Congress needs to slow down when it comes to a national health care program, Sierra Vistans told their congresswoman.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords holds the House Resolution 3200 health care reform bill during her town hall meeting in Sierra Vista on Monday night. Buena Performing Arts Center was filled to capacity. (Ed Honda, Wick News Service)

It was a message that Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords heard, often loudly, Monday night at a Sierra Vista town hall meeting on health care reform. It’s something she said she will take back to Congress when the country’s legislative arm resumes work after Labor Day.

“The American people are frustrated. They think we are moving too quickly. It’s too confusing,” and that is evident by what many of the speakers said at the meeting, she remarked after the meeting.

Even a former surgeon general of the United States, Dr. Richard Carmona, agrees the fast-paced action of the Obama administration and Congress is turning the majority of Americans away from a much-needed national health care reform program. It was a comment he made to the Herald/Review as he left the town hall meeting.

But it isn’t only the rapid movement to get a health care plan approved and signed into law that got Giffords’ attention at the town hall meeting. Other issues brought up by speakers highlighted the distrust of many people in the audience. Here’s a summary of key issues:

Illegal immigrants

Medical care for illegal immigrants was an area that a couple of speakers touched on, wanting the congresswoman to promise that such individuals will not be covered. But her response that one version of the health care reform bill would not allow illegal immigrants to register for health care  coverage brought moans of disbelief by many in the audience.

Tort  reform

Others demanded that she support tort reform to cut back on the amount of money paid out for medical malpractice. Some claim the only ones benefiting for such lawsuits are lawyers. Giffords said she has supported tort reform for years and will continue in her efforts to ensure such a policy is part of any health care reform measure.

Veterans’ benefits

Some retired military members wanted assurance that their Veterans Affairs and TRICARE for Life medical benefits would not be touched. They received the congresswoman’s personal guarantee that the programs will be protected in any reform law.

Private insurance

What most of the slightly more than 20 people who had a chance to address Giffords wanted was that their current health care insurance plans not be modified by the federal government. As one speaker said, “I would rather have changes made by me, not the government.”