House Session 2011 - 01 - 19 - 15 - 07 - 44 - 16 - 08 - 16

PROMISE. MADAM SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE TRUTH. IT'S THEIR HEALTH AND IT'S THEIR LIFE. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD MYSELF FIVE SECONDS. THE TRUTH IS WE MOVE TO REPEAL 1099. IT WAS OPPOSED BY THE NOW MAJORITY. I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE VERY DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR. BLUMENAUER, A MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. PEOPLE DESERVE A SERIOUS DEBATE ON A SERIOUS SUBJECT. UNFORTUNATELY WHILE SERIOUS IN TONE, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES IS NOT SERIOUS IN CONTENT. I'VE LISTENED TO PEOPLE COME TO THE FLOOR REPEATEDLY TALKING ABOUT A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE. WHICH WAS JUDGED TO BE THE POLITICAL LIE OF THE YEAR FOR 2010. INDEED WE INSTEAD BUILT UPON THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT IS A BALANCE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER SERIOUS ELEMENT THAT HAS CREPT INTO THE APPROACH FROM MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, THE DISREGARD OF CONGRESS' NONPARTISAN BUDGET REFEREE, IT'S RECKLESS AND UNPRECEDENTED, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN 34 YEARS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INFORMATION WHICH IS BEING IMAGINED AWAY BY OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. YES, IT WILL REQUIRE CONGRESS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE LEGISLATION, TO REALIZE THE SAVINGS. BUT THE ANSWER IS NOT TO TURN OUR BACK ON REFORM, IT'S TO MAKE REFORM WORK. THE CURRENT BILL BUILDS ON THE CURRENT SYSTEM, IT INCORPORATES ELEMENTS OF REFORM THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS FOR YEARS. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS THE DISREGARD WE HEARD FOR A PROPOSAL SIGNED INTO LAW BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY. INSTEAD OF REPEALING REFORM WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON STRENGTHENING IT. AMERICANS DESERVE A SERIOUS DEBATE ABOUT A SERIOUS SUBJECT. HARD WORK TO MAKE REFORM WORK, NOT A RITUAL OF GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF REPEAL WHICH EVERYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT AT THE END OF DEBATE, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AT THE END OF THE CONGRESS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO A MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, DR. BOUSTANY. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I RISE IN FAVOR OF REPEAL OF THIS BILL. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO FAIL ON COST, IT'S GOING TO FAIL ON COVERAGE AND IT'S GOING TO FAIL ON QUALITY. FIRST COST. PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP. IN FACT, THEY'RE GOING UP EVEN HIGHER AT A FASTER RATE THAN THEY WOULD HAVE IF WE'D DONE NOTHING, IN MANY CASES. WITH REGARD TO THE DEFICIT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GIMMICKS IN THIS BILL, DOUBLE COUNTING, EXCLUDING THE DOC FIX, TRADING NEW ENTITLEMENTS SUCH AS A CLASS ACT, AND FINALLY IT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING FOR THIS MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE BUREAUCRACY THAT'S GOING TO BE CREATED. TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP ON INNOVATION, ESPECIALLY MEDICAL INNOVATION. ON COVERAGE. WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE ARE WE EXPANDING? MEDICAID COVERAGE. THAT'S A TICKET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, IT DOESN'T LEAD TO A GOOD DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP AND IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND INEFFICIENT WAY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE. AND THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE PASSED ON TO THE STATES. AND ON QUALITY, LET ME RELATE AN INSTANCE FROM MY OWN MEDICAL PRACTICE. I WAS ONCE CALLED TO SEE A PATIENT WHO WAS 101 YEARS OLD. 101. HE HAD ARTERY BLOCKAGE AND WAS GETTING READY TO HAVE A STROKE. HE HAD IMMINENT SYMPTOMS. I WAS STEPTSCAL. I WENT TO SEE THE GUY. THIS FELLOW WAS VIGOROUS, STRONG HANDSHAKE, LIVED BY HIMSELF, INDEPENDENT, WORKING HIS OWN YARD, TOOK CARE OF HIMSELF WITHOUT ANY HELP. AND SO I CHOSE TO DO THE OPERATION ON HIM. THANKFULLY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IT GAVE HIM SIX MORE YEARS OF HIGH QUALITY LIFE AS A RESULT OF THIS. HE DIED FROM SOME UNRELATED CAUSE LATER. BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD A STROKE, HE'D HAVE BEEN IN REHAB, IN A NURSING HOME, ACUTE CARE, LOTS OF EXPENSE. NO QUALITY TO HIS LIFE. MADAM SPEAKER, THERE'S AN ART AND A SCIENCE TO MEDICINE. AND THE ART INVOLVES A DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. IT'S BUILT ON MUTUAL TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE OF THE PATIENT, TRUST ON BOTH THE PATIENT AND THE DOCTOR'S PART TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PATIENT. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS WHERE COSTS ARE INCURRED AND QUALITY OCCURS. THIS GENTLEMAN WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE QUALITY OF LIFE IF HE HAD NOT HAD THIS OPERATION AND IF THIS LAW HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE WHICH WOULD HAVE DELAYED OR PROHIBITED SUCH I YIELD BACK. TREATMENT. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. COULD I ASK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, HOW MUCH TIME THERE IS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE? MR. LEVIN OF MICHIGAN HAS 28 3/4. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN HAS 24 1/2. MR. LEVIN OF MICHIGAN. I YIELD MYSELF 10 SECONDS. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 10 SECONDS. WHAT THE REFORM DID WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP WAS MAINTAINED AND THAT THERE WOULD BE MILLIONS OF MORE PATIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO ANOTHER DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. KIND OF WISCONSIN. THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. I ASK TO REVISE AND EXTEND. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING ME THIS TIME. MADAM SPEAKER, SHORTLY AFTER PASSAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, A YOUNG MOTHER IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WROTE ME A LETTER AND SHE WROTE IT ON BEHALF OF HER 13-MONTH-OLD SON, HENRY. IN IT SHE WROTE, AND I QUOTE, MY SON HAD A STROKE BEFORE HE WAS EVEN BORN. HE WANTED -- HE WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR PASSING THIS BILL BUT HE'S ONLY 13 MONTHS OLD AND BETWEEN JUGGLING DOCTORS AND SPEECH THERAPY, HE HASN'T FOUND THE TIME. LET ME BE HIS VOICE. AS A VOTER, AS YOUR CONSTITUENT, AS A MOTHER, THANK YOU. I CONTACTED BETH TO FIND OUT WHAT HER FAMILY'S SITUATION WAS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE AND SHE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE LITTLE HENRY HAD A STROKE BEFORE HE WAS BORN, LITERALLY FROM THE TIME HE TOOK HIS FIRST BREATH IN LIFE HE PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. WAS UNINSURABLE BECAUSE HE HAD A NOW I'VE BEEN TO IRAQ FOUR TIMES, I'VE BEEN TO AFGHANISTAN IN THE FIELD. TWICE, I'VE MET WITH OUR TROOPS I THOUGHT I MET THE BRAVEST PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD. OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO ARE LAYING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY FOR US TO BETTER SECURE AND MAKE SAFE OUR NATION. BUT IF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS REPEAL TODAY AND LOOK INTO THE EYES OF LITTLE HENRY AND NOT ONLY SAY TO HIM, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP YOU, BUT CHOSE NOT TO, BUT TODAY WE CHOOSE TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU, THEN YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO BE THE BRAVEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THAT. NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS TO THE 20 MILLION CHILDREN THAT THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, THAT THIS BILL FIXED. THE YOUNG MAN, 21 YEARS OLD IN BLACK RIVER FALLS CAME UP TO ME AFTER THE VOTE AND THANKED ME. I ASKED HIM WHY? WAS THERE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR HE WAS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS BILL ME? SAID, YEAH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MY YOUNGER BROTHER NEEDED A KIDNEY SO I DONATED ONE OF MINE AND BECAUSE I DID, EVEN THOUGH IMPERFECTLY HEALTHY TODAY, EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY I'VE CONTACTED ARE TREATING ME AS IF I HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AND THEY WILL NOT INSURE ME. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS ALL ABOUT. TO ADDRESS THESE INJUSTICES. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON REPEAL AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. I RESERVE. THE GENTLEMAN RESERVES. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, A JOYFUL MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE, MR. PASCRELL. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. THERE IS NOT ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN THESE WHO HAS BEEN THREATEND TO HAVE THEIR INSURANCE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM, WHETHER IT WAS HEART DISEASE, WHETHER IT WAS CANCER, ASTHMA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY OF THEM. AND ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT WHEN THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE INTERVENES, THEY GIVE THINGS A SECOND THOUGHT. IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY. WHO ARE THE TWO -- 2,000 A CON MISDEMEANORS WHO ARE WORRYING ABOUT THIS HEALTH CARE ACT. ARE THEY THE ONES WHO PREDICTED ENORMOUS INCREASES IN THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS? THOSE 10 YEARS WE WISH TO FORGET. WE HAVE AMNESIA. WHETHER IT BE IN TOWN HALLS OR SMALL GROUPS, WHEN I HAVE ASKED INDIVIDUALS TO RAISE THEIR HANDS IF THEY WERE AGAINST CLOSING THE MEDICARE DOUGHNUT HOLE, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO STAY ON A FAMILY'S HEALTH PLAN UNTIL 26, INSURING AMERICANS ARE NOT DENIED INSURANCE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, NO ONE RAISES THEIR HAND IN THE LAST DEBATE I HAD, MADAM SPEAKER, JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION, MY OPPONENT DIDN'T RAISE HIS HAND AND I WENT THROUGH 18 OF THESE VERY SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION. IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, REPEAL WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED BY 66,000. I CAN'T VOTE FOR THIS REPEAL. I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN OR THEIR INSURANCE WILL GO UP. HOW ABOUT THE BUSINESS PERSON, 60% OF BUSINESSES WHO GO INTO BANKRUPTCY IS BECAUSE OF THE AFFORD. HEALTH CARE BILLS THEY CAN'T I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN EITHER. BEFORE I QUIT, I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT, MADAM SPEAKER. LAST OCTOBER, A FEDERAL JUDGE FOUND A MANDATE CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE BY FOREGOING INSURANCE, INDIVIDUALS ARE MAKING AN ECONOMIC DECISION TO PAY FOR POCKET. THEIR HEALTH COSTS LATER OUT OF THAT IS HOW WE GET STUCK WITH THE BILL. WE NEED TO END THIS. 10 SECONDS? THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS PAY, PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY PAY, CALIFORNIA PAY. IN ESSENCE, EVERYONE PAYS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. LET'S GET STRAIGHT ON THIS. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS AND WE MUST REJECT REPEAL. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEVADA, MR. HELLER. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2. LAST YEAR THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TOLD MEMBERS THAT WE NEEDED TO PASS THE HEALTH CARE BILL SO WE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS IN IT. NOW MEMBERS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IT. TO READ IT AND THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND INCLUDES A $1.2 TRILLION PRICE TAG AND MORE THAN 100 NEW FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND MANDATES THAT REFLECT HOW OUT OF TOUCH THE PREVIOUS MAJORITY WAS WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS CONGRESS WILL REJECT THESE POLICIES AND REPLACE THEM WITH MARKET-BASED REFORMS THAT WILL PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY OF HEALTH CARE. REPEALING THE BILL WILL HIT MORE EMPLOYERS AND THEIR WORKERS KEEP THE INSURANCE THAT THEY CURRENTLY ENJOY. AN ESTIMATED HALF OF ALL EMPLOYERS AND 80% OF SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE FORCED TO GIVE UP THEIR COVERAGE UNDER CURRENT LAW, WHICH I FIND UNACCEPTABLE. UNCERTAINTY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEANS FEWER JOBS CREATED. IN MY HOME STATE WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT PERSISTS AND MORE THAN 14%, IT MEANS THOUSANDS OF THE CITIZENS OF NEVADA CONTINUE TO DEPEND ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHEN WHAT THEY WANT IS A DECENT JOB JOB TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND LET'S PREVENT LAST YEAR'S BILL OF IMPACTING THE POCKET BOOKS OF HARD-WORKING AMERICANS WHO ARE STRUGGLING. THIS REPEAL WILL PREVENT INCREASES, BLOCK $75 BILLION TAX INCREASE ON ALL AMERICANS AND KEEP SENIORS IN THEIR CURRENT MEDICARE PLAN WHILE PREVENTING HIGHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES. I STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSAGE OF H.R. 2. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROMOTE BETTER, MORE AFFORDABLE MEDICAL CARE. I YIELD BACK. BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE, MRS. BERKLEY FROM NEVADA. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED. I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATIVE STUNT TO REPEAL HEALTH CARE REFORM AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY. 600,000 CITIZENS OF NEVADA WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE. IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY GET SICK BUT THEY WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE VERY SICK AND GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS TO GET CARE. EVERY HOSPITAL IN SOUTHERN NEVADA IS OPERATING IN THE RED. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THE COST OF PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TO THE UNINSURED IN EMERGENCY ROOMS IS ASTRONOMICAL. BUT THERE'S MORE. IF WE REPEAL THIS BILL, WE WILL BE ELIMINATING THE PRE-EXISTING CONDITION BAN FFMENT YOU HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION WHICH AT LEAST 129,000 PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT HAVE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANY INSURANCE AT ALL. IF WE REPEAL THIS BILL, ALL OF THOSE 20-SOMETHINGS WHO ARE LIVING AT HOME AND BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY, THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAY ON THEIR PARENTS' HEALTH CARE PLAN, 26,000 PEOPLE IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, INCLUDING MY TWO CHILDREN. THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL ELIMINATES LIFETIME CAPS, ASK TWO IN MY DISTRICT WHO HAVE JUVENILE DIABETES AND THEY HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR LIFETIME CAPS. BETTER YET, ASK THEIR MOTHERS HOW THEY WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR MEDICATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN IF THE BILL IS REPEALED. WHAT SHOULD WE TELL OUR SENIORS. THE DOUGHNUT HOLE THAT THIS LAW STARTS TO CLOSE. WHO ARE GOING TO ASK THE SENIORS WHO RECEIVED THE $250 LAST YEAR TO HELP WITH THE HIGH COST OF MEDICATION TO RETURN THE CHECK? I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT OR THE DISCOUNT THEY WILL BE RECEIVING THIS YEAR ON PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT TO THEM AND ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP 90,000 DISTRICT ALONE? SENIORS IN MY CONGRESSIONAL I WON'T DO THAT. WHAT ABOUT THE 16,000 SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH CARE TAX CREDITS. SAYING SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T WANT THAT. I KNOW AT LEAST ONE, THOUSANDS HAVE CONTACTED MY OFFICE. ONE HAS CONTACTED MY OFFICE AND HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE FOR HIS EMPLOYEES. I YIELD AN ADDITIONAL 15 SECONDS. FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEFICIT, THE C.B.O., THE NONPARTISAN ARM OF CONGRESS, EXPLICITLY STATED THAT REPEAL WILL COST $260 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS. THOSE WHO SHOT LOUDEST ABOUT THE DEFICIT WANT TO ADD TO IT. LET'S FIX WHAT NEEDS FIXING AND LET'S NOT REPEAL THIS LIFESAVING LEGISLATION AND WE NEED TO DO THE DOCTORS' FIX, TOO. THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. I YIELD TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM FROM ILLINOIS. THE PAST YEAR WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HEALTH CARE AND IT HAS BEEN ROBUST AND DINEIC AND IT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A SENSE OF CLARITY. WE TELL PEOPLE, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE IN THE BALLOT BOX AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. THERE ISN'T ANY ARGUING THAT LAST NOVEMBER, PEOPLE MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND SAID THEY WANT THIS BILL REPEALED AND WANT IT REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT BRINGS HEALTH CARE COSTS DOWN AND DEALS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. EMPLOYERS IN MY HOME STATE, MADAM SPEAKER, JUST GOT HIT HARD WITH A NEW TAX INCREASE THAT GOT JAMMED THROUGH BY THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 74% OF EMPLOYERS IN THE MIDWEST HAVE RECENTLY IN SURVEYS SAID THAT THIS BILL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPEALING WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THEIR HIRING DECISIONS. IT'S WITH NO SENSE OF IRONY THAT NOW MINORITY LEADER, NANCY PELOSI, SAID YOU HAVE TO PASS THE BILL TO SEE WHAT'S IN IT. SHE DID AND WE DO. AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DOES. AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SAID ENOUGH. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THAT BUSINESSES HAVE TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE AND TO HIRE AND TO GROW AND BE DYNAMIC. IF WE REPEAL THIS AND REPLACE THIS WITH THE TYPE OF THOUGHTFUL HEALTH CARE INITIATE IF I HAVE THAT IS GOING TO BE FOSHTE COMING WE WILL -- FORTH COMING, WE WILL DO A WORLD OF SERVICE IN CHANGING THIS ECONOMY. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. MR. LEVIN OF MICHIGAN. I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO ANOTHER DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. CROWELLY FROM NEW YORK. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. TODAY WE CONSIDER THE FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION OF THE 112TH CONGRESS, THE FIRST. DOES THIS BILL, DOES THIS LEGISLATION CREATE ONE JOB? NOT ONE SINGLE JOB WILL BE CREATED BY THIS LEGISLATION. IN FACT, IF THIS BILL WERE TO BECOME LAW, OVER FOUR MILLION JOBS THAT WILL BE CREATED OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS WILL NOT COME TO FRUITION. DOES THIS BILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT? THE BILL DOES NOT REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY ONE PENNY. IF IT BECAME LAW, IT WOULD INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY $230 BILLION. DOES IT STRENGTHEN OUR MIDDLE CLASS? NO. THIS BILL WILL NOT STRENGTHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS. IT WILL DEVASTATE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE FREE FROM THE FEAR THAT THEY OR THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. I HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THIS BILL HAS DONE FOR THEIR LIVES. I AM NOT GOING TO TELL THEM THAT THAT IS ALL UNDONE. DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY SAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, IF THIS BILL BECOMES LAW, THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO RECEIVED CHECKS FOR $250 WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT MONEY BACK. NO ALTERNATIVE. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT AS THIS LAW IS WRITTEN, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. 20 MILLION CHILDREN WHO NOW HAVE INSURANCE, WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE COSTS OF WHAT THEY INCURRED SO FAR, ARE THEY GOING TO PAY FOR IT? REPUBLICANS AREN'T OFFERING A SOLUTION. THEY CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE SECRET PLAN IS. PART OF THE HARRY HOUDINI HEALTH CARE STRATEGY. NOW YOU HAVE HEALTH CARE, NOW YOU DON'T. DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, INDEPENDENT SOURCES CONFIRMED THE DANGER THAT REPEAL WILL COST, STOPPING JOB CREATION, EXPLODING THE DEFICIT AND EVEN SHORTENING THE LIFE OF MEDICARE TRUST FUND BY 12 YEARS. THIS BILL IS CLEARLY WRONG FOR OUR ECONOMY AND CLEARLY WRONG FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE CANNOT GO BACKWARDS, NO WAY, NO HOW, NOT NOW, NOT EVER. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD A MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. ENGINEER LACK. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. MANY OF US OFFERED SOBERING DEVASTATING SIDE EFFECTS THAT THE HEALTH CARE PLAN WOULD HAVE ON OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, SENIORS AND FAMILIES. LAST YEAR WARNED THAT HAVING A SCHEME, 500 BILLION WOULD WEAKEN OUR ECONOMY AND SIMPLY THE WRONG PRESCRIPTION FOR BRINGING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS A STRONG DOSE OF REFORM. WHILE IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE ACCURATE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE FURIOUS OVER THE INCREASING INSURANCE PREMIUMS THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY AND 1099 MANDATE THAT REQUIRES A SLIP OF PAPER TO THE I.R.S. 2.3% TAX ON INNOVATORS AND THRIVING MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY IS CHOKING OFF INVESTMENT AND HURTING JOB GROWTH. AND THAT IS JEOPARDIZING 20,000 JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA ALONE. TAX HIKES AND MANDATES COULD PUT AN ESTIMATED 700,000 AMERICANS OUT OF WORK AT A TIME WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT HOVERS AT 10%. LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE, REFORM IS NEEDED, BUT NOT BIG GOVERNMENT, HIGH TAX SOLUTIONS. WE NEED COMMON DELEN SENSE IDEAS THAT WOULD CREATE COMPETITION AMONG INSURANCE COMPANIES, GREATER FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO BUY INSURANCE ACROSS STATE LINES AND ELIMINATING LAWSUIT ABUSES THAT DRIVE UP COSTS BY AS MUCH AS $150 MILLION EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH A YES VOTE TODAY TO WORK ON TRUE REFORMS THAT WOULD INCREASE AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTH INSURANCE. LET'S START THAT PROCESS WITH THE RIGHT REFORMS TODAY, TOGETHER. . I YIELD BACK. IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO OUR VERY DISTINGUISHED LEADER, MS. PELOSI FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE MINORITY LEADER IS RECOGNIZED. NANCY PELOSI THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I THAT -- MS. PELOSI: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. TODAY A BILL HAS COME TO THE FLOOR TO REPEAL PATIENTS' RIGHTS, TO PUT INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK IN CHARGE OF THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TO BALLOON THE DEFICIT. YESTERDAY, IN THE ONE AND ONLY HEARING ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT BILL, THE REPEAL OF PATIENTS' RIGHTS, DEMOCRATS HEARD FROM AMERICANS BENEFITING FROM THE HEALTH CARE REFORM. NOTHING SPEAKS MORE ELOQUENTLY TO THE SUCCESS OF HEALTH CARE REFORM THAN THEIR OWN PERSONAL STORIES. AFTER HEARING FROM SEVEN OF THEM YESTERDAY I SAID, I WISH THE ENTIRE CONGRESS COULD HEAR YOUR STORIES. I WISH OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WOULD HAVE HAD A HEARING SO THEY COULD HEAR FROM YOU, THE DIFFERENCE THIS HAS MADE IN YOUR LIVES, AND THE DIFFERENCE IT'S MAKING IN THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. AND SO I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD CHAIR -- SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH YOU. FIRST WE HEARD FROM A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER 15 YEARS AGO. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SHE SURVIVED BREAST CANCER. THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS IS THAT SHE HAS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. AS SHE TOLD US YESTERDAY, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CHANGED ALL THAT. WHAT SHE SAID WAS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT REPRESENTS PROTECTION FROM THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE FEAR THAT CAME WITH BEING DENIED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BECAUSE OF MY PAST DISEASE. IT REPRESENTS, SHE SAID, IT REPRESENTS FREEDOM FOR MY HUSBAND AND ME TO MAKE IMPORTANT CHOICES ABOUT OUR LIVES AND OUR CAREERS. REPEAL OF THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS THAT IS BEING PROPOSED TODAY WOULD MEAN THAT 129 MILLION AMERICANS UNDER THE AGE OF 55 WOULD LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. NEXT WE HEARD FROM A MOM, SHE HAS A 22-YEAR-OLD SON SUFFERING FROM A DISEASE. STILL A STUDENT, HE WAS FACING THE PROSPECT OF FINISHING SCHOOL AND WORKING -- ENTERING THE WORK FORCE WITHOUT INSURANCE. BUT WITH A PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION. BECAUSE OF THE LAW, LAURY SAID, WE ARE THRILLED, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO KEEP HIM ON OUR INSURANCE IN THE INTERIM WHEN FAMILIES SO OFTEN STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR KIDS COVERED. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, ALEXANDER, A NEW GRADUATE STRUGGLING TO FIND WORK IN THIS ECONOMY, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS TWO DEGREES, ONE IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND ONE IN SOCIAL SCIENCE, HE WANTS TO BE A METEOROLOGIST, HE SAID THAT IF HE LOST HIS ABILITY TO STAY ON HIS PARENTS' INSURANCE PLAN UNTIL AGE 26, HE WOULD BE FACED WITH A CHOICE. EITHER TO PAY MY STUDENT LOANS OR TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE. ACTUALLY SAID, I WOULD HAVE LITTLE CHOICE IN THE MATTER. I WOULD NEED TO PAY DOWN MY COLLEGE LOANS FIRST AND GO UNINSURED. REPEAL AS BEING SUGGESTED BY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WOULD MEAN THAT OVER 1.2 MILLION YOUNG AMERICANS LIKE LAURIE'S SON AND ALEXANDER WOULD LOSE THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT THEY RECEIVE THROUGH THEIR PARENTS' PLAN. WE NEXT HEARD FROM ED BURKE WHO HAS TESTIFIED BEFORE. HE TOLD ME HAD HE -- ME HE HAD TESTIFIED BEFORE SPEAKER GINGRICH YEARS AGO. FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE ED BURKE HAS SUFFERED FROM HEMOPHILIA. THREE BROTHERS WITH HEMOPHILIA. TWO OF HIS BROTHERS DO, TOO. SO HE HAS HEALTH INSURANCE, HE HAS FACED THE CONSTANT WORRY THAT HIS TREATMENTS COULD SURPASS THE PLAN'S LIFETIME CAP. REPEALING PATIENTS' RIGHTS HAS A CLEAR IMPACT FOR ED. AS HE SAID, I WILL LOSE THE FREEDOM TO KEEP MY JOB IF EFFORTS TO REPEAL MY PROTECTIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL. REPEAL AS IS BEING SUGGESTED TODAY WOULD MEAN THAT OVER 165 MILLION AMERICANS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE COVERAGE LIKE ED WOULD AGAIN FIND THEMSELVES SUBJECT TO LIFETIME LIMITS ON HOW MUCH INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL SPEND ON THEIR HEALTH CARE. NEXT WE HEARD FROM A SMALL BUSINESSWOMAN, A DOCTOR, DOCTOR COHEN, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER FROM NEW JERSEY. SHE SAID SHE WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO AFFORD TO GIVE HER EMPLOYEES HEALTH CARE COVERAGE BECAUSE OF THE REFORM. BUT SHE ALSO TOLD US A VERY PERSONAL STORY. IT WAS VERY POWERFUL. THAT HER TWO COUSINS, RHONDA AND ROGER. BOTH OF THEM WERE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER ABOUT THE SAME TIME. RHONDA WORKED FOR A LARGE CORPORATION, SHE HAD HEALTH CARE, SHE HAD AN EARLY INTERVENTION AND SHE RECEIVED AGGRESSIVE CARE AND LIFE-GIVING CARE. RONALDER, HOWEVER, RECEIVED ONLY PAIN TREATMENT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. HE WORKED FOR A SMALL BUSINESS THAT DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. SO HE COULDN'T HAVE THAT EARLY INTERVENTION. RHONDA IS ALIVE AND WELL. ROGER DIED. AS DR. COHEN SAID, THE CHOICE TO WORK FOR A SMALL BUSINESS VERSUS A LARGE COMPANY SHOULD NOT BE A CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT IT WAS THE CHOICE. REPEAL AS IS BEING SUGGESTED TODAY WOULD MEAN THAT MORE THAN FOUR MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE DR. COHEN'S WOULD LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE TAX CREDITS TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. AS WE KNOW, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ENGINE OF JOB CREATION IN OUR COUNTRY. DR. COHEN TOLD US THAT SHE WANTED TO ATTRACT THE BEST TALENT AND SHE WANTED TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEM IN ORDER TO DO THAT. WE NEXT HEARD FROM CHARLOTTE. SHE AND HER HUSBAND, RICHARD, ARE SENIORS ON MEDICARE. RICHARD IS A DIABETIC. AND HIS INSULIN ALONE COSTS $1,000 A MONTH. WHEN THEY FELL INTO THE DOUGHNUT HOLE, SHE SAID, WE HAD TO CHOSE BETWEEN -- CHOOSE BETWEEN DEFAULTING ON THE LOAN FOR OUR HOME OR MY HUSBAND'S HEALTH. WELL, WE CHOSE MY HUSBAND'S HEALTH, SHE SAID. BUT CHANGES MADE ARE STARTING TO END THE DOUGHNUT HOLE. SO FAMILIES LIKE OURS AREN'T FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING HEALTHY AND PAYING THE MORTGAGE. REPEAL WOULD MEAN THAT OVER 2.7 MILLION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WOULD AGAIN FALL INTO THE DOUGHNUT HOLE AND MEDICARE WOULD NO LONGER PAY FOR AN ANNUAL CHECKUP FOR 44.1 MILLION SENIORS. ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONIALS, I SAY THIS AS A GRAND MOTHER, A MOTHER AND A GRANDMOTHER, WAS FROM STACY RITTER. STACY HAS 12-YEAR-OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS, HANNA AND MADELINE. WELL, THEY'RE 11, ALMOST 12. YOU CAN IMAGINE HAVING BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, HANNA AND MADELINE, THEY'RE 12 NOW, WHEN THEY WERE 4 YEARS OLD THEY WERE BOTH DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. BOTH OF THEM. THE TWINS. AT 4 YEARS OLD, DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA, HANNA AND MADELINE FACED STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS, CHEMOTHERAPY AND TOTAL BODY IRRADATION. BUT AS THEIR MOTHER SAID, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE AT THE TIME. MY HUSBAND HAD FULL COVERAGE THROUGH HIS EMPLOYER. BUT BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL COST OF HEALTH CARE WE ENDED UP BANKRUPT. BANKRUPT. EVEN WITH FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE. SHE TOLD THE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE INSURANCE COMPANIES USED TO DO THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING. BUT IN ANY EVENT, TODAY HANNA AND MADELINE ARE HEALTHY, HAPPY 12-YEAR-OLDS. BUT THEY STILL HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. AND ACCORDING TO STACY, AND I QUOTE, MY CHILDREN NOW HAVE PROTECTIONS FROM INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THEIR PRE-EXISTING CANCER CONDITION. THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TO FEAR THE RESCISSION OF THEIR INSURANCE POLICY IF THEY GET SICK. THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO LOWER HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND PREVENTIVE CARE. THE REPEAL SUGGESTED TODAY WOULD MEAN THAT 17 MILLION AMERICAN CHILDREN WITH A PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION COULD LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THAT PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. IT WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR HANNA AND FOR MADELINE. IN CONGRESS, ON BEHALF OF THESE AMERICANS, DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE A FIRM COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL JUDGE EVERY PROPOSAL THAT COMES TO THE FLOOR BY WHETHER IT CREATES JOBS, STRENGTHENS THE MIDDLE CLASS AND REDUCES THE DEFICIT. THE REPEAL OF PATIENTS' RIGHTS FAILS ON ALL THREE COUNTS. IN FACT, CONSIDER THE COST TO OUR FEDERAL BUDGET. ACCORDING TO THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, REPEAL WOULD ADD $230 BILLION TO THE DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT DECADE. JUST UNDER -- JUST LESS THAN A YEAR AGO ON THIS FLOOR, I QUOTED THE LATE SENATOR KENNEDY, MANY OF US DID, CALLING HEALTH CARE REFORM THE GREATEST -- THE GREAT UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF OUR SOCIETY. BY COMPLETING THAT GREAT UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF OUR SOCIETY NOW PATIENTS AND THEIR DOCTORS ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH. NOT INSURANCE COMPANIES. BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL TESTIMONY THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY, WHICH WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE TOLD THE RULES COMMITTEE AND TOLD OUR COLLEAGUES AND TOLD US FROM OUR DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THEIR STORIES OF SUCCESS, OF THIS STILL ONLY BEING INFORCED FOR A FEW MONTHS. SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS, MOST OF THEM ONLY WENT INTO EFFECT SINCE SEPTEMBER. BECAUSE OF THEM, BECAUSE OF HANNA AND MADELINE, BECAUSE REPEAL WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO SO MANY AMERICANS, I AM PLEASED TO JOIN A BROAD COALITION IN OPPOSING IT. EVERY ORGANIZATION FROM THE AARP TO THE U.A.W. AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, EASTER SEALS AND THE NAACP. I THINK WE SHOULD SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TODAY WITH A GREAT VOTE AGAINST THIS REPEAL WHICH IS SO HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHICH IS SO DAMAGING TO OUR FISCAL HEALTH AS WELL. AND TO HAVE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO HAVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. WE WALL -- WE ALL WANT THEM TO THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE THAT WE DO WE SHOULD SAY TO THEM, RUN FOR CONGRESS. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE IT BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS ACTED UPON THEIR NEEDS, THEIR STRENGTHS AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR COUNTRY. SO I URGE A NO ON THE REPEAL AND TIME. YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER TIME. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, DR. PRICE. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN. THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. MADAM SPEAKER, OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE PREVIOUS MAJORITY TOOK EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE REACH AND THE SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS. YOU SEE, THEY BELIEVE IN WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE. WE BELIEVE IN SOLUTIONS THAT EMBRACE PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS. AS A PHYSICIAN WITH COUNTLESS PERSONAL STORIES, THOSE SOLUTIONS IN HEALTH CARE MEAN PATIENT-CENTERED SOLUTIONS. NOT GOVERNMENT-CENTERED SOLUTIONS. NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPEAL THIS BILL FOR MANY REASONS BUT TWO VERY SPECIFIC REASONS. FIRST, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO. IF GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING ONCE AGAIN WE WOULD VOTE TO REPEAL THIS BILL. AND, SECOND, IT'S THE PRINCIPLED THING TO DO. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ALL OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE HOLD DEAR IN HEALTH CARE, WHETHER IT'S ACCESSIBILITY OR AFFORDABILITY OR QUALITY OR RESPONSIVENESS OF THE SYSTEM OR INNOVATION OF THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OR CHOICES, CHOICES FOR PATIENTS, NONE OF THEM, NONE OF THEM ARE IMPROVED BY THE CURRENT LAW OR THE BILL. PREMIUMS ARE INCREASING, JOBS ARE BEING LOST BECAUSE OF THE BILL, QUALITY IS BEING DEFINED BY BUREAUCRATS, NOT BY PATIENTS OR FAMILIES OR DOCTORS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE ARE POSITIVE SOLUTIONS THAT EMBRACE FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN PRINCIPLES, THAT ALLOW US TO SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES WITHOUT PUTTING THE GOVERNMENT IN CHARGE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE WILL LEAD OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND, YES, OVER THE COMING YEARS. SO, MADAM SPEAKER, THE STATUS QUO IN HEALTH CARE IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED IS DESTRUCTIVE TO BOTH PRINCIPLE AND TO PATIENTS. THE WORK WILL BEGIN TOMORROW AFTER WE VOTE TO REPEAL TODAY WILL BE FOCUSED ON PATIENTS, ON . PEOPLE AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO A DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, A FORMER MEMBER AND ACTIVE FORMER MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE, MR. HIGGINS. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. SINCE 1970, HEALTH CARE COSTS INCREASED 9.9%. OUTPACING INFLATION AND CREATING A DRAG ON OUR ECONOMY BY INCREASING THE EXPENSE OF NEW HIRING AND UNDERMINING INVESTMENT. THIS TREND IS UNSUSTAINABLE. WHILE COSTS ARE INCREASING, THE DECLINING. QUALITY OF COVERAGE IS LAST YEAR, THE INABILITY TO PAY MEDICAL BILLS CAUSED 62% OF ALL PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY IN THIS COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD HEALTH INSURANCE IN 75% OF THESE CASES. THAT IS 868,000 AMERICAN FAMILIES WHO WENT BROKE LAST YEAR SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY GOT SICK, DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR THEIR INSURER REFUSED TO COVER THEIR BILLS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I OFTEN SAY THAT HEALTH CARE REFORM NEEDS A START, NOT A FINISH AND WE WILL BE AMENDING IN IMPROVING THE LAW FOR YEARS TO COME. THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY TAKES US BACK WITH NO PLAN TO REDUCE COSTS, IMPROVE QUALITY AND COVERAGE. THIS CHALLENGE DESERVES A MORE SERIOUS RESPONSE. I URGE OPPOSITION TO THE BILL. AND I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD A 1 1/2 TO A MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. BUCHANAN. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A SELF-MADE BUSINESSMAN WITH 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE CREATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS, MEET PAYROLLS AND BALANCED PAYROLLS. WE REPRESENT BUSINESSES ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE I AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THEY ARE THE JOB CREATORS AND CREATE JOBS. THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE SAYS TODAY THAT THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE $10,000. AND THEIR FAMILY OF FOUR IS THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO BRING DOWN THE COSTS. IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, IT WILL GO FROM $10,000 TO $30,000. I WAS WITH A PRIVATE PHARMACIST AND EMPLOYS 20 TO 30 PEOPLE. WE TALKED ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS AND HE BROUGHT OUT HIS HEALTH CARE BILL. JUST GOT UP, WENT UP 22%. WENT UP 20% THE YEAR BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW WHO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE TALKING TO, BUT MOST SMALL BUSINESSES IN FLORIDA THAT I KNOW, THEY ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND THE ESCALATION OF THE COSTS GOING FORWARD. IT'S A JOB KILLER. WITH THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 9.5% AND EVEN HIGHER IN OUR STATE OF FLORIDA, THIS LAW IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES ON SOLUTIONS TO HELP THEM GROW, SUCCEED AND PROVIDE HEALTH CARE AT AFFORDABLE COSTS. THEY DO CREATE AS I MENTION BEFORE 70% OF THE JOBS. CAN'T GET TO JOBS UNLESS WE CAN HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES PAYING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO ANOTHER DISTINGUISHED FORMER MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE, MS. SANCHEZ OF CALIFORNIA. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. IT'S NO SECRET THAT OUR ECONOMY IS STILL SLUGGISH, SO OUR TOP PRIORITY IN THIS CONGRESS SHOULD BE ABOUT CREATING JOBS AND IT'S MY TOP PRIORITY AND I WANT TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO MEET THAT GOAL. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON REPEALING PATIENTS' RIGHTS, PUTTING INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK IN CHARGE AND BALLOONING THE DEFICIT. AMERICAN FAMILIES HAVE SUFFERED AND WAITED TOO LONG FOR THE FREEDOM AND SECURITY THAT AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PROVIDES. AND NOW THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS TRYING TO TAKE THAT FREEDOM AND *** THAT SECURITY AWAY. IF REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY, FAMILIES WILL ONCE AGAIN LOSE THEIR BENEFITS WHEN INSURERS UNFAIRLY CANCEL OR CAP THEIR COVERAGE. IF REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND PREGNANT WOMEN WON'T BE SAFE FROM DISCRIMINATION. IF REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY, SENIORS WILL BE FORCED TO RETURN THE $250 IN PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE THEY RECEIVED UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL AND MILLIONS OF HARD-WORKING AMERICANS WILL LOSE THE FREEDOM TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE AFRAID OF GIVING UP THE HEALTH INSURANCE TIED TO THEIR CURRENT JOB. THIS IS A COSTLY PLAN FOR SENIORS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT AND FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA. TO STAND UP FOR FAMILIES THAT DESERVE AND NEED OUR HELP, WE MUST REJECT THIS PLAN. I URGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE NO ON THE REPEAL OF HEALTH CARE. I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD 1 1/2 TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEBRASKA, MR. SMITH. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A PERSPECTIVE FROM AN EMPLOYER IN MY DISTRICT. VISITING THIS SMALL BUSINESS, ACTUALLY A FEW HUNDRED EMPLOYEES BUT STILL CONSIDERED A SMALL BUSINESS, WE TOURED THE PLANT, SHARED WITH ME THE BENEFIT PLANS FOR THE EMPLOYEES. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT ORDERS ARE COMING IN, BUT REFRAINING FROM HIRING NEW PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE UNSERPT OF THE COSTS OF HIRING A NEW EMPLOYEE. THIS SHOWS THAT THE HEALTH CARE BILL PRIMARILY IS CAUSING UNCERTAINTY IN THE EMPLOYMENT SECTOR AND CAUSING EMPLOYERS HIRING NEW PEOPLE. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR DEFICIT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE $20 BILLION TAX ON MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS THAT WILL INCREASE THE COST OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS THEMSELVES. WE NEED A PATIENT-CENTERED HEALTH CARE PLAN, ONE THAT DOES NOT DEPEND ON NEW GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, ONE THAT FOCUSES MORE ON PATIENTS AND THAT WILL CAUSE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS TO GO AWAY, MADAM SPEAKER. AND I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US THE TIME LEFT ON EACH SIDE FOR OUR COMMITTEE, PLEASE. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN HAS 15 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN HAS 15 MINUTES REMAINING. THAT'S EQUAL TREATMENT. I YIELD 1 1/2 TO THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. LEE. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZE DOLLARS FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES. I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. EVERY TIME WE TAKE ON OR TALK ABOUT THIS BILL AND TAKE IT ON, THIS LAW, WE REALLY WANT TO REPEAL THE VERY IMPORTANT FREEDOMS PROVIDED BY THE HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW. IT'S A CRITICAL MINUTE THAT WE AREN'T FOCUSING ON JOBS. WE SHOULD BE DEBATING HOW TO CREATE JOBS, HOW TO GET OUR ECONOMY GOING AND HOW TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT. INSTEAD, REPUBLICANS WANT TO ADD $230 BILLION TO THE DEFICIT AND EMPOWER HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES, MIND YOU, TO TAKE AWAY PATIENTS' RIGHTS AND THEIR OWN HEALTH DECISIONS THAT THEY SHOULD BE MAKING WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PROVIDERS. THIS REPEAL GIVES INSURANCE COMPANIES MUCH, MUCH, TOO MUCH POWER. THEIR IDEA IS TO RETURN TO THE SAME FAILED SYSTEM THAT HAS LEFT 50 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING 7.5 CARE. MILLION CHILDREN WITHOUT HEALTH IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE MORE PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT HEALTH COVERAGE AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE OR KEEP THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IS DOWNRIGHT WRONG. REPEAL OF THE LAW WOULD SET US BACK WHERE ONCE AGAIN HEALTH CARE WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT, RATHER THAN A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT FOR EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN. WHEN I VOTED FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM, I SAID IT WAS IN THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED PREMATURELY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO HEALTH CARE AND ALSO IN HONOR OF AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO WILL LIVE LONGER AND HEALTH YEAR HEALTH CARE. LIVES BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE REPEALING THIS HEALTH CARE LAW IS REALLY MORALLY WRONG AND FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. AT THIS TIME, MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, MR. SHOCK. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE REPEAL OF THIS JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE LAW. HOW MANY TIMES DID WE HEAR THE PRESIDENT SAY ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, IF YOU LIKE YOUR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, YOU CAN KEEP IT? BUT FOR THE REST OF THE AMERICANS, LET ME TALK TO YOU. WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WAKE UP, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE 80% OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE AN EMPLOYER-PROVIDED HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT YOU LIKE, YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE IT. SIMPLY PUT, THE BURDENS PLACED ON EMPLOYERS BY THIS NEW LAW ARE TOO COSTLY. THE ESTIMATED COSTS FOR EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE THE, QUOTE, MINIMUM ESSENTIAL PACKAGE AS PRESCRIBED BY THIS BILL WILL COST THEM PER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE $12,250 A YEAR. AS WE SPEAK, BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS AMERICA ARE CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS AND FIGURING OUT IT IS FINANCIALLY MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THEM AS COMPANIES TO PAY THE $2,000 PER EMPLOYEE PENALTY AND DUMP THEIR EMPLOYEES INTO THE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE PLAN. THE RESULT, OF COURSE, WILL BE THE 80% OF AMERICANS WHO CURRENTLY LIKE THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE WILL BE PUT IN A GOVERNMENT-RUN SYSTEM THAT, OF COURSE, WILL BE RIDDLED WITH INEFFICIENCIES AND LIMITED OPTIONS. THINK THE D.M.V. OR FEMA FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE PLAN. ADDITIONALLY, THIS HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION IS RIDDLED WITH JOB-DESTROYING REGULATIONS, BURDENS AND TAX INCREASES THAT WILL STIFLE PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH AND SMOTHER ECONOMIC RECOVERY. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS SAID IT WILL COST 1.6 MILLION JOBS. I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS REPEAL AND YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME. MR. LEVIN OF MICHIGAN. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. SCOTT. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN LEVIN. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. I HAVE LISTEND TO THE LAST TWO DAYS AND I HAVE HEARD MY FRIENDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE REFER TO THIS AS OBAMACARE, SO MEAN SPIRIT HE HADLY. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT'S THE LAW OF THE LAW OF THE LAND TODAY, IT'S NOT OBAMACARE BUT HEALTH CARE FOR ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IT IS THE HEALTH CARE FOR THAT SENIOR CITIZEN SITTING DOWN AT HER KITCHEN TABLE THANKFUL THAT SHE NOW HAS A 50% DISCOUNT ON ALL OF HER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND SHE DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THIS REPEALED. THIS IS THAT YOUNGSTER WHO NOW CAN BE ON HIS PARENTS' INSURANCE UNTIL THEY ARE 26 YEARS OLD IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THIS AND DO NOT WANT TO SEE IT REPEALED. AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, HAVE NO FEAR, LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, THIS LAW WILL NOT BE REPEALED. YES, THEY WILL VOTE FOR IT TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT. SO WHAT DO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS? THEY WANT US TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS. AND CERTAINLY, IF WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS HEALTH CARE, WHY SHOULD NOT WE BE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS BILL, THIS LAW REPEALED. THEY WANT IT FIXED. THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORKING TOGETHER ON THE 1099'S. THERE IS TOO MUCH PAPERWORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, LET US WORK ON THAT. MEDICAL LIABILITY ISSUE, NUMBER ONE REASON KIDS AREN'T GOING INTO MEDICINE, LET'S WORK ON THAT. AND THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR OUR PHYSICIANS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO FIX IT, NOT REPEAL IT. THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. CAMP OF MICHIGAN. I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. LEE. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. WE WILL VOTE TO REPEAL LAST YEAR'S MASSIVE HEALTH CARE LAW AND WE WILL VOTE TO BEGIN REPLACING THIS MASSIVE NEW GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT WITH COMMONSENSE REFORMS. WE CAN ALL AGREE OUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS UNSUSTAINABLE AND RIPE FOR REFORM. PASSING LAST YEAR 2,300 PAGE MONSTROSITY WILL RAISE COSTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN ACTUARIES AND RAISE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR SENIORS AND $500 BILLION FROM MEDICARE AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, WHICH ARE POPULAR PLANS. IT WILL CAUSE EMPLOYERS TO DROP THE INSURANCE THEY OFFER EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THE MATH AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS CHEAPER TO PAY THE PENALTY THAN PAY FOR THE INSURANCE, LEADING TO STRUGGLING AMERICANS BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR CURRENT PLANS THEY HAVE AND THEY LIKE. DESERVE. THAT'S NOT THE REFORM AMERICANS WE NEED TO INCLUDE MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM WHERE THE C.B.O. HAS SCORED THAT AT $54 BILLION SAVINGS. WESTERN NEW YORKERS WILL BE ABLE TO BUY INSURANCE ACROSS STATE LINE AND ENCOURAGE COMPETITION AND MEANINGFUL REFORM WILL EMPOWER SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROUP TOGETHER TO CUT COSTS AND PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. REPUBLICANS ARE PURSUING THESE REFORMS BECAUSE WE MADE A PROMISE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE HEALTH CARE REFORMS NEED TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. IT CAN BE DONE AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING IT HAPPEN. . I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. I YIELD ONE AND A HALF MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. -- I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REPEAL OF THE HEALTH CARE BILL WHICH WOULD TAKE HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM MILLIONS OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. I HAVE HEARD MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES MENTION COSTS THROUGHOUT THIS DAY. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THERE WOULD ALSO BE A COST IN LEAVING TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS UNINSURED. ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UNINSURED, WORKING-AGE AMERICANS HAVE A 40% HIGHER RISK OF DEATH THAN THEIR PRIVATELY INSURED COUNTERPARTS. THE STUDY ESTIMATES THAT LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE CAUSES OVER 44,000 EXCESS DEATHS ANNUALLY. THAT WORKS OUT TO ABOUT ONE DEATH EVERY 12 MINUTES FROM LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE. MY COLLEAGUES, LET US NOT FORGET TO COUNT THOSE LIVES AS A VERY REAL AND CONTINUING COST. OVER 44,000 DEATHS A YEAR, ONE EVERY 12 MINUTES. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN, LIFE-SAVING LEGISLATION, AND VOTE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN REPEAL OF HEALTH CARE. IT IS WRONG FOR AMERICA. I URGE A NO VOTE AND I TURN BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AND REQUEST TO REVISE AND EXTEND. THANK YOU. THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK. CAMP. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. I YIELD ONE AND A HALF MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM KANSAS, MS. JENKINS. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING. LAST MARCH, I VOTED AGAINST OBAMACARE. RATHER THAN HELPING BRING DOWN HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR ALL AMERICANS OR HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THIS LAW WILL RESULT IN HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR FAMILY, COSTLY UNFUNDED MANDATES, INCLUDING AN ABSURD 1099 REQUIREMENT, ADDITIONAL JOB-KILLING TAXES AND MORE THAN HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS TO MEDICARE. IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE TO PASS THIS MASSIVE JOB-KILLING PLAN BY MEANS OF ARM TWISTING AND GIMMICKS AND IT IS EVEN MORE IRRESPONSIBLE TO ALLOW IMPLEMENTATION TO BEGIN, GIVEN OUR NATIONAL DEBT IS OVER $14 TRILLION, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ARE STILL OVER 9% AND MANY STATES REMAIN ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY. NOT ONLY IS THE BILL UNAFFORDABLE BUT IT'S SUCH AN OVERREACH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POWER A U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE HAS ALREADY DEEMED IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL. AMERICANS WANT REFORMS TO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, BUT THEY'VE SPOKEN CLEARLY. THIS BILL IS NOT THE CHANGE THEY WANTED. I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2, VOTING TO REPEAL THIS GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, JUST AS I PROMISED MY CONSTITUENTS I WOULD. LET'S REPEAL THIS BILL SO WE CAN GO TO WORK REPLACING IT WITH REFORMS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND SUPPORT. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND JOIN ME IN VOTING YES. I YIELD BACK. THE TIME OF THE GENTLELADY IS EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN. I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO MS. EDWARDS FROM MARYLAND. THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. I STAND TODAY IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS TO REPEAL AND DISMANTLE OUR HEALTH CARE LAW. THE LAW THAT CONGRESS HAS PASSED TO GIVE HEALTH CARE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MR. SPEAKER, THIS REPEAL BILL WILL MAKE -- MAY FULFILL AN EMPTY CAMPAIGN PROMISE BUT FAILS TO PUT THE KEY AMERICAN OBJECTIVES OF CREATING JOBS AND REDUCING THE DEFICIT AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. IN FACT, THE INDEPENDENT CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THIS REPEAL WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY $230 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND IN MARYLAND, BY CONTRAST, WE'LL SAVE $800 MILLION IN 10 YEARS WITH THE NEW LAW. WE HEARD THE DEBATE BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAR THE STORIES OF COUNTLESS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS CARE. WHO HAVE A CHANCE AT REAL HEALTH I KNOW THESE STORIES BECAUSE I HEAR THEM EVERY DAY, MR. SPEAKER. STORIES LIKE CHUCK, AN ENGINEER FROM HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND WHO SUFFERS FROM A CHRONIC THYROID CONDITION AND BELIEVE HE IS WILL BE DENIED HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SHOULD THE LAW BE REPEALED. NANCY A MOTHER IN GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND, WHO IS HAPPY THAT THE NEW LAW HAS ALOW LOUED HER 20-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO IS IN COLLEGE TO STAY ON HER HEALTH INSURANCE. I'VE EVEN HEARD OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPAY THE MONEY THEY SLIPPED INTO THE DOUGHNUT HOLE. I WANT TELL YOU ABOUT ANNIE, A FRIEND OF MINE, 28 YEARS OLD, DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA, WHO WOULD REACH LIFETIME CAPS BECAUSE SHE AND HER PARENTS WERE TRYING TO SAVE HER LIFE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE'RE HERE TODAY. LET'S CREATE JOBS AND STOP THIS THEATER. THE GENTLEMAN, MR. CAMP. I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR. PAULSON. THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. I RISE TO O-- TO SUPPORT THIS REPEAL OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW THAT MOST AMERICAN OS POSE. LAST YEAR, CONGRESS PUT JOBS ON THE BACK BURNER AND HAD A TRILLION-DOLLAR OVERHAUL OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. LAST YEAR, WE PASSED A BILL TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THE BILL. WE FOUND IT'S A LONG LIST OF TAX INCREASES AND JOB-CRUSHING MANDATES THAT WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THIS IS SO SERIOUS THAT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, REPRESENTING COUNTLESS SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DRIVE THE ENGINE OF THE ECONOMY, FOUND THE NEW EMPLOYER MANDATE WOULD COST 1.6 MILLION JOBS. IN AND AROUND MY DISTRICT, HUNDREDS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ARE FACING HIGHER TAXES TO THE TUNE OF $20 BILLION. WE'RE PENALIZING INNOVATION WHEN WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING IT. WE'RE PREVENTING LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES FROM COMING TO MARKET WHEN WE SHOULD BE PROMOTING THEM. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT DOESN'T BREAK THE BANK. WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT LOWERS COST AND DOESN'T INCREASE PREMIUMS. WE SHOULD REPEAL THIS LAW NOW AND REPLACE IT WITH COMMON SENSE, PATIENT-CENTERED ALTERNATIVES. OTHERWISE THE ECONOMY WILL STAGNATE AND THE MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY IN MY DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER. I YIELD BACK. THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR. LEVIN. I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. SPEIER.