Floor Statements

Offered By: Mr. Posey

Amendment No. 147: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the bill before us, H.R. 2, which would repeal the health care reform law that was enacted last year. While we need to address shortcomings in our Nation's health care system, this law is the wrong prescription and that is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2.

Prior to the passage of this new law, the American people were told that if they liked their current health care plan, they could keep it. However, shortly after its passage, the Administration issued regulations finding that nearly half of all workers would lose their current health care plan and be required to sign up for one of the new plans authorized by the government.

It's a system that mandates that every American buy government approved health insurance or pay a fine, which a Virginia Court ruled recently as unconstitutional. The approach outlined by the new health care law limits choices and phases-out other options to health coverage such as health savings accounts, which are enjoyed by some 8 million Americans.

The American people were told that passage of this legislation would lower health insurance premiums by $2,500 for the average family. However, health insurance premiums have continued to rise, and studies indicate that the new health care law is contributing to these increases. This bill also fails to guarantee that Federal tax dollars will not be used to pay for elective abortions.

The American people were told this new health care law would stimulate job growth. But this 2,000-page bill has created more uncertainty and raised the cost of doing business

in America. Imposing new mandates and higher taxes on small businesses continues to hamper our economic recovery and slows job-creation. Repealing this law will provide greater certainty.

Finally, in my view this bill is fiscally irresponsible. The cost of this law continues to climb. During the House floor debate on this bill last year I stated that the overall costs of the legislation were being underestimated by more than $500 billion. That is proving to be the case as the hidden costs of the bill continue to be uncovered.

Mr. Speaker, we have a national debt of $14 trillion and rising. Our Federal budget situation is fiscally unsustainable, and if we don't make tough choices now, we will saddle future generations with a mountain of debt that can never be repaid. It is time to face the reality of our budget situation and that includes recognizing that the real cost of this health care law will far exceed our ability to pay for it.

While everyone can point to various aspects of the new law that they support--including me--I believe that the best way to move forward is to start anew and replace the current law with one that preserves individual choice and economic freedom, directly tackles increasing costs and allows Americans to keep their current health care plan if they like it. And let's do so in a fiscally responsible manner.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I bring to the attention of the House the loss of a husband, a father, and an industrial pioneer. On January 3, 2011, Zachary S. Gibler passed away from injuries sustained in a biking accident. He was just 44 years old. Gibler is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughter, Rachel.

Zach Gibler was the Chairman and CEO of the nation's largest LED lighting manufacturer, Lighting Science Group (LSG), which is headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida and employs 400 workers. Specifically, the Lighting Science Group designs, develops, manufactures and markets LED light bulbs that are environmentally friendlier and more energy efficient than traditional lighting products.

Gibler had quickly become a leader in a budding industry that will play a key in our nation's future. His pioneering efforts have grown operations in Florida from 35 employees to more than 400 in less than two years.

Known for his passion for helping those in need, Gibler hired many former NASA workers who had been laid off due to the transitions in our nation's human space flight program and utilized their skills to manufacture American-made LED lights that are highly energy efficient and are very competitive to foreign-made LED competitors. Just walk into Home Depot or any other hardware store and you'll find LED bulbs that are made by the Lighting Science Group--it's an American product built by American workers.

In June of 2009, Zachary Gibler became CEO of Lighting Science Group and was made president just a few months later in September of 2009. Gibler was then named Chairman of the Lighting Science Group in March 2010. He was a lighting industry veteran having previously held a variety of senior roles at Acuity Brands.

Gibler effectively worked to shape Lighting Science Group into the LED lighting manufacturer it is today, which is continuing to create additional, good-paying jobs in my home state of Florida and making a significant contribution to making America more energy efficient.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Zach's family and friends as they cope with this unexpected loss at the beginning of the year.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of legislation I introduced earlier this year (H.R. 5446) to name the U.S. Post Office in Cocoa, Florida in honor of Harry T. and Harriette Moore.

Harry T. Moore and his wife Harriette Moore served as pioneer trailblazers of the modern civil rights movement, propelling the struggle for justice and equality far beyond the borders of their home in Brevard County, Florida. Remembered for their dignity, compassion, and emphasis on education, Mr. and Mrs. Moore left a legacy that remains close to the hearts of community members; one that is sure to outlast the lengths of their lives that were so tragically cut short.

Harry began his first job as an elementary teacher at Monroe Elementary School in Cocoa, Florida in 1925. It is only fitting that the Post Office in the community where he began his service to this community bear his name. Two years later, Harry began a decade of service as a High School Principal in Titusville. Then, from 1936-1946 he served as Principal and Fifth and Sixth Grade teacher in Mims.

The couple first met in Brevard County when Harry was serving as a principal in Titusville and Harriette was an elementary school teacher. They were married on Christmas Day in 1926. They were blessed with two daughters and they committed the duration of

their lives to the pursuit of civil justice for African Americans.

In 1934, the Moores founded the Brevard County Chapter of the NAACP, which led to a Statewide NAACP Conference in 1941. Mr. Moore served as the President of the Florida State Conference of NAACP chapters, as well as the founder and Executive Director of the Progressive Voters League. It was through these channels that the Moores propelled progress on such issues as equality, education, and voter registration. Their steadfast adherence to equality was not without a price, however, as both Mr. and Mrs. Moore were fired from their teaching jobs and found it difficult to find employment due to their activism. To proclaim them pillars of the community would be an understatement.

As the couple also celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve, 1951, a bomb exploded beneath their home. Mr. Moore died on the way to the hospital, and Mrs. Moore died as a result of her injuries 9 days later. The tragic murder, which cut short the lives of this heroic couple, sparked an even more resounding outcry for civil rights.

Having recognized the profound impact the Moores made on the community, Brevard County has since honored them by designating their homesite a Florida Historical Heritage Landmark, creating the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Memorial Park and Interpretive Center, and naming its Justice Center after the trailblazing couple. Additionally, the NAACP posthumously awarded Mr. Moore the Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by an African American. Both of these fine citizens undoubtedly touched the lives of others with the dedication, integrity, persistence, compassion, and commitment each of them so courageously demonstrated.

Approving H.R. 5446 will further honor the achievements and sacrifices of Harry T. and Harriette Moore, the leaders and first martyrs of our Nation's modern civil rights era. By designating the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida as the ``Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office'', we will commemorate the Moores' legacy in a town where Mr. Moore began his service to others. This will serve as a reminder to this community of the important and lasting contribution the Moore's made to Cocoa and the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support me on this measure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major George A. Pavlicin, United States Marine Corps, Retired, a World War II veteran and Central Florida resident, who passed away on November 23, 2010. Major Pavlicin spent his life serving his country and his family, and I am proud to take a moment to honor his lifetime of dedication and service.

George Pavlicin was born and raised on Long Island, New York, the son of Navy veteran and Nassau County Police Officer Michael Pavlicin and his wife Margaret. In 1942,

just after finishing high school, he signed up as an Aviation Cadet in the United States Naval Reserve and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He flew the F4U Corsair fighter from aircraft carriers in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II-- while his older brother Mike was serving in the Navy, and his younger brother Jim was serving in the Army.

In the summer of 1945, at the close of the war, he married Mary Elizabeth White, who survives him. During their sixty-five years of marriage they had six children--two of whom pre-deceased him--eleven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Two of their sons followed his example by serving their country in uniform, in the Air Force and the Marine Corps.

Major Pavlicin served on active duty for more than twenty years, including service during the Korean Conflict. During his long and honorable service, which was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps, he was stationed in China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and on Okinawa. He retired from active service in 1963 and worked for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation on Long Island for twenty-three years, retiring again in 1986. He and Mary later moved to Central Florida, and were active members of their community, worshipping at St. John the Evangelist Church in Viera. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor Major George A. Pavlicin, a man whose life and service reflect great credit upon himself, his family, and the United States Marine Corps. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, an honorable Marine, and as an important part of our community. My wife Katie and I offer our prayers for his wife, Mary, children, George Alan, Patrick, Karen, and Beth, grandchildren and great- grandchildren, as we remember and honor the life of George Pavlicin.

Mr. Speaker, certainly no one in this Chamber wants to yield the military high ground to countries that are not friendly to us, and without the passage of this legislation, unfortunately, we will do that.

The legislation before us asks NASA to do too much with too little. There is something in here for everybody to hate, sure enough, but there is no other alternative. If we at least pass this legislation, we will keep the dream alive through the first of the year, and hopefully through the appropriations process we can move this country back on

the right path to maintaining the economic and national militaristic security that is necessary for this generation and for future generations to prosper.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to echo the concerns that I have heard from thousands of my constituents. They tell me that Washington has failed to focus on economic recovery; and you know what, they are right. Last year, the House passed a massive national energy tax known as cap-and-trade, and it's similar to legislation passed in Europe in the 1990s. It cost Europe hundreds of thousands of jobs and made virtually no change or effect whatsoever on their environment. Estimates are that if Washington forces this bill on the American public, it will kill more than 2.5 million more American jobs.

Fortunately, the national energy tax is now stalled in the Senate, and I sure hope it stays there. With unemployment near 10 percent, the last thing America needs is more job-killing legislation and more taxes. America does need to know that Congress is listening to them.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall 354 my vote in support of S. 3474--To amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to authorize advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund--was not recorded by the House voting system. I fully supported this bill and should have been recorded as ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a parliamentary inquiry, please.

Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the bill we are about to vote on allows CBO scores to be posted on the Clerk's Web site. Would it be in order to amend the bill to also include the Nation's debt clock on the Clerk's Web site?

Mr. Speaker, I think that is a legitimate question for a point of order.

Madam Speaker, recently, I had the opportunity to tour our nation's Capitol building with one of our nation's leading scholars, David Barton. David Barton is an accomplished author, speaker, and historian who focuses on helping Americans explore and understand our nation's moral, religious, and constitutional heritage. It is critically important that all of us have a deeper understanding and appreciation of our nation's founding.

Mr. Barton has dedicated his life to studying historical documents from the foundation of our nation and helping Americans understand the impact moral and religious teaching and beliefs had on our nations' Founding Fathers and the direction of our nation. Through his work, he teaches that in addition to a constitutional foundation, our nation has undeniable religious and moral underpinnings.

Mr. Barton is founder and president of Wallbuilders, a national organization that presents ``America's forgotten history and heroes.'' The organization seeks to educate citizens about the important role that religious faith had on our Founding Fathers and our nation's institutions, including our government.

Mr. Barton has received substantial recognition for his work, including being named ``one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals'' by TIME magazine and receiving several Angel, Who's Who in Education, and Telly Awards, as well as the George Washington Honor medal.

I commend Mr. Barton for his commitment to fostering a scholarly understanding of America's heritage and for the important work he does in studying and teaching regarding the Biblical values that guided our Founders during the birth of our nation more than 225 years ago. I have been on several Capitol tours with Mr. Barton, and his knowledge about the religious foundation of our country never ceases to amaze me. It is through this type of work that Americans gain a better understanding of what the Founders expected our nation to be like and what we should expect from our elected leaders and the laws they create.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Barton and the work that he does to educate Americans about our nation's past so that America can be a beacon to the world.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise also to honor the surfing achievements of Kelly Slater. He is the dominant world champion of surfing. Last month, he became the Rip Curl Pro Bell Champion for the fourth time, adding to the 42 international championships he has won. He is unmatched, unparalleled in the world of surfing. Obviously, he is an inspiration to many.

Robert Kelly Slater grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, born there on February 11, 1972. He learned to surf on Cocoa Beach with his brothers Sean and Stephen. He routinely won amateur championships in the eighties, and six Eastern Surfing Association championships and four national titles.

In 1992, at the age of 20, Kelly Slater was the youngest surfer ever to win the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship. He is a six-time winner of the Billabong Pipeline Masters. That's 1992 to 2008. The Billabong Pipeline Masters is a competition held annually at the Bonzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii. Forty-five of the top-ranked surfers ranked by the Association of Surfing Professionals compete. Again, Kelly Slater's achievements there are unprecedented.

He won five consecutive Association of Surfing Professionals titles between 1994 and 1998. In 1995 and 1998, Kelly Slater won the surfing triple crown: the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters at the Bonzai Pipeline. In 2002, he won the Quicksilver, in memory of Eddie Aikau, at Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii. Competition occurs there only when the surfing conditions have waves that are at least 20 feet high. He was the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores under the Association of Surfing Professionals two-wave scoring system, awarded in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro Contest.

In 2005, Kelly Slater won an Association of Surfing Professionals World Title 7 years after his previous win in 1998. In 2008, he was the oldest surfer, at age 36, to win the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship title. Kelly Slater has 39 Championship Tour victories. He holds the most Association of Surfing Professionals World Championships ever, a total of nine. He is surfing's all-time leader in career event wins and was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 2002.

As was mentioned, he has established the Kelly Slater Foundation. He did that in 2007. Its purpose is to raise money and awareness for existing social causes, as were previously mentioned, and also environmentally conscious charities.

Just a few words about Florida surfing. Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline suitable for surfing. Forty percent of east coast surfing occurs in Florida. There are over a dozen popular surfing areas in Florida's 15th Congressional District. Ron Jon Surf Shop was opened in Cocoa Beach by Ron DiMenna in 1963. Now there are three such stores in Florida, South Carolina, and Canada. The Cocoa Beach location is the largest surfing store in the world.

Kelly Slater is Florida's first surfing champion and, obviously, one of the greatest surfers of all time.

For those who may not be familiar with surfing as an industry, it is an important part of our economy. According to SIMA, that's the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, even during recession and economic challenges, the surf industry remains resilient. It had $7.22 billion in sales in 2008 and considerable growth over the past several years. In 2009, Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach was named one of the 25 Best Independent Retailers by Business Week. Ron Jon employs 500 people and has over $50 million in annual revenues.

In conclusion, I state again that Kelly Slater's achievements are unprecedented. In passing this resolution, we are acknowledging his many wonderful achievements.

I want to again thank Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and over 60 other cosponsors that we have for participating in this resolution, and I urge my colleagues, each and every one, to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, several weeks ago, I received a call from one of my constituents, Marsha Shapiro. She courageously shared with me her experience with her husband Joel's battle with esophageal cancer. Marsha was kind enough to tell me a little about her husband and the type of man he was. She told me that for 30 years Joel worked as a New York City public school teacher at P.S.176 in Brooklyn. He also spent 16 years as an English high school principal at Yeshiva of Brooklyn, a position he held in conjunction with his public school duties.

She said that Joel was a humble man, but to his family and his students, he was a giant. For several summers he worked at the Italian Federation in an athletic program sponsoring Say No To Drugs. Music was also a very important part of his life having been a violinist in the Brooklyn Heights Orchestra and at St. Ann's Church. Furthermore, he performed with the Staten Island Orchestra at St. John's University and Kingsborough Community Orchestra Brooklyn, NY.

Mrs. Shapiro shared with me how Joel's battle with esophageal cancer began on May 15, 2009. Over the course of the next several months he received the recognized chemo and radiation treatments but unfortunately they did not shrink his tumor. On November 18, 2009, after just 6 months and 3 days of treatment, Joel passed away. He is survived by his wife Marsha, two sons Adam and Glenn and three grandchildren, Jonathan, Naomi and Zachary.

My colleagues, sadly, Joel's battle with esophageal cancer is not out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, it is too often the norm. The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with esophageal cancer is less than 20 percent and many, like Mr. Shapiro, die within a year of being diagnosed. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year alone more than 16,000 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and nearly 14,500 deaths from esophageal cancer will occur.

In fact, the rates of esophageal cancer have been rising dramatically for the past several decades, increasing by more than 400 percent, and there is still a lack of effective treatments for cancer of the esophagus. With such a significant increase in the number of cases and with a mortality rate of nearly 80 percent, too often those diagnosed with esophageal cancer are diagnosed too late and the disease has progressed too much for current treatments to be effective.

I encourage my colleagues to join with me, and my colleague Congressman Rush Holt, in sponsoring a bipartisan resolution recognizing the importance of detecting esophageal cancer during its earliest stages, advancing medical research, and supporting the goals and ideals of Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4715, the Clean Estuaries Act of 2010. This bill would reauthorize for an additional five years, our nation's National Estuary Program (NEP).

As home to one of the nation's most diverse national estuaries, the Indian River Lagoon, the residents of Florida's 15th Congressional District have seen the value of this program to this important estuary and how it has enhanced our community. The NEP has proven very successful in helping restore and enhance the quality of our lagoon.

Specific NEP initiatives across our estuary included eliminating effluent discharges from more than 20 wastewater facilities, reconnecting impounded salt marshes, developing storm water treatment facilities, and reducing freshwater discharges into the lagoon.

As one of the 28 designated national estuaries, the Indian River Lagoon receives an important funding set-aside within the annual National Estuary Program (NEP) budget. This will enable the Indian River Lagoon NEP to accomplish restoration and water quality improvements that are included in their 2010 lagoon work plan.

The Indian River Lagoon was one of only two estuaries nationally to receive top quality ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when considering water quality, sediment, benthic, and fish tissue culture. While this is good, we know that there is much more work that needs to be done. Passage of H.R. 4715 will help the Indian River Lagoon NEP move forward with their comprehensive restoration and water quality improvement plans and provides more funding for this purpose.

I would also urge my colleagues to oppose an amendment by Rep. Schauer (D-MI), which would dilute the resources in the NEP and result in less funding for the 28 nationally recognized estuaries, including the Indian River Lagoon.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4715.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong objections to the health care legislation, H.R. 3950, and the unprecedented, process through which it is being considered. The overwhelming majority of Americans are telling Washington through their letters, calls and every poll that they don't want this bill. Nearly eight in ten of my constituents who have contacted me on this issue have asked that I vote against the bill.

Social Security is already unsustainable. Medicare is unsustainable. Medicaid is unsustainable and reimbursements are already so low that few doctors will even see Medicaid patients. These programs have tens of trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities. Rather than fix these problems, the bill before us makes them worse. This bill takes over $500 billion out of Medicare and spends it on this new health care plan. It adds millions of new enrollees to Medicaid--already one of the fastest growing federal and state budget line items. H.R. 3950 takes over $53 billion out of the Social Security Trust Fund and spends it on this new health care plan. And, they say that this bill will save the taxpayers money.

The American people have figured it out and that is why they want this particular piece of legislation stopped. It's not that they don't want health care reform; it's just that they don't want this particular bill. No one is suggesting that the status quo is acceptable. In fact, I have cosponsored more than a dozen health care bills aimed at fixing the problems with our current system. I suggested in a meeting with the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, that we move forward with those things upon which we can reach agreement--like addressing preexisting conditions and ending the practice of insurance companies dropping coverage for someone when they get sick. Unfortunately, she rejected that offer.

I want to talk just briefly about the cost of this bill. On Thursday, a preliminary Congressional Budget Office, CBO, cost estimate of the bill was released. But that budget included a number of gimmicks that hide the real costs of health care reform legislation. I believe the American people want and deserve honest budgeting because once the smoke and mirrors are removed, they will have to pay the costs of this bill.

Let's look at why we have the differences. It is important to remember that the CBO can only estimate the costs of the specific language that is presented to them. An analysis of the costs of the bill that was released by the Senate Budget Committee found that after you remove the budget gimmicks, this bill increases the budget deficit by nearly $600 billion in the first 10 years and $1.6 trillion over the second 10 years. This is a far cry from the preliminary budget estimate from the CBO, which put the net effect of the bill at reducing the deficit by $118 billion over 10 years. So, what causes this discrepancy?

What are some of the reasons for the differences? CBO does not include in its calculation the $53 billion that is borrowed from Social Security to pay for H.R. 3950. CBO assumes these monies will not have to be repaid to the Social Security Trust Fund.

Likewise, the bill includes over $500 billion in cuts to Medicare program and assumes that future Congresses will allow these cuts to be fully implemented. Anyone remotely familiar with Congress knows that time and again Congress has stepped in to stop such Medicare cuts and may well do so again in the future. Thus to assume that Medicare will be cut by nearly $500 billion is simply not realistic. Furthermore, rather than take these Medicare savings and spend them elsewhere, these funds could have been used to help secure the long-term solvency of Medicare.

This bill creates a new long-term care entitlement benefit, known as the CLASS Act. This bill collects $70 billion more in premiums than it will pay out in benefits over the first 10 years of the program. Rather than keep this $70 billion in the Trust Fund to pay future benefits, H.R. 3950 takes the money out of this trust fund and uses it to pay the costs of H.R. 3950.

H.R. 3950 creates dozens of new programs; however, the CB0 cost estimate does not include any costs associated with these programs. The Senate Budget Committee estimates the 10-year costs of these programs at $114 billion.

Medicare also faces more than a $200 billion shortfall in the amount of funding needed to pay physicians. It would have been appropriate to use the Medicare savings in H.R. 3950 to fix this problem. However, H.R. 3950 leaves in place the 21 percent cut in payments to doctors. Speaker Pelosi has said that we can expect another bill to come to the House floor in a few weeks that fixes this shortfall. The cost of that bill will simply be added to the deficit and no one will have to pay for it.

So, rather than saving $118 billion over 10 years as CBO estimates, the real costs will be hundreds of billions of dollars in deficit spending in just the first 10 years. Between 2020 and 2029 the debt rises even more.

Our nation has lost millions of jobs since January of 2008. To restore these jobs, our nation would have to create 250,000 jobs per month for each of the next 5 years. Hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes on small business and new costly mandates included in H.R. 3950 will only result in the loss of additional jobs and it will make it harder for businesses to hire new employees. In fact, it is estimated that this bill may result in the loss of more than 2 million additional jobs.

Not only does this bill have a costly impact on businesses, but it imposes tens of billions of dollars in unfunded mandates on the states. Our state budgets are already stretched thin and governors and state legislatures are cutting tens of billions of dollars just to balance their budgets--something many states are required to do, but not Washington. This bill makes that task harder for the states and will ultimately result in higher taxes on individuals and businesses.

H.R. 3950 lacks sufficient protections to ensure that American taxpayers are not forced to pay for the health care of millions of illegal immigrants.

I am further concerned that this bill fails to include protections, passed earlier this year in the House, that would ensure that taxpayer money is not used to pay for elective abortions. This bill also lacks sufficient conscience protections to ensure that health care providers, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and health plans are not required to participate or in any way support elective abortions.

Never before has Congress considered a bill that so fundamentally changes the relationship between the people and the government.

This bill gives the federal government unprecedented powers. H.R. 3950 empowers government panels to make coverage determinations. It also creates the Independent Medicare Advisory Board, IMAB, which is given broad authority to make cuts in Medicare.

Over 4,000 times in this bill, the word ``shall'' appears, and ``shall'' indicates a federal mandate. In more than a dozen places, the bill provides that there will be ``no administrative or judicial review'' of a federal bureaucrat's decision.

It has been said that: ``A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government . . . It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority usually votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits. Therefore the average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been about 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependency back again into bondage.''

This bill vastly expands the powers of the Internal Revenue Service, IRS. If this bill becomes law, the IRS may have to hire up to 16,500 additional employees just to enforce all the new taxes and penalties. The bill empowers the IRS to: (1) verify that Americans have government-approved health care coverage; (2) fine Americans up to $2,085 or 2 percent of income (whichever 'is greater) for the failure to purchase a government-approved plan; (3) confiscate tax refunds; and (4) increase audits.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not express my deep disappointment with the process that has characterized this debate and the manner in which this legislation has been written. I come from the sunshine state, where we have very strict laws about transparency and openness in government--a process that is seriously lacking in Washington.

The House considered a bill in three committees last summer. A handful of Republican amendments were adopted in those committees. Unfortunately, when the bill was rewritten behind closed doors before coming to the House floor in November; those amendments were removed from the bill. When the House considered this bill in November 2009, over 200 amendments were filed to be offered, but the leaders in the majority allowed only one amendment to be voted on.

Likewise the Senate bill was written behind closed doors and no amendments were allowed to be offered when it was considered in the Senate in December 2009. It includes special earmarks meant to secure the votes of particular Senators. Now we are debating that bill today, and once again no amendments are allowed to be offered.

We are also debating a new bill drafted by the majority in the House that purports to make changes to the Senate bill. Again, this bill was drafted behind closed doors over the last few days and includes yet again more special provisions intended to secure particular votes. Yesterday, at the House Rules Committee, Republicans presented over 80 amendments that they wanted to offer to this bill, but not a single one allowed an up or down vote.

Mr. Speaker, is it any wonder that the American people have so much disdain for Washington and this body? This is a sad day characterized by a lack of openness and transparency. The American people deserve better.