Full Transcript of Pelosi Press Conference on Health C...(pay-for but it will be at the high end a...),Health

Mr. Larson, a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Caucus Chairman Larson. Well, let me say a couple of things with respect to that. The Speaker mentioned "squeezing out." Wouldn't it be great if we were joined by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in understanding what the private sector has said to us ad infinitum about the cost that is there?

We know from the President's summit that no matter what the industry is, whether it's PhRMA, whether it's hospitals, whether it's doctors, whether it's insurance industry, that there are costs in our system that as we have said today rise by 2019 to levels that are unaffordable, that will be 20 percent of our gross domestic product.

So let us wean out those costs. We know, for example, that CBO will not be able to score some of these obvious savings that will result. And people in Connecticut familiar with insurance will tell you that with respect to insurance IT, there are billions of more dollars that can be weaned out of the system.

But this is a moment we have been waiting for since Harry Truman, through even Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and now the moment is right because of these citizens that we have here in front of us today, and because Americans -- 47 million who have no coverage -- are desiring that Congress act.

The Speaker said it. It's a mark. It's a mark, but it's an important mark in history that will allow us to move forward, working with our President to make sure that we fulfill the promise and the dream of all Americans.

Majority Leader Hoyer. Can I just say -- I want to add something to that. I think that was the last question, but I want to add something to what John said.

The fact that there are 47 million Americans without insura
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