House Session 2011-04-13 (15:19:23-16:21:48) - VoiceTube: Learn English through videos!

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COME TO ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
ON THE LEGISLATION AND TO
INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL IN
THE BILL.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
219 AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR
DECLARES THE HOUSE IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1217.
THE CHAIR APPOINTS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
CONAWAY, TO PRESIDE OVER THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
CHAPLAIN COUGHLIN: THE
--
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR SEATS.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE
OF THE UNION FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1217
TITLE.
WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY
A BILL TO REPEAL THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND.
PURSUANT TO THE
RULE, THE BILL IS CONSIDERED
READ THE FIRST TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PITTS, AND
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY,
30 MINUTES.
MR. PALLONE, WILL EACH CONTROL
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
SECTION 4002 OF THE
PACA, WHICH MY BILL WOULD
REPEAL.
THE SECTION AUTHORIZES THE
OPERATIONS -- APPROPRIATIONS OF
AND APPROPRIATES THE FUND TO
THE TREASURY THE FOLLOWING
AMOUNTS, $500 MILLION FOR F.Y.
2010, $750 MILLION FOR F.Y.
2011, $1 BILLION FOR F.Y. 2012,
$1.25 BILLION FOR F.Y. 2013,
$1.25 BILLION FOR F.Y. 2014.
AND FOR F.Y. 2015 AND EVERY
FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, $2
BILLION.
HUMAN SERVICES HAS THE FULL
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
AUTHORITY TO USE THIS ACCOUNT
TO FUND ANY PROGRAMS OR
ACTIVITIES UNDER THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE ACT THAT SHE
CHOOSES WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL
INPUT, APPROVAL OR OVERSIGHT.
H.H.S. HAS ALREADY MADE
DISBURSEMENTS FROM THE FUND
SPENDING $500 MILLION LAST YEAR
AND SHE HAS $750 MILLION
AVAILABLE FOR HER TO SPEND THIS
YEAR TO FUND PREVENTION
ACTIVITIES.
THE NATION'S PUBLIC HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE, WORK FORCE
EXPANSION, INCREASING
IMMUNIZATIONS AND PREVENTING A
VARIETY OF DISEASES.
THE GOALS OF SOME OF THESE
DISBURSEMENTS ARE LAUDABLE.
BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS
AMOUNT THAT CONGRESS HAS
FUNDING IS OVER AND ABOVE THE
ALREADY AUTHORIZED AND
APPROPRIATED FOR THESE
ACTIVITIES.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN
QUESTIONABLE PROJECTS THAT HAVE
BEEN FINANCED FROM THESE FUNDS
INCLUDING PLACING SIGNS
DIRECTING PEOPLE TO BIKE PATHS.
WHEN SECRETARY SEBELIUS
TESTIFIED BEFORE MY
SUBCOMMITTEE I ASKED HER IF SHE
NEEDED FURTHER CONGRESSIONAL
APPROVAL TO SPEND THE MONEY
FROM THE SECTION 4002 FUND AND
SHE ANSWERED NO.
I THEN ASKED HER IF SHE COULD
FUND ACTIVITIES ABOVE THE LEVEL
CONGRESS APPROPRIATED AND SHE
STATED YES.
THIS SHOULD CONCERN EVERY
MEMBER THAT WE HAVE CREATED A
SLUSH FUND THAT THE SECRETARY
CAN SPEND FROM WITHOUT ANY
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT FOR
APPROVAL.
NO ONE HERE CAN TELL US HOW
THIS FUNDING WILL BE USED.
NEXT YEAR OR FIVE OR 10 OR 20
YEARS OR 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE CAN'T PREDICT HOW THE MONEY
WILL BE SPENT AND WORSE WE
CAN'T EVEN INFLUENCE IT.
I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT IF YOU WANTED
MORE FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS
SMOKING CESSATION OR ANY OTHER
PROGRAM, THE HEALTH CARE LAW
SHOULD HAVE CONTAINED AN
EXPLICIT AUTHORIZATION BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT A
DIME OF THE MONEY IN THIS FUND
WILL GO TO YOUR PARTICULAR
ACTIVITY.
BY ELIMINATING THIS FUND WE'RE
NOT CUTTING ANY SPECIFIC
PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY.
I'M NOT AGAINST PREVENTION AND
WELLNESS.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT RECLAIMING OUR
OVERSIGHT ROLE OF HOW FEDERAL
TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED.
I URGE SUPPORT FOR MY BILL,
H.R. 1217, AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD NOW THREE MINUTES TO
THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
THE RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF
COMMITTEE --
YIELD ME TWO.
MR. WAXMAN, TWO
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THIS IS A NEW
ATTACK TO DISRUPT, DISMANTLE
AND DESTROY THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
TODAY THEY ARE DOING SO BY
SACRIFICING A LONG-STANDING
BIPARTISAN POLICY TO PUSH A NOW
PARTISAN IDEOLOGY.
FOR YEARS REPUBLICANS HAVE
JOINED WITH DEMOCRATS IN
SUPPORTING PROGRAMS TO PREVENT
DISEASE AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND
IN TURN TO CUT HEALTH CARE
COSTS.
BUT TODAY THE HOUSE WILL VOTE
TO END FUNDING FOR THE FIRST
AND ONLY FEDERAL PROGRAM WITH
DEDICATED ONGOING RESOURCES
DESIGNED TO MAKE US A HEALTHIER
NATION.
EVERY STATE IN THE NATION IS
ALREADY BENEFITING FROM THE
RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE FROM
THE FUND TO FIGHT CHRONIC AND
COSTLY CONDITIONS.
SUCH AS OBESITY, HEART DISEASE
AND DIABETES.
REPEALING THE PREVENTION FUND
IS A BLOW AGAINST SENIORS.
IN STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA,
MICHIGAN, IOWA, MAINE, NORTH
CAROLINA AND MASSACHUSETTS,
THEY'RE USING THESE FUNDS TO
TRAIN PERSONAL HOME CARE AIDS
WHO ASSIST -- AIDES WHO ASSIST
THE ELDERLY WITH ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE.
THIS IS NOT EXTREMELY SHORT
SIDED, IT WILL PROVE TO BE
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
THE RETURN ON THIS KIND OF
UPFRONT INVESTMENT TARGETS
RESOURCES TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE
HEALTHY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
WILL OVER TIME SAVE PRECIOUS
HEALTH CARE DOLLARS.
WE NEED TO PRESERVE THE
PREVENTION FUND BECAUSE IT CAN
SERVE AS A CORNERSTONE FOR A
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT FINALLY
RECOGNIZES THAT PREVENTING
ILLNESS IS AS IMPORTANT AS
TREATING THEM.
UNTIL NOW PREVENTION HAS TOO
OFTEN BEEN JUST A MERE
AFTERTHOUGHT.
AMERICAN FAMILIES SUPPORT
PREVENTION.
THEY WANT EDUCATION TO HELP
SENIORS.
AND THEN HAVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS
MAMMOGRAMS AND COLONOSCOPIES.
AND HELP CHILDREN TO GROW UP
HEALTHY AND STRONG TO PREVENT
OBESITY.
WE WANT TO START WORKING
TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE REAL
PROBLEMS FACING OUR NATION.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THIS PARTISAN AND DIVISIVE
LEGISLATION.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I AT
THIS TIME YIELD THREE MINUTES
TO THE DISTINGUISHED VICE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, DR.
BURGESS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE
MINUTES.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I DO RISE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF H.R. 1217, THE BILL
THAT AS WE ALREADY HEARD
REPEALS THE PUBLIC SLUSH FUND
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE
PATIENT AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
ACT PASSED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR
AGO.
THIS FUND CALLED THE PUBLIC
HEALTH FUND IS ALMOST $18
BILLION THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE
NEXT EIGHT FISCAL YEARS, AND
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES GETS TO SPEND
THIS MONEY ON ANY PROGRAM THAT
HE OR SHE DEEMS WORTHY.
THE MONEY -- WHAT THE MONEY
WILL BE USED FOR AND HOW IT
WILL BE USED ESSENTIALLY IS AN
UNKNOWN.
NEITHER THIS CONGRESS NOR
SUBSEQUENT CONGRESSES HAVE ANY
EARTHY IDEA, AND YET IT IS ONCE
AGAIN AN ADVOCATION OF OUR
AUTHORITY HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS OF POWER
INDEFERENCE TO THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH.
IF PEOPLE THINK THAT'S WHAT WE
WERE SENT HERE TO TO CARVE OFF
GREATER AND GREATER PIECES OF
OUR AUTHORITY AND HAND IT OVER
TO THE WHITE HOUSE I HOPE THAT
I'M WRONG IN THAT, BUT IT SEEMS
LIKE OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH
THE HEALTH CARE BIG, WITH THE
FINANCIAL REG BILL, IT SEEMS
LIKE THAT'S THE MANTRA HERE.
IT DOES WAY PUT TOO MUCH
DISCRETION IN THE HANDS OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PREDICT A
SHORTFALL IN THE NATION'S
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WORK
FORCE.
SOME OF THIS MONEY WILL GO FOR
SCHOLARSHIPS BUT IT SETS UP A
BIG PROBLEM.
UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH FUND
SOME OF THOSE SAME STUDENTS
COULD RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR
ONE YEAR ONLY TO FINE THAT THE
SECRETARY HAS BIGGER AND BETTER
THINGS TO SPEND IT ON NEXT
YEAR.
MAYBE THERE'S A NEW BIKE PATH
THAT NEEDS A SIGN AND THAT
STUDENT WOULD FIND THEIR
EDUCATION UNFUNDED BECAUSE ALL
OF THE DISCRETION RESTS WITH
THE SECRETARY.
NOW, JUST A MOMENT AGO THE
RANKING MEMBER OF THE FULL
COMMITTEE STOOD UP AND SAID
THAT IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE
REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO IS
DEFUND AND REMOVE THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
WELL, I APPRECIATE HIM NOTICING
BECAUSE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS
WHAT THE ELECTION OF NOVEMBER
2, 2010, WAS ALL ABOUT.
WE WERE ELECTED TO COME HERE
AND DO THAT WORK FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THE
DUPLICATION CONTAINED WITHIN
THE SLUSH FUND, THE RANKING
MEMBER SPOKE ABOUT SMOKING
CESSATION.
I LOVE THAT.
I LOST TWO PARENTS TO
TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESS.
WHAT ABOUT THE DUPLICATION?
WHEN THE RANKING MEMBER WAS
CHAIRMAN LAST YEAR, LAST
CONGRESS, HE CREATED THE CENTER
FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS AT THE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.
WE FUNDED THAT LAVISHLY WITH A
BRAND NEW TAX AND NOW WE'RE
GOING TO COME BACK AND FUND IT
YET AGAIN WITH THIS PUBLIC
HEALTH SLUSH FUND?
THE RANKING MEMBER ASKED ABOUT
WHAT PROGRAMS WE WANTED TO CUT.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO
BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US HERE TO
DO THIS JOB?
THEY SENT US HERE TO ENSURE
THAT THEIR MONEY WAS BEING
SPENT RESPONSIBLY AND EVERY
PENNY WOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR
AND JUSTIFIED BEFORE BEING
SPENT.
WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF THE
ECONOMY, MR. SPEAKER, I'M NOT
SURE HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FEEL ABOUT THE SECRETARY
CHOOSING TO SPEND MONEY ON
SIGNS DIRECTING PEOPLE TO BIKE
PATHS.
I KNOW HOW THEY'D FEEL ABOUT IT
IN MY DISTRICT.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I -- IF I COULD
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL O30 SECONDS?
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
IN THIS LAW,
SIGNED IN THE EAST ROOM OF THE
WHITE HOUSE JUST OTHER A YEAR
AGO, SECTION 4002 TAKES FROM
CONGRESS THE OVERSIGHT OF
SPENDING AND IT BECOMES A BLANK
CHECK FOR THE SECRETARY TO DO
AS SHE WISHES WITHOUT ANY OTHER
INPUT FROM CONGRESS.
BY DOING THAT, IT TAKES THE
AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE
THE CLOSEST CONTACT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE WITH THEIR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BY TAKING US OUT OF THE
EQUATION, GUESS WHAT, MADAM
SPEAKER, YOU NOT A BLANK CHECK,
IT'S ALL YOURS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA,
MISS CAPPS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE RANKING
MEMBER.
I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL WHICH WOULD -- SIMPLY
PUT, THIS FUND IS A CRITICAL
EFFORT TO MAKE OUR NATION
HEALTHIER AND IN TURN TO BRING
DOWN HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THIS MISGUIDED BILL WOULD
RETURN OUR NATION TO A SYSTEM
OF SICK CARE, A SYSTEM THAT
HASN'T WORKED, RATHER THAN ONE
FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO DO.
WE ALL KNOW THAT HEALTH CARE
COSTS ARE RISING AT AN
UNSUSTAINABLE RATE.
IN FACT, THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY CITED THESE COSTS AS A
REASON TO PROPOSE ENDING
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT BY
TURNING IT INTO A VOUCHER
PROGRAM AND WHACKING AWAY AT
POOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE BY
BLOCK GRANTING MEDICAID.
BUT ONE OF THE KEY DRIVERS IN
ENTITLEMENT SPENDING IS CHRONIC
DISEASE.
THE EXACT PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY
THIS PREVENT FUND.
YET THIS BILL SHORT SIGHTEDLY
CUTS BACK OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE
CHRONIC ILLNESS AND PROMOTE
WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
IN CALIFORNIA, WE ARE PUTTING
THESE FUNDS TO WORK TO SLOW THE
ALARMING RISE IN OBESITY RATES
TO TRAIN OUR NEXT GENERATION OF
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO
CURB TOBACCO USE AND IMPROVE
OUR CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO
DISEASE OUTBREAK.
AT A TIME WHEN COUNTIES LAID
OFF THOUSANDS AND STRUGGLED TO
MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL HEALTH
SERVICE THE NEED FOR THIS FUND
BECOMES EVEN MORE CRITICAL.
THAT'S WHY NUMEROUS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND NATIONAL
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE
COUNTIES AND THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
OPPOSE THIS SHORT-SIGHTED BILL.
FURTHERMORE, THE FUND IS A
SOUND INVESTMENT.
TRUST FOR AMERICA'S HEALTH
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT
INVESTMENTS IN PROVEN
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS TO
INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO
IMPROVE NUTRITION AND PREVENT
TOBACCO USE COULD SAVE THE
COUNTRY MORE THAN $16 BILLION
ANNUALLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS A RETURN OF OVER $5 FOR
EVERY $1 INVESTED.
NOT ONLY DO THESE PROGRAMS ADD
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS' QUALITY OF
LIFE, BUT IT CAN ALSO INCREASE
THEIR ECONOMIC OUTPUT BY
KEEPING THEM HEALTHY AND IN THE
WORK FORCE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS
THAT I STAND WITH THESE FOLKS
AND URGE A NO VOTE AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
AT THIS TIME, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE, MRS.
BLACKBURN, ON THE HEALTH
SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I DO RISE IN
SUPPORT OF H.R. 1217.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
BILL FOR US TO BRING FORWARD.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN
FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND FOR
HELPING TO LEAD THIS CONGRESS
IN THE REPEAL OF OBAMACARE.
IT IS A MESSAGE THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT LOUD AND
CLEAR LAST NOVEMBER.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE
GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND
CONTROLLING THEIR HEALTH CARE
CHOICES.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD
BE MADE BY INDIVIDUALS, THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEIR
PHYSICIANS AND NOT BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE FOUND IT SO INTERESTING
AS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE
HEARINGS ON THIS AND THROUGH
THE MARKUPS THAT WE CONTINUE TO
HEAR, WELL, THIS $17.75 BILLION
IS NOT THAT MUCH MONEY.
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A C.R.
CRISIS A DEBT CRISIS, THAT
WE'RE HEARING SUCH RHETORIC?
I THINK IT IS AMAZING THAT WE
ARE BEING TOLD AND THROUGH WHAT
WE KNOW, YES AND SOME OF US DID
READ THE BILL AND WE DO KNOW
WHAT WAS IN THAT BILL, THAT THE
SECRETARY CAN SPEND IT HOWEVER
SHE WANTS TO, SHE DOES NOT HAVE
TO COME BACK TO CONGRESS
ANOTHER TIME TO GET PERMISSION
FOR SPENDING THIS SLUSH FUND.
ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT SOME OF
THE OUR -- SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES THINK A FUND WILL
MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER.
MONEY DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE
HEALTHIER.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
AND ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT IN
THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, WE
ARE OUT OF MONEY AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, WE ALL KNOW THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE IS RISING, AND WE
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
HAS RISEN SO MUCH IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS IS GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KNOWN
COMPONENTS WE HAVE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REALIZE TOO, MR. SPEAKER,
ELIMINATING THE SLUSH FUND DOES
NOT CUT ANY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.
AND PROPONENTS OF THIS FUND
WANT TO CLAIM THAT WE'RE
CUTTING, WE'RE CUTTING, WE'RE
CUTTING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SAYING, NO,
YOU CAN'T ALLOW THE SECRETARY
TO HAVE CONTROL AND JUST GIVE
IT OUT.
THIS NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE
NORMAL, REGULAR FUNDING
PROCESSES.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S TIME THAT WE REALIZE
WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
YES, LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
YES, LET'S REPEAL OBAMACARE.
YES, LET'S GET IT OFF THE
BOOKS.
LET'S DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT
OF YOUR POCKET, OUT OF THE
MIDDLE OF YOUR HEALTH CARE
DECISIONS, LET'S MAKE CERTAIN
THAT THOSE CHOICES GO TO
INDIVIDUALS AND TO THEIR
PHYSICIANS AND THAT THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO BE DICTATED BY THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES WHO HAS A SLUSH FUND
OF $17.75 BILLION TO SPEND AS
THEY SEE FIT OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS.
WE NEED TO BE CHANGING THE WAY
HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO WORK
AND WE NEED TO DO IT WITH
PUTTING INDIVIDUALS IN CHARGE.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MS.
SCHAKOWSKY.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
HERE THEY GO
AGAIN.
THE REPUBLICANS FAILED IN THEIR
EFFORTS TO REPEAL THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND NOW
THEY'RE REVERSING COURSE AND
TRYING TO KILL IMPLEMENTATION
BY ATTACKING INDIVIDUAL
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM DESIGN T.D. TREAT
THE SICK, NOT TO PREVENT
DISEASE FROM OCCURRING IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH FUND IS A CRUCIAL
COMPONENT OF THE EFFORT TO
REMEDY THAT WEAKNESS AND
TRANSFORM TODAY'S SICK CARE
SYSTEM INTO A PREVENTION
FOCUSED SYSTEM.
THIS FUND WILL AVERT FUTURE
ILLNESS, SAVE LIVES AND
RESTRAIN THE RATE OF DEPOTHE OF
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
IT'S A DEDICATED INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITY PREVENTION AND IS A
MUCH-NEEDED DOWN PAYMENT ON THE
HEALTH AND ECONOMIC WELL BEING
OF ALL AMERICANS.
FEDERAL INVESTMENTS FROM THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO
ADDRESS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
NATION'S HEALTH STATUS.
BY SUPPORTING A CENTRAL AND
PROVEN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
IMMUNIZATION.
IMMUNIZATION.
AND TOBACCO CESSATION.
IT HOLDS GREAT PROMISE TO
IMPROVE THE CAPACITIES OF STATE
AND LOCAL DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF HEALTH THREATS
THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
AND WILL INCREASE THE NUMBERS
OF HIGHLY SKILLED SCIENTISTS
AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND
YOU'VE HEARD IT YOURSELVES,
THIS IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY
REPUBLICANS TO DEFUND THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND STOP
ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST THIS BILL TO REPEAL THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
THE GENTLELADY
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK --
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
YIELDS BACK.
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE GENTLELADY KEPT
SAYING IT WILL, IT WILL, IT
WILL, BUT THE SIMPLE FACT IS WE
DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS
GOING TO GO.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, DR. GINGREY A MEMBER
THEY HAVE SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS OF THE
BODY CAN REMEMBER ADS BACK
YEARS AGO TOUTING THE BENEFITS
OF CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS,
PROBABLY ALL THE MEMBERS CAN
REMEMBER BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A
YEAR AGO ANDY GRIFFITH TOUTING
THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE ON
MEDICARE REMEMBER GETTING THOSE
GLOSSY MAIL OUTS, VERY
EXPENSIVE, SLICK-LOOKING ADS,
REALLY TOUTING THE BENEFITS
THAT OBAMACARE HAS BROUGHT TO
MEDICARE.
EVEN THOUGH THE NEW BILL, THE
NEW ENTITLEMENT CREATION, TOOK
SOMETHING LIKE $550 BILLION OUT
OF MEDICARE, YET THE -- THEY
HAD THE AUDACITY TO SEND THESE
ADS OUT, THESE FLYERS SAYING
THEY'D IMPROVED MEDICARE OSM
BECAUSE MACARE IMPROVES
MEDICARE.
GO FIGURE.
THAT'S A CONCERN HERE.
THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF CHAIRMAN
PITTS' BILL H.R. 1217.
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH FUND IS ESTABLISHED
UNDER PATIENT PROTECTION
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, OPAW
MACARE, FOR PREVENTION,
WELLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED IN THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT AND
ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY
SEBELIUS, SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES.
BUT SHE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS IN
ANY WAY SHE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
AS LONG AS SHE SAYS IT'S FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH.
CAN IT PAY FOR POLITICAL TV
ADVERTISING, FOR PRESIDENT
OBAMA AHEAD OF THE 2012
ELECTIONS?
ABSOLUTELY SHE COULD.
NOTHING COULD STOP HER.
THE CONGRESS COULDN'T.
AS LONG AS SHE DEEMS IT
NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
PAY FOR THOUSANDS OF SIGNS IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
DECLARING THAT IT'S A SUCCESS?
NOTHING WOULD STOP THIS
SECRETARY OR ANY SECRETARY FROM
DOING SO, AS LONG AS THEY CALL
IT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
NOT EVEN -- NO, NOT EVEN
CONGRESS.
AS THE CHAIRMAN SAID, MR.
SPEAKER, THE AMOUNT OF $17
BILLION, ALMOST $18 BILLION IS
JUST THE FIRST DOWN PAYMENT,
YOU WILL, BECAUSE IN
PERPETUITY, $2 BILLION A YEAR
CONTINUES TO BE APPROPRIATED.
AND YOU TO THAT WITH A BILL
THAT QUITE HONESTLY THIS MEMBER
THINKS WILL BE DECLARED WITHIN
A YEAR AND A HALF, HOPEFULLY
SOONER, UNCONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM
OF WEIR SPENDING MONEY THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY AT A
TIME WHEN WE ARE SITTING HERE
WITH $14 TRILLION WORTH OF DEBT
AND LISTENING TO THE SECRETARY
OF THE TREASURY SAY WITHIN SIX
WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
RAISE THE DEBT CEILING SO WE
CAN BOAR REMORE MONEY.
HERE WE'RE SPENDING $17
BILLION, WITH A B, AND THAT'S
NOT JUST CHUMP CHANGE BY ANY
STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
LAST YEAR IN 2010, THE C.D.C.
ACTUALLY SPENT $500 KNOLL
PROMOTE INCREASING THE EXCISE
TAX ON TOBACCO TO THE STATES,
BASICALLY SAYING TO STATES, YOU
NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU RAISE
TAXES ON TOBACCO BECAUSE IT'S
FOR HEALTH PURPOSES.
IT'S GOING -- CAN I HAVE 15
MORE SECONDS?
I YIELD 30 SECONDS
TO THE GENTLEMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING, LET ME
JUST CONCLUDE THAT CLEARLY THIS
IS A NECESSARY BILL TO LET
CONGRESS ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL
SPENDING.
THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT AND I THINK THE CHAIRMAN
IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WITH THIS
BILL AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT AND
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO AS
WELL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD NOW A
MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE
RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE LABOR
HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE, MS. DELAURO.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
HALF.
I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THIS
MEASURE.
IT WILL ENDANGER THE HEALTH OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WE INCLUDED
THE FUND IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT --
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE REDUCES
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
PREVENTABLE CAUSES OF DEATH
SUCH AS TOBACCO SMOKING, POOR
DIET AND PHYSICAL INACT
TIFFITY, THE MISUSE OF ALCOHOL
HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR 900,000 DEATHS
ANNUALLY.
NEARLY 40% OF TOTAL YEARLY
MORTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
FURTHER, SEVEN IN 10 DEATHS IN
AMERICA ARE FROM CHRONIC
DISEASES AND BY 2020, THE U.S.
MAY SPEND $685 BILLION A YEAR
ON THESE CHRONIC DISEASES.
THIS FUND WORKS TO BRING DOWN
THESE NUMBERS AND TO HELP
AMERICANS LIVE LONGER,
HEALTHIER LIVES.
PREVENTIVE CARE IS RESPONSIBLE.
ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE IMPACTED
BY THIS MISGUIDED LEGISLATION
IS VACCINES.
ESTIMATES INDICATE WE SAVE UP
TO $400 FOR EVERY ILLNESS
AVERTED BY VACCINATION AND THAT
DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE
COST OF FURTHER TRANSMISSION IN
THE CASE OF SERIOUS PUBLIC
HEALTH EPIDEMICS.
BY SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
WORK FORCE, BUILDING HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE, BY PROMOTING
EXERCISE, PREVENTING TOBACCO
USE, THIS FUND WILL GO A LONG
WAY TOWARD REDUCING THE SURGING
COST OF HEALTH CARE FOR
AMERICAN FAMILIES AND FOR OUR
NATION.
IT IS SHORTSIGHTED FOLLY TO
REPEAL THIS FUND NOW,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER
ALL THE OIL SUBSIDIES AND
BREAKS FOR CORPORATE LOBBYISTS
THAT THE MAJORITY HAS INCLUDED
IN THEIR BUDGET.
WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING
POLITICAL IDEOLOGY BEFORE
PUBLIC HEALTH LIKE THIS, I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THIS
RESOLUTION.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO MR. LANCE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
H.R. 1217.
AS A MEMBER OF THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE,
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HELD A
NUMBER OF HEARINGS THAT EXPLORE
THE IMPACT OF THE NEW HEALTH
CARE LAW.
THESE HEARINGS HAVE REVEALED
THE EXISTENCE OF SEVERAL
PROGRAMS AND MANDATORY SPENDING
PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE
LAW, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SECRETARY SEBELIUS SAID DURING
TESTIMONY THAT SHE HAD SOLE
DISCRETION OVER BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN DIRECT, UNLIMITED
MANDATORY SPENDING UNDER THE
LAW.
THIS MEANS THAT WITHOUT ANY
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING, WITHOUT
ANY LANGUAGE IN APPROPRIATION
BILLS AND WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS BEEN
GRANTED UNPRECEDENTED SPENDING
AUTHORITY.
TODAY'S LEGISLATION, H.R. 1217,
WILL REPEAL ONE OF THOSE LITTLE
KNOWN PROGRAMS CALLED THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND.
IT'S SUBJECTED TO THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
THE AIM MAY BE WORTHY, MR.
SPEAKER, BUT THIS SHOULD BE
SUBJECTED TO THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
THIS ACTION, ACCORDING TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,
WILL SAVE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
$16 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS.
MR. SPEAKER, AS WE ALL KNOW,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS $14
TRILLION IN DEBT, OUR DEFICIT
FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE AT LEAST
$1.5 TRILLION.
WE MUST GET FEDERAL SPENDING
UNDER CONTROL.
WE CAN START BY REPEALING
PROGRAMS THAT RUN AFOUL OF
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
I URGE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT H.R.
1217, AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM COLORADO, MS.
DEGETTE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I AM FRANKLY STUNNED TO HAVE TO
COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT A FLOOR THAT
REDUNDS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT
WE EVER MADE IN OUR
POPULATION'S HEALTH, THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
TRUST FUND.
THE TRUST FUND SPECIFICALLY
SAYS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE USED
FOR, REDUCING TOBACCO USE,
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RECREATION AND EXERCISE,
BRINGING HEALTHIER FOODS LIKE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO
COMMUNITIES IN NEED AND HELPING
KIDS TO EAT HEALTHIER MEALS IN
SCHOOLS.
ALL OF US WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN HEALTH ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS
KNOW THAT THE BIGGEST PUBLIC
HEALTH EPIDEMIC THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW IS OBESITY, AND IF WE
DON'T DO ANYTHING TO REVERSE
THESE TRENDS, THEN FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S
CHILDREN WE ARE NOT GOING TO
HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES.
75% OF ALL HEALTH CARE COSTS
ARE SPENT ON THE TREATMENT OF
CHRONIC DISEASES, MANY OF THEM
PREVENTABLE.
OUR NATION'S YOUTH ARE
CONFRONTING UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS OF OBESITY, PLACING THEM
AT EVER-INCREASING RISK FOR
THOSE SAME CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
I THINK IT'S PATHETIC THAT WE
HAVE CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY
WHO ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO
PLAYGROUNDS AT MCDONALD'S WHEN
WE ONLY HAVE 8,000 PLAYGROUNDS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO WHAT THIS -- WHAT THIS
TRUST FUND DOES IS IT SUPPORTS
RESEARCH THAT EXAMINES
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
RELATING TO PREVENTION,
INCLUDING THE TRANSLATION AND
INTERVENTIONS FROM ACADEMIC
SETTINGS TO REAL-WORLD
SETTINGS.
THIS IS NOT, AS THE OPPONENTS
OF THIS TRUST FUND SAY, A SLUSH
FUND, OR SOMETHING THAT'S
WILLY-NILLY SPENDING.
INSTEAD IT'S EVIDENCE-BASED AND
IT'S LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN
PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND
NUTRITION, REDUCE TOE BAKO USE
-- TOBACCO USE AND EXPAND
RECREATIONAL EXERCISE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL
SUPPORT.
I'M SORRY IT'S BEEN CAUGHT UP
IN THIS PARTISAN WEB BECAUSE,
FRANKLY, WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT
THIS FOR OUR KIDS.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE
THE COPY OF THE LAW THE
GENTLELADY REFERRED TO.
SHE SAYS THE TRUST FUND REFERS
TO SPENDING FOR FRESH FOOD AND
VEGETABLES AND OTHER THINGS,
THERE'S NONE OF THAT IN THE
LANGUAGE.
I WOULD WELCOME HER TO POINT IT
OUT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
SEEK TIME?
I YIELD 1 1/2
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LUCILLE ROIBLED
-- ROYBAL-ALLARD.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
THE
PREVENTION FUND IS OUR
PRO-ACTIVE COMMITMENT TO
CHANGING THE FOCUS OF OUR
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO ONE OF
TREATMENT TO ONE OF KEEPING
AMERICANS HEALTHY.
THIS CHANGE IN FOCUS IS
ESSENTIAL BECAUSE KEEPING
PEOPLE HEALTHY IMPROVES THE
QUALITY OF LIVES AND THAT OF
THEIR FAMILY AND IT'S THE BEST
MEANS OF CONTROLLING
PREVENTABLE CHRONIC DISEASES
WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR SEVEN OUT OF
10 DEATHS AND 75% OF OUR ANNUAL
HEALTH CARE COSTS TOTALING $1.7
TRILLION.
IF H.R. 1217 PASSES, WE LOSE A
CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND WE LOSE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE
UNNECESSARY SUFFERING AND DEATH
FROM PREVENTABLE CHRONIC
DISEASES.
ADDING TO THE ASSAULT OF H.R.
1217 ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PREVENTION IS THE F.Y. 2011
CONTINUING RESOLUTION WHICH
CUTS C.D.C.'S BUDGET BY OVER
$700 MILLION.
THE RESULT OF THESE PROPOSALS
IS THAT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WILL NEEDLESSLY CONTINUE TO
SUFFER FROM PREVENTABLE
DISEASES, COSTLY
HOSPITALIZATION.
PREVENTION SAVES LIVES AND
PREVENTION SAVINGS MONEY.
DEFEAT H.R. 1217 AND CONTINUE
TO BUILD A HEALTHIER AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
--
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLELADY
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, MRS.
CHRISTENSEN.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
MR. SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES, I
CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE HERE THAT
WOULD REPEAL THE PREVENTION AND
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND.
AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD
STRENGTHEN THE WELL-BEING OF
THIS NATION, MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE
DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE WITH
H.R. 1217.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE TENS OF
MILLIONS OF HARDWORKING
MILLIONS WHO ARE SUFFERING,
SOME DIE WERE PREVENTABLE
DEDISEASE.
AND WITHOUT PREVENTION AND
PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS THE VERY
SERVICES THIS FUND WAS CREATED
TO SUPPORT, 10'S OF MILLIONS
MORE WILL BE EFFECT -- TENS OF
MILLIONS MORE WILL BE AFFECTED
IN THE FUTURE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE HERE FIGHTING
ABOUT THE MERIT AND VALUE OF
KEEPING THE PREVENTION AND
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND IN PLACE.
WE WILL DO BETTER OF OUR
COUNTRY IF WE WERE INSTEAD
DISCUSSING INCREASING IT.
AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE NOT MOVED
BY THE DISASTROUS HUMAN IMPACT,
THEN THEY MAY BE MOVED BY THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE NOT
HAVING PREVENTION AND EFFECTIVE
HEALTH MEASURES IN PLACE WILL
COST MONEY AND A LOT OF IT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE JOURNAL
OF HEALTH AFFAIRS REPORTED THAT
INCREASING THE USE OF PROVEN
PREVENTIVE SERVICES FROM THE
CURRENT LEVELS TO 90% WILL
RESULT IN $3.7 BILLION IN
SAVINGS IN JUST ONE YEAR AND WE
KNOW FROM A JOINT SENATE STUDY
THAT REDUCING HEALTH
DISPARITIES, WHICH THIS FUND
WOULD DO, COULD SAVE AS MUCH AS
$1.27 TRILLION IN DIRECT AND
INDIRECT MEDICAL COSTS IN JUST
A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH FUND IS UNHARMFUL AND
UNJUST.
IT'S CONTRARY TO OUR VALUES AND
A DISRESPECT OF THE VALUE OF
HUMAN LIFE.
IT WILL NOT SAVE MONEY.
IN FACT, IT WILL COST THIS
NATION MORE, BOTH IN HUMAN
HEALTH AND WELLNESS AS WELL AS
IN ACTUAL HEALTH CARE SPENDING.
I STRONGLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO VOTE TO PROTECT ALL
AMERICANS AND THE MORAL
STANDING OF THIS COUNTRY BY
VOTING NO ON H.R. 1217.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLELADY
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, CAN I
ASK HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA STILL CONTROLS 15
1/4 MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
CONTROLS 17 1/2 MINUTES.
HOW MUCH?
17 1/2.
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S BEEN 100
DAYS OF THE REPUBLICANS' NO
JOBS AGENDA AND THEY'VE CHOSEN
TO VOTE TIME AND ENERGY TO
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS THAT
WOULD DEFUND THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, ELIMINATE MANDATORY
SUPPORT FOR PREVENTIVE CARE AND
ABOLISH ANY AND ALL FEDERAL
SUPPORT FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS KNOW
THESE MEASURES WON'T BE
APPROVED BY THE SENATE AND
WOULD NEVER BE SIGNED BY THE
PRESIDENT.
IT'S JUST POLITICAL GESTURE AT
A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
NOW THE BILL ON THE FLOOR THIS
WEEK, H.R. 1217, WOULD ABOLISH
THE AFFORDABLE CARE LAWS
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
THIS IS A FUND THAT PREVENTS
DISEASE, THAT HELPS MANAGE
CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY BECOME
SEVERE.
ALL IMPEERCAL DATA, ALL
EXPERIENCE AND PLAIN OLD COMMON
SENSE INFORMS US THAT
PREVENTION AND EARLY TREATMENT
NOT ONLY SAVE LIVES, THEY ALSO
SAVE MONEY.
IN FACT, THE PREVENTION AND
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND PREVENTS
ILLNESS BEFORE PEOPLE GET SICK.
THE REPUBLICAN ASSERTION THAT
MANDATORY FUNDING, WHICH I'VE
HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN TODAY
AND ALSO IN THE HEALTH
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THIS IS
SOMEHOW MANDATORY FUNDING AND
THAT IT'S UNPRECEDENTED, THAT'S
COMPLOTELY NOT TRUE.
MEDICAID -- COMPLETELY NOT
TRUE.
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE HAVE
A LOT OF PROGRAMS ONE OUR
MANDATORY SUPPORT AND THERE ARE
COMMITTEE'S JURISDICTION AND IN
CONGRESS IN GENERAL THAT ARE
FUNDED THROUGH MANDATORY
FUNDING.
SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY TIMES I AM GOING TO COME
TO THE FLOOR AND HEAR ABOUT
REPEALING THE HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
I UNDERSTAND TOMORROW THERE'S
GOING TO BE AN ENROLLED BILL
THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE C.R.
THAT'S GOING TO DEFUND THE
WHOLE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
HERE TODAY WE ARE GOING TO
DEFUND ONE PIECE, THE
PREVENTION FUND.
TOMORROW WE GOT ANOTHER
DEFUNDS THE WHOLE BILL.
ENROLLMENT RESOLUTION THAT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AGAIN,
ANOTHER RESOLUTION TOMORROW TO
DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GOING TO
KEEP VOTING ON THE SAME THING
OVER AND OVER AND OWN AGAIN?
MEANWHILE, I DON'T SEE A SINGLE
PIECE OF LEGISLATION COMING TO
THIS FLOOR THAT ADDRESSES JOBS
OR THE ECONOMY.
WHEN I GO HOME PEOPLE WANT TO
KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT THE
ECONOMY.
THEY KNOW THE HEALTH CARE
REFORM PASSED.
THEY'RE BENEFITING FROM IT.
IT'S GRADUALLY UNFOLDING BEFORE
THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT US TO CONTINUE
TO DEBATE THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
REPEAL, DEFUND AND NO
SUGGESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD
DO TO REPLACE IT EITHER, BY THE
BUT I YIELD -- I RESERVE THE
WAY.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M
COULD I ASK THE OTHER GENTLEMAN
PREPARED TO CLOSE.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS HE HAS LEFT?
ACTUALLY, I DO
HAVE A FEW MORE SPEAKERS, AND I
SEE THAT THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS IS HERE.
I'D YIELD HER ONE MINUTE TO MS.
SHEILA JACKSON LEE --
I RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED FOR HOW MANY
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS IS
MINUTES?
ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED
FOR TWO MINUTES.
LET ME THANK
THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY AND LET ME
THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE AS WELL.
MADAM CHAIR WOMAN, WE JUST HAVE
A DISAGREEMENT, AND I WOULD
VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE BULK OF
SICK PEOPLE IN AMERICA AND
OTHERS WHO EVERY DAY STRUGGLE
TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH SO
THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES WOULD VIGOROUSLY
DISAGREE AS WELL.
THERE IS TWO POINTS I'D LIKE TO
MAKE.
WHEN WE REPEAL THIS AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT AND THE FUNDING OF IT
IS MORE THAN THE GLORY THAT WE
GET FROM GOING HOME AND
BRAGGING THAT WE HAVE
UNDERMINEDED AMERICA'S HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM OR SOME WOULD SAY
WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY OBAMACARE.
PREVENTATIVE CARE IS AN
UNBELIEVABLE PLUS THAT THIS
BILL HAS GENERATED.
I WENT TO ONE OF MY
MOTHER-IN-LAW CENTERS, A NEW
ONE THAT IS CRAFTED UNDER THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
IT IS TO TAKE OFF THE LOAD OF
THE EMERGENCY CENTERS OR THE
EMERGENCY CENTERS THAT
AMBULANCES GO TO.
WHAT AN AMAZING SIGHT OF PEOPLE
GOING THERE WITH BROKEN TOES
AND MAYBE THE BEGINNING OF
HEART DISEASE AND OTHER
PROBLEMS, BUT IT WAS A LOWER
LEVEL EMERGENCY ROOM.
NOT PARTICULARLY PREVENTATIVE
CARE.
BUT THE KIND OF INTERVENTION
THAT SAVES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I WANT TO GO EVEN LOWER THAN
THAT.
AND I DON'T USE THAT
TERMINOLOGY.
BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
GO AND CHECK ON THEIR
CHOLESTEROL, CHECK ON THEIR
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, UNDERSTAND
WHETHER THEY HAVE SICKLE CELL,
UNDERSTAND WHAT STAGE OF
DIABETES THEY'RE IN OR
UNDERSTAND WHAT STAGES OF HEART
DISEASE THAT THEY'RE IN IN A
PREVENTATIVE CARE CYCLE.
AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT
ECONOMISTS DOCUMENT HOW MANY
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WILL
SAVE.
HOW CAN WE VOTE AGAINST THAT?
SECONDARILY, THERE'S TWO PARTS
TO THIS ACT THAT'S BEING
REPEALED, RESEARCH AND TRAINING
FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED, WHETHER
YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM OR NOT, AND THEN OF
COURSE PROTECTING OUR MOST
PRECIOUS RESOURCE, OUR
CHILDREN.
IF YOU CAN RAISE A CHILD IN A
HEALTHY MAN FOR THE TERMS OF
NUTRITION, IN TERMS OF
IMMUNIZATION, IN TERMS OF
REGULAR DOCTOR VISITS, YOU ARE
ABLE TO SAVE BILLIONS OF DELAS.
THIS IS WRONGHEADED AND A WRONG
DIRECTION.
MANY OF US ARE FASTING.
I SAID ON THIS FLOOR, WE MUST
PRAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE WRONG
DIRECTION TO GO.
WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I
YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN,
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BEND THE
COST CURVE ON HEALTH CARE UNTIL
WE FOCUS MUCH MORE ON DISEASE
PREVENTION.
THAT'S WHAT THIS PREVENTION
FUND IS FOR.
I THOUGHT THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS WANTED TO KEEP
PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, OFF
OFTIES ABILITY, LEADING
PRODUCTIVE LIVES AND TRYING TO
PREVENT DISEASES BEFORE THEY
I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WAS A
OCCUR.
PARTISAN ISSUE.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE A
SYSTEM OF WELL CARE, NOT SICK
CARE IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO
HAVE SUCCESS IN SAVING MONEY
AND BENDING THE COST CURVE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, SO MANY
TIMES IN THE COMMITTEE, WOULD
TALK ABOUT PREVENTION BUT ALL
OF A SUDDEN NOW THEY WANT TO
ABOLISH THE PREVENTION FUND.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT,
PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WERE
CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED,
ACCOUNTING FOR ONLY 2% TO 4% OF
THE HEALTH SPENDING BY SOME
ESTIMATES.
TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL $2
BILLION FOR WELLNESS AND
INVESTMENT.
PREVENTION IS A WISE
SINCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
WAS ENACTED, EVERY STATE HAS
BENEFITED FROM THE PREVENTION
AND WELLNESS FUND.
THIS YEAR OVER $750 MILLION IN
GRANTS WERE DISBURSED, BUILD
OGEN A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT
LAST YEAR AND PUTTING THE
BRAKES ON THIS PROGRAM WOULD
MEAN PUTTING THE BRAKES ON
PROGRAMS ALREADY BEGINNING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IN MY HOME STATE OF NEW
JERSEYMARK OF MY CONSTITUENTS
BENEFITED FROM OVER $15 MILLION
IN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS,
FUNDING FOR H.I.V. PREVENTION,
MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CRITICAL
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS, SWERT SUPPORT FOR
PRIMARY TRAINING.
I HAVE A SHEET HERE, I HAVE A
SIMILAR SHEET FOR MR. PITTS AND
DR. BURGESS AND OTHERS WHO
SPECIFIED THESE ARE THE TYPES
OF GRANTS THAT ARE BEING MADE
AVAILABLE IN THEIR STATES.
I SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND,
THERE'S 600 NATIONAL STATE AND
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING
THE FUND AS A PRIMARY VEHICLE
FOR MAKING PUBLIC HEALTH
INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD CREATE
JOBS AND HELP LOWER LONG-TERM
HEALTH COSTS.
THE COMMITTEE HAS -- THE ENERGY
AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE HAVE
HEARD MANY, MANY TIME -- HAVE
HEARD ME MANY TIMES SAY WE HAVE
TO FOCUS ON PREVENTION.
WE HAD THE C.B.O. AND THEY SAID
-- AND I SAID WHY DON'T YOU
CALCULATE PREVPK?
WE WOULD SAVE TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
THEY DON'T DO IT.
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT PREVENTION
SAVES MONEY.
IF YOU CONCENTRATE ON CHRONIC
DISEASES, THIS MOVES THE NATION
FROM A FOCUS ON SICKNESS AND TS
TO ONE BASED ON WELLNESS AND
PREVENTION.
IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE CRITICAL
NEW INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION
IT'S GOING TO BE HARMFUL TO THE
HEALTH OF AMERICANS NOW AND IN
THE FUTURE.
I RESERVE MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I'M PREPARED TO
CLOSE.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
I'M PREPARED TO
CLOSE, I'LL RESERVE BUT I'M
PREPARED TO CLOSE.
YOU GO FIRST.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
IT WAS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT I GET TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CLOSE.
CLOSE.
PENNSYLVANIA HAS THE RIGHT TO
HE HAS THE RIGHT
TO CLOSE?
OK, LET ME YIELD MIST SUCH TIME
AS I MAY CONSUME.
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I'LL ADDRESS
THIS DIRECTLY TO MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES, IN THE LAST FEW
WEEKS WHEN WE HAD HEARINGS IN
THE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
VARIOUS MEASURES THAT THE
REPUBLICANS WANTED TO THE FUND
-- DEFUND AND I KNOW WAY TANT
TO DEFUPPED THEY WILL THE WHOLE
BILL AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO TRY TO DO AGAIN
TOMORROW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH IT BUT
I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE AGAINST
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THEY
WANT TO DEFUND IT BUT IT SEEMS
TO ME THAT TO MICK THE -- PICK
THE ONE BILL THAT DEALS WITH
PREVENTION IS REALLY THE WORST
THING YOU COULD HAVE DONE TODAY
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
AND WHAT I'VE SOUGHT TO DO WITH
EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE IN THE
SUBCOMMITTEE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON
IT IS TO STRESS PREVKS.
WE CAN AVOID PEOPLE FROM GOING
TO HOSPITALS, WE CAN AVOID
PEOPLE FROM GOING TO NURSING
HOMES, THEY CAN LEAD A BETTER
QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAVE MONEY.
I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE TODAY
THAT AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF A
BURN EFFORT TO DEAL WITH
PREVENTION TO FUND PREVENTION
ISSUES THAT THIS IS THE ONE
BILL, THE ONE FUND THAT'S
ACTUALLY PICKED ON TODAY TO
COME TO THE FLOOR.
I THINK IT'S REALLY A HORRIBLE
THING THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN
PREVENTION, IF YOU REALLY
BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN MAKING PEOPLE
WELL AN PREVENTING THEM FROM
GETTING SICK, YOU SHOULD VOTE
AGAINST THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
MADAM CHAIR, IT'S
TIME FOR A FISCAL REALITY
CHECK.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW
BORROWING 42 CENTS OF EVERY
DOLLAR IT SPENDS.
WASHINGTON IS SPENDING MORE
THAN ONE OF EVERY $4 THIS
COUNTRY PRODUCES AND WE ARE
FACING A THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
WITH A -- A THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
WITH A TRILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT.
YET WHEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE ROTED
ON THIS STRAIGHTFORWARD BILL TO
STRIP BILLIONS FROM THE HEALTH
CARE LAW BASED ON THE SIMPLE
PREMISE THAT CONGRESS SHOULD
FUND PREVENTION AND WELLNESS
ACTIVITIES BY PRIORITIZING THEM
IN THE REGULAR ANNUAL SPENDING
PROCESS, THE RESPONSE FROM THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WAS TO
SAY, WE'RE NOT BROKE.
MADAM CHAIR, I BEG TO DIFFER.
OUR DEBATE TODAY IS NOT ABOUT
THE VIRTUE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH
CARE AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
I SUPPORT PREVENTION.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER
OUR NATION CAN AFFORD TO
AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO
SPEND NEARLY $18 BILLION OVER
AND ABOVE WHAT CONGRESS
APPROPRIATES OVER THE NEXT
DECADE ON PROGRAMS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION'S CHOOSING.
H.R. 1217 DOES NOT CUT A SINGLE
PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS FUND DOES
NOT GUARANTEE FUNDING FOR ANY
PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
EVERY MEMBER WHO SUPPORTS THIS
FUND ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT
PROVIDES ADDITIONAL MONEY FAR
PROJECT THEY DEEM WORTHY SHOULD
UNDERSTAND THAT NO ONE KNOWS
WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE SPENT.
PERHAPS IT COULD BE USED TO
COMBAT OBESITY OR FOR CANCER
SCREENINGS OR PERHAPS IT'LL BE
USED TO POST SIGNS ABOUT THE
LOCATION OF BIKE PATHS.
THE POINT IS, CONGRESS
ABDICATES OUR AUTHORITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INVESTING IN
PREVENTION BY HANDING A
PERPETUAL BLANK CHECK TO THE
SECRETARY.
GOVERNING AND SOLVING OUR
FISCAL PROBLEMS IS DIFFICULT.
IT REQUIRES HARD CHOICES.
IT IS EASY TO SPEND.
THE EASY CHOICE WAS TO ASSIGN
MANDATORY ADVANCED
APPROPRIATIONS TO THESE
INITIATIVES RATHER THAN MAKING
THEM A BUDGET PRIORITY.
BUT IT'S ONLY EASY UNTIL THE
BILL IS DUE AND THE CREDIT CARD
IS MAXED OUT.
WELL, THE BILL IS DUE, AND THE
CREDIT CARD LIMIT IS
APPROACHING FAST.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO REASSERT ITS
ROLE AND SET SPENDING
PRIORITIES RATHER THAN GIVE THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH UNFETTERED
POWER TO SPEND AS IT WISHES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE BILL AND MADAM CHAIR, I
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN --
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
SHALL BE CONSIDERED READ FOR
RULE.
NO AMENDMENT TO THE BILL IS IN
ORDER EXCEPT THOSE PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-61.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT BY A
MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE
REPORT, SHALL BE CONSIDERED
READ, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR
THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE
REPORT, EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
AN OPPONENT OF THE AMENDMENT,
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
AMENDMENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO TCHAND FOR DIVISION
OF THE QUESTION.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 PRINTED IN
HOUSE REPORT 112-61.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE TESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1,
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-61,
OFFERED BY MS. JACKSON LEE OF
TEXAS.
PURSUANT TO THE
RULE, THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS, MS. JACKSON LEE, AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS.
THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I KNOW SOMETIMES IN THE RUSH OF
LEGISLATING, MANY MEMBERS ARE
FACED WITH ANY NUMBER OF
CHALLENGES IN UNDERSTANDING
LEGISLATION, BUT I DO KNOW THAT
THE MAJORITY HAS COME WITH
THEIR OWN ROAD MAP AND I DO
WANT TO RESPECT THE DIFFERENT
VIEWPOINTS AND I DON'T SAY THIS
IN MY WAY TO MALIGN.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M GRATEFUL THAT
THIS AMENDMENT WAS MADE IN
ORDER, BUT I WISH IT WASN'T
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL
LEGISLATION THAT PASSES NEEDS
TO HAVE, IN FACT, OR OFTEN HAS
THOSE WHO AGREE WITH IT AND
THESE WHO DO NOT.
THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.
AND THE PROCESS THAT WE USUALLY
USE TO HANDLE THAT IS TO AMEND,
NOT REPEAL.
THERE ARE SOME SECTIONS HERE
THAT I'VE LOOKED AT AND HAVE
CONCERN WITH.
AND MANY HAVE HEARD ME ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE DISCUSSING A
NUMBER OF ISSUES REGARDING MY
LOCAL HOSPITALS.
BUT I WILL SAY TO YOU THAT THE
REPEAL OF THIS BILL IS PUTTING
US ON THE ROAD TO RUIN.
MY AMENDMENT IS SIMPLE.
IT ASKS THE H.H.S. TO PLACE ON
ITS WEBSITE THE MONEYS
RESCINDED SO THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE CAN SEE.
FOR SOME IT MAY BE TO SEE THE
GREAT SUCCESS OF TAKING AWAY
MONEY, FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE TO
SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
VERY QUICKLY, THIS AMENDMENT
REQUIRES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, TO LIST
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING TAKEN
AWAY FROM GOOD HEALTH CARE BUT
ALSO, MADAM SPEAKER, IT WILL
ALSO HOPEFULLY POINT PEOPLE TO
WHAT THEY'RE LOSING.
FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT THIS
BEAUTIFUL BABY HERE.
WE WILL NOT HAVE, UNDER THE
REPEAL OF THIS AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, THE BOUNTY OF PREVENTIVE
CARE FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC
DISEASES, AMERICANS WHO ARE
SUBJECT TO CHRONIC DISEASE SUCH
AS HEART DISEASE, CANCER,
STROKE AND DIABETES.
THEIR ONLY CARE WILL BE THE
EMERGENCY ROOM.
HIGH-PRICED EMERGENCY ROOMS.
WHEN THEY'RE IN A DIABETIC COMA
OR THEY'RE IN A STROKE OR THEY
HAVE A HEART ATTACK, RATHER
THAN BE ABLE TO GO TO THEIR
DOCTORS, BUT WE START EARLY ON
WITH THIS LITTLE BABY, BEING
ABLE TO GO TO WELLNESS CLINICS
OR TO THEIR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CLINICS.
THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY THAT'S
BEING RESCINDED IS GOING TO DO
TO YOU.
IN ADDITION, YOU WILL FIND THAT
CHRONIC DISEASES RESULTED IN
$75.3 BILLION IN DOLLARS LOST
IN PRODUCTIVITY IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS ALONE.
THE RESCISSIONS WILL ALSO
IMPACT ALL THE STATES.
I HAVE A LIST OF ALMOST 50
STATES THAT HAVE BEEN TO --
THAT HAVE BEGUN TO RECEIVE
DOLLARS FROM THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT FROM BEALL TO ALASKA
TO PENNSYLVANIA TO
MASSACHUSETTS TO MICHIGAN TO
RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTH CAROLINA
AND TENNESSEE AND TEXAS, ALL OF
THE STATES THAT MY GOOD FRIENDS
COME FROM.
THEY ARE RECEIVING MONEY RIGHT
NOW.
IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE OF
TAKING AWAY MONEY, PREVENTION
TO FOR HEALTHY AMERICA
CONCLUDED THAT INVESTING $10
PER PERSON, PER YEAR TO IMPROVE
PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY AND PREVENT SMOKING
AND OTHER TOBACCO CAN SAVE THE
COUNTRY MORE THAN $16 BILLION
ANNUALLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
WHEN YOU SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WAS
TAKEN AWAY, JUST REALIZE THAT
YOU MULTIPLY THAT, IF IT'S A
TOTAL OF $16 BILLION, YOU'RE
GOING TO LOSE $16 BILLION A
YEAR BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE
ANY WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL
PREVENTION, WHICH IS ABOUT $2
MILLION, AND SO YOU'LL TAKE
AWAY MONEY FROM H.I.V.
PREVENTION AND THAT IS A VERY
COSTLY PROPOSE.
A YOU'LL TAKE AWAY FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU'LL TAKE AWAY FROM PRIMARY
CARE RESIDENCY EXPANSION
PROGRAMS TRAINING RESIDENT --
RESIDENTS AND DOCTORS.
YOU'LL TAKE AWAY ADVANCEMENT OF
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT TRAINING.
YOU'LL TAKE AWAY FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WHERE THEY
LINK PEOPLE TO NEEDED HEALTH
CARE.
YOU'LL TAKE AWAY CHILDHOOD AND
ADULT IMMUNIZATIONS AND
PROTECTING THE WATER WE DRINK
AND THE FOOD WE EAT.
LET ME SAY THAT MY AMENDMENT IS
TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON WHAT WILL
BE HAPPENING TO THE HEALTH CARE
OF AMERICANS, I WANT MY
COLLEAGUES TO TELL THEIR
CONSTITUENTS, NOT THOSE THAT
ARE ALREADY FOCUSED ON NEGATIVE
ASPECTS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO HERE, BUT THOSE WHO ARE
SIMPLY HARD WORKING MOTHERS AND
FATHERS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING
AND NEED THIS HEALTH CARE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT?
PITTS PITTS I MIGHT --
MR. PITTS:, I MIGHT MENTION ALL
OF THE PROGRAMS SHE MENTIONED
ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THIS
SECTION OF THE LAW.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THIS MONEY
WILL BE SPENT FOR ANY OF THAT.
H.R. 1217 REPEALS THE PREVENTION
AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUND AND
RESINDS UNOBLIGATED BALANCES.
THE JACKSON LEE AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES TO POST ON
THE H.H.S. PUBLIC WEB SITE, A
NOTICE OF THE RECISION OF
UNOBLIGATED BALANCES OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND AND THE
AMOUNT OF THE RECISION.
I SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY IN
GOVERNMENT.
I ACTUALLY WISH THERE WAS MORE
TRANSPARENCY AND HOW H.H.S. HAS
ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY IN THIS
FUND.
THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THIS
FUND IS THE PRIMARY REASON I
SUPPORT H.R. 1217 AND IF THE
AUTHOR FEELS THIS WOULD INCREASE
AMENDMENT.
TRANSPARENCY, THEN I SUPPORT THE
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
TEXAS.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THE
AYES HAVE IT AND THE AMENDMENT
IS AGREED TO.
IT'S NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 AND 3 PRINTED
IN HOUSE REPORT 112-61.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN HOUSE REPORT 112-61
OFFERED BY MS. CASTOR OF
FLORIDA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 219, THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM FLORIDA, MS. CASTOR, AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL CONTROL
FIVE MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA.
MY AMENDMENT
REQUIRES A GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY STUDY WITHIN 90
DAYS OF ENACTMENT OF THE LAW TO
STUDY THE IMPACT OF PREVENTION
THE PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE HAS
ON PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASES
AND PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH.
PREVENTION WORKS.
IT'S SMART.
IT IS -- IT SAVES THE TAXPAYERS
MONEY.
IT SAVES FAMILIES MONEY AND IT
SAVES LIVES.
THE PREVENTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
INITIATIVE EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES
ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION TO
FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND WELLNESS
AND WHAT WORKS FOR THEM WHEN IT
COMES TO REDUCING CANCER CASES,
REDUCING HEART DISEASE, REDUCING
STROKE BACK IN OUR OWN
HOMETOWNS.
IN FLORIDA ALONE, THERE ARE OVER
10 MILLION CASES OF THE SEVEN
MOST CHRONIC -- MOST COMMON
CHRONIC DISEASES, CANCER,
DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, HYPER
CONDITIONS.
TENSION, STROKE AND PULMONARY
WE KNOW OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS,
FOLKS WE GO TO CHURCH WITH AND
SEE IN THE GROCERY STORE THAT
SUFFER FROM THESE DISEASES AND A
LOT OF THESE CASES IF THEY HAD
GOTTEN EARLY DETECTION OR WE HAD
WORKED HARDER ON PREVENTION,
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE FALLEN INTO
THAT TRAP OF THE DISEASE AND ALL
THAT IT BRINGS FOR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES.
NOW.
SEE, WE HAVE A BETTER APPROACH
WE'RE SMARTER IN AMERICA.
NO LONGER SHOULD OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM BE FOCUSED ON ONLY TAKING
CARE OF FOLKS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHEN THEY'RE SICK OR AT THE END
STAGES, WE'RE SMARTER.
WE CAN PREVENT A LOT OF THIS
THROUGH EDUCATION AND BEING PRO
ACTIVE AND ENCOURAGING A HEALTH
YEAR LIFESTYLE AND THAT'S WHAT
THE PREVENTION IN HUB HEALTH
DOES.
STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE
ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT WORKS BEST
FOR THEM.
THIS ISN'T WASHINGTON DICTATING
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
THIS IS SAYING TO OUR LOCAL
HOMETOWNS AND COMMUNITIES, WHAT
DO YOU THINK WORKS BEST FOR YOU?
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
GRANTS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
HOW ARE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS WORK IN
YOUR OWN DISTRICT TO INVEST IN
THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF OUR
NEIGHBORS AND THE ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY HOMETOWN, IN
MY DISTRICT, THE PINELLAS HEALTH
DEPARTMENT WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER
NEIGHBORHOODS AND NONPROFITS TO
DETERMINE WHAT'S GOING TO WORK
BEST AND ENCOURAGING LIFESTYLES.
WE HAVE AN OBESITY EPIDEMIC AND
THEY ARE BUILDING BIKE LANES AND
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKS SO
CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GET OUT AND PLAY AFTER SCHOOL
INSTEAD OF SITTING IN FRONT OF
THE TELEVISION.
I ALSO HAVE A GREAT PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTH FLORIDA IN MY DISTRICT.
THEY ARE TRAINING THE MODERN
HEALTH CARE WORK FORCE IN
FLORIDA.
THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS FIGHTING
ON THE FRONT LINES OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND YES, CREATING
JOBS, THIS IS CREATING JOBS TO
ENCOURAGE THE HEALTH YEAR
LIFESTYLES THAT WORK.
U.S.F. IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE
THE GAPS IN TRAINING MIGHT BE,
UPDATE CURRICULUM TO MAKE SURE
THEY RECEIVE THE UP-TO-DATE
RESEARCH AND THEY CAN SPEND THE
WORD THROUGHOUT THE CHURCHES,
GROCERY STORES AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
IS ALSO USING THESE GRANTS IN
CHECKING ON ALL OF OUR
STRATEGIES STATEWIDE TO
DETERMINE WHAT WORKS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT
FOLES OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
TO PROMOTE HEALTH YEAR OUTCOMES
AND THE EXAMPLES I JUST SHARED
WITH YOU ARE A FEW OF WHAT IS
COUNTRY.
HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE
WE ARE SMARTER.
PREVENTION WORKS AND SAVES
TAXPAYERS MONEY.
IT SAVES FAMILIES MONEY AND IT
SAVES LIVES.
AND I RESERVE.
THE GENTLELADY
RESERVES.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE AMENDMENT?
YES, MADAM CHAIR.