While traveling throughout Eastern North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District this August, I have had the opportunity to hear firsthand what’s on the minds of constituents regarding the ongoing health care debate. As part of these conversations, I have shared my view that H.R. 3200, the health care legislation currently advocated by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Democratic leadership, is not the proper prescription for what ails our nation’s health care system. This legislation is too big, comes at the wrong time and at too great a cost.

I support reforms that could decrease health care costs for American families and improve access by aiding small businesses who seek to provide coverage for their employees. But I believe the Obama Administration needs to work with citizens and health care providers to thoroughly examine all facets of the problem, as well as potential solutions, before trying to rush an expensive health care overhaul bill through Congress.

In recent months, I have spoken to dozens of doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators who have emphasized that significant reform could be implemented incrementally through more narrowly tailored legislation. Problems in the health care system need to be addressed, but the federal government would do well to follow the principle, “First, do no harm.” Care and caution must be taken when reforming a complex system so the cure doesn’t wind up worse than the ill. Those who already have health insurance and are satisfied with their current plan don’t deserve a health care system that causes more problems in the long-run.

Any proposal for health care reform must also be considered in the context of America’s rapidly deteriorating fiscal position. The reality is that America’s national debt is almost $12 trillion, and the federal government is adding $2 trillion to that total this year alone. Our country is currently borrowing $163.2 billion per week. Passage of H.R. 3200 would only plunge our nation deeper into debt, as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the bill would cost more than $1 trillion. At a hearing of the Senate Budget Committee, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf even stated that legislation crafted by both House leaders and the Senate health committee “significantly expands the federal responsibility for health-care costs.”

With the federal government’s flood of deficit spending, many of our veterans and seniors question whether they can continue to rely on the health benefits they have earned and planned on. Both Medicare and Social Security are on the fast track to bankruptcy. The massive new entitlement proposed by the Democrats’ bill will only make this problem worse. At a time when our economy is suffering one of the worst downturns in this nation’s history, our top priorities should be getting a handle on our national debt, curtailing foreign aid, rebuilding our economy and meeting the health care obligations that the American government has already promised. It’s time for the President and both parties in Congress to work together for the good of the American people.