Marshallites can peruse a hard copy of the national health care bill "H.R. 3962 — Affordable Health Care for Americans Act" which was printed and delivered to the Marshall Public Library by U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert's (R-TX) office.

"As long as readers need it to be here, we'll make it available," said librarian Anna Lane, who added that it was brought to the library on Saturday.

The bill was unveiled publicly on Thursday by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Democrats in Washington, D.C., and Rep. Gohmert hopes citizens will read the document for themselves, according to a press release.

"We've certainly got it, and can find more information about it," said Marshall reference librarian Emily Hobson, who added that no one has asked her for any help locating information about health care legislation.

After its Thursday unveiling, Ghomert had copies of the health care bill printed and delivered to five East Texas libraries to ensure that as many people as possible have a access to the text and "can see for themselves what is buried in the mountain of legislation," according to a press release. The black binder and all 1,990 pages of "H.R. 3962" rest on top of a wooden shelf at the front of the reference section near a Dictionary. The pages are printed front and back with its stack still measuring 4.5 inches.

It's purpose is also marked, "To provide affordable health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for all other purposes."

And it is broken down into four divisions:

Affordable Health are Choices

Medicare and Medicaid Improvements

Public Health Care and Workforce Development

Indian Health Care Improvement

"And then it breaks down into (more detailed) subjects," said Ms. Lane, who added that no one has expressed interest in reading the hard copy of the bill yet.

Gohmert is critical of the bill presented by Ms. Pelosi and expressed concern over the "lack of transparency surrounding the crafting of the legislation and its unveiling."

"She had undisclosed special interests craft it in secret and thrust it on America with very little time to review the 1,990 pages," said Ghomert. "This brings change but it sure kills hope."

East Texans may also view the hard copies of "H.R. 3962" at: Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St.; Lufkin Public Library, 706 S. Raguet St.; Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College Ave.; Nacogdoches Public Library, 1112 North St.

Anyone interested in discovering more about health care legislation may also view this bill at the Library of Congress' Web site, http://thomas.loc.gov.