Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to remove the authority of the Committee on Rules to waive clause 5 of rule XVI or clause 9 of rule XXII.

Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record that today I introduced H. Res. 1023, challenging the constitutionality of the House and Senate passed health care bills with respect to the individual mandate requiring American citizens to purchase government approved health insurance. My resolution also demands the removal of the individual health insurance mandate from any final healthcare reform bill that Congress considers.

H. Res. 1023 builds off the efforts of at least 36 state legislatures, including Oklahoma, that are looking to limit or oppose health mandates in the House and Senate passed health care reform bills that would require purchase of government approved health insurance. These state actions are in direct opposition to the draconian national health care reform measures that are currently under consideration by the House and Senate.

Throughout the healthcare debate, the Administration and this Congress have largely ignored the most fundamental question of all-- whether or not the Federal Government is overstepping its constitutional bounds by taking over our healthcare system. Even back in 1994, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, wrote that it would be an unprecedented form of Federal action for Congress to mandate that all individuals are required to purchase health insurance. I introduced this resolution to send a strong message that the personal mandates in both the House and Senate passed healthcare bills are unprecedented and unconstitutional--nowhere in the Constitution is Congress given the power to force Americans to purchase a good or service or enter into a contract--which these bills would do.

By forcing Americans to purchase government approved health insurance, the Administration and the Democrat majority are essentially saying that you don't have a right to choose what health insurance plan is best for you, your family or your business--I strongly disagree.

There are better ways to bring health insurance to the uninsured. There are incentives that Congress could pass right now with bipartisan support--such as allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines to reduce cost, and offering tax deductions for individuals and families who are uninsured--that would make purchasing insurance easier and cheaper for all Americans. Unfortunately, the House and Senate passed healthcare bills coerce and compel individuals to purchase insurance with tax penalties and possible prison terms.