Date: 2009-11-07
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today. I want to add my support for the Republican substitute amendment. the Commonsense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act. This amendment is a patient centered solution to healthcare reform that our country can afford and that members on both sides of the aisle can support. It also addresses the number one concern on the mind of all Americans in this country: the high cost of health care. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this Republican substitute amendment would reduce health insurance premiums by up to 8 percent for those families who currently do not have access to employerprovided coverage. My constituents have told me over and over again that the cost of healthcare is too high. They need healthcare that is more affordable. accessible and available and the Commonsense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act provides just that. Included in the Republican substitute amendment is my bill. H.R. 2607. the Small Business Health Fairness Act. This legislation allows small businesses to band together to purchase health insurance so they can enjoy the same bargaining power large corporations and labor unions have at the purchasing table. In all parts of our economy we know that buying in bulk reduces the price tag. and healthcare is no different. Governmentforced healthcare is not the way to solve our health care problem. We can and have to do better. With almost 60 percent of the uninsured population tied to a small business. this provision in the Commonsense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act. helps bring access to affordable healthcare to those that currently dont have it. Clearly. there are better ways to make healthcare more accessible for American familiesand this Republican substitute is it. Real healthcare reform should protect doctors and hospitals from frivolous lawsuits. so they can stop practicing defensive medicine and instead focus on practicing patientfocused care. This amendment extends medical liability reform that has been successful in several States to the rest of the Nation. saving lives and saving money. Another provision in the Republican substitute amendment I am proud to support is the State Innovations Program. The amendment provides incentives to States who adopt reforms that reduce the cost of health insurance and expand coverage to the citizens of their States. This provision allows States the freedom to solve their health problems on their own. Speaker PELOSIs healthcare bill focuses on the Federal Government trying to fix what is broken with our health care. But in my great State of Texas. I believe those that are best equipped to solve our healthcare problems are Texans. It is time for real reform that works and not the same old answers of more money and more government. Finally. this amendment protects American innovation while ensuring patients will have more cutting edge treatment options in the area called "follow on biologics." The Commonsense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act contains a provision that will create a pathway for new. life saving products while maintaining the proper incentives for companies to research and strive to discover them. Most importantly. this provision will ensure that many of the jobs created in this industry will stay in the United States. The Commonsense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act is exactly the solution the American public has asked Congress to pass. It saves money. lowers the cost of health care. protects the patientdoctor relationship and keeps the government out of personal healthcare decisions. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment today.