November 30, 2009: The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. and proceed to a period of morning business until 3:00 p.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3590, with Senator Reid, or designee, permitted to offer the first amendment to the Reid substitute; further, that Senator McConnell, or designee, be permitted to offer the next amendment to the substitute with no other amendments in order during Monday's session. There will be no roll call votes during Monday's session.
The status quo is no longer acceptable. We need to preserve choice, reduce cost and assure quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
Tim reads the health care stories that South Dakotans have sent in
Access to affordable health insurance and rising health care costs are among the leading domestic issues facing our country, and it is clear we need to change the path we are on. Health insurance premiums have doubled in the last eight years, rising nearly four times faster than wages. More and more people are unable to keep up, falling in with the ranks of the 47 million uninsured, 8 million of them children.
I believe we have a moral obligation to fix our American health care system, and we also have an economic incentive to do so.
Like most Americans, I realize that this is a complex problem. I’ve paid rising health insurance premiums over the years like anyone else. I have two South Dakota doctors in my family, and I have also been a patient who has tremendous appreciation for the medical miracles that happen in our nation every day.
Yet too many Americans live with the worry that those miracles could be out of reach if they need them. Even those fortunate enough to have good health insurance worry that a job loss, serious illness or other unforeseen tragedy could leave them unable to afford health care when they need it most.
This is a situation that cannot continue. Reform is needed, and it will take hard work and bipartisan cooperation that puts the needs of Americans above one’s own parochial interests.
As the debate moves forward in Washington, I will continue to study various proposals and will carefully consider our options for meaningful reform.
I also hope you will take this opportunity to share your experiences, opinions and ideas with me, as it is very important that the voice of South Dakotans be heard in Washington during this dialogue.
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Story submissions are moderated; submission of a post does not guarantee that it will be published. We may also edit stories for length. Posted stories will include each sender’s first name, last initial, and city or town. If you would like to submit a confidential story, please use my Contact form.
Please note that if your submissions includes a request for assistance, I ask that you visit my Casework page to find more information. The Constituent Services section of this site includes other information that may be helpful to you, including materials on flag requests, visiting Washington, and applying for a nomination to one of America's military service academies.
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