Floor Statements

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.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership on this package and his work throughout this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I am actually surprised--well, I am not surprised. I thought we might actually go a day without having the kind of hyperbole that we have grown used to from the other side of the aisle.

I want to speak to the issue of macroeconomic analysis as the incoming chair of the Budget Committee. The other side has said this is a gamble, that we are gambling that the projections are going to be correct. Mr. Speaker, this is craziness. That is not so. In fact, all economic projections--static, dynamic--all of them have a level of uncertainty.

We have heard that it is ``stacking the deck'' or that it is ``cooking the books'' in favor of tax cuts. Nonsense. Nonsense. It doesn't game the system at all. All we are trying to do is make certain that Members of Congress have more information upon which to be able to make decisions. That is the kind of commonsense things that our folks back home want.

Scoring, which is what we are talking about here, the Congressional Budget Office works hard to try to determine what the effect is of the kind of policies that we adopt around here. They will tell you right now that now it is inaccurate. Now it is inaccurate. What we are trying to do is simply say that if a piece of legislation is going to have a large effect on the economy, that we include that effect in the official estimate.

So if you think a bill is going to help or hurt the economy--help or hurt the economy--then they ought to tell us. They ought to let us know how many more jobs are going to be created, what kind of tax revenue up or down is going to occur. Is it going to harm jobs? The people who prepare our cost estimates, I tell you, they are the best in the business, and they have been working on this issue for years.

Mr. Speaker, this may come as some surprise to our friends on the other side, but they already do this kind of analysis. They already do the macroeconomic analysis. It is just that we don't include it in our cost estimate because of the rules. And we should. That is why we are offering this change today.

We don't predetermine the outcome. We simply make it so that the Congressional Budget Office is allowed, the scorekeepers are allowed, to have a more realistic score. It has come as no surprise, talking to economists from around the country over the past couple of weeks, over the past couple of months, and to a person they say economic scoring, the effects of legislation that we pass, it is an inaccurate science. It is hard to do. But what we want to do is to make certain that they have greater opportunity to get that scoring correct, to give us the kind of information so we can make wiser decisions.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't about cooking the books or gaming the system. This is about trying to do the hard work of the American people, trying to get the policies that we adopt here in this Congress correct so that we can get the American people back to work and get this economy thriving again.

I commend the gentleman from Texas for the work that he has done and urge adoption of the rules.

Mr. Speaker, in this resolution, we are establishing a new requirement in clause 8 of Rule XIII that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) incorporate into the official cost estimates required under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Budget Act) the macroeconomic effects of ``major legislation.'' Because this rule builds on the existing requirement for cost estimates, it does not apply to appropriations legislation.

By including an analysis of how major legislation will affect the economy, this rule provides the House with a more comprehensive estimate than can be produced using only the traditional, conventional scoring methods which implicitly assume that legislation has no effect on the broader economy. In particular, this analysis is required to include the budgetary effects of changes in economic output, employment, the capital stock, and other macroeconomic variables resulting from major legislation. In addition, this rule requires a qualitative assessment of the long-term budgetary and macroeconomic effects of major legislation.

Major legislation is defined as legislation causing an increase or decrease in revenues, outlays, or deficits in any fiscal year covered by the budget resolution equal to or greater than 0.25 percent of the projected gross domestic product for that year. In applying the 0.25 percent threshold, CBO and JCT are required to look at the gross budgetary effects of the legislation. In carrying out this requirement, the intent is that CBO and JCT review provisions in the bill that have a significant effect. Thus, the test is whether any provision in the legislation has a budgetary effect larger than the threshold, or if the absolute value of the sum of the provisions exceeds the threshold, rather than whether the legislation as a whole has such an effect when all of the provisions are netted out.

Alternately, for legislation that may not have a large fiscal effect, but would still have significant economic impacts, the new rule empowers the House to designate ``major legislation.'' For all legislation other than purely revenue legislation, the rule authorizes the chair of the Budget Committee to designate ``major legislation.'' For purely revenue legislation (i.e., legislation that contains only provisions described in section 201(f) of the Budget Act), the rule authorizes the House Member serving as the chair or vice chair of JCT, to designate ``major legislation'' for purposes of this rule.

The rule carefully preserves the existing division of labor between CBO and JCT, which requires close collaboration between these two non- partisan institutions. When major legislation involves both revenue and non-revenue provisions, CBO and JCT will need to work together to produce a single, integrated cost estimate for the legislation drawing on each agency's institutional responsibilities.

The rule requires enhanced transparency around these budgetary estimates. Both CBO and JCT, as applicable, must provide together with their estimates a description of the critical assumptions and the source data underlying such estimates. It is important that CBO and JCT make this information available so that the public, academic, and other experts have an opportunity to review the analysis and pursue possible improvements in the methodologies used to develop these estimates. Distributional analyses of proposed tax changes that JCT provides as background information is another area where estimates could be improved by incorporating macroeconomic effects into these analyses.

The preparation of cost estimates incorporating macroeconomic effects is frequently more complex and requires more time than the preparation of conventional cost estimates. Committees should therefore build in additional time to allow for the completion of the cost estimate. Both CBO and JCT should strive to promptly produce the estimates required by this rule. To the extent it is not practicable for CBO and JCT to produce the required estimates, the rule provides an accommodation in this instance. Two possible circumstances may arise when it is not feasible to produce the required analysis. First, committees and the House may be operating under tight deadlines and it is not possible for CBO or JCT to complete the analysis prior to the legislation's consideration. Second, while CBO and JCT have developed a great deal of expertise and experience in producing these analyses, there may be situations where it is not possible for CBO and JCT to produce the required analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the ABLE Act and its intent to promote greater independence and freedoms to disabled and handicapped Americans. However, I have great concerns with the policy that is being used to pay for this legislation because it would seek to further decrease Medicare reimbursement for physicians--an action that could threaten seniors' access to health care.

Since the passage of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and the creation of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, Congress has passed 17 ``doc-fixes'' to prevent further cuts to physicians providing care for our seniors. Each year, the entire medical community must pick up the tab to prevent the disastrous cuts that would be implemented if the SGR was to take effect. The result? Medicare reimbursement for physicians has decreased by 17% when adjusted for inflation, while the cost of care continues to rise.

In the most recent ``doc fix'' passed in March of this year, a controversial provision required the annual re-evaluation of codes matching 0.5% of total physician spending from 2017 through 2020. If this target is not met, the difference would be taken in the form of an across the board cut. The proposed offset included in the ABLE Act would shift these targets forward and compress them, requiring CMS to identify misvalued services equal to at least 1% of total physician spending in 2016, and 0.5% in 2017 and 2018. Moving the target to 2016 and frontloading it to require the identification of 1% of total physician spending in the first year would make it extremely difficult to meet the target.

However, CMS has no intention of implementing this law. In the 2015 Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule, CMS finalized a proposal to transition 10- and 90-day global period codes to 0-day global period codes in 2017, and 2018, respectively, yet CMS has not developed a methodology for how that transition will be made. This is a major overhaul of close to half of the currently existing CPT codes and will dramatically reform how physicians are paid. Because CMS has not yet developed a methodology for how this transition will occur, the nature of the impact is currently unknown, leading to further instability in physician payments. CMS notes in the Rule that due to the work necessary to make this change, they will not have resources to review certain other potentially misvalued services for the ``next several years'', almost certainly resulting in an across the board cut to all physicians caring for Medicare patients.

This continuous pursuit by our Congress and CMS to re-evaluate codes within the physician fee schedule will be detrimental to the medical community and to ensuring access for our Medicare beneficiaries. A 1% cut may not sound like much, but when taken in conjunction with the combined maximum penalties for not meeting the PQRS, physician value- based payment modifier, and EHR programs, the total potential cut faced by physicians will be -9% in 2016, and -11.5% in 2017. This does not even take into account the cuts required by the unresolved SGR.

Despite these concerns, I will support the ABLE Act today with the hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will recommit themselves in the new Congress to securing the Medicare program for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a constituent of the Sixth District of Georgia, Private First Class (retired) Dale Elbert Jones of the U.S. Army. Mr. Jones was born on November 2, 1914 to Callie Eudora Standcuff and James William Jones. He was raised in a log farmhouse in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northern Arkansas. Soon after graduating high school, Mr. Jones moved to Longview, TX, where a sister was living. He married Fairy Lee Pettey in 1939 and had one son. His electrical supply experience led him into a supervisor's position on the ``Big Inch Pipeline'' being constructed from Longview to Bayonne, NJ. The ``Big Inch'' was an emergency effort in support of World War II.

As WWII progressed he was drafted into service by the United States Army. After completing basic training, Mr. Jones was sent to Germany and assigned to the 309th ``lightning'' Division of the 78th Infantry. He received three battle stars for combat participation in the Battle of the Bulge, Central Germany, and the Rhineland. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded in the Rhineland.

After the war, Mr. Jones built a successful career as a Sales and Marketing executive and entrepreneur in the greater east Texas area. He ultimately founded his own sales and marketing company, TICO Paint & Chemical Company. He continued to work well into his late eighties.

Mr. Jones currently resides in Marietta, GA, where his son Dale L. Jones also lives. He lives independently at the Parc at Piedmont, a senior residence community. He enjoys playing a game of cards, chess, and keeping up with current events.

In a few weeks, Mr. Jones will be celebrating his 100th birthday. He looks forward to dancing at his party. He has lived a remarkable life in service to his family and our nation. I know I speak for the people of the Sixth District in showing sincere gratitude for all he has done for our country and wishing him the happiest of birthdays.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment made in order by the rule at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I want to commend the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for the work that he has done on this. This has been yeoman's work, a difficult task.

We haven't done a Financial Services appropriations bill in a number of years, and so I want to commend the chairman for his leadership on this issue.

My amendment deals with the Internal Revenue Service, and I know a lot of these amendments have addressed the issue.

The Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Chairman, as you and the American people know, by law--by law--may not release any personal taxpayer information. It must be protected, and it is clear that what we have had over the past year or so is the revelation of a huge violation of the public trust that has occurred as it pertains to the IRS' lawful requirement to protect taxpayer information.

Internal Revenue Code section 6103 is what this amendment deals with. It is a portion of the Code that is a taxpayer protection provision written to prevent unlawful disclosure of confidential taxpayer information.

The recent actions of the IRS, whether it is the targeting of conservative social welfare groups or the unlawful disclosure of an organization's confidential tax return and donor list, are nothing less than chilling, Mr. Chairman.

What the IRS has done is targeted conservative groups, allegedly to determine whether or not they ought to be granted tax-exempt status. In so doing, they have asked for those organizations' donor lists, the lists of hardworking Americans who have taken some of their resources and provided support for these organizations.

Then the IRS took that donor list information, not only kept the organization from getting tax-exempt status, as would be appropriate, took that donor list information and released it to political enemies or political opponents of the organization, apparently for political purposes.

This is outrageous activity, Mr. Chairman. This amendment is a very simple amendment that reminds the Internal Revenue Service that their primary responsibility is to serve the American taxpayer.

Given the information that has come to light over the last year or so, I would suspect that every Member of this Congress should support holding the IRS accountable to the rule of law.

The IRS has violated the trust of the American people, and it is imperative that this body hold the IRS accountable for their egregious actions.

It is a simple amendment. It is a commonsense amendment. It is an amendment that is supported and responsive to our constituents, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the

gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), the chairman.

I thank the chairman for his support, and I urge support of this amendment by all colleagues in the House.

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

Offered By: Mr. Price of Georgia

Amendment No. 6: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a constituent of the Sixth District of Georgia, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Nicolette Wheeler of the U.S. Army. Following a successful career, LTC Wheeler retired from the Army and moved with her husband to Alpharetta, Georgia. In 1995, LTC Wheeler was hired by the Fulton County School System to be the Senior Army Instructor at Roswell High School. In 2001, she was appointed to move to Central Administration to lead all 8 programs as the Director of Army Instruction.

Since being hired, LTC Wheeler has been recognized multiple times for her contributions to students and others: State Rifle Coach of the Year (2000), ``Service Above Self'' Award--Roswell Rotary (2001), JROTC Director of the Year--United States Army Cadet Command (2005), and State Outstanding Career and Technical Educator, JROTC Division (2009 and 2011). However, LTC Wheeler has been so much more than just a distinguished instructor and coordinator for the JROTC during her time in the Fulton County School System. Her students have always been her number one priority. She has been there to provide support and encouragement no matter if a student's ambition is an appointment to a service academy or passing an entrance exam to become a member of the United States Armed Forces.

At the end of this current school year, LTC Wheeler will retire. This is a bittersweet moment for all those students, past and present, whose lives she has dedicated herself to bettering. She has inspired all who have had the opportunity to work with her. Her tireless work on behalf of our community and country, her quiet leadership, and her collaborative spirit has not gone unnoticed and are deeply appreciated. Therefore, it is on behalf of the people of the Sixth District that I want to thank LTC Nicolette Wheeler for her years of outstanding and exemplary service.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a constituent of the Sixth District of Georgia, former Gunner's Mate Randolph (Randy) F. Jones. Born on June 3, 1924 in Phoenix City, Alabama, Randy was raised on a farm during the Great Depression. Due to the hard times, Randy and his family moved to Talbot County, Georgia, where his grandfather maintained a farm where corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, soy beans and cotton were grown. Moving to Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1942, Randy soon got a job as a grocery clerk at the Warm Springs Foundation. Warm Springs is famous nationally as the location frequented by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for his treatment for polio.

His initial time at Warm Springs did not last long, as Randy enlisted in the Navy near the end of 1942 while the nation fought the Second World War. During this time, he served as a Gunner's Mate on the Destroyer U.S.S.

Swanson. His tour of duty took him around the globe and included the Mediterranean, the Pacific and the Atlantic. Randy was discharged in 1946.

After serving his nation, Randy returned to his job in Warm Springs. While there, he met the love of his life, Sarah Leverett. They were happily married for 46 years until she passed away in 1993. Randy has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Randy worked at the Warm Springs foundation for 47 years. During the time he was there, Randy worked as a grocery store clerk and manager, food buyer, chef, purchasing agent and even managed a golf course in his spare time. Additionally, he served on the county school board for 10 years.

Currently residing at the Elmcroft of Roswell Senior Living Community, Randy has continued to attend to the needs of his friends and neighbors. For three years running, Randy has been voted by his peers as Valentine King. He currently is President of ``The Elmcroft Elder Statesman.''

On June 3 of this year, Randy will celebrate his 90th birthday. For all of his years of service to our community and nation, the people of Georgia's Sixth District sincerely thank him.

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the chairman of the committee for the great work he has done in bringing forward a positive, solutions-oriented budget.

What we are hearing here is the same song, different verse. You would think that they would get tired of singing this song because it is so out of key: spends more, taxes more, borrows more, adds $4.3 trillion to the debt and never, ever comes to balance. Ever.

The American people watching this and reading their newspapers about what the plan is in Washington, what the budget is in Washington, they recognize that the Democrats' plan is never, ever to balance; not something they can do in their homes. People have to balance their budgets. Not something they can do in their businesses; people have to balance budgets. So we hope that at some point in the future our friends on the other side of the aisle recognize that fiscal responsibility has something to do with the American dream.

When we don't balance as a Nation, when our Federal budget doesn't balance, when we continue to add $4.3 trillion more to the debt than the Republican budget, what that means is we are robbing from future generations. We are telling them you are going to have to pay this; we are not responsible

enough to pay it. You get to pay it. How does that sound to the young person out there who, by the way, is graduating from college and can't find a job in their sphere of interest because of this faltering economy.

So what is the alternative? That is the good news, Mr. Chairman. There are positive solutions that we are offering. That is the Republican budget we are going to have a vote on just this morning, a positive budget that actually balances the budget over a period of 10 years. And it not only balances the budget, it gets us on a path to pay off the entire debt of the United States.

Think about the wonderful dreams that can be realized by young people and others across this great land when we don't have any debt. Think of what happens when you finally pay off that car. What a great relief that is. When you are finally able to pay off your home, when you are finally able to pay off those debts, you remember, you wake the next morning and you feel freer and more excited. There is a greater opportunity to realize your dreams.

Our budget recognizes that health care is indeed important, and that Medicare and Medicaid, not according to me or the Republican side but according to the actuaries in those programs, is going broke. Bankrupt. What does that mean? That means that seniors and individuals in the Medicaid program will no longer be able to receive the benefits, the services, the health care that we have promised them as a country. That is what that means. That is what this program does on the other side of the aisle. That is why in our budget we save and strengthen and secure Medicare and Medicaid. We do so by making certain that patients are in charge of health care, not the Federal Government. The Republican budget is the premier budget that is being offered today. I urge my colleagues to vote down the Democrat budget and vote for the Republican budget.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the abbreviated remarks by my friend, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, belie the challenge before us with this budget. The Congressional Progressives, the far left in the House,

don't disappoint with the budget that they bring to the floor today.

What is the top line? Taxes, increasing taxes by $6.6 trillion over current policy; spending, increasing spending by $3.3 trillion dollars over current policy.

What about that all-important issue of defense in a very dangerous world? A $7 billion increase--a $7 billion increase at a time when our Nation is seeing significant and increasing threats.

Does it ever come into balance? Never--never does this budget come into balance.

One would think that, given the challenges that we have from the debt--the $17 trillion-plus in debt--that this would be an irresponsible budget, and one would be correct in saying so.

Let's look at some of the particulars here. Taxes, relative to the Republican budget, this alternative increases taxes by roughly $6.6 trillion over 10 years. This caucus budget contains trillions of dollars in new tax increases focused on penalizing those who are creating wealth and creating jobs in this country.

This budget that is being proposed today would actually decrease the number of jobs available. These are tax policies that are motivated out of a notion of ``fairness,'' but a warped notion of fairness, where the Tax Code's primary purpose is to redistribute income and equalize outcome. These policies clearly end up hampering growth and job creation.

What about spending? Mr. Chairman, this budget that is being proposed spends a whopping $8.4 trillion more than the Republican budget--$8.4 trillion, as if we had it growing on trees.

It doubles down on the Obama administration's failed economic policies and stimulus program by calling for trillions of dollars of new domestic spending, borrowing more and more money from overseas, compromising our kids' and our grandkids' future.

In the area of health--people look at the budget of the United States. They recognize that the biggest challenges that we have are in the area of health care spending, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, both of those programs going broke. Both of them going broke, bankrupt.

What does that mean? It means that those programs, in a relatively short period of time, won't have the resources to be able to provide the services to seniors and those on Medicaid that have been promised to them, unless something is done.

What does this budget do? It further increases the overreach of the Federal Government in the area of health care, putting the government in charge of health care, as opposed to individuals. It embraces a policy that would lead directly--directly--to completing the government takeover of health care.

However, I do want to mention a bright light in this budget. The Progressive budget actually recognizes that the alternative, utilizing a block grant of Federal funding to the States, is a wise idea. We call it State flexibility, giving States greater flexibility with the use of resources; and I want to commend the Progressive Caucus for recognizing that that is a reasonable method of proceeding.

What about job training? This budget expands the current broken Federal job training system by calling for more spending, despite the GAO's findings that dozens of Federal programs that already exist overlap and are duplicative. In fact, they harm the ability of jobs to be created.

In January of 2011, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that found 47 overlapping Federal job training programs that spent approximately $18 billion in 2009. Does this budget do anything to decrease that duplication and redundant efforts? No, not a doggone thing.

Then defense, as I mentioned at the beginning, Mr. Chairman, this substitute fails in the Federal Government's first responsibility, providing for the common defense. This substitute guts the defense budget by calling for $569 billion in cuts to the Pentagon, compared to the Republican budget. These are levels that would reduce military readiness and hollow out our forces.

This is a very dangerous world, Mr. Chairman. You don't have to take my word for it. Listen to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, who recently testified:

Our current security challenges are more formidable and

complex than those we faced in downturns following war in

Korea, Vietnam, and the cold war. There is no foreseeable

``peace dividend'' on our horizon. The security environment

is increasingly competitive and dangerous.

Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that decreasing the ability of our men and women standing in harm's way and defending our liberty and freedom at this time is an absolutely reckless and irresponsible move.

I know that our colleagues in the House of Representatives recognize that it is important to have all sorts of alternatives being proposed.

I commend the Progressive Caucus for proposing this alternative, but any review of this budget recognizes that it spends more than it should, it taxes more than it should, it expands the role of government more than it should, and it doesn't address the real challenges of the day in a way that brings about positive and real solutions.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased now to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice), a member of the Budget Committee.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, may I request the remaining time on each side?

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

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ribble), a productive and active member of the Budget Committee.

May I inquire as to the time remaining.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Duffy).

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

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

Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot about this budget, a lot of information, and a lot of numbers have been tossed around. My friends on the other side say that their budget will create 8.8 million jobs; where does that come from? It was made up. They say that our budget slashes 3 million jobs; where does that come from? It was made up. They say our budget will increase taxes on the middle class; where does that come from? It was made up.

What is a fact about jobs? A fact about jobs is the President's health care law, the Congressional Budget Office has said, will decrease the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs. That is a fact. That is a fact.

So if my friends, my colleagues in the House here, if you want to increase taxes by $6.6 trillion, vote for their budget. If you want $8.4 trillion in more spending over the next decade, vote for their budget. If you want to increase debt by $8.2 trillion more than the Republican budget, vote for that budget.

We believe there is a better way, that there are real solutions. We recognize this is a dangerous world; therefore, we increase spending on defense and making certain that our men and women who stand in harm's way have the resources they need. We believe that opportunity needs to be expanded and pro-growth tax policies are the things that get the economy rolling again and get jobs being created.

We understand that Medicare and Medicaid are in difficult straits financially, something that our friends on the other side of the aisle bury their heads in the sand about, so we put in place in our budget a program to save and strengthen and secure Medicare and Medicaid, recognizing that patients need to be in charge of health care, not the Federal Government.

We recognize that energy policy needs to be expanded so that we responsibly utilize the blessing and the resources that have been provided so that we can become energy independent as a country and not rely on nations that don't like us.

We also recognize that balancing the budget is imperative if we are going to get our fiscal house in order and get our economy back on track. Our budget is the only budget that is being presented on the floor of this House, compared to the other side of the aisle, that gets to balance. Our budget, compared to the other side of the aisle, not only gets to balance, gets us on a path to paying off our entire debt. It is a positive, optimistic budget. I urge support of the Republican budget and defeat of the Progressive budget.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Chairman, I want to start by commending the

chairman of the Budget Committee, Mr. Ryan, for his wonderful and positive work on real solutions. When I go back home and I talk to folks, they say: Well, don't y'all have any solutions that will actually work?

That is what this is. This is a real solution, a commonsense solution. My constituents back home in the Sixth District of Georgia also tell me that they are saddened and disheartened by the comments that we hear from the other side, primarily, on dividing Americans, pitting one American against another.

It really is a cynical ploy. It may be politically opportune, but it is not helpful. It is not helpful for the discourse that we have in this country. It is not helpful for us reaching those real solutions; so I implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: let's get together and work together and find those real solutions.

What my constituents back home also tell me is that the path we are on just isn't working. The economy is not thriving; record deficits continue. I mentioned the mantra of division that seems to be the MO of the other side, but the other side, the Democrats, seem to be happy with all this.

They seem to be happy with an economy that is not thriving. They seem to be happy with an economy that has resulted in fewer Americans working. They seem to be happy with fewer success stories across this country.

They seem to be happy that more jobs are leaving the country, as opposed to being created here. They seem to be happy with higher and higher taxes and more and more spending. They seem to be happy with borrowing more money from foreign countries. They seem to be happy with compromising opportunities for future generations.

We believe that there is a better way, that there are positive solutions and real solutions, and that is our budget--a responsible, balanced budget; yes, a balanced budget, a path to prosperity for every single American.

We have had a little discussion over the past few minutes about defense. I want to talk about some specific issues in our budget, defense being one of them. This is a very dangerous world.

Our budget recognizes that. It realizes the danger that we have and that our allies have, and we increase spending for defense and for national security. We account for that in our budget in a positive way.

The President, irresponsibly, seems to bury his head in the sand. His budget, as has been mentioned, puts us back at pre-World War II levels for our men and women in uniform. That is not consistent with what the American people see in the real world right now, so what we do is account for that and increase defense spending in a responsible way.

In the area of health care, I am a physician. I recognize that the world of health care is in an upheaval. There are physicians leaving their practices. There are seniors who are losing their doctors. There are new Medicare patients who are unable to find physicians.

In fact, the actuaries of Medicare--not Republican or Democrat--but the actuaries of the Medicare system have said that the system is going broke. Within a 10-year period of time, it will not be able to provide the services for seniors that have currently been promised.

Our budget positively addresses these issues. We save and strengthen and secure Medicare. How? With positive reforms; putting patients in charge, not government in charge.

In fact, the proposal that we outlined a number of years ago and continue to include in our budget right now, the premium support for seniors, making it so that they have more choices, the Congressional Budget Office did a study on that exact program published last September.

They recognize that this program that is proposed by the Republicans will not only save money for seniors, but it will save money for taxpayers--real positive solutions. Again, it will put patients in charge and not government.

Another exciting difference between our proposal, our budget, real solutions and the other side, is that we understand that a growing economy is essential to getting us back on the right track. The past 5 years have certainly not been helpful.

The Congressional Budget Office, once again, has evaluated our proposed policies and has said that, if we are able to get our economy back on the right track by instituting our plan of saving over $5 trillion, that there would be significant benefits to the economy.

Realistic scoring shows that--and I will quote from the Congressional Budget Office--``CBO finds that reducing budget deficits is a net positive for economic growth. Deficit reduction creates long-term economic benefits because it increases the pool of national savings and boosts investment, thereby raising economic growth and job creation. These benefits are both significant and lasting.''

That is our budget, positive growth in the economy and significant and lasting benefits to the American people.

Finally, I want to just mention briefly the issue of the debt. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said just a few years ago that the number one threat to our national security is not the threats that we see from other nations and rogue regimes, it is the threat of our national debt. The American people know this.

We are over $17 trillion in debt, and the President continues to spend, in his budget, record deficits--record annual deficits. The Path to Prosperity, the plan that we are proposing, gets us back on the right track, gets us on a path to balance, balancing within a 10-year period of time, and on trajectory to pay off the entire debt of the United States of America, thereby increasing economic opportunity and viability and all.

We are for the greatest amount of success for the greatest number of Americans and the greatest number of American Dreams being realized. The way that you do that is through the Path to Prosperity, a balanced and responsible budget.

I urge my colleagues to support this balanced budget.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1874.

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

Mr. Chairman, before I begin, I want to thank Chairman Ryan of the Budget Committee for his tireless work and activity, especially in the area of budget process reform. He understands, as we all do, that the budget process is broken, clearly by the results that we have had or have not had here in Congress over the past number of years. I also want to commend the Budget staff and my staff for the work that they have done on bringing this bill forward and the work they have done on the commonsense kinds of reforms that are necessary in the budget process.

Mr. Chairman, this is a simple and a commonsense piece of legislation.

What we do here has consequences. What we do in Congress has consequences. Some of them are good; some of them are bad.

This amendment, when adopted, will allow us to have more information upon which to make decisions here in Congress. This is especially helpful in the area of economic activity. Economists from across the political spectrum agree that legislation considered by Congress can have significant effects on economic growth, what happens in the real world.

Major legislation, such as the tax reform legislation that is being discussed right now, is likely to have longer-term macroeconomic effects that will increase growth and, as a result, produce increased revenues, reduce spending, or some combination of the two. For example, the Congressional Budget Office's, CBO's, prior macroeconomic work has shown that deficit reduction has positive economic effects. I will quote from one of their reports:

Over the medium term and long term, when economic output is

determined by the supply of labor and capital in the

productivity of those inputs, the reduction in Federal

borrowing that would result from smaller deficits would

induce greater national saving and investment and, thereby,

increase output and income.

In another report, Congressional Budget Office work concluded that:

Higher marginal tax rates tend to discourage some economic

activity.

Now, while the current law that we operate under requires that the Congressional Budget Office provide Congress with information on the fiscal impact--what something costs--of all legislation reported from a committee, there is no systematic requirement for analysis of the economic impact, the realistic effects in the real world out there in the economy. This bill remedies that shortcoming.

This bill would require that the Congressional Budget Office provide a macroeconomic impact analysis for legislation that the CBO--that the Congressional Budget Office--estimates would have a budgetary impact of more than .25 percent of the annual gross domestic product. That is about $43 billion. In addition, the bill would require that the Congressional Budget Office provide a statement of the critical assumptions and sources of data underlying their estimate.

This new macroeconomic impact analysis would not, Mr. Chairman--would not--replace the current work that CBO does, but it would provide more important information. I can't imagine anybody in this House who desires us not to have more information on the pieces of legislation that we are dealing with.

So, again, this is a simple, commonsense, and, I hope, bipartisan bill that we will be talking about and voting on today. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my friend from Maryland to read the bill. Read the bill. This isn't about tax increases or tax decreases specifically.

Page 4, the macroeconomic impact analysis. An estimate of the changes of economic output: employment, interest rates, capital stock, tax revenues, all. In fact, the kinds of things that the gentleman points to in infrastructure or education, if they have an economic impact of greater than .25 percent of the gross domestic product, they would be evaluated and we would get a report from CBO on that.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah, Chris Stewart.

Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the chairman of the Budget Committee and an individual who knows well the imperative of reforming the budget process.

Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), a very productive member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), a senior member of the House Republican Conference.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the time remaining on each side?

Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey).

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

I have to admit, I am puzzled. All this bill does is say that Members of Congress ought to have more information about the decisions that we are making here on behalf of the American people, not less. That is a pretty simple concept in the real world. Only here in Washington do we not want more information. I guess we want to stick our heads in the sand.

The gentleman who just spoke said that this bill's purpose is to trot out and continue to put in place a failed theory.

This bill doesn't do anything about the outcome of the results that CBO would give us under this bill. We don't game the system at all. What we do is want the Congressional Budget Office to give us more information. If the gentleman is correct, then that is the information that we will get. Why would he not want more information?

What else has been said here this morning, Mr. Chairman? We had a scientist take the floor and say that he was against using more information. A scientist.

As a physician, I can tell you that I never met an individual--any of my medical colleagues--who didn't want all of the information that they could get. In fact, that is what happens in the real world. In families and in communities and in businesses, people want as much information as they can so that they can make wise decisions. And that is what this bill would do, give us more information so that hopefully, hopefully Congress would be able to make more wise decisions.

I will tell you, I am puzzled by the gentleman from Maryland who stands up over and over and talks about the benefits of dynamic scoring on a particular piece of legislation that he supports. But then he doesn't want dynamic scoring or a macroeconomic analysis of legislation on anything else, just what he supports. You talk about being duplicitous, Mr. Chairman. I am telling you.

The gentleman from Maryland keeps talking about slower growth in the budget that we are going to be talking about next week, and he always adds ``over the next few years'' because he doesn't want to talk about the outyears, where the growth explodes, and we have that pro-growth economy and getting people back to work and the jobs that are going to be created.

So, Mr. Chairman, this really is pretty doggone simple. Either we want more information or we don't. Republicans in this House at this point want more information. In fact, in the Senate, a piece of legislation that is similar to this--asking for macroeconomic analysis, offered by Senator Portman--was voted on in a bipartisan way. The Senate, in a bipartisan way, supported that amendment.

So I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, to stand up today and say to the American people, yes, we want more information, so that, hopefully, we are able to make more wise decisions. And I urge adoption of the underlying piece of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), a senior member of both the Appropriations and the Budget Committees.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, this truly is a great idea. There is no question that Congress ought to have more information about the legislation that we are going to consider and how it affects State and local governments. Far too often, we in Washington decide that we are smarter than everyone else and choose to impose burdens on those governments that are closer to the people.

Frankly, far too many of us here in Congress simply don't take the principle of federalism seriously. In fact, this is such a great idea that a Republican Congress passed it and a Democratic President signed it into law in 1995. It is called the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act or, more popularly, UMRA. This law requires CBO to analyze every piece of legislation for the burdens that it imposes on State and local governments.

Here is how CBO describes their work under the law:

In 1995, the UMRA was enacted to ensure that the Congress

receives information, during the legislative process, about

Federal mandates--requirements that would be imposed on

State, local, and tribal governments and on entities in the

private sector.

So, as with this amendment we are debating, the job is already done; and, as with the next amendment, the job is already done. The issue is already addressed. So I appreciate the gentleman's interest in the issue, but there is simply no need for the amendment, and, consequently, we will have to oppose the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, although I don't oppose the amendment, I ask unanimous consent that I may claim the time in opposition.

I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the chairman of the Budget Committee.

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

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlelady for offering this amendment and for recognizing the value and importance of economic analysis for legislating here in Congress.

Too often, we hear from the other side of the aisle these taunts about magic asterisks and phony numbers, but your amendment rightly recognizes that legislation can make a difference on the economy.

However, what we can't accept about the amendment is the idea that CBO should try to estimate its effects on only small sections of the country rather than the Nation as a whole.

Instead of dictating every detail of the macroeconomic analysis for CBO, we think that we need to give them the flexibility to adapt their analysis to the specifics of particular legislation. This amendment would unnecessarily limit that flexibility, so we urge its defeat.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I have very good news for my friend from New Hampshire. The underlying bill would include macroeconomic analysis on all of these items: education, infrastructure, employment, growth, and so much more. Therefore, we must oppose the MTR, as it is redundant and unnecessary.

I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 105 I was not able to participate in this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''