Preventing insurance companies from taking coverage away from people who get sick; creating small business pools to give individuals and small business owners access to the same lower prices big corporations get; letting young adults get coverage through their parents; allowing families and businesses to purchase health insurance across state lines; personal Health Savings Accounts; an emphasis on rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

These are all ideas that have been supported by Republicans and Democrats. And every single one of them is included in the latest health insurance reform legislation.

It is sometimes hard to tell from the rhetoric these days coming out of Washington, D.C., but there has long been a concerted and genuine effort to work in a bipartisan manner on health care. This effort has gone far beyond incorporating sound ideas from both parties into the current legislation. For instance, last year Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Democratic Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay and I co-hosted a forum on health-care reform. And Rep. Emerson and I made the joint decision to co-sponsor the SHOP Act ,  legislation that makes it easier for small businesses to pool together to offer more affordable health insurance to their employees.

That's why it is all the more frustrating that the debate has recently been mired down in partisan bickering. In the meantime, the costs of health insurance have continued to increase for thousands of Missourians - while the insurance company profits have gone through the roof. Just last month, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in California announced rate increases of 30 to 39 percent for patients - even as its parent company reported a staggering $4.75 billion in profits last year. Think about it; $4.75 billion - in profits - during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

It's no wonder people are frustrated that progress has stalled in Washington. The families, businesses and health care professionals I've met with are fed up with rising health care costs. They are adamant that we pass common-sense health care reform that reins in costs, helps all Americans get the coverage they need, and finally holds the insurance companies accountable.

The fact is that health care costs are climbing out of reach for far too many Americans. Every day I hear a new story: a nurse who cares for others is being denied coverage because she has cancer; someone who lost their job a year ago, cares for a disabled spouse and is being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition; a small business owner wanting to offer insurance to her employees, but who simply can't afford it.

One story in particular stands out. It's the story of Melanie Shouse.

Melanie spent the last four years of her life battling breast cancer and the insurance companies. At a panel discussion on health care that I hosted last summer, Melanie told of not being able to afford the preventive doctor visit that could have diagnosed her cancer early enough to save her life. Even in her last months, Melanie's insurance company refused to pay for a new round of chemotherapy treatment that she believed could help her.

Melanie died in January. We must not let health care reform die with her.

I knew all along that the battle for health insurance reform wouldn't be easy, but there's no way we can give up now. We are closer to reform than ever before. The House of Representatives has passed a bill. The Senate has passed a bill with 60 votes. The time has come for an up or down vote that decides on whether to reform our health-care system.

I know that there are those who would rather mire down this debate with half-truths about process, who would rather score political points in an election year than do what is right for the millions of families and businesses across America who are struggling. To them, I say: Shame on you.

The powerful special interests want to keep the same system that lines their pockets with record profits, but I won't give up the fight for quality, affordable, health care for all Americans. I refuse to turn my back on people I represent when our broken system requires action to improve our economy and our health care.

After months and years of debate, we can and we must pass health insurance reform that includes strong ideas from both parties. Doing nothing is simply not an option.