Dec. 24, 2009
Rockefeller Supports Health Bill; Speaks on Senate Floor
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC. (HNN) -- Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 delivered the following statement on the Senate floor about the importance of the health care reform for West Virginians and all Americans. In addition to remarks on the Senate floor, he told reporters that the “public option” embraced by the House is not on the negotiating table when the two bodies confer.
Rockefeller:
"Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues -- to stand in fact very proudly with my 59 colleagues -- in support of Senate passage of the groundbreaking comprehensive health care reform bill before us.
"It has taken not just the better part of a year to get here, but in fact the better part of a generation.
"The story of health care reform over the last 50 years has been one of narrow incremental change – some quite meaningful, but none truly comprehensive – and of big ideas left unrealized.
…
"Each of us brings to this moment shared stories about the tragic and trying personal experiences of our friends and neighbors back home.
"I know that West Virginians’ struggles with the health care system are not unique in America, but they are unique to me, and they are what drive me to work so hard to make things better.
"I want to tell you about one of them -- the Bord family of West Virginia.
"The Bords are two dedicated school teachers -- with health insurance, through their employer -- whose son Samuel had Leukemia and needed treatment well beyond the onerous annual insurance limits they didn’t even know they had.
"Samuel’s parents were desperate and feared for the worst. When he hit his million dollar cap, my office helped his parents to find more resources, but those ran out too.
So, the Bords were left with two heart-wrenching suggestions -- consider getting a divorce so that Samuel would qualify for Medicaid OR stop taking their other children – Samuel’s twin brothers – to the doctor altogether, even if they get sick, in order to save every penny for Samuel.
"That’s right. Get a divorce OR choose one child’s health care needs over another’s.
"Those are the choices our nation offered to these caring, hardworking parents with a sick child?
"How can that be? How can we allow that to be?
…
"We have not gotten here by accident or chance, and we will not get all the way across the finish line without more hard work and goodwill.
"To those on the left, who are disappointed in what the bill does not do, and in some cases are even calling for its demise, I implore you to reconsider – to be a part of this solution even as we keep working on others, which I promise you I will do, and I think you know I mean that when I say it.
"To those on the right, who in all these years somehow have not seen fit to accept any of the various options and ideas put on the table for comprehensive reform, I ask you to stick to the facts.
"There are legitimate disagreements between us about how best to solve the problems plaguing our health care system and hurting our people.
"But the status quo is unacceptable.
"Claims that we are rushing this process or have operated in secret are absurd.
"Claims that we will hurt seniors, close hospitals or take away people’s choices are reckless and disingenuous.
"Our work in this institution affects people’s lives every single day, and we have a solemn responsibility to help them in their hour of need – that’s the reason we’re here, to achieve meaningful reform for them.
"As someone who has been involved in this debate from the very beginning, and fought for strong reforms in the Senate Finance Committee, I know how far we have come to get here.
"And I, for one, am not going to allow this moment and its great promise to end in failure.
"The progress here will be real. And, the greatly improved quality of life for millions of Americans will be its measure."
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Rockefeller Supports Health Bill; Speaks on Senate Floor
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC. (HNN) -- Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 delivered the following statement on the Senate floor about the importance of the health care reform for West Virginians and all Americans. In addition to remarks on the Senate floor, he told reporters that the “public option” embraced by the House is not on the negotiating table when the two bodies confer.
Rockefeller:
"Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues -- to stand in fact very proudly with my 59 colleagues -- in support of Senate passage of the groundbreaking comprehensive health care reform bill before us.
"It has taken not just the better part of a year to get here, but in fact the better part of a generation.
"The story of health care reform over the last 50 years has been one of narrow incremental change – some quite meaningful, but none truly comprehensive – and of big ideas left unrealized.
…
"Each of us brings to this moment shared stories about the tragic and trying personal experiences of our friends and neighbors back home.
"I know that West Virginians’ struggles with the health care system are not unique in America, but they are unique to me, and they are what drive me to work so hard to make things better.
"I want to tell you about one of them -- the Bord family of West Virginia.
"The Bords are two dedicated school teachers -- with health insurance, through their employer -- whose son Samuel had Leukemia and needed treatment well beyond the onerous annual insurance limits they didn’t even know they had.
"Samuel’s parents were desperate and feared for the worst. When he hit his million dollar cap, my office helped his parents to find more resources, but those ran out too.
So, the Bords were left with two heart-wrenching suggestions -- consider getting a divorce so that Samuel would qualify for Medicaid OR stop taking their other children – Samuel’s twin brothers – to the doctor altogether, even if they get sick, in order to save every penny for Samuel.
"That’s right. Get a divorce OR choose one child’s health care needs over another’s.
"Those are the choices our nation offered to these caring, hardworking parents with a sick child?
"How can that be? How can we allow that to be?
…
"We have not gotten here by accident or chance, and we will not get all the way across the finish line without more hard work and goodwill.
"To those on the left, who are disappointed in what the bill does not do, and in some cases are even calling for its demise, I implore you to reconsider – to be a part of this solution even as we keep working on others, which I promise you I will do, and I think you know I mean that when I say it.
"To those on the right, who in all these years somehow have not seen fit to accept any of the various options and ideas put on the table for comprehensive reform, I ask you to stick to the facts.
"There are legitimate disagreements between us about how best to solve the problems plaguing our health care system and hurting our people.
"But the status quo is unacceptable.
"Claims that we are rushing this process or have operated in secret are absurd.
"Claims that we will hurt seniors, close hospitals or take away people’s choices are reckless and disingenuous.
"Our work in this institution affects people’s lives every single day, and we have a solemn responsibility to help them in their hour of need – that’s the reason we’re here, to achieve meaningful reform for them.
"As someone who has been involved in this debate from the very beginning, and fought for strong reforms in the Senate Finance Committee, I know how far we have come to get here.
"And I, for one, am not going to allow this moment and its great promise to end in failure.
"The progress here will be real. And, the greatly improved quality of life for millions of Americans will be its measure."
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
