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WASHINGTON – WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s historic address to a Joint Session of Congress:
“President Barack Obama connected with the American people tonight. His economic assessment was honest, his ideas ambitious, and his plans attainable. The President looked beyond politically motivated resistance and continued to stress the importance of working with Congress through this recession as a bipartisan, unified front. I applaud his persistence, embrace his vision and welcome such a refreshing and responsible new tone in Washington.
“As a member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I was especially encouraged by the urgency with which President Obama addressed health care reform. Indeed, the cumbersome cost of health care is forcing families out of their home and suffocating small businesses. Exorbitant health care costs are inextricably tied to America’s economic plight. The President is right. We can not wait another year for health care reform. The time to act is now, and I eagerly await the opportunity to work with doctors, health care providers, businesses and my colleagues in Congress to remedy America’s ailing health care system.”
Congressman Pascrell was joined by guest Sergeant Major Robert Haemmerle of Wanaque, NJ for the historic address. Pascrell met Sgt. Maj. Haemmerle during a Congressional assignment in Afghanistan in April of 2008. Sgt. Maj. Haemmerle is currently recovering from a traumatic brain injury at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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