mr. speaker , we have heard it over and over again today on the floor .  too many working americans have a job , but are uninsured because their employers can not afford to purchase quality health insurance benefits for their workers .  this bill addresses the two most important issues in the health care reform debate : cost and access .  h.r. 525 would , one , increase small businesses ' bargaining power with health care providers ; two , give them much-needed freedom from costly state-mandated benefit packages ; and , three , lower their overhead costs by as much as 30 percent .  our small businesses are denied the ability to purchase health coverage with the benefits large multistate companies and unions have enjoyed for decades .  this bill fixes that problem .  by pooling their resources , increasing their bargaining power , ahps will help small businesses reduce their health insurance costs .  as the members have heard me say before , if it is good enough for wall street , it is good enough for main street .  small businesses in most states are stuck with disproportionately higher costs because they have to choose from fewer than five providers .  so ahps offer them a new option to choose from .  most importantly , ahps will expand access to quality health care for the people for whom it is currently out of reach : uninsured working families .  this bill has had unwavering support in the house for nearly a decade now .  the other body is taking a serious look at the legislation this year , and it is a priority in the president 's health care agenda .  i look forward to working with our colleagues from the other body to make this bill law this year .  the problem is getting worse every day .  small businesses need our help now .  let us vote `` yes '' on h.r. 525 .  