Renee Ellmers

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. I thank my good friend from Ohio. Thank you for holding this Special Order. The American people are ready for solutions, as you know. We are working so hard here in the House on coming up with those solutions. We will be voting on a balanced budget amendment--and I'm very excited about that--as has been required by the Budget Control Act that we passed in August. I'm here now as one of those new freshmen. And it is amazing to me and, of course, we all know that for over 200 years we've functioned without the Federal Government having to be held to--

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much, and thank you for leading this Special Order tonight. It's so important. You've heard from my fellow women colleagues the discussion we're having about our families, our seniors, Medicare, Social Security, and the importance of operating under a budget. We continue to grapple with these issues because here in the House of Representatives we've passed numerous bills, we've passed the repeal of the President's health care bill, and yet only to go on to the Senate and not be taken up for a vote. You heard my fellow women colleagues discuss how we've passed 15 bills on to the Senate, including the repeal, with no action whatsoever. The American people are calling for jobs, the American people are calling for a change in our economy, and those bills will take care of that issue. Those bills will set us on a path towards recovery, and yet we continuously play politics on the Senate side. We don't bring these things for a vote. We're here tonight talking about all these issues that affect our families, again, our seniors. Our seniors are so concerned about what's going to happen in the future. Our seniors have paid into a system their entire life, into Social Security and Medicare. They deserve those benefits back. As a nurse, taking care of seniors was part of my core health care life, taking care of seniors and ensuring that they're going to receive good care throughout the remainder of their life. And they've paid into that benefit willingly. They paid into that benefit and deserve to get it back. They don't look at Medicare and Social Security as budgetary issues. They look at these as benefits that they deserve, and it is incumbent upon us to make sure that they receive them. You've heard my fellow women colleagues reiterate over and over again that if you are 55 and older, through our House-passed budget they will not be affected. Anyone 55 and older, no benefit is changed whatsoever, and yet in the Senate that budget is not taken up for a vote. The American people are looking for answers. The American people know the issue. They understand, because we have made the point over and over and over again, that Medicare, down the road, just a few years down the road, will be bankrupt because of the situation that we're in today. Seniors are calling my office every day concerned that as Republicans we are going to ruin Medicare for them and that somehow they're going to lose that benefit. I can tell them honestly that is the last thing that any of us as Republicans want to do. In fact, the problem lies with the President's health care bill that was passed in the 111th Congress because, in that bill, a half trillion dollars was taken out of Medicare, and put into place was a 15-person panel, which you've also heard my fellow colleagues discuss, IPAB, Independent Payment Advisory Board. Fifteen individuals, 15 bureaucrats will be able to decide what Medicare will pay for and what they will not, essentially taking away the patient-doctor relationship. My husband is a surgeon. I don't want my husband to have to sit down with his patients and discuss what they cannot do because Medicare will not pay for it. But that, unfortunately, is the future if we are not able to remove this, if we are not able to repeal, as we have already passed here in the House. My fellow colleagues are working very hard--very hard--to rescue Medicare from the position that it's in right now because it is doomed to failure. But, unfortunately, this issue has been kicked down the road through previous administrations, through previous Congresses. But we can no longer allow this to go on. We have to address the issue now. And I believe that our seniors understand this. And I believe that if we can continue to give them this message that we are in no way wanting to harm the benefits that they're receiving now or the benefits that they will be receiving if you're 55 and older, we will be able to accomplish that. But again, the calls that are coming into my office--that I am more than willing and my staff is more than willing to answer these issues-- need to be going on to the Senate. They need to be going to the Senate and asking why these issues are not being brought up. Why are we not voting on these bills? Why are we not passing a budget? You've heard my colleagues say it's been over 900 days since the Senate has passed a budget. There is no household that can function without a budget, and there is absolutely no business that can function without a budget. Our seniors understand that, too, because they have lived very responsible lives and deserve all of the benefits that we should be providing for them. So thank you again for holding this very important Special Order. And to those seniors out there, we are working very hard for you, and we will continue to do so.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National School Lunch Week to express my concern about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule change to the National School Lunch Program. As a mother and a nurse and a representative of the medical community, families, and farmers in the second district of North Carolina, I fully support improving nutrition for our nation's school children, and I believe that we must do everything we can to protect against childhood obesity. But in this time of economic uncertainty, we cannot overlook the unintended consequences of these new and conflicting standards. A recent Gallup poll found that 19 percent of American families are food insecure. According to a study by the USDA, nearly 17 million American children struggle with hunger. For many of these children, school is their most reliable source of a well balanced meal. In my state more than half of the school food programs in the state are operating in the red, losing a total of $28 million in 2008. Their financial problems are mounting at a time when parents, child health advocates and legislators are looking to school food programs to improve students' nutrition at a sensible and affordable price. In 2006, the state legislature required schools to serve more fruits, vegetables and whole-grain food, and fewer dishes with lots of fat and sugar. However, it did not kick in extra money for the higher costs of the more nutritious foods. Collectively, school food programs in North Carolina spent $683 million during the last school year. Almost half, 47 percent, went to salaries and benefits. The rest went to food purchases (44 percent) and other expenses (9 percent). According to USDA estimates, this new school meals rule will cost taxpayers $6.8 billion over the next ten years. How are we going to afford that? At a time when so many are hungry and the National School Lunch Program is serving more children than ever, I have strong reservations with USDA's proposal to place serious limitations on school nutritionists' options in building nutritious meal plans for the nation's school children and increase the price of school meals. In many cases, the proposal would eliminate foods that are both nutritious and popular with children. The school lunch program is intended to feed hungry kids, not pick ``good foods'' and ``bad foods''. The new guidelines would limit starchy vegetables--corn, peas and lima beans, in addition to potatoes--to two servings a week. That's about one cup. As a parent, I would like to see more of these vegetables consumed, not less. School nutritionists should be applauded for the work they do in constructing meals that kids love and give them the energy they need to succeed in the classroom. This rule will cost taxpayers $6.8 billion over the next ten years. In this current fiscal crisis, our school children and taxpayers cannot afford to adapt to inconsistent, costly and unproven regulations. USDA should revisit its proposal and write a rule that does not put limitations on school nutritionists' choices in how to best feed hungry children or put further economic pressures on food companies that supply schools and the American taxpayer.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 25 years of service by Hospice of Harnett County (North Carolina). They offer the highest quality non-profit hospice services and support to Harnett County patients and family caregivers facing serious and life-limiting illness regardless of their income or ability to pay. Hospice of Harnett County providers take the time to ask what's important to those they are caring for--and listen to what their patients and families say. For 25 years, Hospice of Harnett County's skilled and compassionate hospice and palliative care professionals-including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides, and clergy- provide comprehensive care focused on the wishes of each individual patient. Through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support, Hospice of Harnett County helps patients to live fully up until the final moments, surrounded and supported by the faces of loved ones, friends, and committed caregivers. The provision of quality hospice and palliative care reaffirms our belief in the essential dignity of every person, regardless of age, health, or social status, and that every stage of human life deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and care. Since 1986, more than 1,700 persons in Harnett County living with life-limiting illness, and their families, received care from Hospice of Harnett County. Hospice of Harnett County encourages all people to learn more about options of care and to share their wishes with family, loved ones, and their healthcare professionals through community events, educational activities, and public awareness. I would like to proclaim November 2011 the 25th Anniversary of Hospice of Harnett County by encouraging citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to celebrate Hospice of Harnett County's 25 years of service to the citizens of Harnett County.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. I would like to now yield to one of my fellow freshman colleagues who I have gotten to be very good friends with. She is an incredible individual. She is a great person to be serving with. I truly appreciate all of her input, thoughtful comments. We discuss issues every day here in Congress. I yield to my good friend, Sandy Adams, from Florida.

Mrs. ELLMERS. I thank the gentlelady. I now yield to the gentlelady from Ohio.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, today we have a wonderful group of women who are going to come together and discuss the issues at hand right now in Washington and across America as we all are so concerned with what is happening to our economy. Some of you out there are up late at night wondering how you are going to be paying that mortgage, wondering how the car payment is going to be made and which payments you'll make this month and which payments you may have to put off for another time. We're all doing it. We might as well all admit it. And it's time to come together for solutions and answers. We, as GOP women in Congress, know how important these issues are. We are the women that are taking care of our children. We're taking care of our households. We're taking care of our parents and their health care needs, and we're watching out for our neighbors to make sure that they're okay. And we continue on this path. We simply cannot run on this path of unsustainable spending and financial uncertainty. We need jobs back in this country. There are those who have jobs and are worried if they're going to be able to keep them. And yet there are others who have lost their jobs and wonder if they'll be able to find another job. We understand this. We understand that it's affecting all of our households, and we're going to come together and discuss these very important issues. Before we get started, I'm just going to pass along to you one of the greatest quotes that I think hits home to all of us from Ronald Reagan: ``All great change in America begins at the dinner table.'' How true is that. Now, in many of our households, we don't all eat dinner together anymore like we used to. When I was growing up, dinnertime was a specified time and we all came together. And if you didn't get to the table, you didn't eat. Today we're all on different schedules, but that dinner table still remains. And we still sit there and we discuss these issues with our spouses. My husband is a doctor. Brent is a surgeon. He practices in Dunn, North Carolina. We have a son, Ben, who's 16. I'm worried about his future. I'm worried about my husband's practice because he is suffering, realizing that the volume of patients he once was seeing has decreased. That's out of fear, and that's out of the health care system that we have created now. So as we move forward, I am going to be introducing to you some of the greatest women that I have had the honor of getting to know here in D.C. I have many friends back home, but these ladies are my family here, and I'm going to start off with my esteemed colleague from North Carolina, Ms. Sue Myrick. She has been a mentor to me but mostly a friend. I thank you, Sue, for coming today and sharing your thoughts.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. I yield now to Ms. Herrera Beutler from Washington. Thank you so much for coming today. She is one of my fellow freshmen, and we have gotten to be good friends.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. I yield now to my very good friend from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), who is the mother of two, and she is wise beyond her years.

Mrs. ELLMERS. I would now like to yield to my very, very special friend, Mrs. Biggert from Illinois, who has been a voice of reason. She is a strong woman here in Congress for us in the GOP conference, and I appreciate all of her remarks, which are always extremely thoughtful.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. I would now like to yield to the gentlelady from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you. And to your point, I would just like to refer to this chart right here. As you can see, we have two individuals who are talking about how they're going to pay those taxes, and that checkbook right there, with obviously a nice lady's hand filling out that check. We don't know what it's for, but we all know that feeling. And this actually ran in The Chicago Tribune May 6, 2011. It says, ``Financial planners say they are seeing more women becoming the sole decisionmakers when it comes to the family's finances,'' as you were speaking. ``More and more women are taking on the role of their family's chief financial officer; they set the budget, pay the bills, make the grocery list, and can tell you how much it truly costs to run the family.'' And I believe that the American people, as you do, should be able to know how much it costs to run the country, and we should stick to that budget as well. Thank you so much for your comments. I would now like to yield to my good friend who, the last time we had a Special Order, I just literally watched her because she is a numbers person, and I am always so impressed by that because I am not a numbers person. So thank you to the gentlelady from Kansas. She is, again, just so incredibly smart, and I thank you, Lynn Jenkins, for coming today to help us with this effort.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you very much. I now yield to my good friend from South Dakota, part of our freshman leadership, part of our freshman class who has truly shown her leadership. Thank you for coming today, Mrs. Noem. I am very excited to hear your comments.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much for your comments. You know, it's interesting, we all have our stories, our anecdotes about our household budgets and what we're dealing with. My son is 16 years old, and he received his driver's license a couple of months ago. But the deal with him is, Ben, you can't get a car until you finish that Eagle Scout project. And you're going to have to be responsible to pay for the gas that goes in it. Well, there's not a day that goes by here in Washington that I don't receive a picture that he texted me of the newest truck he's found or the newest Jeep. But there again, he understands the deal. The deal is no vehicle until the Eagle Scout project is at least under way. I'm yielding on that. I'm negotiating with him, but that's the plan. Sometimes, as you said, we just can't have everything that we want. In a perfect world we could, but we can't because when taxpayer dollars are being spent, it's not an endless flow of money coming into Washington that is from some unknown source. It's taxpayer dollars that we are spending. We have to be good stewards of that. And what better way to do that than the Cut, Cap, and Balance plan that we passed here in the House yesterday evening. It was so incredibly powerful to see those numbers up on the board and to think that we could actually put a balanced budget amendment in place, which is basically amending the Constitution. This would be a historic moment for us, and we will be part of it. And President Obama would be the President that puts that forward for future generations. I just again am so proud of it. Like I said, when you bring it home, we all have to deal with those budgets in our own household. Washington should be doing the same. I would like to yield now to our vice-chair, the gentlelady from Washington, another member of leadership and a voice of understanding, reason and leadership for the GOP women, vice-chair of our GOP Conference. Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, thank you so much for coming to offer your comments.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. I now yield to my other--I say ``other'' but we have many--good friend from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), who is one of those great freshmen that I'm serving with.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. The gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Granger) will be finishing this evening's comments. She is a good friend to all of us as freshmen, a mentor to us, and I thank you for coming this evening as well. It means very much that you contribute to this.

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much. My good friend was pointing out the need to be following our finances as more and more women are becoming businessowners. They are the breadwinners, as you can see from this chart here, once again figuring out the bills, balancing the budget, taking care of our family members and their health care needs. It's so important. In order for us to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars here in Washington, it's time for a balanced budget amendment. I am very proud of what our House did in a bipartisan effort yesterday, and I'm hoping that the Senate and the President will also be part of that very significant, historic move so that we can get this country back on sound financial ground. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge my dear friend Craig Olive. Since taking office in December, 2002, as Johnston County's Registrar of Deeds, Craig Olive has made tremendous strides in efficiency, innovative office automation, streamlining services, reducing costs to citizens and going the extra mile to serve the people of Johnston County. Craig has been consistent in his efforts to reduce fees, maximize office efficiency, improve computerization and automation of services, and provide excellent customer service for Johnston's citizens. He implemented a recording software program, to streamline the process of recording documents at a cost savings of over $300,000 in a five year period. He has automated the marriage license process--allowing issuance of a license in 10 minutes. He has also automated the issuance of other vital records, i.e., birth and death certificates, reducing waiting time and increasing productivity. He has digitized all records dating back to the beginning of the county; mid-1700s. Craig was the first Registrar of Deeds in North Carolina to follow the North Carolina Secretary of State's standards and submit an ``eRecording.'' Craig's office was the first in the Nation to electronically record a survey map. Through the automation of his office, Craig has been able to increase the efficiency of his office, while at the same time saving valuable tax dollars. In service to the county and State, Craig has spearheaded the effort to have legislation enacted that would conceal individuals' Social Security and driver's license numbers from appearing on the Internet, via public records. Craig and his staff always go the extra mile while treating everyone with respect. In February 2010, NC Secretary of State awarded Craig with the Honorary Keeper of the Constitution for outstanding recordkeeping of public documents. Craig has been consistent in carrying out policies and methods that have reduced fees and costs for citizens and professionals, improved productivity and efficiency through automation, and has consistently made sure that his office provides outstanding customer service. Mr. Olive, through his service, provides the blueprint of how a Registrar of Deeds office should be run in order to provide the highest levels of efficiency, productivity, innovation and service for the people of this county.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 535, I inadvertently voted ``no'' when I intended to vote ``yes.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Scalise

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, the Obama administration has moved our country backwards in terms of energy production. The de facto moratorium on offshore drilling is causing a significant decline in American energy production. When President Obama took office, these offshore areas were open to drilling and production. Since that time, President Obama has taken steps to effectively reimpose an offshore drilling ban. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of common sense. Failure to develop our offshore energy resources is increasing our dependence on foreign sources of oil and denying much-needed revenue to help pay down the national debt. But, most importantly, it is costing us American jobs. We have an abundant supply of natural resources off of our shores. Common sense dictates the use of our own resources to meet our energy needs. I cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 1231, Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act. Not surprisingly, the Senate has failed to consider this bill. We will continue to push for access to our energy resources.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Broughton High School Band of Raleigh, North Carolina and Band Director Mr. Jeffrey ``JR'' Richardson. The Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh will be representing North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic States for the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade. In an almost unheard of occurrence, the Broughton Band has been invited back after their successful 2008 Parade showing. Being invited back after only 4 years is a great accomplishment considering that most bands, if ever asked back, are usually asked back many years later. The Broughton Band was one of three bands that made it through the entire 6 mile parade in 2008 without one student having to leave the parade route early; the only other two bands were the Marine Band and the Virginia Military Institute Band. The students of the Broughton High School Band have not only worked very hard to be invited back to the Tournament of Roses Parade, but they have also raised the money to pay their own way to California. I am very pleased to recognize the Broughton High School Band of Raleigh, North Carolina for this prestigious invite. I wish them the best as they continue their preparation for this exciting event. An event of this magnitude is certainly something in which the school, the students, and the state of North Carolina can have great pride.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you so much to my colleague from Washington, and thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing us tonight to come as Republican women to speak out to the American people. I came to Washington as one of the new freshmen here, and I am very honored to be part of this group. We are a group of women who believe in our country. We believe in the right of every American to achieve. There are no guarantees, but if you put your mind to it and you work hard, everyone can achieve. I, too, came from a family that was not wealthy. My parents did not really see the value in a college education. I am a second generation American here in the United States, and I am first generation college educated. I basically put myself through college and nursing school with many different jobs. I became a nurse, and I have been a nurse for over 21 years and am very happy to be so. I am a wife and a mom. My son, Ben, is 16 years old. When health care became such a huge issue in this country and when our President spoke about changing it, the best health care system in the world, I knew that that was not only going to be detrimental to health care but also the economy, because it is such a large portion of our economy. So I put myself forward to run for office, because I believed that if you are going to change things in Washington, you have to change Washington itself. So here I am, proud to be serving with these great women. We have many, many issues in this country right now that we are faced with, and we need jobs. Unemployment has been above 9 percent for over 23 months now. Yes, our colleagues across the aisle put forward their plan over a year ago. That plan has failed, and it is time for a new plan. As a woman, being a multitasker, Mr. Speaker, as you know how wonderful women are, we can put our minds to it and we can solve these problems. Speaking as a nurse, I've always taken care of many patients, but none more dear to me than my seniors. And what they are faced with today because of the destruction that has been put forward by our Democrat colleagues across the aisle in ObamaCare, it has truly done just that--destroyed it. And it is our job to rescue it back for the American people so that it will be there for our seniors and it will be there for generations to come. As it is right now, $500 billion has been taken out, and a 15-person panel will be put in place to decide what kind of health care you receive. That right will be taken away from you and your physician. Imagine a group of individuals without any health care background whatsoever deciding for you whether or not you'll be able to have surgery or whether or not you'll be able to have a treatment. Imagine trying to explain that to your family. Imagine sitting at the bedside of your loved one and telling them that, No, I'm sorry, your doctor cannot do surgery on you, and there is no way that we can appeal it. That is what has been put in place by ObamaCare, and we are determined as Republican women to pull back on this. We spoke about jobs. My colleague from Washington has a wonderful illustration of what we need to do. That is the answer to the problems that we face here in America today. And as a woman, I am dedicated, as are my colleagues, to doing just that. Again, in closing, I'll just say that it is an absolute and incredible honor to be here--and I am getting emotional--with my fellow women who are going to stay tonight and speak to all of you out there in America about the importance of being a good conservative woman and how much we all, if we work together, can come up with the answers to our problems.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only to celebrate our nation's 235th birthday, but also to take note of another very special event taking place in the great state of North Carolina. Today in Fayetteville, NC there will be a very special celebration for the dedication of the North Carolina Veterans Park. Fayetteville, North Carolina has a rich history of supporting our troops and honoring those who choose to serve their country in such an admirable way. Across the state, our military institutions have led the way in protecting our country whether it be from Cherry Point Air Station to Charlotte Air National Guard from Camp Lejeune to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, from Fort Bragg and Pope Army Air Field to New River Air Station and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, from the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point to the Oak Island and Wrightsville Beach Coast Guard Stations. North Carolina has opened its hearts and hands to support those who have made so many sacrifices for all of us. Today's dedication of the Veterans Park is yet another way that North Carolina can show its appreciation to our men and women in uniform. Just as each generation has continued to protect our freedoms, this park exemplifies why North Carolina continues to hold the designation as the ``Most Military Friendly State.'' The NC Veterans Park will be a place of remembrance, and it further solidifies the commitment that North Carolina and its citizens have to the military and to all veterans. Today, our state affirms its gratitude for the men and women who have sacrificed in protecting the freedoms of this great nation. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to offer some words from General Douglas MacArthur, who understood the commitment of those who choose to serve and the honor that they bestow upon this great nation by doing so. The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Therefore, let no man [be] entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation. Veterans; the people of North Carolina dedicate this park in honor of your service. God Bless you all and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Thank you, Dr. Roe. My comments are coming to you as a nurse in health care. And, Mr. Speaker, I know you understand the situation that we're discussing tonight as well. The situation at hand tonight, there are so many to choose from. We are all vehemently against ObamaCare, and we know that it must be taken down. We voted to repeal it only to fall on the steps of the Senate with nothing forward, so we are taking it apart piece by piece. This Independent Payment Advisory Board, let's think about that for a moment. One of the points that my colleagues have made is that this is an independent board that is going to make decisions about your health care, the American people's health care. If they receive Medicare, a board somewhere in this country--I guess I would imagine here in Washington--will come together. Your situation, your diagnosis will be sent in, and they will convene and they will decide whether or not you're going to receive the procedure that's being put forward or whether your physician will actually get paid for that procedure. So not only does this limit the health care that you might be able to receive, but it also dictates to physicians what they can and cannot do. Imagine a physician sitting down with a patient and discussing the possibility of hip surgery after a broken hip only to find out a day later that that surgery cannot be done because this independent board has decided that that patient's age is too progressed, or maybe the patient takes too many medications, or they just feel that this isn't going to be a positive outcome. Imagine that patient, imagine that family looking into that doctor's eyes and saying, You cannot do my surgery? You cannot fix my hip? I was a normal functioning individual 2 days ago, and now I cannot have surgery? This is what ObamaCare has put in place. It has cut $500 billion out of Medicare, and it's going to put a panel in place to limit the amount that can be spread around. $500 billion, that is an incredible amount of money. I just want to elaborate on my comments. The board, itself, is just unbelievable. But let's face it. Right now in America, physicians are closing their doors. Physicians are dropping patients with Medicare because they simply cannot afford to do business any longer. All of these things that we're facing right now--we talked about the SGR. We talked about how physicians are being paid. There is so much uncertainty in the health care world directly because of ObamaCare. Hospitals are scrambling to figure out and crunch the numbers on how they're going to be able to continue to provide care throughout the years moving forward. We must follow through on this legislation because it is going to affect every American; it doesn't matter how old you are. This is just a start. This is just a foot in the door. A board like this is dangerous beyond all imagination. I applaud you, Dr. Roe, for all of the work that you have done because this is the right step to take, and I thank you.

Mrs. ELLMERS

Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1425, the Creating Jobs Through Small Business Innovation Act. This bipartisan bill is being marked up today in the House Small Business Committee. Our bill reauthorizes the SBIR and STTR programs, which have a proven track record of creating jobs, stimulating small business growth, and helping startups succeed by providing the impetus to start projects that otherwise would not have gotten off the ground. But, most importantly, our bill does not cost anything. This program simply requires that the Federal agencies slice out a portion of their overall budget for small firms to compete for research and development for new innovative ideas. The SBIR program is set to expire on May 31. As chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee on Health and Technology, I believe it is vital that we expedite reauthorization of the SBIR program so that small businesses can continue to compete for the contracts that will springboard ideas, create jobs, and spur economic growth.