House Proceeding 07-22-09 on Jul 22nd, 2009 :: 1:42:15 to 1:45:25
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1:42:12 to 1:42:32( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: we see right now in the united states as a country that we spend too much for health care per cap tafment we spend well more than any other country. -- per capita. we spend well more than any other contry. we have probably 20 million additional americans that are underinsured, and millions and millionsvery day that worry that the insurance they have

1:42:15 to 1:45:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gabrielle Giffords

1:42:33 to 1:42:53( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: won't cover them. that it won't be enough. nationwide premiums have doubled in the last nine years which have basically increased three times faster than the real wages across the united states. now, i represent arizona's

1:42:54 to 1:43:16( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: eighth congressional district and it's unique because it's burdened in different way from other parts of the contry. this is a border district. a large of the amount of geography is rural. it's hard to get physicians or nurses to go out there. many parts of the district are low income. we also have fewer doctors per capita than other parts of the country.

1:43:17 to 1:43:37( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: from 2001 to 2006, the out-of-pocket expenses in my district went up by 32% and in 2008 there were 950 health care related personal bankruptcies in my district. soe cannot continue to perpetuate the status quo. the time for health care reform

1:43:38 to 1:43:58( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: is right now. arizonans need reform that's going to protect us from being denied coverage based on a pre-existing health care condition they might have. arizonans need reform that guarantees care even if we lose our job or if we move or if our spouse loses his or her job. arizonans need reform that

1:43:59 to 1:44:19( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: fosters competition which is critical to our free market system. across the insurance companies and delivers us the customers, the consumers the lowest ct and the best service available. arizonans need reform that puts the power of health care decisions back into the hands of the patient and back into the

1:44:20 to 1:44:40( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: hands of their physicians. reform is not an option and most americans simply know that. as the health care legislati is being crafted and being discussed right now, we know that it has to be done responsibly. we know we need to pay f it. we can't continue to put today's expenses on to the shoulders of

1:44:41 to 1:45:02( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: our children and grandchildren. it is also critical that americans know that if you like your plan, you can keep your plan. you should be able to make sure that your costs go down and not go up like they are continuing to do. there are savings to be had in our current system. we all know that. so we have to focus on squeezing

1:45:03 to 1:45:23( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: those costs, every we can do this and we must do this. so it's really time to make sure not that we do it fast, but that we do it right, because our economy's at stake. our children, our grandchildren, and americans' prosperity is at stake right now with this health reform issue. thank you, mr. speaker, for the

1:45:24 to 1:45:26( Edit History Discussion )

Gabrielle Giffords: time and for my constituents