[Page H8713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DEMOCRATS ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my constituents have given me 
the honor and the privilege of serving here in the House of 
Representatives for 17 years now, and in all of those 17 years coming 
from an area where health care costs have continued to accelerate each 
year, in all those years, I've come here along with colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle seeking better opportunities for the seniors, those 
who are disabled, those who are without health care, and all we've done 
is talk.
  Well, now the Democrats have done something about that. We do have a 
plan that is before the American public. It allows for no more copays 
or deductibles for preventative care and an annual cap on out-of-pocket 
expenses, keeping Americans from financial ruin; an end to increases 
for preexisting conditions, gender, or occupation; group rates of a 
national pool if you buy your own plan; guaranteed affordable health 
care and vision care.
  If we keep the Republican's plan in mind, costs will go up.

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