The Honorable Tom Allen Democratic National Convention Wednesday, July 28, 2004 BOSTON, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by The Honorable Tom Allen, before the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, July 28, 2004: Listen to people in Maine. They say to me, in increasingly anxious and insistent voices: "We must have help to provide our families and employees with health insurance. We cannot afford the health care we need." Sometimes it's the voice of a husband with no insurance, two children, and a wife just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Sometimes it's the voice of a small-businesswoman with 10 employees who wants to hire quality workers but cannot because she can't afford to offer health coverage. Sometimes it's the voice of a laid-off 60-year-old man who cannot find a job with health coverage, and doesn't yet qualify for Medicare. For the last four years, their voices, their pleas for help, have not been heard in the White House. But John Kerry hears your voices, and I say today: Help is on the way! John Kerry believes that a stronger, more secure America is one with quality, affordable health care for all. John Kerry will put the health of America's families ahead of insurance and pharmaceutical industry profits. John Kerry will rein-in the exploding cost of prescription drugs so those who barely make ends meet won't have to choose between food and life-saving medication. American businesses need decent, affordable health coverage. Millions of workers who lost good-paying jobs with good benefits are now stuck in low-wage jobs without health insurance. John Kerry hears your voices. Help is on the way! Catastrophic medical expenses strike only a small fraction of Americans each year. But they force-up insurance rates for everyone. John Kerry will cut insurance premiums up to $1,000 by taking away the burden of the most expensive cases from employers, freeing them to offer higher quality care to more workers at a lower cost. Health care costs blunt the competitive edge of American entrepreneurs, from the auto industry to Internet start-ups. The Detroit News just reported that health care costs add $1,000 to the price of every Ford vehicle built in America. Instead of exporting more American goods, we are shipping millions of American jobs overseas where health care costs a fraction of what we must pay. John Kerry and John Edwards hear your voices. By giving every American access to quality, affordable health care, they will create a more competitive, a stronger, and a more secure America! Source: Democratic National Convention Committee CONTACT: Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee, +1-617-366-3100 Web site: http://www.dems2004.org/