All across America today people have something to say about Big Insurance – We're Sick Of It.

Not just here in Philadelphia, and not just Cygna either.

We're sick of Well Point and United Health Care and the rest of the Insurance Giants who have a choke hold on American health care.

We're sick of it in Hartford, and in Indianapolis. 

We're sick of it in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

We're sick of it in Atlanta, and dozens of other cities across the country where events like this are taking place today.

It would take all the time we have to list all the rally locations.

Let me just say that in every state, from coast to coast, we're sick of Big Insurance.

We're sick of Insurance companies telling doctors what they can and can't do.  That has to stop.

We're sick of our family members and neighbors getting denied coverage because they once got sick.  That has to stop.

We're sick of insurance company policies that reward denying claims.  That has to stop.

And we're sick of their using our premium money to work against the health care reform we need.  We're sick of them telling their employees to join the Town Hall screamers against health care reform.  That has to stop.

I'm proud that America's unions are standing up at all of these events across the country.

And proud to be here with all the rest of you who are also sick of what Big Insurance is doing.

Now let's be clear – saying we are sick of it is right and proper.  But it is not enough.

We are going to do something about it.  Now.  In 2009.

Since we are here in Philadelphia, you can say that today, September 22nd, people gathered for a Declaration of Independence from Big Insurance companies choke hold on our health care.

That's what health care reform will mean.  The Cygnas and Well Points and United Health Cares and the rest of them won't be calling the shots anymore.  It's about time.

Here's the way we in labor see things –

America is in a big fight over health care. 

The American people are on one side. 

Big Insurance is on the other side.

Only one of us will win.

Brothers and sisters, If the insurance companies win, we all lose!

But we are going to win, because we know: It's time for action!

The insurance companies thought they could hide behind all the Town Hall screaming.

It is not going to happen.

The insurance companies thought health care reform would get shouted down and they would not have to face the music.

It is not going to happen.

We the people won't let it happen.

We the people.  That's a Philadelphia phrase.

Here's another – the closing words of the Declaration of Independence.  

"We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Why are we sick of Big Insurance –

They take away our lives.  They take away our fortunes.

They take away the sacred honor of our country.

Enough is enough. 

It's time for action.

Today we are going to hear just a little piece of the story of what Big Insurance is doing to us.

I could give you a bunch of statistics.  A doctor once said that statistics are people with the tears wiped away.  And those tears come from what Cynga and their corporate friends are doing.

Nobody can tell that story better than doctors and patients.  Congress should be paying attention to them.  Let's hear their stories – and…

Then let's do something!