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AND I WANT TO NOW RECOGNIZE OR
FLIP IT, IF YOU WILL, BACK TO
MY GOOD FRIEND FROM THE ***
ISLANDS.
I WANT TO
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, FOR
HELPING TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE
IMPORTANT AREAS THAT WERE --
THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED
TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS BUT NOT
EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO
CREATING THEIR OWN FACTS.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING
TONIGHT ARE THE FACTS.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD NOW FIVE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA
JACKSON LEE.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO
JOIN MY COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR
AND INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN
GREGORY MEEKS OF NEW YORK, WHO
WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM AND I THANK DR.
CHRISTENSEN FOR YOUR CONTINUED
LEADERSHIP AND MY COLLEAGUE ON
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEBATE TODAY.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS AT
ITS JURISDICTION THE
CONSTITUTION AND OUR FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
IT BAFFLES ME.
AND ALMOST FRUSTRATINGS ME --
FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE I'M
TRYING TO GRAB HOLD OF THE
ARGUMENT, PARTICULARLY SINCE
WE'VE HAD MEDICARE BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SINCE 1965
AND HAS WITHSTOOD ANY
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE AND
COMMERCE ACT.
THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE
BUT FRANKLY, IF WE HAVE AN
ARGUMENT TO MAKE ON THE
CONSTITUTION, I WILL SHARE WITH
YOU WHY THIS IS CLEARLY A
CONSTITUTIONAL BILL BECAUSE WE
ARE ACTUALLY DENYING PEOPLE
BOTH DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL
PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW UNDER
THE PRESENT SYSTEM BECAUSE WE
HAVE A NATION THAT IS DIVIDED
BETWEEN THE HAVES AND
HAVE-NOTS.
44 MILLION PLUS, NOW I HEAR 32
MILLION PERSONS WERE UNINSURED
AND THAT'S WHAT GRBED --
GRABBED OUR ATTENTION.
THOSE PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
CLEARLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS THE 14TH
AMENDMENT SAYS EQUAL PROTECTION
UNDER THE LAW, OR ALL PEOPLE
TREATED EQUALLY AND THE FIFTH
AMENDMENT SAYS CAN'T DEPRIVE
SOMEONE OF LIFE OR LIBERTY
WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, OVER THE
TIME WE DEBATED THIS BILL, WE
SAW THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO
ACTUALLY DIED BECAUSE THEY
COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE.
WE'RE REMINDED OF OUR GOOD
COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN
CUMMINGS, WHO TOLD THE STORY
OVER AND OVER AGAIN OF A YOUNG
TEEN ABLER, 12 OR 13-YEAR-OLD
BOY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOY, WHO
HAD AN ABSCESS, A TOOTH
ABSCESS, AND CLEARLY COULD HAVE
BEEN SAVED, HIS LIFE IS BEFORE
HIM.
BUT HE DIED BECAUSE HIS MOTHER
DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND
REALLY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
GO ANYWHERE TO HAVE THIS
PARTICULAR HEALTH MATTER TAKEN
CARE OF.
IT BECAME A CRISIS AND HE DIED.
SO I WANT TO SAY TO MY FRIENDS,
THESE ARE THE BASIC POINTS THAT
I WANT TO RAISE TODAY WHILE I
DISCUSS THIS QUESTION OF THE
14TH AMENDMENT AND THE FIFTH
AMENDMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HEAR THE
QUESTION OF HOW OFFENDED PEOPLE
ARE, I DON'T WANT TO BE TOLD TO
BUY INSURANCE.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE FORCED
TO BUY INSURANCE?
WELL, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THERE
IS A 10TH AMENDMENT THAT SAYS,
WHAT IS NOT LEFT TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS GIVEN TO THE
STATES.
STATES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE AUTO
INSURANCE.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE IT, YOU ARE
FINED.
YOU GET A TICKET.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE CALCULATED
THAT THE BURDEN OF NOT HAVING
HEALTH INSURANCE IS TOO GREAT
TO BEAR.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK OF PEOPLE
NOT HAVING HEALTH INSURANCE
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS,
WE ARE DETERMINED THAT THE
BURDEN IS TOO GREAT TO BEAR, 14
-- $143 BILLION IF THIS BILL IS
REPEALED RIGHT AWAY AND $1
TRILLION OVER 20 YEARS THAT WE
WILL LOSE OR THE DEFICIT WILL
BE BUILT.
I IMAGINE IT WILL BE MORE IF
YOU DETERMINE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE UNINSURED THAT WILL GO INTO
THE COUNTY SYSTEM.
DOES EVERYBODY KNOW IN THESE
DISTRICTS AROUND THE NATION WHO
ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS BILL
THAT YOUR HOSPITALS, YOUR
COUNTY HOSPITALS THAT ARE
BURDENING YOUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS
WILL BE ACTUALLY COMPENSATED
FOR UNCOMPENSATED CARE?
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE HERE,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU MY HOSPITALS
ARE JUMPING FOR JOY.
SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THIS
OUT, CHILDREN WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS ARE DENIED COVERAGE,
THAT IS A SICKLE CELL CHILD,
THE INDIVIDUAL WITH HEART
DISEASE.
WE DETERMINED IN OUR DEMOCRATIC
POLICY AND STEERING COMMITTEE
THAT CHILDREN ARE THE GREATEST
WHO HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF
DYING BECAUSE OF LACK OF
COVERAGE.
SO ALL OF THESE, ASTHMA,
PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH
ASTHMA, THEY'RE BORN AND THEY
ARE BABIES WITH ASTHMA.
DO YOU REALIZE THEY CANNOT OR
COULD NOT GET INSURANCE EVEN ON
THEIR PARENTS' INSURANCE?
ASTHMA.
HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE DIED
WITH ASTHMA, PARTICULARLY IN
THE MINORITY COMMUNITY WHERE WE
HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO POOR
QUALITY LIVING CONDITIONS,
MAYBE THE AIR QUALITY BECAUSE
OF WHERE WE LIVE, INDUSTRIAL
WASTE OR MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE OF
THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSE THAT
YOU'RE IN, ASBESTOS, OTHER
AILMENTS THAT CREATE CONDITIONS
THAT CAUSE RESPIRATORY
ILLNESSES IN CHILDREN.
A MAN SAID HE HAS BEEN WORKING
HARD AND GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE JOB HE HAD
OFFERED TO HIM HAS BEEN PUSHED
BACK BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.
HE IS WORKING TO GET MORE
EXPERIENCE AS AN INTERN WITH NO
COMPENSATION.
HIS FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP
HIM ON INSURANCE AT THIS POINT,
BUT HE IS CONSTRUCTIVE AND HE
CAN BE CONSTRUCTIVE BECAUSE HE
CAN BE ON HIS PARENTS'
INSURANCE.
PREGNANT WOMEN AND BREAST AND
CANCER PATIENTS, PARTICULARLY
MINORITY WOMEN, HAVE A
DEVASTATING FORM OF BREAST
CANCER.
MY FATHER HAD PROSTATE CANCER
AND THE AGE THAT HE WAS IN AND
MEDICAL ACCESS HE HAD AT THAT
TIME, HE DIDN'T TELL THE FAMILY
AND WE WERE UNINFORMED ABOUT
PROSTATE CANCER AND DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT IT UNTIL IT HAD SPREAD AND
CANCER.
HE HAD BRAIN CANCER AND LUNG
AFRICAN AMERICANS MALE OVER 65
THAT DIDN'T HAVE PROPER ACCESS
TO HEALTH INSURANCE TO CATCH HIS
PROSTATE CANCER.
THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE FOR
PREVENTATIVE CARE.
SO MEMBERS, NO MATTER WHAT
STATUS YOU ARE IN, YOU HAVE THE
ABILITY TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE,
MEANING YOU CAN GO TO A
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC OR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OR YOU
MAY BE ABLE TO BUY YOUR OWN
HEALTH INSURANCE AT THE RATE AND
AMOUNT YOU CAN.
THERE IS A COMPLAINT HERE AS I
SAID ABOUT LACKING THE ABILITY
INSURANCE.
OR NOT WANTING TO BUY HEALTH
WELL, I WOULD ARGUE TO THAT
PERSON, THE ARGUMENT I MADE
ABOUT THE 10TH AMENDMENT AND
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, BUT I ALSO
ARGUE, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE
THESE INDIVIDUALS DIE OR BURDEN
THE MASSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THEM
ACCESS TO BE HEALTHY AS OPPOSED
TO BE SICK?
THEN SOMETHING HAS BEEN SAID,
JOB-KILLING BILL AND ONE OF THE
POINTS THAT THE REPUBLICANS MAKE
IS 650,000 JOBS LOST.
THEY ARE NOT TELLING THE
ACCURATE STORY.
THE 650,000 JOBS LOST ARE PEOPLE
DECIDING NOT TO WORK OR TO WORK
LESS BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE THE
ABILITY TO GET THEIR OWN
INSURANCE THAT IS NOT TIED TO A
JOB THROUGH THE EXCHANGE.
THAT'S THE ACCURACY OF IT.
IT'S VOLUNTARY.
VOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM A JOB
BECAUSE I AM INDEPENDENT NOW TO
BE ABLE TO GO INTO BUSINESS, TO
BE A SOLE ENTREPRENEUR, SOLE
APPROPRIATOR AND HAVE MY
INSURANCE.
THEY WOULD BE THROWN OFF BECAUSE
PREGNANT WOMEN, PRE-EXISTING
DISEASE, PROSTATE CANCER AND YOU
KNOW WHAT ELSE, HEART DISEASE,
WHICH KILLS OR HAS 43 MILLION
WOMEN TODAY LIVING WITH HEART
DISEASE, SOME OF WHOM DO NOT
KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
PREVENTIVE CARE.
SENIORS, LET ME SAY TO YOU,
THERE WILL BE LIVING PANELS,
BECAUSE YOU WILL GET A 50%
DISCOUNT ON YOUR DOUGHNUT HOLE
PROCESS AND BRAND NAME
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, A PRIMARY CARE
DOCTOR, COMMUNITY HEALTH
CLINICS, MEDICAL HOME SO YOU
WON'T HAVE TO BE WORRYING ABOUT
WHO IS MY DOCTOR, A CONSISTENT
DOCK STORE, ELECTRONIC RECORDS,
SENIORS IN RURAL AREAS, WHERE
HOSPITALS ARE NOT EVEN, BUT IF
THEY COULD GO TO A COMMUNITY
HEALTH CLINIC SO THEY DON'T HAVE
TO GO TO AN E.R. OR BE HILL COP
TERED TO A CITY AND THERE IS A
WHOLE QUESTION OF THE DEFICIT,
BUT THIS IDEA OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, LET ME TELL YOU THAT
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE JUMPING FOR
JOY.
A DOCTOR SAID THAT SHE IS GLAD
HER BUSINESS WILL GET TAX
CREDITS FOR HER EMPLOYEES TO
PROVIDE HEALTH CARE AND ADD
ANOTHER NURSE PRACTITIONER JUST
BECAUSE THIS BILL PROVIDES FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
I CAN ONLY SAY THAT THIS WHOLE
QUESTION OF JOB LOSS IS SHAKY,
THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE
CONSTITUTION IS SHAKE YEAR.
AND I CONCLUDE BY SAYING THIS
AND I WILL BE ON THE FLOOR
TOMORROW, THE CONSTITUTION HAS
BEEN MISUSED IN THIS DEBATE.
I BEG THE PEOPLE TO GET THE
CONSTITUTION.
IT IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
H.R. 2 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
BECAUSE IT CREATES AN UNEQUAL
SYSTEM IN AMERICA, A SYSTEM OF
HEALTH CARE.
JON EQUALNESS AS IT RELATES TO
WE LIVE THAT WAY BUT NOT BEEN
ABLE TO TAKE THIS CASE ALL THE
WAY UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.
WHY DOES MY NEIGHBOR HAVE
INSURANCE AND I DON'T HAVE IT.
WE ARE EQUALIZING WITH THE EQUAL
PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT AND GIVING YOU EQUAL
PROTECTION TO THE 14TH AMENDMENT
AND 5TH AMENDMENT OF DUE PROCESS
AND EQUAL PROTECTION AND THERE
ISN'T A BETTER WAY TO VALUE
AMERICA THAT ALL OF US DESERVES
CONSTITUTION.
THE DIGNITY OF OUR FLAG AND OUR
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR HER
LEADERSHIP, DR. CHRISTENSEN AND
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU,
CONGRESSWOMAN.
AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THE
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES BECAUSE WE
WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE
CONSTITUTIONAL REMPSES.
THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION THAT
WE INTRODUCE AND THE
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE HAS BEEN
RAISED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT IN
YOUR REMARKS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO THE THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK, CONGRESSMAN
MEEKS.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
*** ISLANDS AND THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS ON THE
AMENDMENT.
CONSTITUTION ON THE 14TH AND 5TH
ON THIS NIGHT WHEN I DON'T HAVE
MUCH OF A VOICE, IT IS IMPORTANT
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY
GOING ON HERE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
CONSTITUTION, YOU KNOW, THE
FIRST THING WE WERE DOING WHEN
WE CAME BACK IN THE 112TH WAS
THE READING OF THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION WAS REALLY PUT
IN PLACE TO HELP AND PROTECT
AMERICANS.
IT'S ONE THING TO READ THE
CONSTITUTION, IT'S ANOTHER THING
TO LIVE THE CONSTITUTION.
I THINK THE GENTLELADY PUT OUT
THE FACTS CLEARLY THAT UNDER THE
14TH AND 5TH AMENDMENT IT IS
CONSTITUTION.
I THINK IT IS ALSO CLEARLY WHAT
THE CONSTITUTION AND WHAT THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WROTE WAS THE
COMMITTEE AT THE FEDERAL
CONVENTION THAT IT SHOULD REMIND
US THAT THE TEXT EMPLOYS AND
EMPOWERS US TO PROVIDE FOR AND
PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WHAT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING
THAT ONE HAS?
IS IT MONEY?
WHAT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING?
IT'S CALLED LIFE.
WITHOUT LIFE, WHAT DO WE HAVE?
AND WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IN LIVING A GOOD LIFE.
IT'S HEALTH.
SO WOULDN'T IT SEEM THAT WHAT
WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE
THING TO DO IS THAT WE PROVIDE
HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICANS?
WELL, IT'S WITHOUT QUESTION I
THINK WE CAN AGREE WHETHER
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS, WE
BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST
COUNTRY ON THE PLANET IN THE
HISTORY OF THE PLANET.
BUT LOOK AT THE BLEMISH THAT
HISTORY WILL RECORD ON OUR GREAT
NATION IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE OR
GIVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR
ALL AMERICANS.
THIS IS A STRUGGLE THAT WE HAVE
HAD FOR DEBATE AFTER DEBATE
AFTER DEBATE FROM PRESIDENT
BEFORE PRESIDENT BEFORE
PRESIDENT.
AND FINALLY THIS CONGRESS HAD
COME TOGETHER IN THE 111TH
CONGRESS AND SAID WE ARE GOING
TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO 95% OF
ALL AMERICANS.
NO, WE'RE NOT PERFECT.
FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I DON'T
KNOW OF ANY BILL THAT HAS BEEN
PASSED IN ANY LEGISLATIVE BODY
THAT IS PERFECT.
WE HAVE TO WORK AND IN FACT WE
TALK ABOUT OUR UNION TO MAKE IT
A MORE BETTER UNION.
THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
CLEARLY DOES THAT.
NOW, THE LOGIC TO COME AND TO
REPEAL ALL THIS CONFUSES ME, FOR
EVEN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS NOT
A PERFECT DOCUMENT.
CLEARLY THOSE OF US WHO HAPPEN
TO BE AFRICAN AMERICAS WHEN THE
FOUNDERS WROTE IT, WE WERE 3/5
OF HUMAN BEINGS AND THE DOCUMENT
ITSELF AND IT WAS INITIALLY
WRITTEN, WAS FLAWED, BUT WE AS A
NATION DIDN'T SAY COME AND
STRIKE THE ENTIRE THE
CONSTITUTION, REPEAL THE
CONSTITUTION.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS DONE.
WHAT WE DID WAS SAY, LET'S FIX
IT.
LET'S LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
AGREE UPON TO AMEND IT.
IN FACT, THERE WAS A SMALL
DEBATE ON THE FLOOR WHICH
CONSTITUTION WOULD BE READ,
WOULD IT BE THE AMENDED VERSION,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT,
THE AMENDED VERSION OF THE
CONSTITUTION, THAT'S WHAT WAS
READ HERE.
WHERE IS THE LOGIC NOW WHERE WE
HAVE THE LAW OF THE LAND TO COME
AND SAY, GET RID OF IT ALL?
YOU CLEARLY HEARD FROM THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA AND THE
OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN THIS
EVENING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS NO INDIVIDUAL WHO'S
DENIED HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF A
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
THIS BILL ASSURES US THAT.
IF YOU HAVE A CHILD UNDER 26
YEARS OF AGE, NOT WORKING, THEY
CAN STAY ON THEIR PARENTS'
HEALTH CARE.
FIXED THAT.
SENIORS WITH A DOUGHNUT HOLE, WE
SO IF YOU HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM
THAT YOU BANT TO NEGOTIATE AND
TALK ABOUT THAT'S IN THIS BILL
THAT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, I
THINK AS A BODY, WE CAN SIT DOWN
AND WORK TOGETHER TO GET THAT
DONE.
AND SO, I SAY WHEN I LOOK AT
WHERE WE ARE OR -- I ASKED MY
STAFF IN MY LITTLE DISTRICT IN
NEW YORK, 6TH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT -- LET ME END BY SAYING
THIS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
HEALTH CARE IS A -- NOT A
PRIVILEGE FOR A FEW, BUT A RIGHT
FOR THE MANY.
LET US MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT
DESTROY THIS GREAT HEALTH CARE
REFORM BILL THAT'S NOW LAW.
MR. SPEAKER,
MAY I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
INCERTIFICATE INTO THE RECORD
THIS STATEMENT OF CONGRESSWOMAN
JOHNSON AND UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
EXTEND AND REVISE OUR REMARKS
THIS EVENING?
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S REQUEST WILL BE
COVERED BY GENERAL LEAVE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS BE REMOVED
AS CO-SPONSORS OF H.R. 61, MR.
BILBRAY, MR. COLE, MR. JEFF
DUNCAN, MR. FRANKS, MR. GIBBS,
MR. TOM GRAVES, MR. KLEIN, MR.
LAMBORN, MS. LOAM IS AND MR.
MCHENRY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
SO ORDERED.
ALSO, MR. SPEAKER
--
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM *** ISLANDS SEEK
RECOGNITION.
ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND ADD ANY EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
ON THE SUBJECT UNDER
CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM LOUISIANA FOR A MOTION.
I MOVE THAT THE
HOUSE DO NOW ADJOURN.
THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE MOTION IS AGREED TO.
ACCORDINGLY, THE HOUSE STANDS