Statement on the President's Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care Reform

September 9, 2009

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter issued the following statement after President Obama's Speech to a Joint Session of Congress on health care reform:

"I applaud the President tonight for the way in which he spoke to Congress and more importantly the American people. Our health care system is broken and unsustainable. Over the district work period I met with many of my constituents in government in the grocery meetings, telephone town halls and meetings with small and large businesses. Everyone had a story to tell and for most of them the health care system is not working.

This issue touches each one of us personally. I have a daughter with epilepsy and she has this condition through no fault of her own. But under our current system she is discriminated against and so are millions of others who have prior illnesses. They are pushed aside and that’s the way it is. This is immoral and probably unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment in which we are all assured equal protection.

Furthermore, I believe we need a public option to help small businesses thrive and provide a option for those who can’t afford private insurance. This will help us all by promoting competition and keeping costs down.

I look forward to working with the Obama Administration and my colleagues in Congress to work toward a solution to creating a fair and affordable health care system."