Sander Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. I now yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). (Mrs. MALONEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my privilege to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the very distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. We all come together in the aftermath of the overwhelming tragedy at Tucson to remember all of the victims and also to fervently hope, still in disbelief. Our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords, epitomizes what a public servant should be, fully dedicated, principled, caring and reaching out to all constituents and to all our colleagues. Time will tell with clarity exactly what are the appropriate lessons for all of us to learn from the Tucson tragedy. In the meanwhile, our focus is, indeed, very personal. In the holiday card that Gabby sent to me, she wrote her best wishes for a joyful new year and continued writing that we will have our work cut out for us. The new year is now far, far less joyful. So our hope in the prayer we are sending with love to Gabby and to Mark is that Gabby will be able to join us as we take on the work cut out for us to which, Gabby, you have devoted your whole self so fully.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. This is what the Republicans are after, what their repeal would mean: It would take away from millions of Americans coverage for kids with preexisting conditions, coverage for young adults under 26. Recommended preventive care would be taken away. It would take away lower drug costs for seniors. And this is what the Republican repeal would do. It would give back to insurance companies unreasonable premium increases, unjust policy terminations, rescisions. It would take away this. It would give back profits and CEO salaries to insurance companies, not health care benefits. It would give back annual and lifetime limits on benefits. It gives back to insurance companies discrimination ability against women. These are concrete reasons to vote ``no'' on this repeal, a misfortune for the United States of America.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. The Preamble to the Bill of Rights: ``Congress of the United States, begun and held at the City of New York on Wednesday, the 4th of March 1789.''

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before the House today to reduce the budgets for Members' offices as well as leadership and committee offices in the House of Representatives. At a time when so many of our constituents are struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy, and with the federal deficit as high as it is, the House and Senate must keep looking for ways to tighten our belts. During the last Congress, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, we voted to freeze the salaries of Members of Congress in 2010 and again for 2011. The resolution before the House today would save an additional $35 million. While this resolution saves $35 million, the Republican leadership will be bringing a health care reform repeal bill to the Floor next week that will blow a one trillion dollar hole in the budget. Not only would the Republican repeal bill turn back the clock on the significant reforms and consumer protections and jeopardize health care for millions of Americans, their repeal bill would also add $230 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years, and a jaw-dropping $1 trillion of red ink over 20 years. These are not my figures, but those of the non- partisan Congressional Budget Office. In a word, if cutting $35 million from Congress' budget is a step in the right direction towards reducing the deficit, adding $1 trillion to the deficit by repealing health care reform takes us about 28,570 steps in the wrong direction. I urge support for the resolution before the House today and strong opposition to the Republican health care repeal bill next week.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. LEVIN. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. LEVIN. It is now a real pleasure to yield 1 minute to the very distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my privilege to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley).

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, it is now my privilege to yield 1 minute to the Speaker of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. LEVIN. I now yield 2 minutes to the very distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kagen).

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis).

Mr. LEVIN. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Mr. LEVIN. I am privileged to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my privilege to yield 1 minute to the very distinguished Member from California (Ms. Eshoo).

Mr. LEVIN. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).

Mr. LEVIN. It is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the active Member from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor).

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my real pleasure to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi). (Mr. GARAMENDI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my pleasure to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Mr. LEVIN. It is now my privilege to yield 3 minutes to a member of our committee, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), who has been working day and night on this issue.

Mr. LEVIN. I now yield 2 minutes to another active, distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge). (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)