Diane Black

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, once again, I want to talk about the longstanding bipartisan support for the Hyde amendment. The gentlewoman from Florida has supported this measure in the omnibus bill and also the CR of 2017. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), who is a member of the Financial Services Committee. She and her family have been fighting for pro-life issues for many, many, many years.

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, once again, I want to say that there has been longstanding bipartisan support for the Hyde amendment, and the gentlewoman from Florida supported this measure back in 2015 on the H.R. 2 MACRA bill and the 2015 omnibus bill, H.R. 2029. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Utah (Mrs. Love).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I want to remind everyone of the longstanding bipartisan support for the Hyde amendment. The gentlewoman from New York voted for this measure in the omnibus bill, H.R. 2029, in 2015, and then on the MACRA bill, also in 2015. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell) one of our newest Members.

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), a gentleman who has been a champion of life.

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Speaker, today I am simply asking my colleagues across the aisle not to flip-flop on this issue. This legislation isn't just the right thing to do; it also has broad support. Polling shows that 6 in 10 Americans agree that taxpayer dollars should not fund abortions. Despite this fact, a nonpartisan government study found that abortions could be funded with taxpayer dollars through ObamaCare, and this demands a response. Today we have an opportunity to invest in women's health over abortion by passing H.R. 7 and making the Hyde amendment permanent and governmentwide. I urge my colleagues to reject this motion to recommit and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on S. Con. Res. 3.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to inform my colleagues that I intend to reserve 5 minutes of debate time to use after the Joint Economic Committee debate has concluded. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak on behalf of Americans everywhere who are hurting because of ObamaCare. They are calling out for relief from this disastrous law, and Republicans are here today to begin delivering on our promise to provide relief. We hear plenty of claims from the other side of the aisle during this debate, but let's be clear: ObamaCare has failed and it is only going to get worse. Patients have seen skyrocketing premiums and deductibles, lost access to the doctors they preferred, had fewer coverage options, while others have had their plans canceled outright. It is no wonder so many people have rejected this law. In 2015, roughly 8 million Americans paid the ObamaCare penalty, and more than 12 million Americans claimed an exemption from the penalty. That is 20 million Americans. What does that say about this law that 20 million Americans want nothing to do with it, many preferring to pay a penalty rather than to be subjected to its higher costs and fewer choices? If you ask me, it is strong evidence that the American people are tired of paying more and getting less. Of course, the destruction that ObamaCare has caused extends beyond discouraging individuals to purchase coverage. It has been a direct attack on those who had insurance already. In my home State of Tennessee, 28,000 people lost coverage on a single day when the CoverTN program lapsed after the Obama administration decreed that it ran afoul of the Federal Government's top-down requirements. Now premiums in our State are rising by an average of 63 percent, and three-quarters of our counties only have one coverage option to choose from on the ObamaCare exchange. In five other States around the country--Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming--patients only have one insurer in the marketplace to choose from. That makes it pretty difficult for someone to find a plan that meets their unique needs or that of their family. President Obama promised that this law would lower premiums by $2,500 per year for the average family. The exact opposite has happened. Average family premiums have gone up by $4,300, and deductibles have gone up by 60 percent. This is hitting hardworking Americans, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet. Folks in Tennessee and all across the country are spending more and more money on their health insurance because of ObamaCare, when they would rather be saving for a new house or for their children's college. The last thing working men and women need right now is the Federal Government making their life harder with more expensive health insurance by continuing to support this failed law. That is why we are here today. The Senate successfully passed this resolution yesterday, and now it is time for the House to deliver on our promise, by kick-starting the reconciliation process so that we can repeal ObamaCare and provide relief for the folks who are hurting because of this law. While our friends on the other side of the aisle always claim that Republicans have no ideas or no plans to replace ObamaCare, that simply isn't true, and they know it. I have with me here today a few examples, including A Better Way, the 37-page proposal that will provide access to care for all Americans and increase choice and competition. I would like to also reference that Pete Sessions has a healthcare bill that he has filed. The RSC, with Phil Roe, has a replacement bill that has been filed. Paul Ryan filed a bill right after the passage of ObamaCare. We also have Tom Price's replacement bill that is here. All of these documents are here and available for people to look at and to also find online, as well as A Better Way that we have put out from our Conference. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution to begin the process of repealing ObamaCare and paving the way for patient-centered reforms. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita), one of my classmates and also the vice chair of the Committee on the Budget.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), one of my classmates from the 2010 class, and a member of the Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I do want to make reference to Ranking Member Yarmuth's information on the Commonwealth fund. I want to note that that report that was reported out does not take into account that Republicans do have a plan. It also does not take into account that the repeal of the taxes would put money back into the economy and boost the economy. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Lewis), a freshman and one of the newest members of the Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, it is my distinct honor to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our House whip.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), who is the chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Faso), one of our newest Members.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), who is also a member of our Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Ferguson), a new member of the Budget Committee.