ms. kilroy of ohio. the chair: -- ms. kilroy: i ask unanimous consent to bring up the amendment as modified by the form placed at the desk. the chair: the clerk will report the modification. the clerk: modification in house report 16, offered by ms. kilroy of ohio, page 185, beginning on line 21, strike paragraph 2 and insert the following, two, our institutions of higher education eligible for assistance under title 3 or 5 of the higher education act of 1965 or consortia that includes such an institution. or three, are focused on serving low-income -- ms. kilroy: i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. the chair: without objection. the reading is dispensed with. without objection, the amendment is modified. pursuant to house resolution 746, the gentlelady from ohio, ms. kilroy, and a member opposed will each control five minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentlelady from ohio. ms. kilroy: thank you, madam chair. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. kilroy

ms. kilroy: i have been talking to small businesses in my district and one of the things i consistently hear from them, that they ask for help with, is the issue of the cost of health care for small business. small business is telling me that they can't afford to buy health care or they're precluded from buying it because one of the members in their small group has a pre-existing conditions and insurance companies doesn't sell to them. i'm here to tell them that we're listening to them and if health care reform passes this house and is signed into law it can reform dramatically the small business health care costs. it can help small businesses by providing an exchange that they can access which will provide a bigger pool and shared risk and lower health care costs for them. and many small businesses would qualify for substantial tax credits to help small businesses make -- worker health care costs more affordable. this bill will not cost small business jobs. in fact, it will help save jobs giving them more opportunities to spend their money to help add to their jobs rather than paying extrem