Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Toyo Tire North America's Bartow County facility, which is celebrating eight years of fostering economic growth in Georgia's 11th Congressional District.

In 2006, the Bartow Toyo Tire facility became the first U.S. consumer tire production operation. The plant includes a manufacturing facility and warehouse that serve customers throughout the country. Since then, Toyo has invested more than one billion dollars and created close to 1000 jobs in northwest Georgia, bringing financial stability and opportunity to Georgia families.

This week, Toyo Tire will announce plans to begin the plant's fourth expansion, investing hundreds of millions of dollars and adding hundreds of jobs to the local economy. This is a huge testament to Georgia's pro-business environment, and one of the reasons Governor Deal certified Bartow County as a `Certified Work Ready Community.'

Mr. Speaker, I proudly extend my deepest thanks to Toyo Tire North America, their Plant Manager Jim Hawk, and the Toyo employees who play such an important role in making Bartow County's economy flourish. On behalf of Georgia's 11th District, I congratulate the Bartow Toyo Tire facility on eight successful years. Here's to many more.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the life my dear friend James ``Jim'' Bryon Adams, Jr.--an exemplary American citizen, husband, father, and grandfather.

On November 10, Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Greensboro, North Carolina at the age of 70.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Jim was the oldest son of the late James Byron and Marie Black Adams. After graduating from Druid Hills High School, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology and joined Sigma Nu fraternity, where we became friends. Jim was a reliable friend and fraternity brother. And on top of that, he was a dedicated leader in whatever organizations he joined. While I knew him, he was a Rush Chairman of our fraternity, Captain of the Varsity baseball team, President of the Rambling Wreck Club, and a member of the ANAK honorary society.

After finishing his degree and a short stint with the Chicago Cubs minor league team in Washington State, Jim joined Deering Milliken-- presently Milliken & Company--in New York City which began a long and successful career in the textile industry. He was an executive at many companies in the industry and eventually became President of Flynt Amtex, where he retired at age 65, but continued serving on their board of directors.

Jim's friends and family will remember him as a level headed and dispassionate man who could bring a lighthearted sense of humor to every situation. He took pride in his profession, cared deeply about his family, and enjoyed golfing with his friends.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to Jim's wife Daryl, his son James, his daughter Jill, his great grandson Brayden, his brother David, and his nephew James in this time of difficulty. It saddens me to know that the world is missing an honorable and dedicated man, but I am humbled to know that he is now in a better place.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New York just said it: universal health care, single-payer system, a government takeover of one-sixth of our economy. That is what they wanted from the very beginning.

I rise today in support of H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act now.

The Obama administration's health exchange enrollment announcement on Wednesday is one of the myriad reasons we must pass this bill. Frankly, these long-awaited numbers did not come as a surprise to us. A mere 100,000 registered for health care on the new marketplaces when they anticipated 500,000. According to a Health and Human Services report, the number does not distinguish even between those that actually paid a premium and those that just selected a plan by clicking a button on the Web site.

Mr. Speaker, the number of Americans who have had their health plans

canceled is in the millions--exponentially higher than those who receive coverage under ObamaCare.

This disastrous law was destined to fail from the start. We on this side of the aisle, the Republicans--and indeed, the American people-- have known for 3 years that this plan is unworkable for small businesses; it is unfair for physicians and their patients; and it is unaffordable for we the taxpayer, we the people.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3350.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013.

The Obama administration's health exchange enrollment announcement yesterday is one of myriad reasons we must pass this bill. Frankly, these long-awaited numbers did not come as a surprise. A mere 106,185 patients registered for healthcare on the new marketplaces, a fraction of their 500,000 target. According to the Health and Human Services report, the number does not distinguish between those who've paid a premium and those who ``selected a plan by clicking a button on the website.'' Mr. Speaker, the number of Americans who've had their health plans cancelled is in the millions--exponentially higher than those who've received coverage from Obamacare.

This disastrous law was destined to fail from the start. For more than three years now, we've warned the law is unworkable for small businesses, unfair to patients and physicians, and unaffordable for taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, Isaac ``Ike'' Skelton was a consummate gentleman and a true class act. Ike was a humble man; he commonly referred to himself as a ``country lawyer.'' He was a tireless champion of our service men and women, both on the battlefield and off. He loved his family and everyone who encountered him knew it. He served the people of Missouri for 34 years with dignity and grace, and he will be missed. In Congress, one often hears the phrase ``my good friend'' or ``my friend across the aisle.'' Sometimes it can lose its meaning. But Ike and I had a close, personal friendship that extended far deeper than Washington's definition of one.

Ike and I served on the Armed Services Committee together for six years. During that time, in the context of our committee service, we talked often about military education, the roles and missions within our Armed Forces, and Ike's famous book list. I accompanied him to Warm Springs, Georgia, where he received polio treatment as a teenager. The Warm Springs Foundation held a special place in his heart, and he spoke of the lessons he learned there often.

In his farewell speech to the House of Representatives, he said: ``. . . never let illness define you, never be limited by the expectations of others, never give up, and never stop working.''

Ike exemplified that sentiment in everything he did.

Polio prevented him from serving our country in uniform, so he chose to serve members of our military instead. Ike used to say he looked at all of our troops as someone's son or daughter. To that end, he worked with Democrats and Republicans alike to improve life for our military men and women. In his position as both Chairman and Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, he fought to ensure our troops had the necessary training, equipment and support on the frontlines. He worked to improve military housing and other services for them here at home.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of attending the 8th and I Parade at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., where Ike was the guest of honor. It rained heavily that night, but like always, it was tough to dampen Ike's spirits. I learned so much from Ike and I will truly miss him. Ike was a one-of-a-kind congressman, and this body would be far better off with more members of his caliber.

Our country has lost a statesman, his family has lost a husband and father, our military has lost a champion, and many of us he worked or served with have lost a friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 252, the PREEMIE Act. The number of families in this country affected by premature births is enormous. In 2008, 12.3 percent of all live births, over 500,000 babies, were born preterm. This number dramatically influences the rate of infant deaths as about two-thirds of all fatalities in the first year of life are among preterm infants.

Prematurity or preterm birth is by definition a birth earlier than 37 weeks. Those children are usually not the problem. They're not the ones that end up with permanent disabilities. But there is a subset of prematurity, maybe sometimes referred to as ``immaturity'', children that are born as early as 20 weeks. Those children are the ones that very often, if they survive, are left with permanent long-term disabilities. The reauthorization of the PREEMIE Act is important to study, track, and prevent premature births in this country. This important legislation before us today will continue the important work begun in the original bill passed in 2006.

I'll end my remarks with a personal story. My wife, Billie, and I, have 13 grandchildren and the oldest are 15 years old. They were born at 26 weeks and each weighed 1 pound and 12 ounces. Thank God they are virtually unimpaired today and in the ninth grade and doing well. My family's experience, plus the fact that I delivered numerous preterm infants as an OBGYN in Marietta, GA, simply reinforces the need for this bill.

For these important reasons, I support S. 252.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Roe, for yielding time to me.

It is incredibly concerning that the Obama administration has continued full speed ahead on a rollout of a system, even after numerous warnings from vendors and from Congress.

The Web site has led to confusion in the insurance marketplace, as well as put consumers' personal information at risk to lax security protocols.

Even after the Web site is technically fixed, Mr. Speaker, as Dr. Roe mentioned, and it probably will be, consumers will still face higher premiums and the likelihood that they will be unable to see the doctors to which they have grown accustomed.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from a number of my constituents in the past few weeks about the disastrous effects of the President's health care law. I will take a little time this evening to

share with my colleagues a few of the observations from good, solid Georgians.

Tom, a Georgia Blue Cross customer, told me his ``Blue Cross policy went up originally by about $50 due to the Affordable Care Act. About 2 weeks ago I got a note that said my old policy no longer exists, and my new policy will now cost $100 more.'' That is a quote from Tom.

Dottie, from metro Atlanta, told me that her husband's employer was forced to drop their family plan and would, instead, offer them only two more costly options. Either plan would increase their premium by at least $160 a week, Mr. Speaker.

A mother in my district told me that her young daughter's Humana plan was canceled only 2 weeks after being promised that the price of the new plan would be locked down for a full year.

Mr. Speaker, the President kept telling the American people, and this is the quote, if they ``liked their insurance they could keep it, period''--and the period is part of the quote. It should have gone on, as Dr. Roe suggested, until they can't.

This promise has surely been broken. Millions of citizens have received cancelation notices from their insurers. They are now left with uncertainty over whether this new coverage will also be affordable.

Speaking of affordability, Mr. Speaker, let me share with you a few other stories from constituents, and then I will yield back to the gentleman from Tennessee because I know there are other Members on the floor that also want to speak on this issue.

Mike told me that ObamaCare ``has been a financial disaster'' for his family. It used to cost him just under $300 a month to cover his wife and daughter on his insurance, but, under ObamaCare, even that bronze plan--you know, there are four options, and bronze is supposedly the least expensive--will cost him $700 a month.

And get this, Mr. Speaker: a $5,000 deductible. He was formerly paying $300 a month. If you like your insurance, you can keep it.

As Dr. Roe said, Mr. Speaker, everybody's premiums are going to be going down on an average of $2,500 per year. Not so. Not so.

Teresa from Cartersville, also in my 11th Congressional District of Georgia, she and her husband told me that their premium is increasing from $550 to more than $900 a month. That is almost, Mr. Speaker, a 40 percent increase.

Robert, from metropolitan Atlanta, again, a little part of my district, told me that even though they were underwritten in June, his wife's policy had increased from $387 to $557 a month. That is a 30 percent increase.

Finally, before I yield back to the gentleman from Tennessee, Robyn from Atlanta received notice that her family's premiums will increase by 15 percent without any additional benefits.

I yield back to Dr. Roe, and I look forward to continuing this discussion with my colleagues as we go through the evening.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I know there is another member of the House GOP Doctors Caucus that has just joined us, so I will just take a moment and then yield back to Dr. Roe so he can yield to Dr. Harris.

I wanted to take just a moment to emphasize what Dr. Roe was talking about, Mr. Speaker, in regard to these mandates.

Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act, which we found out now is the ``Unaffordable Care Act,'' all of these mandates that are larded up into this essential coverage that the Federal Government is requiring is, indeed, the reason that the cost is going up. You can't include all those things that Dr. Roe was talking about without somebody paying for it.

We talk about other options and what we on the Republican side, particularly the physicians, have offered in regard to alternatives. Many States have a lot of mandates in the health insurance program, and, under current law, you can't buy health insurance in another State. And so we have been pushing for years--the 11 years that I have been here--to pass what is called an association health plan, where a group or even an individual can go on the Internet--and probably not have the trouble they are having with healthcare.gov--and find out that in Tennessee, maybe, there is a policy that fits them to perfection. If they are a 55-year-old single man who doesn't need infertility coverage--and maybe their State requires it--doesn't want to have to pay for that, so he can get a more cost-effective policy that fits his needs to perfection.

But by buying that health insurance across State lines, that is something that the other side of the aisle has completely rejected. And yet they have the mendacity, the audacity to say that we have no ideas, we have no plans, we have no alternatives. Indeed, we do.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I did want to speak about the young people, and I am talking about those who have had their 27th birthdays. They are aged 27, so they are not eligible any longer to be on their parents' health insurance plans. I have concerns over the effects of this law on these young people.

I have warned for some time, and I have even introduced legislation to insulate the young from rate hikes, which are the direct result of these age-band provisions in the Affordable Care Act. Health insurance companies know, and their actuarians know, as they are educated, as they have studied, as they have gone to college and have gotten master's--advanced degrees--in figuring out what the premiums need to be at different age bands. The Federal Government has come along in this law and has said, well, it doesn't matter; that you can't charge any more than three times the premium for, let's say, a 62-year-old versus a 28-year-old.

What that is doing, of course, is making the insurance companies just simply raise the premiums for everybody so they can possibly make a profit.

I just want to conclude with one thing, Mr. Speaker, and then I will yield back to Dr. Roe for some closing comments.

When this bill was marked up in 2009 in my committee--the Energy and Commerce Committee--as it was in Dr. Roe's as well, I submitted an amendment that said very simply: if you--the Democratic majority party and President Obama--are going to cram this down the throats of the American people, who don't want it and who have said they don't want it--60 percent of them said they don't want it--and if you are going to make them accept this, then, Mr. President, you, the First Lady, your two beautiful daughters, all of your Cabinet members, and all Members of Congress should also have to abide by what we, the people, have to abide by.

That amendment--my amendment--was rejected strictly, straightforwardly by a party-line vote. All of the Republicans on the committee voted for it as a fairness issue, and all of the Democrats voted against it.

So what happens?

A Republican Senator put it in its version, which gets in the bill, but

there is, all of a sudden, no subsidy. So, therefore, the President, by executive order, is saying that, oh, okay, these Members are now in ObamaCare, but because of their income, they are not eligible for any subsidy, so we are going to let them keep what the Office of Personnel Management gives them--our tax dollars--and 70 percent to 75 percent of the premium is paid by we, the people, to Members of Congress.

That is grossly unfair. I just want to make sure that all of my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, understand that, and I think they do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Timothy E. Tarchick and to recognize his lifetime of service to our country in the United States Air Force.

On October 31, Col. Tarchick will retire from the United States Air Force after more than 35 years of dedication and sacrifice for our great nation.

While Col. Tarchick currently serves as the Commander of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, he has worked in many other capacities. After enlisting in the Air Force Reserve in 1978, he became an X-Ray Technician, and would later serve as a Loadmaster with the 910th Tactical Airlift Group in Ohio. After graduating from Officer Training School in 1984, he served in many units as Squadron Training Officer, Wing Plans Officer, Tactics Instructor, Flight Examiner, Chief Navigator, 4th Air Force Operations Staff Officer, Director of Operations, and Operations Group Commander.

Throughout his career, Col. Tarchick was always ready to meet the call of duty. During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he led the first Air Force rescue efforts that saved more than 1,000 people. And at his current position, he has successfully converted the 94th Airlift Wing from a training wing to a combat-coded tactical wing. Under his leadership, the 94th Airlift Wing hasn't suffered a single casualty. For his exceptional service, Col. Tarchick has earned the Legion of Merit, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and many other awards.

Col. Tarchick will surely be missed. He has played an invaluable role in the U.S. Air Force for decades, and his effective leadership has left a positive example of leadership that will be passed to all of those who served under him.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Col. Tarchick for devoting his life to the upholding of our Constitution and to the protection of our American way of life. I wish him a happy--and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2189, legislation to establish a commission to evaluate the backlog of disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Although the VA has made important progress on reducing the backlog over the past several months, it still fell nearly 100,000 claims short of its Fiscal Year 2013 processing goal. As of October 19th, more than 400,000 disability claims remain backlogged at the VA. This problem persists despite the fact that Congress has given the VA every resource that they have asked for to end this problem. We must remain committed to a goal of completely eliminating this backlog.

Our veterans deserve timely processing of claims so that they can get the care and compensation that they so deserve. The legislation before us today will get us closer to that goal by establishing a task force to evaluate the backlog and appeals process of claims. Furthermore, H.R. 2189 directs the commission to analyze potential improvements to the current system and solutions to solve the problem and in turn requires the VA to implement appropriate solutions.

Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we must do everything in our power to demonstrate our gratitude for their dedication and sacrifice. A first step in that process is ensuring that our veterans are not forced to wait hundreds of days simply to have their disability claims processed.

Mr. Speaker, we owe our veterans efficient and effective care. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2189 so that we can find a solution to ending the backlog once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1405. This straightforward legislation contains several provisions relating to veterans benefits, and also includes a cut in bonuses at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Under current practice, the VA pays out about $400 million in bonuses to its workers each year. Recently we have seen these bonuses too often go to people whose work does not merit a reward, and to the contrary, may even merit reprimand.

This practice has been evident at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where despite the fact that four unexpected deaths were attributed to mismanagement and lack of oversight, tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses were awarded to top level executives at the facility. It is past time that we stop rewarding people for simply showing up to work-- bonuses should be the exception, not the norm. Furthermore, at a time when so many of our soldiers are returning from war, and in light of the deaths in Atlanta, I believe the VA should prioritize veterans' health and well-being above all else.

H.R. 1405 takes a positive step in ensuring that more discretion is used when providing bonus payments to employees at the VA. The legislation caps financial awards at the VA to no more than $345 million for fiscal years 2014 to 2018. It is time we stop rewarding lackluster work and focus instead on providing the best possible care for our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in showing our gratitude for our nation's veterans by supporting H.R. 1405.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3080-- the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013. I would like to commend Chairman Shuster for his continued willingness to work with all Members to ensure that this bill is a truly bipartisan product.

For the first time since 2007, this House will have the opportunity to debate legislation that authorizes our critical water infrastructure. I believe that this bill represents the proper reform that will implement deadlines, increase transparency at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and take offline $12 billion in projects that have been inactive for a number of years.

Mr. Chair, while these overall reforms are beneficial, there are two specific aspects of this bil that are important to the State of Georgia--as well as the entire Southeast region. First and foremost, this legislation authorizes the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) to deepen the port from 42 feet to 47 feet. For a number of years, this important regional project has been delayed by a statutory oversight in a previous WRDA bill. However, H.R. 3080 will finally provide the State of Georgia the ability to commit the $201 million of the state share that has already been set aside.

SHEP benefits both the State of Georgia and the country as a whole. It has been estimated that for every dollar invested in deepening the port, $5.50 would be generated for the country while providing savings of $174 million on shipping annually. Furthermore, the Army Corps' own General Re-evaluation stated that SHEP will create 11,554 jobs, over $551 million in labor income, and a gross regional value of over $794 million. With the upcoming expansion of the Panama Canal, SHEP will only help maintain a competitive edge for deep water ports in the Southeast.

Mr. Chair, there is another aspect of WRRDA for which I commend the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for its work. Unfortunately, in the version of WRDA passed by the Senate in May of this year, there were attempts made by our colleagues in the other body to undermine the longstanding issue among Georgia, Alabama, and Florida regarding water usage in both the Apalachicola-ChattahoocheeFlint (ACF) Basin and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) Basin. This WRRDA bill is no place to interfere with ongoing negotiations, and I believe that this legislation's silence on this issue is the correct approach.

For these important reasons, I support H.R. 3080.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Clem Melton Doxey for his long and distinguished career in medicine, and as the founder of Marietta Dermatology and The Skin Cancer Center.

On September 30, Dr. Doxey retired from his practice after 43 years of service to his patients and his community.

Since he began Marietta Dermatology in 1970, Doxey's passion for helping people has shown through his dedication to continue expanding his practice and personally serving between 40 and 50 patients a day. Dr. Doxey was the first dermatologist in the Marietta area, and his practice has since grown to 80 employees--including 11 partner physicians--at three locations in Marietta, Canton, and West Cobb.

A native of Louisiana, Doxey received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering as well as a medical degree from Louisiana State University. After completing an internship at Oaknoll Naval Hospital, he graduated from Pensacola School of Medicine as a flight surgeon in 1963. He served in the First Marine Brigade in Vietnam, and then completed his dermatology residency at Tulane Hospital in 1970. Thereafter, Doxey moved to Cobb County with his family where he would serve the community with his knowledge of medicine. He also taught residents at Emory University for 22 years.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest thanks to Dr. Doxey again for his lifelong devotion to the practice of medicine and dedication to the people of our Northwest Georgia community. I wish him a joyous--and well-deserved--retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough for his long and distinguished career in Academia, and as caretaker of the Smithsonian legacy since 2008.

Secretary Clough announced this month that he would retire in October, 2014 after what will be six unforgettable years at the helm of this historic institution.

Since Clough's tenure began, his unprecedented leadership has taken the Smithsonian in new directions--setting bold new educational goals that built on the institution's core strengths. As a part of this process, the Smithsonian has now become a world leader in new digital communications and imaging technology. To reach new audiences, Clough oversaw the first-ever online branding and advertisement campaign across all 50 states, and has put renewed emphasis on collaborations with universities and outside organizations. More than 400 exhibitions have been

opened across the system under Clough's name, many of which are permanent.

Before coming to the Smithsonian, Clough was a valuable leader on the staffs of many commendable institutions of higher education across the country. In particular, he served as the president of my own alma mater--Georgia Tech--for 14 years.

During his time at these universities, he's been recognized with many formal academic awards. Among them, are his induction into Georgia's Technology Hall of Fame, Georgia Tech's Joseph M. Pettit Alumni Distinguished Service Award, election to the National Academy of Engineering, the 2008 NAE Bueche Award in public policy, and nine national awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers--including the 2004 OPAL lifetime award and 2012 President's award for his efforts in education.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest thanks for his lifelong devotion to education and his procurement of one of America's longest standing protectors of its history. I wish him a joyous--and well-deserved-- retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, for allowing the House GOP Doctors Caucus to have the leadership hour tonight on this historic day, October 1, the ObamaCare exchange launch date. It's entirely fitting that the Speaker allowed our House GOP Doctors Caucus.

This group, Mr. Speaker, is made up of medical doctors, made up of registered nurses, dentists, hospital administrators, psychologists, optometrists, with over--now, get this, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues--with over 600 years of clinical experience.

Who knows better, in this Chamber of 435, than these 21 men and women who have spent almost their entire professional lives before being elected to the House of Representatives in the health care sector.

So here we are, October 1, ObamaCare exchange launch date, and hearing about malfunctions nationwide. We have received warning signs for months now that ObamaCare

wasn't ready, my colleagues, for prime time.

Now, with exchange malfunctions in more than 30 States on opening day, the best HHS can do is tweet, I'm sorry?

On top of that, after having years to prepare for this disastrous law, the President informed us that we could expect these glitches for months to come.

ObamaCare was a bad law when it was signed 3\1/2\ years ago; and now that we know what's in it, I firmly believe it's even worse law today.

Someone trying to receive coverage in the exchange right here in Washington, D.C., reported this today, Mr. Speaker: After waiting on hold for 3 hours and 43 minutes, I was finally able to speak to a representative, who told me she could not help me find a health insurance plan or provide any plan pricing information because, and this is a quote, ``the system is down and not currently working at this time.''

She recommended I call back in a few days. I guess $1.329 trillion in taxpayer funds no longer gets you a functional government takeover of health care.

Mr. Speaker, how can the administration expect people to believe that the exchanges are ready and that this bill is ready for prime time, with Americans facing this sort of experience today, October 1, the roll-out date?

Let me just take a moment and maybe play David Letterman. Top reasons why ObamaCare's exchanges aren't ready for prime time, colleagues:

Number one, your data isn't secure. Think about that. In the ObamaCare exchanges, Federal bureaucrats will have unprecedented access to your personal data. Thank the navigators that were hired. They will have not only access to your health care data, but also to your financial data.

And this raises a myriad of privacy questions, which are only further emboldened by the risk of human error. Recently, a Minnesota exchange employee accidentally leaked 2,400 Social Security numbers.

Number two, no eligibility verification to enroll. No eligibility verification to enroll. The Obama administration announced this summer that it will allow individuals to self-attest that he or she meets income requirements to get a tax credit, a subsidy.

Eligibility verification is not only required by the law, which the administration has chosen to ignore again; it ensures that aid reaches the most vulnerable Americans for whom it was intended.

I recently voted for the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, to correct, Mr. Speaker, this reckless policy. That law, that bill that I voted for, it's not law yet because the majority leader in the Senate is putting it in File 13, where he puts every other bill that the Republican House passes.

I'm very pleased that the author of this bill, Representative Diane Black from Tennessee, a member of the House GOP Doctors Caucus, is with us tonight; and I'll be yielding time to her momentarily.

Number three, Mr. Speaker, software glitches. Across the Nation, further implementation delays have been caused by several glitches in the health exchange software. One of these accounts even strikes at the heart of the law's coverage expansion, making it impossible to determine how much people need to pay for coverage.

Number four, system not prepared for small businesses. The Obama administration recently warned the small businesses, those companies that employ less than 50 people, sometimes maybe 10 or 15, that they won't yet be able to shop for health insurance for their employees through online exchanges, leaving them to rely on snail mail or faxes for at least another month.

Number five, plans advertised on the exchanges, Mr. Speaker are misleading. Early this month it was reported that many insurers, including Florida Blue and Aetna, were concerned that information offered on the exchange sites was misleading and, in some cases, not representative of plans that exist.

Well, I could go on, but at this point I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black), my colleague and the author of that bill; and I know she wants to talk about that, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the gentlelady from Tennessee.

Let me, colleagues, point out to you this poster that I have on the easel before us. This is the official United States Government Web site to get information about the rollout of the exchanges. And that's today, as we said at the outset of the hour, October 1.

The Web site, healthcare.gov, if you went to it today, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, here's the information you get:

The system is down at the moment. We're working to resolve

the issue as soon as possible. Please try again later.

Three-and-a-half years ago, March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act--the official name of this law--was signed by the President. It did become the law of the land. I don't think that the name of the law is very appropriate. Patient Protection? I doubt it. Affordable Care Act?

Listen to this: In my home State of Georgia, Mr. Speaker, the Aetna

Health Insurance Company has a number of policyholders. A recent letter was sent to those policyholders, Mr. Speaker. Let me read it, because I think this is so telling:

We're here to help you with your health insurance. We value

our customers. We want to help you understand your health

plan options for 2014.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, this is a letter from Aetna Health Insurance to their policyholders.

The Affordable Care Act is changing health insurance. This

includes adding new preventive care and essential health

benefit requirements.

In other words, mandated. The government is going to tell people and health insurance companies what has to be in the policies.

They go on to say:

The Affordable Care Act also ends medical underwriting. Due

to these and other changes, some people will pay more for

their health coverage and others less.

In other words, standard rates, whether you have a preexisting condition. You could have heart disease, you could have high blood pressure, you could have diabetes type 2, or you could be a 28-year-old man or woman, healthy, strong, athletic, no bad habits, enjoy the Methuselah gene in your family. And so you're going to pay the same thing that someone does that's 58 years old and with three or four preexisting conditions. Well, that's exactly the case, and that's why Aetna goes on to say to their policyholders:

The Affordable Care Act will affect your health insurance

plan. Your current policy will end December 31, 2013. You

need to buy a new plan now so that you do not have a gap in

coverage on January 1, 2014.

And then they go on to say this, Mr. Speaker:

Here are your buy-in options. Buy a 2013 Aetna plan

effective in December. This plan is identical to your current

coverage, and it would continue for the next 12 months. Then,

you will need to buy a new Affordable Care Act plan in 2015.

If you choose this option, please take action by November 25,

2013.

Now, here's your other option, as they point out. Option number two:

Buy a 2014 Aetna Affordable Care Act plan--

``Affordable,'' I emphasize that again.

--effective January 1, 2014. This plan meets all the

Affordable Care Act requirements. If we don't hear from you

or you don't take any action, we will automatically enroll

you into the 2014 Affordable Care plan below.

Now, listen to this, Mr. Speaker. The current plan, the one that they're on, the 2013 plan, Georgia Managed Choice Open Access Value 2500--that's what the plan is called--if you go ahead, as they said, by November 25, 2013, and sign up, you re-up for that plan that you like-- and the President said, If you like your plan, you can keep it; remember that one?--then your monthly premium will be $364.

Your other choice, the 2014 Affordable Care Act plan, Aetna Classic 3500 PD, $634 a month, Mr. Speaker. Remember, the 2013 plan, I said $364. If you buy the affordable care plan mandated by the government in 2014, it's double.

So anybody that thinks that the insurance commissioner, Ralph Hudgens, of the State of Georgia didn't know what he's talking about several months ago when he said that the Affordable Care Act, in some instances--and this is Aetna giving us their information--the premiums are going to go up as much as 100 percent, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we're talking about. We just absolutely cannot afford the Affordable Care Act.

The President assured us that this was paid for and that it was not going to cost more than $900 billion over 10 years. The CBO now says, Mr. Speaker, that it's at least twice that much in cost.

Look, at midnight on October 1, as you heard my colleagues from the other side of the aisle just a few minutes ago in their leadership hour talking about the Federal Government shutting down, indeed, at midnight on October 1, appropriations for the Federal Government did expire. By law, Congress must agree on a funding measure or the government will shut down.

As Washington has been run by Democrats for the past 5 years, Mr. Speaker, it's become a dysfunctional disaster. Americans expect, and they deserve, their elected officials to work together to find solutions. President Obama and Senate Democrats have drawn red lines and they refuse to negotiate or even talk to those who disagree with them unless, of course, it's President Vladimir Putin of Russia or Hassan Rouhani of Iran.

In fact, House Republicans have passed three continuing resolutions, or temporary spending bills, to keep this government open and to either defund or to delay ObamaCare--which the majority of Americans support. They were against it 3\1/2\ years ago; they are against it today; and they support what we are doing in the Republican House of Representatives.

I praise and commend Speaker John Boehner and the leadership of Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy for the strength that they have had in regard to this and for being so inclusive for every single member of our caucus.

All of these proposals, Mr. Speaker, that were submitted to the Senate were rejected. They were rejected by Harry Reid and Senate Democrats.

This morning, in the wee hours of this morning, the Senate voted 54- 46 against coming to the negotiating table with House Republicans. I'll refer my colleagues to this poster. I would like for all of you to take a close look at this poster because this says it all in these hashtags: Let's talk. If the President can talk to Putin and the President can talk to Rouhani, why in the world can't the President talk to conferees in the House of Representatives, just sit down and talk?

You've rejected not one, not two, not three, but four of our proposals without even a response, without even a counterproposal. And what the Speaker has said is: Let's talk. I have appointed--and he has appointed the best and brightest minds on the Republican side of this Chamber to discuss this issue with the conferees. But Mr. Speaker, Harry Reid, the majority leader, has refused to come to the table, has refused to appoint conferees.

In fact, look at hashtag number two in regard to what we have been asking as just some compromise in regard to passing a CR and keeping this Federal Government open. We have nobody on our side of the aisle-- nobody, Mr. Speaker--wanted this government to shut down. But here is what was rejected by the House, by the Senate Democrats, by Harry Reid, the majority leader.

Look at this second hashtag: Fairness for all. Fairness for all. If the President, Mr. Speaker, can say to large employers across this country who went to him and lobbied--big lobbying shops with the ability to do this, that said, look, we're not ready; January 1, 2014 does not give us time to prepare the documents that we need to prepare that are required by the Affordable Care Act--and the President, by Executive order, granted them a year delay with no fines, no penalties, no nothing. Everything the same as it was prior to the passage of ObamaCare.

So we say: Fairness for all. Why not do that same thing for middle America, for the men and women that are struggling, working every day, sometimes two jobs, to support their families. You're going to say that for them, no waiver, no special treatment, no fairness. If you don't have a health insurance policy--and one that is dictated to you by the Federal Government in regard to what it has to entail--then we're going to fine you $95 if you're an individual or $295 if you're a family. That was one of the things that we asked of the Senate in regard to extending the CR, fairness for all--summarily rejected by Harry Reid.

Then the last point: no special treatment. You know, colleagues, Mr. Speaker, you know exactly what I'm talking about here. Members of Congress, by law--this was put in on the Senate side. But by law, Members of Congress and their staff no longer, come January 1, will be in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan. They will be part of ObamaCare. They will have to get their health insurance in the exchanges. By law, they're not eligible, unless their salary allows it--maybe some entry-level staff members would be eligible for a subsidy, but certainly no Member of Congress.

Well, the people in Georgia, the people in my district, when they found out about that, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues, they were absolutely livid. This is a fairness issue. This is absolutely something that anyone can see is wrong.

We should be treated--we, the democratic majority, not we Republicans--but Congress enacted this law, and to say that we should get a dispensation from it and then cram it down the throats of the American people who never wanted it in the first place, that is grossly, grossly unfair.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I see that I've been joined by another colleague of mine in the House GOP Doctors Caucus. This is the gentlewoman from North Carolina, a registered nurse. Her husband is a general surgeon. She is a great Member of this body, and I'm proud to yield to Representative Renee Ellmers.

If the gentlelady will yield to me just for a second, I will yield right back to her.

Even the Hispanic language Web site is not available to these people that need to get that vital information. The Web site for the Hispanic is down.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina and the very fine points that she makes in regard to this law.

And the problems that the American people are facing here--as I say, 3\1/2\ years after enactment of the law--Mr. Speaker, I can't imagine it taking me 3\1/2\ years to get something right and not have enough time.

But just listen to this: it does not instill confidence that the administration was scheduled to certify the security of the health IT system--information technology--people's health information--just hours before millions of Americans are expected to upload their personal information--health care information, financial information. That is a pretty scary prospect, my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to think just hours ahead of time.

What is more important than one's personal health care information? Not even their financial information. Because we are talking about life and death issues here, Mr. Speaker. It has given waivers and delays to politically favored friends, but left the rest of America to bear the full weight of the law. That is what we were talking about in this poster that I want my colleagues, once again, to focus on in regard to ``fairness for all''--``fairness for all.'' We are not getting it.

To quell the public's growing discontent, the President is actually now marketing efforts to protect families from this looming train wreck as ``crazy.'' The American people face costly and onerous mandates, small businesses struggle to keep up with the rising costs, doctors--my colleagues, my former colleagues in Georgia where I practiced for 26 years obstetrics and gynecology in Cobb County, Marietta, Georgia, the heart of the Eleventh Congressional District--doctors frustrated with the challenges of a government-run health care system, and the security of America's health and financial information is unknown.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, the doctors know, they know this is just a first salvo. They understand that the intent was to have a single- payer system, not unlike the UK or Canada or Australia. That is what the leading Democrats--the Democrats that have been in this body for 20, 30, 40, and in some cases 50 years--have been trying to literally force-feed to the American people who absolutely don't want it.

Add October 1 to the list of dates on which the Obama administration pretends an unworkable health care scheme is precisely what the American people were promised--an admission not yet made, but inevitable nonetheless. Mark down October 1, 2013, as a day in infamy, as a day in infamy.

This behavior, Mr. Speaker, is not what Americans deserve, and it is a reminder that we need new leadership. We need new leadership in the White House and in the Senate. We need a new Senate majority leader. After 2014, I think we are going to have one. House Republicans will continue working day and night to return the United States Government to business as usual--to business as usual.

I oppose a government shutdown. As I said at the outset of the hour, Mr. Speaker--as I conclude our time--I oppose a government shutdown, and I am fighting, yes, to repeal ObamaCare, as I have for the last 4 years.

In the meantime--in the meantime--I do agree with President Obama that implementation of this flawed and disastrous health care law must be delayed, it must be delayed. However, Mr. Speaker, the President has only delayed ObamaCare for his political friends--a few privileged Americans and big corporations.

That is where we disagree. If we cannot repeal the law, I believe that it must be delayed for all Americans. We have spent the last 50 minutes, Mr. Speaker, talking about that, explaining to our colleagues in this Chamber and to the American people that this law is not and will never be ready for prime time.

It was flawed from the very beginning. Has it brought down the cost of health care? Is there anything in the law about medical liability reform that the President promised? Has it fulfilled the pledge from the President of the United States that ``if you like your health insurance, you can keep it, nothing has to change''? Has it fulfilled the mandate that it has strengthened Medicare?

How, Mr. Speaker, can a law strengthen Medicare when $750 billion was taken out of that program for our precious seniors--our parents and our grandparents--that are struggling, it is struggling. Statistics show that if we don't make some changes by as early as 2016 that claims will not be honored. When that happens and when we continue to cut reimbursement to our providers, there will be no primary care doctors to take care of our most precious seniors.

So these are the things that from the very beginning you are robbing Peter to pay Paul, you are taking money out of one entitlement program to create a whole new entitlement program--I guess you could call it, Mr. Speaker: Medicare for all from cradle to grave. But really what it is is national health insurance.

We are talking about health care in this country is one-sixth of our economy. Do we want the Federal Government--think about it, ladies and gentlemen of the House of Representatives on both sides of the aisle, think about it--do you want the Federal Government, that entity that runs Amtrak, that entity that is responsible for the U.S. Postal Service, do you want that entity to run one-sixth of the economy, and that one-sixth dealing with life and death and the health of a Nation? No, no, Mr. Speaker. We don't want that; the American people don't want that, just voted loud and clear.

It just astounds me that this Democratic majority in the Senate and this President won't even agree to basic fairness issues, like I have here on this poster, won't even agree to go to conference with the conferees that our great Speaker John Boehner has appointed to just sit down and talk. The President goes all over the world talking to people that I wouldn't talk to. In a New York minute I wouldn't talk to them; I wouldn't trust them. But we can trust each other.

The men and women in this House on both sides of the aisle, the men and women in the Senate on both sides of the aisle, the leadership, these are honorable people. And to just stand in the way of sitting down and having a conversation and saying, look, you disagreed with our ``fairness for all'' issue; you disagreed with our ``no special treatment.'' Please let's talk.

That is what Speaker Boehner is saying to Leader Reid. I think, Mr. Speaker, I think if we do that, I think if we do that, we can solve this problem and move forward with the financial security of this Nation.

We are at a physical cliff. We owe $17 trillion. On October 17, the Treasury says we are going to have to borrow another God knows how much. Is it $1 trillion, is it $2 trillion, is it $3 trillion? I don't know. But we can't kick the can down the road anymore. This can won't even move, it is so crunched up.

It is time for us to come together, as the Speaker says, and let's talk.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 59 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.