mr. speaker, i rise to ask to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: although a unanimous consent request to insert remarks in debate may comprise a simple declared statement of the member's attitude toward the pending measure, it is improper for a member to embellish such a request with oratory. and it can become an imposition on the time of the member who has yielded for that purpose. the chair will entertain as many requests to insert as many as

maybe necessary to accommodate members but the chair must also ask members to cooperate by confining such requests to the proper form. further he will bellishments will be charged to the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: thank you, mr. speaker. we'll comply. the former mayor of akron, mr. turner. mr. turner: thank you. mr. speaker, it's a great state. mr. dreier: there are lots of cities in ohio. mr. turner: i ask unanimous consent tos remain vice -- scrice -- revise and extend my remarks if in opposition this to this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: the gentleman from vienna, virginia. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks against this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from kansas, mr. tiahrt. mr. tiahrt: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition

of this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from illinois, mr. roskam. mr. roskam: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. petri. mr. petri: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: next governor of oklahoma. ms. fallin: i ask to revise and extend my remarks in objection to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. bartlett. mr. barton: i ask unanimous consent to -- mr. bartlett: unanimous consent against this bill. mr. franks: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: drished ranking member of the transportation committee, mr. mica. mr. mica: thank you, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks

in opposition to this flawed health bill. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentlewoman from ohio, mrs. schmidt. mrs. schmidt: mr. speaker, i have ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. shuster. mr. shuster: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from newport beach, mr. campbell. mr. campbell: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from dallas, mr. hensarling. mr. hensarling: meeping -- mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from arizona, mr. flake. mr. flake: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: our newest republican, the gentleman from alabama, mr. griffith. mr. griffith: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, i'm happy to yield for unanimous consent to the gentleman from ohio, mr. latta. mr. latta: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from midland, texas. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: happy to yield to another gentleman from texas, mr. poe. mr. poe: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from new jersey, mr. garrett. mr. garrett: i thank the gentleman. and, mr. speaker, i ask

unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks to this unconstitutional health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman will be charged. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, the gentleman from virginia, mr. witman. mr. whitfield: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and ex -- mr. wittman: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition this to this flawed bill. >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from florida, mr. posey. mr. posey: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my comments regarding this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from virginia, mr. goodlatte. mr. goodlatte: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from california, mr. calvert. mr. calvert: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without

objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from california, mr. mcclintock. mr. mcclintock: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from ohio, mr. jordan. mr. jordan: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extends my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: the gentleman from florida, mr. miller. mr. miller: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, was there any time consumed? for half a second? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman was charged five seconds. mr. dreier: dreier is there any way we can try and get that back, mr. speaker? please, please, please. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his

time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: you can tell us how much time is remaineding -- is remain on both sides? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts has five minutes remaining. the gentleman from california has 10 minutes and 25 seconds. mr. dreier: i yield for an unanimous consent request for my friend, former sheriff from washington, mr. reichert. mr. reichert: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks against this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, i assume my friend wants to continue to reserve the balance of his time? govern governor we do. -- mr. mcgovern: we do. mr. dreier: we have another one. didn't see him. mr. speaker, unanimous consent request to yield to my friend from san diego, mr. issa. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. issa: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from

massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: we continue to reserve, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts continues to reserve the balance of his time. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: at this time i'm happy to yield one full minute to our friend from gold river, california. mr. lungren. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized for one minute. mr. lungren: i thank the gentleman for yielding. mr. speaker, in the famous play "men for all seasons" there's a tremendous scene there where sir thomas moore looks out and sees richard rich who used to be a supporter of his, who was giving testimony against him. he noticed he had a me dal onon him designating that he happens to be the new attorney general for wales. and in response sir thomas moore said, richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world, but for wales? mr. speaker, for those of us who have worked so hard in the pro-life movement for years and years and years and who understand the importance of the historic effort made by our former colleague mr. hyde i beg

those who have joined us over these years to understand what they are doing if they sign off on an executive order, an executive order is not law. the reason we have had to have the hyde amendment over the years is that the courts have said that there's a statutory mandate to provide abortion unless we say it does not exist. therefore an executive order does not take precedence over the law. people should know what they are. don't be like richard rich. for wales. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, i yield to the gentleman from the american samoa for a unanimous consent request. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from american samoa is recognized. mr. faleomavaega: i ask unanimous consent to revise my remarks in total opposition to my friends who oppose the legislation on the other side of the aisle but in full support of this most historical bill and i

yield back. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman will be charged. mr. mcgovern: i reserve the balance of my time, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts reserves the balance of his time. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, my colleagues are very curious as to whether any time was taken from the other side. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman was charged. mr. dreier: just wanted to make sure. appreciate your fairness, mr. speaker. this time i'm happy to yield one minute to the gentleman from alabama, mr. bachus. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from alabama is recognized. mr. bachus: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, in our declaration of independence our forefathers declared that we're endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. the first was life. yet this bill would permit the public funding of abortions and a number of programs that would take an innocent life formed by that creator within a matter of months, if not weeks or days. the very first act of our

government on this innocent and defenseless life would be to end it. our forefathers could not comprehend such an outrageous act. let me close by saying that on this very day, march 21, exactly 61 years ago chaplain peter marshall prayed on the floor of the senate, lord, our god, help to us stand up for the inalienable rights of man jnd kind, knowing that -- mankind, knowing that thigh power and thy blessings will be upon us only when we do what is right. may we so speak, vote and live as to merit thy blessing. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from alabama's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves the baffle of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: why don't we yield one minute first to -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts -- mr. dreier: i'm sorry. i thought the gentleman was -- mr. mcgovern: that's ok.

i'll let the gentleman proceed. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. at this time i'm happy to yield one minute to our friend from lincoln, nebraska, mr. fortenberry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from nebraska's recognized for one minute. mr. fortenberry: mr. speaker, let's just imagine for a moment that this health care bill before us today failed. let's just imagine that we all awoke tomorrow and could say to one another, now we have a chance to get health care reform right. health care reform that is fair to everyone, reduces cost and truly improves outcomes instead of just shifting costs to more unsustainable government spending and eroding health care liberty -- eroding health care liberty. mr. speaker, the debate has become very passionate and i fear that we sometimes lose sight of the fact that our actions have consequences and can even affect little children. the other day a 9-year-old boy approached me and he said, congressman, i have a question. he said, if the government gets so bad, which country should we move to? and i put my hand on his shoulder and i looked at him and i said, america's still a good

country, we just have to make it better. mr. speaker, i'm not here to help manage the decline of america, none of us are, we can do better, we must do better. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from north carolina, mr. butterfield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from north carolina is recognized for one minute. but the but the i thank the gentleman for yielding the time and for the hard work of the rules committee. mr. speaker, i've come to the well of the house today to support the rule and to commend president obama and the democratic leadership for their willingness to stand up for america's families and for their willingness to be strong and steadfast in the face of political opposition. my north carolina district is the fourth district in america, poorest district in america, 100,000en uninsured, seniors unable to afford prescription drugs, hospitals in the red, insurance premiums increasing while insurance company profits are multiplying. my constituents need health insurance reform and they need

it now. the time for debate is over. we are poised to deliver on the democratic promise of health insurance reform. i'm confident, mr. speaker, that one day historians will write that the passage of this bill took america to a higher level, to a higher place and restored confidence with the american people that congress is responding to the needs of america's families. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time and has three minutes and 55 seconds remaining. the gentleman from california is recognized and has is seven minutes and 25 seconds remaining. mr. dreier: i yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. westmoreland. mr. westmoreland: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. . mr. dreier: i would like to yield to the the gentleman from illinois, mr. mann zuleo. mr. manzullo: i ask unanimous

consent to readvise and extend my remarks with regard to this flawed health bill. mr. dreier: i yield to mr. shock. mr. shock: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent consent request, i would like to yield to my friend from new jersey. mr. lobiondo: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to the gentleman from arkansas. mr. boozman: i ask unanimous consent to revise and stepped my remarks in opposition to the flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to mr. herger. mr. herger: mr. speaker, i request unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection.

mr. dreier: for unanimous consent he request, i yield to the the gentleman from florida, mr. bilirakis. mr. bilirakis: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i would like to yield to my friend from alabama. mr. bonner: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to my friend from st. louis, mr. akin. mr. akin: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to my friend from pennsylvania, mr. thompson. mr. thompson: i ask unanimous consent to revise and stepped my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i yield to the the gentleman from texas, mr. carter. mr. carter: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to the

gentleman from iowa, mr. latham. mr. latham: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i yield to the the gentleman from florida, mr. diaz-balart. mr. diaz-balart: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to the the gentlewoman from minnesota, ms. bachmann. mrs. bachmann: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this dangerous health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i would like to yield to the the gentleman from colorado, mr. could have man. mr. coffman: i ask unanimous consent to extend and revise my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. mr. dreier: i yield to mr. hoekstra. mr. hoekstra: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this

flawed health care bill the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i yield to the the gentleman from iowa, mr. king. mr. king: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to our friend from indianapolis, mr. burton. mr. burton: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the chair will remind members not to free quept the well when other members are talking. the gentleman is recognized. the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to the the gentleman from texas, mr. gohmert. mr. gohmert: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition

to this government takeover of health care in this so-called health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman will be charged. the gentleman from california reserves. the gentlelady from new york has 3:55 remaining. ms. slaughter: i yield one minute to the the gentleman from virginia, mr. connolly. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. connolly: we have reached a historic crossroads. we can choose to send our nation on the path of improving towards health health insurance and finally containing the cost of that care or we can continue on the road of the status quo threatening to leave most families without basic care and bankrupting the engine of our economy. this bill in front of us today, this historic bill meets the tests my constituents set for it, will it bring down premium costs for families and small businesses?

yes, it will. will it reduce the deficit? yes, it will. will it protect their choice of plan and doctor? yes, it will. will it improve access to care? yes, it will. we heard a lot of fear and disinformation. but i quote today, god did not give us the spirit but the spirit of power and of love. let us not be timid, let us pass this historic piece of legislation. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia yields back. the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield one minute to my good friend from sartsooh -- sarasota, florida, mr. buchanan. mr. buchanan: i oppose this bill. it does nothing to lower costs or little to lower costs. it raises taxes, $540 billion and cuts medicare. being in business for 0 years

and signing payroll checks, i can tell you one of the biggest concerns with small businesses is the escalation of health care. $10,000, 12,000 today for a small family. c.e.o. roupped table is saying if it does nothing about it, it will go to $28,000 in the next 10 years and increases taxes, $540 billion. most of those taxes, a lot of those taxes are passed through to small businesses. they have l.l.c.'s and it passes through them and hurts working families and will not increase jobs. the other thing is someone who represents an area that has the most seniors in the country, we have real cuts, not just waste, fraud and abuse of $500 billion and this will really hurt seniors. a senior said, all i have is my social security and medicare. it's not perfect, but don't mess with my medicare. i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, may i inquire how much time remains? the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady has 55 seconds remaining. the gentleman from california has 6:20 remaining. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. ms. slaughter: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i yield to the the gentleman from idaho, mr. simpson. mr. simpson: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks on this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: i yield to mr. blunt for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. blunt: i was able to chair our health care solutions group on our side and we had lots of ideas. they were included in the 80 amendments that went to the rules committee yesterday, none

of which were allowed. this could be a bill about medical liability reform, small business health plans buying across state lines, lots of things that aren't there. i don't think, mr. speaker, this bill improves what works and fixes what's broken, which should be our goal, but that's not the main reason, mr. speaker we should not be proceeding today. the main reason is not that it's not the best bill or a bill that i approve of, it costs too much, mr. speaker. this is a bill where the proponents say we will collect $1 trillion in either new taxes or medicare cuts. we're going to accumulate $1 trillion over 10 years and spend it in six years. by year eight, by year nine, year 10, we are spending $200 billion a year. and i checked with the congressional budget office and they said it will cost jobs and -- it will cost, $1 trillion.

it will cost jobs and i oppose. mr. dreier: i yield 15 seconds to defeat the previous question. i offer an amendment to the rule and direct the clerk to call the roll on the final votes on the senate health care bill and the reconciliation bill as the republican leader has said it's time for the members of this house to stand up and be counted and i ask unanimous consent to include a statement in the record that further clarifies that. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. dreier: at this time, i would like to yield one minute to my friend, mr. buyer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. buyer: i rise in opposition to the rule. why would the v.f.w. national commander state he is furious? because congress is moving a flawed bill that does not protect veterans, widows mr. ortiz: fans. the v.f.w. stated quote, the

president and the democratic leadership are betraying americans. the v.f.w. is asking for a no-vote on this bill because it breaks the promises that the president made to them at their national convention. this covers neither our military or dependents under tricare or v.a. programs for widows and/or fans or the children of korean. none of these programs are considered minimum essential coverage. and where are the protections of the secretaries of d.o.d. and v.a. to preserve the integrity of their health care systems? absent from the bill. we tried to fix this bill, but denied by this rule and success pings efforts even though mr. levin and i tried to have an agreement. we tried to correct these errors. vote no. i ask unanimous consent that the letters from the american legion and v.f.w. be included in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without

objection. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: i yield myself 30 seconds. democrats understand the importance of providing health care to veterans. we started it. the house passed the bill yesterday affirming our commitment to tricare and tricare for life and in addition , the secretary has stated that this health bill will not undermine veterans' health care and i ask unanimous consent to submit a letter from five committee chairs and veterans affairs secretary. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: for unanimous consent request, i yield to the the gentlewoman from kansas, ms. jenkins. >> i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: i'll yield one minute to the the gentleman from louisiana, mr. cassidy. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. cassidy: i have been listening to my colleagues comments and i found things to agree with. mrs. slaughter mentioned that the american people have been lied to. i agree. they have been told that a policy which raises taxes for 0 years to pay for six years of government programs is fiscally sound. i was struck that mr. mcgovern spoke of the small business owner in massachusetts who couldn't afford his premiums. what he neglected to say is that massachusetts has the same plan that we are about to implement. in fact, the democratic treasurer of massachusetts said that if we implement this plan, we go bankrupt in four years. i was struck, mr. speaker, by mr. hastings who spoke about how the people outside lost hope. they are tired of being told, you're not smart enough to understand our wisdom. we the democratic leaders will tell you how to live and after we pass this vote, you will love us more. i'm struck mr. cardoza endorsed

this even though his state is going bankrupt. i ask my colleagues to listen to the wisdom of the american people. vote for the constituents and not for their leaders. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california reserves. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i continue to reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: may i inquire of the distinguished the gentlewoman from new york how many speakers she has remaining. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i have two speakers left. mr. dreier: does that include your close snr ms. slaughter: no. mr. dreier: i'll reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield one minute to the the gentleman from new york, mr. nadler. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute.

mr. nadler: thank you, mr. chairman. this health insurance package, despite real inadequacies deals with three basic problems. 45,000 americans a year die because they lack health insurance. by extending it to 32 million more, this bill will save these lives. a vote for this bill is a vote to save 45,000 lives a year. second, 55% of all personal bankruptcy are caused by health care emergencies and 75% of people who file for bankruptcy because of health emergencies have health insurance. insurance that proves inadequate when they get an expensive illness. by banning recisions and banning the pre-existing conditions bar and lifetime caps and capping out of pocket expenses at $6,200 for an individual and $12,300, this bill will ensure that knobs

goes broke because they get. and third, the congressional budget office tells us this bill will reduce the deficit by $138 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the next 10 years. this bill is historic progress. we should embrace it. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. she has 1:25. the gentleman from california has 3:05. mr. dreier: i'm happy to yield for unanimous consent to the the gentleman from mississippi, mr. harper. the gentleman from mississippi is recognized. mr. harper: i rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill. mr. dreier: i yield to unanimous consent request to the distinguished the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. sensenbrenner. mr. sensenbrenner: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: i yield for unanimous consent request to the the gentleman from south

carolina, mr. inglis. mr. inglis: i revise and extend my remarks against this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, may i inquire of the gentlewoman if she has remaining speakers? ms. slaughter: i have one. and time for me to close. mr. dreier: i resevere the balance of my time -- i'm sorry, for unanimous consent request, i'm happy to yield to my friend from california, mr. lewis. mr. lewis: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to a new member of the house, the gentleman from ohio, mr. boccieri who will be our last speaker on our side, except for closing. . mr. boccieri: thank you, mr. speaker. her story took me to a place i haven't been in a long time. i'm talking about the face of

this debate who is sitting in a hospital room at the cleveland clinic right now with no insurance get ing blood transfusions for the next 30 days. she doesn't have health insurance care insurance because in 2009 her rates increased 25%. in 2010 her rates went up another 40%. finally she just couldn't take it as sing ale mom. so she dropped her health care insurance because she couldn't afford it. i remember as a young boy standing at my mom's bedside when she told me sh had cancer. luckily my mom had good health care insurance. she survived today. but how many people do not have health care insurance and how would my life have changed if she did not make it? where would i be? would i have been able to go to college, would we have been able to afford her treatment? nearly 40,000 people in the 16th district do not have health care insurance. 9,800 people live with pre-existing conditions. i'll remind my friends on the other side who voted to send tommy thompson to iraq with $1 billion checks in hand to make sure that every man, woman and

child in iraq had universal health care coverage. if it's good enough for iraqis, it's good enough for americans. who are you going to stand with today? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman is reminded to address all of his remarks to the chair. the gentlelady from north carolina -- the gentlelady from new york has 25 seconds remaining. the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, for unanimous consent request i yield to the gentlewoman from michigan, mrs. miller. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. mrs. miller: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, may i inquire if from the gentlewoman from new york if she has any remaining speakers? ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, would you please repeat what mr. dreier of has ske he -- mr. dreier has asked of he? mr. dreier: i can speak for myself.

i'll ask my friend from new york if she has any remaining speakers? ms. slaughter: absolutely not. just for myself to close. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, i yield myself the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for as much time as he may consume. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, we've obviously heard many, many, many stories of tragic situations and we all have them from our constituents across this great country. and it is absolutely essential for us to recognize that every single member of this institution does in fact want to ensure that every american has access to quality affordable health insurance. the contemporary writer and commentator dennis prayinger has said that the bigger the government grows the smaller the individual becomes. now, mr. speaker, it seems to me absolute -- absolutely essential that we look at what it is that is before us. it is a $1.2 trillion bill that

has $569.2 billion in job-killing tax increases, it has provisions that will hire 18,000, 18,000 new internal revenue service agents to police every one of the 300 million americans, every one of the 300 million americans to ensure that they comply with a new mandate that is imposed by this measure. now, mr. speaker, we have, as has been said, a plan that we'll have taxes and regulations for four years and maybe, maybe some benefits in the last six years of the decade. we believe that we can work in a bipartisan way to do a number of things that will immediately, immediately, mr. speaker, reduce the cost of health insurance to ensure that every single american will have a better opportunity to have access to

quality health insurance. we believe very fervently and mr. cassidy has worked on this that expanding health savings accounts will go a long way toward increasing access to quality health insurance. we know very well that pooling to deal with pre-existing conditions is something that will play a role to ensure that those with pre-existing conditions have their needs met. we know that we can drive costs down if we expand, expand on societied health plans. so the small businesses -- associated health plans so small businesses can come together and bring their rates down. and we know, we know, mr. speaker, that if we allow for the purchase of health insurance across state lines we'll create greater competition, ensuring that immediately our constituents will have access to quality affordable health insurance and, mr. speaker, we know item number 5, something we've sent to the other body,

but the democrats blocked, and that is something the president also said he supported when he addressed the joint session of congress, meaningful lawsuit abuse reform so that medical doctors do not have to engage in defensive medicine. mr. speaker, these are five commonsense proposals that we could address in a bipartisan way, i would hope, that will immediately, immediately bring the cost of health insurance down and not force every american to wait four years before they may have a benefit. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to vote no on the previous question and no on this rule and if we get beyond it, vote no on the bill itself. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, the question couldn't be more clear. you either believe insurance reform which will give a decent chance for health care for every american or you simply believe in insurance companies.

i urge a yes vote on the previous question and on the rule and i yield back the balance of my time. and move the previous question. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on ordering the previous question on the resolution. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair