Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 148, I was unable to attend.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 116, I was unable to attend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 117, I was unable to attend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 4015, legislation Republicans have introduced to gut the Affordable Care Act to pay for a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to repeal Medicare's broken Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

For months, we have worked in a bipartisan, good-faith effort to develop a permanent solution for Medicare's physician payment system that has threatened seniors' access to care for more than a decade. In February 2013, I introduced the bipartisan Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act (H.R. 574) with Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) to repeal the SGR and set out a clear path toward comprehensive reforms of Medicare payment and delivery systems. Last month, three committees, including Ways and Means, on which I serve, announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that incorporates the overarching framework of my legislation and includes several specific provisions.

Finding common ground on a responsible way to pay for a permanent SGR fix was never going to be easy, but that does not mean it should be used to score political points. Seniors must have access to their doctors and time is running out. I strongly urge Republicans to join Democrats to act on this significant bipartisan opportunity to enact a permanent solution that provides more security and certainty for seniors and their doctors.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 114, I was unable to attend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about the escalating situation in Ukraine. Russia's military occupation of Crimea is a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international law. The United States and our allies must support the Ukrainian people and use all diplomatic and economic options available to address Russia's dangerous actions and unprovoked aggression. That is why I strongly support H. Res. 499, a resolution stating that Russia must immediately withdraw its military from Ukraine, adhere to international law and respect Ukrainian sovereignty.

The people of Ukraine must be able to exercise their sovereign, democratic right to decide their own future without interference or intimidation from Russia. As a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I will continue working with my colleagues to explore options-- including banking sanctions, visa bans and freezing assets of officials--to move President Putin toward a peaceful resolution that ends this crisis and protects Ukraine's rights and borders.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 90, I was unable to attend the vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 85, I was unable to attend the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 41 I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 3590.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 12, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 1513. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 33, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 357. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 32, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 1791. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 630, I was unable to be present for H.R. 3521. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 631, I was unable to be present for H.R. 1402. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 632 I was unable to be present for H.R. 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''