Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland) for his work on this issue and his leadership on it, and I would like to thank the Democrats for allowing us to have this.

I want to just tell you, as a father who spends time in the Gulf of Mexico, in 2007, we were allowed to fish, as a family, 194 days out of the year. For 194 days, I could go out with my son and we could catch snapper, and we could catch up to four fish apiece. Today, we have now been reduced to 9 days. We have lost 95 percent. Mr. Chairman, 95 percent of the time that a family could spend on the water fishing together has been taken from us as sportsmen in the Gulf of Mexico with regard to red snapper.

So I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland) for his work on this. I want to thank the other Members of the House for understanding us and how important this issue is to those of us who are the recreational anglers.

Mr. Chairman, I also rise in opposition to the amendment of my colleague's from Kansas.

Our military has three workforces. We have the uniformed, we have the civilian, and we have the contractor. All three are vital to the national security of this country. The defense workforce must be managed in what makes the most long-term sense for both the mission of national security and the taxpayer.

This amendment would prohibit the insourcing of contracted services, even when it would make sense for the taxpayer and would save money. By disrupting the Department of Defense's management practice, this amendment would impair military readiness. The Department did not ask for this proposed change, and it is against this amendment.

I believe that this amendment is bad for the long-term security of the Nation, and I would ask that you oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Georgia Society for Hospital Engineers (GSHE). It is appropriate at this milestone to reflect on and celebrate the importance and achievements of this organization.

On October 1, 1964, the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) launched the GSHE at a meeting in Macon, GA. The GSHE owes much of its success to the strong foundation laid by the original charter members: Billy Wise, Dewey Moon, Wendell White, Jerry Adams, Darryl Goodwin, Mahlon Hill, and the first GSHE president, Mr. P.J. Wise. These men showed extraordinary foresight and wisdom as they established a forum for hospital engineers, supervisors, maintenance managers, and other hospital and medical center personnel from across the state to meet and share ideas on improving patient care.

Throughout the years, the GSHE has offered a number of programs to increase efficiency and efficacy in hospitals. The earliest programs included ``helping hand'' and ``special tools'' which allowed hospital engineers to offer assistance and resources to one another. As innovative technology plays an increasingly major role in health care, the GSHE continues to help hospitals keep up with new technologies and provide exceptional care for citizens across Georgia.

With Mr. William A. Elrod at the helm serving as the 50th president of the GSHE, the organization maintains the same objective of the original charter members, to unite hospital engineers so that they might collaborate and learn from one another. Mr. Speaker, please join me on behalf of the great people of Georgia in wishing the GSHE many more years of continued success in transforming the delivery of healthcare.

Well, thank you, Mr. Collins. As you know, you and I served together and had a great relationship there in Georgia, where Democrats and Republicans worked together to balance the budget and solve the problems, and I sure wish we could get to that up here.

Tonight, we are here to talk about an issue that affects us all as well, and that is transparency in pharmacy pricing and highlighting the need for our rural pharmacist, our community pharmacist, and the challenges that they face with Medicare Part D programs.

Just recently, I met with a pharmacist from my district, Mr. Daryl Reynolds; and like many other pharmacists from the Eighth District, he runs a small store and has been hurt by the lack of transparency and pricing. Ultimately, that hurts his patients because it makes it hard for him to stay in business.

While the big pharmacy chains want to operate in the metropolitan areas--and that is wonderful--we in the rural parts of the country need our rural and community pharmacists, and pharmacists like Daryl are a vital component of our national health care system, for those of us who live great distances from the metropolitan areas.

They know us by name. They know our drug interactions. They are able to work with us and our physicians. They make sure that we are taken care of and that we are taking the right medications for the problems that we may have.

In order to continue these relationships, we need to make sure that the Medicare Part D plans that they work through to help our seniors have the pricing transparency with pharmacy benefit managers.

In many cases, our community pharmacists--because of the way the pharmacy benefit managers operate--are reimbursed at less than what the drug actually costs the small community pharmacy. These contracts are nonnegotiable. They are vague and opaque, and most of the time, it puts a small community independent businessman up against a multibillion dollar company.

These PBMs and their maximum allowable cost prices, they don't update them when the prices go up, and that leaves the pharmacist paying more, again, for the drug than they actually get reimbursed for the drug, and these are the pricing practices that need to be fixed for our community pharmacists.

I am here tonight with my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Collins) to bring light to this issue. CMS recently proposed rules that would take an important step in addressing this need for generic drug pricing transparency.

How can transparency be a bad thing for Medicare Part D? The rule simply requires that Medicare Part D sponsors should agree in, their contracts with CMS, to update the prices in a timely manner to reflect the current market price.

In rural districts like mine, access to a community pharmacist is critical for people to receive the medications they need. It is imperative for the health and wellness of our rural communities.

I want to commend you, Mr. Collins, for your legislation. I look forward to working with you to pass that and thank you for being here tonight on behalf of community pharmacists.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Mr. Don Coates for his leadership of the music department at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, ABAC. It is appropriate at this milestone to reflect on and celebrate his achievements.

For a small agricultural college of just 3,665 students, ABAC has a rich musical history. Each year the university sponsors a major jazz festival that attracts participation from well-known jazz performing artists as well as top high school jazz bands from across the state. This festival has seen performances from jazz greats including Maynard Ferguson, Nat Adderly, Jamie Abersold, Ron Diehl, and Bobby Shew.

Also included in this annual festival is the accomplished ABAC Jazz Ensemble. The ensemble has entertained audiences throughout the southeastern United States, Mexico, and even Europe. Additionally, they performed on the world stage on three occasions: in 1996, as part of the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Atlanta, GA, in 1982 and 1984, when they played at the Knoxville, TN, and New Orleans, LA, world's fairs, respectively.

Forty years ago, none of this would have been imagined possible, for no such music program existed at ABAC. Mr. Don Coates started the music program at ABAC upon joining the staff after he received his masters in musical education from Florida State University in 1974. A colleague lauded, ``For many years, he was the entire program--directing concert band, jazz band, and choir, in addition to teaching most of the music classes.'' His dedication has brought music to Georgia and to the world. For that, his 40 years as a musical educator should be celebrated.

Mr. Speaker, please join me, on behalf of the great people of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District, in recognizing Mr. Coates for his service to our community and our state.

Mr. Speaker, I want to first say thank you to Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson. The Ag Committee has some of the most conservative Members of the House and some of the most liberal Members of the House, and I will tell you we have a lot of different opinions about what could and what should be done, but we had respectful discussion across the aisle and across the philosophical debates.

I have said many times from this podium that the foundation of our economy in this country is based on two things, one of them being manufacturing and the other one based on agriculture.

This bill does the things it needs to do to ensure that foundation for our agricultural producers to help with that part of the economy. It also ensures that, as those farmers go forward and do the things that they do in providing the food, the nutrition, and the fiber, not only for America but for the rest of the world, that Americans--

Americans--when they go to the grocery store, will get more for their dollar than any other country as they seek to feed their families.

We found agreement to clean up waste and abuse within many of the systems, including the food stamp system. We have given more money to food banks, which I think is extremely important in making sure that the most needy of American citizens have a place to go and make sure that they can get the nutrition that they need.

We have put some new policies in place, and I am confident that this bill is a move in the right direction. Where we have got those areas where we did not find the agreement, I am confident we will be able to come back and work on those.

I am proud to support this bill, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the careers of several individuals from Georgia's Eighth Congressional District who gave their all for our country and for our freedoms. They have been posthumously inducted into Georgia's first-ever Military Veterans Hall of Fame, and I would like to recognize them today.

United States Marine Corps General Raymond Gilbert ``Ray'' Davis hails from Fitzgerald, GA. In Korea in December 1950, then Lieutenant Colonel Davis personally led his battalion to victory in hand to hand combat against a strongly entrenched and numerically superior hostile force. For his valorous actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

United States Marine Corps Sergeant Rodney Maxwell Davis hails from Macon, GA. In Vietnam in September 1967 while his platoon was pinned down by a numerically superior force, he personally led his men in repulsing an onrushing enemy. With disregard for his own life, he saved many of his men by throwing himself on an exploding enemy grenade. He gallantly gave his life for his country and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

United States Marine Corps Major Henry Talmage Elrod hails from Ashburn, GA. On Wake Island in December 1941, as a fighter pilot, he personally destroyed an enemy warship and shot down two enemy airplanes before assuming command of a ground unit and inspirationally led his men against an attacking superior enemy force until he was killed in action. He gallantly gave his life for his country and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

United States Navy Seaman First Class Wendall Leon Jones hails from Tifton, GA. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the Navy. At age 17 the landing craft that he was aboard was sunk by a German U-Boat killing all but 89 of the 641 aboard. He was severely burned on the face and hands while rescuing Sailors and Soldiers. During the D-Day Landing, he was among the 51 survivors of a 600 man demolition unit, once again sustaining injuries to his hands during small arms fire fights. One month later at age 18, he was wounded again by shell fragments in the right ear, right ankle, and face during a demolition mission behind enemy lines. After recovering, he was headed to Japan when the war ended and he was soon discharged having just reached the age of 19. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for Valor and 3 Purple Hearts. He died at age 36 from injuries to his brain caused by wounds.

Mr. Speaker, pharmacy is one of the oldest of the health professions concerned with the health and well- being of all people.

Today, there are more than 300,000 pharmacists licensed in the United States providing services to ensure the safe and effective use of all medications.

The safe and effective use of medication, as a cost-effective alternative and a preventative mechanism to avoid more expensive medical procedures, is a major force in moderating overall health care costs.

It is important that all users of prescription and nonprescription medications, their families or their caregivers, be knowledgeable about and share responsibility for their own drug therapy.

Pharmacists have extensive education and expertise on drugs and medication therapy, which makes them ideally suited to work collaboratively with patients and their health care team members to improve medication use and outcomes.

Pharmacists provide patients with expertise, knowledge and accessibility, all crucial factors to support improvement in our nation's public health.

Pharmacists are best positioned to be the health care professionals to help patients improve their adherence to their medications, and provide patient care services that ensure optimal medication therapy outcomes.

The American Pharmacists Association has declared October as American Pharmacists Month with the theme ``Know Your Pharmacist, Know Your Medicine.'' I rise today to join my colleagues and the American Pharmacists Association in recognizing October as American Pharmacists Month.

Today's health fair is excellent demonstration of the important preventative health services our community pharmacies provide to many in rural towns and cities in Georgia and across the country. I call upon all Americans to acknowledge the valuable services of pharmacists to provide safe, affordable and beneficial patient care services and medications to all citizens.

Mr. Speaker, now that ObamaCare has had 23 days of what has been a disastrous rollout and hundreds of thousands of Americans are getting health insurance cancellation notices, I want to give you a couple of examples of what is happening in Georgia.

In our State, the news is not good. One constituent tells me:

Not only are premiums higher, but we have to pay more out

of pocket. We will end up spending about $500 to $600 a year

on durable medical supplies that have always been covered 100

percent. That does not help the middle class.

Another shared the news that he recently learned from his employer:

My premiums are going up over $1,200 a year, my deductible

is going up by over $1,000 a year, and my out-of-pocket

maximum will move from $3,500 to $6,500.

That is more than a house payment for many Georgians, Mr. Speaker.

These are hardworking, middle class families in my district who were promised by the President that if they like their insurance, they could keep their current health plans. Now these plans are more expensive and my constituents have less coverage. This is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.

Contrary to the President's promises, ObamaCare is driving up costs, threatening jobs, and kicking Georgians out of the plans they like and were promised they could keep.

I thank the gentleman from California, my friend and colleague and a strong advocate for agriculture in this country.

Mr. Speaker, Americans do not like being dependent on foreign oil, and Americans sure don't want to become dependent on foreign food. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of passing a farm bill.

In my home State of Georgia, agriculture plays a major role in the overall success of our State. Last year, Georgia agriculture was valued at over $14 billion, and the total economic contribution to Georgia was $72 billion. This contribution makes up approximately 10 percent of our gross domestic product and 360,000 jobs. In my district, one of every eight jobs is tied to agriculture.

As a major economic driver of our State, the agricultural industry has suffered without the certainty of a farm bill. Over the past several months, our farmers have had to deal with this uncertainty within the industry because Washington has not been able to agree on a farm bill.

Many of my constituents are left in limbo, trying to decide what to do next year with regard to their crops, wondering if there will be crop insurance or the other things that they depend on for their farm operations and their livelihoods. That is why it is critical to provide the certainty of a farm bill, to boost our economy and help our farmers and our farm families succeed and create jobs.

The farm bill we passed in the House saves taxpayers over $20 billion. I want to reiterate that, Mr. Speaker--over $20 billion and it makes real progress in tackling the drivers of our debt. It consolidates more than 100 programs administered by the USDA and improves agricultural programs to be more cost effective and market oriented by repealing outdated and unworkable permanent law.

I ask my colleagues to join me so we can move to conference and sign a new farm bill into law in order to provide certainty for our country and America's farmers.

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that I and most of the Members of this House have voted now for five different measures that would have paid our Nation's civilian defense workforce and all of our guardsmen and reservists. The first of those bills passed this House with overwhelming bipartisan support in July, Mr. Speaker--July. Unfortunately, the Senate and the President have refused to pass four of the five measures.

And in the Pay Our Military Act, the President unilaterally deemed many of the civilian workforce and our National Guard nonessential to our national defense. I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, but what the President is doing is wrong. The civilian workers that design, build, and maintain our planes, our ships, and our infrastructure and support our warfighters in everything that they do are essential and should not be furloughed simply because the President chooses to do so.

Every member of our National Guard and Reserve stand ready to defend our Nation, and they should be paid while we wait on Harry Reid and the President to agree to negotiate. That's why I've introduced the Pay Our Guardsmen and Civilian Defense Personnel Act. Our national security depends on these men and women, and they should be paid while we're waiting on the President and Senator Reid simply to do their job and agree to negotiate with us.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, the real issue here today is about the rights of the American people. Individual American citizens should have the same rights to the same exemptions as powerful corporations have been given, and Members of Congress should comply with the same laws as everyone else, whether it be ObamaCare or any other law of this country. And that, Mr. Speaker, is all that we've asked for.

If the President would simply agree to give the people of this country the same relief that he has given powerful corporations, we wouldn't be shut down right now.

House Republicans will continue our efforts to pass bills that reflect the American people's priorities and their rights, and keep the government running. We hope that President Obama and Harry Reid will negotiate in good faith and join Republicans in our efforts to keep the government funded and protect the rights of the American citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Don Sims, President of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, on his retirement. He retires today, October 1st, 2013, after 25 years of valuable service to his community.

Mr. Sims has dedicated himself as a true public servant to Thomas County, working toward promoting economic and industrial development in the community. His outstanding career also includes honorable military service as a combat platoon leader in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and the Purple Heart.

Mr. Sims is a longtime Rotarian and serves on many educational and non-profit boards in Thomasville.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Don Sims on his retirement, and we wish him the best of success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Georgia for his leadership on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, the House is at work and the Senate is at home. The President is absent again. But none of us would be debating the future of this country without the men and women in the United States military. That's what makes theirs special and different.

Now, I listened as some argued against this bill and then said we would all support this bill. Good. Good. Then let's put 435 green lights on the board and let's show the country that we're united in this.

Just today, 300 men and women from Moody Air Force Base, which my colleague represents as well as I do, many of the families down there in Georgia said good-bye to their families and friends and got on a plane. Why? Because we asked them to.

Over 90 days ago, this House right here passed an appropriations bill that fulfilled our promise to pay our soldiers in a timely manner and did all of the things that you said needed to be done with research and equipment and the other things. This House did that, and the Senate chose not to take action. Because of the Senate's inaction on the bill, the House is again working to do the right thing while, again, the Senate is at home, and we are working to pay our men and women who are defending our freedom.

Now, I know many of my colleagues--it sounds like maybe all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle--are going to support the legislation in this House. All we're asking is for the Senate, Harry Reid, and the President to have enough honor to make sure the families of our soldiers are not used as political leverage and guaranteed that they are paid on time. This amendment does just that.

Mr. Speaker, since ObamaCare was first passed, we've known that it would cause premiums to rise and increase the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans.

One issue that has not been talked about enough is the serious threat to the access of quality care for patients, especially in the rural parts of the country that I represent. This is a very serious issue in my district, and one of the main reasons that I support defunding this bill.

As we get closer to the October 1 release date of the individual health insurance plans under ObamaCare, the threat of reduced access is quickly becoming the reality. Because of ObamaCare, one of the largest health insurers in Georgia is eliminating 40 percent of their contracts with hospitals and 30 percent of the contracts with doctors in the State and ending all voluntary out-of-State coverage.

For my constituents in rural Georgia, we already face a shortage of care. In small rural communities, working-class patients have a more difficult time accessing the hospital or doctor that they may need.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and the American people to look at the facts and ask: What good is a health insurance card when a patient cannot find a doctor or hospital that takes it? That's one of the reasons that I stand before you in strong support of defunding this destructive law and putting in place commonsense, market-based reforms.