Phil Gingrey

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Dr. Roe, we appreciate you being with us. I know the time is rapidly coming to a close. But, Mr. Speaker, I guess the last slide basically says it all, cuts right to the chase: ObamaCare steals Americans' liberty. Our forefathers intended certain basic rights--life, liberty, pursuit of happiness--to be inalienable--that means can't be taken away from you-- and consider them self-evident and universal. ObamaCare lets the boss steal liberty from every American by forcing them to buy health insurance whether they want it or need it or not. We can encourage them to have it and try to make it possible and affordable. But to force them to do it, the next thing we know, everybody will be eating broccoli by government edict because it is healthy, it is healthy food. They are going to have a hard time getting me to eat broccoli. But I am telling you the judge in Florida, Judge Vincent, and the judge in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Judge Hudson, they got it right. We need expedited processing of those suits so the Supreme Court will tell the American people this is unconstitutional and will not stand. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York, and I appreciate her time. If my clock watching is accurate, I think we may have 8 to 10 minutes remaining, and I will try to conclude. I would like to see if my colleagues would like to weigh in with additional comments. We do have time if any of those that are still on the floor would like to bring some more enlightenment into this subject. I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. If the gentlewoman will yield, Mr. Speaker, what the gentlewoman from New York is referencing is something that I have heard from people in other countries that have government health insurance. And they say, well, I'm real happy with my government health insurance. And I know what's going on over here. And I'm thinking, my goodness gracious, you're happy? What are you happy about? Well, you get to see the doctor within 5 minutes, and you always come out with at least three prescriptions. Now, if that's the definition of success, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, that's not what American, good old U.S.A. medicine is all about. It's time, quality time, spent with that doctor, and maybe no prescriptions.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee, and I thank him for making sure that I know exactly what county and counties he represents. I know it's a great State and a great part of the State, and we are very proud of the good doctor. At this time, I want to yield to another freshman member of their class of 87 strong. It's a fantastic class, Mr. Speaker. We are awfully proud of each and every one of the new Members, but especially those who have that health care background, that experience to come to this body, to this Chamber and to this town and bring some professional expertise. We don't have all the answers, Mr. Speaker. And I'm proud of these physician colleagues of mine because they're not know-it-alls, but they know what they know and they know it well. At this point, I would like to yield time to the gentlewoman from New York, an ophthalmologist, Dr. Nan Hayworth.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I would say it's unconscionable and unacceptable.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Andrew Mirolli, a young student from Acworth, Georgia, who has been awarded the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Andrew's efforts in combating poverty, both in our community and around the world, are truly deserving of this great honor. Mr. Speaker, Andrew is working to raise money for a local food pantry and a project in Uganda to rebuild a girls' dormitory. So far, he has raised $12,480. The world is made a better place by selfless service like Andrew has exemplified. With his receipt of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, Andrew has been named one of the top youth volunteers in the State of Georgia. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this young man on his achievements.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have had a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Shelia Robinson of Marietta, Georgia. Between active duty and service in the Georgia Army National Guard, Shelia spent more than 22 years serving our country and the State of Georgia. From 1995-2005 while in the Guard as a Master Sergeant, she worked in the Counterdrug Program and helped manage an annual budget of $3 million. Upon retiring from Active Federal military service, Ms. Robinson worked as the Administrative Assistant for the Director of Georgia's Office of Homeland Security where she gained the respect of numerous state agency heads for her professionalism, courtesy, and overall knowledge. After three years with Homeland Security, Ms. Robinson returned to the Georgia National Guard in the capacity of Office Manager for the Adjutant General of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Shelia Robinson for her service to our nation and the people of Cobb County.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Sidney Ford--who hails from Rome, Georgia--for his work as the Senior Pastor of St. Luke's Ministries, located in Cedartown, Georgia. Pastor Ford is a great asset not only to St. Luke's but also to the greater community where he is a mentor and a person who embodies the sentiment of ``giving back.'' Recently, Pastor Ford led efforts to improve the community by cleaning up Turner Street Park and turning it into a family friendly zone. Today, the park is a place where friends and neighbors can gather in peace. His dedication not only to his congregation but also to his community is one that deserves recognition and should be emulated. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Pastor Sidney Ford for his service and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise wholeheartedly in support of his amendment to repeal the funding of ObamaCare. ObamaCare, in not just my opinion, but many others have expressed this, is possibly the worst piece of legislation passed in the history of this Congress. In fact, it would probably be better called ``patient pain and non-affordable care act'' because it has accomplished none of the goals that President Obama set out to accomplish, especially not lowering the cost of health insurance. So we in this body, the Republican majority, in our initial week in the 112th Congress, we passed a repeal of ObamaCare. Unfortunately, our colleagues in the Senate, the Democratic majority, stopped that. It is our obligation to the American people to defund this wrongful piece of legislation. It is costing jobs all across this country. Talk about things like who is going to solve the problem of the doughnut hole, as the gentlelady from California just said. Well, I will tell you who solved it, Big Pharma solved it when the President and the Democratic majority in the last Congress broke their arm and made them agree to cut their prices in half for their brand name drugs. So there are other ways to solve the doughnut hole problem than having the Federal Government take it over lock, stock, and barrel. In regard to having children remain on the health insurance policy of their parents until age 26, why are they going to have to do that? Because they have no jobs. And why do they not have any jobs? Because of the job-killing bills like ObamaCare, and stimulus, and bailout, and I could go on and on and on. We have an obligation to defund this and to replace it with the right kind of legislation that will accomplish the goals of lowering health costs so that many more Americans can have health insurance and have good health insurance.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I stand in full support of the King amendment. I was at the well just a few minutes ago in support of the Rehberg amendment. But what this amendment does is eliminate and stop the funding, the hundred billion dollars' worth of funding that was automatically put in this bill to prevent, if we took over the majority of this House, Mr. Chairman, as we have done, or try to stop us from stopping the worst bill that's ever been passed in the history of the Congress. And we have to do this. This is a pledge to the American people. We can do it. We can start over, we can make this bill right, we can enact health care reform that truly does bring down the cost for patients so they can get access, they have more control, and that we don't destroy the medical profession in the process of continuing this wrongheaded, boneheaded ObamaCare bill. So I want to stand strongly with my colleague from Iowa in supporting this amendment.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Don Robertson of Marietta, Georgia. For over 26 years, Don has been headmaster of The Walker School. Prior to becoming a leader in Marietta, Don had been Assistant Headmaster at a school in Princeton, New Jersey, but we are lucky that he and his family came to Cobb County and for the tremendous assets they have been to our community. When Don first came to Walker in 1985, the school had 450 students and one building. Today, he leaves the school with a student population of 1,040, 34 acres of land, and more than 1 million square feet of teaching space. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Don Robertson for his commitment to the education of our Nation's future leaders and the betterment of his community. Don, I wish you the best in the next chapter of your life.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have had a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Master Sergeant Sterling T. Wimberly of Dallas, Georgia. MSG Wimberly is currently serving in an Active Guard Reserve role as the Senior Supply NCO for the 78th Aviation Troop Command. There are over 700 soldiers in this command and because of MSG Wimberly's efforts, expertise, and dedication to Georgia Army National Guard Aviation, all units either passed or exceeded standards this past spring during the Forces Command Aviation Resource Management Survey inspection. MSG Wimberly has also completed a tour in Afghanistan with a Georgia ARNG Infantry Embedded Training Team. Through this experience--and by participating in pre-mobilization validation training exercises--MSG Wimberly has developed an advanced ability to plan, coordinate, and execute complex logistic/supply operations. He is an invaluable professional soldier whose dedication to mission accomplishment makes him worthy of recognition as a leader in the community, the National Guard, and our great nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Master Sergeant Sterling T. Wimberly for his service and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Mark Wilson of Kennesaw, Georgia, who is the founder and CEO of Ryla, Inc. Mr. Speaker, Ryla is a leading call center solutions provider with expertise in customer contact solutions and business process outsourcing. As owner, Mark utilizes a ``Small Yet Big'' approach to managing his clients giving each of them the attention a small company can yield yet consistently delivering the results of a larger organization. I have visited the call center on many occasions and one thing that consistently stands out is that I always see the employees wearing a smile on their faces. It is a credit to Mark that he has created the type of environment that brings out the best in his employees. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Mark Wilson for his contributions to his community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to recognize African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Fitz Johnson of Marietta, Georgia, the owner of Atlanta's professional women's soccer team, the Atlanta Beat. Already an accomplished businessman and influential Georgian, Fitz brought women's professional soccer to Atlanta in 2010. Mr. Speaker, the hard work and passion that made Fitz a successful business owner are fueling his drive to make the Beat a successful franchise. Not only did he help Kennesaw State University build the only women's specific soccer stadium in the United States, he is working 15-hour days doing everything from handling ticket sales to janitorial services to build a winner in Atlanta. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Fitz Johnson for his contributions to his community, and wish him all the best with the Atlanta Beat.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise today to recognize Technical Sergeant Charles Simpson of Marietta, Georgia. Entering service with the Georgia Air National Guard in 2000, TSgt Simpson has held positions as Security Forces Fire Team leader, Radio Transmission Officer, Squad Leader, and as a Drug Demand Reduction Non- Commissioned Officer with the Georgia Counterdrug Task Force. This program educates children in grades K-12 on the dangers of drug use, and I am proud of the work TSgt Simpson has done in affecting the futures of over 55,000 young students in Georgia. Mr. Speaker, TSgt Simpson has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and four times to Afghanistan in support of Enduring Freedom. He has been awarded two Air Force Commendation medals, three Air Force Achievement Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, and has recently been selected to advance to the grade of Master Sergeant. TSgt Simpson displays a ``can-do'' attitude in his daily duties and is considered by his superiors and peers to be one of the bright stars of the Georgia Air Force National Guard. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Technical Sergeant Charles Simpson for his service to our nation and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to recognize African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize Shan Cooper of Marietta, Georgia. Shan serves as the Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and General Manager of Lockheed Martin's Marietta facility. She previously served as the Vice President of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions in Gaithersburg, Maryland and oversees the 8,000 Lockheed employees in Marietta. Mr. Speaker, Shan has long been an integral part of the Lockheed Martin team, holding various positions in Mississippi, West Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia. We welcome her to Cobb County, and look forward to her contributions to our community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the legacy of President Ronald Reagan--a remarkable statesman and leader-- whose 100th birthday would have been last Sunday. Recently, I visited the Reagan Library in his home state of California, and I was reminded of his steadfast leadership and significant achievements on behalf of our Nation. President Reagan was an icon of conservative principles. He brought about sound policies of individual freedom and fiscal responsibility which showed democracy and capitalism at its best. He was a man whose belief in free enterprise changed the course of difficult economic times towards growth and prosperity. His influence was felt not only by those at home, but also abroad, as he exemplified leadership with unwavering determination during the Cold War. His mission to achieve ``peace through strength'' changed the course of history as our Nation ultimately prevailed against the forces of communism. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in taking this time to reflect on the great accomplishments of our 40th President and to join me in honoring him as one of the most influential men of our time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the National Franchisee Association, NFA, which serves the Burger King community in its advocacy, training, and service-related functions and which is located in Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Mr. Scott Maher, a 25-year employee of the Coca-Cola Company. This year, Mr. Maher celebrates a landmark anniversary as an employee of the Coca-Cola Company. In his 25 years, he has dedicated himself to providing excellent service, honoring his commitments as a businessman and serving as a friendly face to the Coca-Cola name. In relation to the NFA, Mr. Maher actively advocates on behalf of small business owners around the country by supporting--both financially and personally--NFA's Government Relations Summit every year. Every September, you can count on Mr. Maher to schedule a meeting with my office through NFA to discuss the effects of anti-business legislation on NFA members and, consequently, the Coca-Cola Company. The NFA is eternally grateful for Mr. Maher's support of the franchising industry and of Burger King franchisees in particular. Congratulations on 25 years of service with the Coca-Cola Company and I wish you many more to come.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Before I yield again to my cochair, Dr. Murphy, I want to make a few comments in regard to some of the things that were said on the Democratic side of the aisle just within the last 30 minutes. The gentleman that spoke is a fine, fine Member, has a great heart and a lot of compassion and is a friend of mine and I don't refute him in any way of being strident or any animosity toward him, but the gentleman made a comment about why not give the law a chance, I think is sort of the way it was put, Mr. Speaker. The Republican majority, the new Republican majority wanted to come along with H.R. 2 and repeal the bill, didn't even want to give it a chance to see how well it might work. Mr. Speaker, I would just say on a point like that, we on this floor right now on the Republican side of the aisle, we doctors know that when you discover a cancer, you don't give it a chance to grow. You don't give it a chance to metastasize. You cut that sucker out and you get rid of it lock, stock and barrel. As our colleague from Iowa, Steve King, said the other day, you pull it out by the roots. I think, Mr. Speaker, the Speaker, John Boehner, said the same thing. We feel very strongly that today we did the right thing. I have a number of other charts here that my colleagues might want to reference in regard to specifics about what we feel about this bill and why we needed to repeal it and basically start over. I will finally quickly say that I heard the other side talk about statistics, saying that only 18 percent of people wanted the bill completely repealed. That is not an accurate statistic. Eighteen percent wanted to leave it like it is. Fully 75 percent in the latest Rasmussen poll either wanted it to be repealed or repealed and replaced. Or if not repealed, significantly altered. And, of course, that is what we are about as we go forward. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Dr. Murphy).

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I realize our time is running short, and I want to make a couple of points before yielding to Dr. Broun for a final comment. Republican doctors can help the repeal-replace effort, and I have four bullet points that I want to point out to my colleagues. Number one, health insurance reforms: Yes, but without government health plans. Number two, guaranteed access to insurance: Yes, but without an individual unconstitutional mandate. Number three, reduce the cost of health care: Yes, but without gutting Medicare, especially the Medicare Advantage program and taking something like $130 billion out of that program. And I think it was pointed out earlier that 20 percent of Medicare recipients are on Medicare Advantage, or at least they were. And number four, medical liability reform, and I will have a bill addressing that issue. Let me turn to my colleague from Georgia for a final comment.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona and welcome him, of course, to the House GOP Doctors Caucus. Our final speaker, and I want to yield time to a cardiothoracic surgeon, Mr. Speaker, from Indiana, a new member, Dr. Larry Bucshon, and I think Dr. Bucshon was here on the floor a little earlier when the Democratic 30 minutes was controlled by the gentleman from Minnesota, and he made some remarks against the fact that we were successful in repealing ObamaCare. And I think Dr. Bucshon would like to comment on some of those points that were made. At this time, I proudly yield to our new member, Dr. Larry Bucshon.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Just a few closing remarks. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Dr. Gosar and Dr. Bucshon for being with us tonight. You know, we didn't have time to go into all of the details that we would like to have gone into, but one thing that is absolutely clear is that Governors across this country--and not just Republican Governors but Democratic Governors as well--are very, very concerned with the Medicaid mandates and the fact that this maintenance of effort requirement that says that Governors who can't even be innovative and creative in running their own Medicaid programs is resulting in budget- busting in all of these States that have to balance their budgets. Unfortunately, we don't do that up here. They're having to cut education to the bone, and they're having to cut public safety to the bone because of the massive increasing costs of Medicaid. Well, we thank the Speaker for the time, and we appreciate the opportunity to speak to the American people. We will be back here tomorrow to pass House Resolution Number 9 so that we can get busy on replacing ObamaCare. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving us the time and, in fact, we are very appreciative on our side of the aisle of having this opportunity this evening, Mr. Speaker, on, really, a historic day in which we finally delivered to the American people a promise that has been made over a year ago, that should this bill, this comprehensive health care reform bill sometimes referred to as ObamaCare but more formally known as Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, should this legislation pass, that if we had the opportunity to take control of this House of Representatives to get that gavel away from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the prior Democratic majority, that our first and number one priority on behalf of the American people would be to repeal this mistaken bill. Today, Mr. Speaker, is the day that that happened and certainly I am extremely grateful, as cochairman along with my colleague, Tim Murphy from the great State of Pennsylvania, Dr. Murphy and I cochair the House GOP Doctors Caucus. Mr. Speaker, we grew our strength in this election, November 2. We had about 11 Members in their caucus, 11 very active hard-working Members who practiced medicine in one form or another, one specialty or another for many, many years. In fact, I think, Mr. Speaker, one time we calculated the number of years that we have actually practiced medicine, and it was something like 350 years of clinical practice. As you notice, Mr. Speaker, there is a little bit of a grayness around the temple of some of us. But we are very thankful for this election and the American people giving the Republican Party the opportunity to right this wrong and to bring seven additional Members, seven additional health care practitioners, again, some of them have been in practice many years, dentists, doctors, even some associate members of our group, some registered nurses to be part of this new majority. As we voted today on H.R. 2, the repeal bill of ObamaCare, I can assure you that 100 percent of us, in fact, 100 percent of Republicans, all 242 on our side of the aisle, plus, I think, three or four Democrats in a bipartisan way, joined with us in voting to repeal this bill. I realized this evening, Mr. Speaker, that our time is limited. I am very pleased that some members of the House GOP Doctors Caucus are with us. I would first like to take the opportunity to yield to my cochairman, Dr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania. Dr. Murphy.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, with my slow drawl, I don't think in 30 seconds I can refute everything the gentleman from Pennsylvania had to say--but 120 million people with preexisting conditions, they would all have to have hang nails and fever blisters to have preexisting conditions. And if you believe those statistics, I've got a beach I can sell you in Pennsylvania. This business about $230 billion savings, we've already discussed that. They use 10 years of revenue and 6 years of charges. It's smoke and mirrors. And, finally, on the issue of the doughnut hole, the drug companies have already solved that problem.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas who just spoke was right about not causing thousands of job losses. It cost 4 million lost jobs since the Democrats took over in 2007. Mr. Speaker, I have seen a number of posters here this morning showing really fairly well-to-do people struggling with health care issues. I don't have a poster; but if I had one, it would show men and women all over this country in cities holding soup cans in line waiting, hoping desperately to get a job. And I will guarantee you, every one of them would take those jobs even if they didn't have health insurance. The point here, Mr. Speaker, is the Democratic priority was entirely wrong. Yes, it's something they've been wanting to do since the 1930s; and, yes, it's something the American people didn't want since the 1930s. Every time it's come up, the American people don't want the government to take over health care. They have rejected it time and time again. We will vote for H.R. 2 and pass it. And if the Senate and the President want to ignore the will of the American people, they do it at their own peril.