Health Care Reform Will Survive Summer Recess, Says House Democratic Leadership

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service

Congress’ upcoming August recess will not significantly stall health care reform, the House Democratic Leadership promised Friday.

Speaking at a press conference to review the 111th congresses legislative achievements, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said that during the August recess “there will be a positive drumbeat across America” from members of congress “to dispell the myths being put out there” about the proposed health care bill. Pelosi said that this disinformation was not only coming from Republican opposition but also the health insurance industry, which she described as the “biggest opponents” to reform.

“This is a shock and awe carpet bombing by the health insurance industry to perpetuate the status quo” the Speaker said. “Make no mistake, facts mean nothing to them, mythology is their game, misrepresentation is the currency of the realm and we intend to set the record straight.”

Pelosi said she confident that the American people would be able to see through the Republicans’ message and support health care reform.

“I am so confident in the wisdom of the American people and the fairness of the press that our message will come through.”

Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Xavier Becerra (D-Calif). credited the achievements of the 111th Congress to President Obama’s leadership.

“When we get to the point where we can say we have energy policy that changes America, when we have health care policy that changes American and when we get Americans back to work, it will be because under the President’s instruction. This House of Representatives has been active and engaged,” he said. “We are a ‘do a lot’ Congress.”

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that Congress’ most significant achievement, the passage of health care reform, was yet to come. Clyburn added that the health reform message would not falter over the recess.

“As we leave, 256 of us will go out to tour communities and we will be talking to our constituents about what this bill mean to them,” Clyburn said. “I believe that when we come back this September, this congress will be prepared to make history.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D- MD) praised the achievements of the Congress but warned that the U.S was still not “where we want to be.”

“As long as as there is a single foreclosure, as long as we are not getting loans made as quickly as possible, as long as people can not sell homes when they want to sell them or buy them when they want to buy them, we havn’t gotten to where we want to be. But we have made very substantial progress,” said the Leader.