Bill Cassidy

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. I will yield.

Mr. CASSIDY. So going back to my question, if you cannot control costs, can you sustain a health care system?

Mr. CASSIDY. Reclaiming my time, part of this plan is to increase Medicaid eligibility, i.e., put more people on to Medicaid. Yet what we've just heard is that Medicaid is bankrupting States, or causing them to raise taxes.

Mr. CASSIDY. Hang on. Hold that thought. Let me give one more David Brooks quote and call on our colleague, Dr. Fleming okay? Another David Brooks quote talking about the CBO report, speaking about how much it would cost. This is devastating. The plan was sold as a way to bend the cost curve to reduce the rate of health care cost growth. Instead, the cost of the plan to the Federal budget would rise by 8 percent a year, and there wouldn't be anything close to offsetting revenues to pay for it. Now, Dr. Fleming, can you sustain a health care system which has out of control inflation, if you will?

Mr. CASSIDY. Now, reclaiming my time, and I appreciate that because, again, what we've heard before is that this plan does not put government between the patient and their physician. And yet, I would have to think, if that weren't the case, why wouldn't anyone agree to your bill? I think your amendment was proposed in our committee, and it was defeated on party line votes. So I think Dr. Roe, from Tennessee, may have some thoughts as to what would come between the patient and the physician. I keep emphasizing that because if something's patient- centered, we know the closer it is to the patient, the more likely it works. So let's ask Dr. Roe, a physician from Tennessee, what might come between the patient and the physician. Dr. Roe.

Mr. CASSIDY. Now, reclaiming my time, because we heard a presentation prior to this that, by golly, this is the best thing since sliced bread; this is the plan that's going to fix everything, and why wouldn't you be on it. So I'm kind of asking you, Dr. Fleming, why wouldn't they want to be on it.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. To achieve the three goals of patient-centered health care, we have to control costs to provide access to quality care. Now there are three imperatives to achieve this. We have to decrease the amount of money the patient is paying for administrative costs, increase the transparency so the patient knows what she's paying for, and lastly, address lifestyle issues so that a healthier patient has higher quality health care at lower cost. This is transformational. The current plan, however, the CBO says, is not transformational and in fact is based upon things which are very old: Medicaid, which is a Federal program currently bankrupting the States; and Medicare, which is bankrupting the Federal Government. This new third entitlement program builds upon those models, which is supposed to rescue the two that are currently bankrupting us. At a minimum, the solution should not cost more than the problem. Let's address the imperatives of lowering administrative costs, increasing transparency, and addressing lifestyle issues, and develop a patient-centered health care plan, not one built upon two programs going bankrupt. On a bipartisan basis, let's achieve quality, accessible health care at an affordable cost.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. I thank my colleague from Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 616, congratulating the Louisiana State University baseball team for winning the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College World Series. Louisiana State University, LSU, was founded in 1853. Its first academic session began in 1860. As of the spring of 2009, LSU's enrollment is more than 26,000 students, including more than 1,400 international students and over 4,000 graduate students. LSU includes 10 senior colleges and schools; and since its first commencement in 1869, the university has awarded nearly 200,000 degrees. LSU has more than 300 student organizations on campus and is widely known for its successful athletic program. The Louisiana State University Tigers have won 45 national sports championships, including five in baseball, three in football, and 25 in women's track and field. Since 1986, LSU's baseball has been considered an elite program in college baseball, making 15 College World Series appearances and winning six national championships. The team was founded in 1895, and it played a total of four games that first season. The Tigers won their first national championship in 1991; and most recently, they were crowned national champions for the sixth time. The 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team was led to national victory by Coach Paul Mainieri. The team traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, for the NCAA College World Series after sweeping Southern University, Baylor University, and the University of Minnesota in the regional championship and Rice University in the Super Regional Championship. In the NCAA Division I College World Series, the LSU Tigers faced the Texas Longhorns in the finals after winning victories over the Virginia Cavaliers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The LSU Tigers took the national title after a grueling three-game series against the Texas Longhorns. LSU finished their season 56-17. The team's athletic ability, determination, and Coach Paul Mainieri's leadership led the LSU Tigers baseball team to their first national championship victory since the year 2000. As a graduate of both LSU and of the LSU Medical School, I am honored to stand before the House today to congratulate and to recognize the significant achievements of the players, coaches and students, whose dedication and hard work have led to the success of the LSU baseball program as the 2009 NCAA Division I College World Series national champions. I ask my colleagues to support the resolution. Geaux (go) Tigers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. CASSIDY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASSIDY. I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from Louisiana, Congressman Scalise.

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

Mr. CASSIDY. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana, my colleague, Dr. Boustany.

Mr. CASSIDY. I do.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1035, a bill that amends the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National and Environmental Policy Act. The Morris K. Udall Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to honor Mr. Udall's 30 years in public service. The Foundation was created to help educate new generations to protect the environment. The Foundation works to increase the awareness of our Nation's natural resources, foster a greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment in the development of our Nation, and through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution provide mediation and other services to resolve environmental disputes involving Federal agencies. The Foundation operates several educational programs. The Morris K. Udall scholarship program awards approximately 80 merit-based scholarships at about $5,000 each year. It also supports about 12 Native Americans or Alaskan Natives every summer for a 10-week, bipartisan congressional internship program. Finally, the Foundation supports two fellows every year in a doctoral program whose research focuses on environmental policy. The bill before us today continues the work of the Foundation by making some administrative changes, and more importantly, adding another member of the Udall family to the name of the Foundation by changing the name of the Foundation to the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. Like his brother Morris, Stewart also spent his life serving the Nation. He was elected to Congress in 1954 and served from 1955 to 1961, when he left to serve as President John F. Kennedy's Secretary of the Interior. He continued in that post until 1969, when he returned to the private sector, always working to protect the environment and our Nation's heritage. Mr. Stewart Udall is almost 90 years old, and adding his name to the Foundation is a fitting tribute to him and his family's services to the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I actually applaud the goal of our Democratic colleagues in terms of the health bill they are putting out. Access, quality, and controlling costs are things that we should all aspire for. Absolutely. And I agree with parts of the legislation. Guaranteed access, for example, is just wonderful. But, of course our concern is that CBO comment that it's not going to control cost, not achieve one of these goals, but rather, reset it to increase it. And we know as the cost of health care increases, that will be one more thing that inhibits growth and jobs. So what can we do? One, we do need fundamental reform, which, as the CBO has pointed out, this bill does provide. We need to put the patient in charge of health care decisions and dollars. We need to empower patients to make value-conscious decisions, empower them with the information they need for reasonable decisions by increasing transparency on the pricing of health care. Let's empower them by incentivizing wellness programs at lower costs and improved lives. Let's empower them with things such as HSAs, which have been shown to decrease costs by 30 percent and, indeed, give insurance to those previously uninsured. Empowering patients is the only way to lower cost and increase access.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to lead the 111th Congress of the United States of America in honoring Colonel Van R. Mayhall, USAR (Ret.), on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Born near Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July 24, 1919, Van Robinson Mayhall has lived in Baton Rouge nearly all his 90 years. In fact, the longest he was ever away from home was while fighting to defend America overseas. Colonel Mayhall graduated from Catholic High School and attended Louisiana State University until the outbreak of World War II. He joined the Louisiana National Guard at age 17, and in December 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the United States Army. He rose to the rank of Captain in the European Theater, serving as aide to General William Weaver and seeing combat in France and Germany, including the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. In recognition of his courageous service in combat, Colonel Mayhall received numerous awards and honors, including the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for his bravery under enemy fire. Colonel Mayhall was honorably discharged from the Army following the war, and his commitment to his community and his country continued. Then-Captain Mayhall remained in the Army Reserves until retirement, achieving the rank of Colonel. After his five year deployment, he was reunited with his wife, Marie Roques Mayhall, with whom he raised five children, fourteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. He fully dedicated himself to the Baton Rouge community, volunteering on behalf of his church, military and veterans groups, and charitable organizations. In 1999, his own World War II memoir, Cranking Up A Fine War, was released and received favorable reviews. In 2006, in recognition of an extraordinary lifetime of service and achievements, he was inducted into the Louisiana Veterans' Hall of Honor. Colonel Mayhall's life is a testament to the spirit of the Greatest Generation. It is also an ongoing tribute to his brothers in arms who never returned home to live the American dream as Colonel Mayhall has. It is a great honor that the position to which I have been elected offers me the opportunity to lead the Congress of the United States of America, on the occasion of Colonel Van R. Mayhall's 90th birthday, in expressing the respect, admiration and thanks of a grateful Nation for his service to his country, as well as a very happy birthday on July 24, 2009.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, critical to health care reform is who has the power. Currently, the payer has the power. Ask a Medicaid recipient if she has the power or the government agency which pays. Ask a patient denied a procedure if he has the power or the insurance company which pays. Reform must fix what's broken. What's broken is who has the power. Real reform gives the patient the power. Government already controls 50 percent of health care spending. By controlling dollars, bureaucrats control care. The President's plan doubles down on government control. It doubles down what is broken. It invests in government, not in patients. How can we trust bureaucracies that broke health care to fix health care? Trust government that always overpromised and underfunded? Until reform transfers power from payer to patient, there is no reform. Give the power to the patient.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 332 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, cap-and-trade threatens to be a well- intended disaster. Under the ruse of reducing carbon emissions to clean the environment, cap-and-trade will hobble the economy. By some estimates, it reduces GDP by $9.6 trillion over two decades, eliminates 1.1 million jobs per year, and increases the Federal debt by 26 percent. Electricity rates jump 90 percent, gas prices 74 percent, and natural gas prices 55 percent. Cap-and-trade is designed to disguise what it truly is, in the words of Mr. Dingell, ``a great big tax.'' It imposes higher taxes on producers, so producers pass higher prices to consumers. The authors are targeting the producers so that the producers increase the prices on consumers. If the authors targeted consumers rather than the producers, it would connect them too much, and therefore, they must distance themselves from the families who bear the costs. The authors know the effects. They are hiding from them. It is underhanded, it is subterfuge, it deserves to fail.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. Madam Speaker, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin recently hosted a legislative conference on Capitol Hill, and I was honored to speak to this organization, consisting of proud American doctors who trace their heritage to India. AAPI's members play a critical role in delivering quality health care throughout the U.S. across a broad range of medical specialties. I heard from AAPI members who discussed the need for health care reform but also shared their concerns about a single-payer system. These physicians told me that while we need reforms, we should never forget that we have the greatest health care system in the world. I agree. We need to find ways to reform health care delivery by cutting costs without compromising the quality of care provided to patients. A system that rations testing, cannot provide the latest pharmaceuticals to patients, and prevents patients from making decisions about their own health care, is a system that moves the power of healthcare from the hands of patients into the hands of government. That's not what we need in America. I appreciate the advocacy of AAPI on this issue and the difference Indian American doctors make in providing the best health care to their patients every day in our great nation.

Mr. CASSIDY

Mr. CASSIDY. I would yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.