E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 156 WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 No. 42 Senate The Senate was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, March 22, 2010, at 2 p.m. House of Representatives SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 The House met at 9 a.m. and was Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- HEALTH CARE REFORM called to order by the Speaker pro tem- nal stands approved. (Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was pore (Ms. CLARKE). Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speak- given permission to address the House f er, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I de- for 1 minute and to revise and extend mand a vote on agreeing to the Speak- DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER her remarks.) er’s approval of the Journal. PRO TEMPORE Ms. SCHWARTZ. Today we are close The SPEAKER pro tempore. The to achieving a long-sought goal ensur- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- question is on the Speaker’s approval ing that all Americans have access to fore the House the following commu- of the Journal. meaningful, affordable health cov- nication from the Speaker: The question was taken; and the erage. Passing health care reform bene- WASHINGTON, DC, Speaker pro tempore announced that fits all of us: families, seniors, busi- March 20, 2010. the ayes appeared to have it. nesses, taxpayers, and our Nation. I hereby appoint the Honorable YVETTE D. Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speak- This plan includes many vital pre- CLARKE to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. er, on that I demand the yeas and nays. scriptions that strengthen health care NANCY PELOSI, The yeas and nays were ordered. for all Americans, provisions that I Speaker of the House of Representatives. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- have fought hard for: prohibiting insur- f ant to clause 8, rule XX, further pro- ance companies from excluding pre- ceedings on this question will be post- existing condition coverage for chil- PRAYER poned. dren and adults. Six months after re- The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. form is passed, all children will be pro- Coughlin, offered the following prayer: f tected from these denials, strength- Let us approach the Lord with praise ening primary care for seniors with a and thanksgiving. Strong is His love PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE new focus on those with chronic dis- for us. Left to ourselves, we are easily The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the eases. Seniors will no longer have to overwhelmed. We cannot be attentive gentleman from Ohio (Mr. WILSON) pay copayments for preventative care to His Word or accomplish His holy come forward and lead the House in the and will have greater access to primary will. Pledge of Allegiance. care doctors and nurses. And reform So shield us with Your Holy Spirit, Mr. WILSON of Ohio led the Pledge ensures that all insurance policies use Lord, and make this Congress bold and of Allegiance as follows: plain, easy-to-understand language so strong. As Your instrument of mercy I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the that consumers know what they’re and compassion, drive away all that is United States of America, and to the Repub- buying and can honestly compare their evil and reveal the path that will lic for which it stands, one nation under God, choices. strengthen Your people in hope and indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The status quo is unacceptable and salvation, and give You the glory both unsustainable. I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on now and forever. Amen. f health care reform. f ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER f THE JOURNAL PRO TEMPORE GOVERNMENT FAIRY TALE The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The SPEAKER pro tempore. The (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina Chair has examined the Journal of the Chair will now entertain up to five re- asked and was given permission to ad- last day’s proceedings and announces quests for 1-minute speeches on each dress the House for 1 minute and to re- to the House her approval thereof. side of the aisle. vise and extend his remarks.) b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H1747 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 01:20 Mar 21, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A20MR7.000 H20MRPT1 tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with HOUSE H1748 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 20, 2010 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. shuttle flight occurs, we will have no I decided to do a little research on Madam Speaker, Ronald Reagan once means to transport our astronauts into the issue, and just since the time I’ve said the most terrifying words in the space. We will have to hitch a ride with been here, the House has recorded English language are, ‘‘I’m from the the Russians if we want that transpor- votes on whether to congratulate two government and I’m here to help.’’ This tation. And if one of our security sat- college football teams, a college bas- is exactly what Washington liberals are ellites needs repair, who’s to say the ketball team. There was a vote on a trying to tell the American people. Russians will even let us buy a coach college quarterback. We’ve even held The scheme that the government can ticket on their space aircraft. votes on honoring 10 colleges and uni- give everyone free health care is a fairy Now even the Iranians have entered versities and named 30 post offices. The tale which defies history and reality. the space race. Last month they sent a House held a recorded vote on whether The reality is there are real and afford- rat, two turtles, and a worm into space. to pay tribute to Homeland Security able ways to improve the health care Keeping our edge in spaceflight is a Department employees, and just this financing system, and Republicans pre- national security issue. We can not week, we actually voted on whether or sented 70 such proposals. Proposals like give that away to anybody. After all, not to congratulate Vancouver on H.R. 3400 will make health care acces- when Neil Armstrong landed on the hosting the Winter Olympics. Heck, sible and affordable, covering pre- Moon, the first word was ‘‘Houston,’’ we’ve even asked Members of Congress existing conditions, promoting em- not ‘‘Moscow’’ or ‘‘Beijing.’’ to go on record about the 2,560th birth- ployer-sponsored insurance, and offers And that’s just the way it is. day of Confucius. We can vote on all of these matters, insurance across State lines. f The Pelosi bill will kill 1.6 million but we can’t have a vote on health jobs according to the National Federa- HEALTH CARE REFORM care. Madam Speaker, if anyone can tion of Independent Business. (Mr. KLEIN of Florida asked and was explain this to me, my phone line is In conclusion, God bless our troops, given permission to address the House open. and we will never forget September the for 1 minute and to revise and extend f 11th in the global war on terrorism. his remarks.) HEALTH CARE REFORM Citizens can make a difference, like Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speak- (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given Chuck Stauck of Hilton Head Island, er, from the beginning of the debate of with Ann Bull, Brenda Maxwell, and permission to address the House for 1 health care reform, my top priority has minute.) Lynn Dempsey of Lexington, South been clear: strengthen and protect Carolina. Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, Medicare for our seniors, like Bunny this morning on my way in to the Cap- f Steinman in my district. itol I experienced a moment of karma. HEALTH CARE REFORM I believe that the doctor-patient rela- The first song that came on the radio, tionship is absolutely essential, espe- (Mr. WILSON of Ohio asked and was when I turned it on, was a song from cially for our seniors. No one, not the given permission to address the House the show ‘‘Les Mis’’ called ‘‘One Day government or private insurance, for 1 minute.) More.’’ In that Broadway show, ‘‘One Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Madam Speak- should stand between a patient and the Day More’’ is sung on the eve of an in- er, I rise today to share my strong sup- doctor of their choice. surrection by French students, many of port for the health reform bill that we When I talk to seniors in my district, whom know they are going to die. will be voting on this weekend. many of them tell me that struggling One day more today we will be pass- This bill is not perfect, but it’s a sig- to cover the costs of prescription ing an historic piece of legislation that nificant step forward. This bill will en- drugs—especially if they have fallen will not take lives. It will save lives; sure that a wonderful little girl named into the part D drug doughnut hole—is the 18,000 lives that are lost every year Bridget from Marietta, Ohio, whom I a real problem for them, and that is because of a lack of health insurance. met with last week, will never be de- why I took the lead in working with We will save lives, we will save money, nied health insurance due to a pre- AARP to make sure health care re- we will save Medicare, and we will save existing condition even though she was form, this bill, closes the doughnut jobs.