Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. My colleague from Florida, my good friend, is incorrect: health care reform is great news for small business owners and middle class families. For folks that already have insurance, there are important consumer protections. If you are paying your premiums and copays, these insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel you if you get sick. If you switch jobs, you will no longer be barred if you have a preexisting condition like asthma or diabetes. For parents, now your children will be able to stay on your policy until age 26, and we will ensure that the bulk of your payments and copays will actually go to health care rather than CEO salaries and bonuses. My colleague is incorrect. Medicare will get stronger. Our parents, our grandparents, and our neighbors will see substantial improvements in their benefits. Not one benefit will be cut. Instead, we are going to pay Medicare doctors more to stay in Medicare. We are going to close the doughnut hole and make prescription drugs more affordable, and we are going to emphasize preventive care so they don't skip their checkups. And for small businesses owners and families who don't have insurance, they will have a new shopping exchange and new tax credits to ensure you can afford your health care.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to rise in strong support of H.R. 3650. I call this the ``red tide'' bill. I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Baird for his great leadership on this initiative. I've heard some discussion here in the Chamber and throughout the Capitol the last couple of days, Why are we taking up time with algae? Well, let's not diminish the issue because this is vitally important for jobs throughout the great State of Florida. I am very pleased that my colleague from Florida is in the Chair this morning to preside over this. We simply can't go backwards when it comes to jobs in our economy, and red tide is a significant threat to the tourism economy in the State of Florida. We depend in Florida upon people coming from all over the country and all over the world to vacation, especially on the beautiful beaches of the west coast of Florida, where you have the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There are no better beaches across the entire world than there are on the west coast of Florida. Now, also, on the Atlantic side it is quite lovely and the Florida Keys, but we face a significant threat from red tide. The tourism industry in Florida employs over 1 million people, and it is estimated that tourism has a $65 billion impact on our State's economy. Add on top of that recreational fishing, commercial fishing. What happens when this red tide washes in, it's awful. The tourists flee the beaches, and the folks that live and work and rely upon those industries really suffer. This happened just a few years ago in 2005. We had terrible red tide outbreaks on the west coast of Florida. And I can tell you because I had my family there at the beach with about a dozen other families where we go right after school is out. And what happens is that it causes you a lot of difficulty breathing. Your eyes start to water, the fish wash up on the shore, dead fish. And you can forget about it. Our economy took a real hit because of red tide. The tourists simply don't want to visit polluted beaches. We have beautiful, clean, crystal clear water most of the time. But when this red tide invades, it's absolutely awful. You can see where it's directly tied to jobs because then the word spreads. There were news stories over in England and Great Britain, where a lot of our tourists come from, and they decided not take their vacation. Now, if that happened in this economy, it would be very detrimental. So today's legislation will help us combat that threat. And I would like to especially thank my colleague from Florida, Representative Connie Mack, who represents the Naples, Sanibel Island area. There is simply no more beautiful place to vacation than maybe up towards my district in Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. But Congressman Mack and I have been working on this issue since 2007. He was working on it before I arrived in Congress, and we introduced the Save Our Shores Act to bring more attention to the research on red tide. That's why I am so gratified that the Science Committee, Mr. Baird and Mr. Barton, have really stepped up and promoted this. It's a bipartisan effort. And it's important because it comes on the heels of the tourism bill, the Travel Promotion Act that was signed into law by President Obama just last week. It's another good bolstering of the tourism economy and all those important jobs to the Sunshine State and across the country. Now, this legislation will ensure that we learn more about harmful algal blooms so that we can protect our precious coastlines and the tourism-related jobs that come with having healthy beaches. According to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the national economic impact of the red tide, the harmful algal blooms, is at least $82 million annually. So if we can pump in a little bit of research money and figure out what causes this--you see, that's the problem. We don't really know what causes the red tide and the algal blooms. If we're already suffering an $82 million hit, then it is very cost- effective for us to put a little bit more money into research and coordination. There's a lot of good research out there, but I don't think that it's being shared widely. So this initiative will help do that. And I think we'll be able to avoid devastating losses to tourism, to recreation and to commercial fishing all across the country. In 1971, Florida faced an exceptionally bad case of red tide, and then again in 2005, and we think that that caused Florida to take a hit of over $100 million. So the level of concern about red tide's cost to tourism is still high even though it's been a couple of years since our last big outbreak. But like I said, if we had an outbreak today in this economy, it would severely hurt businesses at a time when we just can't take it anymore. The unemployment rate in my community is about 13 percent, and we rely on folks needing some relaxation time and vacations in the beautiful Sunshine State. So that's why I strongly support this initiative. Again, I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Mack from Florida, Mr. Baird, the Science and Technology Committee, and I am pleased to urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 3650.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Baird from Washington for his leadership. He has been a real champion on behalf of clean water and clean beaches. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Science and Technology Committee for their terrific work on what I call the ``red tide bill.'' This is a jobs bill because, let me tell you, coming from the great State of Florida, the Sunshine State, we depend on folks from all across the country coming to vacation in Florida, to swim and to fish. There is nothing like a vacation in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And I see my friend and colleague here who represents the Florida Keys. There is nothing like a vacation there where you can spend time unwinding on our beautiful beaches. But there is a real threat to our tourism economy and jobs in the State of Florida, like there is in other parts of the country, and it's these very harmful algal blooms that cause red tide. In a State that employs over 1 million Floridians and where tourism has a $65 billion impact on our State's economy, when the red tide rolls in, it's a serious threat, because what the red tide does is it causes you difficulty breathing. It burns your eyes. Dead fish will roll up on the beaches. It's really bad news. The problem is we don't know what causes it, and that's why this bill is so important. And it's tied to jobs because, if we can do a little bit of research and determine what the causes are, we will be able to protect our tourism economy and make sure that we have clean and healthy beaches for folks who need that vacation. By some estimates, red tide outbreaks cost coastal communities $82 million a year. We have got to find out what is happening here. I also want to recognize my colleague and good friend Congressman Connie Mack, who represents some of the most beautiful beaches in the country down in Naples and Sanibel Island. Two years ago we were able to authorize $90 million for a 3-year period for peer-reviewed science research on red tide. But today's legislation builds on that bipartisan effort. And Representative Baird's bill, which I cosponsored, creates a new initiative on red tide, and will dedicate some monies to over 5 years of finding a solution that will give our Federal and State agencies a real leg up. Like I said, red tide is a significant threat to jobs, our tourism economy, our health, and our environment. So I am pleased to urge that we all join together to protect our coastal resources and the tourism- related jobs that come with having healthy beaches by learning more about harmful algal blooms and adopting H.R. 3650.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Reverend Abraham Brown--and to acknowledge his contributions to education, social progress, and to the community of Tampa Bay. Rev. Brown was born in downtown Tampa, the youngest of 3 children. He graduated from Tampa's Middleton Senior High School in 1946 and continued his education as an All Conference Student Athlete at Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU). He graduated in 1950 and ultimately earned a Master's Degree in Administration and Supervision. Rev. Brown returned to Tampa and went to work for the students in the public Hillsborough County Schools for thirty-eight years as a Teacher, Coach and Administrator. His coaching promoted sixteen athletes to professional football. These professional players attribute their success to the firm foundation and inspirational teachings of Coach Abe Brown. ``Coach'' retired from Hillsborough's school system on January 29, 1988 as Dean of Boys at Chamberlain High School. In 1976 a former player of Rev. Brown was charged with murder and Brown realized that he had taught young men how to play football but had not taught them how to live productive lives. In response to this he founded Prison Crusade Ministries, Inc. (now Abe Brown Ministries, Inc.) a non-profit organization that enables offenders, ex-offenders, their families, and others at risk, to achieve productive and spiritually fulfilling lives. Rev. Brown continued his social outreach and in 1991, he received nationwide coverage and honor through an article in the Readers Digest regarding his active establishment and implementation of an effort to stop street drug sales in Tampa's College Hill community. In 1993, he was awarded the America's Award (``The Nobel Peace Prize for Goodness'') for dedication through the Norman Vincent Peale Foundation. Rev. Brown was named Father of the Year in 2007 by the 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay and was also honored by the Tampa Chapter of the NFL and Hall of Fame with the J. Rex Farrior Award. In 2008, Tampa's new Middleton High School stadium was named ``Abe Brown Stadium'' in his honor. Rev. Brown is a tremendous role model for our youth and an inspiration to our community. He selflessly devoted his life to others and instead of abandoning those who had lost their way he worked tirelessly to help them get back on track. He not only helped numerous individuals, he helped an entire community. That is why I rise today to honor the life of Reverend Abraham Brown.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman from Maine for yielding the time. I also want to salute the chairwoman of the Rules Committee, Ms. Slaughter, who has been a champion for American families when it comes to standing up for their needs, especially in health care. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4626, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, and the underlying rule. It is time for policymakers in Washington to determine whose side are they on; are they on the side of the health insurance companies or are they on the side of American families and small businesses? I urge my colleagues to stand up for hardworking families across America and pass this Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act today because the state of the current law is unfair. Health insurance companies currently enjoy an exemption from antitrust laws with no good justification. Meanwhile, American families are held hostage to rising health care costs and a nagging insecurity that even though they pay their premiums and they pay their copays, they could be canceled at any time, even when they get sick, or they're going to have to fight through the red tape to get the benefits they're entitled to. Last year, the five largest health insurance companies made a record $12.2 billion profit, a 56 percent jump, while dropping coverage for 2.7 million Americans. Health insurers appear to be cherry-picking who they will cover in order to make a huge profit. In my home State of Florida, from 2000 to 2007, health care premiums for families rose on average by 72 percent; meanwhile, their paychecks only went up 20 percent during the same time. So our action in removing the antitrust exemption will spur fair prices and real competition. Again, it's time to choose; whose side are you on? Who will we protect, American families or the health insurance companies? The answer is clear: No more favors to private insurance companies. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and on the underlying bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I'm here to report that the Recovery Act is working in my hometown of Tampa, Florida. Yesterday, I attended a groundbreaking for a new community health center that is desperately needed in a part of town where they don't have anywhere else to go other than the emergency room, where we all end up paying for their health care. But in attendance at the groundbreaking were some of the construction workers, contractors, the architects, the real estate agents that will be put to work constructing this new community health center. And just a couple of weeks ago I visited another community health center up the road, run by Tampa Family Health Centers, and met doctors, nurses, medical professionals, a new receptionist that were hired because of the Recovery Act. It's these dollars that are investing in our hometowns, putting people back to work in the short term constructing these new facilities, but in the long term providing better health care at affordable rates for our families.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 274) expressing support for designation of March as National Nutrition Month.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Terry from the Energy and Commerce Committee, and urge my colleagues to support this House resolution designating March as National Nutrition Month.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to one of the experts on nutrition in the Congress, Congresswoman Dahlkemper from Pennsylvania.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to a champion for children from the Education and Labor Committee and the State of California, Congresswoman Woolsey.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We are going to continue to work for a healthier America, and this year marks the 30th year that March is celebrated as National Nutrition Month. The National Nutrition Month campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices, developing sound eating habits, and promoting exercise in our daily lives. The first nutrition campaign was launched in 1973, with the Presidential proclamation as National Nutrition Week, and became National Nutrition Month in 1980. I am especially proud to support National Nutrition Month, as First Lady Michelle Obama has just recently launched the Let's Move campaign to target childhood obesity. This initiative has four components: One, making healthy choices; two, putting healthy foods in schools; three, increasing access and affordability of healthy foods; and, four, increasing physical education. Good nutrition and healthy eating habits play a fundamental role in the overall health of both children and adults. The Children's Health Care Caucus, which I am proud to co-Chair with my Republican colleague Congressman Dave Reichert of Washington, is helping to raise awareness regarding good nutrition and healthy eating habits and how they improve the lives of all Americans. Poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles are linked to obesity and countless health problems. Today, one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Can you believe that? And childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980. In my home State of Florida, one-third of children in our State are overweight or obese, and that is a statistic that replays itself in every State across America. In my Tampa Bay area community, in Hillsborough County, more than 80 percent of children are not getting the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables. So we have a lot of work to do. Dietary factors are associated with four of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. These health conditions are estimated to cost the United States over $6 billion annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. We can do better. Parents, you must focus on healthy choices for your children. You must become good role models for your kids. For children, poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight issues can often lead to low academic performance or behavioral problems resulting in additional costs. Proper nutrition helps to fight illnesses, and it is vital to our children's cognitive development. House Resolution 274 designates March as National Nutrition Month and encourages communities all across America to increase awareness about nutritional health. Additionally, this resolution recognizes the hard work of registered dieticians and health care professionals that help to educate communities about good nutrition. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material therein.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and contributions of Richard ``Dick'' Spoto--and to acknowledge his dedication to the teachers, students and his neighbors in the Tampa Bay Area. Mr. Spoto was born in Tampa, Florida in 1917. He was the youngest of 13 children born to Guiseppina and Pietro Spoto. He started his 41-year career in education as the assistant football coach at Hillsborough High and then the head coach at Jefferson High until he became the county's first director of health and physical education in 1949. Shortly after, Mr. Spoto returned to school and received his master's degree in administration from the University of Florida in 1952. Mr. Spoto realized soon after receiving his masters that his true calling resided in the school system. So he returned to become principal of Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary from 1953-1961, then Sligh Junior High from 1961-1966 and finally Hillsborough High from 1966- 1970. After leaving the school district, he went to work as headmaster at Saint Mary's Episcopal Day School before retiring in 1980. For 41 years, Mr. Spoto was dedicated to enriching the lives of his students and colleagues. His mentor and friend Richard ``Norm'' Pettigrew, with whom he created the group Athletes from the Past, described him as ``a friend to everyone--an inspiration really . . . he would instill good habits and kept you on track.'' While Mr. Spoto may be gone his lifelong commitment to athletics and education has been celebrated with many honors, culminating in 2005 with the dedication of Richard C. Spoto High School. Mr. Spoto is survived by his two daughters, Susan Spoto Shobe, Elizabeth ``B.J.'' Spoto-Russell along with his four grandchildren, Ashley Shobe Gilkison, David C. Shobe Jr., Kathleen Elizabeth Johns, and Allison Elayne Russell and his two great-grandchildren, Richard ``Bo'' Gilkison and Elizabeth Marie Johns. The Tampa community honors the life of Mr. Spoto for his outstanding contributions as an educator. His service to the Tampa Bay community has made a lasting mark that will not soon be forgotten.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is putting people to work in my hometown of Tampa. Last Thursday at the University of Tampa, President Obama announced a new jobs initiative that will put thousands and thousands of Floridians to work constructing one of the Nation's first segments of high-speed rail. And on Monday, I paid a visit to Tampa Family Health Centers to meet a number of the medical professionals who have been hired through the Recovery Act. I visited with Dr. Mildred Perea, a pediatrician. Dr. Perea finished her residency at the University of South Florida in June. She was hired to work at the community health center in July because of the Recovery Act. And since that time, she's been treating children with H1N1 and referring them over to the new dental clinic that is now available because of the Recovery Act. I also met Sophia Dorril, a hardworking medical receptionist who is grateful to have a job during this tough economy, and Zer Yang, a popular new medical assistant who switched professions, retrained, and is making a difference for our neighbors. In Tampa alone, we're about to break ground on two new community health centers that are vitally needed in East Tampa and Egypt Lake. So more jobs are on the way. The Recovery Act is putting folks to work in my hometown, work that is making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in my community.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. C. Blythe Andrews Jr., the former editor-in-chief of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin, Florida's largest and oldest Black newspaper, and a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community. The state of Florida suffered a great loss on January 12, 2010 when he passed away. Mr. Andrews' devotion to the Florida Sentinel Bulletin was life long. His first job for the paper was during his years at Booker T. Washington Junior High School. He would spend afternoons after school folding newspapers for delivery. He continued to work for the paper, under the close eye of his father who was the editor-in-chief at the time, while attending Middleton High School in Tampa. After receiving his bachelor's degree in economics, his master's in journalism, and serving in our Nation's Army, he went on to continue the family legacy of newspaper publishing, becoming editor-in-chief of the Sentinel Bulletin in 1977. He held the position for nearly 20 years and went on to serve as the publisher and owner. Through the newspaper, he opened the doors of opportunity for many African American youth in the community who found the Florida Sentinel Bulletin to be the first step into the business world. The newspaper has served as a voice for the African American community of West-Central Florida for decades, providing news twice-weekly and offering an outlet for African American writers and columnists. This family legacy continues through his children, C. Blythe Andrews III and Sybil Kay Andrews Wells. Mr. Andrews was a voice for the working class as well as his fellow African Americans. He was a member of the board of trustees for Tampa General Hospital, and directed the Lily White Security Benefit Association that offered burial insurance benefits that other companies did not. Mr. Andrews was appointed to many positions of honor and distinction in community organizations including: Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Trustee, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Tampa Employment and Training Council, the Foundation Board of the University of South Florida, the Arts Council of the State of Florida, and Chairman of the Board of the Hillsborough County Hospital Association. Additionally, he was the first African American appointed to the Tampa Sports Authority, later serving as vice chairman, and advocated for the renaming of Tampa's Buffalo Avenue after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mr. Andrews was merited as one of the Twenty-Five Most Influential People of Tampa Bay by Tampa Bay Life Magazine--an honor that is befitting a man who uplifted the people of Tampa Bay while educating and informing the community of the news that applied to their lives when no one else thought it was necessary to do so. He leaves a legacy of leadership as a pioneer for the African American community. Madam Speaker, Mr. C. Blythe Andrews Jr. will be greatly missed by the state of Florida and especially by the Tampa Bay area. My thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Gloria, and the rest of his family in this time of loss.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a brave American veteran and a great Floridian, Jack Peel, who passed away on November 29, 2009. Mr. Peel was a native Floridian, born in Chipley, and a graduate of Chipley High School. He served his country for four years in the Navy where he made lifelong friends with his fellow sailors. He then joined the Air Force where he remained for the next 26 years and retired as master sergeant. After retirement from the military, Mr. Peel and his beloved wife Lynette made their home in Bay Crest Park in Hillsborough County, Tampa. There he dedicated his time to public service. He served as president of the Bay Crest Park Civic Association, an active member of the Town N Country Alliance, a Catholic Church community volunteer and advocate. Jack Peel had a talent for persuading his neighbors, policymakers, and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to beautify and enhance Bay Crest and Town N Country. He and Lynette and the outstanding Town N Country community activists worked diligently to improve our community. For his dedication to service, the Civic Association completed Peel Park in December 2009 in honor of Mr. Peel. Madam Speaker, Jack Peel will be greatly missed. For all who love our community, be inspired by Jack Peel's dedication and service.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank my colleague from California (Ms. Matsui). I rise in support of the Matsui amendment. Madam Chair, all across America, families are doing everything right. They are paying their mortgages. They want to stay in their homes, but loan servicers and the banks have been slow to respond to reasonable requests for modifications. Like many Democratic Members, I've held a number of foreclosure prevention workshops. What I hear from families is that these banks and the lenders and the servicers will not answer the phones to complete a modification and that, once they get the paperwork, they are not completing these modifications as they should. Now, while President Obama's Making Home Affordable program has been positive in Florida and while we have over 83,000 modifications underway, we do not have the information necessary to tell where it is working, who it is working for, and which banks and servicers are not helping. So this amendment gets tough on those lenders and servicers. It says that they have to demonstrate that they are following through with their responsibilities to modify mortgages for qualified families. It will keep the lenders honest by requiring up-to-date information about modifications, and that information will be made public. No more excuses for these lenders and servicers that have not been holding up their end of the bargain for America's families.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Democrats will now deliver on what American families and businesses have been asking for when it comes to their health: one, meaningful, secure and stable insurance; two, improved Medicare for seniors; and, three, vital consumer protections. For families with health insurance, health reform will provide you with coverage you can count on. Families will no longer have to worry about insurance companies canceling their coverage because someone in their family gets sick. Health insurance companies will no longer be able to bar you from insurance just because you have diabetes or cancer or some other chronic condition. American families have been doing everything right. They have been paying their copays and paying their premiums, even as those costs have risen dramatically. Our health bill says that in return, that coverage must be meaningful, stable and secure. And for our family members who rely on Medicare, you will see immediate improvements, in your prescriptions, your checkups, and a provision I worked on, to penalize unscrupulous practices of private Medicare insurance sales agents. The meaningful health reform that will pass the House today builds on the great legacies of Social Security and Medicare, and I am proud to represent Florida families in this historic vote.

Ms. CASTOR

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, because the Democratic bill gives women more opportunities and offers to modernize health care, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of the Democratic bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank you for that. Small businesses clearly are going to be big winners under this initiative. Just a couple of months ago, I had a roundtable of small businesses from the Tampa Bay area, and there is one great business that has a lot of those retail shops in the airports. They do very well. She told me the story about trying to negotiate with health insurance companies. The problem, unfortunately, has grown over time where there is not much choice. There are so few options. As these small businesses attempt to go out and compete with their small numbers of employees, it is practically like sending a person out alone. It is just astronomical. I don't understand it because the profits of these health insurance companies are so high, but they don't offer affordable options to small businesses. She told me this terrible story where, because they have a largely female and young workforce, it was very important to them that they have maternity care covered. And so they negotiated and had an agent, and maternity care was covered. The only problem was the health insurance company refused to pay for the baby's delivery of one of her employees. These kinds of tricks have got to end. It's time that we stand up for families across America, make insurance meaningful, provide some stability, some security, just like Social Security did in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. These are the types of commitments we are trying to make with the American people. We have great support as we launch the debate. I mean, let's go over a few of these great endorsements from just this week. Coming from the State of Florida, the AARP endorsement will ring out loud and clear because the AARP advocates for older Americans and our seniors. And the American Medical Association, also, doctors across America believe in our health reform initiative.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Chairman Pallone, you have hit upon another important underpinning of this bill, and that is personal responsibility. We are, through many initiatives in this bill, calling upon the American people to take personal responsibility for their health. You are right. It is very expensive, very expensive, and American families know it. They know that one of the reasons that the costs have risen astronomically, and they are in the open enrollment period now, and families I hear from, they can't believe the rate of increase. But they understand, especially in a State like Florida where we have the second highest percentage of uninsured out of the 50 States, that we are paying, the folks with insurance are paying for the uninsured that show up in our emergency rooms, the most expensive place to receive care, and those costs have to be paid for somehow. Most often, it will make its way onto the copayments, premiums, and policies of American families that have taken personal responsibility, and that is just not fair. We can do better, and through our Affordable Health Care for America Act, we try to shift this very expensive way we deliver health care and make a historic investment in wellness and prevention. Communities all across the country are going to have new incentives to build their communities in a sustainable way. Our hospitals are going to partner with universities and communities and nonprofits all across the country to focus on the most effective way to reduce childhood obesity and encourage folks to refrain from smoking, the way we can really control costs over the long term. I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Waxman and you, Chairman Pallone. You encouraged me to offer an amendment in the Energy and Commerce Committee to encourage small businesses to do more in wellness initiatives. Big companies encourage employees to exercise and eat right and quit smoking. But, oftentimes, it is the small businesses that are left in the lurch. Certainly in this economy, they do not have the wherewithal to initiate those types of wellness programs. But in our health reform bill, we provide grants to those small businesses that are willing to cut their health care costs through new wellness initiatives. I know that it will pay great dividends for families and those businesses.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I will yield to my friend.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I think you have summed it up well, Mr. Ryan. We are simply going to stand up for American families against the powerful interests that oftentimes and unfortunately the way health care has developed in America, it is take the money from well people. And the profits of these health insurance companies has been astronomical. Why is it so difficult when somebody needs to call upon that policy, they have been diagnosed with cancer, they high blood pressure, and it is a fight. It is not a fight when you have to send the premium or the co-payment in, but it is a fight when you need to call upon what you have been paying for month after month. So our reform is going to give the consumer, these families that we have the privilege to represent, greater bargaining power when it comes to their health. You have to hand it to President Obama. He has reached out. He reached out early on in a bipartisan way. I know each of us here on the floor tonight have done the same. Early on, I called a bipartisan meeting of the Members from the State of Florida to say, What are our Florida priorities? We came up with a number. We have a terrible doctor shortage. We want to improve Medicare. And I am glad some of those ideas are incorporated in our legislation. We have been having bipartisan meetings. We have had committee meetings, hundreds of committee meetings over the past couple of years, and hundreds of amendments incorporated. Our families back home, this isn't something where we are only listening to one side of the aisle. I know all of us have been taking the ideas, no matter what your political persuasion, because this is a critical American issue and it demands a unique, American solution. As we begin the debate, I know there will be a lot of partisan rhetoric, but I want folks at home to know that we are going to stand up for you and fight for your family to ensure that if you have a diagnosis in your family of a serious illness, we are not going to let that insurance company cancel you. And if you have to change your job and your cancer is in remission, our reform will ensure that you will have affordable options. These are our fundamental values. I yield to Mr. Pallone.