Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Speaker Pelosi told the American people that the misnamed stimulus bill would immediately create jobs and keep unemployment under 8 percent. However, unemployment has now topped 10 percent, with 2.8 million jobs lost since the misidentified stimulus was signed into law.

Despite these staggering numbers, Speaker Pelosi continues to push a job-killing health care takeover. Clearly, Congress has a case of misplaced priorities.

Patricia Owen lives on Hilton Head Island and owns FACES DaySpa. She is just one of the many small business owners who would be negatively impacted if this takeover is passed. With 23 employees at FACES DaySpa, the Owen family appreciates its dedicated staff. The Owen's service- based company will face more punitive taxes in Pelosi's health care takeover.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. Thank you, veterans, for victory in the Cold War 20 years ago Monday with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this job-killing bill that cuts Medicare, piles debt on our children and grandchildren, raises health care costs, and raises taxes on the American people.

Additionally, this bill cuts approximately $150 billion from Medicare Advantage, leaving 4.6 million women without their choice of insurance.

Madam Speaker, America's leading voice for small business, the National Federation of Independent Business, the NFIB, opposes H.R. 3962, the Pelosi takeover bill. The NFIB has sounded the alarm about the employer mandate, payroll tax penalty and unnecessary paperwork mandate crippling small businesses.

The opposition letter from the NFIB warns that the Pelosi takeover includes multiple mandates. Economic research shows mandates are ultimately borne by the worker through job loss and lower wages. The NFIB also warns how the payroll tax penalty is a tax on jobs and job creation. Additionally, the unnecessary paperwork mandate will place a new paperwork burden on all small businesses at a time when they are struggling to stay afloat. The NFIB has estimated the takeover effort will kill 1.6 million jobs at a time of record unemployment.

We should support health insurance reform, not a government takeover.

November 5, 2009.

Letter to House Opposing H.R. 3962

Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Federation

of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's leading small

business advocacy group, I am writing in opposition to the

Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). The

Affordable Health Care for America Act does not reflect the

access or affordability needs of NFIB's small businesses, and

a vote against H.R. 3962 will be considered an NFIB Key Vote

for the 111th Congress.

NFIB has been a constructive participant in the healthcare

debate and has spent more than a decade voicing our need for

reform. With healthcare costs ranking as the No. 1 issue

facing small business, our employers must carefully weigh the

potential benefits of reform against the new costs imposed on

business owners in the legislation. NFIB members have

identified specific areas in H.R. 3962 that will raise those

costs:

Employer Mandate: H.R. 3962 includes an employer mandate

that will require employers to pay for healthcare for full-

time and part-time employees. An employer mandate does not

address the No. 1 issue facing small businesses:

unsustainable costs. This mandate affects those who do not

offer coverage today as well as those who already do provide

insurance, but aren't making contributions at contribution

levels outlined in the bill (72.5% for individual plans and

65% for family plans). Rather than help, this will penalize

employers already offering healthcare and force them to make

hard choices about how to afford the new government

requirements. Economic research has shown time and again that

mandates such as these are a ``one-two punch'' where the cost

is first borne by the employer, but is ultimately borne by

the employee--through job loss and lower wages.

Payroll Tax Penalty: A payroll tax penalty is a tax on jobs

and job creation because they tax labor. The legislation

requires that all employers with a payroll of $500,000 or

more pay a payroll tax of up to 8 percent if they do not

provide ``qualified'' health insurance to their employees. No

matter how profitable or unprofitable a business might be,

they are forced to pay this tax. In addition, because the

exemption thresholds in H.R. 3962 are not indexed for

inflation, the exemption will become a healthcare equivalent

of the alternative minimum tax, hitting more and more

employers until there is no one exempted at all.

Paperwork Mandate: H.R. 3962 places a new tax-compliance

paperwork burden on all small businesses. The ``corporate

reporting'' provision is an expansion on reporting

requirements (for transactions of more than $600), which

increases the cost of operating a small business and diverts

resources away from growing and creating jobs.

Big Benefit Package and More Mandates: Small employers need

a guarantee that plans offered in an exchange will be less

costly, not more expensive, than what they are paying today.

Today, small businesses pay an average of 18 percent more for

their healthcare, leaving them continuously searching for

more affordable choices.

H.R. 3962 gives a political board the power to define

``coverage'' and will determine whether an employer plan is

``acceptable.'' However, the bill does nothing to ensure that

the new plans will be less costly than what small employers

are paying today. In some cases, the legislation will also

require some small employers to cover benefits that are not

currently mandated under federal law.

Takes Away Small Business Solutions: Small employers need

more, not fewer, affordable health insurance options.

However, the prohibition of HSA, FSA and MSA funds to

purchase over-the-counter medications, along with the $2,500

limit on FSA contributions, threatens to further limit the

ever-shrinking options employers have to provide meaningful

healthcare to their employees.

Public Option: A government-run plan cannot compete fairly

with the private market, and threatens to destroy the

marketplace, further limiting choices. We believe that with

proper reforms the private market can be held accountable to

provide greater competition and lower-cost solutions where

insurers compete based on their ability to manage, rather

than shed risk. Instead, the excessively prescriptive

insurance reforms in H.R. 3962 will drive up costs.

Surtax: Seventy-five (75) percent of small businesses are

structured as pass through entities and pay their business

taxes at the individual level. More than one-third of small

businesses employing 20 to 250 employees could face the tax.

Finally, since the tax is not indexed for inflation, the

effect of the tax will creep downward, making more and more

businesses vulnerable to a tax increase.

Poorly-Structured Tax Credit: There are two reasons the

credit in H.R. 3962 is of limited value. First, the

availability of the credit is too short. A credit that is

only available for two years means that every small business

owner that claims the credit will see a large spike in their

out-of-pocket costs for health care in year three. Second,

the wage limits are too restrictive. Phasing the credit out

based on average wages of $20,000 or less severely reduces

the amount of a tax credit available for most small

businesses.

NFIB will continue to advocate for reform because, as both

democratic and republican lawmakers have said, the status quo

is not acceptable. Our small business owners agree, but

reform must make the problem better, not worse. Because H.R.

3962 will not lower healthcare costs and threatens our

economic recovery, NFIB will consider a NO vote a vote in

support of small business. This will be an NFIB KEY VOTE FOR

Mr. Speaker, I have criticized many of the provisions of this bill (H.R. 3962) and rightfully so. But in fairness, I do believe the sections relating to the creation of a market for biosimilar products is one area of the bill that strikes the appropriate balance in providing lower cost options to consumers without destroying a healthy and functioning industry in this country. These provisions were one of the few areas in the bill adopted on an overwhelming bi-partisan vote for the Eshoo-Inslee-Barton (EIB) amendment in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Creating a pathway for new products that doesn't destroy the ability or the incentives for innovator companies to develop breakthrough technologies and at the same time providing a safe and effective way to bring competition to benefit patients is a laudable achievement. I wish we could remove this provision from this fatally flawed piece of legislation and consider it separately because it would pass with the kind of overwhelming bi-partisan support that Americans across the country wish to see.

However, these provisions are only the first step in a long path to the marketing of these new products. New research and clinical testing will have to occur and the FDA will write rules that will ensure this research is done safely and effectively. One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country. Unfortunately, many of the largest companies that would seek to enter the biosimilar market have made their money by outsourcing their research to foreign countries like India. With this weeks devastating news that unemployment has reached 10.2 percent it is critical that we preserve jobs in the United States. While the innovator's have created jobs here, these generic companies have shipped them overseas, so they can turn around and sell cheap knockoffs of innovative American products.

As this new market launches in the U.S., we need to ensure that we foster innovative products in this country for the creation of jobs and research that will go into proving whether these products are interchangeable with the innovators products. I have my doubts that these companies can create such interchangeable products, but I am certain that the research and testing of whether or not they can should occur in this country and not somewhere across the globe. Testing and research on these interchangeable biosimilars should occur in this country to ensure that it is done properly and safely and to benefit our economy.

Madam Speaker, included in the 2,000 pages of the Pelosi takeover bill are massive cuts in Medicare that will hurt seniors across the country. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, these cuts are $162 billion, causing many seniors to lose their current coverage or limit their choices. But that is not all. The Pelosi takeover also increases seniors' Medicare prescription drug premiums by 20 percent over the next decade.

These negative policies hurt seniors. That is why I am pleased that senior organizations like Sixty Plus Association and the Senior Citizens League stand tall for seniors against the Pelosi takeover.

Squeezing Medicare and Medicaid half a trillion dollars is an attack on senior citizens. A better bill is H.R. 3400 for affordability and accessibility. Our bill will save jobs, while the Pelosi takeover will kill jobs with record 10.2 unemployment.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism. Our prayers and sympathy are with the families of Fort Hood, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 895. I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Mike McCaul of Texas, a proven friend of military families.

Yesterday marked a dark and painful chapter in the history of Fort Hood, Texas. The Nation's largest military installation was devastated when the soldiers and civilians of the United States Army were heinously attacked by the least likely of assailants, a murderer who benefited from the American dream of unlimited opportunity, attending medical school at military expense, and a person given trust as a high rank in our military. He cowardly then committed treason.

In the aftermath, we have learned that 13 of our bravest and finest Americans were killed and several dozen more were wounded. This senseless act of horror betrays our respect and dignity for human life. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with each of the families affected by this great tragedy.

My constituents are shocked and saddened. In discussing today this tragedy with Carl Gooding of WDOG radio of Allendale, South Carolina, I know firsthand the Lowcountry of South Carolina is praying for the Fort Hood families.

Amidst this tragedy, there are reports that many soldiers in the immediate vicinity of the attack provided heroic aid to their fellow soldiers who had been wounded, several of them already wounded themselves. These selfless acts undoubtedly saved the lives of several and mitigated what was already a terrible tragedy. Many have come forward to donate much-needed blood and offer themselves to help at

this needed time. This bravery and determination is a testimony to our servicemen and -women, the new greatest generation, and stands in bold opposition to the horror of yesterday's events.

Military installations are the last place our servicemen and -women should fear for their safety. Over the last few years, we have made great effort to ensure the security of our military personnel, but still there is work to be done.

I know of the great efforts our military police and protective services who are making a difference at bases I represent, Fort Jackson in Columbia, Parris Island Marine Base, the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, and the Beaufort Naval Hospital.

Today, as Fort Hood observes a day of mourning, we also offer our prayers to all those touched by this tragedy, including our soldiers, civilians, military families, and the Central Texas community.

As the son of a World War II Army veteran, as a 31-year Army Reserve and National Guard veteran myself, as the father of four sons serving today in the American military, with a nephew serving in Baghdad, I know military members support each other as family.

America's extended military family across the world deeply cares for our fellow family members at Fort Hood. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 895.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday I joined my colleagues to comb through the Pelosi health care takeover. The takeover bill weighs in at 21 pounds and is 2,000 pages long. You would think in a bill that size, we would be able to find an adequate enforcement or citizenship verification system.

Unfortunately, we did not. All we found were weak citizenship verification measures that will give illegal aliens easy access to health care benefits paid for by hard working taxpayers--with overcrowding of medical providers delaying services for legal citizens.

In an effort to close this loophole, I am going to join Congressmen Nathan Deal, Dean Heller and Sam Johnson to present several amendments to the Rules Committee. Our amendments will prevent American taxpayers from being forced to finance benefits for illegal aliens by adding strong enforcement and verification provisions to the Pelosi health care takeover bill.

I encourage the Rules Committee to accept our amendments to eliminate the loopholes for fraud and abuse.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism. I am grateful for the visit on Capitol Hill today by the Morristown Tea Party led by Jeff Weingarten who I visited last Sunday to encourage turnout in the New Jersey gubernatorial election Tuesday. With dedicated volunteers such as Synnove Bakke of East Brunswick, there was an historic turnout.

Mr. Speaker, today I missed a rollcall vote. Unfortunately I missed this vote due to a scheduling conflict.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 858, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H. Res. 868, honoring and recognizing the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to join Congressmen Fleming, Gingrey, Heller, and Herger to introduce an amendment to automatically enroll all Members of Congress in the government-run option.

In the Education and Labor Committee, I was able to pass the amendment requiring Congress to take the government-run option, but the Pelosi takeover plan changes the word which would make Congress take the government-run option being pushed on the American people. That one small ``may'' reverses the meaning of the bill.

If Speaker Pelosi insists on shoving this bill through, then I believe Members of Congress should take the government-run option. If it is good enough for the American people, then it is good enough to Congress.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism. Congratulations to State Representative-elect Ralph Norman and Elaine of Rock Hill, South Carolina, for their overwhelming victory yesterday.

Madam Speaker, A 2,000 page, 1.2 trillion dollar health care takeover is headed to this floor. Given its abrupt arrival, I hope the Speaker will open the floor to the 53 alternatives presented from Republicans.

Republicans continue to offer positive health care solutions, but our alternatives are not being scheduled. Our solutions will give Americans access to affordable, accessible, and quality health care that is centered around the patient.

Unlike Pelosi's health care takeover, our alternatives do not contain any of the cuts to seniors' Medicare benefits. Or the costly tax increases and job-killing mandates. Our alternatives will not sever the doctor-patient relationship, or put a trillion dollar price tag on the backs of our children and grandchildren--threatening devaluation of seniors' fixed incomes.

We need to promote the vision German Chancellor Angela Merkel described today for America to be the land of unlimited opportunity. The Big Government takeover will limit opportunity.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, the Pelosi takeover bill is nearly 2,000 pages of regulations and tax hikes that will strangle small businesses across America. At the same time we celebrate the new jobs being created by Boeing in South Carolina, the Pelosi takeover will destroy jobs, and we must stop it.

Senior citizens are under attack by squeezing Medicare. The Pelosi takeover will impose $135 billion in taxes on small businesses. In addition, this bill includes nearly $500 billion in other taxes, including a surtax on small businesses. The Nation's largest small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB, reports that this employer mandate will negatively impact small businesses, eliminating 1.6 million jobs.

I encourage Speaker Pelosi to scrap her health care takeover and to work across the aisle with Republicans to adopt elements of H.R. 3400 and to give small businesses the opportunity to pull together to receive competitive rates.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, on October 28, 2009, terrorists killed nearly 100 people--including dozens of women and children--when they attacked a women's market in Peshawar, Pakistan, with a car bomb. These type of heinous acts are a sad reminder of the gruesome tactics used by those who want to undermine stability in Pakistan and the region as well as threaten American families and our allies. I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the people of Pakistan--an ally of the United States in the global war on terrorism.

In the wake of these most recent attacks, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton--who was on the ground in Pakistan at the time--correctly stated that those terrorists who perpetrate these types of murderous acts are ``on the losing side of history.'' This is why we must continue to fight to defeat the terrorists overseas to protect American families here at home. We must stand with the people of Pakistan and the people of Afghanistan to protect and defend democracy and freedom.

I know firsthand of the sacrifices of the Pakistani people. I was honored to have breakfast with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto at her home in Islamabad four weeks and a day before she was murdered. The brave people of Pakistan responded to this brutal attack with resolve to continue building a civil society.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, Boeing announced that they had chosen their North Charleston, South Carolina, facility as the site for a second 787 Dreamliner final assembly line. This is tremendous news not just for the people of Charleston but for all the families of South Carolina. As we have seen with the success of Michelin across the state, including Lexington, recruited from France by Governor Jim Edwards and BMW at Greer secured from Germany by the late Governor Carroll Campbell bringing new jobs, Boeing's decision will have a broader impact on our state's economy. As noted in today's edition of The State, ``S.C. officials expect a network of companies will spring up across the state to support Boeing's operations, just as businesses sprang up around BMW's Upstate plant, opened in the 1990s.''

This decision by Boeing is a testament to the strong workforce in South Carolina. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of so many members of our communities who continue to fight to bring more jobs to South Carolina. In particular, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor has shown excellent leadership. I've been grateful to work with Secretary Taylor and other leaders as we keep our commitment to those we serve to promote South Carolina as a leader for industry and innovation in the positive environment of a Right to Work State.

Madam Speaker, in Congress, there is a normal shuffling of positions. Today, it is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of Ryan Murphy.

For the past 2 years, Ryan has done a professional job while serving as communications director for the Second Congressional District under very extraordinary circumstances. Ryan has handled his position with professionalism, grace, and integrity. His dedication and work ethic will be difficult to replace.

Ryan began his career as a staff member of Congressman Tom Price. He will continue his service on Monday as the minority press secretary for the Committee on Education and Labor.

I especially appreciate Ryan as a fellow graduate of Washington and Lee University and Sigma Nu. Ryan is the son of Mike and Chris Murphy of Atlanta and Hilton Head. He is a credit to the people of South Carolina and Georgia. I wish him Godspeed.

In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Welcome, Boeing, to South Carolina. We are grateful for the new jobs in the tradition of Michelin and BMW.

Mr. Speaker, the Democrat Big Government agenda in Washington is destroying jobs.

Every dollar borrowed and spent by this Democrat majority, a total of $1.4 trillion this year alone, threatens the value of our currency.

Among the negative consequences of a weak dollar is the increased costs to American families for goods and services, especially gas to run cars and businesses. CQ Weekly reports money going into commodities instead of the dollar drives up oil prices. Along with the majority's refusal to allow for the exploration of more American oil and natural gas, the decline of the value of the dollar leads to rising oil prices. This is painful to struggling families. It costs jobs and undercuts our economy.

We must restore fiscal sanity. We cannot borrow and spend our way to prosperity, a devastating truth with the lack of jobs created by the Democrats nearly $1 trillion porkulus bill.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats are proposing $163 billion in cuts to the Medicare Advantage program as part of their government takeover of health care. A crucial program, Medicare Advantage offers seniors greater choice and affordability, the primary goal of health insurance reform. But Democrats want to cut funding for this program.

Squeezing senior citizens out of their current health insurance plan in order to impose new taxes and unworkable government mandates onto American families is not the way to reform health insurance. We need targeted reforms that will expand opportunities to get insurance, like association health plans and purchasing insurance across State lines.

The Republican Study Committee, led by Dr. Tom Price, has offered H.R. 3400 to promote affordability and accessibility for American families and small businesses.

The American people have a choice on how we reform. We do not need a big government takeover which will destroy 1.6 million jobs, according to the NFIB, the voice of small business.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.