Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last week, more than 80 million Americans lost personal information when health insurer Anthem was hacked. Almost immediately, Anthem customers started to receive suspicious email messages trying to con them.

Anthem, Target, Home Depot, Sony--the list goes on and on of major hacks in the last year. In many of these cases, those who had their information stolen did not receive notice of the compromise promptly-- the best way for them to protect themselves.

Because of ObamaCare, Federal and State governments now host a massive trove of private information. In hearing after hearing last year, we heard about the vulnerabilities of these systems.

In order to protect consumers, the House passed my Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act, which would require the government to inform consumers of a breach within 2 days. This bill passed with an overwhelming veto-proof majority but went nowhere in Harry Reid's Senate.

I have now reintroduced this bill, a commonsense measure to protect consumers if ObamaCare is the next major target for hackers. Maybe this year the Senate will act.

Mr. Speaker, with the rise of ISIS--or ISIL--in Syria and Iraq, we have seen the brutality of Islamic extremism to an extent previously unimaginable.

In just the last week, ISIL beheaded two Japanese citizens and revealed that a Jordanian pilot had been burned alive in a cage. This is why it is more critical than ever that we support our moderate allies in the region and praise their efforts to protect religious minorities.

In Egypt, President el-Sisi recently became the first modern leader in the country's history to visit a Coptic Christian church on Christmas Eve. The cathedral he visited had been attacked just 2 years earlier by Islamic extremists. By contrast, in regions controlled by ISIL, groups that have lived in the same community for more than 1,000 years have been killed or have fled for their lives.

We must never forget that the mission of the extremists is not regional but global dominance, and it is aimed at all who refuse to submit to their harsh interpretation of their religion. We must stand together with leaders like the King of Jordan and the President of Egypt, who speak up and act to defeat Islamic extremism, and give them our strong support.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Speaker Boehner for appointing me to serve as the Republican cochair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. It is a great honor to serve as a voice defending the rights of people worldwide to live free of repression and violence.

I have served as a member of the Commission since its establishment following the passing of our dear colleague Congressman Lantos. A Holocaust survivor, he understood what it was like to live under the thumb of a brutal and oppressive regime.

While we vowed ``never again,'' today, hundreds of millions of people worldwide live under governments that restrict the rights of free speech and religious expression--regimes that persecute minorities, women, and children.

We are blessed to live in a country where individual rights are protected and cherished. Despite our differences, Democrats and Republicans work hand in hand to protect these rights at home and expand them worldwide.

I am particularly honored to share the leadership of the Commission with Congressman McGovern. We have worked together to promote human rights for many years now, and I think there is much we can accomplish together.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 70, I call up the bill (H.R. 596) to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and for other purposes, as amended, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 596.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 596, sponsored by Bradley Byrne of Alabama.

Today, the House acts, once again, to repeal ObamaCare. Millions of Americans continue to feel the harmful effects of the President's health care law in almost every corner of their lives.

Recently, I heard from a public schoolteacher who told me that many of our local schools are having trouble finding long-term substitutes for specialty classes such as art, music, and physical education. Under ObamaCare's new definition of full-time work, substitute teachers are strictly limited to 3\1/2\ days a week. Children are simply missing out on these important classes or are being pushed into packed, combined classes. Many of our local schools have already had to outsource cafeteria workers and other part-time positions. School districts are spending too much time worrying about Federal mandates rather than the best way to teach children.

Republicans have no shortage of good ideas with which to replace the President's health care law. Last session, there were hundreds of bills introduced to reform health care with more affordable choices. We will hear many of these good ideas and other reasons for repeal today, and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues. The American people continue to oppose the President's health care law, and, today, House Republicans will stand with them again.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers), a member of the Subcommittee on Health.

Mr. Speaker, a lot of those people are on Medicaid and can't even see a doctor.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to an outstanding Member from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the time remaining?

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer).

Mr. Speaker, the number one health care concern of the American people is cost. The President promised American families that they would see a $2,500 reduction in premiums. President Obama was wrong.

According to one study from the Manhattan Institute, American families are seeing premium increases on an average of 49 percent.

At this time, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, might I inquire how many speakers the gentleman from New Jersey has remaining. We are prepared to close, Mr. Speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we have several hundred bills, a menu of options to repeal, to replace, some comprehensive, some targeted.

And I would remind the Democrats that ObamaCare cut $716 billion out of Medicare to fund ObamaCare.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), our great majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, the following list of incidents of religious persecution targeting the Christian community in India was compiled by the Evangelical Fellowship of India, a charter member of the World Evangelical Alliance and an accredited NGO with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India expresses concern at

the alarming rate at which the Christian community is being

targeted in India. The EFI's Religious Liberty Commission

recorded more than 38 incidents targeting the Christian

community in November-December 2014, with 31 incidents taking

place in December alone. The incidents range from physical

violence, false accusations, disruption of church services/

Christmas functions, to the hate campaigns and the pressure

to convert to Hinduism that the Christian community is facing

almost on a daily basis in India.

List of Incidents State wise

Uttar Pradesh--13 incidents

Madhya Pradesh--8 incidents

Chhattisgarh--4 incidents

Delhi--4 incidents

Punjab--2 incidents

Bihar--2 incidents

Tamil Nadu--1 incident

Karnataka--1 incident

Assam--1 incident

Andhra Pradesh--1 incident

Gujarat--1 incident

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (4th November 2014)

Members of Bajrang Dal attacked 7 Christians including one

Pastor from Mumbai, beat them up and got them arrested in

Bhopal. The Christians were stripped and beaten mercilessly

by fists and belts, causing internal injuries.

Indore, Madhya Pradesh (7th November 2014)

A Christian was falsely accused, detained and later

arrested on allegations of forced conversions in Indore.

According to reports from local sources, Hindu extremists

threw cross necklaces in the house where the Christians had

gathered and then stormed inside alleging forced conversions.

A police complaint alleging that the Christian was forcing

them to wear cross necklaces and hence converting them was

filed at the local police complaint. The Christian was

detained for over four hours at the Chandan Nagar Police

Station post the incident and was released later.

Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu (16th November 2014)

Over 100 Hindu extremists attacked a Christian community in

Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu. The community was attacked when they

were participating in a prayer service. The attackers not

only beat the Christians present but also burnt more than 20

vehicles belonging to the Christians. They desecrated Bibles,

burnt the altar of the Church and destroyed Church property

including musical instruments. The Christians were threatened

even when they were being treated for injuries at the local

hospital.

Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh (16th November 2014)

Members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal stormed the Sunday

worship service of the Masihi Aradhna Church in Rajnandgaon,

Chhattisgarh and beat the Church members up. The attackers

were looking for the Pastor who was hidden by the Church

members as there was a threat to his life.

Kolar, Karnataka (23rd November 2014)

Hindu extremists attacked the Calvary Apostolic Church in

Bangarapet, Karnataka. They beat up Church members resulting

in eight church members seriously injured. Two members among

the eight injured suffered broken legs.

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh (26th November 2014)

Media reports carried the news that under pressure from the

VHF, the Catholic missionaries in Bastar area of Chhattisgarh

state have agreed that the principals in their schools.

normally referred to as ``Father'', would now be addressed as

``Pracharya'', or ``Up-pracharya''. or ``Sir''. The reports

also mentioned that the missionaries have also agreed to put

up photographs of ``Maa Saraswati'' and ``great personalities

who have worked for national interest'' in their educational

institutions. Local Catholic sources have denied such an

agreement and complained of pressure from the VHP.

Assam (26th November 2014)

Pastor of the Believers Church in Moran Amguri, Sivasagar

District of Assam received threats from local Hindu leaders

to vacate the building that the congregation uses for Church

services in one months time or face the consequences.

Delhi (1st December 2014)

A Catholic church in East Delhi's Dilshad Garden area, St

Sebastian's Church, was completely gutted in a fire, in the

early hours of 1st December 2014. Later, Christians took to

the streets to protest the burning, and demanded a judicial

enquiry as foul play is suspected. The Governor of Delhi has

instituted a Special Investigation Team to probe into the

matter.

Delhi (2nd December 2014)

Four unidentified men broke into the Catholic convent in

Rohini area of Delhi. The CCTV captured the images when the

break in happened.

Delhi (6th December 2014)

Unidentified people pelted Our Lady of Fatema Church with

stones during mass at about 6 p.m in the Jasola area of New

Delhi damaging windows and causing the Syro-Malabar Catholic

congregation to rush out in alarm.

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (9th December 2014)

The RSS and the Dharma Jagran Manch announced that they

planned to convert 4000 Christian and 1000 Muslim families in

Aligarh on Christmas Day. BJP MP Yogi Adityanath supported

the event visibly among others. The organizers said that

Christmas was chosen as the day for conversion because the

event is a ``shakti pariksha'' (test of strength) for both

religions.

Ludhiana, Punjab (11th December 2014)

Members of the Shiv Sena attacked the Kalvari Church,

Ludhiana prompting the police to deploy heavy security to

protect the Church building. Shiv Sena members later

surrounded the local police station alleging forced

conversion.

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (12th December 2014)

Newspapers reported that the Dharam Jagran Samiti (DJS), an

RSS offshoot, distributed pamphlets in Aligarh seeking

donations for converting Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.

The pamphlet said that it costs Rs 2 lakh to convert a

Christian and Rs 5 lakh to convert a Muslim. The DJS had set

December 25 as the date for a major conversion ceremony and

put down an annual target of 2 lakh conversions--1 lakh

Muslims and 1 lakh Christians in the area.

Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh (12th December 2014)

Members of the Bajrang Dal stormed a Christian meeting in

Ratlam. Madhya Pradesh along with the media and the police

forcing the organizers to cancel the meeting. The organizers

and the speakers of the meeting were taken to the police

station but were later released. CSP P S Ranawat told the

media that no evidence about the alleged conversions, forced

or otherwise. was found in the initial probe by the police.

Bastar, Chhattisgarh (13th December 2014)

NDTV and other national media organizations reported that

the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bastar, Dinesh Kashyap presided

over a ceremony that saw 33 Christian families being

converted to Hinduism. The local Christians had complained of

pressure from VHP and BJP earlier asking them to convert to

Hinduism.

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (13th December 2014)

Christians were attacked and beaten by Hindu extremists for

singing Christmas carols in Hyderabad, seriously injuring a

pastor and four others. The violence occurred while Pastor

Bhim Nayak of Banjara Baptist Church and fifteen church

members sang Christmas carols and visited Christian families

in the city's Singareny Colony. Local reports say that some

thirty ``Hindu extremists'' attacked the Christians and a

vehicle they had hired for the evening festivities.

Pipraich, Uttar Pradesh (16th December 2014)

Christians including 4 women were arrested from a Christmas

function at Navipur village, Pipraich, Uttar Pradesh and were

kept in custody for more than 20 hours before being released.

They were accused by Hindu groups of indulging in forced

conversion but the police let them go after a detailed

investigation.

Behraich, Uttar Pradesh (16th December 2014)

Pastor Mahendra Kumar from Behraich, Uttar Pradesh was

arrested and kept in custody for two days before being

released without any charges. He was arrested following

complaints of local Hindu groups. The Hindu groups are also

targeting a Christian social service organization working in

the area, according to local reports.

Bhagalpur, Bihar (18th December 2014)

Three Christians who had recently converted to Christianity

were forced to re-convert to Hinduism. According to media

reports the three converts returned to the Hindu fold after

they were threatened with a social boycott.

Uttar Pradesh (18th December 2014)

Dharm Jagran Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh told media that

his organization plans to root out Christianity and Islam

from India by December 31, 2021, adding that Christians and

Muslims essentially have no right to live in the country.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (19th December 2014)

Hindu extremists disrupted a Christian prayer meeting and

beat up Christians in Varanasi on December 19, 2014. Pastor

Shobhnath and local Christians were participating in prayer

and fasting in a village in Chiraigaon Block, Varanasi, when

10-12 people came in a Bolero (SUV), entered the house

forcefully, and started beating the Christians. They took

away Bible and other literature and also destroyed household

furniture. According to local sources the attackers are

office bearers of RSS and BJP. The matter was reported to the

local police.

Valsad, Gujarat (19th December 2014)

According to media reports. Vishwa Hindu Parishad

``officially brought back to the Hindu fold'' some 100

Christian tribals who had ``embraced Hinduism earlier'' in

south Gujarat. VHP activists later claimed as many as 900 had

been ``reconverted''. The 'zhar wapsi' ceremony was conducted

this afternoon at Arnai, a village in Kaprada taluka of

Valsad district. A news website called scroll.in later

investigated the issue and did not find a single convert in

the area, a far cry from what was claimed by the VHP.

Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh (19th December 2014)

A week after insisting that there was no evidence of

conversion, forced or otherwise, the Ratlam Police booked

Pastor Jose Mathews, the organiser of a Christian convention

under the state's anti-conversion law. The convention

organised by the Indian Pentecostal Church of God and the

United Christian Council (UCC) on December 12, at Ratlam was

attended by Christians and was stormed by Bajrang Dal people

alleging conversions.

Chhattisgarh (20th December 2014)

Media reports said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

is getting ready to clear

the controversial anti-conversion Bill passed by the

Chhattisgarh Assembly in 2006. The Dharma Swatantraya

Adhiniyam Act, 2006, brought by BJP's Raman Singh government

in the state says the return of a person to his ancestor's

religion or own original religion shall not be construed as

``conversion.'' The Bill also says that a district magistrate

will have to be intimated 30 days prior to the conversion and

he will be the final authority on the subject.

Punjab (21st December 2014)

In media reports, the RSS and its affiliates claimed that

they are engaged in a massive reconversion or ``ghar wapsi''

programme to get Christians back--not just to Hinduism, but

also to Sikhism, in Punjab. The organizations claim to have

helped some 8,000 people `return home' in the last three

years, some 3,500 of them over the last one year.

Delhim (21st December 2014)

RSS announced that it will organize a reconversion rally at

Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Christmas day with at least

25000 people in attendance.

Khargone, Madhya Pradesh (24th December 2014)

A Christian couple, Wilson and Rashmita, was taken into

custody under the state's anti-conversion law from a village

near district headquarters Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. The

couple were a part of a Christmas program held on 24th

December at Nayanagar, about 28 kilometres from Khargone,

where they live. Members of a Hindu group who alleged

conversions disrupted the Christmas program and called the

police who then arrested the couple. According to local

sources, the Hindu groups produced false witnesses against

the couple alleging that they had offered 5000 Rupees every

month to a woman if she converts to Christianity.

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh (24th December 2014)

Akash Sisodia from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh was attacked by

members of the Bajrang Dal while he was leading a Christmas

prayer service in Ujjain Madhya Pradesh. According to

reports, the Bajrang Dal people who were accompanied by the

police and media people produced false witnesses and got

Sisodia arrested. He was kept in custody for three days

before being released, as charges against him could not be

substantiated.

Uttar Pradesh (25th December 2014)

Seven people including two pastors were arrested on

Christmas day from Urai. Raibareily and Kushinagar areas of

Uttar Pradesh. The Christians were arrested on after BJP

members complained of forcible conversions. However according

to media reports no such conversions could be verified.

Barloi, Mau, Uttar Pradesh (25th December 2014)

Police stopped a Christmas function in Barloi village of

Uttar Pradesh following objections by Hindu groups. Local BJP

leader Dr. Alka Roy was also accompanying the police as they

forced the Christians to stop the Christmas function.

Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh (25th December 2014)

Police in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, stopped a Christmas

celebration following complaints by Hindu groups alleging

conversions. However according to media reports, no evidence

of any conversion was found after investigation. The

Christmas celebrations were organized at the home of one

Shankar Lal Verma in Kharagjeet Nagar, Mainpuri. After Hindu

groups complained the police reached the spot, stopped the

celebrations, dispersed the gathered people and arrested

Shankar Lal. He was later released as the charges against him

were not proved true.

Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh (26th December 2014)

Christians were attacked during a Christmas celebration in

village Coloni near Khandwa. The mob cornered the Christians

just about they were going to have lunch and threw stones at

them. Later the police came and arrested 13 Christians

including three very young children, 8 months, 4 years and 7

years and took them to Borgaon police station where they were

charged under IP 295 A. The Christians including the children

were in police custody till 31st December 2014 till their

bail was secured. Earlier Hindu groups in the district court

also roughed up a lawyer who appeared for the Christians. The

groups told the lawyer to get off the case and not represent

the Christians anymore.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (27th December 2014)

Police arrested Pastor Ashok Prajapati from Varanasi

following allegations of forcible conversions. According to

reports, Hindu groups as well as the police threatened him

and asked him to stop holding prayer meetings in the area. He

was released in the evening the same day.

Amethi, Uttar Pradesh (27th December 2014)

BJP leaders and Bajrang Dal people threatened Pastor

Ramchand from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh of dire consequences if

he carries on with worship services in the area. The pastor

left the village keeping in mind his own security and has

approached the local police for protection.

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (27th December 2014)

More than 25 members of the Youth wing of the BJP and other

Hindu groups stormed into the Sam Higginbottom university

alleging conversions. The attackers tore banners with Bible

verses written on them, shouted anti-Christian slogans, burnt

the effigy of the vice chancellor of the University, Dr. R B

Lall, and entered into a fight with the security personnel.

Two of them were caught and handed over to the police.

Gaya, Bihar (28th December 2014)

Christians in Gaya, Bihar sought police protection after

several outfits of the Hindu right-wing threatened them of

dire consequences if they do not convert to Hinduism. In a

petition containing two pages of signatures, given to the

police, the Christians accused the VHP, the RSS and the

Bajrang Dal of indulging in intimidation and force.

Indore, Madhya Pradesh 128th December 2014)

Hindu extremist groups forcibly took two Catholic

missionaries to police station after disrupting an interfaith

meeting organized at the Geeta Bhavan. Indore. Madhya

Pradesh. The activists of Bajrang Dal and Dharma Jagran Manch

accused Father Prasad and Brother Sleeva of trying to convert

Hindus to Christianity. They demanded that the police arrest

the missionaries, after registering a First Information

Report against them. The missionaries were however, let off

as charges against them proved to be frivolous. The next day

the Hindu groups proceeded to purify Geeta Bhavan by pouring

milk and cow urine on the place where the missionaries had

been participating in the interfaith meeting.

Deoria, Uttar Pradesh (28th December 2014)

Members of Hindu Yuva Vahini and the police disrupted a

Christian worship service at Salempur, Deoria district, Uttar

Pradesh. Jaswant Masih and his wife Suman, who have been

conducting prayer services for many years in their own home,

were arrested and taken to the police station following

complaints by the Hindu groups that the couple were involved

in forcible conversions. Later, Police, denied any incident

of conversion. ``A Christian family has been organising

prayers for past many years and people go there. It is just a

matter of faith and nothing else,'' said inspector Ram Yadav.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the state of religious freedom and pluralism in India. In a very troubling pattern, India's historic pluralism is being replaced with intolerance, division, and majoritarianism.

Reports from NGOs, one of which I will submit for the Record today, have documented a rise in attacks by Hindu nationalists against minority Christian populations in the first 100 days of the new government. Continuing reports show a pattern of targeting religious minorities, including India's notably moderate Muslim population. The burning of churches, brutal beatings, intimidation, and arrests of pastors have created a tenuous climate in Indian society.

As the government embarks on economic reforms, it should not ignore the plight of minorities. Newly elected Prime Minister Modi must speak out and act on this violence. Furthermore, the Obama administration must forcibly speak out on behalf of oppressed populations. Human rights should be elevated in the strategic dialogue between our two countries. Our government must display moral clarity in our approach to gross violations of international religious freedom--no matter where they occur.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 42, I call up the bill (H.R. 7) to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7.

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

Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today in strong support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, legislation that passed the House almost 1 year ago with bipartisan support.

This bill affirms what a majority of Americans believe, that no taxpayer dollars should be spent on abortions and abortion coverage.

H.R. 7 establishes a permanent governmentwide prohibition on taxpayer subsidies for abortion. This bill is all the more necessary because of the President's health care law and its attack on this longstanding protection of taxpayer dollars.

The bill before us would simply codify the Hyde amendment, a longstanding provision that has ensured Federal dollars do not subsidize abortion over the past decade.

H.R. 7 also requires that information regarding abortion coverage as well as the amount of the abortion surcharge be displayed where consumers can easily identify which plans cover abortion. Consumers should have the right to know whether the plan they are selecting on an exchange includes abortion coverage.

While the Affordable Care Act included some notification provisions,

many of our constituents are simply unable to find out whether a plan is paying for abortions. In fact, this inability to find out whether exchange plans provide abortion coverage seems to extend to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as former Secretary Sebelius failed to uphold her commitment after testifying twice before the Energy and Commerce Committee, promising to provide the Congress and the American people a full list of exchange plans providing abortion coverage.

Today, over a year has passed and this commitment is still left unfulfilled. The self-appointed ``most transparent administration'' in history is simply unwilling or unable to comply with this request. In fact, it took the Government Accountability Office months to find out that taxpayer dollars went to pay for over 1,000 health insurance plans that included abortion.

Even though the Affordable Care Act required, through law, that separate payments be made to pay for the abortion surcharge, the GAO also found that none of the insurers they interviewed actually collected a separate payment.

In fact, the report reveals that the administration informed insurance issuers that they didn't need two separate payments. This bill is about protecting taxpayer dollars and protecting life. It also ensures we have at least some transparency under the President's health care law.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the pro-life leader in the House of Representatives for many years.

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, the Hyde language does not apply to ObamaCare. There is not one sentence in this 2,700-page bill. Read the bill. It applies to Medicaid and to annually appropriated programs.

I yield 10 seconds to the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), another champion of life.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Steve Chabot, another pro-life champion and the principal sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee, Diane Black, another pro-life spokesperson.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Kevin McCarthy, our distinguished majority leader in this Congress.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), another eloquent pro-life force.

Madam Speaker, might I inquire of the time remaining?

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).

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

First of all, abortion is not health care. It is a brutal procedure that ends the lives of unborn children through suction, dismemberment, decapitation, or chemical poison. It is the most violent form of death known to mankind.

As Frederica Mathewes-Green, former chair of the Feminists for Life, said:

Abortion breaks a mother's heart.

She said:

There are always two victims in an abortion. One is the

baby, and one is the mother; one is dead, one is wounded.

Madam Speaker, this human rights abuse should not be paid for or encouraged by government taxpayer money. The women in the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and the women in Operation Outcry point out that abortion not only takes the lives of the unborn child, it wounds all the mothers. We should keep this in mind.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

The gentlelady said what the American people care about. Well, a Marist poll released this month found that 68 percent of the respondents oppose taxpayer funding for abortion. A February 2014 CNN poll showed that 56 percent of the respondents opposed public funding of abortion. A January 2010 Quinnipiac University poll showed 67 percent of the respondents opposed Federal funding of abortions.

A November 2009 Washington Post poll showed 61 percent of the respondents opposed government subsidies for health insurance that includes abortion. A September 2009 International Communications Research poll showed that 67 percent of respondents opposed measures that would require people to pay for abortion coverage with their Federal taxes.

We know what the American people care about.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Again, on the so-called compromise, I offered the Hyde language in the committee, and we won in a bipartisan vote. Chairman Waxman recessed, changed the votes, stripped it out, and brought it to the floor without Hyde. I was involved in the negotiation.

I wrote the Stupak-Pitts amendment. I know what the compromise is with the so-called executive order. It is full of loopholes. The Hyde amendment does not apply to the Affordable Care Act.

I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from

Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), another pro-life champion.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank Chris Smith for his leadership over the years. He is one of the people, along with Henry Hyde, that I admired from afar, and when I was elected 18 years ago, I told him I want to come and hold up his arms in this fight for life. He has been a real champion and just a terrific leader here in the Congress. I want to thank him for that.

I heard in a congressional life forum a few years ago a lady by the name of Frederica Mathewes-Green--she was president of the Feminists for Life--and she said something I will never forget. She said:

Abortion is the most violent form of death known to

mankind. It is death by dismemberment, decapitation, and

poisoning.

She said:

Abortion breaks a mother's heart.

She said:

There are always two victims in an abortion. One is the

baby, and one is the mother; one is dead, one is wounded.

I never forgot those statements of this great feminist leader. I think her focus is right. We need to keep that focus where it is, where she had it: on the mother, on the baby.

We are talking here about babies who are in their 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th month of pregnancy. For the first 5 months, a woman could have an abortion, but after that, it bans abortion, and I want to say this: I was first elected in 1972, inaugurated 3 weeks before Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, so I have been involved in these battles for the whole time.

This is the first time in my memory that our leadership has moved substantive legislation on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on the day of the march. They should be applauded for that. This is significant.

In 2 years, if things go the way we hope, with a new Republican President and a House and a Senate, 2 years from tomorrow, we could very well see this legislation signed into law. That is how important this is. It moves the bar back on Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, those two infamous decisions that have resulted in 55 million unborn children and women being affected by abortion.

As Chris said, I was involved in authoring the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, but I also was involved in the Medicaid funding cutoff bill that passed in Pennsylvania--I think that was about 1978--and we had a reporting requirement in that bill, so that the abortions that were due to rape and incest had to be reported to the appropriate law enforcement or social service agencies.

The year before our bill was passed into law, there were some 740 abortions, Medicaid-funded abortions, due to so-called rape. The year after our bill was signed into law, there were 38. This shows the importance of that provision into law of reporting to the appropriate authorities.

If you remove that provision from the law--and some people want to do that--that would create a loophole for late-term abortions. As I said, for the first 5 months, a woman could have an abortion, but in the later term, they could not without the appropriate reporting to appropriate authorities. It would, I think, be a mistake, as some would like to do, to remove those requirements.

I just might conclude by saying that we are one of only seven countries that allow abortion at any point of pregnancy. Some countries are appalled that the United States would permit these late-term abortions. We had a famous case in Pennsylvania, the Kermit Gosnell clinic, which was outrageous when people find out what happened in those late-term abortions.

Scientific studies tell us that children feel pain in the womb. These are the children at this age who smile in the womb, who suck their thumb, who hiccup, who have dream patterns on the brainwaves, who react to light if it is intrauterine or a pinprick.

These are very tiny but knowing, learning individuals. They have no one to speak for them. They are voiceless, so we have an obligation to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, who can't run away, who face this horrific type of death, and the mothers who carry them.

I would urge Members, just like as shown in the public polls, the majority of Americans support the legislation. I would like to thank the leadership for moving the legislation and like to say that we are admonished in the scriptures that if we see someone drawn to death and we do not speak up, we do nothing, that we will be held responsible because, really, nothing is doing something, silence is consent.

With the other pro-life people, Members, and our great champion, I urge the Members to support this legislation.

Amendment X:

``The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.''

Mr. Speaker, we have seen this administration casually ignore the law when it comes to immigration, EPA regs, and ObamaCare. Now, we are going to see whether they ignore the law when it comes to forcing churches in California to pay for abortion.

For many years now, Congress has included language in the appropriations bills that prohibits States from forcing health insurance plans to cover elective abortion: the Weldon amendment, named for my good friend and former colleague, Dr. Dave Weldon of Florida.

Now, the State of California has issued a bureaucratic edict that every health insurance plan in California regulated by the State must pay for the procedure, and this includes even plans purchased by churches, religious schools, and charities.

HHS must not hesitate to protect the right of Americans to prevent their health care dollars from going to something they find to be profoundly immoral. The agency is required to inform the State of California of this violation and remind them that they risk the loss of Federal funds.

There doesn't need to be any delay from HHS. This is exactly why the Weldon amendment was created.

Mr. Speaker, Jonathan Gruber, ``smart'' MIT professor, ObamaCare architect, who has had to apologize for repeatedly calling the American voters stupid, has received millions of taxpayer dollars from Federal and State governments.

He now has an NIH--National Institutes of Health--grant that adds up to $2 million. This grant is for an analysis to determine how people choose their Medicare part D prescription drug plan. That might be something good for CMS and HHS to know, but it is far from the real kind of medical research we expect NIH to be doing.

Just a few weeks ago, the Director was saying they lacked enough money to fund Ebola vaccines. That was before it became widely known that they were funding a grant for Swedish massage for rabbits and other outrageous grants.

We expect NIH to fund groundbreaking medical research to prolong life, develop medicines, to cure and treat diseases, not economic research by a man who is now infamous for insulting the American public.

Dr. Andy Harris and I wrote the Director with questions about this grant. I hope we hear soon before another check goes out the door.

Mr. Speaker, ``Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. Call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever.'' That was ObamaCare architect Jonathan Gruber speaking last year at the University of Pennsylvania.

The broken ObamaCare promises are now legendary: ``If you like your health plan, you can keep it; if you like your doctor, you can keep them. The law will save American families money.''

Don't tell that to the 16th District business owners like Nelson Sensenig and Ron Fritz, who both recently contacted me to talk about their struggle to continue affording coverage for their employees. Both of them used to cover 100 percent of their employees' coverage. Now they can't afford to do so.

Gruber, the MIT professor consultant, can jet around the country bragging about pulling one over on the American people--again, his quote: ``The stupidity of the American voters.'' What liberal arrogance.

What he and the President did with ObamaCare has done tremendous harm to Americans struggling to provide for themselves and their families. That is why we must continue to fight for real health care reform.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Lancaster Elks Lodge on their 125 years of service to our community.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was founded in 1868, and just over 2 decades later, the Lancaster branch first met, growing from 24 members at the beginning to more than 600 today.

For nearly 150 years now, Elks have engaged in service to their communities, focused on veterans, youth, and our Nation.

The Elks count among their past members a number of distinguished Americans, including five men who served as Speaker of this House.

Nationwide, the organization donates $3.65 million to send kids to college. Locally, the Lancaster Elks are known for their children's sports leagues and events.

The Elks support our local veterans and servicemembers, making sure that they are honored for their dedication to our country.

Thank you again to the Lancaster Elks for their contributions to our community. I am looking forward to celebrating this great anniversary with them on November 1.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4771) to amend the Controlled Substances Act to more effectively regulate anabolic steroids, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Health Subcommittee ranking member, Frank Pallone, and I introduced H.R. 4771, the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, DASCA, to end a loophole that allows designer anabolic steroids to easily be found online, in gyms, and even in retail stores.

When taken by consumers, designer steroids, which are class III controlled substances, can cause serious medical harm, including liver injury, increased risk of heart attack, and stroke. They may also lead to aggression, hostility, and addiction.

Designer steroids are produced by reverse engineering existing illegal steroids and then slightly modifying their chemical composition so the resulting product is not on the DEA's list of controlled substances.

DASCA will help protect consumers from these harmful products by giving the DEA the tools and authority to properly classify designer steroids as controlled substances and increase criminal penalties for importing, manufacturing, or distributing them under false labels.

DASCA would:

Immediately place a number of known designer anabolic steroids on the list of controlled substances;

Grant the DEA authority to temporarily schedule new designer steroids on the controlled substances list for 24 months, with the possibility of a 6-month extension so that if bad actors develop new variations, these products can be removed from the market immediately;

Create new penalties for importing, manufacturing, or distributing anabolic steroids under false labels; and

Authorize the Attorney General to publish a list of products containing an anabolic steroid that are not properly labeled.

DASCA is supported by the American Herbal Products Association, AHPA; the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, CHPA; the Council for Responsible Nutrition, CRN; the Natural Products Association, NPA; and the United Natural Products Alliance, UNPA.

I would urge all Members to support this critical piece of legislation. It is bipartisan. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2154) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2154, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2014, introduced by Senator Casey of Pennsylvania and Senator Hatch of Utah and championed in the House by Mr. Matheson of Utah and Mr. King of New York.

A child's health care necessities are not the same as their parents. Children have special health care needs, and the emergency and trauma care system has been slow to develop an adequate response. Fragmentation and poor coordination among pre-hospital services, hospitals, and public health are problems that involve emergency services in general. The gravity of the problem is worse for children when hospitals lack the appropriate medical personnel, pediatric supplies, or transfer agreements that lead to better care within the ``golden hour,'' when chances for survival are higher.

In 1984, Congress passed the Emergency Medical Services for Children, EMSC, as part of the Preventive Health Amendments of 1984. The program was last reauthorized in 2010 and aims to reduce child and youth mortality and morbidity caused by severe illness or trauma. EMSC was designed to ensure that pediatric service is well integrated into an emergency medical service system and that the entire spectrum of emergency services is provided to children and adolescents, as well as adults.

The bill is almost identical to H.R. 4290, which the House passed last week. Voting for S. 2154 would send the bill to the President so we can continue this important program that helps our Nation's children.

I ask my colleagues to vote for this important piece of legislation, which is bipartisan, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.