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Press Release

Statement: Congressman Cuellar on President Obama's Speech to Congress

President Obama delivers remarks before a joint session of Congress

Washington, September 10, 2009 | Ashley Patterson ((202) 225-1640)
Congressman Cuellar provides a statement following the President's address before a joint session of Congress.
Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released this statement following President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress:

“Tonight, President Obama reminded us how he’s not the first President to take on health care reform, nor are we the first Congress to draft a reform plan. But if we find common ground, we can move forward collectively and be the first to pass meaningful health care reform. So tonight we move forward. We proceed on a path to reform, and I join the President in his willingness to not let this fail.

“As the status quo becomes increasingly indefensible, I commend the President for understanding how health care reform should work for all Americans, for those millions of Americans who don’t have coverage and for those millions of Americans who do.

“The pursuit of perfection should not deter how close we are towards achieving reform. By working together, we can deliver not only what’s necessary for this country, but what’s never been achieved before. And I share in the President’s proposal to incorporate ideas from both sides of the aisle because our individual health doesn’t discriminate across party lines. Health care, at some point, affects us all.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress.  Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.