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AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NOW TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
THE ,
WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 7,
2011.
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
CANDICE S.
TO ACT AS SPEAKER
PRO TEMPORE ON THIS DAY.
SIGNED, JOHN A. BOEHNER,
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THE
CHAPLAIN.
PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY OUR
CHAPLAIN COUGHLIN: LORD, OUR
GOD, YOU HAVE SHOWN US YOUR
GLORY, YOU REDEEMED YOUR PEOPLE
BY THE REVELATION OF YOUR
ETERNAL WORD.
LET YOUR LIGHT NOW SHINE WITHIN
US, GUIDE US, THAT WE MAY BE
LED THROUGH THE DARKNESS FOUND
IN THIS WORLD TO THE RADIANT
JOY OF YOUR PRESENCE BOTH NOW
AND FOREVER.
AMEN.
THE
CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE JOURNAL
OF THE LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS
AND ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HER
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE WILL BE LED TODAY BY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS,
CONGRESSMAN JACKSON.
I PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO
THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO FIVE
REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES FROM EACH SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY OUR
NATIONAL DEBT IS $14.01
TRILLION.
IT ROLLED OVER TO ABOVE $14
TRILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE LAST WEEK.
ON JANUARY 7, 2009, THE --
JANUARY 6, 2009, ON THE START
OF THE 111TH CONGRESS, THE
NATIONAL DEBT WAS AT 10.63
TRILLION.
THIS MEANS THE
NATIONAL DEBT HAS INCREASED BY
$3.38 TRILLION SINCE THEN IN
JUST TWO SHORT YEARS.
THIS DEBT AND ITS INTEREST
PAYMENTS WE ARE PASSING TO OUR
CHILDREN AND TO ALL FUTURE
AMERICANS.
I HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING AND WILL
CONTINUE TO SUBMIT THIS DEBT TO
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD DAILY,
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
UNTIL WASHINGTON TAKES
RESPONSIBILITY AND ENDS ITS
RECKLESS SPENDING ADDITION.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK
EXTEND.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, AS
WE ENTER 2011 WE FIND OURSELVES
IN THE SAME JOB SITUATION AS IN
2010.
IN ORDER TO SHOW THE HUGE NEED
FOR JOBS, I'LL BE COLLECTING
RESUMES FROM AMERICANS WHO ARE
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
I'LL SUBMIT THEM FOR THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
UNFORTUNATELY, SUBMITTING THESE
RESUMES FOR THE RECORD WILL NOT
GET ANYBODY A JOB, BUT BY
COLLECTING THESE RESUMES I HOPE
TO DRAMA TIES THE SHAMEFUL
CONTINUE -- DRAMATIZE THE
SHAMEFUL CONTINUATION.
I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES
EVERY DAY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO
WORK.
TODAY I CALL ON MY FELLOW
AMERICANS TO SEND ME YOUR
RESUME AND YOUR STORY TO
RESUMESFORAMERICA@MAIL.HOUSE.GO
V.
IF YOU'RE OUT OF WORK SEND ME
YOUR STORY.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID WE
HAVE WROTE A BAD CHECK.
IT HAS COME BACK WITH
INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
MADAM SPEAKER, SENDING A RESUME
FOR ME WILL NOT PUT YOU FIRST
FOR A JOB.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO ADDRESS
THEIR REMARKS THROUGH THE
CHAIR.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHILE
CAMPAIGNING THIS FALL, PEOPLE
IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN MADE IT
CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT HAPPY
WITH THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF
HEALTH CARE.
OF MY FIRST VOTES IN CONGRESS
THAT'S WHY I'M PLEASED THAT ONE
WILL ALLOW ME TO KEEP A PROMISE
TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND VOTE TO
REPEAL THAT LEGISLATION.
AS A SURGEON WHO
SPENT MORE THAN 30 YEARS
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PATIENTS,
I VIEW THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER
OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS AN
ATTACK ON THE DOCTOR-PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP.
NOW, AS A MEMBER OF THE
FRESHMAN CLASS OF 2010, I
INVITE ALL MEMBERS TO JOIN US
IN REPEALING THIS LAW AND
DEVELOPING REALISTIC HEALTH
CARE REFORM THAT LOWERS COSTS,
IMPROVES INSURANCE OPTIONS AND
PUTS PATIENTS, NOT GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRATS, AT THE CENTER OF
HEALTH CARE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK RISE?
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE
REPUBLICAN RULES PACKAGE PASSED
WEDNESDAY INCLUDED A CHANGE
THAT COULD BE EXTREMELY
DAMAGING TO OUR NATION'S
HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT SYSTEMS
OVER THE LONG TERM AND TO THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHERE
RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS
TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
SIMPLY PUT, THIS
RULE IS A JOB KILLER.
IT WILL TREAT HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND REVENUE AS GENERAL
SPENDING, TEARING DOWN FIRE
WALLS THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM
BEING SIPHONED OFF.
REMOVING THE TRUST FROM THE
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND WILL INHABET
STATES TO HAVE MULTIYEAR
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND TO
CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN THE
PROCESS.
BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
THE RULE CHANGE IS ALSO OPPOSED
BY BUSINESS, LABOR AND INDUSTRY
ORGANIZATIONS ALIKE, SUCH AS
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
STATE HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION OWE FERBLES, THE
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS
OF AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN
TRUCKING ASSOCIATION.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS THE
WRONG TIME TO BACK AWAY FROM
INVESTMENTS IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOB
CREATION, AND YET THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT WILL RESULT FROM
THIS JOB-KILLING RULE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE, TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, MORE
BORDER PATROL AGENTS ARE BEING
SENT TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
THE BORDER IS VIOLENT, DESLOATE
AND DANGEROUS.
DRUGS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING
NORTH.
MONEY AND WEAPONS ARE GOING
SOUTH.
AND THE BORDER IS A WAR ZONE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF
NO.
THE UNITED STATES WITH MEXICO.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN BORDER.
THAT'S CORRECT.
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
NAPOLITANO HAS SAID, QUOTE, WE
ARE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE BORDER
PATROL AGENTS TO PROTECT THE
BORDER OF AFGHANISTAN.
NOW, WHY IS HOMELAND SECURITY
MAKING THIS UNINFORMED
DECISION?
OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS A WAR
ZONE, AND OUR BORDER PATROL
AGENTS ARE NEEDED THERE.
IN FACT, THEY NEED MORE HELP.
WE SHOULD SEND MORE NATIONAL
GUARD TROOPS THERE TO HELP THEM
STOP THE INVASION OF THE
VIOLENT DRUG CARTELS.
HOMELAND SECURITY SHOULD
PROTECT OUR HOMELAND, NOT
SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
THIS ILL-ADVISED MOVE BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SHOWS HOW BLISSFULLY IGNOREANT
WASHINGTON IS ABOUT REALITY AND
THE BATTLE ON THE THIRD FRONT,
THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE
UNITED STATES.
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CONNECTICUT RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEALTH
CARE DEBATE, A GENTLEMAN CAME
INTO MY OFFICE IN CONNECTICUT
AND DELIVERED A PETITION SIGNED
BY 3,000 PEOPLE.
HE WAS CITING TWO BATTLES.
ONE AGAINST THE CANCER THAT WAS
RAVAGING HIS BODY AND ANOTHER
TO KEEP HIS HEALTH INSURANCE.
THIS IS A SITUATION FACED BY
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE
A CONDITION AND THE DISEASE
THAT IS ALSO POTENTIALLY
CONTRIBUTING TO THE DOWNFALL OF
THEIR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS A SITUATION
THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN, THIS
DEBATE OF WHETHER WE'LL
CONTINUE OR REPEAL HEALTH CARE.
THIS SEEMS TO BE A GAME TO MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS.
THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO PASS.
IT'S GOING NOWHERE.
WHEN C.B.O. SAYS IT WILL COST
TAXPAYERS $230 BILLION, THEY
JUST THROW IT AWAY AND COME UP
WITH THEIR OWN NUMBERS.
THE STAKES HERE COULDN'T BE
MORE SERIOUS.
THAT CONSTITUENT AND 39,000
OTHERS WHO WALKED INTO MY
OFFICE IN WATERBURY,
CONNECTICUT.
IT'S NOT A GAME TO THEM.
IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND
DEATH.
AND THE STAKES OF REPEAL COULD
NOT BE HIGHER.
I YIELD BACK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARKANSAS RISE?
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY
WITH GREAT SADNESS TO REMEMBER
ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT
ENTREPRENEURS, DON TYSON, OF
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS, WHO
PASSED AWAY THURSDAY, JANUARY
6, 2011, FOLLOWING A BRIEF
ILLNESS.
THE SON OF TYSON FOODS,
INCORPORATED FOUNDER, JOHN W.
TYSON, DON WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD AND C.E.O. OF A COMPANY
THAT BEGAN AS A FAMILY
BUSINESS, SUPPLYING FEED AND
BABY CHICKS TO LOCAL PRODUCER,
TO A GLOBAL FOOD ENTERPRISE
WITH SALES IN EXCESS OF OVER
$26 BILLION, OVER 1,500 TEAM
MEMBERS AND OPERATIONS IN FIVE
COUNTRIES.
HE FOUNDED THE TYSON FAMILY
FOUNDATION AND IS WELL KNOW FOR
HIS PHILANTHROPY IN THE FIELDS
OF CONSERVATION AND THE ARTS.
HE PERSONIFIES THE
TRUE PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE
UNITED STATES HAS LOST AN
ORIGINAL AND WE MOURN THE
I YIELD BACK.
PASSING.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TENNESSEE RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
AND EXTEND.
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
TODAY'S THE BEGINNING OF A
PROCESS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS
WILL TRY TO REPEAL THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE BILL.
IN AMERICA.
IT'S ABOUT 50/50 IN POPULARITY
HOW CAN A BILL WITH SUCH
INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS
THAT ARE SO POPULAR, SUCH AS
KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE ON YOUR
INSURANCE UNTIL YOU'RE 26,
ELIMINATING THE DOUGHNUT HOLE,
SEEING TO IT THERE'S MORE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, HOW
CAN IT BE SO UNPOPULAR?
BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN MANTRA
HAS BEEN AND IT HAS BEEN SAID
TODAY, A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF
HEALTH CARE.
WELL, THE JOURNALISTIC GROUP
FROM "THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES"
SAID THAT WAS THE BIGGEST LIE
IN POLITICAL 2010.
THE BIGGEST LIE IN POLITICAL
2010.
INSTEAD OF READING THE
CONSTITUTION YESTERDAY, MAYBE
WE SHOULD HAVE JUST REPEATED,
DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM INDIANA RISE?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS, MADAM
SPEAKER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
CONGRESS.
WELL, WELCOME TO THE 112TH
WHILE THERE WAS MUCH POMP AND
CEREMONY THIS WEEK WELCOMING
ALL THE NEW MEMBERS TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THIS
PEOPLE.
WEEK BELONGED TO THE AMERICAN
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT A
DEAFENING MESSAGE ON NOVEMBER
2.
IT WAS THEY WANTED TO SEE THIS
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT END THIS
ERA OF BORROWING AND SPENDING
AND BAILOUTS AND TAKEOVERS AND
TURN OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITED
GOVERNMENT.
I RISE TODAY THIS MORNING TO
SAY IN THIS FIRST WEEK OF THIS
NEW CONGRESS, IF HOUSE
REPUBLICANS GOT THE MESSAGE, WE
WILL KEEP OUR PROMISES TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND MORE.
IF HOUSE REPUBLICANS GOT THE
MESSAGE, WE WON'T JUST EXTEND
TAX RATES FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
WE'LL EXTEND THEM PERMANENTLY.
IF HOUSE REPUBLICANS GOT THE
MESSAGE, WE WON'T JUST FIND
$100 BILLION IN CUTS, WE WILL
FIND MORE THAN $100 BILLION IN
CUTS AND BRING ABOUT THE
LONG-TERM REFORMS THAT
CHANGESES THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF
GOVERNMENT.
IF HOUSE REPUBLICANS GOT THE
MESSAGE, WE WON'T REPEAL ONCE
FOR OBAMACARE, WE WILL VOTE TO
REPEAL OBAMACARE AGAIN AND
AGAIN UNTIL WE CAN ADD THIS TO
THE HISTORY WHERE IT BELONGS.
WELCOME TO THE 112TH CONGRESS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THIS IS
YOUR WEEK.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THOSE WHO WANT TO REPEAL HEALTH
CANDID WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
CARE REFORM SHOULD BE CLEAR AND
YOU CAN'T EXPECT THE PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THE AFFECT OF REPEAL
JUST BECAUSE YOU PUT A LABEL ON
IT LIKE OBAMACARE OR
MISREPRESENT JOB CREATING
LEGISLATION AS A JOB KILLER OR
DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PUBLIC
MISREPRESENT LEGISLATION THAT
OPTION IN IT AS A GOVERNMENT
TAKEOVER.
HEALTH CARE REFORM, IT WILL
CLOSE THE DOUGHNUT HOLE AND
ALLOWS YOUNG ADULTS TO STAY ON
THEIR PARENT'S POLICIES.
IT MEANS THAT THOSE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS CAN GET
INSURANCE, PROVIDES TAX CREDITS
TO SMALL BUSINESSES, TO HELP
THEM COVER THEIR EMPLOYEES,
CREATE HEALTH CARE -- COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS AND ADDITIONAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
IT PROHIBITS INSURANCE COMPANY
ABUSES LIKE CUTTING OFF
COVERAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF
ILLNESSES OR UNREASONABLE
INCREASES IN RATES.
IT MEANS THAT IN 2014 ALL
AMERICANS WILL HAVE THE
SECURITY OF KNOWING THAT THEY
CAN HAVE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
DON'T JUST CALL, PUT A LABEL ON
IT OR HAVE A SLOGAN.
TELL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE, TO YOUNG ADULTS, TO THOSE
WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS,
TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
TO TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN IF WE REPEAL HEALTH
.
CARE REFORM.
BY DIRECTION OF COMMITTEE ON
RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE
RESOLUTION AND ASK FOR ITS
--
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 26,
RESOLVED, THAT UPON ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE
THE BILL, H.R. 2, TO REPEAL THE
JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE LAW AND
HEALTH CARE RELATED PROVISIONS
IN THE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION
RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
THE AMENDMENT PRINTED IN PART A
OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS
RESOLUTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED
AS ADOPTED.
THE BILL AS AMENDED SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL AS
AMENDED ARE WAIVED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED TO FINAL PASSAGE
WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION
EXCEPT ONE, SEVEN HOURS OF
DEBATE WITH 30 MINUTES EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
MAJORITY LEADER AND MINORITY
LEADER OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
DISEGG KNEES.
90 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OF THE
WORK FORCE.
90 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMERCE.
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND
90 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
40 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET.
40 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY.
AND 40 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS.
AND TWO, ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT
WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
SECTION 2, UPON ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER
TO -- WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF
ANY POINT OF ORDER TO CONSIDER
IN THE HOUSE THE RESOLUTION,
HOUSE RESOLUTION 9, INSTRUCTING
CERTAIN COMMITTEES TO REPORT
LEGISLATION REPLACING THE
JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE LAW.
THE RESOLUTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
RESOLUTION AND ANY AMENDMENT
THERETO TO FINAL ADOPTION
WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION OR
DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE
QUESTION EXCEPT ONE, ONE HOUR OF
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES OR THEIR
RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES.
TWO, THE AMENDMENT PRINTED IN
PART B OF THE REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES IF OFFERED BY
REPRESENTATIVE MATHESON OF UTAH
OR HIS DESIGNEE WHICH SHALL BE
IN ORDER WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF
ANY POINT OF ORDER, SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ, AND SHALL BE
SEPARATELY DEBATABLE FOR 10
MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
AN OPPONENT.
AND THREE, ONE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT WHICH MAY NOT CONTAIN
INSTRUCTIONS.
SECTION 3, UPON ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION IT SHALL BE IN ORDER
WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF ANY
POINT OF ORDER TO CONSIDER IN
THE HOUSE A RESOLUTION IF
OFFERED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER
OR HIS DESIGNEE RELATING TO THE
STATUS OF CERTAIN ACTIONS TAKEN
BY MEMBERS-ELECT.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
RESOLUTION TO FINAL ADOPTION
WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION OR
DEMAND FOR DIVISION OF THE
QUESTION EXCEPT FOUR MINUTES OF
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND MINORITY LEADER OR
HER RESPECTIVE -- THEIR
RESPECTIVE DISIG KNEES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S
A GREAT HONOR FOR ME FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS TO SAY
THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE
ONLY I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30
MINUTES TO MY VERY GOOD FRIEND
AND RULES COMMITTEE COLLEAGUE,
THE THE GENTLELADY FROM
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, MS.
SLAUGHTER.
PENDING WHICH I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
DURING CONSIDERATION
OF THIS RESOLUTION, ALL TIME
YIELDED IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DEBATE ONLY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO RISE AND EXTEND WHICH
I HAVE DONE.
AND I ASK ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE
LEMMING DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM SPEAKER, HOUSE
RESOLUTION 26 PROVIDES FOR A
CLOSED RULE FOR CONSIDERATION OF
H.R. 2 AND SELF-EXECUTES AN
AMENDMENT BY THE MAJORITY LEADER
WHICH IS REQUIRED UNDER THE
STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO ACT OF
2010.
THIS IS ROUTINELY REQUIRED AND
IS SIMILAR TO MANY PROVISIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN SELF-EXECUTED
SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF STATUTORY
PAY-GO.
THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES FOR
SEVEN HOURS OF DEBATE ON H.R. 2,
EQUALLY AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF SIX
COMMITTEES AND THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND MINORITY LEADER.
IT ALSO PROVIDES THE MINORITY A
MOTION TO RECOMMIT, H.R. 2, WITH
OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 26 PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.RES. 9, UNDER
A STRUCTURED RULE, THAT PROVIDES
AN HOUR OF DEBATE AND MAKES IN
ORDER AN AMENDMENT IF OFFERED BY
REPRESENTATIVE MATHESON OF UTAH.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR ONE MOTION
TO RECOMMIT H.RES. 9 WITHOUT
INSTRUCTIONS.
LASTLY, THE RULE PROVIDES FOR
THE CONSIDERATION OF A
RESOLUTION IF OFFERED BY THE
MAJORITY LEADER OR HIS DESIGNEE
RELATING TO THE STATUS OF
CERTAIN ACTIONS TAKEN BY
MEMBERS-ELECT UNDER A CLOSED
RULE.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT WAS JUST
BEFORE MIDNIGHT THAT MY GREAT
NEW COLLEAGUE, AND I WERE HERE
IN THIS CHAMBER AND FILED THIS
RULE FOLLOWING A LENGTHY 12-HOUR
HEARING UPSTAIRS IN THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE WERE
MANY, MANY DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK
PLACE ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO NOTE THAT THERE WERE THOSE
WHO ARGUED THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE
TAKING UP THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF
THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSING ON JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE KNOW THAT THE
OVERWHELMING MESSAGE THAT CAME
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS THAT
WE HAVE TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK
ON TRACK.
WE HAVE TO CREATE JOBS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET
UNDER THE FIRST RUNG OF THE
ECONOMIC LADDER ARE ABLE TO DO
JUST THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN WE LOOK AT A
$2.7 TRILLION EXPANSION OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, $2.7
TRILLION IN NEW SPENDING, WE
RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT IS
COMMON SENSE AND THAT IS IF
YOU'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE SIZE
AND SCOPE AND REACH OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY THAT
MAGNITUDE, IT CLEARLY IS GOING
TO KILL THE EFFORT TO CREATE
JOBS AND GET OUR ECONOMY BACK ON
TRACK.
SO THAT'S WHY TODAY, MADAM
SPEAKER, WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST
STEP IN FULFILLING A KEY PROMISE
THAT WE HAVE MADE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WITH THIS RULE WE ARE SETTING IN
MOTION AN EFFORT TO REPEAL
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JOB-KILLING
HEALTH CARE BILL AND REPLACE IT
WITH REAL SOLUTIONS.
I UNDERSCORE THAT AGAIN BECAUSE
ALL THE ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON
THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
TRYING TO KILL GOOD PROVISIONS
THAT ARE OUT THERE.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE WANT TO START
WITH A CLEAN SLATE.
WE ARE GOING TO REPEAL PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE
BILL AND REPLACE IT WITH REAL
SOLUTIONS.
STEPS.
THIS RULE TAKES TWO IMPORTANT
THE FIRST IS TO ALLOW FOR
CONSIDERATION OF A BILL TO HIT
THE RESET BUTTON, SO TO SPEAK,
ON THE VERY DAMAGING LEGISLATION
THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR UNDER
THE GUISE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM.
THE SECOND IS A RESOLUTION
DIRECTING EACH OF THE COMMITTEES
OF JURISDICTION TO CRAFT
RESPONSIBLE, EFFECTIVE, AND
ECONOMICALLY VIABLE HEALTH CARE
SOLUTIONS.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE RESOLUTION
LAYS OUT VERY CLEARLY WHAT REAL
REFORM LOOKS LIKE.
REAL REFORM WILL HELP NOT HINDER
IN OUR GOAL TOWARDS CREATING
JOBS.
REAL REFORM WILL LOWER HEALTH
CARE PREMIUMS BY ENHANCING
COMPETITION AND PATIENT CHOICE.
IT WILL PRESERVE THE RIGHT OF
PATIENTS TO KEEP THEIR EXISTING
COVERAGE.
IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
IT WILL ENSURE ACCESS TO QUALITY
CARE FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
IT WILL IMPLEMENT MEANINGFUL
LAWSUIT ABUSE REFORM SO THAT
DOCTORS.
RESOURCES CAN GO TO PATIENTS AND
AND NOT TO TRIAL LAWYERS.
IN SHORT, IT WILL INCREASE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
AMERICANS WITHOUT COMPROMISING
QUALITY OR HURTING THE VERY
IMPORTANT SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR
OF OUR NATION'S ECONOMY.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE UNDERLYING RE
PLACE RESOLUTION WHICH I HAVE
OFFERED WILL BEGIN A ROBUST
COMMITTEE PROCESS TO TACKLE THE
DIFFICULT BUT ESSENTIAL WORK OF
ACHIEVING THESE GOALS AND
CRAFTING TRUE REFORM FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS WILL BE A PROCESS IN WHICH
EACH AND EVERY MEMBER, EACH AND
EVERY MEMBER, DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN ALIKE, WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
MADAM SPEAKER, AS SPEAKER
BOEHNER SAID, THE DAY BEFORE
YESTERDAY WHEN HE ACCEPTED THE
GAVEL, WE ARE RETURNING TO
REGULAR ORDER.
ONCE AGAIN OUR COMMITTEES WILL
BE THE LABORATORIES, THE CENTERS
OF EXPERTISE, THAT THEY WERE
INTENDED TO BE.
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS OF BOTH
PARTIES WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE
IN CRAFTING LEGISLATION,
SCRUTINIZING PROPOSALS, OFFERING
AMENDMENTS, PARTICIPATING IN
REAL DEBATE.
CRITICAL LEGISLATION IS NOT
GOING TO BE WRITTEN BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS BY A SELECT FEW.
TODAY'S RULE SETS IN MOTION A
PROCESS THAT WILL BE BOTH
TRANSPARENT AND COLLABORATIVE.
BUT WE CANNOT GET TO THAT VERY
IMPORTANT STEP WITHOUT CLEARING
THE FIRST HURDLE.
WHICH IS TO UNDO THE DAMAGE THAT
HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
WE WILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY, WHY ARE
YOU CONSIDERING THIS UNDER A
CLOSED RULE?
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS WAS A CLEAR
PROMISE THAT WAS MADE THROUGHOUT
LAST YEAR LEADING UP TO THE VERY
IMPORTANT NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION.
EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGES THE
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
THE COMMITMENT WAS MADE THAT WE
REPEAL.
WOULD HAVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE
DOING.
WE MUST REPEAL LAST YEAR'S BILL
BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH
REPLACEMENT.
JUST AS PREKICTED -- PREDICTED,
THE SO-CALLED REFORM BILL IS
HAVING VERY REAL NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ECONOMY AND
OUR JOB MARKET.
IT IS PUTTING ENORMOUS BURDENS
ON JOB CREATORS, PARTICULARLY
SMALL BUSINESSES, AT A TIME THAT
IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT WE HAVE FACED.
IMPOSING SIGNIFICANT NEW BURDENS
AND PENALTIES, WHILE OUR
EMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS ABOVE
9%.
WE GOT THE NEWS A FEW MINUTES
AGO IT'S AT 9.3%.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THAT
POSITIVE DROP BUT ONLY 105,000
JOBS WERE CREATED, NOT THE
150,000 JOBS NECESSARY TO BE
CREATED TO SUSTAIN THE POSITION
WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO WE STILL ARE DEALING WITH
VERY, VERY SERIOUS ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TAKE A
COMMONSENSE APPROACH TO FIRST
REPEAL THIS MEASURE AND THEN
DEAL WITH SOLUTIONS.
ABOVE ALL, I WILL SAY THAT THE
ONEROUS, UNWORKABLE MANDATES
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ARE
ADDING GREATER UNCERTAINTY WHICH
ARE JOB CREATION'S BIGGEST
ENEMY.
ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT ANY TIME
TALKING WITH SMALL BUSINESS
CASE.
OWNERS KNOWS THIS TO BE THE
WHILE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS
ALREADY QUITE APPARENT, THE
FISCAL CONSEQUENCES ARE LOOMING
DOWN THE ROAD.
WHILE THE BILL'S AUTHORS USED A
HOST OF ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS, I'M
GOING TO GET INTO THOSE FURTHER
AS I'M SURE I WILL BE CHALLENGED
ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
TALKING ABOUT THE ACCOUNTING
GIMMICKS THAT HAVE BEEN
UTILIZED, BY THE AUTHORS USED A
HOST OF ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS, AS
I SAID, TO MASK THE TRUE COST OF
THIS MEASURE, AND HONEST AND
REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE
IMPACT ON THE DEFICIT SHOWS A
MUCH CLEARER AND TRAGICALLY A
FAR WORSE PICTURE.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS
DEMONSTRATED THE REAL COST OF
THE HEALTH CARE BILL, AS I SAID,
IN MY OPEN, A STAGGERING $2.7
TRILLION.
ONCE IT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
IT WILL ADD OVER $700 BILLION TO
OUR DEFICIT IN THE FIRST 10
YEARS.
THE WORDS RECKLESS AND
UNSUSTAINABLE HARDLY BEGIN TO
COVER IT.
THIS BILL IS AN ECONOMIC AND
FISCAL DISASTER OF UNPRECEDENTED
PROPORTIONS.
THE TIME TO UNDO IT BEFORE
ANYMORE DAMAGE IS DONE IS
QUICKLY RUNNING OUT.
REPUBLICANS PROMISED THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WE WOULD ACT
SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY, AND
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE
DOING.
SOME OF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE HAVE ASKED,
WHY THERE WILL BE NO AMENDMENTS
TO THE REPEAL BILL?
FRANKLY, THERE IS NOTHING TO
AMENDMENT.
THERE IS NOTHING TO AMEND, MADAM
SPEAKER, THE REPEAL BILL.
EITHER WE ARE GOING TO WIPE THE
SLATE CLEAN AND START FRESH OR
WE ARE NOT.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE AREN'T
SOME GOOD PROVISIONS IN THIS
MEASURE.
THAT IS SO ONEROUS, NEARLY 3,000
PAGES, THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE
BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO WIPE
THE SLATE CLEAN, HAVE AN OPEN
AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS, AND DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT
EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN HAS ACCESS
TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND
HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
NOW, ONCE THAT SLATE IS
COMPLETELY WIPED CLEAN, WE WILL
BE READY FOR THIS OPEN AND
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO DEVELOP
THE REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE PROMISED THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AS WE LED UP TO
LAST NOVEMBER 2, AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DELIVER
HERE TODAY.
MADAM SPEAKER, FIRST WE UNDO THE
DAMAGE, THEN WE WORK TOGETHER TO
IMPLEMENT REAL REFORM AND REAL
SOLUTIONS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS RULE AND THEN, AFTER WE
HAVE GONE THROUGH THE THREE-DAY
LAYOVER REQUIREMENT NEXT WEEK,
WHICH IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
ANOTHER PROMISE THAT WE MADE TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION, H.R. 2,
WHICH OUR COLLEAGUE, THE NEW
MAJORITY LEADER, MR. CANTOR HAS
OFFERED, AND H.RES. 9, WHICH I
HAVE INTRODUCED, THAT CALLS FOR
OUR COMMITTEES TO WORK IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY TO DEVELOP
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE HAVE OUT THERE IN ENSURING
THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS ACCESS
TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE
.
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
GOOD MORNING,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATE MY GENTLEMAN
FRIEND, MR. DREIER, FOR
YIELDING ME TIME AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
WHAT A WEEK IT'S
BEEN.
SINCE WE'VE BEEN SWORN IN, THE
REPUBLICAN BROKEN PROMISES HAVE
BEEN DIZZYING.
ONE SUMMED UP THE WEEK UP
NICELY WHEN HE SAID, QUOTE, I
DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE
POSSIBLE TO FALL FROM GRACE ANY
FASTER THAN THIS END QUOTE.
IN NOVEMBER, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP, LED BY SPEAKER
BOEHNER, TRAVELED TO SUBURBAN
VIRGINIA AND MADE A PLEDGE TO
AMERICA.
THEIR CONSTITUENTS, INCLUDING
TEA PARTY PATRIOTS, LIKE MR.
MECKER, LISTENED INTENTLY AS
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLEDGED TO
BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND
SERVE THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
ON PAGE 6 OF THE REPUBLICAN
PLEDGE TO AMERICA, THE PARTY
STATES, AND I QUOTE, WITH
COMMONSENSE EXCEPTIONS FOR
SENIORS, VETERANS AND OUR
TROOPS, WE WILL ROLL BACK
GOVERNMENT SPENDING TO
PRESTIMULUS, PREBAILOUT LEVELS
SAVING US AT LEAST $100 BILLION
IN THE FIRST YEAR ALONE AND
PUTTING US ON A PATH TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET AND PAY DOWN THE
DEBT, END QUOTE.
THE PLEDGE WAS SOLEMNLY MADE BY
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DESPITE
BEING LARGELY PANNED AS A
POLITICAL STUNT.
DESPITE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON
THEIR PLEDGE, THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY SAID THE PLEDGE TO CUT
$100 BILLION WAS HYPOTHETICAL.
TODAY NOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD
TO DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE
ACTIONS THAT THEY PLEDGED AS
THEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO
REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
IF SUCCESSFUL, THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATION WILL ADD $230
BILLION TO THE DEFICIT BY 2021.
THIS EXTRA $230 BILLION WON'T
BE SPENT REBUILDING OUR
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE,
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN OR
PROVIDING FOR THE MILLIONS
WITHOUT JOBS.
INSTEAD, THE $230 BILLION WILL
BE ADDED TO OUR DEFICIT IN
ORDER TO TAKE HEALTH CARE
BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS FROM
THOSE WHO NEED THEM THE MOST.
FOR EXAMPLE, STARTING THIS YEAR
THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT
WILL BEGIN TO CLOSE THE
DOUGHNUT HOLE FOR SENIORS.
UNDER THE LAW MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES WHO FALL IN THE
DOUGHNUT HOLE WILL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR A 50% DISCOUNT ON COVERED
BRAND-NAME PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
REPEAL THIS LAW AND SENIORS
RECEIVE NO HELP AND WILL BE
FORCED TO PAY THEIR RISING
COSTS ALONE.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF
PROTECTIONS I FIGHT FOR TODAY.
FISCALLY, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
PACE A $300 BILLION CHOICE.
ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, WE HAVE TWO
OPTIONS.
ONE, DO WE KEEP THE AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE ACT AND SAVE $130
BILLION BY 2021 OR, TWO, DO WE
REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH
CARE ACT AND ADD $200 BILLION
TO OUR DEFICIT BY 2021?
THAT MAY BE TROUBLE FOR SOME
BUT FOR MOST OF US IT'S EASY.
FOR ME THE ANSWER IS CLEAR AND
I ASSUME TO MOST AMERICANS IT'S
CLEAR AS WELL.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WIN BY
SIMPLY JUDGING APPLES TO
APPLES, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP HAS TAKEN TO
DISCREDITING THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE.
YET, A QUIT BIT OF RESEARCH
WILL REVEAL THAT REPUBLICANS
HAVE LONG VALUED THE
NONPARTISAN AND RELIABLE WORK
OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE AND HAVE PUBLICLY
SUPPORTED THE AGENCY BEFORE.
IN FACT, 2009, SPEAKER BOEHNER
REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THE
C.B.O. AS NONPARTISAN
INSTITUTION AND RELIED ON THEIR
ESTIMATES TO ARGUE AGAINST THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AT THE
TIME.
BUT NOW THAT THE C.B.O.'S
ESTIMATES ARE DETRIMENTAL TO
THEIR POLITICAL GOALS, THEY
HAVE TAKEN TO QUESTIONING THE
WORK.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
SAID IT'S INCONVENIENT.
TWO YEARS AGO HE SAID, I QUOTE,
I BELIEVE THE PROFESSIONALS AT
THE C.B.O. ARE DOING A
DIFFICULT BUT UNPOPULAR WORK.
THEY ARE SPEAKING THE TRUTH TO
POWER HERE IN WASHINGTON, AND
MAKING THE FOLKS WHO WOULD PASS
THESE ENORMOUS UNFUNDED BILLS
THAT IMPOSE A HUGE DEBT ON
GENERATIONS HEREAFTER SOMEWHAT
UNHAPPY.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE DOING
IMPORTANT SERVICE BY TELLING US
THE FACTS.
AND LAST WEEK, I COMMENDED THE
DIRECTOR OF THE C.B.O. FOR
SAYING THAT THE C.B.O. WILL
NEVER ADJUST OUR VIEWS TO MAKE
PEOPLE HAPPY.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
GOD BLESS HIM FOR HIS INTEGRITY
AND COMMITMENT FOR TELLING THE
TRUTH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE TRUTH, NOT
TRY TO REMAKE IT OR TRY TO
COVER IT UP.
NOW, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH
THAT.
THE DEFICIT ESTIMATES PROVIDED
BY THE C.B.O. ARE THE SINGULAR
AUTHORITATIVE FIGURING FROM
WHICH WE MAKE ALL OUR DECISIONS
AND HAVE FOR DECADES.
EVEN IF SOME DON'T LIKE WHAT
THE NUMBERS TELL US WE KNOW
THAT NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT
TODAY'S ACTIONS ARE NOT, QUOTE,
HYPOTHETICAL, UNQUOTE.
WE TRULY FACE A $300 BILLION
CHOICE.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO PROVIDE
INVALUABLE BENEFITS TO MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS WHILE PAYING DOWN
OUR NATIONAL DEFICIT.
REMEMBER THAT IT WILL SAVE $134
BILLION OVER 10 YEARS, OR END
HEALTH CARE CHOICES FOR
MILLIONS AND ADD $230 BILLION
TO THE NATION'S DEFICIT.
MR. SPEAKER -- MADAM SPEAKER,
WE ARE CONSIDERING THE FIRST
MEASURE FROM THE RULES
COMMITTEE OF THIS NEW CONGRESS,
AND MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS HAVE
ALREADY PRODUCED ONE FOR THE
RECORD BOOKS.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE RESOLUTION
INCLUDES A COMPLETELY CLOSED
PROCESS FOR TWO SEPARATE PIECES
OF LEGISLATION.
THAT MEANS WE GET TWO CLOSED
RULES IN ONE.
AND MAYBE MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
THINK THEY CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS
MONEY BY ROLLING ALL THE CLOSED
RULES INTO A SINGLE RESOLUTION.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT
BY BRINGING EFFICIENCY TO
GOVERNMENT.
THE FIRST CLOSED ROWLEY ON THE
HEALTH CARE BILL -- RULE ON THE
HEALTH CARE BILL DOES HEAVY
LIFTING.
BLOCKS EVERY SINGLE GERMANE
AMENDMENT SUBMITTED TO THE
RULES COMMITTEE.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT SLIPS IN ONE CHANGE WITHOUT
ALLOWING THE HOUSE TO VOTE ON
IT.
THE SPECIAL AMENDMENTS SLIPPED
IN WITH THE FAMOUS DEMON PASS
MANEUVER IS VERY INTERESTING.
IT ALLOWS THE HOUSE TO PRETEND
THAT THE REPEAL BILL IS FREE
EVEN THOUGH THE BUDGET OFFICE
SAYS IT WILL RAISE THE DEFICIT
BY OVER $1 TRILLION.
THAT'S A NEAT TRICK, AND NOW WE
KNOW THE SECRET WEAPON FOR
REDUCING THE DEFICIT, A
BLINDFOLD.
THIS CLOSED PROCESS IS
ESPECIALLY TROUBLING ON THE
HEALTH CARE REPEAL BECAUSE THIS
REPUBLICAN BILL HAS HAD NO
PUBLIC HEARING, NO COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION AND IS NOT PAID
FOR.
THE SECOND CLOSED RULE IN THIS
TWO FOR ONE PACKAGE BLOCKS ALL
AMENDMENTS TO ANOTHER
RESOLUTION, TO CORRECT A FLAW
IN THE SWEARING IN PROCESS.
APPARENTLY THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF
THE RULES COMMITTEE WAS
CONDUCTING LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
BEFORE HE WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER
OF CONGRESS.
MAYBE AMENDMENTS ARE NOT
IMPORTANT HERE BECAUSE NO
MEMBER IN THE HOUSE HAS SEEN
THIS RESOLUTION.
SINCE THE RULE ALLOWS THE
MAJORITY LEADER TO MAKE THE
CHANGES -- ALLOWS THE MAJORITY
LEADER TO MAKE CHANGES UNTIL
THE MOMENT IT IS INTRODUCED.
IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME TO
READ THIS SURPRISED RESOLUTION,
DON'T WORRY.
THE RULE ALLOWS THE HOUSE TO
DEBATE IT FOR FOUR FULL
FOUR MINUTES?
MINUTES.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A BILL
DEBATED FOR FOUR MINUTES?
FORTUNATELY, THE RULE
GENEROUSLY GIVES THE MINORITY
TWO OF THOSE FOUR MINUTES AND I
GUESS THAT QUALIFIES AS BOTH
EFFICIENCY AND BIPARTISANSHIP.
FINALLY, THE RULE ALLOWS THE
HOUSE TO CONSIDER A SWEEPING
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, A
RESOLUTION TO REPLACE REAL
PATIENT PROTECTION WITH VAGUE
RHETORIC.
AND, MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS A
VERY DISAPPOINTING DAY FOR THE
HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST ACTION IN THIS NEW
CONGRESS VIOLATES THE PROMISE
WE HEARD FROM OUR REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS, NO PUBLIC
CONSIDERATION, A COMPLETELY
CLOSED PROCESS, LEGISLATIVE
TEXT NO MEMBER HAS READ, FOUR
MINUTES OF DEBATE ON AN
IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE
AND SO ON.
FOR ALL THOSE MEMBERS WHO WERE
SENT TO WASHINGTON LIKE I WAS
TO REPAIR OUR NATION'S
FINANCES, CREATE JOBS FOR
MILLIONS OF THE UNEMPLOYED,
HELP THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
IN NEED, THE DECISION SHOULD BE
SIMPLE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
REJECT THE EFFORTS OF THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, KEEP OUR
PROMISES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND VOTE TO KEEP THE AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE LAW, AND I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF 10 SECONDS TO SAY
THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID THE
TWO THINKING PEOPLE CAN BE
GIVEN THE EXACT SAME SET OF
FACTS AND DRAW DIFFERENT
CONCLUSIONS.
FRIEND FROM ROCHESTER SAID.
WELL, I JUST HEARD WHAT MY
I WILL SAY THIS IS A GREAT DAY
FOR THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE BECAUSE
WE ARE GOING TO IN FACT BE
IMPLEMENTING THE COMMITMENT
THAT WAS MADE TO FOCUS ON
GETTING OUR ECONOMY BACK ON
TRACK.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO HAVE VERY
HARDWORKING AND THOUGHTFUL
MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE
WHO WAS WITH US FOR 12 HOURS UP
UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT, OUR NEW
COLLEAGUE FROM NORTH
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, MR.
SCOTT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL SAY THAT
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO SERVE ON
THE RULES COMMITTEE.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT THE 12TH
HOUR EXPERIENCE ALL DAY
YESTERDAY.
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, SIR.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL OF US IN AMERICA, TO KILL
THE JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE
BILL THAT IS TAKING JOBS AWAY
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SOON WE WANT TO MAKE SIX QUICK
POINTS.
WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE COST
OF INSURANCE IS ONLY GOING UP,
UP AND UP.
THERE IS A MISNOEMER THAT THIS
BILL SOMEHOW REDUCES THE COST
OF INSURANCE.
IT IS SIMPLY CATEGORICALLY NOT
TRUE.
SHIFTING WHO PAYS FOR THE
INSURANCE, THE HEALTH CARE
COST, DOES NOT MAKE THE HEALTH
CARE COST GOES DOWN.
IT IS SIMPLY GOING TO CONTINUE
TO RISE.
SECOND POINT, WHEN YOU DESIGN A
BILL THAT HAS TAX INCREASE
AFTER TAX INCREASE AFTER TAX
INCREASE AND SAY THAT YOU ARE
REDUCING THE DEFICIT BY
INCREASING TAXES, IT IS
INCONSISTENT WITH THE REALITY
THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT
FROM THEIR CONGRESS.
THIRD, THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE
IS SIMPLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND
IF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IS
NOT PART OF THE BILL, IF WE
DON'T FORCE EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN TO BUY INSURANCE, THIS
PONZI SCHEME SIMPLY DOESN'T
WORK.
NUMBER FOUR, BRINGING 10 YEARS
OF REVENUE IN AND PAYING OUT
SIX YEARS OF BENEFITS AND
CALLING THAT EQUAL, THAT'S A
FARCE.
NUMBER FIVE, THE LIFETIME
BENEFITS -- LIFETIME BENEFITS,
WE WANT EVERYBODY IN AMERICA TO
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
WITHOUT ANY QUESTION.
THE QUESTION WE ASK OURSELVES
IS FROM AN ACTUARIAL
PERSPECTIVE, CAN WE PAY FOR A
$2.7 TRILLION EXPANSION, A NEW
ENTITLEMENT WHEN WE HAVE A $76
TRILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY ON
THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS?
WE SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE TO
DIG A HOLE AND CALL OURSELF
COMPASSIONATE.
THERE IS NOTHING COMPASSIONATE
ABOUT INCREASING OUR
ENTITLEMENTS BY JEOPARDIZING
THE FUTURE ENTITLEMENTS OF
AMERICANS.
AND FINALLY, WE'VE HEARD LOTS
OF RHETORIC.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD MY FRIEND AN
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECOND.
FINALLY, WE HEARD
LOTS OF RHETORIC OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND
WOMEN.
WHAT WE ARE FACING IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STOP ROBBING
FUTURE GENERATIONS, TO STOP THE
UNNECESSARY IMPACT -- THE
INTERGENERATIONAL COST WITHOUT
EVEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
THE INTERGENERATIONAL COST, WE
CONSISTENTLY IMPACT UNBORN
AMERICANS WITH LEGISLATION THAT
PASSED UNDER THE FORMER HOUSE.
IT IS GOOD TO BE IN THE HOUSE
WITH A BRAND NEW SPEAKER AND
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS,
MR. MCGOVERN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MADE IT
VERY CLEAR IN THE LAST
ELECTION, THAT THEY WANT US TO
FOCUS ON ONE THING, JOBS.
BUT THE NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
HAS INSTEAD CHOSEN TO REOPEN AN
I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.
OLD IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY RIGHT AT THE OUTSET
OF THIS NEW CONGRESS TO SEE THE
CLEAR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT
INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD BE
PROHIBITED FROM DISCRIMINATING
UNDER THE BASIS OF PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
REPUBLICANS DO NOT.
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE WE SHOULD
CLOSE THE DOUGHNUT HOLE AND
REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
FOR OUR SENIORS.
REPUBLICANS DO NOT.
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
REMAIN ON THEIR PARENT'S
INSURANCE PLAN UNTIL AGE 26.
REPUBLICANS DO NOT.
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE WE SHOULD
PROVIDE TAX BREAKS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SUBSIDIES TO
LOW-INCOME AMERICANS TO HELP
THEM PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR THEIR WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
REPUBLICANS DO NOT.
AND DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE
BUDGET DEFICIT.
REPUBLICANS DO NOT.
AS THE C.B.O. CROBLE MADE
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR -- MADE
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
IT WOULD ADD $230 BILLION TO
THE DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS AND ANOTHER $1.2 TRILLION
IN THE FOLLOWING 10 YEARS.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THIS IS
THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE-PAGE
BILL IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
114 WORDS.
THAT'S $2 BILLION PER WORD.
RATHER THAN ADDRESS THOSE
BUDGETARY FACTS, THE NEW
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS SIMPLY
IGNORED THEM, TO COVER THEIR
EARS AND PRETEND THAT THE LAWS
OF ARITHMETIC DO NOT APPLY TO
THEM.
IN THEIR FIRST ORDER OF
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS, THE
REPUBLICANS WANT TO TAKE HEALTH
INSURANCE REFORM AND TOSS IT IN
THE TRASH.
AND HOW MANY HEARINGS HAVE THEY
HELD ON THE IMPACT OF THIS
REPEAL?
ZERO.
HOW MANY MARKUPS DO THEY HAVE?
ZERO.
AND MOST SHOCKINGLY, HOW MANY
AMENDMENTS WILL THEY CONSIDER
IN THIS BILL?
ZERO.
THE NEW MAJORITY WHIP, MR.
MCCARTHY, SAID AFTER THE
ELECTION LAST NOVEMBER, AND I
QUOTE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
PLEDGE TO AMERICA THAT THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE LAID OUT,
THERE IS A CULTURAL CHANGE IN
THERE.
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT OPENS
UP THE FLOOR THAT HASN'T BEEN
DONE FOR QUITE SOMETIME WHERE
BILLS WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE
BACK ROOM, WHERE BILLS ACTUALLY
HAVE AN OPEN RULE, WHERE PEOPLE
CAN BRING UP AMENDMENTS ON THE
FLOOR.
SO MUCH FOR THAT.
INSTEAD OF THOUGHTFUL,
REASONABLE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE
THAT ADDRESSES HEALTH CARE
ISSUES, THE REPUBLICANS
REPLACED PART OF THEIR REPEAL
STRATEGY IS JUST A LIST OF
HAPPY TALK SOUND BITES.
IT'S NO MORE THAN A PRESS
RELEASE.
SO, AGAIN, MADAM SPEAKER, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING
ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY AND IN
THE MEANTIME I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THIS RULE
AND THE UNDERLYING RECKLESS
BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE 87 NEW
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THERE'S NO MORE IMPRESSIVE GROUP
THAN THE FOUR SERVING WITH US ON
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.
AMONG THEM FORMER SHERIFF NOON
GENT -- NUGENT, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, ADAM --
IT'S NEW TO ME.
MADAM SPEAKER.
CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH.
WE WERE THERE LAST NIGHT IN THE
RULES COMMITTEE FOR 12 HOURS TO
HEAR TESTIMONY FROM A NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND ALSO
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
LET ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR I MET WITH
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM
THROUGHOUT FLORIDA'S FIFTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
WHETHER THEY BE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, VETERANS, OR MEDICARE
RECIPIENTS, THEY ASK ME TO
PROMISE, PROMISE TO REPEAL
OBAMACARE.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE KNOW MORE THAN OUR
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN REGARDS
TO WHAT AMERICANS WANT.
OBAMACARE ELIMINATES MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN JOBS.
CUTS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FROM MEDICARE.
TAXES BY ALMOST $500 BILLION
OVER 10 YEARS FOR SIX YEARS'
WORTH OF COVERAGE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM'S BROKEN AND THAT
REFORM IS NEEDED.
HOWEVER THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
JOB-KILLING MANDATES OF
OBAMACARE ARE NOT THE ANSWER.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 9 IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN CONGRESS
WORKING WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
TO FIND REAL, MEANINGFUL
SOLUTIONS TO OUR NATION'S HEALTH
CARE NEEDS.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND
WE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE
PEOPLE.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 9 WILL ALLOW US
TO FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOB
CREATION, LOWER HEALTH CARE
PREMIUMS, AND PROTECT MEDICARE.
AND INFORM THE MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE SYSTEM THAT IS
BANKRUPTING AMERICA.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS I AM
GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUE FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. DREIER, FOR
INTRODUCING HOUSE RESOLUTION 9
AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSOR OF THAT RESOLUTION.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO, A
MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE,
MR. POLIS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE
AND THE UNDERLYING BILL, THE
MOST EXPENSIVE ONE-PAGE BILL IN
THE HISTORY OF CONGRESS AND IT
COSTS THE TAXPAYERS OVER $200
BILLION FIRST 10 YEARS ALONE AND
OVER $1 TRILLION.
NOT ONLY HAVE THE REPUBLICANS AS
THE FIRST BILL THAT WE ARE DOING
A RULE ON AND FACING HERE ON THE
FLOOR PUT FORWARD THE MOST
EXPENSIVE ONE-PAGE BILL IN THE
HISTORY OF CONGRESS, BUT IT IS
NOT PAID FOR, MADAM SPEAKER.
IN ADDITION TO NOT BEING PAID
FOR THEY HAVE WAIVED MANY OF THE
NOTICE FORS TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS, THE REGULAR ORDER
THAT THEY SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH
WITH REGARD TO THE WAY THAT THIS
CONGRESS IS RUN.
MADAM SPEAKER, THERE WERE MANY
GOOD IDEAS AND GOOD AMENDMENTS
BROUGHT FORWARD BY MEMBERS OF
BOTH PARTIES YESTERDAY DURING
OUR SESSION OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW IN
PARTICULAR.
ONE, MY COLLEAGUE FROM MICHIGAN,
GARY PETERS, BROUGHT A PROPOSAL
THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT
THIS BIGGEST ONE-PAGE
EXPENDITURE IN THE HISTORY OF
CONGRESS DID NOT RAISE TAXES ON
SMALL BUSINESSES.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT AMENDMENT IS
NOT MADE IN ORDER UNDER THIS
RULE AND THEREFORE H.R. 2 WILL
BE RAISING TAXES ON SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT ARE NOW RECEIVING TAX
CREDITS FOR PROVIDING HEALTH
CARE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF
DISCUSSION AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT AND THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE KNOW WITH REGARD TO
PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
NOW, WE ALL WANT TO DO SOMETHING
FOR PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
THERE WAS TALK YESTERDAY, IN
FACT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
H.R. 9, THERE MIGHT BE
DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE WITH
REGARD TO AGREEING ON HIGH-RISK
POOLS FOR PEOPLE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, BUT
WHAT THIS BODY IS BEING ASKED TO
DO TODAY AND NEXT WEEK IS
EFFECTIVELY REPLACE SOMETHING
THAT WORKS FOR PEOPLE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, NAMELY
ELIMINATING PRICES
DISCRIMINATIONS WITH SOME VAGUE
ASSURANCE ON PAPER THAT PERHAPS
SOMEDAY, SOME COMMITTEES, SOME
CHAIRMEN MIGHT CONSIDER.
WE ASKED THEM KINDLY TO CONSIDER
SOMETHING THAT WOULD DO
SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
WELL, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT IS
SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS TODAY, FOR THOSE WHO
WILL IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE THERE'S
AMPLE ROOM TO DO IT BUT NOT
ELIMINATING PROTECTION THAT IS
EXIST.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED FORMER CHAIRMAN OF
FRIEND FROM COLUMBUS, INDIANA,
THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE, MY
MR. PENCE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE RULE
BUT I RISE FROM MY HEART WITH A
DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN BOTH
PARTIES TO JOIN US AS WE KEEP
OUR PROMISE TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND NEXT WEEK VOTE TO
REPEAL THEIR GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER
OF HEALTH CARE, LOCK, SEW STOCK
-- STOCK, AND BARREL.
I KNOW DEMOCRATS SAID AT THE
TIME THAT THEY HAD MADE HISTORY.
I SAID AT THE TIME I THOUGHT WE
BROKE WITH HISTORY.
WE BROKE WITH SOME OF OUR FINEST
TRADITIONS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT,
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND
MOST PROFOUNDLY THE CONSENT OF
THE GOVERNED.
ON A LATE SUNDAY NIGHT IN MARCH,
.
THE LAST MAJORITY HAD THEIR STAY
ON A TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD THEIR SAY.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THIS
MOMENT.
IT IS REMARKABLE TO HEAR MEMBERS
IN THE MINORITY EXPLAINING THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
ONLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., A YEAR
AGO, ONLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
COULD YOU SAY YOU WERE GOING TO
SPEND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND
SAVE PEOPLE MONEY, AND THIS
MORNING ONLY IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., COULD YOU SAY THAT
REPEALING A $2.7 TRILLION
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH
CARE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COST
MONEY.
PLEASED TO YIELD.
I THANK MY FRIEND
FOR YIELDING.
I WONDER IF HE MIGHT REPEAT THAT
LINE.
I THINK HE SAID ONLY IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., CAN THERE BE
INTERPRETATION THAT CUTTING $2.7
TRILLION IN SPENDING IS ACTUALLY
GOING TO END UP COSTING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, IS THAT WHAT
THE GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING?
I THANK MY FRIEND FOR YIELDING.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
YES.
IT MUST BE MYSTIFYING FOR PEOPLE
LOOKING IN THIS MORNING TO HEAR
ABOUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE
ONE-PAGE BILL IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
I SAY AGAIN, ONLY IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., COULD A CONGRESS VOTE TO
REPEAL A $2.67 TRILLION -- $2.7
TRILLION GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF
HEALTH CARE AND THE MINORITY
SAYS IT WILL COST THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE MONEY.
LET ME EXPLAIN, WHEN YOU MANDATE
THAT EVERY AMERICAN BUY
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED INSURANCE
WHETHER THEY WANT IT OR NEED IT
OR NOT, WHEN YOU CREATE A
GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN PAID FOR
WITH JOB-KILLING TAX INCREASES,
WHEN YOU PROVIDE PUBLIC FUNDING
FOR ABORTION FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THAT'S A
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH
CARE THAT VIOLATES THE
PRINCIPLES, THE IDEALS, AND THE
VALUES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT.
LOOK, AFTER WE REPEAL OBAMACARE
NEXT WEEK, WE CAN START OVER.
WITH COMMONSENSE REFORMS THAT
WILL FOCUS ON LOWERING THE COST
OF HEALTH INSURANCE WITHOUT
GROWING THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.
REPUBLICANS WILL WASTE NO TIME
IN BRINGING GREATER FREEDOMS TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO PURCHASE
HEALTH INSURANCE THE WAY THEY
BUY LIFE INSURANCE, THE WAY THEY
BUY CAR INSURANCE.
WE'LL DEAL WITH RESPONSIBLE
LITIGATION REFORM.
WE'LL EVEN USE THE SAVINGS TO
COVER PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORT OF THIS RULE BUT JOIN
US AS WE KEEP OUR PROMISE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND REPEAL THEIR
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH
CARE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER,
THIS IS NOT A DISPUTE BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ABOUT
THE $1.3 TRILLION.
C.B.O., THE NONPARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, IS
SAYING THAT.
I WILL NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA,
MS. MATSUI.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING ME TIME.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THE RULE AND THE
BILL BEFORE US.
THE BILL WOULD INCREASE THE
NATIONAL DEFICIT BY $230
BILLION.
INCREASE COSTS TO INDIVIDUALS,
FAMILIES, AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, AND DENY THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC THE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
THEY HAVE BEEN SEEKING FOR
YEARS.
REPEAL OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW
WOULD ALSO MEAN THE YOUNG ADULTS
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STAY UNDER
A PARENTS' PLAN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON
CONSTITUENTS OF MINE SUCH AS
ELIZABETH.
SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE
SHE WAS DROPPED FROM HER
PARENTS' PLAN AND SOON DEVELOPED
A SEVERE THYROID CONDITION.
AS A RESULT, SHE HAD TO PURCHASE
HER OWN INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE
PLAN WHICH PROVED TO BE A SEVERE
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR HER AND
HER PARENTS.
THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO
RE-ENROLL ON HER PARENTS' PLAN
AS OF JANUARY 1 BECAUSE OF THIS
HEALTH REFORM BILL.
REPEAL WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT
SENIOR CITIZENS OF SACRAMENTO
WOULD NOT SEE ANY RELIEF FOR THE
MEDICARE PART D DOUGHNUT HOLE.
THE BILL WOULD CLOSE THE
DOUGHNUT HOLE CRITICAL TO
SENIORS IN MY DISTRICTS.
ONE SUCH SENIOR REGULARLY PAYS
OVER $2,000 A MONTH FOR HIS
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
REPEAL WOULD MEAN GARY AND THE
THOUSANDS OF OTHER SENIORS IN MY
DISTRICT WOULD SEE NO RELIEF
FROM THE PART D DOUGHNUT HOLE.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
MADAM SPEAKER, A VOTE AGAINST
THIS RULE AND AGAINST THIS BILL
IS A VOTE TO PROTECT THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC FROM UNFAIR
INSURANCE COMPANY PRACTICES.
TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO YOUNG AND
OLD ALIKE, AND TO STAY ON THE
FUTURE.
PATH TO FISCAL RESPONSIBLE
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
DOWN THIS RULE AND VOTE AGAINST
THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M HAPPY TO YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO A HARDWORKING MEMBER
OF THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE ONE OF
THOSE COMMITTEES WHEN WE PASS
H.RES. 9 THAT WILL BE DEALING
WITH ENSURING THAT EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY
HEALTH INSURANCE.
OUR FRIEND FROM BRENTWOOD,
TENNESSEE, MRS. BLACKBURN.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
TODAY WE DO BEGIN A VERY
IMPORTANT PROCESS AND IT IS A
SOLID FIRST STEP.
AND I STAND TO SUPPORT THIS RULE
AND TO SUPPORT REPEAL OF THIS
LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE ON THE LAW
-- ON THE BOOKS A LAW THAT
DOESN'T IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
HEALTH CARE.
IT WILL NOT REDUCE THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE.
AND IT IS GOING TO ADD BILLIONS
TO THE EXPLODING NATIONAL DEBT.
WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
THEY ARE SMART.
AND THEY KNOW THAT THIS LAW IS
UNWORKABLE.
IT WON'T DELIVER ON THE PROMISES
THAT THEY MADE.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE VOTED IN
OVERWHELMING NUMBERS TO REPEAL
IT AND REPLACE IT.
THAT IS THE ACTION THAT WE ARE
GOING TO TAKE.
CONGRESS CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER
TO GET THIS IRRESPONSIBLE LAW
OUT OF OUR DOCTORS' OFFICES, OUT
OF OUR LIVES, AND OFF THE BOOKS.
WE IN TENNESSEE HAVE LIVED
THROUGH THE EXPERIMENT OF
GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE
CALLED TENN-CARE.
TENNESSEE COULD NOT AFFORD IT
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW
THIS NATION CANNOT AFFORD A
TENN-CARE-TYPE PROGRAM ON A
I SUPPORT THE RULE.
NATIONAL LEVEL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, OUR
RANKING MEMBER OF WAYS AND
MEANS, MR. LEVIN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THIS IS WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS ARE AFTER, WHAT
THEIR REPEAL WOULD MEAN.
IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS, COVERAGE FOR KIDS
WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS,
COVERAGE FOR YOUNG ADULTS UNDER
26, RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE CARE
WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY, IT WOULD
TAKE AWAY LOWER DRUG COSTS FOR
SENIORS.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
REPEAL WOULD DO.
IT WOULD GIVE BACK TO INSURANCE
COMPANIES UNREASONABLE PREMIUM
INCREASES, UNJUST POLICY
TERMSES, RESCISSIONS, IT WOULD
TAKE AWAY THIS, IT WOULD GIVE
BACK PROFITS AND C.E.O. SALARIES
TO INSURANCE COMPANIES, NOT
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.
IT WILL GIVE BACK ANNUAL AND
LIFETIME LIMITS ON BENEFITS.
IT GIVES BACK TO INSURANCE
COMPANIES DISCRIMINATION AUTHOR
AGAINST WOMEN.
THESE ARE CONCRETE REASONS TO
VOTE NO ON THIS REPEAL.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD TO A MEMBER
OF THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE, OUR FRIEND FROM
MARIETTA, GEORGIA, DR. GINGREY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF ARGUMENTS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
IN REGARD TO THE $230 BILLION
COST.
AND ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE OF
COURSE ONLY IN AMERICA CAN
SOMETHING ACTUALLY COST $1.15
TRILLION IN ELIMINATING IT THAT
ALL OF A SUDDEN COSTS $230
BILLION.
YES, MS. SLAUGHTER, ONLY IN
AMERICA, ONLY IN THIS CONGRESS,
NUMBERS DO LIE.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE, OF COURSE, IS
THE VOICE OF AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT'S ABOUT 3,000 YEARS AGO THAT
A LITTLE SHEPARD BOY WALKED INTO
THAT VALLEY OF DEATH LOOKING UP
AT ALL THOSE PHILISTINES AND
THAT NINE-FOOT GIANT GOLIATH WHO
HAD THAT COAT OF MAILE, SWORD,
AND JAVELIN, WHAT DID DAVID
HAVE?
A POUCH AND HANDFUL OF STONES.
HE HIT THAT GIANT RIGHT BETWEEN
THE HEAD, BROUGHT HIM TO HIS
KNEES, AND CUT OFF THE HEAD OF
THE SNAKE.
THAT POUCH AND THOSE LITTLE
PEBBLES REPRESENT THE VOICE OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ON THIS SIDE
OF THE AISLE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING TO PASS
H.RES. 9 AND WE ARE GOING TO
PASS H.R. 2 NEXT WEEK AND WE ARE
GOING TO DELIVER OUR PROMISE TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
ELIMINATE, TO REPEAL OBAMACARE,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SPOKE
LOUDLY.
THEY DON'T LIKE THIS BILL.
THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE
ONE LAST CHANCE TO MAKE AMENDS.
I THINK THEY'LL DO IT.
.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
BACK.
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA YIELDS
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.