Eric Cantor

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I introduced this legislation on behalf of my colleagues so that we may all be on record following the Supreme Court's decision in order to show that the House rejects ObamaCare and that we are committed to taking this flawed law off the books. This is a law, Madam Speaker, that the American people did not want when it was passed, and it remains a law that the American people do not want now. First and foremost, ObamaCare violates President Obama's central promise to the American people that if they like their current health coverage, they can keep it. The vast majority of people in this country like the health care that they have and they want to keep it. But now, thanks to this law, patients across the Nation are losing access to the health care they like. Millions stand to lose health care coverage from their employers because ObamaCare is driving up costs and effectively forcing employers to drop health care coverage. Beyond that, ObamaCare takes away from patients the ability to make their own decisions and individual choices. Instead of letting patients and their families work with their doctors to decide the best care, ObamaCare puts Washington in the driver's seat to make health care choices for them and their families. Taking away choice, driving up costs, and making health care dramatically more expensive is not the prescription that Americans asked for. Madam Speaker, we know in this tough economy we need to be doing everything we can to help our small businessmen and -women. They are struggling because of uncertainty and facing the prospect of one of the largest tax hikes in history. ObamaCare increases that burden by adding new costs and more red tape. The new harsh reality is that creating new jobs and bringing on new employees may just be too expensive and too burdensome if this law is left to stand. The President said throughout the health care debate--as did former Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle--that his health care law was not a tax. Well, we now know that the Supreme Court has spoken: It is a tax. Madam Speaker, it's time to stop all the broken promises and get back to the kind of health care people in this country want. It cannot be overlooked that ObamaCare also has disastrous implications for the moral fabric of our Nation. Despite the claims to the contrary, this law actually paves the way for Federal funding of abortion, violating many individuals' religious, ethical, and moral beliefs. It is also the basis from which President Obama launched an assault on the religious freedom of millions of Americans by requiring employers to cover items and services with which they--and perhaps their employees--fundamentally disagree. Washington-based care is not the answer. There is a better way to go about improving the health care system in this country. The American people want patient-centered care that allows them to make the very personal decisions about health care with their families and their doctors. They want to keep the care they like. They want to see costs come down, and they want health care to be more accessible. That is the kind of health care we on the Republican side of the aisle support, and frankly the type of care that the vast majority of the American people support. Madam Speaker, we have said since day one that we must fully repeal this law. Today, we can start over and we can tell the American people, we are on your side, we care about your health care, and we want quality care at affordable cost. We listened, and we've acted. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the fallen police officers of Henrico County, VA. We have with us today the Henrico County Police Athletic League, who are in Washington to lay a wreath at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, in honor of the fallen and their families. The legacy left by the fallen officers of Henrico County illuminates the strength of their commitment to public service. To pay tribute to those officers whose lives were tragically shortened, 250 students from Henrico County, VA have traveled to Washington to participate in today's wreath laying ceremony. These students are part of a program offered by the Henrico County Police Athletic League that instills in young people the values of integrity, self-respect, and discipline. I offer my support and gratitude to the families and countless friends of these officers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their memory is an inspiration to all of us. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me today in remembering the fallen heroes of Henrico County, and thanking the Henrico Police Athletic League for service and commitment to our community.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Montford Point Marines for their selfless service to our country and for their fortitude in the face of social turmoil. This group of warriors forever remains a testament to the American ideals of bravery, patriotism, and liberty. Through the courageous efforts of civil rights activists and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 8802, race restrictions on the defense industry were eliminated during the buildup of World War II. And in 1941, African Americans wanting to serve their country were given the right to do so. Though still facing adversity in segregated camps, these brave soldiers answered the call to arms without hesitation and trained to become United States Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Between 1942 and 1949, more than 20,000 men were recruited and enlisted at Montford Point. These Marines would steadfastly serve our country during a time of great social unrest. The example they set and the legacy they left at Montford Point inspired countless future Marines and inspires us all today. President Truman's signing of an executive order in 1949 desegregating the military is surely a direct reflection of these Marines' role as trailblazers of racial equality. The sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines represented a pivotal step forward for our country and they deserve our utmost respect and admiration. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me today in saluting the Montford Point Marines as they receive the Congressional Gold Medal commemorating their timeless example of valor and American heroism.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I will respond to the gentleman and say to the gentleman that, again, if he looks at the schedule, we are scheduled and have been in accord with that schedule and in session more days this year than we were in a similar year last session. So I would say to the gentleman the schedule is right on track. The predictability, the certainty of this schedule, has allowed for the work to continue. We will be here throughout July. Our intention is to continue to focus on job creation. We will be looking, obviously, towards the Supreme Court and what its actions may bring next week on the issue of ObamaCare. If we have to act in response to that to assure all Americans that we want and care about their health care, we will do so. If the Court does not strike down the bill in its entirety, the gentleman knows our conference is fully committed to the total repeal of the ObamaCare bill. In July, we will continue to focus on that bill and its impact on employers. We also are very concerned about the overreach of the regulatory agencies in this town and intend to bring forward a bill with a series of provisions which will address the red tape that has begun to strangle the innovation and growth in this economy. We will also be very focused on a measure to stop the tax hike that is facing the American people this year. If you look at the enormity of the tax hike, it is something that is hanging over this economy, that is hanging over the mindset of small business people and working families. I don't think anybody would advocate raising taxes, especially in this economy. That will be the outline of our work with, obviously, some other measures that may be brought up in July.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would say that some of that is still in discussion, but this resolution does have privilege.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I'd say to the gentleman, it has been our position all along that we do not want to see the expiration of the funding of the program to impact the students that right now are struggling, and we have presented to both the White House, as well as the gentleman's side of the aisle here in the Capitol, various ways of accomplishing that end in a responsible manner, in a fiscally responsible manner so that we're not digging the hole any deeper, we're not incurring any additional debt in order to do that, and thus far, have not seen a willingness on the part of the White House. I am aware that there are discussions ongoing on the other side of the Capitol to see if there can be some resolution on this issue. And that's all I can say to the gentleman as far as I know.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I'd say to the gentleman, this is an issue of making sure that the American people are given an opportunity to have all the information surrounding the issues involved with the Fast and Furious program. This is an issue that we feel, as has been indicated by the actions of Chairman Issa, that in acting with all reason, asking of the administration and the Attorney General to produce certain documents, the Attorney General, having agreed to produce certain documents, then refusing to do so, Chairman Issa, leading up to the vote in committee the other day had said all along, if the Attorney General had produced the documents, that there would be a postponement of the hearing. And in the same fashion, Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman, the Democratic whip, if the Attorney General would do what it is he committed to do and produce the documents, we'll postpone the vote. We've not seen any indication of that. He has not done that. And that's why I've announced the vote.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I'd respond to the gentleman, and I think the gentleman does know this is a privileged resolution of which he speaks, and it would be subject to the 1-hour rule, just as privileged resolutions were under their majority, Mr. Speaker, and we will expect to proceed accordingly.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would just say to the gentleman, as he knows, the Senate has the so-called ``blue slip'' problem with its bill, and that is about as far as I know as to the progress in the Senate. As the gentleman knows, we passed the bill here in the House. We did so in recognizing the suggestions and incorporating the suggestions that the GAO had made as to how to streamline the grant programs on the Violence Against Women Act to allow for dollars to reach victims in a more expeditious manner. We wholeheartedly support the passage of that as the gentleman saw when it passed the House. We would like to see a resolution on this.

Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman. I would say to the gentleman the conferees continue to work in a bicameral nature. The discussions are proceeding between Chairman Mica and Chairman Boxer. And as the gentleman knows, I have said before, we are desirous of seeing a bill done, as the gentleman said, to afford more certainty to the folks who are relying on the funding of our Nation's transportation program. We certainly think it would be a huge benefit to producing a bill prior to the expiration of the program next week, but knowing full well most of us do not want to see any kind of shutdown in the funding, that we would be prepared in any way to make sure that does not happen. But the intention is to allow these conferees to continue to do their work and, hopefully, we'll have a bill to vote on next week.

Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman from Maryland, the Democratic whip, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet in pro forma session, but no votes are expected. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning-hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning-hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business tomorrow. In addition, the House may consider two appropriations bills next week, H.R. 5972, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, and H.R. 5973, the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Act. Members are advised that the House will begin consideration of one of these two bills after the 6:30 p.m. vote series on Tuesday and should expect an additional late evening series of votes on amendments. Again, Mr. Speaker, that is on Tuesday. The House is also scheduled to consider a privileged resolution finding Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Finally, I expect the House to consider legislation dealing with both the expiring authority of our Nation's highway programs, as well as the pending increase in the Federal subsidized student loan rate. Before I yield back, Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members that we will accommodate both the congressional White House picnic on Wednesday night, as well as the congressional baseball game on Thursday evening. Debate may continue on appropriations amendments after the picnic and during the baseball game, but during those events no votes will take place. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday next.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman. I rise in support of this legislation before us, which will boost domestic energy production, spur job creation, and grow the economy. The Domestic Energy and Jobs Act opens up more of our domestic energy resources, brings greater certainty to leasing on public lands, and does take steps to cut red tape that is increasing the cost of fuel and blocking energy development. Increasing energy production on our Nation's public lands and in its waters can create millions of jobs, boost the economy, lower energy costs, and make America more secure. It wasn't too long ago that an energy-secure America seemed like an unreachable goal. Today, energy security is on the horizon because of innovations that have helped increase our domestic energy supply and that have created thousands of good-paying jobs along the way. I saw these innovative technologies firsthand a few weeks ago when I was out on a deep-sea rig off the coast of Louisiana. With this legislation, we give our Nation's energy producers the certainty they need to invest in the innovations that are essential to American-made energy and American-made jobs. The oil and gas industry is the lifeblood of so many communities across our Nation, but this President's policies have stifled the development of many of our Nation's energy resources. Red tape and restrictions coming from the Obama administration are keeping America's abundant energy resources under lock and key, away from our job- creating private sector. As a result of some of these policies, small businesses are feeling the squeeze of high energy costs; families planning their summer vacations are facing historically high gas prices; and new jobs are being sidelined. People are wondering, when will things get better? They're looking for leadership out of Washington. Frankly, this administration has not delivered. Since the President took office, production on public lands has decreased. While I welcome the administration's announcement that it is moving forward with a long delayed lease sale in the central Gulf of Mexico, it is simply unacceptable that this is the first lease sale the administration has held in the central gulf since 2010. Our Nation's energy producers have been ready and waiting to put their capital on the line to develop our Nation's resources. Delaying decisions critical to energy development creates uncertainty and slows job creation. In fact, the Obama administration has canceled more lease sales than it has actually held, so I think the big question is, why aren't we doing more? Why aren't we developing more of our Nation's Outer Continental Shelf, such as that off the coast of Virginia, where there is broad bipartisan consensus in my State supporting such development? After years of watching the President fail to embrace a pro-growth energy policy, the American people do deserve more. The future of our country depends on a true, all-of-the-above energy strategy that promotes domestic energy production, job creation, and economic growth. By adding certainty to the regulatory process, we can promote domestic energy development in an environmentally sensitive way. We can promote economic growth and get Americans back to work. These seven bills, as part of the HEAT Team package, will help bring down high energy costs, which are hurting families and crippling small businesses, so that we can then spur the creation of thousands of jobs. I want to salute and thank the House Energy Action Team: the bill's chief sponsor, Congressman Cory Gardner; Congressman Ed Whitfield; Congressmen Scott Tipton and Mike Coffman; and Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Bill Johnson for putting forward these measures that will harness our domestic energy resources. Finally, I would like to thank our whip, Kevin McCarthy, for his leadership and for bringing all of us together, as well as thank Chairman Fred Upton and Chairman Doc Hastings for their leadership on these measures that are essential to our Nation's competitiveness and job creation.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan, Chairman Camp. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation before us to reduce health care costs and expand patient freedom in health care decision- making. Speaker Boehner and I made clear yesterday that the House will not act to raise taxes on anyone. The bill on the floor today is one step of many that we will need to take this year to ensure that end. Even though the medical device tax has not yet been applied, the tax has already led to job losses, and threatens to reverse America's role as a global leader and innovator in the life sciences industry. We know if we want to encourage innovators, we cannot tax them. Mr. Speaker, with all of the bipartisan action in the House and Senate on legislation to improve the approval process for drugs, biologics, and medical devices at the Food and Drug Administration, it would be reasonable to assume that Congress could find common ground on issues that are core to promoting jobs and innovation. Unfortunately, don't expect this bill to reach the President's desk in a timely fashion, even with Members from both parties calling for the repeal of this harmful tax. The medical device tax was created as part of the new health care law and, for that reason alone, the administration continues to defend this tax which was only created to fund an unworkable law. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the President has threatened to veto our bill because the tax will pay for his health care law. We should not be increasing taxes to pay for a law that a majority of Americans want repealed, a law that even some ardent supporters admit will not work as intended. Mr. Speaker, the real price is being paid by the American people. A tax on medical devices will harm patient care, not improve it. With this tax, it will now be more expensive for patients to walk into the exam room because the bed itself can be classified as a medical device. The tax will dramatically alter the research and development budgets of medical device companies. Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, a constituent of mine from Richmond requested that Congress recognize the vital importance of research funding and the direct impact that it could have for her son, Joshua, who was born with a rare and serious heart defect. Only 8 years old, Joshua has already braved three open-heart surgeries. There's no medical procedure today that can help this little boy. We need to encourage the medical innovations, not stifle them with taxes, so that there can be hope for kids like Joshua. Further, the tax is directly causing job losses and could directly impact small business growth, as the medical device companies often start with just a few employees. Overall, this tax could result in the loss of tens of thousands of American jobs in an industry that is key to economic growth. Mr. Speaker, the President's veto threat is notably silent on the other two major provisions of this bill, provisions championed by Representative Lynn Jenkins and Representative Charles Boustany, to give patients more control over their health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements, respectively. Are these provisions acceptable to the White House? Will health savings accounts even be permitted if the President's health care law remains on the books? The uncertainty caused by the law highlights, once again, how truly flawed it is, and why all of the President's health care law must be repealed. Mr. Speaker, there are many difficult issues that Congress must address to ensure America remains a country of opportunity, innovation, and growth. Supporting this bill should be easy. I'd like to thank Representative Erik Paulsen for his leadership in advancing this legislation to eliminate a harmful tax. And I want to recognize the leadership of Chairman Dave Camp, who is working to put forward pro-growth tax reform that will make our Tax Code simpler and fairer and result in a growing economy.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, I would advise the House that at the end of the amendment series is the Lummis amendment. After that amendment, we will be revoting the Connolly amendment. So don't leave. We will need to be revoting the gentleman from Virginia's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that proceedings on rollcall No. 327 be vacated to the end that the request for a recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) remain as unfinished business and, further, that the Chair may reduce the time for any electronic vote on that amendment to not less than 2 minutes.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. I would say to the gentleman that the Speaker and I, together with the Republican leader and whip in the Senate, have sent a letter to the President--perhaps the gentleman has seen it--suggesting a way forward on the issue of student loans so that there will not be an expiration of the subsidy provided to students. We suggested two options to allow for the continuation of the lower rates for students to be paid for by provisions which the President has suggested that he would agree to. The two options are to limit the length of in-school interest subsidy and the other is to revise the Medicaid provider tax threshold and to phase it down so that we can actually achieve some savings so that we can allow for the continuation of the subsidized rates for students who are struggling on their tuition bills. These are two options that we suggest. They are bipartisan in nature. There shouldn't be any reason why we couldn't get this done prior to the expiration of the current law.

Mr. CANTOR. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman I have no further comment.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would just say to the gentleman, he and I have discussed this before in these colloquies, and I would suggest turning attention to a Senate that hasn't even begun considering its appropriations bills, to suggest that we would come to an agreement with the Senate, I think, you know, the Senate has got to really start to do its work as far as the appropriations process is concerned. I yield back.

Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman from Maryland, the Democratic whip, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday the House is not in session. On Tuesday the House will meet at noon for morning-hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning-hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. The last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business today. I expect the majority of these bills to come from the Natural Resources Committee, and I want to thank Chairman Doc Hastings and his staff for their tireless work in assisting Members on both sides of the aisle with their bills to responsibly remove Federal red tape that stands in the way of local economic development. Members are also advised that the House will resume consideration of H.R. 5325, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, on Tuesday, our first day back next week. Those wishing to offer amendments to the bill should be prepared to do so as soon as they return to Washington. The House may also consider two additional appropriations bills next week: H.R. 5855, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, sponsored by Representative Robert Aderholt; and H.R. 5882, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, sponsored by Representative Ander Crenshaw. Chairman Hal Rogers and the entire Appropriations Committee on both sides of the aisle should be congratulated for helping to restore the open process of allocating and prioritizing the Nation's spending. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 436, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, a very important bill for jobs and innovation in the medical device industry, that Representative Erik Paulsen is sponsoring. The Paulsen bill will be combined with H.R. 5842, the Restoring Access to Medication Act, sponsored by Representative Lynn Jenkins, and H.R. 1004, the Medical FSA Improvement Act, sponsored by Representative Charles Boustany.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, there were two options: One was the Federal employee pay-for in and of itself, the reductions in the size of the Federal Government, would have taken care of the pay-for, if you will, for the student loan issue. The other option was composed of two different provisions, both of which are bipartisan in nature and the President says he supports. One of those is to limit the length of in- school interest subsidies; the other was to revise the Medicaid provider tax threshold. It was those two components that comprise option two. That is my point.

Mr. CANTOR. I'm not quite sure about the note he made about our budget not balancing within the budget window. I would say to the gentleman, we understand that, but it is a plan that we could adopt that would provide a blueprint for getting us back on track as far as managing down the debt and deficit. And my point originally was, Mr. Speaker, there's been no such plan, there's been no such proffer from the President or the gentleman's side of the aisle. So in order for us to move forward, we need participation from both sides. We can't just have one side providing a solution without the ability to get that solution put into place because the gentleman's party is in control in the other body and in the White House. So how do we go about trying to find commonality if there is no proffer of solution? That was my point, Mr. Speaker. And there has been no solution, balanced or not, provided by the other side. And I would say lastly to the gentleman's inquiry about the appropriations process, we certainly maintain the position we'd like to see all of our bills brought to the floor through regular order, consistent with the Speaker's policy of an open debate that we have seen thus far in the appropriations bills. We had a successful completion yesterday, and we are continuing in the Energy and Water appropriations measure today and as we come back next week.

Mr. CANTOR. If I could, Mr. Speaker, just point the gentleman's attention back to the student loan issue. I specifically did not offer up the option of the Federal employee pay-for because I do know that we have a difference on that. So the gentleman explained the differences. We understand that. That's why we're trying to avoid differences and come together where we can agree, which is why I discussed the two other provisions which are bipartisan in nature and that the President has said he supports, which could, in a responsible fashion, allow us to continue the lower rates.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon on Tuesday next for morning- hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.