Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages H10026-H10027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE IS DEADLY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, 106--nearly half--of House
Democrats have cosponsored the socialists' Lower Drug Costs Now Act.
I will not mince words: Socialized medicine causes worse healthcare
at higher costs with longer waits and more dead Americans.
America must learn from countries that have experimented with
socialized medicine. Per Britain's Royal College of Surgeons, almost a
quarter of a million people must wait more than 6 months--6 months--to
receive planned medical treatment from the National Health Service.
Worse yet, more than 3,600 Britons wait more than 9 months for medical
care.
The photo next to me was taken by a British mother outraged by the
healthcare her ill son received. As this photo shows, her son was
treated on a hospital floor.
Do we want newborn babies kept in cardboard boxes like they are in
socialist Venezuela? Is that really what we want in America?
I say no. But that is exactly what America will get if socialists
have their way in this healthcare debate.
Canada's socialized medicine is no better. A 2016 survey by Canada's
Fraser Institute found a median wait of 20
[[Page H10027]]
weeks, almost 5 months, for ``medically necessary'' treatments and
procedures.
Britain's National Health Service data reveals that almost 25 percent
of cancer patients don't start treatment on time, despite urgent
referrals from their primary care doctors. Britain's politicians
whitewash this deadly statistic by claiming treatment is ``on time,''
if it is given within 62 days of referral--2 months of referral.
Such long wait periods for cancer treatment can be, and are, deadly.
For example, 81 percent of British breast cancer patients live 5 years
after diagnosis compared to 89 percent for American breast cancer
patients. Stated differently, 8 of every 100 breast cancer patients who
live in America would die in Britain's socialized medicine system.
Americans with prostate cancer have a 97 percent 5-year survival
rate. In Britain, it drops to 83 percent. Stated differently, 14 of
every 100 prostate cancer patients who live in America would die in
Britain's socialized medicine system.
It is irresponsible and dangerous for America to copy socialized
medicine, yet that is exactly what socialist Democrats wants us to do.
The House soon votes on a socialist drug cost plan that gives the
government control over drug pricing while suppressing the invention of
lifesaving drugs. For example, the Congressional Budget Office warns
this legislation results in 15 fewer drugs in the next 10 years. That
is 15 drugs that help Americans live longer or more comfortably, gone,
because of socialist Democrat wishful thinking.
{time} 1115
Mr. Speaker, socialized medicine is not the answer. Government price
controls are not the answer.
The answer is more free enterprise competition that forces healthcare
providers and drug companies to provide their best products at their
lowest prices or go out of business.
I urge the American people to not fall prey to socialists who promise
taxpayer-funded government healthcare.
I urge my colleagues to vote against this socialist drug pricing
scheme.
Most importantly, I urge America to be wary of propaganda that claims
socialized medicine lowers healthcare costs or saves lives. Socialized
medicine does neither.
Remember that promise that ObamaCare will cut your health insurance
premiums by $2,500 per year? That was false propaganda.
Remember the promise that, under ObamaCare you can keep your doctor
and health insurance plans if you want them? That was more false
propaganda.
America, do your homework. Don't fall for the lies again. Demand
solutions that both lower costs and save lives.
Why? Because your very life is at risk.
____________________
