Marsha Blackburn

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. I think we were all encouraged when we had bipartisan agreement and support for delaying both the employer and the individual mandate, a vote that we took a month earlier this year, and we were encouraged with that. That's such an interesting thing. There has never been Republican support for this law or the 20,000 pages of regulation that is springing up out of this law because it is costing us jobs, it's costing us money, and it's causing our hospitals to close. And we do have bipartisan agreement that the law is not ready for prime time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Thank you so much, and I thank the gentlelady for her attention on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I think each of us wants to thank the leadership for allowing us to have time on the House floor and talk directly to the American people in order to be certain that they know exactly what is in this unaffordable act. We have talked a lot about why we want to delay it and defund it and repeal it and replace it, and the importance of that. As the gentlelady from Minnesota mentioned, one of the problems that we hear from women is--guess what?--the cost of insurance is going up. The President had said it's going to save you $2,500, and we are hearing now that it is going to be going up between $3,000 and $7,500 per family per year for the cost of insurance. When you look at the cost of these exchanges, they're not saving money; it's costing them more. We are hearing reports of how out-of-pocket expenses are expected to escalate. It may be $5,000 or $6,000 per family. The costs are escalating in what families are going to be using to pay for health care, and because of that, they are looking at us and are saying you have to get the costs down. There is the impact of ObamaCare on jobs, on the 40-hour workweek, which has been such a cornerstone of the American Dream, such a cornerstone for hardworking families to be able to support their families, to have their children dream big dreams, to educate those children, and to send them forward in the world to do their part in adding to the greatness of America. That is being attacked by this legislation. It is, indeed, a law that the American people do not want because they can't afford it. Go back, and remember where we started with this--and this is one thing I hear from women regularly. I had a constituent ask me recently, and it reminded me. She said, What was the purpose of ObamaCare? Supposedly, when all of this great debate started, it was to find a pathway for somewhere between 30 and 45 million Americans who did not have access to health insurance to have health insurance. What it has become is a Federalizing and a nationalizing of 17 percent of the U.S. economy. It is turning health care on its head. In order to pay for it--Mr. Woodall mentioned the hearing that we had in the Budget Committee yesterday--they have taken money out of Medicare, which is money that our seniors have earned. They've earned that money. They have put it into the Medicare trust fund. ObamaCare pulls it out and puts it over here in the ObamaCare pot--$600 billion worth. That money was to be there for seniors, for hardworking taxpayers. This administration picks it up, and they move it over. They are implementing 20 new taxes. Insurance policies, home sales, equity--you name it--medical devices are all subject to a tax. Why? They've got to find a way to pay for this expensive program that no one can afford. All the while, we continue to stay near 8 percent in unemployment. We have millions of Americans--23 million Americans--who are either unemployed or underemployed, and the Federal Government is seeking to take more of their paychecks. This is one of the reasons that about 130 of our colleagues, including the gentlelady from Minnesota, have joined me on H.R. 2809, which is the legislation that is the 1-year delay of all things ObamaCare--all the taxes, the fees, the penalties, the Medicaid expansion that our States don't want, the exchanges that are not ready to open. Indeed, on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, there was another article about another glitch in these exchanges. It's not ready for prime time. The smart thing to do is delay it so that we can defund, repeal it, and replace it. At our Republican Study Committee, we have introduced great replacement language, the American Health Care Reform Act. I know that others who are waiting to speak are going to talk about this act and the ideas we have to give individuals and patients and moms and dads more control over their health care. That's what we want, individuals able to make their own decisions, not a bunch of bureaucrats sitting in a building down on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. We do not trust those decisions to nameless, faceless, unknown, unaccountable bureaucrats. Those decisions should be made by patients and doctors. That is what we are fighting for. We are fighting for the future of this Nation. We are fighting to make certain that our children know the America that we have known: the America that is robust and accepting and is welcoming to those that want to dream big dreams, welcoming to our children's ideas and concepts to build companies, to innovate, to create jobs. That is what we come to the floor to fight for. We know an important component of that is to prevent the establishment of this program that is going to be difficult to get off the books. Ronald Reagan told us regularly that ``there is nothing so close to eternal life on Earth as a Federal Government program.'' If we have to stand here day and night in order to stop this program, let's stop it. We continue to invite the President with open hands. We invite him to come and meet with us and work with us. We're willing to work with you. Let's delay this. Let's do things right. Let's not force on the American people, force on top of them a program they have repeatedly said, We do not want it; we do not like it; we want it repealed; we want it replaced.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is sometimes true that behind every great man is a great woman. It is almost always true that behind every great song, great band, great sound, there's a great woman. I rise today to honor several great women of Nashville's renowned music community. Given yearly, the Source Awards pay respect to the women who add their character, strength, talents, and dreams to the foundation of Music City. Bebe Evans, Bonnie Garner, Debi Fleischer-Robin, Donna Hilley, Gerrie McDowell, Paula Szeigis, and Sarah Trahern are leaders in their industry and are rightfully chosen as this year's 2013 Honorees. From award-winning bands to award-winning productions to every note that falls in between, Nashville is home to it's own unique sound. I thank all those involved with the Source Awards for offering their time, talents, and treasures to honor the women who make Music City so grand. I ask my colleagues to join with me in celebrating the women whose contributions and life's work strengthen and celebrate that incredible sound.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of talk of delay, defund, repeal, and replace. That's what we're doing when it comes to ObamaCare. Indeed, that's what the American people want. They continue to tell us that they want protections from the harmful impact of ObamaCare and they want to make certain that we keep the Federal Government open. The House has passed legislation that controls spending, defunds ObamaCare, and prevents a government shutdown. House Republicans are leading the fight to control spending, stop ObamaCare, and protect hardworking Americans. It's time for the Senate to join us. Here's a great example of the harmful effects of ObamaCare: In Nashville, Tennessee, a 27-year-old young man who's a nonsmoker currently pays $41 a month for health insurance. Under ObamaCare, guess what? That premium goes to $114 per month. Forty-one dollars versus $114 per month? That's the impact and the effect of ObamaCare.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. I thank the gentlelady. Madam Speaker, I want to commend Mrs. Black, my colleague from Tennessee. She has done a tremendous job in bringing this legislation forward, and she brings it forward because of the experience we have had in Tennessee with a program that was called TennCare, which had no verification. It became ``just in time'' insurance, and guess what? It became too expensive to afford. When you do not exercise appropriate oversight and verification, that is what happens--you incentivize the use. Those who really do not qualify come into the program. Indeed, we had a Governor--a Democrat Governor by the way--who removed about 300,000 individuals from this program. I am pleased that as we discuss and stand in support of H.R. 2775 that my colleagues across the aisle are getting our message. When it comes to ObamaCare, yes, delay, defund, repeal, replace. That is exactly what we want to do because this law has become so amazingly unpopular with the American people and, indeed, with women. Over 65 percent of all American women oppose this law and the implementation of this law. The reason we are bringing this legislation forward is that there is a gaping hole. We know that having self-attestation for getting these taxpayer subsidies in these exchanges is going to lead to an incredible amount of fraud. We are even having estimates of as much as $250 billion worth of fraud, which could be going into this program. We're not acting on theory. We're looking at what has previously happened with programs such as TennCare. Indeed, my colleague from New Jersey has heard me talk about this for years, and he knows that when we look at something that is public option health care that that is the public option from which we draw our experience.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the South Nashville Little League baseball team. This past week, they became the 2013 Tennessee State Champions, and today they are currently representing Tennessee in Warner-Robbins, Georgia. The South Nashville Little League team's goal is to provide the youth of Middle Tennessee with a safe, clean, and fun environment in which to learn the fundamentals of baseball, with an emphasis of good sportsmanship and fair play. These skills taught and learned will be useful in many aspects of the lives of these young men, beyond their baseball careers. We are very proud of these champions, and cheer them on as they represent Tennessee today. Go get 'em!

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for his outstanding work on this legislation, and also to Mr. Shimkus, who is the chairman of the subcommittee, for his leadership on the issue. I do rise today in support of the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013. I am an original cosponsor on that legislation. Now, I think it comes as no surprise to anybody that this administration has declared their war on coal. You can listen to the comments that are coming out of the President and his advisers there at the White House. They've done everything in their power to shut down coal plants and to put American coal miners on the unemployment line. The EPA has targeted everything from existing coal-fired plants to new plants, coal mining operations, and has been looking at labeling coal ash as a hazardous waste since 2010. Now, unbeknownst to so many individuals and to so many of my constituents is the fact that the same coal ash that has been used safely to make--and get this--bricks, cement, asphalt, plastics, and is used as a filler in wood products is, all of a sudden, a hazardous waste. I would like the administration to explain to me if coal ash were a hazardous waste when they used TARP funding for shovel-ready projects to repair roads with asphalt containing--guess what--coal ash. Was coal ash a hazardous waste last winter when it was used in snow and ice control products to keep roads and pedestrians in Chicago safe? Or was coal ash a hazardous waste when it was used to build the EPA's new headquarters? While I am sure most of my constituents would like to label the EPA's headquarters as a Superfund site, I would say let's support this bill.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, every community needs a great champion who organizes, leads, and fights to leave an indelible mark. Those champions come in many forms. Some are teachers, some are public servants, and some are dedicated to noble causes. I rise today to honor one such champion, Steven Ryan Palmer, as he retires from 36 years of distinguished service to the American Cancer Society. Palmer's three decades of service began in South Carolina as a worker in the field level of the American Cancer Society. He went one to hold many leadership positions in the six-state Mid-South Division of the American Cancer Society. His work was instrumental in the success of many ACS initiatives which improved and saved lives in Middle Tennessee. I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring the outstanding work and dedication of Ryan Palmer. From the American Cancer Society to Brentwood Baptist Church, Ryan has certainly offered his time, talents, and treasures to his community. Along with his family and friends, I offer my thanks for his service to others.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for her excellent work on this measure and all of the work she has done in committee. Dr. Foxx is such a skilled educator. We're pleased to have her in our conference. I know that Chairman Kline, who has really put a lot of effort into this bill, is so pleased to have her. I do rise to support H.R. 5. This commonsense bill helps parents, teachers, and students. It will help prepare our children to compete in the global workforce. It helps to right the wrongs of our broken education system by bringing back flexibility to the system and encouraging more effective teaching and learning in our schools. I have to tell you that as a mother and a grandmother, as a classroom volunteer and a homeroom mother for many years, I know how important it is for our children. And the reason that we are bringing this bill forward is because of concern and in preparing every child to compete. I'm troubled by a recent report that says the U.S. ranked 18th out of 23 industrialized countries in the quality and quantity of high school diplomas. These are all items that need our attention. The feedback we have gotten through the years from No Child Left Behind's one-size- fits-all mandate does not work. People do not want these decisions being made in Washington. The Student Success Act would fix this by repealing the Federal accountability system and restoring much-needed local control. It would also stop the administration's act of coercing States through Race to the Top funds and into adopting specific national academic standards, otherwise known as Common Core. It would put an end to that. H.R. 5 would reverse the Federal footprint in our education system by repealing the K-12 waiver schemes and the pet programs that have been put in place. This is the right step that we should take for our students for their success and educational opportunities.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the recognition. I'm rising today to support the legislation that is in front of us. I have to tell you, my constituents are wanting to know: When did the President decide he could pick and choose what laws he's going to enforce and what laws he's going to waive? Over the course of 3 days, this administration decided they were just going to waive and rewrite this law, and it took them 3 years to try to implement it. I think what we're seeing is they're finally admitting this is a train wreck and it is not ready for prime time. However, it is not fair that the President is choosing to protect big business from ObamaCare, but not hardworking American taxpayers, individuals, families. It is also eerily similar to the closed-door manner in which the law was written and passed. And now that people are reading it, they're finding out what is in it. This legislation before us today would delay the requirements that nearly all Americans purchase minimum essential health insurance coverage or pay a tax penalty until 2015. The delay of the individual mandate is needed. Due to the administrative delay of the employer mandate, my constituents overwhelmingly oppose this law, and I work each and every day to stop the harmful effects it's having on American families and businesses and to continue the fight for solutions to spur economic growth, create new jobs, and provide a more secure future for all Americans. I encourage support of the legislation.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, we're learning an awful lot about ObamaCare these days, and it seems like every week is bringing something new. We have learned that this program is too expensive to afford. We have learned that it is too difficult to implement. We have learned that it is too burdensome for business. That is why the employer mandate is being delayed. Indeed, we're seeing these burdens on business lead to an under- and unemployed number, the U-6 number, 14.3 percent. Where have the jobs gone? ObamaCare holds some of that answer. We are also learning that there are too many mandates, too many rules, too many regulations. We're hearing it from our health care providers, we're hearing it from constituents, and we're hearing it from individuals who want to be able to make their health care decisions with their doctors, not a bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. What my constituents are telling me is this: let's delay, let's defund, let's repeal, let's replace. This law is too cumbersome and too expensive to afford.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, as I begin to talk about this amendment that Mr. Rokita and I have worked on and bring to you today, I want to pause and take just a moment and commend our appropriators and the chairman. He is accustomed to seeing me come down and try to cut 1 percent, 5 percent more out of the budget, but the appropriators this year have done that work for us. This bill before us today totals $30.426 billion, which is $2.9 billion below last year's level, $700 billion below the sequester level, and $4 billion below the President's request. Indeed, it's below the pre-Pelosi budget, which was $31.5 billion. As my former colleague in the Tennessee State Senate used to say--Tim Burchett, now mayor of Knoxville--he would quote Tennessee author Alex Haley, who said ``find the good, and praise it.'' So I praise them for doing these cuts on the front end, and I focus my attention on the issue we have with ceiling fans and this administration's interest in overregulating ceiling fans. As many of my colleagues know, ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits already face existing regulations set in place by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. These provisions burden ceiling fan manufacturers with ineffective mandates. However, despite the current mandates, the Department of Energy is looking to require additional mandates that will impact everything such as the angle of the blade, shape, airflow, light kits. They are determined to redesign the American fan and have issued a 101-page rulemaking framework document which evaluates the potential energy savings that new regulations would supposedly provide. We've already seen the Federal Government stretch their regulatory tentacles into our homes and determine what kind of light bulbs we have to use. Now they're coming after our ceiling fans. It is a sad state of affairs when even our ceiling fans aren't safe from this administration. Enough is enough. These new regulations being considered by DOE will significantly impair the ability of ceiling fan manufacturers like Hunter Fans in Memphis to produce reasonably priced, highly decorative fans. They will also force our constituents to use less energy-efficient mechanisms to cool their homes, using more energy. It is imperative that we join together and prohibit any funding in this bill from being used by DOE to finalize, implement, or enforce new regulations on ceiling fans. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to share a quote with my colleagues to make them aware of this. It is from Daniel Schrag. He is the White House adviser on climate change, and this was reported in The New York Times. Quite frankly, I find this quote baffling. Here it is: The one thing the President really needs to do now is to begin the process of shutting down the conventional coal plants. Politically, the White House is hesitant to say that we're having a war on coal. On the other hand, a war on coal is exactly what's needed. That was Mr. Schrag, the White House adviser on climate change. Mr. Speaker, I highlight this with my colleagues in this House right now because a war on coal is a war on jobs; a war on jobs, is a war on the American worker. I have never met anybody that wants to pay more for electric power generation, but the actions of this administration, the actions of the President choosing to circumvent Congress and implement these is costing us 500,000 jobs.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I want to express my gratitude to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski) for the leadership she has brought to this issue, and for the bipartisan manner in which she and Ranking Member Sanchez have approached this issue to bring together a bill which we can focus on, we can agree on, and we can pass to address a problem that does need our attention and our best efforts. We have heard about the 26,000 estimated sexual assaults that are taking place in our military each year. Now, as we look at those numbers, we have to look at the number that are reported--3,374. That is the number of reports--3,374. More stunning is the number of convictions--238 convictions. That is what we have learned from this DOD report. As we've heard, the reason given for the lack of reporting is because so many fear retaliation and the fact that it would negatively impact their career. Sixty-two percent--62 percent--give that as their reason. I think the scope of the problem is much larger than we know at this point in time, and here is an example. On May 15, police arrested Fort Campbell's sexual harassment prevention manager on charges involving stalking his ex-wife. That's important to me and my district because Fort Campbell is in my district. Now, if you can't turn to the people who are there to protect, who are you going to go to when you have one of these situations? As a woman and as a strong supporter of our Nation's military, I find it absolutely appalling that any woman who has been the victim of crime should have to fear reporting her perpetrator for fear of retaliation. Again, Madam Speaker, I want to thank the two Members who have worked so diligently on this, Mrs. Walorski and Ms. Sanchez.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This has been an interesting debate, and I have to tell you, we have heard every descriptive adjective that there can possibly be coming from the negative of why our colleagues on the other side of the aisle think that this debate is inappropriate. I do think that some of the most interesting has been the parliamentary inquiries to ask about what we're doing about jobs and student loans and veterans. And I have to tell you all, I agree. This Obama economy has been brutal to especially women and the female workforce; and, indeed, we would love to see our colleagues in the Senate and the administration work with us on those issues. But let me refocus us on why we are here. We are here because it is imperative that we take an action, and that we address these Gosnell- like abortions. We have stood on the floor today, and we have talked about what transpired with the conviction of Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia, 21 felony counts, performing illegal abortions beyond the 24-week limit, manslaughter for the death of a woman seeking an abortion at his clinic, three counts of killing babies born alive, and dozens of other heinous crimes. We have heard about how the necks are snipped, the heads are punctured. We even heard the statement from his attorney who said 16 to 17 weeks should be the limit. We are going at 20 weeks. We have heard of other atrocities, whether they are the Carpin case in Texas, the case in New Mexico. Nurses, pro- choice nurses out in Delaware recently quit their jobs at a big abortion business to save their medical licenses. They said the clinic was, I'm quoting them, ``ridiculously unsafe, where meat-market style, assembly-line abortions were happening.'' Another abortionist, Leroy Carhart, recently stated he's performed more than 20,000 abortions on babies after 24 weeks gestation, and he's perfectly happy to do elective abortions on babies at 7 months gestation. We know that at 8 weeks babies feel pain. When they have these prenatal surgeries, we know that they're given anesthesia. We know they respond to pain, and we know these late-term abortions are incredibly, incredibly painful. So that is why we stand today. We want parity for these babies, for these unborn children. We can see them. We have seen some of the ultrasounds. And you know what is so amazing? When you see these ultrasounds, and when people are waiting for the arrival of these precious children, they go ahead, they name them. They're expecting them. They are waiting for them. And they know that these children feel pain when they are harmed. Science tells us so. The American public is with us on this. Sixty- four percent of all women think abortions should be eliminated when these unborn babies feel pain. Out of all Americans, 60 percent--60 percent--this is a Gallup/USA Today poll. Sixty percent says second- trimester abortions should be eliminated. Eighty percent say third- trimester abortions should be eliminated. So for those reasons, that is why we stand here today. To support these women and these unborn children, to end these atrocities, to stand together, to make certain that that first guarantee, the guarantee to life--the guarantee to life--so that you can pursue liberty and enter into the pursuit of happiness, that is why we stand here today. Madam Speaker, I've been honored to work with my colleagues. I know some don't like the fact that a former Judiciary Committee member has come to the floor to handle this bill. I've been so honored to be joined by so many pro-life women as we have discussed this issue, as we have come together to stand for this. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, we have no additional speakers. If you want to complete, then I will close.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. At this time, I would continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. At this time, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask how much time is remaining on each side?

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the Republican Women's Policy Committee, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers).

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem).