Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. You know, the fact is on those tax credits for small business, they are so confusing--and I hear this from my small businesses all the time back home--no one understands how to actually make those benefits work. And they are time limited. They will soon expire. But here's the real deal. If you really wanted to help small business, let's repeal that 1099 provision. Why was it even in there? Well, one reason, so the IRS could enforce the mandate. But the other reason was maybe they're going to need a value-added tax in order to pay for this monstrosity. Let's repeal it and get it done the right way.

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the chairman. Remarks to the Speaker. All right, Madam Speaker, who loves insurance companies? Was it the party that gave them a constitutional mandate that drilled their stock prices through the roof last March 23? Maybe it was. We talk about new agencies and that the Republicans are misleading the American people on how many new agencies are created. Your own Congressional Research Service said the actual number of new agencies is in excess of 150 but the actual number is unknowable. They took a phrase from former Secretary Rumsfeld in that regard. What about the new agencies? What about the Office of Consumer Information of Insurance Oversight? Where did that come from? Authorized in the bill? I think not. Appropriations in the bill? Your guess is as good as mine, but they're out there today hiring people and renting space. The Independent Payment Advisory Board. Is that just a canard or is that a real phenomenon that threatens the financial solvency of every hospital, public or private, in this country? Exchanges. Good idea? Bad idea? We can have that debate. But it is the subsidies within the exchanges that are intolerably high and paid for by taking the money out of our seniors' Medicare system. These are the problems. These are the issues that should be debated. We're talking about modest changes on the margins. The real fundamentals of this bill are so deeply flawed and the risk to the American public because of the expansion of the deficit is so real, it requires the repeal of OB taken today.

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the chairman. And I would address to the chairman: the gentleman who previously spoke must understand that this legislation was litigated in front of the American people for the last 2 years. They rendered their verdict, and the jury verdict in November was, ``We reject what you have done. We want something better.'' That's what this process is about today.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it is important that Members of Congress understand the parameters here. Indeed, we are required to buy our health insurance in the insurance exchanges as provided under the health care law. There are no insurance exchanges as they exist right now, so it is anybody's guess. We are probably still under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan, but nobody is actually certain about that. What is certain is that there were exemptions. There were exemptions for senior staff, senior leadership staff, committee staff, the White House, and political appointees in the Federal agencies. Everyone should be treated equally. Some are not more equal than others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Madam Speaker, I stand today in support of the resolution; I stand today in support of the victims of the devastating events of last Saturday, and I stand today in honor of one of our own, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Congresswoman Giffords was the youngest woman elected to the Arizona State Senate and now, at the Federal level, continues to serve the constituents of her hometown with enthusiasm and distinction. It was in this spirit of statesmanship that she participated in her Congress on Your Corner event at the grocery store in Tucson, Arizona. This event characterizes the Congresswoman's approach to her constituents. She recognizes the importance of remaining open to the people--retail representation--absolutely necessary in order to fully grasp the extent of the needs and views of those she served. Congresswoman Giffords epitomizes the term ``public servant,'' understanding that she works for the people first, last, and always. Congresswoman Giffords was doing the work of the American people when her life was threatened. And after she recovers, I have no doubt that she will return with that same energy and determination. I look forward to working with her again. I had the opportunity to partner with her on the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus in support of motorcycle safety awareness, and I saw that energy and enthusiasm firsthand. One of our primary freedoms that our forefathers upheld was the right to life. After years of fighting on behalf of others, Congresswoman Giffords must now fight for her own life. And let us also remember the doctors and the nurses, the first responders who played such a pivotal role in preventing an even greater loss of life last Saturday. I will keep Congresswoman Giffords and those who were injured and their families in my prayers. I also offer my deepest condolences to the families of Christina Taylor Green, U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, Dorothy Morris, and Dorwan Stoddard.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As a member of the Tarrant County delegation, I also want to stand in remembrance of Tom Vandergriff and his 55-year career in public service. Thirteen years it took him to bring major league baseball to Arlington, Texas, and he took the team from Washington, DC that was then known as the Senators; had to fight two Presidents in a bipartisan fashion, both Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Judge Vandergriff was the original representative from the 26th District of Texas when it was formed after the 1980 census. My fondest memory of Judge Vandergriff is, however, as the voice of the Texas Rangers. Along with Dick Risenhoover, he would do the broadcasts. They were spellbinding and exciting and kept me away many times from my graduate school studies. To his family, we offer our prayers and condolences. Thank you, Judge Vandergriff, for 55 excellent years in public service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a remarkable public servant, the Honorable Tom Vandergriff. Judge Vandergriff began his 55 year long public service career as the youngest elected mayor of Arlington, Texas. There he made great strides to bring economic opportunity and expansion to the area with the luring of a General Motors plant, Six Flags theme park, and by bringing the Texas Rangers to the city. These developments were no small task as it took thirteen years to bring Major League Baseball to North Texas and the positive effects can be felt through the vitality of Arlington as well as the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex to this day. Six years later, he went on to become the first Congressman of the 26th district of Texas in 1983. Although he only served one term, he played a fundamental role in establishing the office and representing the district. For more than 25 years, Vandergriff served as County Judge of Tarrant County which includes more than 1.7 million residents and is one of the most populous in the United States. He retired from his role in 2007. It is my great honor to recognize Judge Tom Vandergriff for his dedication, innovation, and insight that he has contributed to the North Texas region. I will always remember those exciting radio broadcasts when Judge Vandergriff was ``the voice of the Texas Rangers'' in the 1970s. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He was a great public servant, and all North Texans are thankful for his servitude.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BURGESS. I yield back the balance of my time and urge support of the bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This is an important bill. It's something that should have been done a long time ago. I credit a former New York fireman, Richard Lasky, who is now my fire chief in Lewisville, Texas, for helping me understand the importance of this bill as it has gone forward. It has been difficult. In my opinion, there were better ways to do this bill, but it's before us today.

Mr. BURGESS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. I yield myself 30 seconds. Madam Speaker, Congressman Brady articulated very well some of the concerns he has with the pay-for that is in this bill, raising new revenues through tariffs, and the possibility of retaliatory efforts by other countries. I would just point out, in section 4002 of the recently passed health care law last March, there is a section that calls for a Public Health and Wellness Trust Fund. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has $15 billion in a slush fund in ObamaCare. This money could have been easily used to pay for this legislation. It could have been done last April, and we wouldn't be here at the last minute trying to scrounge for capital to pay these funds.

Mr. BURGESS. May I inquire as to how much time remains?

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).