Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement on President Obama’s Joint Address to Congress this evening.

“Tonight, President Obama outlined a clear and compelling case for why we must pass comprehensive health insurance reform in the coming weeks. With costs and premiums spiraling out of control, families and small businesses getting priced out of the market, and health insurance companies reaping the rewards of a broken and uncompetitive system, now is the time to move forward on real reform.

As the president said, we can no longer afford to do nothing. I share his concern about the untenable status quo, as I share his commitment to finally making health care affordable for families.

Finally, I was particularly heartened to hear the President restate the case for giving Americans the choice of a public health insurance plan that competes with private plans. I believe that a strong public option is the best way to introduce real competition in the health insurance industry and provide the cost containment that American families and our economy desperately need.

I look forward to voting on this bill in the coming weeks and to finally getting meaningful health insurance reform passed. The American people have been waiting for far too long. It is time for us to act.”