(I hope this hasn't been posted, I've checked the diary entries for today and didn't see it. Also, if anyone knows where I can get a transcript for the hearing impaired I will add it to the diary.)
Today Alan Grayson took his time on the House floor to read stories from his website http://www.NamesOfTheDead.com.
As he reads the many tales of people, family members and friends and members of their communities, all who died because they were not able to get the treatment they deserve, he is clearly moved. And so was I watching it.
I can only hope this got through not just to the people watching on YouTube but the fellow officials sitting in congress, who have the ability to help so many with their votes.
Ladies and gentlemen, I could go on and on and on. We have received hundreds upon hundreds of stories like this, at this website,
www.namesofthedead.com. These are the stories of America. These
are the stories of people who are suffering, and people who sent us
Washington DC to solve their problems for them. Not to debate, not
to delay. But to keep them alive!
Now, the reason that why read these stories, is this. Again, as
Lincoln said, "In talking about these people, it's their loved ones
that speak best for them". As Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address,
"It's far beyond my poor power to add or detract. Rather it is for the
living to be dedicated here to the unfinished business for which these
people died."
And that, my friends is the unfinished work of universal health care
in America. That is our unfinished work. And I look forward to a day
that I hope will come very soon; not soon enough for all these people;
all these people who have died. But a day to come very soon when there
will be no more stories like this! When there will be no more names
to add to the website namesofthedead.com, and for God's sake, I look
forward to a time when we will have finally done our jobs.
I yield the rest of my time.
(thank you to jpmassar for the transcript)