and permanently demnish the freedom of the american individual. today i'm reminded of a quote by president ford. a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take it all away. this is a time for courage and clear thinking. i urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to join in standing with the american people and vote against this bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back her time. the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from pennsylvania, ms. schwartz. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. . ms. schwartz: this is the largest deficit rededuction for a generation and improving access to quality of coverage to 95% of americans. this plan strengthens coverage and health care for all americans, including provisions i have fought hard for,

prohibiting insurance companies from excluding coverage for pre-exist iing conditions, prohibiting dropping coverage when you get sick or -- ensuring that they use plain and easy to understand language so the consumers know what they are buying and compare their choices, allowing young add utilities to stay on -- adults to stay on their parents' policies, offering tax credits to small businesses to provide coverage to employees, eliminating co-payments for seniors and closing the medicare prescription drug benefit coverage -- the doughnut hole, making sure we close the doughnut hole, promoting the educational and research missions of our nation's teaching hospitals and academic centers. focusing on primary care by ensuring that americans,

particularly those with chronic diseases have access to ongoing care, investing in innovation and technology by creating new incentives in the development of new cures and treatments and incentivizing collaboration among health providers through new payment reforms that promote high quality delivery of care. these provisions ensure new consumer rights and protections for those with insurance, contains costs for families, for businesses and for our nation and extends affordable, meaningful coverage to 32 million americans. health care reform is vital to the health of americans and the health of our economy. the status quo is unacceptable. i urge a yes vote. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time is expired. the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: for the purposes of a unanimous consent request, i yield to the the gentleman from california. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized.

>> i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this fraud health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. camp: i yield three minutes to the distinguished the gentlewoman from west virginia, ms. capito. mrs. capito: for a moment, let's think of this bill as a blanket, a blanket of health care legislation that may be draped across america and its population in the coming years. unfortunately this blanket is would he haven not from all hands working together but the handy work of strong arms and political deals and a resistance to listen to the american people. its cloth has been cut and color has beeninged. it is too short in some areas and too long in other areas. once this blanket of legislation is laid out, those will find it doesn't provide the real health care reform and will become a

wall of government between them and their doctor. huge holes won't protect the cold wind of job loss, taxes, and increased health care costs. though we hear of coming taxes and they will be made of the same flimsy fabric. all of america will feel the weight, the real cost of the $2 trillion dollar will increase. states like mine will feel the weight caused by millions of dollars in unfunded mandates. states must balance their budgets -- >> the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. the house will be in order. on it gentlelady will continue. mrs. capito: states will be forced to absorb the increase in spending demanded by this bill. but the full burden paid by

those who enjoy this spring day playing outside and in back yards, little did they know as they play, we are on the cusp of burdening them with debt. ignoring their pleas and america will shake its head in disbelief and ask how washington can turn a deaf ear and be so disconnected from the american people. if we stand here in obedience to our purpose that congress will be an effective representation of the people of the united states, we should stop this unfortunate endeavor, take a step back and listen. listen to the heartbeat of america, the beat that yerns for true health care reform, the beat that asks for bipartisan government committed to solving america's problems, the beat that asks that we put america's families first. america deserves this and america deserves to be heard. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentlelady yields her time. the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield two minutes3 the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield two minutes to the the gentleman from florida, mr. boyd. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. without objection, so ordered. mr. boyd: i thank my friend, mr. spratt from south carolina. i heard a wise man once say that you never saw a great country with an uneducated and unhealthy population. we're headed there. 67,000 uninsured in the congressional district that i represent will be helped by this bill. we all know the statistics about the spiraling costs of insurance and the ever increasing percentage of uninsured within our own district and across this nation. we all agree, this is an unsustainable path. i have heard you say it many times. so i ask you, how high do these numbers have to go before we act? earlier, i heard the gentlelady from washington state say it's

the wrong time. for 22 years, in my legislative service as i have been trying to find solutions, i have heard it's the wrong time. i know many of you have been trying to find those solutions from time to time, solutions to those high costs, the spiraling high costs, the ever increasing number of uninsured on an annual basis, solutions that would do it in a fiscally responsible way and use the good part of our private sector delivery system. ladies and gentlemen, this bill does all four of those things. mr. speaker, if we fail to act now, the path we are on will create a society of "v"s and have nots based solely on one's ability to purchase health insurance. i know this bill isn't perfect. there are a lot of things in it that i don't like. but seldom are they the first time around. the other side has brought us no viable alternatives. so then i ask you, ladies and

gentlemen -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. the house will be in order. mr. boyd: i ask you, ladies and gentlemen, if not this, then what? if not now, then when? mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to vote yes for the health of our people and the strength of our economy. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: could i inquire as to the time remaining. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan has 10 1/2 minutes. the gentleman from south carolina has seven. mr. camp: for the purposes of a unanimous consent request, i yield to the the gentleman from nebraska. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. >> i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health care bill woifment -- the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. the gentleman from michigan.

mr. camp: i yield three minutes to the distinguished the gentleman from tennessee, dr. roe. mr. roe: thank you, mr. speaker. today we debate and vote on the most important piece of social legislation in decades, a massive expansion of government unparalleled in our nation's history with the potential to bankrupt future generations by lowering the standard of living for our children and grandchildren. for the past 30 years, i haven't been a politician, but a physician treating patients and delivering babies in rural tennessee and i can say that we have in this country the highest quality of health care in the world. but i will also say this6 c13 world. but i will also say this is too expensive for an increasing number of people. health care should not be a partisan issue. i never operated on a republican or democrat cancer in my life. we heard how this is going to reduce the deficit. we tried a plan called tenncare

and different companies were going to compete and mr. costello:s. what happened in that? 10 budget years later, our costs have tripled and had to cut the rolls in tennessee because the state was going bankrupt. and this year for the first time, we had to limit patients' visits to eight doctor visits per year and this plan will only pay $10,000 -- i don't care what the cost of the care is and those costs are shifted to private insurers. the physicians aren't taking this because it pays them less than 60% of their costs of actually providing the care. that approach, which is pretty much the same approach we are voting on here today, failed. and i know because i'm a physician who worked in that system. mr. speaker, i have one question for every member of this body, if we have seen how this big government scheme doesn't work, why would you vote for it again? well, the states know.

they have -- they are well ahead of the federal government. 37 states, including tennessee are now proposing legislation to opt out of the obamacare plan should it pass. so the states get it, because they can't afford it. the seniors get it, because they understand $500 billion are going to be cut from this program. and let me tell you, in the next 10 years, we're going to add 35 million people to the medicare rolls in this country when the baby boomers hit. three things will happen. you'll decrease access and quality because you can't see your doctor and costs will go up. so seniors get it, the doctors get it, and they're going to work harder. and there is no meaningful tort reform and without that you can't reduce the cost of care. the american people get this. the people of tennessee don't want this plan. the people of the united states don't want this plan, but the politicians who vote for it are not listening. i choose to listen to the

american people and vote no and urge my colleagues to do the same. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: mr. chairman, for purposes of unanimous consent request, i yield to mr. meeks of new york. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. meeks: thank you. i ask unanimous consent to extend and revise my remarks and submit my statement into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. spratt: i yield next to the gentlelady from california. ms. roybal-allard: i rise in strong support of this bill and i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield two minutes to the the gentleman from virginia, mr. scott. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. scott: mr. speaker, america's been debating health care for over 100 years and during this debate we have heard

complaints and blame and misrepresentation, slogans, even name calling, but today, we finally get to discuss the bill. the bill will provide affordable health care insurance to over 32 million americans who are uninsured including those with pre-existing conditions. this bill will provide security for those who have insurance because 1,000 americans will no longer lose their insurance every day and others will no longer have to watch the cost of their insurance skyrocket every year. insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel payments or stop making payments. no longer those with health care have to make co-payments for preventative services or go bankrupt because the bills provide affordable limits on

co-pays and deductibles and the legislation will provide affordable insurance to all americans, families with insurance will not have to pay an extra $1,000 for those who show up at hospitals without insurance. seniors will no longer fall into the doughnut hole and our youth will be able to stay on the speaker pro tempore: house will be in order. the gentleman may proceed. mr. scott: and will be stay to stay on policies until 26 and small businesses will see significant savings because they will purchase insurance with the same advantages as large businesses and many small businesses will receive temporary tax credits. that is in the bill. and it's more than paid for. the c.b.o and it's more than paid for. the c.b.o. projects significant savings for the first 10 years and huge savings for the next 10 years. mr. speaker, future generations will look back on the vote we cast today, just as today we look back on the votes of social security and medicare. those future generations will see that we proudly voted in health care for all.

thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: i yield to the the gentleman from colorado. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. >> i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend in opposition. mr. camp: i yield to the gentleman from texas. >> i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. camp: i yield to the gentlelady from north carolina for a nam consent request. ms. foxx: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this flawed health bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. camp: and for the purposes of a unanimous consent request i yield to the gentleman from new york.

>> i request unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks no opposition to this bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. camp: i yield to the minority whip. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for four minutes. mr. cantor: all of us in this body, republicans and democrats alike, care about americans' health care. but many of us from both sides of the aisle don't care for this trillion-dollar overhaul. and the fact is, the majority of americans don't care for it either. sadly, mr. speaker, the only bipartisanship we've seen surrounding this overhaul has been in opposition to it. and there's a reason for that. health care is a very personal issue.

and this overhaul will impact every man, woman, and child in this country. it will even affect future generations that have not yet been born. mr. speaker, this overhaul will have a huge impact on our parents, our spouses, and our kids. this is something that they'll be paying for for the rest of their lives. and for too long, mr. speaker, the majority in this body and the president of the united states have refused to listen to the american people. so mr. speaker, i have a message for those americans. we hear you. we hear you loud and clear. because we believe, because we believe this government must stop spending money that it doesn't have.

and this trillion-dollar overhaul will do the opposite. we believe that this government must stop piling debt upon our children and grandchildren and this trillion-dollar overhaul will do the opposite. we believe this government must stop raising taxes on small businesses and families. mr. speaker, this trillion-dollar overhaul will do the opposite. we believe that america is the land of innovation and the government must stop crippling job creators and entrepreneurs with oppressive mandates and taxes and this trillion-dollar overhaul will do the opposite. mr. speaker, we believe that in america, our government must not force those who fundamentally object to abortion to have to pay for it. and this trillion-dollar overhaul does the opposite.

we believe in building upon what works in our current health care, mr. speaker, so that doctors in america can continue to provide the best care in the world and this trillion-dollar overhaul does the opposite. mr. speaker, we believe that families and patients should have the freedom and the right to choose the doctors they want and this trillion-dollar overhaul will begin to take that freedom away. mr. speaker, if there's one thing that the american people have learned over the past year, it's that we are truly at a critical time in this country. we are at a crossroads. this trillion-dollar health care overhaul before us today has caused a lot of fear and uncertainty. it's the latest part of an agenda being forced on the american people that attempts to seek more control over the

economy and our lives. the choices we make on deficit spending, higher taxes, energy security, and health care, they're all important. they're important because they were -- they will all determine what kind of country we want to be. mr. speaker, the choice before us is very clear. the choice is whether we want to become a country that is unrecognizable, or one that will fulfill the american dream. i ask for 20 more seconds. mr. camp: i yield the gentleman 30 more seconds. mr. cantor: or one that will preserve the american dream so we remain the most prosperous country in the world. i urge my colleagues to listen to the people and vote no on this legislation. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: mr. speaker, for

purposes of a unanimous consent request, i yield to the gentleman. >> i rise in support of this bill and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentleman will be charged. mr. spratt: for purposes of another unanimous consent request, i yield to the gentlelady, ms. waters. ms. waters: i request unanimous consent to rhett rith my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. spratt: for purpose of unanimous consent, i yield to mr. driehaus of ohio. mr. driehaus: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of this health care legislation. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield one minute to the gentlelady from

minnesota, ms. mccollum. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute and the house will be in order. ms. mccollum: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, beyond the walls of this capitol, there are millions of americans who can't afford health insurance and they live in fear of getting sick. millions more are discriminated against by insurance companies because they have pre-existing medical conditions. in my own life, as a child and as an adult, i lived without health insurance. a dear, dear niece of mine has a pre-existing condition that makes her uninsurable. passing health insurance is not a political game, it's personal. it's about real people's lives. when we pass this bill we will save lives. families will be protected, millions of americans will no longer live in fear. today, i will vote to end discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, today i will vote to extend

health care to 32 million americans and when this bill becomes law, health care security will finally become a reality for the american people. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: at this time, i reserve, i believe that the gentleman has more speakers? mr. spratt: we have one more speaker before the speaker. we anticipate mr. boehner speaking before the speaker. mr. camp: at this time i yield to the gentleman from california for a unanimous consent request. mr. lungren: i ask unanimous con sent that due to the confusion that the president's statement be considered a separate amendment to the text and we be allowed to vote on it

separately. the speaker pro tempore: the chair cannot consider such a request unless it's been cleared. mr. lungren: parliamentary inquiry. is up such unanimous consent request, is it in fact -- in order under the rules of the house? the speaker pro tempore: the chair has indicated that requests for these matters must be cleared. mr. lungren: mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: the chair is not obligated to instruct members on the rules of the house. mr. lungren: mr. speaker, with respect, may i make a further inquiry are, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman may inquire. mr. lungren: would that request, if it were cleared, be

considered germane to the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will not respond to hypotheticals. mr. lungren: mr. speaker, additional parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman may proceed. mr. lungren: when i am informed it must be cleared, do i understand it must be cleared by the speaker or majority leader? the speaker pro tempore: leaderships on both sides must clear these matters, i'm sure the gentleman knows that. mr. lungren: i thank the speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: how much time is remaining? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan has 3 1/4 minutes remaining. the gentleman from south carolina has four minutes. mr. spratt: for if you weres of -- purposes of a unanimous consent request, yield to the gentlelady from ohio, ms. kaptur.

ms. kaptur: i ask unanimous consent to place in the record remarks in support of the measure. mr. spratt: i yield for a unanimous consent to mrs. dahlkemper of pennsylvania. mrs. dahlkemper: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of this health care legislation. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. who yields time? mr. spratt: i yield a minute and a half to the gentlelady, ms. delauro. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for a minute and a half and the house will be in order. the gentlewoman will withhold. lebs are asked to take seats, especially in the back. on both sides. the gentlewoman may proceed. ms. delauro: i rise in support of this historic legislation, arguably the most important vote we here today will ever

take in this chamber. today fulfills a promise made 100 years ago by theodore roosevelt when he first called for comprehensive health care reform. it fulfills a promise made by franklin roosevelt made to our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents in 1944. president nixon also labored and lost on this national mission and president bill clinton, too, tried to climb this mountain. today, legislation builds on the great achievement for social security and medicare, those big changes that we all take for granted regardless of party and yes, they, too, were characterized as socialist government takeovers. today we have a chance to make health insurance affordable for people and small businesses that denies them coverage and increase their rates and

dromedrop them when they get sick. enough this reform law allows 32 million of our citizens to get insurance a moral imperative that closes the doughnut hole in prescription drugs for seniors and women will no longer have to pay more for their insurance. a long overdue reckoning. i am humbled by the opportunity to cast a vote for this historic change. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield myself two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. camp: we heard a lot of discussion tonight about this bill and how it's been characterized. let me just read a few quotes from my friends on the democratic side who have characterized this bill. a democrat from north carolina says there's no question that our current health care system is broken and that we need to make significant reforms to improve it in an equitable,

fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. in my opinion the bill as written does not meet those criteria. a democrat from tennessee says after for roe and careful review of the legislation i am unconvinced that the long-term friend of -- trend of rising health care cost is addressed and am therefore unable to support the legislation. a democrat from new mexico says i do not believe the bill does enough to contain costs. a democrat from north carolina says health care reform is needed but the bill before us is too expensive. does not adequately address rising medical costs and skyrocketing insurance premiums, and tries to do too much, too soon. we simply cannot afford to create a new federal bureaucracy that costs nearly $1 trillion when our national debt is $12 trillion and there's no plan in place to address it. i will not vote for it. another democrat from virginia says, i have spoken with

countless small business owners, families, medical professionals and average citizens across virginia and it becomes very clear that this bill is not the right solution for virginia's health care challenges. on and on and on again. this is not the right bill for america. this costs $1 trillion, raises half a trillion in taxes and cuts medicare by half a trillion dollars. vote no on this bill. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: for purposes of unanimous consent request i yield to the gentlelady from new york, ms. loy. mrs. lowey: i rise in support of this bill and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. mr. spratt: for purposes of a unanimous consent request, i yield to the gentleman from new

jersey, mr. payne. mr. payne: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend in support of this great health care reform bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. spratt: for purposes of unanimous consent request i yield to the gentleman from florida, mr. grayson. mr. grayson: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of this bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. spratt: for purposes of a unanimous consent request i queeled to the gentleman from georgia, mr. bishop. mr. bishop: i request unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of this historic health care reform bill. introip without objection. mr. spratt: could you tell me how much time is remaining on my side? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has 1 1/4 minutes -- 2 1/4 minutes.

the speaker pro tempore: how much time? mr. spratt: i want to leave a minute for the speaker. other than that, the balance of the time. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the house will be in order the gentleman will withhold. >> our friends on the other side of the aisle have asked frequently tonight, what kind of country are we? they asked exactly the right question. tomorrow when a person is denied a job because she has breast cancer or charged higher premium because he has asthma, what kind of country will we be? . be? tomorrow when a senior citizen has enough money in her checking account to pay the utility bill and prescription bill but not both, what kind of country will

we be? when a person who tonight is scrubbing floors or pumping gas or waiting on tables, tomorrow tries to go to buy a health insurance policy for herself or her children, what kind of country will we be? for social security, we gave deesens si for seniors. in medicare, we gave compassion for seniors. in the civil rights act, we gave equality for all americans. tonight, we will give justice and decency. that's the kind of country we will be. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: thank you, mr. speaker. at this time, i yield one minute

to the distinguished minority leader, mr. boehner. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. and the house bib -- will be in order. the gentleman may proceed. mr. boehner: mr. speaker, and my colleagues. i rise tonight with a sad and heavy heart. today, we should be standing together, reflecting a year of bipartisanship and working to answer our country's call and their challenge to address the rising costs of health insurance in our country. today, this body, this institution, enshrined in the first article of the constitution of our founding fathers is a sign of the importance they placed on this house. should be looking with pride on this legislation and our work.

but it is not so. no, to say we are standing here looking at a health care bill that no one in this body believes is satisfactory. today, we stand here amidst the wreckage of what was once the respect and honor that this house was held in by our fellow citizens. and we all know why it is so. we have failed to listen to america. and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents. and when we fail to reflect that will, we fail ourselves and we fail our country. look at this bill. ask yourself, do you really believe that if you like the

health plan that you have that you can keep it? no, you can't. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. mr. boehner: in this economy, with this unemployment, with our desperate needs for jobs and economic growth, is this really the time to raise taxes, to create bureaucracies and burden every job creator in our land? the answer is no. can you go home and tell your senior citizens that these cuts in medicare will not limit their access to doctors or further weaken the program instead of strengthening it? no, you cannot. can you go home and tell your

constituents with confidence that this bill respects the sanctity of all human life and that it won't allow for taxpayer funding of abortions for the first time in 30 years? no, you cannot. and look at how this bill is written. can you say it was done openly? with transparency and accountability? without back-room deals that were struck behind closed doors? hidden from the people? hell no you can't. have you read the bill? have you read the reconciliation bill? have you read the manager's amendment? hell no, you haven't. >> order, mr. speaker.

the speaker pro tempore: both sides would do well to remember the dignity of the house. mr. boehner: mr. speaker, in a few minutes, we'll cast some of the most consequential votes that any of us will ever cast in this chamber. the decision we make will affect every man, woman and child in this nation for generations to come. if we're going to vote for the will of the american people, we ought to have the courage to stand before them and announce our votes one at a time. i sent a letter to the speaker this week asking that the of the

roll be ordered for this vote. madam speaker, i ask you, will you, in the interest of this institution grant my request? will you, mr. speaker, grant my request that we have a call of the roll? mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: rhetorical question. mr. boehner: mr. speaker, will you grant my request that we have a call of the roll. the speaker pro tempore: under clause 2a a record vote is conducted by electronic device. mr. boehner: mr. speaker, will you grant that request? the speaker pro tempore: the chair will decide at the time

the request is made. this is not it. mr. boehner: my colleagues, my colleagues, this is the people's house. when we came here, we each swore an oath to uphold and abide by the constitution as representative of the people. but the process here is broken. the institution is broken. and as a result, this bill is not what the american people need, nor what our constituents want. americans are out there making sacrificing and struggling to build a better future. and as they damned the torpedos and the outline of this legislation became clear, millions of americans lifted their voices and they asked us to slow down, not to try to cram

through more than this system can handle, not to spend money that we didn't have and in this time of recession, they want us to focus on jobs, not more spending, not more government and certainly not more taxes. but what they say today frightens them. they are frightened because they don't know what comes next. they are disgusted because they see one political party closing out another in what should be a national solution. and they're angry, they're angry that no matter how much they engage in this debate, this body moves forward against their will. shame on us. shame on this body. shame on each and every one of you who substitutes your will and your desires above those of your fellow countrymen.

around this chamber, they're looking upon us, are the law givers, from moses to blackstone, to thomas jefferson. by our actions today, we disgrace their values. we break their -- the ties of history in this chamber. and we break our trust with america. when i handed the speaker the gavel in 2007, i said this, this is the people's house. and the moment the majority forgets it, it starts writing itself a ticket to minority

status. if we pass this bill, there will be no turning back. it will be the last straw for the american people. and in a democracy, you can only ignore the will of the people for so long and get away with it. and if we defy the will of our american citizens and pass this bill, we will be held to account. we will have shattered those bonds of trust. i beg you, i beg each and every one of you on both sides of the aisle, do not further strike at the heart of this country and institution with arrogance, for surely you will not strike with impunity. i ask each of you to vow to never let this happen again. this process, this defiance of our citizens, it's not too late to begin to restore the bonds of

trust with our nation and return come ity to this -- comenty. join me in voting against this bill so we can come together, addressing the challenge of health care in a manner that brings credit to this body and brings credit to the ideals to this nation and most importantly, that reflects the will of the american people. and i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. mr. spratt: i yield the balance of my time -- i yield one minute to the gentlewoman from california who has led the way in this quest on health care reform, tirelessly, persistently, ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the

house, nancy pelosi. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the speaker: i thank the gentleman for yielding. i thank all of you for bringing us to this moment. it's with great humility and great pride that we tonight will make history for our country and progress for the american people. just think, we will be joining those who established social security, medicare, and now tonight, health care for all americans. in doing so, we will honor the vows of our founders, who in the declaration of independence

said, we're all -- that we are endowed by our create -- creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. this legislation will lead to healthier lives. more liberty to pursue hopes and dreams and happiness for the american people. this is an american proposal that honors the tradition of our country. we would not be here tonight for sure without the extraordinary leadership of president barack obama. we thank him for his unwavering

commitment to health care for all americans. this began over a year ago with his leadership in the american recovery and reinvestment act. we had very significant investments in science, technology, and innovation. for health reform -- health care reform. it continues and the president's -- it continued in the president's budget a few months later a budget this was a statement of our national values, which allocated resources part of our value system and in a way that stabilized our economy, created jobs, lowered taxes for the middle class, and did so and reduced the deficit and did so in a way that has pillars of investment, including education and health care reform.

health care reform and education equal opportunity for the american people. this legislation tonight, if i had one word to describe it, would be opportunity, with its investments in education and health care as a continuation of the president's budget. we all know and it's been said over and over again that our economy needs something new, a jolt. i believe that this legislation will unleash tremendous entrepreneurial power into our economy. imagine a society and an economy where a person could change jobs without losing health insurance. where they could be self-employed or start -- be self-employed or start a small business. imagine an economy where people

would follow their passions and their talent without having to worry that their chin would not have health insurance. if they had a child with diabetes who was bipolar or had a pre-existing condition in their family, they would be job locked. in this bill, their entrepreneurial spirit will be unleashed. we all know, we all know that the present health care system and insurance system, health insurance system in our country is unsustainable. we simply cannot afford it. it doesn't work for enough people in terms of delivery of service and it is bankrupting the company with the upward spiral of increasing medical costs. the best action we can take on behalf of america's family budgets and on behalf of the federal budget is to pass health care reform.

the best action we can take to strengthen medicare and improve care and benefits for our seniors is to pass this legislation tonight. pass health care reform. the best action we can do to create jobs and strengthen our economic security is pass health care reform. the best action we can take to keep america competitive, ignite innovation, again unleash entrepreneurial spirit, is to pass health care reform. with this action tonight, with this health care reform, 32 million more americans will have health care insurance. and those who have insurance now will be spared of being at the mercy of the health insurance industry with their

obscene increases in premiums, their rescinding of policies at the time of illness, their cutting off of policies even if you have been fully paying but become sick. the list goes on and on about the health care reforms that are in this legislation. insure 32 million more people, make it more affordable for the middle class, end insurance company discrimination on pre-existing conditions, improve care and benefits under medicare and extending medicare solvency for almost a decade. creating a healthier america through prevention, through wellness and innovation, create four million jobs in the life of the bill, and doing all of that by saving the taxpayer $1.3 trillion.

another speaker, tip o'neill, once said, all politics is local. i say to you tonight that when it comes to health care, for all americans, all politics is personal. it's personal for the family that wrote to me who had to choose between buying groceries and seeing a doctor. it's personal to the family who was refused coverage because the child had a pre-existing condition. no coverage, the child got worse, sicker. it's personal for women, after we pass this bill, being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing medical condition.

it's personal for senior semen who i met in michigan who told me about his wife, who had been bedridden for 16 years. he told me he didn't know how he was going to be able to pay his medical bills. as i said to you before, i saw a grown man cry. he was worry head might lose his home they might lose their home because of the medical bills and he didn't know how he was going to pay them. most of all, he was too embarrassed to tell his children and ask them for help. how many times have you heard a story like that? and it's personal for millions of family who was gone into bankruptcy under the weight of rising health care costs. many, many, many, a high percentage of the bankruptcies in our country are caused by medical bills that people cannot pay.

it's personal for 45,000 americans and families who have lost a loved one each year because they didn't and couldn't get health insurance. that is why we are proud and also humbled today to act with the support of millions of americans to recognize the urgency of passing health care reform and more than 350 organizations representing americans of every age, every background, every part of the country who have endorsed this legislation. our coalition ranges from aarp, who, quote, said that our legislation, quote, improves efforts to crack down on fraud and waste in medicare, strengthening medicare for today, today's seniors and future generations. i repeat, improves efforts to crack down on fraud and waste in medicare, strengthening the program for today's and future

generations of seniors. todd american medical association, the catholic health association, the united methodist church and voices of america's children. from a to z, they are sending a clear message to members of congress, say yes, to health care reform. we have also reached a historic moment because of the extraordinary leadership and hard work and dedication of all members of congress, but i want to especially, mr. levin, mr. miller, mr. rangel, ms. slaughter for bringing this bill to the floor today. i want to acknowledge the staff of the committee and the leadership, they have done a remarkable, dazzling us with their knowledge and their

know-how. i would like to thank my own staff, amy, wendy, and archie and now i want to close by saying this. it wouldn't be possible to talk about health care without acknowledging the great leadership of senator ed wad kennedy who made health care his wifest -- his life's work. in a letter to president obama, before he passed away he left the letter to be read after he died, senator kennedy wrote that access to health care was the great unfinished business of our society. that is until today.

after more than a year of debate, and by the way the legislation that will go forth from here has over 200 republican amendments, and while it may not get republican votes, and be bipartisan in that respect, it is bipartisan in having other 200 republican amendments. -- over 200 republican amendments. after a year of debate and hearing the coals of millions of americans, we have come to this historic moment. today we have the opportunity to complete the great unfinished business of our society and pass health insurance reform for all americans, that is a right and not a privilege. and that -- in that same letter to the president, senator kennedy wrote, what is at

stake, he said, at stake are not just the details of policy but the character of our country. americans will look back on this day as one which we honored the character of the country and honored our commitment to our nation's founders for a commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. as our colleague, john lewis, has said we may not have chosen the time has chosen us. we have been given this opportunity, an opportunity to stay right up there, again, with social security, medicare, health care for all americans, and i urge my colleagues and join together in passing health insurance reform, making history, making progress and restoring the american dream. i urge an aye vote.

the speaker pro tempore: the chair will again remind all persons in the gallery that they are here as guests of the house and that any manifestation of approval or disapproval of proceedings or other audible conversation is in violation of the rules of the house. . for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition. mr. spratt: i call up the bill h.r. 3590 with the senate amendments lto and i have a motion at the desk.

the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title designating the senate amendments and designate the motion. the clerk: an act to amend the internal revenue code to modify the first-time home buyers credit and certain other federal employees and for other purposes. senate amendments. motions to concur offered by mr. spratt of south carolina. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 2, house resolution 1203, the previous question is ordered on the motion. the question is on the motion. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. mr. boehner: mr. speaker, i request a recorded vote and request that the speaker exercise her discretion to conduct this vote by a roll call under clause 2 of house rule 20.

the speaker pro tempore: a recorded vote is requested. those favoring a recorded vote will rides. a sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. it is a 15-minute vote. [captioning de 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.]

for recon sill case of tissue reconciliation of the budget for fiscal year 2010. the speaker pro tempore: the amendment in the nature of a substitute 111-448 modified by the amendment printed in part bmbing of the report is adopt and the bill as amended is ordered read. pursuant to house resolution 1203, the previous question is ordered on the bill as amended. the question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. third reading. the clerk: a bill to proid provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the budget for fiscal year 2010. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise? >> i have a motion to recommit

at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: is the gentleman opposed to the bill? mr. camp: in its current form. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will designate the motion. the clerk: motion to recommit with instructions offered by mr. camp of michigan. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan is recognized for five minutes. for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland rise? mr. hoyer: is the motion going to be read? the speaker pro tempore: the rule dispenses with the reading, it's merely designated. mr. camp: thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. members will take their seats. members need to know what's in the motion.

mr. camp: am i now recognized on my motion to recommit? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes and the motion will be distributed. the speaker pro tempore: thank you, mr. speaker. as the previous vote shows, there is bipartisan opposition to the health care bill, the senate -- to the health care bill the senate sent to this house. there is good reason. the american people, republican, and a few brave democrats, 34 to be exact, 34 brave democrats have rejected it precisely because of the legislation's deep flaws. the motion to recommit offers us a chance to fix the most egregious defect allowing taxpayer funds to subsidize abortions. this motion ensures -- >> mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the gentleman from michigan

deserves to be heard. the speaker pro tempore: i would suggest, i understand members are trying to ascertain what's in the motion. it would be helpful if we had understanding on both sides. mr. camp: mr. speaker. mr. speaker. the rule waived the reading of the amendment, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the gentleman from michigan has the floor. mr. camp: mr. speaker, the very strict rules of the house waived the reading of all these rules and motions but this motion ensures the hyde language remains the law of the land a ethe late nest a long string of deal the one made today with the president does not protect the life of unborn children. as the gentleman -- as the

gentleman from mississippi, a democrat, warned earlier today, and i quote, anything the president does by executive order, he can undo by executive order. there is no bargaining or deal making when it comes to the life of the unborn. a life is a life and it is the responsibility of this house to defend these children. when this measure was last before the house, it passed overwhelmingly, 240 to 194. it should do so again. i now yield to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. pitts to further discuss this motion to recommit. mr. pitts: thank you, mr. speakerism rise in support of the motion before us. over and over again, polls have shown the public does not support federal funding of abortions.

unfortunately, the senate rejected the will of the people and passed a bill that has become known as the most massively pro-abortion piece of legislation to come before congress since roe v. wade. despite the political runaround we've been given this last week, the facts remain before us today, the senate bill, departs from long standing current policy and achieves the exact opposite effect of current law. and an executive order promised by the president will not change these facts. an executive order does not trump a statute and the courts will undoubtedly look to the legislative text to interpret the law. moreover the promised order fails to correct the egregious pro-life concerns contained in this bill. it will simply reiterate the meaningless accounting scheme cooked up by the senate bill. regardless of what type of gimmick is employed to facilitate abortion payment the result is the same.

the abortion rate will rise and more unborn lives will be lost. the executive order does nothing to prevent funding for abortion in the co-op program or prevent funding for abortion in the high risk insurance pool program. it does not prevent them issuing recks including abortion as a preventive service. thereby all plans may require it as a service. it does nothing to support the abortion surcharge mandate. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to reinstate the pro-life protections that pass this chamber last november in a bipartisan vote. the stupak-pitts amendment. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on this motion and i yield back. mr. camp: i now yield to the gentleman from new jersey. >> in a dramatic reversal from current law, obamacare has just

passed. it is funded with medicare cuts, and forces the issuers of federally subsidized plans to collect a few a-- a new abortion fee from every enrollee to pay for other people's abortions. insurance companies only need segregate the funds a mere bookkeeping exercise to subsidize unfunded abortion. the majority chose to waive in the rule the reading of the amendment. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentleman from new jersey please proceed.

>> it will also administer a multistate insurance plan with the abortion, another radical departure from the status quo. the executive order, what a joke.