Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an incredible hero from my district.

Earlier this month, an emergency unfolded in the town of Maysville, North Carolina, when a distressed driver rushed into the town hall, seeking urgent assistance for his wife.

Demetrius Jones, who serves as the finance officer in the town of Maysville, performed lifesaving measures on the individual until the fire and EMS services could arrive on the scene.

As a physician, I understand the critical importance of acting swiftly to intervene and preserve life. Demetrius' actions not only demonstrated extraordinary courage but also saved the life of someone in need.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Demetrius for his service to the community and for exemplifying what it means to step up for others in times of crisis and need.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the lying in honor of the remains of Ralph Puckett, Jr., the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient for acts performed during the Korean conflict, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Madam Speaker, the house of medicine is crumbling down.

I have been a physician now for 35 years, and I spent 10 years prior to that training to become a surgeon. However, the house of medicine is in crisis.

Since the pandemic, medicine, a truly objective science, has become political. It has become a field of activism, not advocacy: believe the science, and then don't trust the science.

The record of preauthorizations now facing physicians and surgeons leads to poor patient care, burnout, early retirement, and massive administrative costs. Insurance companies are raking in record profits for their CEOs and shareholders by denying patients critical medicine or procedures and then not paying the doctors or hospitals, the ones who actually deliver the care.

The cost of medications is skyrocketing. One primary reason is something called PBMs, pharmacy benefit managers, that most people don't know anything about. These things are extortion artists driven by insurance companies to steal money from pharmaceutical companies and, most importantly, patients.

Madam Speaker, a pet peeve of mine is every other commercial seen on television is direct-to-consumer advertising. We are only one of two countries in the world, New Zealand being the other one, that allows this.

I have never once in my 35 years in medicine prescribed a medicine that was because somebody advertised it on television. Now, we have hospital closures in every district because we are restricting access to care because Medicare and Medicaid do not pay the bills. Yet, we have Democrats screaming: Medicare for All. That absolutely would lower the standard of medicine.

The express purpose of the ACA, ObamaCare, is to drive private practice out of business and for us all to be under one government- payer system.

What is happening? We are now employing more and more doctors and delivering a lower standard of care. These doctors, good people, really now have more ownership to a clock than their patient. We no longer have the work ethic that is seen in doctors as was seen before. It is 5 o'clock. It is time to leave. There is an absolute loss of patient ownership.

Madam Speaker, when I was seeing patients full time, if a physician called me to see a patient, my answer was: Do you want me to see them today or tomorrow?

It was not: Send them to the emergency room.

Now, it takes a year. I tried to get an appointment with a dermatologist for a patient. It took a year because of the severe doctor shortage. It is estimated that 40,000 to 120,000 more doctors are needed in a decade.

Sadly enough, our medical schools, while they are increasing in numbers, are failing in the doctors that they produce. We now have more identity politics in medical schools than excellence in care. Activism in so many schools now is the oath. DEI is the oath to get into medical school. This needs to stop.

It has now been shown that 63 percent of medical students now in medical school do not plan on practicing clinical medicine. There are medical students who come, take up a slot, and rarely practice. Why are medical schools allowing these individuals to get in?

There are increasing numbers of fellowships after residency programs because we have work-hour limitations, and the students are just not well-trained to come out and practice.

Burnout is at a record high, sadly, amongst physicians. I can understand that in a physician who has practiced until they are 65 or 70, but now we have

millennials coming out of medical school that have high burnout rates.

The AAMC, the Association of American Medical Colleges, is more concentrated on activism than excellence.

With doctors' pay being cut yet again, what do Senate Democrats and House Democrats want to do in a time of a critical doctor shortage? Cut physician pay yet again. There has been a 26 percent cut over the last 20 years. If you buy hammers for a store, how can you sell them at 40 cents and expect to stay in business?

I ran a surgical practice for many, many years. I knew where every paperclip went. You can't stay in business. We want to drive physicians out of private practice and into physician unemployment.

My colleagues can't do this to medicine. Why has physician pay become a partisan issue? We are destroying the trust in the patient-doctor relationship. Physicians are leaving because they can't get paid and physician burnout.

Madam Speaker, the house of medicine is in crisis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Chad Dunn, who tragically passed away in a boating accident in Oregon Inlet in North Carolina this past week. He was taken far too soon.

As a member of the fishing community, Chad was beloved by those who knew him, as well as his passion for the sea. Whether casting lines into the ocean's depths or navigating the tumultuous waters of life, Chad approached every challenge with courage and grace. Life is precious, and Chad seized every moment to live his life to the fullest. His spirit of adventure serves as a reminder for all of us to do the same.

While the sea may have claimed Chad's physical existence, his spirit remains in our hearts and our minds, especially those in the boating community and fishing community of Oregon Inlet in the Outer Banks.

I pray that God brings peace to his loved ones in this very difficult time. May his life be forever remembered, cherished, and beloved by those who loved and knew him.

Rest in peace, Chad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jasper L. Lewis of Greenville for his remarkable contributions to dentistry and his community, state, and Nation. Dr. Lewis graduated from Wake Forest University and received his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of North Carolina. From the beginning of his professional career, Dr. Lewis was committed to using his talents and expertise for the betterment of others. After receiving his degrees, Dr. Lewis decided to join the Air Force as a dental officer.

Dr. Lewis returned home to Greenville and founded his own practice, Eastern Orthodontics & Pediatrics. He has earned the reputation of an esteemed leader in his field, serving as President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Vice President of the North Carolina Dental Society. He is also credited as a significant contributor to the founding of the Eastern Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and has a professorship named in his honor.

Dr. Lewis has a big heart for the children of Eastern North Carolina affected by oral healthcare disparities. He helped bring the American Dental Association's ``Give Kids a Smile'', a nationwide program providing free dental services to uninsured children, to Eastern North Carolina. As all can see, Dr. Lewis's charity and influence touched many lives. Dr. Lewis was recently recognized by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce and became one of only ten recipients to receive the Legends Award.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in extending this chamber's recognition of this remarkable servant leader.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Pitt County's

finest, my good friend, Dr. Jasper Lewis.

Dr. Lewis, an eastern North Carolina native, earned his dental degree at UNC Chapel Hill and then served 2 years in the U.S. Air Force. He received his post-doctoral degree from UNC in 1973 and then moved to Greenville, North Carolina, to open his practice in pediatric dentistry.

He held numerous offices in regional and national dental organizations, including as president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Through tireless efforts, Dr. Lewis was instrumental in bringing a dental school to East Carolina University which has become the national model in rural dental care.

Dr. Lewis brought the American Dental Association's Give Kids a Smile campaign, providing oral healthcare to underprivileged children in eastern North Carolina.

Recently, Dr. Lewis was named recipient of the prestigious Legacy Award for 2023 by the Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce, an accolade that attests to his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those in our community.

Dr. Lewis has impacted countless lives in eastern North Carolina, and today we thank him for his selfless service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Geralene ``Jerri'' Mills Sutton of Beaufort. Mrs. Sutton recently finished her time here on Earth. She was known for her dedication to others and her appreciation of the simple things in life.

Mrs. Sutton started off as a talented educator. She ascended to Senior Director for the Virginia Department of Education and was the youngest woman to assume this role. Her position led to working with the United Nations, traveling to developing countries, and helping improve educational outcomes for children.

Mrs. Sutton's dedication to the people of Eastern North Carolina eventually led her home to Greenville where she focused on improving her hometown community. All who knew her can attest to her unwavering devotion to the historical preservation of Eastern North Carolina. She led the restoration efforts of the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church, which was set ablaze during the Civil War.

After relocating to Beaufort, she immersed herself in the Town's rich maritime history and culture. She became a founding trustee of the Maritime Heritage Foundation and served as the President for five years. She also won the Volunteer of the Year award in 2015 from the Beaufort Historical Association. Her passion and fantastic fundraising prowess led to securing $1.5 million from small and big donors and the North Carolina General Assembly to build the North Carolina Maritime Museum on the Gallants Channel.

As all can see, Mrs. Sutton was especially attentive to the people and places she loved. I hope we can all learn from her legacy and do more for the people and places around us. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring this incredible woman.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 7217, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

In the face of terror and absolute unprovoked aggression, Israel is in the fight for its existence. The United States must not shirk its duty and must support Israel. Israel has the absolute right to exist.

Mr. Speaker, the world is essentially on fire. If you do not combat dictators, if you do not combat terrorists, we are shirking our duty.

Today, with the United States being Israel's greatest ally, we must support them. We already sent the Senate a support bill. We sent them a support bill for Israel. We did that barely a month after the Hamas attack on October 7.

What have Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats done? They have sat on it. Now, they want to send us a bill to try to fix their crisis at the border in the guise of support for Israel.

By the way, their crisis at the border, President Biden's crisis at the border, has cost this Nation $450 billion. That pales in comparison to the $17 billion that we are asking for Israel.

We don't need gimmicks. We don't need a bill, which hasn't even been passed by the Senate, that will allow more and more illegals to come into this country. What we need is a singular bill to support Israel, our greatest ally.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 7217.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the extraordinary life of my good friend Geralene ``Jerri'' Mills Sutton. Jerri was born and raised in Greenville, North Carolina, and described herself as a daughter of eastern North Carolina.

A passionate educator, Jerri started her career with the Virginia State Department of Education. Following her tenure, she traveled the world working with the United Nations and advocating for the improvement of educational systems in developing countries. As someone who has done so much medical work in these developing countries, I have seen firsthand how desperately needed good educational systems are. Jerri saw this and put her words into action.

She returned to eastern North Carolina with an unwavering commitment to better her community and spearheaded the restoration of the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church in Greenville, North Carolina.

After settling in Beaufort, North Carolina, a beautiful eastern coastal town, Jerri immersed herself in the vibrant, rich, and welcoming community there. She found solace in the beauty of the coastal environment and enjoyed gazing out at the sunset from the porch of her home.

In 2017, she took the role of founding trustee and president of the Maritime Heritage Foundation of Beaufort, where I served as an honorary trustee and was honored to work with her also. Her leadership played a pivotal role in establishing the Foundation's ``Gallants Channel'' Campaign Cabinet, which advanced fundraising for expanding the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

Under her leadership, they raised $1.5 million for the Foundation, and campaigning our legislators in Raleigh, received $3 million funded by the North Carolina General Assembly.

Jerri peacefully passed away on January 3, surrounded by her loved ones in Durham.

Her enduring legacy of stewardship and compassion and humanitarian spirit continues to touch the lives of all those she encountered. Today, we honor Jerri for her inspiring life and the tremendous legacy of love and commitment she had.

Recognizing Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina, which has been named the 2024 Marine Corps Air Station of the year.

Cherry Point is home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the 2D Logistics Group, and to the Marine Corps Fleet Readiness Center, FRC East.

Cherry Point provides a steady flow of trained aviators, which is so critical in this very tumultuous time in the world today.

Established in 1942, Cherry Point has grown to become the United States' largest Marine Corps Air Station. This prestigious award is testament to the strong performance of our marines in various operational aspects, high-profile asset and project management, community engagement, innovation, administrative discipline, and unwavering teamwork.

I commend the leadership of Colonel Brendan Burks, as well as former XO Colonel Mike Huber, as well as the fine men and women stationed there who justifiably earned this distinguished recognition.

I am grateful for our brave servicemembers, as well as their families, who have sacrificed so much to protect us and this great Nation. It is my honor to represent Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and its proud community, which strongly supports our troops. Its unwavering support has played a pivotal role in the base's growth. At present time, there is close to $1 billion in Marine Corps construction going on at Cherry Point.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate our marines and the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on a well-deserved recognition. May God bless all of the airmen and servicemembers serving there.

Semper Fi.

Crisis at our Border

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk a little bit about our border.

On the first day of the Presidency of Joe Biden, he did what no other Nation's leader has ever done. He invited an invasion of our own country.

In that decision, there has been close to 10 million illegal individuals coming in this country. More than 200 individuals have been caught on the terrorist watch list. No legislation is needed to fix this absolute disaster.

Kamala Harris, the ``border czar,'' has done absolutely nothing. We are now facing a calamity of unrecognized proportion in this Nation's history.

Today, the President could end this disaster by doing just a few things: end catch and release; cease the exploitation of parole authority; reinstate Remain in Mexico; expand expedited removal authority; and renew building the wall.

The President has the authority today to stop this. He doesn't require legislation. He is shirking on his duty as President of the United States to end this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in 1965, a program called Medicare was incepted. It was offering health benefits to those over age 65.

At first, physicians were very suspicious of allowing so much government intervention in medicine. After a while, more and more physicians doing their duty to take care of patients accepted it.

The sad fact and the problem is that Medicare now is what they, in 1965, were very afraid of, that so much of government has gotten into medical issues.

This is the main problem. Medicare does not reimburse the cost of care for patients. This is a real access issue. We are not really talking about paying physicians. We are talking about access to care.

This year, CMS is proposing a 3.37 percent cut to the physician fee schedule. It would be about a 20 percent cut over the last 20 years.

Doctors want to see Medicare patients, but they simply won't be able to, and this is going to affect access to care.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my good friend who is board-certified in internal medicine and dermatology.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), one of the doctor co-chairs. He has been a stalwart in the Chamber for 20-plus years as a physician, a retired OB-GYN.

Mr. Speaker, it is about access. Physicians want to see Medicare patients, but if you do not pay the bills, they can't keep the doors open.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), my good friend and a board-certified podiatric surgeon.

Mr. Speaker, we are experiencing a doctor shortage, and it is going to get worse and worse, driving physicians out because they no longer are able to be paid for their services or forcing them into employment that destroys the historically great quality of medicine in America.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), my good friend from the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, as you can see, this is obviously a bipartisan issue. We care about our constituents, but we also care about the health of our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, 10,000 Americans each day are added to the Medicare rolls. Again, with such a doctor shortage, you are adding more and more individuals where Medicare doesn't pay their bills, and it is harder and harder to take care of them.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera), another physician friend of mine from the great State of California, to discuss the difficult problem we are facing today.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman points out a perfect issue. We are depriving access to patients and developing more and more concierge medicine, which is wonderful for those who can afford it, but for those who can't afford to go and see one of these cash doctors, and you can't get into a doctor's office because they can't take more Medicare patients, guess what happens? They get driven to emergency departments where a more costly care goes on.

We have to stop this nonsense.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier), a pediatrician.

Mr. Speaker, if you owned a hardware store and sold hammers that cost $1 apiece but you had to sell them for 40 cents apiece, how long would you sell hammers?

You wouldn't sell them very long because it just doesn't make financial sense, and you literally can't just give money and walk money out the door.

Unfortunately, this is what is happening with Medicare patients. Physicians want to take care of their patients. They are caring individuals, but when the numbers don't matter, you just can't do it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick), and emergency room physician, to talk on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I have seen Medicare patients for more than 30 years. I have had individuals come in my office after I have operated on and cared for them in the hospital and apologized, flat out apologized for the lack of payment that we received from Medicare.

I tell them I do it because I love operating and taking care of people, but there comes a point where you have to keep the lights on, you have to pay your nurses, and pay your mortgage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), a doctor of pharmacy, to talk about the ridiculous cuts that are facing our colleagues as physicians.

Mr. Speaker, we submitted a bill, H.R. 6683, a couple weeks ago, and while ENC was able to keep the cut at 1.25 percent, we are actually desiring to not allow the cut at all. We are taking money from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which is what the money is for, to solve problems within Medicare.

Unfortunately, as this was a wonderful bipartisan discussion this evening, we are oftentimes imprisoned, if you will, sometimes to the will of some of the leaders over in Senate, sometimes even here in the House.

Leaders over in the Senate didn't want anything for a doctor fix. The Democratic leader said, no, we want this huge wish list of things done, and we will trade that for the doctor fix.

Well, guys, you can't take poison pills to try to help physicians. This is where there should not be politics whatsoever. We saw both sides tonight, Democrats and Republicans, speak about the healthcare of patients in this country.

Mr. Speaker, at some point it is going to snap. At some point, whether it be what Obamacare was trying to do, absolutely starve private practice so that everybody would either be bought out by private equity or have to be assumed by hospital systems. Where, by the way, physicians don't work as efficiently, physicians cost more, and they see fewer patients. It is a closer ownership care of patients.

When I was practicing full-time, if another doctor called me and said, hey, can you see somebody? My response was always: Do you want me to see them today or tomorrow?

The sad fact is once physicians become employed, not only do they cost more to the system, but the work ethic is not as good. That is just point-blank what is seen.

What we need to understand is that private practice is the most efficient way of delivering healthcare in this country, but it is also the one where we care the most, and we follow up. We are always happy to see that next patient and make sure that we keep our doors open.

At this point, Mr. Speaker, we are going to approach a calamitous cliff, if you will, in the next 3 to 5 years with the number of surgeons that are available to take care of patients.

I am a urologist. I take care of disorders of the kidney, prostate, and bladder--those type of things. We are the most critically short specialty in the country.

Right now, the median age of individuals practicing urology is my age, the age of 60. If now we are not paying doctors enough to stay in business, they are going to quit. We are going to make a bad shortage even worse. We have to pay those who take care of patients what they need to be paid.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that this was a bipartisan discussion this evening, something that is easy for our leadership to fix. I ask that they do that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible person, honorable soldier, and remarkable community member, the late Sergeant Juan ``Eric'' Cantu. Sergeant Cantu honorably served our Nation in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. A native of Lenoir County, graduating in 1964 and immediately enlisting in the Army. After working in Illinois for a few years, he returned home to Kingston, earning his industrial maintenance degree from Lenoir Community College in 1986. He served as the Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 892, and a founding member of AmVets Post 1111.

Mr. Cantu is most known for founding the G.I. Joe Living Military History Museum, displaying memorabilia, uniforms, weapons, and photos from all major conflicts starting with the Revolutionary War. More than just a museum; it is a place of solace where veterans freely share their experiences and heal their wounds. Thanks to him, many veterans' lives have been saved due to the community and camaraderie fostered at the museum.

According to those who knew him the best, they cherished his work ethic, optimism, and community involvement. I thank them for joining me in celebrating the life of this wonderful Veteran. I wish Mr. Cantu's family the best in the future and hope that Mr. Cantu's creation, the G.I. Joe Living Military History Museum, can continue to serve those who gave it all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible man and former constituent, the late Sergeant Juan Eric Cantu.

Sergeant Cantu honorably served our Nation as a member of the U.S. Army during the war in Vietnam with the 228th Aviation Battalion associated with the 1st Cavalry Division. He deployed to Vietnam from 1966 to 1968 and was a tail gunner on a Chinook helicopter and a fixed rotor mechanic.

He served as commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 892, and a founding member of AMVETS Post 1111.

Additionally, Mr. Cantu founded the legendary GI Joe's Living Military History Museum in Kinston, which displays memorabilia, uniforms, weapons, and photos from all major conflicts starting with the Revolutionary War and became a place of comfort and solace for veterans to share their stories and heal their wounds.

Those who knew Mr. Cantu described three principles that best defined him: his legendary work ethic, his optimistic nature, and his love for his fellow veterans.

We honor him today. We remember him today. Sergeant Juan Eric Cantu was a humble servant, community leader, and remarkable human.

May he rest in peace and may God bless his family and friends.

Medicare Fee Cut

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the proposed 3.37 percent Medicare fee cut. When a physician sees a Medicare patient, they do so out of the goodness of their heart. They care for the patient. It doesn't make financial sense.

When you see a Medicare or Medicaid patient, you actually lose money. It

costs more to see patients than you are getting for the cost of care.

When I ran a private practice, I stayed up many, many nights, Saturday nights, trying to find out how to squeeze out money--to find each paper clip, make sure that we knew where the staplers were--just to make sure that we made payroll and that we paid the light bill.

Oftentimes I did not take a salary when we could not do that, but that was private practice. We were our own destiny. We knew how to take care of patients. We had an ownership in patients.

When adjusted for inflation over the last 20 years, the Medicare fee schedule for physicians has been cut by 20 percent.

What other profession expects to be cut year after year rather than receive raises, especially during this inflationary period?

One of ObamaCare's directives was to starve private practice, to force them, to drive them into employment. My former practice is employed now by a hospital. They have done well, but this is an entirely different tenet with patient care.

Physicians are being cut every year in their pay. Hospitals, albeit smaller, get raises every year.

While this still may not be much to carry the cost of care in these hospitals, but why are the people who are providing care to the patients the ones who are being cut?

Why is this a bad model?

It is because I think employed physicians tend to be a different bird from private practice physicians. They tend to be more working on the clock, they tend to decrease efficiency, and they actually increase the cost of care.

There is much more ownership with private practice physicians. When a private practice physician comes into a community, they establish roots, and they become part of the community. They join churches, and they join civic groups.

Unfortunately, the employed physician model as we see it now is much more transitory. There is a contract, and if that doesn't work out, then they move in 3 years. Then patients are left in the lurch. My doctor--it is always my doctor--took care of me for 20 years. That is starting to stop; that is ceasing.

The Medicare fee schedule cuts must stop. This is why I introduced H.R. 6683, the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act. The legislation stops this year's cut while we work on a permanent solution.

Mr. Speaker, this is one of the reasons I came to Congress: to fix Medicare. We are experiencing a critical doctor shortage now, but it is going to be off the cliff in 3 to 5 years, especially with surgeons.

No other profession, as I just said, expects to be cut every year rather than get raises. Every day now we add 10,000 new patients to Medicare. Imagine a hardware store, Mr. Speaker, where you bought a hammer for a dollar, and you were paid 60 cents. It doesn't make sense.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the CMS' proposed Medicare cut of 3.37 percent.

Just to put this in perspective, when a physician sees a Medicare patient, they do it because they care about patients. They do not do it for money, because it doesn't make financial sense.

Let me give an example here.

You own a hardware store and you want to sell hammers. It costs you $1 for each hammer. Say, the hammer is on Medicare, or you have to buy the Medicare, and you have to sell it for 60 cents.

How long do you stay in business? It doesn't make sense.

So as we move time and time and time again, the number of physicians who are able to take Medicare patients, out of the goodness of their heart, is falling and falling. You actually lose money on Medicare or Medicare patients that has to be taken up through cost shifting for regular insurance.

When I ran a private practice, I stayed up many, many nights, Saturday nights, searching for paper clips, making sure that I knew where every penny went. I just had to make sure that my staff and the bills got paid before I ever got paid.

My practice was heavily Medicare, so I did not take a salary many, many times because the numbers did not work. In fact, adjusted for overinflation for the last 20 years, Medicare physician fee schedules have dropped 20 percent, and this is in light of the massive inflation we have had over the last 2 years; even worse.

Mr. Speaker, what other profession expects to get a pay cut every year?

This has to stop.

These are the people who are actually up in the middle of the night taking care of your grandmother who has appendicitis, taking care of your daughter, taking care of your child with a broken arm. They are the ones doing this, and here we are rewarding them because they basically have to take government pay patients by cutting and cutting and cutting.

One of ObamaCare's directives was to starve private practices to force physicians to work in hospitals or big conglomerations.

How did they do this? They cut their pay every year while hospitals, although not as much so, got raises every year.

So what does this do? It pushes physicians out of private practice because they can't pay the bills.

Mr. Speaker, I left my private practice when my partner said: We can't do this anymore. We are going to be acquired by a hospital.

Mr. MURPHY: We can't provide the care to the patients that they need.

Why is it a bad model? Private-practice physicians are different birds than employed physicians. It is just very simple. It is a well- known fact in medicine. Those employed physicians tend to be less efficient, cost more, and tend to work more on the clock.

Those who are in private practice put a taproot down in a community. They have stayed there, and they are someone's doctor for 20, 30 years or more. This is not happening now. They have made transitory medicine the rule, not the exception.

The cuts that are going to the Medicare fee schedule absolutely need to stop. This is why I introduced H.R. 6683, the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act.

This legislation will stop this year's cuts while we work on a permanent solution. This is not something that needs to happen year after year after year where we are cutting and cutting the people who actually take care of patients.

Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress to help work with my colleagues to help fix Medicare. We are facing an absolute calamity with the shortage of doctors, especially surgeons, in the next 3 to 5 years. Those who are reaching retirement age, instead of working like most physicians do, are finally throwing up their hands and saying, we are done.

Sadly enough, the ones coming out of medical school now--because of some of the processes now were not working hard enough--are not nearly coming out in the numbers and the efficiency to take the place of those retiring.

Every day, we now add 10,000 new patients to the Medicare rolls. You are expecting doctors to continue to take more and more Medicare, earning less and less and less. They are going to go out of business or have to go into employment, which we all know is a worse way of taking care of patients.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 6683 and help us try to keep medicine back on track.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jim Ross, President of Pamlico Community College (PCC), upon his recent announcement of his retirement. Dr. Ross is a servant leader who has improved life outcomes for thousands of individuals in Pamlico County. Under his leadership, PCC was recognized for excellence, being among the Top 25 Smart Asset Best Community Colleges on five separate occasions and the WalletHub list of the top 10 community colleges for Educational Outcomes for three different years. He also spearheaded the development of the first Dental Laboratory program on a community college campus in Eastern North Carolina and added many hands-on healthcare career courses.

Dr. Ross has used his position to advocate for the betterment of incarcerated individuals. He and his team started a new program at PCC called Human Service Technology which included courses to help combat recidivism and focused on life skills such as anger management, abstinence, and teamwork. This program also included for-credit courses and a liaison to connect the incarcerated with employment opportunities after serving their sentences.

Dr. Ross has opened his heart to some of the most judged, forgotten, and shamed members of our society and has been relentless in his fight in using his position to give them meaningful opportunities and a second chance. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing this wonderful educational leader. I wish Dr. Ross all the best in the future.