Diane Black

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. There are 242 different entities that signed this letter to say that passing a budget is what we should be doing and that would lead us to tax reforms. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, it is difficult to imagine what could be more important than establishing who is protected under the law and who is not; who is given a chance of life and who is denied it. As technology continues to evolve, the more we can celebrate the ability we have to save a baby at just 20 weeks after conception is truly remarkable. I remember when I first became a nurse some 40 years ago. I vowed to devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care, whether they were born or unborn. I am still committed to that today. And 40 years later, the science tells us that after 20 weeks of pregnancy, unborn babies are able to feel pain inside the womb. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act protects those who cannot protect themselves when handed a death sentence. Madam Speaker, there are currently seven countries in the world that allow elective late abortions, countries such as North Korea and China. Why in the world is the United States on a list of countries characterized as human rights abusers? Our Nation can do better than that. I have seen how special care is given to reduce the pain of these precious premature babies at 20 weeks in the NICU. Unborn children in the womb at this stage should be protected, too, and we must pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to give these unborn children a chance to see the light of day.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise to voice my concerns about this amendment. I think everyone in this House has a lot of issues, as has already been talked about, with the current modeling that is used by the Congressional Budget Office, and I am certainly one of these people, but this amendment is not the best way to accomplish our goal of obtaining better information and analysis from CBO. The CBO is an important organization that provides vital information that Congress does need to make the best decisions. However, the modeling and scoring methods they currently are using need to be scrutinized, especially their behavioral predictions. For example, in 2010, the CBO projected that 21 million Americans would be covered by ObamaCare in 2016, when, in reality, less than 13 million Americans have actually obtained coverage. In fact, during their scoring of the House Republican healthcare plan, CBO described their own estimates, which rely on behavioral predictions, as extremely uncertain. That is why the House Budget Committee plans to hold a series of hearings this fall on CBO to gain a better understanding of their methods and how we can work to improve their ability to give Congress better information, which we obviously need. As chairman of the Budget Committee, I take this responsibility very seriously, and we will approach these hearings in the pursuit of truth and accuracy so we can make laws that better serve the American people. We all realize that CBO has room for improvement, but this amendment being offered tonight is not the best way to achieve that. Instead, we need to have a deliberative discussion in the Budget Committee and amongst everyone in the House, and I look forward to doing exactly that in the coming weeks and months.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time on this very important issue. I also want to thank my colleagues for working with me on this--Mr. Meehan, Mr. Thompson, and Ms. DelBene--for working on a really important piece of legislation that is included in this package, which will improve the quality of life for seniors on Medicare across the country. As has previously been said, I am a nurse. I have worked in the field for over 45 years, and I am proud to sponsor a bill that enhances patient care for those patients who are suffering from end-stage renal disease. You know, we have made tremendous advances in technology over the last decade, and now it would be almost something we couldn't have thought of 45 years ago. Physicians can remotely monitor patients in their dialysis treatments through telehealth to reduce the number of medical visits that are necessary, to ensure that the treatment is efficient and effective, and to also catch signs of complications early, which would cause not only a decrease in quality of care for the patient, but also a cost. Telehealth provides patients an important component in the comfort of their own homes--think about being sick and having to get in the car to travel--while physicians now have a new tool to treat their patients' whole health. Our seniors deserve access to this innovative care, and it can save money. It can help to ensure that Medicare can be there for seniors who most need the care. So I urge my colleagues to take a vote for your constituents and for Medicare beneficiaries across the country and support this bill. I also look forward to continuing this work. This is certainly not the end of what we can do for our patients who are homebound and need care in the home. I will continue this work with Members on both sides of the aisle, which is being done now, for our Nation's seniors to have access to these kinds of innovative telehealth technologies that will improve care and also, more importantly, help to lower the cost of treatment. I urge passage of this amendment.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, across the country, more than 300 municipalities have adopted policies to limit local law enforcement cooperation with Federal authorities, making it harder to keep our families and communities safe. Back in my home State of Tennessee, the Nashville City Council has recently been advancing legislation to become one of these sanctuary cities. Giving Federal funds to sanctuary cities defies logic and it demands attention. Yesterday, I offered an amendment to expand the bill before us today so that sanctuary cities would no longer have access to Community Development Block Grants and certain other economic development grants, as well, that send more than about 300 billion taxpayer dollars a year to local communities. On its website, the Community Development Block Grant program says its purpose is to provide services to vulnerable communities and address issues that ``pose an immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community.'' What population is more vulnerable than a 6-year-old girl in Lebanon, Tennessee, who was sexually molested while she was sleeping? Just last month, charges were brought against a criminal illegal immigrant for repeatedly breaking into her room at night and making videos while he assaulted her. The evil individual had been in police custody before. For Kate Steinle, who has been talked about many times on the floor, her killer had a criminal record of not one, two, or three, but seven felonies. He had been deported not once, twice, or three times, but five times. Is that who liberal legislators around the country want to give ``sanctuary''? We need more communication and cooperation between local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our communities safe, not less. It is time to stop giving taxpayer dollars to these cities. I am voting for this bill today to do just that.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker), my colleague and friend, the chair of the RSC, for hosting this Special Order tonight to highlight some of the recent victories that this Republican-controlled Congress has secured to ensure that every American enjoys freedom and opportunity for which our Nation was founded. I rise today to thank my colleagues in the House and the Senate for passing my resolution of disapproval, H.J. Res. 43, which used the authority of the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Obama administration's eleventh hour rule forcing States like mine, Tennessee, to fund abortion providers. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to thank Vice President Mike Pence, who cast that tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Tennesseans appreciate his courageous leadership. Now, abortion is not healthcare, and vulnerable women seeking true comprehensive care deserve better than abortion-centric facilities like Planned Parenthood. For over 45 years, States like Tennessee had the authority to direct their family planning funds to the healthcare providers that best suited their needs. Yes, they had that decision to decide what is best for their unique communities. Sadly, in a parting gift to the abortion industry, President Obama stole this freedom and flexibility and forced his own political agenda on States across the country like my very own State of Tennessee. While I am unapologetically pro-life, this bill is simply about states' rights. Mr. Speaker, when President Trump signed this bill, he put the American people, not the bureaucrats here in Washington, back in the driver's seat of empowering States like Tennessee to steer their title X dollars away from abortion-centric facilities like Planned Parenthood and to give the right back to the State to make that decision about which facilities provide the most comprehensive care for women in their State. It was an honor to work with Senator Ernst and the pro-life community to help this life-affirming legislation reach the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I want to once again thank President Trump for his leadership on this matter.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from the House chamber for votes Wednesday, May 24. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 277, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 278, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 282.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, at the time of votes yesterday, I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on both H.R. 1862 and H.R. 1842. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 269, and YEA on Roll Call No. 270

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. 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. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of the American Health Care Act, a bill that repeals the worst parts of ObamaCare and begins to repair the damage it has caused. This bill brings choice and competition back into the healthcare marketplace and puts healthcare decisions back into the hands of patients and doctors where it belongs. It has been a winding road to get to this point, but we are here today to fulfill the promise that we made to the American people. I will point out right now to those who say we should have just moved on from healthcare reform, American families and individuals are suffering from rising costs and barriers to getting the care that they need right now. Under ObamaCare, the situation is getting worse every day. In Iowa, just yesterday, one of the last remaining insurers announced that it will pull out of the ObamaCare exchanges, leaving nearly all of the State's residents with no--and, yes, I will say again, nearly all of the residents with no available health insurance plan for the purchase under ObamaCare. And in a few of the Iowa counties which are the remaining insurers, even that company is saying it might stop offering plans, leaving the entire State without an insurance plan available under ObamaCare. That is happening this very week. We can't wait a moment longer than necessary to provide relief for the American people by repealing and replacing ObamaCare. I applaud the Members of this body who stuck with us during this process and worked hard to make the bill better. I, myself, had concerns about the bill as it was introduced. I worked hard to make sure that the bill truly reflected my ideals and the views and desires of my constituents. And when the bill came before the Budget Committee, which I chair, I urged my members to stay in the fight and work to improve the bill rather than stop it in its tracks. And do you know what? Our members did just that, making some recommendations that were eventually included in the various amendments. That message was heard loud and clear by all of the members of our Conference who have worked tirelessly to finalize a bill that truly reflects our vision for healthcare reform. Throughout this process, our commitment to undoing the damage done by ObamaCare has remained steadfast. Day after day, my constituents call my office begging us to do something to save them from ObamaCare, and it is because ObamaCare is collapsing. In my State of Tennessee, families are suffering. Premiums have increased by 60 percent, while deductibles are so high that, even if someone has an insurance card, it doesn't mean they have guaranteed care. There are parts of my State in Tennessee that don't have a single insurance provider in the marketplace, and two-thirds of the counties have only one provider. That is not competition. That is called a monopoly. While no legislation is perfect, this bill makes some important changes to help American families get quality, affordable health insurance: It zeros out the mandates, it repeals the taxes, and it repeals the subsidies; it allows people to choose health insurance plans to meet the unique needs of their families instead of purchasing a one-size-fits-all plan mandated by a Washington bureaucrat; and it modernizes Medicaid, a once-in-a-lifetime entitlement reform. Ending Medicaid's open-ended funding structure will play an important role in addressing our future budget deficits and our growing national debt. This is a particularly proud moment for me. I was working as a nurse in Nashville in the 1990s when the Clinton administration pushed a single-payer pilot program in Tennessee called TennCare. I saw firsthand the negative impact government-run health care has on patient care. I saw costs rise and the quality of care fall. It inspired me to get involved in public service. When in 2009 and 2010 I saw those same principles being debated and, eventually, implemented on the national level, I thought my experience in Tennessee could be valuable in the national debate; so, in 2011, I sponsored the first piece of legislation that repealed a part of ObamaCare. Today, we take the largest step yet in rescuing the American people from this damaging, government-run healthcare system. I, and many other Members of this body, have worked hard to make sure that this bill truly reflects our visions for healthcare reform. I, for one, cannot sit idly by and let this opportunity go to waste. Governing is hard, but our constituents did not elect us to do what is easy. They elected us to do what is right. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the American Health Care Act to rescue the American people from ObamaCare. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), a physician and the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, who has worked tirelessly on this bill.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the other side that if they read the bill, they will see under section 137 it says: No limiting access to coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions. Nothing in this act shall be construed as permitting health insurance insurers to limit access to health coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our distinguished whip.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I am always amazed when I start hearing conversations about the Affordable Care Act and how it is working so well today. I want to talk about two situations in my home State of Tennessee. When the Affordable Care Act went into place in the State of Tennessee, we had a risk pool. The risk pool covered about 28,000 people. They were happy with their care, they were happy with their providers, and they were happy with the cost. It was patient centered. They determined what best fit their needs. These were people with preexisting conditions, happy with where they were. In 1 day, because the Federal Government said, You don't meet this and you don't meet that and you don't meet this, they lost their insurance. They were in the marketplace. I want to tell you about two situations that are very close to me, but they only represent a number of the many calls that I get in my office. One is a good friend of mine who has lupus. She went on the marketplace. For the first year, she did pretty good. Her premiums were pretty low; her deductible was reasonable. But here is what she found: she couldn't keep her doctor. Can you imagine someone who has had lupus for a number of years, it is being controlled, and now she is told she cannot keep her doctor? She had to find other doctors. She was not happy with that because she had a relationship. They didn't use the same treatment and care that she had received before. So she has not felt very healthy. In the meantime, every year that it is renewed, she calls me to say: My premiums have gone up, my deductibles have gone up, and now it is more than what I was paying before when I liked what I had and I couldn't keep it, opposite of what the President told everyone: If you like what you have, you can keep it. The second one is someone who has myasthenia gravis. Again, on that same risk pool. She lost her opportunity to get the medication that she was receiving, an IV medication. She has myasthenia gravis. She was very controlled, able to work, living a healthy lifestyle.

Mrs. BLACK. She lost her opportunity to have that medication because that medication was $400 a month, now it is $3,400 month, and no longer can she get her medication. When the other side talks about how wonderful this system is, I implore them to come to our State and talk to the people in our State. I am a registered nurse. I know what it is like to take care of people who have healthcare conditions who need to be in a risk pool. But let's do it the right way. Let's give it to our States. Let's allow this now to be used in a way that is patient-centered, the way it was working in my home State of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I am looking forward to the vote later on this afternoon.