Tom Price

Mr. Speaker, it is expected that the United States Senate will vote on my nomination to serve our nation as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shortly after midnight tonight. Due to the schedule, if I am confirmed, this is the last opportunity for me to address the House.

The opportunity to serve as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. Respectfully, allow me to take this opportunity to reflect on my time in Congress over the past 12 years.

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I wish to thank my wife of 33 years, Betty. Her love, support, encouragement, and advice means more than I could ever say. In addition, as all here know, these jobs are family affairs--and our son, Robert, allowed his dad to be absent more than either of us desired. We're so very proud of the adult he has become.

Furthermore, this job and my passion for serving would not have been possible without the support and friendship of my colleagues, community, family, constituents, and staff throughout the years. It has been a blessing to work with such talented and bright minds to advance positive solutions to some of our nation's toughest issues and challenges.

As Members of Congress, our first priority is to be accessible and accountable to those we serve, and to help support those living and working in our communities. That is why I am proud to say that since 2005, 164 of Georgia 6th's most bright and dedicated young people received an appointment to one of our nation's military academies.

In addition, we have responded to nearly 600,000 letters, calls, and emails. Our caseworkers and team have had the privilege of helping over 11,000 constituents with federal agencies. Throughout the years, as just one part of our outreach efforts, we've made contact with over a million constituents via telephone town halls.

To all the hardworking, decent citizens of Georgia's 6th District who have given me the privilege of representing them in Congress--I will be forever grateful.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, constituents are the reason that we're given this honor to serve and I know that my Georgia colleagues understand and appreciate this immense responsibility.

Over the years, my Georgia colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives and Georgia's Senators, including Senators Isakson, Perdue, and Chambliss, and I have worked together to secure wins for our great state.

We've worked in a bipartisan fashion to help advance the necessary expansion of the Savannah Harbor, key to promoting our state's commerce and a critical component to helping grow our economy and create jobs.

We've also worked together to preserve and safeguard Georgia and the Atlanta area's access to a reliable water source, so that our local communities and state can continue to grow and prosper.

More recently, we succeeded in enacting a law to rename a Marietta Post Office in honor of a true hero, Marietta's Marine Lance Corporal Skip Wells, a proud Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice and selflessly gave his life to protect his fellow servicemembers and to protect our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have served and to have experienced firsthand our representative democracy in action, and alongside such honorable, dedicated public servants who have offered me both their friendship and counsel during my time in Congress.

Over the past twelve years, I have had the honor to be chosen by my colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee in the 111th Congress and in the 112th Congress as a member of the House Republican Leadership as Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. In these leadership roles, my House colleagues and I have helped advance conservative Republican principles and solutions aimed at tackling the challenges facing America.

Additionally, during the 114th Congress, it was an honor to be chosen to serve as the Chairman of the House Budget Committee where we succeeded in passing the first joint ten-year balanced budget agreement in over a decade. That success was due in large part to the tremendous staff on the committee as well as my colleagues who served on this committee in both the House and Senate.

Together, we have much to be proud of, especially the work done to advance a real reform of the Congressional Budget Process. We must fix our broken budget process in order to enhance constitutional authority, strengthen budget enforcement, reverse the higher spending bias in Congress, control automatic spending, increase transparency, and ensure fiscal sustainability.

Our budget resolutions have provided blueprints for how we can put our nation's fiscal house in order while saving and strengthening vital health and retirement programs as well as ensuring needed resources for those who protect and defend our great nation; solutions that will ensure taxpayer dollars from American families and businesses are spent in an accountable and effective way.

It is through the budget process that Congress has begun an important effort to put in place positive, patient-centered solutions to fix our nation's broken health care system. The status quo is harming Americans and their families.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, helping achieve access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans has long been a driving force behind my legislative efforts in Congress. My first professional calling was to care for patients, following in the footsteps of both my father and grandfather who were also physicians.

That's why we authored and introduced the Empowering Patients First Act, an alternative to Obamacare with real, patient-centered reforms to build a more innovative and responsive health care system--one that empowers patients and ensures they and their doctor have the freedom to make health care decisions without bureaucratic interference or influence.

Mr. Speaker, it is my goal and commitment to the American people that I will work as Secretary of HHS to ensure that our health care system adheres to what I call the six principles of health care: affordability, accessibility, quality, choices, innovation, and responsiveness.

The new administration and HHS will work together with the Congress to get Washington out of the way, to protect and strengthen our country's health care system to help improve the lives of the American people, to help heal individuals and whole communities across our beloved nation.

It is truly an honor to accept President Trump's nomination to serve our nation as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. My obligation will be to carry to the Department both an appreciation for bipartisan, team-driven policymaking and what has been a lifetime commitment to improving the health and well-being of the American people.

I am humbled by the incredible challenges that lay ahead and enthusiastic for the opportunity to be a part of solving them on behalf of all Americans. There is much work to be done to ensure we have a health care system that works for patients, families, and doctors; that leads the world in the cure and prevention of illness; and that is based on sensible rules to protect the well-being of the country while embracing its innovative spirit.

With a healthy dose of humility and appreciation for the scope of the challenges before us, with the assistance of my fellow Americans and with God's will, we can make it happen.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and once again, thank you to the constellation of individuals who have given me this great honor to serve as the Congressman for Georgia's 6th District. May God continue to bless you and our beloved United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(2) of House rule XI, I am submitting the rules of the Committee on the Budget for the 114th Congress. The rules were adopted earlier today during our Committee's organizational meeting.

General Applicability

Rule 1--Applicability of House Rules

(a) Except as otherwise specified herein, the Rules of the

House are the rules of the Committee so far as applicable,

except that a motion to recess from day to day, or a motion

to recess subject to the call of the Chair (within 24 hours),

or a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a

bill or resolution, if printed copies are available, is a

non-debatable motion of privilege in the Committee. A

proposed investigative or oversight report shall be

considered as read if it has been available to the members of

the Committee for at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays,

Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in

session on such day).

(b) The Committee's rules shall be publicly available in

electronic form and published in the Congressional Record not

later than 30 days after the Chair of the Committee is

elected in each odd-numbered year.

Meetings

Rule 2--Regular Meetings

(a) The regular meeting day of the Committee shall be the

second Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m., while the House is

in session, if notice is given pursuant to paragraph (c) and

paragraph (g)(3) of clause 2 of rule XI of House Rules.

(b) Regular meetings shall be canceled when they conflict

with meetings of either party's caucus or conference.

(c) The Chair shall give written notice of the date, place,

and subject matter of any Committee meeting, which may not

commence earlier than the third day on which members have

notice thereof, unless the Chair, with the concurrence of the

Ranking Minority Member, or the Committee by majority vote

with a quorum present for the transaction of business,

determines there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner,

in which case the Chair shall make the announcement at the

earliest possible date. An announcement shall be published

promptly in the Daily Digest and made publicly available in

electronic form.

Rule 3--Additional and Special Meetings

(a) The Chair may call and convene additional meetings of

the Committee as the Chair considers necessary or special

meetings at the request of a majority of the members of the

Committee in accordance with clause 2(c) of rule XI of House

Rules.

(b) In the absence of exceptional circumstances, the Chair

shall provide public

electronic notice of additional meetings to the office of

each member at least 24 hours in advance while Congress is in

session, and at least 3 days in advance when Congress is not

in session.

Rule 4--Open Business Meetings

(a) Meetings and hearings of the Committee shall be called

to order and presided over by the Chair or, in the Chair's

absence, by the member designated by the Chair as the Vice

Chair of the Committee, or by the Ranking majority member of

the Committee present as Acting Chair.

(b) Each meeting for the transaction of Committee business,

including the markup of measures, shall be open to the public

except when the Committee, in open session and with a quorum

present, determines by roll call vote that all or part of the

remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the

public in accordance with clause 2(g)(1) of rule XI of the

House Rules.

(c) No person, other than members of the Committee and such

congressional staff and departmental representatives as the

Committee may authorize, shall be present at any business or

markup session which has been closed to the public.

(d) Not later than 24 hours after commencing a meeting to

consider a measure or matter, the Chair of the Committee

shall cause the text of such measure or matter and any

amendment adopted thereto to be made publicly available in

electronic form.

Rule 5--Quorums

(a) A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

No business shall be transacted and no measure or

recommendation shall be reported unless a quorum is actually

present.

Rule 6--Recognition

Any member, when recognized by the Chair, may address the

Committee on any bill, motion, or other matter under

consideration before the Committee. The time of such member

shall be limited to 5 minutes until all members present have

been afforded an opportunity to comment.

Rule 7--Consideration of Business

Measures or matters may be placed before the Committee, for

its consideration, by the Chair or by a majority vote of the

Committee members, a quorum being present.

Rule 8--Availability of Legislation

(a) The Committee shall consider no bill, joint resolution,

or concurrent resolution unless copies of the measure have

been made available to all Committee members at least 24

hours prior to the time at which such measure is to be

considered. When considering concurrent resolutions on the

budget, this requirement shall be satisfied by making

available copies of the complete Chairman's mark (or such

material as will provide the basis for Committee

consideration). The provisions of this rule may be suspended

with the concurrence of the Chair and Ranking Minority

Member.

(b) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a

meeting for the markup of legislation, the Chair shall cause

the text of such legislation to be made publicly available in

electronic form.

Rule 9--Procedure for Consideration of Budget Resolution

(a) It shall be the policy of the Committee that the

starting point for any deliberations on a concurrent

resolution on the budget should be the estimated or actual

levels for the fiscal year preceding the budget year.

(b) In the consideration of a concurrent resolution on the

budget, the Committee shall first proceed, unless otherwise

determined by the Committee, to consider budget aggregates,

functional categories, and other appropriate matters on a

tentative basis, with the document before the Committee open

to amendment. Subsequent amendments may be offered to

aggregates, functional categories, or other appropriate

matters, which have already been amended in their entirety.

(c) Following adoption of the aggregates, functional

categories, and other matters, the text of a concurrent

resolution on the budget incorporating such aggregates,

functional categories, and other appropriate matters shall be

considered for amendment and a final vote.

Rule 10--Roll Call Votes

(a) A roll call of the members may be had upon the request

of at least one-fifth of those present. In the apparent

absence of a quorum, a roll call may be had on the request of

any member.

(b) No vote may be conducted on any measure or motion

pending before the Committee unless a quorum is present for

such purpose.

(c) No vote by any member of the Committee on any measure

or matter may be cast by proxy.

(d) In accordance with clause 2(e)(1)(B) of rule XI of the

House Rules, a record of the vote of each Committee member on

each recorded vote shall be available for public inspection

at the offices of the Committee and also made publicly

available in electronic form within 48 hours of such record

vote, and, with respect to any roll call vote on any motion

to amend or report, shall be included in the report of the

Committee showing the total number of votes cast for and

against and the names of those members voting for and

against.

Hearings

Rule 11--Announcement of Hearings

The Chair shall make a public announcement of the date,

place, and subject matter of any Committee hearing at least

one week before the hearing, beginning with the day in which

the announcement is made and ending the day preceding the

scheduled hearing unless the Chair, with the concurrence of

the Ranking Minority Member, or the Committee by majority

vote with a quorum present for the transaction of business,

determines there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner,

in which case the Chair shall make the announcement at the

earliest possible date. Such announcement shall be published

promptly in the Daily Digest and made publicly available in

electronic form.

Rule 12--Open Hearings

(a) Each hearing conducted by the Committee or any of its

task forces shall be open to the public except when the

Committee or task force, in open session and with a quorum

present, determines by roll call vote that all or part of the

remainder of that hearing on that day shall be closed to the

public because disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other

matters to be considered would endanger the national

security, or would compromise sensitive law enforcement

information, or would tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate

any person, or would violate any law or rule of the House of

Representatives. The Committee or task forces may by the same

procedure vote to close one subsequent day of hearing.

(b) For the purposes clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of House

Rules, the task forces of the Committee are considered to be

subcommittees.

Rule 13--Quorums

For the purpose of hearing testimony, not less than two

members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Rule 14--Questioning Witnesses

(a) Questioning of witnesses will be conducted under the 5-

minute rule unless the Committee adopts a motion pursuant to

clause 2(j) of rule XI of the House Rules.

(b) In questioning witnesses under the 5-minute rule:

(1) First, the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member shall

be recognized;

(2) Next, the Committee members present at the time the

hearing is called to order shall be recognized in order of

seniority; and

(3) Finally, the Committee members not present at the time

the hearing is called to order may be recognized in the order

of their arrival at the hearing.

(c) In recognizing Committee members to question witnesses,

the Chair may take into consideration the ratio of majority

members to minority members and the number of majority and

minority members present and shall apportion the recognition

for questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the

members of the majority.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A), the

Chair and Ranking Minority Member may designate an equal

number of members from each party to question a witness for a

period not longer than 30 minutes, or may designate staff

from each party to question a witness for a period not longer

than 30 minutes.

Rule 15--Subpoenas and Oaths

(a) In accordance with clause 2(m) of rule XI of the House

Rules, subpoenas authorized by a majority of the Committee or

by the Chair (pursuant to such rules and limitations as the

Committee may prescribe) may be issued over the signature of

the Chair or of any member of the Committee designated by

him, and may be served by any person designated by the Chair

or such member.

(b) The Chair, or any member of the Committee designated by

the Chair, may administer oaths to witnesses.

Rule 16--Witnesses' Statements

(a) So far as practicable, any prepared statement to be

presented by a witness shall be submitted to the Committee at

least 24 hours in advance of presentation, and shall be

distributed to all members of the Committee in advance of

presentation.

(b) To the greatest extent possible, each witness appearing

in a nongovernmental capacity shall include with the written

statement of proposed testimony a curriculum vitae and a

disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program)

of any Federal grant (or sub-grant thereof) or contract (or

subcontract thereof) received during the current fiscal year

or either of the two preceding fiscal years.

(c) Such statements, with appropriate redactions to protect

the privacy of witnesses, shall be made publicly available in

electronic form not later than one day after the witness

appears.

Prints and Publications

Rule 17--Committee Prints

All Committee prints and other materials prepared for

public distribution shall be approved by the Committee prior

to any distribution, unless such print or other material

shows clearly on its face that it has not been approved by

the Committee.

Rule 18--Committee Publications on the Internet

(a) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall

make its publications available in electronic form.

Staff

Rule 19--Committee Staff

(a) Subject to approval by the Committee and to the

provisions of the following paragraphs, the professional and

clerical staff of the Committee shall be appointed, and may

be removed, by the Chair.

(b) Committee staff shall not be assigned any duties other

than those pertaining to

Committee business, and shall be selected without regard to

race, creed, gender, or age, and solely on the basis of

fitness to perform the duties of their respective positions.

(c) All Committee staff shall be entitled to equitable

treatment, including comparable salaries, facilities, access

to official Committee records, leave, and hours of work.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs a, b, and c, staff shall be

employed in compliance with House rules, the Employment and

Accountability Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and

any other applicable Federal statutes.

Rule 20--Staff Supervision

(a) Staff shall be under the general supervision and

direction of the Chair, who shall establish and assign their

duties and responsibilities, delegate such authority as he

deems appropriate, fix and adjust staff salaries (in

accordance with House Rule X, clause 9(c)) and job titles,

and, at his discretion, arrange for their specialized

training.

(b) Staff assigned to the minority shall be under the

general supervision and direction of the minority members of

the Committee, who may delegate such authority, as they deem

appropriate.

Records

Rule 21--Preparation and Maintenance of Committee Records

(a) A substantially verbatim account of remarks actually

made during the proceedings shall be made of all hearings and

business meetings subject only to technical, grammatical, and

typographical corrections.

(b) The proceedings of the Committee shall be recorded in a

journal, which shall among other things, include a record of

the votes on any question on which a record vote is taken.

(c) Members of the Committee shall correct and return

transcripts of hearings as soon as practicable after receipt

thereof, except that any changes shall be limited to

technical, grammatical, and typographical corrections.

(d) Any witness may examine the transcript of his own

testimony and make grammatical, technical, and typographical

corrections.

(e) The Chair may order the printing of a hearing record

without the corrections of any member or witness if he

determines that such member or witness has been afforded a

reasonable time for correction, and that further delay would

seriously impede the Committee's responsibility for meeting

its deadlines under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

(f) Transcripts of hearings and meetings may be printed if

the Chair decides it is appropriate, or if a majority of the

members so request.

Rule 22--Access to Committee Records

(a)(1) The Chair shall promulgate regulations to provide

for public inspection of roll call votes and to provide

access by members to Committee records (in accordance with

clause 2(e) of rule XI of the House Rules).

(2) Access to classified testimony and information shall be

limited to Members of Congress and to House Budget Committee

staff and staff of the Office of Official Reporters who have

appropriate security clearance.

(3) Notice of the receipt of such information shall be sent

to the Committee members. Such information shall be kept in

the Committee safe, and shall be available to members in the

Committee office.

(b) The records of the Committee at the National Archives

and Records Administration shall be made available for public

use in accordance with rule VII of the House Rules. The Chair

shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of any decision,

pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of the rule, to

withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter shall

be presented to the Committee for a determination on the

written request of any member of the Committee.

Oversight

Rule 23--General Oversight

(a) The Committee shall review and study, on a continuing

basis, the application, administration, execution, and

effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject of

which is within its jurisdiction.

(b) The Committee is authorized at any time to conduct such

investigations and studies as it may consider necessary or

appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under

clause (1)(d) of rule X of the House Rules, and, subject to

the adoption of expense resolutions as required by clause 6

of rule X of the House Rules, to incur expenses (including

travel expenses) in connection therewith.

(c) Not later than February 15 of the first session of a

Congress, the Committee shall meet in open session, with a

quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans for that

Congress for submission to the Committee on House

Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Government

Reform in accordance with the provisions of clause (2)(d) of

rule X of the House Rules.

Reports

Rule 24--Availability Before Filing

(a) Any report accompanying any bill or resolution ordered

reported to the House by the Committee shall be available to

all Committee members at least 36 hours prior to filing with

the House.

(b) No material change shall be made in any report made

available to members pursuant to section (a) without the

concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member or by a majority

vote of the Committee.

(c) Notwithstanding any other rule of the Committee, either

or both subsections (a) and (b) may be waived by the Chair or

with a majority vote by the Committee.

Rule 25--Report on the Budget Resolution

The report of the Committee to accompany a concurrent

resolution on the budget shall include a comparison of the

estimated or actual levels for the year preceding the budget

year with the proposed spending and revenue levels for the

budget year and each out year along with the appropriate

percentage increase or decrease for each budget function and

aggregate. The report shall include any roll call vote on any

motion to amend or report any measure.

Rule 26--Parliamentarian's Status Report and Section 302 Status Report

(a)(1) In order to carry out its duty under sections 311

and 312 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to advise the

House of Representatives as to the current level of spending

and revenues as compared to the levels set forth in the

latest agreed-upon concurrent resolution on the budget, the

Committee shall advise the Speaker on at least a monthly

basis when the House is in session as to its estimate of the

current level of spending and revenue. Such estimates shall

be prepared by the staff of the Committee, transmitted to the

Speaker in the form of a Parliamentarian's Status Report, and

printed in the Congressional Record.

(2) The Committee authorizes the Chair, in consultation

with the Ranking Minority Member, to transmit to the Speaker

the Parliamentarian's Status Report described above.

(b)(1) In order to carry out its duty under sections 302

and 312 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to advise the

House of Representatives as to the current level of spending

within the jurisdiction of Committees as compared to the

appropriate allocations made pursuant to the Budget Act in

conformity with the latest agreed-upon concurrent resolution

on the budget, the Committee shall, as necessary, advise the

Speaker as to its estimate of the current level of spending

within the jurisdiction of appropriate Committees. Such

estimates shall be prepared by the staff of the Committee and

transmitted to the Speaker in the form of a Section 302

Status Report.

(2) The Committee authorizes the Chair, in consultation

with the Ranking Minority Member, to transmit to the Speaker

the Section 302 Status Report described above.

Rule 27--Activity report

(a) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular

session of a Congress or after December 15 of an even-

numbered year, the chair of the Committee may file any time

with the Clerk the Committee's activity report for that

Congress pursuant to clause (1)(d)(1) of rule XI of the House

Rules without the approval of the Committee, if a copy of the

report has been available to each member of the Committee for

at least seven calendar days and the report includes any

supplemental, minority, or additional views submitted by a

member of the Committee.

(b) Such report shall include separate sections summarizing

the legislative and oversight activities of the Committee; a

summary of the actions taken and recommendations made; a

summary of any additional oversight activities undertaken by

the Committee, and any recommendations made or actions taken

thereon; and a delineation of any hearings held.

Miscellaneous

Rule 28--Broadcasting of Meetings and Hearings

(a) It shall be the policy of the Committee to give all

news media access to open hearings of the Committee, subject

to the requirements and limitations set forth in clause 4 of

rule XI of the House Rules.

(b) Whenever any Committee business meeting is open to the

public, that meeting may be covered, in whole or in part, by

television broadcast, radio broadcast, still photography, or

by any of such methods of coverage, in accordance with clause

4 of rule XI of the House Rules.

Rule 29--Appointment of Conferees

(a) Majority party members recommended to the Speaker as

conferees shall be recommended by the Chair subject to the

approval of the majority party members of the Committee.

(b) The Chair shall recommend such minority party members

as conferees as shall be determined by the minority party;

the recommended party representation shall be in

approximately the same proportion as that in the Committee.

Rule 30--Waivers

When a reported bill or joint resolution, conference

report, or anticipated floor amendment violates any provision

of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Chair may, if

practical, consult with the Committee members on whether the

Chair should recommend, in writing, that the Committee on

Rules report a special rule that enforces the Act by not

waiving the applicable points of order during the

consideration of such measure.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House voted on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015, H.R. 26, and today, the House will consider the Save American Worker's Act of 2015, H.R. 30.