Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lexington High School boys track team for winning the 1600 meter event at the Ohio High School Division II State Track and Field Tournament.

An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the highest achieving and most talented athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success.

The Lexington High School boys 1600 meter relay team's victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of achievement is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. They have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Lexington High School can be extremely proud of their performance.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate Hunter Biddle, Tony Gerrell, Forest Volz and Mason Kearns on their state championship. I wish them continued success in both their athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joe Ellis for winning the high jump event in the Ohio High School Division I State Track and Field Tournament.

An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the highest achieving and most talented athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success.

Joe Ellis' victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of achievement is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. You have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Mansfield Senior High School can be extremely proud of your performance.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate Joe Ellis on his state championship. I wish him continued success in both his athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 319 (passage of H.R. 1654), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on this vote.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 379, I call up the bill (H.R. 2579) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the premium tax credit with respect to unsubsidized COBRA continuation coverage, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to add my thoughts and prayers for our colleague and friend, Congressman Steve Scalise, and the victims of yesterday's shooting. May God be with them during this time.

Mr. Speaker, my bill, Broader Options for Americans Act, is before us today.

We have all heard about COBRA continuation coverage, which allows someone with group health insurance who experiences a qualifying life event to keep their job-based coverage when they no longer have a job and, most importantly, their plan's networks of providers--doctors, hospitals, et cetera--for a certain amount of time.

Currently, consumers with COBRA coverage, who could face a cost of up to 102 percent of plan costs, are not eligible for ObamaCare's Federal subsidies. My bill allows individuals who pay for the full cost of such continuation of coverage to qualify for the tax credit established under the American Health Care Act.

This allows those consumers, including clergy, church lay workers, and their dependents who are experiencing similar circumstances and who get their coverage through church plans, who have been affected by sudden life changes to receive assistance to pay for their unsubsidized health premiums.

This bill represents another step forward in our continuing work to help Americans access more options for true patient-centered healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, this hits close to home for me. As a high school student, my dad lost his job of 25 years. I think the gentleman from Massachusetts has heard that story before. We, as a family, lost our healthcare and went into COBRA coverage.

This is a solution that impacts people across America, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on a personal basis, I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Mr. Neal.

We, obviously, have a disagreement. I tell my daughters about how a bill becomes law, and I don't need to tell the gentleman from Massachusetts how a bill becomes law, but we certainly, I think, believe that there are opportunities to not only improve what you say is the Affordable Care Act but the bill that we passed. That is what we are doing today.

I hope to work with him to continue to do that, as the Senate passes its own bill, and, hopefully, go to a conference committee. Hopefully, the gentleman will be on that conference committee.

I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Reclaiming my time, not lately. Two years ago.

One of the frustrations about the CBO report that never gets reported is the fact that millions of people will choose not to have healthcare. That is what the CBO says.

It is not often repeated in the national media or on the floor here, but I would just kind of remind everybody that, often, the other side of the aisle speaks a lot about choice and the freedom to choose. And with respect to healthcare, that is what millions of people will do, according to CBO.

I would also like to remind my friend--and I do mean that--that there are millions of Americans in my State alone who have insurance but don't have the choice of provider they once had or the choice of a hospital they once had. That is pretty traumatic.

There are people who have insurance, but premiums have doubled and tripled in the last several years and out-of-pocket expenses for those who are not subsidized have gone to levels that are unprecedented.

I surely appreciate and would remind the gentleman from Massachusetts that this bill before us today simply says that we expand choices, we expand options for Americans by allowing them for the very first time to receive financial assistance if they lose their healthcare insurance.

I know it is not perfect, but it is good. I hope that we can improve on all these aspects that the gentleman and I have talked about today.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 300 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2292), and 301 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2457), I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both of the votes.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Nos. 269 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1862), 270 (motion to suspend

the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1842), and 273 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 2288) I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on all of these votes.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Police Week, a time we honor all our officers, especially those who have fallen in the line of duty keeping us safe. So today I rise in honor and remember Kirkersville, Ohio, Police Chief Steven DiSario.

Chief DiSario, a father of six with a baby on the way, was killed in the line of duty on May 12, 2017. He died at the hands of a gunman who also killed two employees at a local nursing home, Marlina Medrano and Cindy Krantz.

This is a tragedy that truly tests the strength of a community, the strength of neighbors, and the strength of our law enforcement community.

To Chief DiSario's family: I can't imagine the grief and the anguish you must be feeling. We are heartbroken for your loss. Please know that your husband, your father, your son, was an American hero. His memory will never be forgotten, and it is there that I pray you find hope. Today and every day, may God bless you and all our police officers and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two Members of our congressional delegation, and two of my friends, Congressman Steve Stivers and Congressman Brad Wenstrup, upon their military promotions.

Now Brigadier General Stivers in the Ohio National Guard, and Colonel Brad Wenstrup in the United States Army Reserve, they both have served their country beyond the boundaries of their district.

Today I am humbled and honored to join my colleagues in congratulating them on their distinguished public and military careers.

Congressman Stivers, 30 years ago as a young Buckeye, assumed the title--one very important to him and to us--as citizen soldier.

In 1998, Congressman Wenstrup joined the U.S. Army Reserve after already establishing himself as a doctor in the Cincinnati area.

To Congressman Stivers and Congressman Wenstrup, as faithful Representatives to your constituents, as members of our military, and veterans of the Iraq war and recipients of the Bronze Star, you have always put service to our country first.

Thank you from a grateful Congress and a grateful nation. Congratulations on your respective promotions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Westerville Central High School Boys Bowling team for winning the Division I Boys Bowling Tournament.

An achievement such as this certainly deserves recognition. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has enabled talented teams and individuals to earn state titles since its founding in 1907. Throughout this time, the champions of OHSAA state level competitions have represented the most dedicated and accomplished athletes in Ohio. Each year these elite competitors join the long ranks of those who embody Ohio's proud history of athletic success.

The Westerville Central Boys Bowling team's victory caps a tremendous season. This sort of success is earned only through many hours of practice, perspiration and hard work. They have set a new standard for future athletes to reach. Everyone at Westerville Central High School can be extremely proud of their performance.

On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate the boys bowling team on their state championship. I wish them continued success in both their athletic and academic endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership in this important matter, and I echo his words with respect to the staff, Emily Murry and her team, as well as Whitney Daffner and Abby Finn in my office.

Mr. Speaker, like the chairman, I had a front row seat in 2009 and 2010 to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and a front row seat to all the promises made about this wonderful bill called the Affordable Care Act.

Then, over the last 6 years, like the chairman, I heard from my constituents and fellow Ohioans. I heard about their sad ObamaCare stories of a road of broken ObamaCare promises.

There was a lady east of Columbus who had cancer. She was a survivor. Fast-forward to a few years ago. She gets cancer again and finds out that the oncologist that she had, she could no longer have. He was not in the network. She could not go to the hospital in her community. She had to go 60 miles away.

Or there is the small-business owner and his wife and family on the individual market and now on the exchange not getting employer-provided health care and, therefore, not getting the benefit. They saw their plan price quadruple in the last several years. Mr. Speaker, we are going to take care of that person and give them a tax credit so they have the ability, just like employer-provided employee's health care.

In Ohio, last year, our CO-OP collapsed. We had 20,000 people without health care. Many saw bills not being paid. Twenty counties in my State had one provider and fewer choices.

Broken promises. Constituents can't keep their doctor, can't keep their hospital. Constituents saw emergency room visits go up. It was supposed to go down under the Affordable Care Act. Premiums and deductibles are going up, not down, in my district.

One promise wasn't broken, and that is a government-mandated, one- size-fits-all Washington plan that many of my constituents didn't want and others couldn't afford. That was their ObamaCare.

We can do better, and in this bill we do. In one step, in the first step, more steps to come, we begin creating a patient-centered healthcare system that will not only put more power in the hands of our constituents, but it will also drive down healthcare costs.

Remember what they said in Ohio newspapers in my State about ObamaCare: a tough pill to swallow, a nightmare, very taxing, just more red tape. These aren't my words, Mr. Speaker; these are hardworking Ohioans' words. They deserve better. They deserve more choices. They deserve better access, the access and the choices they want for them and their families.

We begin, Mr. Speaker, with this bill. We don't end here. There is much more to do. We are putting the people's power back in their hands, not in Washington's hands. Today, it is time for us to deliver.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend and neighbor, the Honorable Joseph DiGenova.

Delaware, Ohio Councilman Joseph DiGenova has dedicated his life to quietly, but profoundly, serving his nation and community. As a young man, he answered his nation's call, risking life and limb in service during the Vietnam War. Upon completing his military commitment, Joe returned home and devoted the next several decades to advocating for youth, veterans, local schools, and countless civic projects.

For decades, he and his beloved wife, Vonie, invested themselves in their local school district, creating new programs and fighting for improved facilities. Of special note, Joe co-founded a Youth-in- Government program that has introduced students to local and state governance for more than twenty years. Further, they have campaigned actively for land acquisitions, levy and bond issues, and athletics boosters. As a result of his unwavering support for local schools and students, Joe received the 2014 Friend of the District Award from the Delaware City Schools.

Knowing the value and challenges of military service firsthand, Joe selflessly sought new ways for central Ohio to honor its truest patriots. He led the charge toward a permanent veteran memorial to recognize veterans from every era of our history. In addition, he partnered with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans Association to help fellow veterans receive the recognition, care and benefits they so richly deserve.

Joe's tireless work ethic and humble attitude garnered him the highest admiration of his neighbors. They saw fit to elect him to public office repeatedly for more than twenty-five years. As a city Councilman in Delaware, he spearheaded efforts to modernize infrastructure and spur the local economy. The resurgence of a vibrant downtown area is in no small measure a reflection of his dedication to making Delaware a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Joe has long maintained an eye on what the future will bring to Delaware. Today, Joe and Vonie can look fondly on all he has accomplished. I am confident that his impact will be lasting and his efforts cherished for generations to come.

I am deeply proud to recognize my dear friend and fellow Italian- American for his lasting friendship and innumerable contributions to central Ohio. It is with great pride that today I recognize, on behalf of the residents of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, the Honorable Joseph DiGenova.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 66 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 374), and 67 (motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 538) I did not cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both of the votes.

Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure for me to be here in my role as chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. I am also pleased to have a couple of our new Members here today.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), a new member of the Joint Economic Committee.

Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Francis Rooney), a new Member of this Congress, and a new member of the Joint Economic Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, there are several perspectives, important perspectives, to health care and health insurance: one, value delivered to patients in terms of insurance plan options, choice of doctors, access to treatment, and, most importantly, health outcomes; two, health insurance premiums and healthcare cost sharing; three, budgetary cost to the Federal and State governments; four, supply of healthcare services, including by doctors and hospitals and through medications; and fifth, indirect costs to the economy, such as reduced job creation and labor force participation.

The Affordable Care Act fails on all five counts, and that is why we are here today, to start the process of repealing and replacing it. The program is dysfunctional, and its costs have become and will become more unsustainable.

Supposedly, the central objective for passing the ACA was to insure those who did not have coverage. I was there.

Yet, the increased government sprawl shown in this chart in health care is striking.

The Joint Economic Committee chart from the time of the law's passage illustrates the law's mind-numbing complexity. Unsurprising to anyone skeptical of bureaucratic solutions, the Obama healthcare system has not worked.

Instead of empowering innovators, doctors, patients, ObamaCare has implemented a complex scheme that relies on unelected bureaucrats. And this chart demonstrates that clearly.

Mr. Chair, ObamaCare means fewer choices. In fact, Kimberly, a constituent in my district, recently told me that she had a brain tumor. She said:

Virtually no doctors take the marketplace insurance, so I

am left to change doctors who I have seen for 30 years and

switch to new doctors who I don't trust and cannot provide

the same healthcare benefits that I have received in the

past.

Traumatic for her.

Remarkably, the enrollment failure is happening, despite penalties on individuals failing to obtain coverage and on employers failing to provide it.

Even with billions of dollars in subsidies, in my opinion, this illustrates that many would likely prefer to trade their subsidies for more flexibility, the choice of their own doctors, and useful alternatives.

ObamaCare also means higher premiums. Ohioans, on the individual marketplace, have seen increased premiums by 111 percent since passage of ObamaCare, and now in my State, the average premium is over $5,000.

Republicans agree that the system needs reform, but ObamaCare cannot be reformed. The argument that parts of the American healthcare insurance system were not working previously, and that more people now have health insurance, is irrelevant to the decision to repeal ObamaCare. Nobody claims that the former system was perfect. I certainly don't.

Certainly, the government can increase coverage with subsidies, increase coverage with mandates, but what has it done to the underlying health care that is being provided?

The extent and method by which ObamaCare increases coverage has caused huge and unnecessary collateral damage to all others in the marketplace, all others with respect to patient choice of their doctors, the quality of the care that they are receiving, the supply of health care, and, certainly, State and Federal budgets.

The focus of ObamaCare advocates has been almost exclusively on increasing the number of insured by government subsidy and mandate. I get that. I understand that, but not on maximizing healthy outcomes. Those aren't the same things.

Health insurance is not an end in itself. Effective treatment to healthcare problems is.

Private investment is so needed to push forward medical discoveries, innovation, accelerate drug development, personalize medicine, and harness technology to coordinate our health care and help administrate it.

There is a better way. You will hear from the other side of the aisle that Republicans have no plan to replace ObamaCare. Here are the plans. It is just not true. The goal of the Republican plan is not to go back to the way things were before ObamaCare; it is to move forward.

We want to facilitate a well-functioning market in health care, and health insurance as well. In the United States, we let the marketplace work things out. Republicans want to fix those obstacles and make it better.

Among the features of the Better Way is: portability, patient- centered care, insurance across State lines, medical liability reform, new mechanisms for small businesses and individuals to power together to negotiate, flexibility for our Governors, a patient-centered, patient-focused program.

The government has a role and a responsibility to provide support for those who can't afford it, for those who fall through the cracks. A refundable tax credit is part of our plan, addressing preexisting conditions is part of our plan, and keeping dependents up to 26 on their parents' plan is part of our plan.

But the deeper points to recognize are: One, there is no reason why a free market could not offer insurance to individuals that provides continuous coverage throughout their lives. There is no reason that helping the poor should not limit the choices and flexibilities of everyone else, which ObamaCare has done, much less interfere with the larger economy.

Moreover, the law has had an impact on employment. I see it every week. Economics Professor Casey Mulligan of the University of Chicago estimated that the ACA taxes will affect nearly half of the working population in America, reducing average wages, hours worked, and GDP.

And based upon CBO estimates, the overall impact of the ACA on the supply of labor will become progressively worse as time passes.

ObamaCare took certain problems in healthcare insurance--a large number of uninsured, lack of individual coverage for preexisting conditions, higher premiums for individuals--and used them as an excuse to create socialized medicine.

The repeal of ObamaCare will take us off that path and replacement will offer shortcomings to other problems.

Going forward, Republicans stand ready to provide support away from ObamaCare through a transition. And getting an improved healthcare system in place improves consumer choice.

I understand the anxiety that many are feeling right now listening to the Democrats tell them that health care is going to be yanked out from under them.

When I was a kid, my dad, a steel worker, lost his job. We lost our health care. We lost our insurance. I know what that anxiety is like. And I want to assure everyone today, that is not what we are doing here today.

I know what we are doing here today. We are empowering patients. We are empowering doctors, not bureaucrats. We are giving them more choices, more opportunities, and a better healthcare system.

Mr. Chair, I ask that we support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I thank the chairman for his leadership in the area of tax reform and entitlement reform.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is not monkey business. This is serious business, kind of deja vu all over again. We have now been at trying to do comprehensive tax reform for 5 years, and we should continue to try to do it, but our constituents shouldn't be held hostage for the lack of the ability for us to get it across the finish line. This is bipartisan.

Let me remind my friend from Michigan that the provisions in these bills that I am sponsoring today were part of a package that was being negotiated to be made permanent by a bicameral, bipartisan group of legislators in December, Democrat leadership and Republican leadership, before the President stepped in and said ``no.''

He said ``no'' to constituents of mine like Claggett & Sons, a general contractor. I will tell you what the controller of Claggett & Sons said about section 179. This is what he said:

It is an important part of our decisionmaking process when

evaluating equipment purchases.

He went on to say that making the increased expensing levels permanent, as this bill does, will be beneficial for capital purchases planning for small businesses.

Let me tell you, when you look at section 179 in particular, Mr. Speaker, we had section 179 at this level, supported by Democrats and Republicans alike, for 2014. On December 11, 2014, we gave our constituents 20 days to take advantage of this provision, as we have done now 12 times on a temporary basis since 2003.

Claggett & Sons couldn't take advantage of it. My friends have heard about my constituents, farmers Tom and Judy Price, about buying a combine, waiting to see when we would make this permanent or reextend it.

We gave them 20 days to make that decision--20 days. That is no way to run a railroad, none at all, Mr. Speaker.

I understand the points that the other side has made. I want tax reform in a comprehensive way as bad as anybody. The two aren't mutually exclusive here in terms of, we can do this, give our small business owners and farmers the type of certainty they need that will help our economy grow, that will help their businesses grow, rather than do what we have done for 12 years now--over 12 years--making these temporary provisions, extending them for a year or two at the end of the year. That is just no way to do this.

So, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of small business owners like Claggett & Sons and farmers like Tom and Judy Price, I urge us to move the ball forward. We can chew gum and walk at the same time. We can do this, and we can move on to try to find common ground on comprehensive tax reform.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Cincinnati, Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the chairman of the Committee on Small Business.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), who represents a number of newly created small businesses with the energy boom.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, as a Roman Catholic, I find it interesting that Mr. Camp is a saint now that he is gone. I would like to remind my colleagues that Mr. Camp worked for several years on comprehensive tax reform with little help from the other side. When I say ``the other side,'' I mean the White House. It was 4 years into his chairmanship that he released a draft.

The new chairman has been in the job for about 42 days, so let's give him some time to work on a comprehensive draft which he said and has continued to say that he can do while we make some important provisions that have been bipartisan that is about putting money in people's pockets.

Everybody knows we have had the worst job recovery in my lifetime-- the worst. This provision has been around for a long, long time. We know it works--liberal economists, conservative economists--expensing works. It works for small businesses. Small businesses hire people.

By the way, many small business owners and many farmers pay their taxes quarterly. Most of us have our taxes taken out of our paycheck every time we have a paycheck.

Imagine the debate that we would be having on the floor today if every American had to send in their taxes quarterly. These small business owners and farmers are at the heart of our economy in trying to improve our economy--improve our economy, grow our economy, and hire more people. We are all for that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would ask if the other side is ready for closing. We have no more speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time to close.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't a game. This is reality. This is Groundhog's Day. We have been doing this for 12 years. You go ask somebody who is trying to run a business in America on Main Street-- they want certainty, they don't want retroactivity.

Heck, we got 10 months left in the year. They would like longer than that. Their business cycle is longer than 10 months. Their business cycle is years. Go ask an accountant at a business in terms of how they have to plan. The rules are rigged against them. The rules--the chairman talked about the rules.

I am going to underline and bold this. Imagine this: this provision is expired, and my colleagues in the minority are concerned about adding to the deficit because this provision that expired on December 31, we are trying to renew without raising taxes on other people.

When spending expires, the chairman mentioned a few of those programs, and we renew them at the same level, it doesn't add to the deficit. Think about that. Go talk to some constituents at a diner on Main Street in any of our districts and see if they think those rules are fair. They are paying the bill. They are paying all of the bill.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have got to get things done. We have to get things done. The American people are counting on us to get things done. This is as common ground as there is in our Tax Code when it comes to trying to help job creators create jobs.

I don't know anybody who wants a minimum wage job. I know people who want jobs that pay more than the minimum wage. I had a minimum wage job once. I wanted to make more than that. That wasn't my goal. My goal was to make more money than minimum wage.

Each and every one of us knows somebody who can't find a job who wants a job. I know people who want to create more jobs and have their businesses grow. This provision, ladies and gentlemen, we know this provision helps people get jobs. It doesn't have to be that hard. We can walk and chew gum.

Mr. Speaker, we can lay the groundwork for comprehensive tax reform, but we need partners. We need partners in the Senate, and we need partners in the White House.

The White House has said they are for C corp reform. Well, as everybody knows, this provision is going to help a lot more than just C corps. It is going to help small businesses that are passthrough entities, S corps, limited liability companies, and mom-and-pop small businesses on Main Street. We cannot wait. These people have waited long enough.

Ladies and gentlemen, we need long-term certainty. This is an important step to comprehensive tax reform--a very important one--that we need to pass and get on our business to getting to comprehensive tax reform.

So I would plead with my friends in the minority, let's put aside this rhetoric; let's move toward this; let's pass this bill.

We had a debate last summer that is reminiscent of debate today, and we almost got there, ladies and gentlemen. Democrats in the Senate, the Democrat majority leader, our chairman at the time, Dave Camp, were negotiating the framework of what some now are being critical of that would create permanency for policy provisions that we are debating today.

We know Democrats are for this, under the right circumstances, exactly how this is written. So let's put aside all those things, and let's do work today that is good for America and good for Americans.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of a point of order.

Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the gentleman's motion.

I thank the gentleman from New England and oppose his motion.

I don't want to deflate anybody's honor today. Let me just clarify what I said about Mr. Camp and his draft.

What I said is--because the gentleman is right. He was fully engaged in a very comprehensive way, as were others on the committee with Chairman Camp and me and others. But Mr. Camp had one partner in the Senate that he was working with, a very important one; unfortunately, got sent to China, and at that point all opportunities with the other very important body kind of evaporated. And remember, 4 years-- actually, his start was when he was actually ranking member, he started putting together a comprehensive draft. I think that is important to note.

I really appreciate the gentleman's attempt today because, remember, last year, last summer, the gentleman correctly observed that this was a waste of time because we are just going to do this retroactively at the end of the year. We could have broken that cycle last year. It took Chairman Camp and Majority Leader Reid in December to almost do it. They almost got there. They almost broke the cycle.

We can still break that cycle. We can still stop this vicious cycle of 1 year here, 2 years there, retroactive here, and provide certainty and get to the business of comprehensive tax reform. We can do all that, but we have to pass this bill first and make it permanent.

I oppose the motion. This is simple: permanency versus 1 year.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Medicare Fee-for-Service program stands virtually alone among health care payers in the United States in not fully recognizing the clinical and cost benefits of providing infusion therapy to patients in their homes. Infusion therapy is fully covered by Medicare in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospital outpatient departments, and physician offices, but coverage in patients' homes is very limited. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries in need of infusion therapy usually receive their treatments in health care facilities rather than in their homes, which is the setting that is the most desirable, convenient, and by far the most cost-effective.

This is unfortunate and unnecessary. In the private sector, the accepted standard of care and practice for over 30 years is to provide infusion therapy at home where medically indicated and when requested by the attending physician. Ironically, patients who have access to this benefit under their private plans lose this coverage when they enroll in Medicare.

Medicare's lack of coverage for infusion therapy in the home setting can lead to substantial patient and family lifestyle disruptions and costs. Because Medicare only covers infusion services in institutional and limited outpatient settings, the beneficiary either has to travel to a health care facility to receive infusion treatments, sometimes multiple times a day, or remain in a facility for the duration of the therapy.

Today, Representative Eliot Engel and I are introducing The Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act of 2015 so patients can receive the same infusion treatments that they currently receive in facility-based environments in their homes at a lower cost to Medicare. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support our bill to give patients better quality care at lower costs.