Dave Camp

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. CAMP. No.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 9.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I believe the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) has the right to close.

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I have two additional speakers. One of them will close, so I have one speaker before closing.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 620, I call up the bill (H.R. 9) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a deduction for domestic business income of qualified small businesses, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CAMP. I object.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate at least hearing some of the new-found fiscal responsibility from my friends on the other side, since the Obama administration has come into office with help from Democrats on the other side of the aisle who increased the debt by $5 trillion, with a ``t.'' Let me just comment on this substitute. It's not that the bonus depreciation in this legislation doesn't go far enough. It's that it doesn't provide bonus depreciation. It does limit the bill based on the concept of bonus depreciation, but this bill has been analyzed by the Joint Committee on Taxation. Rather than providing the $46 billion of tax relief, this bill only provides a small fraction of that, 6 percent. Under the underlying legislation, millions of small businesses would be able to make investments, be able to buy equipment, would be able to hire workers. This substitute guts the bill and will result in no economic impact in this country. I would urge a ``no'' vote on the substitute. I would urge support for the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. CAMP. Thank you. At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois, a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Roskam.

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

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut Act. This legislation will allow small businesses with fewer than 500 employees to take a 20 percent tax deduction. Small businesses are the engine of job creation, and while we pursue comprehensive tax reform that will give all businesses certainty to invest and hire, this bill will help small businesses to reinvest, hire new workers, or provide a raise to an employee. The policies put forth by President Obama and congressional Democrats have yielded more government spending but have failed to generate strong income growth and the jobs Americans need. Instead of lowering unemployment, we got a lower credit rating; instead of massive job creation, we got massive and unprecedented levels of debt; and instead of higher wages for working families, we got higher gas prices. This bill provides real relief to American small businesses and the workers they employ, and it treats every small business equally. Contrary to the political cronyism we've seen time and time again, this bill does not pick winners and losers. It provides relief to all small businesses, including those in my home State of Michigan. Michigan has been hit especially hard over the last 3 years with some of the highest unemployment rates in the Nation. And while small business owners in my district need and want comprehensive tax reform, they also agree that we must take steps to spur investment and hiring today as well. These business owners are the real experts who know what they need to add jobs back to our communities. Take, for example, Bob Yackel, president of Merrill Tool. As part of the 400-employee Merrill Technologies Group, Mr. Yackel says: As a manufacturing business in mid-Michigan, we know firsthand the ramifications of the recent economic turmoil. The best way Washington can help energize economic growth is by making sure business owners are spending less on tax payments and more on creating jobs. Bob Yackel is a larger small business owner, but there are smaller businesses that feel the same way. Jim Holton, owner of Mountain Town Station in Mount Pleasant, has served the central Michigan community as a restaurant owner for more than 15 years. He is especially pleased with the simplicity and ease of this legislative approach. He says: The beauty of the Small Business Tax Cut Act is its simplicity. If you're earning profits and contributing to the economy, then you can take 20 percent off your tax bill. No hoops to jump through. This is a great way for business owners like myself in the Great Lakes Bay region and across America to help jump-start our economy. Those are just two examples in Michigan's Fourth District, but they echo small businesses and small business owners across the country. Throughout our history, we've depended upon these industrious and innovative risk-takers to help us move through tough economic times. While we work to provide them the long-term comprehensive tax reform they need, we can also take steps today to unlock new opportunities for them immediately. Passing this bill will provide these much-needed, immediate opportunities. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting small business and to demonstrate that they support them as well by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 9. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) be permitted to control the balance of the time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. I would just say to my friend that I'm not going to stand up and say that this is a procedural ploy. But I will stand up and say it is a political ploy. We should not be picking winners and losers. The fact is small businesses are hurting because of the failed policies of the Obama administration. It's time to stand up for small business and the people they employ. Let's get America back to work. I urge defeat of this motion to recommit and support for H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut Act. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Ferris State University Men's Ice Hockey Team upon their runner up finish in the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four Men's Ice Hockey Championship. This year's Bulldog team made the first showing in school history in an NCAA championship game and won the school's second-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship as well as a Midwest region crown. Along the way, the Bulldogs saw significant moments of success, including an impressive 15-game unbeaten streak during the regular season. Accomplishments of this magnitude can only be achieved through teamwork and a shared determination amongst players, coaches, and staff. Several individuals were recognized for their personal achievements throughout the 2011 2012 hockey season. Bulldog's head coach Bob Daniels received the 2012 Spencer Penrose Award as the Division I Men's Ice Hockey National Coach of the Year. Bob's leadership and guidance were crucial in developing skillful and dedicated players that could meet and surpass the season's challenges. Ferris State's Tommy Hill, the team's senior co-captain, received the NCAA Elite 89 award. This award recognizes athletes that have reached the pinnacle of achievement by competing for a national championship as well as achieving the highest academic standard among peers. Teammates Kyle Bonis and Chad Billins were also recognized and named to the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team for their significant efforts during the Frozen Four games. On behalf of the Fourth District of Michigan, I congratulate the 2011 2012 Ferris State Bulldog's Men's Ice Hockey Team on their monumental and record-setting season.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I come to the floor to speak in support of H.R. 5, the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, which, among other things, will repeal yet another poorly designed provision from the Democrats' health care law. Specifically, this legislation would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. IPAB, as it's commonly known, is a dangerous new government agency made up of unelected bureaucrats who can meet in total secrecy to decide what seniors will pay and what health care services will be available to seniors. This unaccountable board has but one objective: to save money by restricting access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries. Nearly 2 years since its passage, the Democrats' health care law remains deeply unpopular, with an Associated Press poll recently revealing that nearly half of the American people oppose the law. IPAB, which is a critical component of the law, illustrates why those concerns are still so strong. A separate poll confirms that opposition far outweighs support with 73 percent expressing concern that Medicare cuts recommended by IPAB could go into effect without congressional approval. Even IPAB's recommendations overturn a law previously passed by Congress. Seventy- one percent expressed concern that changes made to Medicare based on IPAB's recommendations cannot be challenged in court, and 67 percent worry that IPAB could choose to limit which specific health services are covered by Medicare. The American people have every reason to be worried. We should be protecting and empowering our seniors, not jeopardizing their access to health care. Yet IPAB removes seniors, physicians, and families from the decision-making process about how best to meet their health care needs. Instead of giving seniors more choices, these unelected bureaucrats will take away choices from patients, from doctors, and from families. This government-knows-best approach is why Americans across the country support repeal, and it's also why there's strong bipartisan support here in Congress to repeal IPAB. When the Ways and Means Committee considered this legislation, we received numerous letters from groups across the Nation representing employers, patients, doctors, and health care professionals who voiced strong support for IPAB repeal. The groups span across the political spectrum and include the Easter Seals, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, the Veterans Health Council, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Tax Reform. In total, over 390 groups have signed letters asking that Congress repeal IPAB, and I will insert these letters into the Record. America's seniors deserve better. Without reform, the Medicare trustees have said that Medicare will soon go broke and not be able to provide the benefits seniors rely on. With more and more Americans becoming eligible for Medicare each day, no time is more urgent than now to secure the future of beneficiaries' access to care. IPAB does just the opposite. It threatens seniors' access to health care, and that is why it must be repealed. Madam Chairman, the Democrats got it right when they named the IPAB. It truly is the Independent Payment Advisory Board. It's independent from seniors, independent from people with disabilities, independent from the voters, independent from legal challenges and appeals, and independent from any accountability. It's time to give that independence back to doctors, to patients, and to Congress by voting to repeal this Washington power grab. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board and to vote ``yes'' on this legislation. March 7, 2012. Dear Member of Congress: The organizations listed below represent a breadth of entities including all sectors of the healthcare industry, employers of different sizes and geographic locations, as well as purchasers of care, consumers and patients. We all share the conviction that the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will not only severely limit Medicare beneficiaries' access to care but also increase healthcare costs that are shifted onto the private sector. While we all recognize the need for more sustainable healthcare costs, we do not believe the IPAB is the way to, or will, accomplish this goal. As you know, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA [P.L. 111 148]) created the IPAB, a board appointed by the President and empowered to make recommendations to cut spending in Medicare if its spending growth reaches certain measures. The IPAB will have unprecedented power with little oversight, even though it has the power to literally change laws previously enacted by Congress. Further, the law specifically prohibits administrative or judicial review of the Secretary's implementation of a recommendation contained in an IPAB proposal. We are deeply concerned about the impact the IPAB will have on patient access to quality healthcare. The bulk of any recommended spending reductions will almost certainly come in the form of payment cuts to Medicare providers. This will affect patient access to care and innovative therapies. In the past five years for which data is available, the number of physicians unable to accept new Medicare patients because of low reimbursement rates has more than doubled. According to an American Medical Association survey, current reimbursement rates have already led 17 percent of all doctors, including 31 percent of primary care physicians, to restrict the number of Medicare patients in their practices. In all likelihood, the IPAB will only exacerbate this problem. While we are all supportive of improving the quality of care in this country, we are concerned that the IPAB will not be able to focus on improving healthcare and delivery system reforms, as some of its proponents have suggested. Requiring the IPAB to achieve scoreable savings in a one-year time period is not conducive to generating savings through long- term delivery system reforms. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief, ``[w]hile the requirement to achieve Medicare savings for the implementation year provides a clear direction and target for the Board, it may discourage the type of longer-term policy change that could be most important for Medicare and the underlying growth in health care costs, including delivery system reforms that MedPAC and others have recommended which are included in the ACA--and which generally require several years to achieve savings. If these delivery system reforms are not `scoreable' for the first year of implementation, the IPAB may be more likely to consider more predictable, short-term scoreable savings, such as reductions in payment updates for certain providers.'' The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has in fact stated that the Board is likely to focus its recommendations on changes to payment rates or methodologies for services in the fee-for- service sector by non-exempt providers. Again, this will have a severe, negative impact on Medicare beneficiaries. Last, we believe that the IPAB sets a dangerous precedent for overriding the normal legislative process. Congress is a representative body that has a duty to legislate on issues of public policy. Abdicating this responsibility to an unelected and unaccountable board removes our elected officials from the decision-making process for a program that millions of our nation's seniors and disabled individuals rely upon, endangering the important dialogue that takes place between elected officials and their constituents. We do not believe the IPAB is the right way to achieve savings in Medicare and strongly urge Congress to eliminate this provision. Sincerely, Abigail Alliance, Action CF AdvaMed, Advocates for Responsible Care, AIDS Delaware, AIDS Drug Assistance Programs Advocacy Association, AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma, AIDS Institute, Alabama Orthopaedic Society, Alabama Podiatric Medical Association, Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, Alaska State Grange, Alder Health Services, Inc., Alliance for Aging Research, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, ALung Technologies, Inc., Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, Alzheimer's Arkansas, American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Clinical Urologists, American Association for Homecare, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Orthopaedic Executives, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians--Indiana Chapter, American College of Mohs Surgery, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, American College of Radiology, American College of Surgeons--Missouri Chapter, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Gastroenterological Association, American Liver Foundation--Allegheny Division. American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Physical Therapy Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of General Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Radiation Oncology, American Urological Association, Americans for Prosperity, Amigos por la Salud, Arizona BioIndustry Association, Arizona Medical Association, Arizona Podiatric Medical Association, Arizona Urological Society, Arkansas Medical Society, Arkansas Orthopaedic Society, Arkansas Podiatric Medical Association, Associated Industries of Florida. Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America-- California Chapter, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America-- New England Chapter, Bay Bio, BEACON (Biomedical Engineering Alliance & Consortium), Connecticut, BIOCOM, BioNJ, BioOhio, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, California Healthcare Institute, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, California Medical Association, California Orthopaedic Association, California Podiatric Medical Association, California Rheumatology Alliance, California Urological Association, Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer!, Center of the American Experiment. Children's Rare Disease Network, Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage, Coalition of State Rheumatology, Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics & Gynecology Organizations, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, Colorado BioScience Association, Colorado Cross-Disability Association, Colorado Gerontological Society, Colorado Podiatric Medical Association, Colorado Retail Council, Colorado Springs Health Partners, Community Health Charities of Florida, Community Health Charities of Nebraska, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Community Oncology Alliance, Connecticut Orthopaedic Society, Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association, Connecticut State Urology Society, Delaware Academy of Medicine, Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families. Delaware HIV Consortium, Delaware Podiatric Medical Association, Delaware State Orthopaedic Society, Docs 4 Patient Care, Easter Seals, Easter Seals Crossroads, Easter Seals Iowa, Easter Seals of Arkansas, Easter Seals of Maine, Easter Seals of Massachusetts, Easter Seals of New Jersey, Easter Seals of Southeastern PA, Easter Seals of South Florida, Easter Seals UCP North Carolina, Elder Care Advocacy of Florida, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Medical Association, Florida Podiatric Medical Association, Florida Society of Neurology, Florida Society of Rheumatology. Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Florida Transplant Survivor's Coalition, Florida Urological Society, Georgia Association for Home Health Agencies, Georgia Bio, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, Georgia Podiatric Medical Association, Global Genes, Global Healthy Living Foundation, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, HEALS of the South, Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, Healthcare Leadership Council, HealthHIV, Hemophilia Foundation of Maryland, Heart Rhythm Society, Hoosier Owners and Providers for the Elderly, Idaho Medical Association, Idaho Podiatric Medical Association. Illinois Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Illinois Biotechnology Industry, Organization--iBIO', Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, Indiana Health Care Association, Indiana Health Industry Forum, Indiana Medical Device Manufacturers Council, Inc., Indiana Neurological Society, Indiana Podiatric Medical Association, Indiana State Medical Association, InterAmerican College of Physicians & Surgeons, International Franchise Association, International Institute for Human Empowerment, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Iowa Orthopaedic Society, Iowa Podiatric Medical Association, Kansas Medical Society, Kansas Podiatric Medical Association, Kansas Urological Association. Kentucky BioAlliance, Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Podiatric Medical Association, Kidney Cancer Association of Illinois, Large Urology Group Practice Association, Latino Diabetes Association, Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, Louisiana State Medical Society, Lupus Alliance of America--Hudson Valley Affiliate, Lupus Alliance of America--Queens and Long Island Affiliate, Lupus Alliance of America--Southern Tier Affiliate, Lupus Alliance of America--Upstate New York Affiliate, Lupus Foundation of Arkansas, Lupus Foundation of America, DC/MD/VA Chapter, Lupus Foundation of Florida, Lupus Foundation of Mid and Northern New York, Lupus Foundation of the Genesee Valley, Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, Maine Health Care Association. Maine Osteopathic Association, Maine Podiatric Medical Association, Maine State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, Maryland Orthopaedic Association, Maryland State Medical Society, Massachusetts Association for Behavioral Health Systems, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council, Massachusetts Orthopaedic Association, Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society, Medical Association of Georgia, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Medical Society of Delaware, Medical Society of the District of Columbia, Medical Society of the State of New York, Medical Society of New Jersey, Men's Health Network, Mental Health America of Indiana, Mental Health America of Greater Houston. MichBio, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan College of Emergency Physicians, Michigan Podiatric Medical Association, Michigan Orthopaedic Society, Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists, Minnesota Podiatric Medical Association, Minnesota State Grange, Mississippi Arthritis and Rheumatism Society, Mississippi Orthopaedic Society, Mississippi Podiatric Medical Association, Missouri State Medical Association, Missouri Urological Association, Montana Orthopaedic Society, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Alliance on Mental Illness Colorado, National Alliance on Mental Illness Florida, National Alliance on Mental Illness Georgia, National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana, National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. National Alliance on Mental Illness Michigan, National Alliance on Mental Illness NC, National Alliance on Mental Illness Texas, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, National Association for Home Care & Hospice--Indiana Chapter, National Association for Home Care & Hospice--Ohio Chapter, National Association for Uniformed Services, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, National Association of People with AIDS, National Association of Social Workers NC, National Association of Spine Specialists, National Council of Negro Women, National Council of Negro Women--Los Angeles View Park Section, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, National Health Foundation, National Hemophilia Foundation--Delaware Valley Chapter, National Kidney Foundation--Ohio Chapter, National Medical Association, National Minority Quality Forum. National Retail Federation, NCBIO, Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants, Nebraska Medical Association, Nebraska Orthopaedic Society, Nebraska Urological Association, Neurofibromatosis Mid-Atlantic, Nevada Orthopaedic Society, Nevada Podiatric Medical Association, Nevada State Medical Association, New Hampshire State Grange, New Horizons Home Health Services, New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology, New Jersey Mayors Committee of Life Science, New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society, New Mexico Podiatric Medical Association, New York Podiatric Medical Association, New York State Rheumatologists Society, New York State Urological Society, North Carolina Association on Aging. North Carolina Psychological Association, North Carolina Rheumatology Association, North Carolina Urological Association, North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Medical Association, North Dakota Policy Council, Northwest Urological Society, Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services, Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio Orthopaedic Society, Ohio State Grange, Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Urological Society, Ohio Veterans United, Oklahoma Podiatric Medical Association, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma State Orthopaedic Society, Oklahoma State Urologic Association. Old North State Medical Society, Oregon Medical Association, Oregon Podiatric Medical Association, Partners in Care Foundation, Partnership for Drug Free North Carolina, Pennsylvania BIO, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society, Personal Coaching & Psychotherapy for Women, PhRMA, Premier healthcare alliance, RARE Project, RetireSafe, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rio Grande Foundation, New Mexico, Rocky Mountain Stroke Center, Rural Health IT, Sanfilippo Foundation for Children, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Society for Vascular Surgery, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Urologic Oncology, South Carolina BIO, South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force, South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina Orthopaedic Association, South Carolina Podiatric Medical Association, South Carolina Urological Association, South Dakota Podiatric Medical Association, South Dakota State Orthopaedic Society, South Jersey Geriatric Care PC, South Jersey Senior Networking Group, Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA), Southwest Michigan Pharmacist Association, Stockton Center on Successful Aging, Syndicus Scientific Services, Team Sanfilippo Foundation, Tennessee Medical Association, Tennessee Orthopaedic Society. Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association, Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute, Texas Podiatric Medical Association, Texas Urological Society, The Center for Health Care Services, The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation, The National Grange, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Pain Foundation, Urology Society of New Jersey, Utah Medical Association, Utah Podiatric Medical Association, Utah State Orthopaedic Society, Vascular Society of New Jersey, Vermont Medical Society, Vermont Podiatric Medical Association, Veterans Health Council, VHA Inc., Vietnam Veterans of America, Virginia Biotechnology Association. Virginia Podiatric Medical Association, Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio, Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, Washington Free Clinic Association, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association, Washington State Podiatric Medical Association, Washington Rheumatology Association, Washington State Medical Association, Washington State Urology Society, WERAK Foundation, West Virginia Academy of Otolaryngology, West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, West Virginia Manufacturer's Association, West Virginia Orthopaedic Society, West Virginia State Medical Association, William ``Hicks'' Anderson Community Center, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Urological Society, Wyoming State Grange, Women Against Prostate Cancer.

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins).

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds just to say that our Republican alternative, our Republican health care bill, prevented unlawful recisions, had no lifetime caps on coverage, did not deny coverage to those with preexisting conditions, and was the only bill that was scored by CBO as lowering premiums. Also, we did it without spending $2 trillion and 2,400 pages and did not create a board of 15 unelected bureaucrats. With that, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Health Subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Nearly 70 percent of seniors are worried that IPAB will limit their Medicare choices and the coverage that's available to them under Medicare. I think this is the most troubling part of the health care law that the Democrats rammed through the Congress, and that is because this secret rationing board is given enormous power with no accountability. The 15 unelected board members of IPAB are free to cut reimbursement rates for certain procedures or for services that they deem unnecessary. They can cut those rates so low that physicians will no longer be able to offer those services. That's pretty clearly the ability to ration. We have had countless physician groups warn us about the IPAB. They're warning us that these cuts will force them to stop seeing Medicare patients, and the real problem is, because TRICARE reimbursement rates are tied directly to Medicare, that will have health care for our military personnel negatively impacted by the IPAB as well. The Democrats gave IPAB blanket authority to operate in secret. There is no requirement that their deliberations, their reasonings for their conclusions must be made public. Also, the health care bill states directly that IPAB, and I'm quoting here, ``may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.'' That's not a very subtle invitation for lobbyists and others with interests in issues before the Congress to impact these unelected and unaccountable IPAB members with cash, with gifts, with other items. So not only do they have enormous power that if the Congress can't override automatically becomes law. But they have the ability to do it in secret, and the legislation states directly that they can accept gifts and donations. So this is a troubling piece of ObamaCare that we need to repeal, and I urge my members to vote for repeal of this. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

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

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Reichert).