Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, can I ask how much time is remaining on both sides.

Mr. PALLONE. Thank you. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is the ranking member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill before us today because it is a disingenuous and empty attempt by the Republicans to divert attention from the fact that they have voted to cut research time and time again. So instead, they will stand before the American public with words that they have no action to back up. The National Institutes of Health serve a vital mission of supporting biomedical research so that we may better understand and better treat diseases that burden American families; and I stand firmly in favor of supporting NIH research funding, especially as it relates to pediatric research. Let me be very clear for the record here today. H.R. 2019 does not achieve this purpose. Had this bill, which had been introduced back in May, gone through regular order and come to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for hearings and markup, we would have had the opportunity to discuss and debate the merits of the legislation. This bill claims to support research on childhood diseases by authorizing--and I note not appropriating, but only authorizing--$12.6 million for NIH pediatric research grants through savings from ending the public contribution to the cost of political party nominating conventions. I emphasize that the bill only authorizes funding because I would like to point out that the appropriations needed to actually make these funds available to NIH would still be subject to discretionary spending caps of the Budget Control Act and sequestration cuts. Now, the sequester alone has cut $1.5 billion out of NIH'S funding in fiscal year 2013. Even worse, through the Ryan budget, the Republicans adopted spending allocations for fiscal year 2014 that would make additional cuts to NIH, which could result in $6.7 billion in cuts in total. For pediatric research, the proportional cut would amount to $800 million, which is 60 times more than the increase that this bill claims to provide. That's why I think the Republicans are not making a sincere effort to support NIH research. This is a joke. The best thing, Mr. Speaker, we can do to support NIH and research on pediatric diseases is to pass a balanced and constructive budget package and to provide the Appropriations Committee with a reasonable and realistic amount of funding to work with. Until then, I would urge my colleagues to oppose this bill that is nothing but a guise. It is a ruse. It does nothing to ensure that we are increasing pediatric cancer research dollars.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Edison Cricket Club. The organization continues to serve as an outstanding social and athletic club in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Since its establishment, the Edison Cricket Club has provided an outlet for the community to be active and enjoy the sport of cricket. Its members have worked tirelessly to promote the sport, which has helped the club grow. The club's home ground is based at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Edison. In addition to club-sponsored events, including its annual awards celebration, its members also participate in community service and charitable events. It has also worked with the Edison School Board to host a summer camp for local children. The club is currently comprised of three teams and competes in four leagues: the Cricket League of New Jersey; the Millennium Cricket League; the New Jersey State Cricket and Umpire's Association; and the New Jersey Softball Cricket League. The Edison Cricket Club joined the Cricket League of New Jersey in 2004 and is currently one of 48 clubs in the league. After joining, the Edison Cricket Club quickly moved into Conference A of that league and in 2010 earned 2nd place in the conference final. The club is currently led by its president, Atul Huckoo. It has an Advisory Board consisting of public officials and representatives of media outlets, organizations, and others. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating the Edison Cricket Club on its 10th anniversary.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, Republicans are at it again. Instead of working together with Democrats and agreeing to a plan that will actually help improve the Affordable Care Act, they are once again planning another vote to repeal the law. Don't buy into the GOP spin that they are offering a solution to address the insurance policies that have not been renewed by insurance companies. The President announced yesterday that he is offering an administrative solution that will allow insurers to continue to renew existing policies. The President has made clear that he is willing to work to address the ACA's challenges. Yet, Republicans are working to destroy it once again. They can try to paint this plan in a different color, call it by a different name, and dress it up any way they like, but don't be fooled: this is just the 46th Republican attempt to strip Americans of their access to affordable health insurance.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts, not only for having to deal with the ordeal in Rules last night but every day, but also for what he said about the lack of regular order when this Upton bill--this bill by the chairman, Mr. Upton--came to the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, I am a member of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I said in Rules last night--and I will say it again today--that we have had many hearings in the Health Subcommittee and that we have had hearings in the full Energy and Commerce Committee. Over the last 2 or 3 weeks, there was ample opportunity to have this bill proceed with regular order with a subcommittee hearing markup and with a full committee hearing markup. None of that was done. This bill just comes here to the floor directly from Rules, and it is a flawed bill. I want to stress that. I really believe, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation is just another attempt by the GOP to undermine the Affordable Care Act. In fact, I will call this the 46th attempt at repeal. My GOP colleagues have zero interest in helping people gain and keep their health insurance. They have zero interest in fixing any problems that may be occurring with the rollout of the law. They simply want to demonize the President and his policies, as you have heard over and over again, and they will go to any length to do so. At the top of the list are their efforts to sabotage ObamaCare and to force its failure. Yesterday, the President took some action to help Americans who want to renew their insurance policies if their insurance companies are willing to offer that option. Ultimately, though, I believe that these people will look at the quality plans available in the new Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace and like what they see because, in most cases, they will find that they are able to purchase better coverage at lower prices than their original policies so that, when they get sick or when they need care, their policies will actually provide it because most of these older policies simply do not provide adequate insurance. As I said before, the Upton bill before us is not about giving people access to health care. It is about sabotaging ObamaCare. One of my colleagues on the Republican side said they want to have people keep their insurance. The President's initiative yesterday allows them to keep their insurance if they want to, but what the Upton bill does is allow anybody now--anybody, even if they didn't have the old insurance policies--to buy these new skeletal policies that don't provide adequate insurance. So, if you take away the rhetoric of the Republicans, the Upton bill's practical effect would be to continue to allow insurers to exclude people from coverage based on preexisting conditions and to allow insurers to charge women twice as much as men for the same coverage. It would allow insurers to jack up premiums on a family if its child gets sick. It would allow insurers to set harsh annual caps on coverage. All of the discriminatory practices that the ACA and ObamaCare were designed to eliminate come back under the Upton bill. This bill would not require health insurers to allow individuals to keep their current health care plans because insurers can still do whatever they want. You can't force the insurers to offer the plans. It basically allows them to sell low-quality 2013 plans all through 2014. Nothing else.

Mr. PALLONE. Thank you, Mr. Waxman. Unfortunately, today's bill is a ruse. It claims to make things better, but all it does is to make things terribly worse. Republicans will hide behind a sound bite and nice-sounding title. But what this bill really does is to go back to the old, broken health insurance system. This is just another attempt for the GOP to repeal the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. They have made it their mission to push the ACA to failure, and the only consequence is just that: seriously damaging the insurance provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the millions of Americans who are expected to benefit from the improved coverage and premium and cost-sharing subsidies available through the new health insurance marketplace. The GOP claims the bill allows people to keep their health plans, but actually it allows old policies with fewer benefits and sometimes higher prices to be sold to new enrollees. One of the major goals of the ACA was to improve the quality of health insurance policies sold on the private market. Beginning in 2014, health insurance plans can no longer deny coverage for adults with preexisting conditions or charge those individuals more for coverage. And there are a lot of other discriminatory practices that are eliminated by the ACA. We need to be open to constructive changes to make this law work to the best of its ability, but that is not what the GOP is doing today. No one believes the Republicans care about ensuring that people have health insurance. If they did, then Republicans would not, for purely political reasons, refuse to expand Medicaid with those Republican Governors in the States where now 5 million hardworking Americans across 26 States will not have Medicaid expansion because of Republican politics. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the President took action to help Americans who want to renew their old insurance policies. Ultimately, though, I hope that those Americans who want to renew those old policies will look at the quality plans available in the new Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace and like what they see. In most cases, they will find they are able to purchase better coverage at a lower price than their original policies, so, when they get sick or need care, they will actually have it--not with these old policies that, for the most part, are not going to provide them with good health insurance. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. This is just another repeal effort on the part of the Republicans. They are not serious about trying to provide insurance, and this will accomplish nothing for the American people.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brahmin Samaj of USA (BSOU) on its 25th Anniversary. For 25 years, BSOU has represented the Brahmin community in New Jersey, the surrounding region and all Brahmins across the United States. Established in New Jersey in 1988, BSOU has grown from 11 members to more than 500 members today. In addition to its growth in membership, BSOU has also expanded to each U.S. state, Canada and other international countries. Likewise, it has seen the establishment of sister organizations in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida and Ontario. It was registered as the official Brahmin organization in New Jersey in 1989. Since its founding, BSOU has been led by ten presidents, including Founding President the late Shri Manibhai Joshi, Arunbhai Kantharia, Pramodaben Joshi, Begavatbhai Pandya, Rasikhbai Bhatt, Vishnubhai Bhatt, Dr. Hitendra Upadhyay, Naishad Pandya, Bhogilal Jani and current President Abhay Shukla. The organization is also represented by a Board of Trustees and Executive Committee which work toward advancing BSOU. BSOU hosts various social, religious and cultural activities to promote and maintain the traditions and heritage of the Brahmins. It has hosted youth activities, large conventions and participated in the India Day Parade in New York City, New York for five years. BSOU continues its mission to honor and celebrate the Brahmin history and culture. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Brahmin Samaj of USA as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Its commitment to promoting the Brahmin culture and serving the Indian community is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Leonard R. Sendelsky as he is honored by the New Jersey Builders Association with its first Lifetime Achievement Award. Leonard Sendelsky has been a member of the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) Board of Directors since 1960. He has served as secretary, treasurer, second vice president, first vice president, and president. He has also served on various committees, including the Legislative Committee and Codes Committee and helped get the NJ State Uniform Construction Code Act signed by Governor Brendan Byrne in 1975. In 1967 and 1989 he was chosen as NJBA Builder of the Year. He has also been honored with the Silver Hammer Award, Legend of Housing Award and the Golden Hammer Award. In addition to his service on the NJBA, Mr. Sendelsky is also an active member of the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey. He has served on the Board of Directors since 1957, has held various leadership positions and has served as chairman on several committees. He received the Builder of the Year Award in both 1966 and 1989. Likewise, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Home Builders from 1963 until 2011 and currently serves as the National Area Chairman Representative. The son of a carpenter and homebuilder, Mr. Sendelsky founded Lenguy Construction Company in 1958 and today owns and operates many additional corporations. He was inducted into the New Jersey Builders Hall of Fame in 1974 and the National Housing Center Hall of Fame in 2004. Mr. Sendelsky is a member of the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code Advisory Board, a member of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Committee on Uniform Sub-division Site Improvement Standards, Chairman of the Middlesex County Uniform Construction Board of Appeals and is also an active member of his community. He is a long- time resident of Colonia along with his wife of nearly 60 years, Judith Kuhn Sendelsky. They have two sons, Leonard Drew and Guy Sean. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in honoring Leonard Sendelsky for his outstanding contributions to the building industry. He is truly deserving of the New Jersey Builders Association Lifetime Achievement Award and this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. on his 30th Pastoral Anniversary. As Senior Pastor at Cathedral International, Dr. Hilliard continues to provide outstanding spiritual leadership to the Perth Amboy, Asbury Park and Plainfield communities. Dr. Hilliard received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern College, Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1978 by the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. and was consecrated a bishop in 1995. Dr. Hilliard became the Senior Pastor of Cathedral International at the age of 26. Under Dr. Hilliard's leadership, the membership of Cathedral International has grown from 125 congregants in 1983 to 6,000 members today. The church is also expected to expand to a fourth location in Cranbury. In addition to leading Cathedral International, Dr. Hilliard is also the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Covenant Ecumenical Fellowship and Cathedral Assemblies, Inc. and mentors other pastors. He founded and currently serves as CEO of the Cathedral Community Development Corporation, which provides resources and services to the community. He is also a member of many other religious and community organizations, including the NAACP. Over the years, Dr. Hilliard has been recognized by various organizations for his contributions to the church and community. He has received the New York City Council of Churches' Clergy of the Year Award, the Perth Amboy Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year Award and the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award, among several others. Dr. Hilliard is the son of Alease Hilliard-Chapman and the late Donald Hilliard, Sr. He is married to Pastor Phyllis Thompson-Hilliard and together they have three daughters. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in celebrating the 30th Pastoral Anniversary of Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. His leadership, service and dedication to the church and community are truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Assumption Catholic School on its 50th Anniversary. Since 1963, Assumption Catholic School has been providing outstanding Catholic education to Perth Amboy and the surrounding communities. The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary began plans to establish a parochial school after encouragement by then Archbishop Metropolitan Constantine Bohachevsky. Construction began in 1960 and the school was opened in 1963. In 2007, its name was changed from Ukrainian Assumption School to Assumption Catholic School. Since its establishment, Assumption Catholic School has grown considerably. Its first class in 1963 consisted of 25 first and second grade students. Each successive year, a grade level was added to the school and by 1969 the school encompassed kindergarten through eighth grade. A pre-kindergarten program was added in 2002. Nearly 800 students in 44 classes have graduated from Assumption Catholic School since 1970. Assumption Catholic School has been led by four principals since 1963--Sister Josepha, Sister Vladimyra, Melanie Lawrence and Michael Szpyhulsky. Sister Josepha and Mrs. Lawrence also taught at the school. Under the leadership of each of these principals, Assumption Catholic School saw continued growth, expansion and technological upgrades. In addition to the dedicated leadership, faculty and staff of the school, Assumption Catholic School is also supported by the Ukrainian Assumption parish and the students' parents who are very active in school activities and benefits. In 1996, Assumption Catholic School became the first Catholic school in Perth Amboy to receive Middle States Accreditation. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Assumption Catholic School. Its educational excellence is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Republican position is clear. Either affordable health care for millions of Americans goes or we will keep the government shutdown. In an effort to avert the public's attention from this extreme and destructive hostage-taking, they have been putting forward a series of piecemeal, two month, sequestration level, funding bills. However, today's piecemeal bill reaches a new level of hypocrisy. The irony here would only be lost on a Republican Party as intransigent and dominated by the Tea Party as the one we have here in the House. The Affordable Care Act, which the Republicans are demanding be eliminated in exchange for allowing the government to reopen, includes the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. As the author of the reauthorization of Indian Health Care Improvement Act, I know the challenges that the reauthorization faced and just how long it took for us to finally get it into law--a decade, in case you are wondering. If we yield to Republican hostage-taking and throw out the Affordable Care Act, we throw out the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This will be devastating to Indian Country. Furthermore, this bill provides funding for a relatively small number of programs that support tribes. While not taking away from the importance of these programs, there are many more programs that go unfunded. To name just a few, this bill does not fund food distribution on Indian reservations, child nutrition programs, Fish and Wildlife Service support, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. This bill also continues the damaging sequester cuts that the National Congress of American Indians have said, ``pose particular hardship for Indian Country and the surrounding communities who rely on tribes as employers.'' But while I support repealing sequestration, the Democrats have done their part. We have said let's keep the government open while we negotiate and work out our differences. It is time for us to stop this nonsense. If you truly do believe in the sacred trust responsibility our government has to tribes, than let's have a vote on a clean CR and re-open the government.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the Republican leadership pulled H.J. Res. 80 from further consideration today. It is the American Indian and Alaska Native, Health, Education, and Safety Act. The Affordable Care Act, which the Republicans are demanding be eliminated in exchange for allowing the government to reopen, includes the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. As the author of the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, I know the challenges that the reauthorization faced and just how long it took for us to finally get it passed into law--a decade, in case you are wondering. If we yield to Republican hostage-taking and throw out the Affordable Care Act, we throw out the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. That would be devastating to Indian country. This bill, H.J. Res. 80, continues the damaging sequester cuts that the National Congress of American Indians have said pose particular hardship for Indian country and the surrounding communities that rely on tribes as employers. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to stop this nonsense. If you truly do believe in the sacred trust and responsibility our government has to tribes, then let's have a vote on a clean CR and reopen the government.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the House Republicans don't want to reopen the government. If they did, all they have to do is bring up the Senate clean resolution and pass it here on the floor today. It'll go back to the Senate--I don't even know if it has to go back to the Senate--and the President has already agreed to sign it. They are keeping the government closed as hostage because they want to negotiate--I don't even know what anymore. Initially, it was because they wanted to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. I'm not sure it is even that anymore. I think sometimes they just want to keep the government closed to show that they can. Clearly, the budget numbers are there. We have agreed to their budget numbers, so that is not the issue. So, Speaker Boehner, please bring up a clean resolution today. The impact on the economy is getting to be more and more devastating every day. As my colleagues have mentioned, more and more jobs are being lost. Instead of losing jobs, Speaker Boehner, we should be here trying to create jobs and use the government to work with the private sector to create jobs and grow the economy. Don't continue to keep this government shut down. It is 2 weeks now, and the longer it goes on, the more it is going to have an impact on the economy and make it more difficult to create jobs. We will continue to lose jobs. Bring up the clean resolution, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Since its founding, Allen Chapel AME Church has provided outstanding spiritual guidance and outreach to the community. Allen Chapel AME Church has grown structurally and in membership since its founding as a mission in 1933. First worshipping at a local Presbyterian Church temporarily, the founding committee acquired property and moved the mission to its permanent and current location in 1934. The congregation assisted in renovating and rebuilding the site to a house of worship, a study room, choir room, lecture room, kitchen and a large yard for outdoor events. Twenty-two years later, the church purchased another adjacent building to use as a parsonage. In 1960, design and construction began to replace the original church building with a new, modern church on the same site. Church leaders, congregants and friends volunteered to help with the demolition and rebuilding and the new church was completed in 1964. Less than 10 years later, the mortgage burning was celebrated. Allen Chapel AME Church is dedicated to expanding its ministry, social action and community outreach. In 2012, it began a prayer line during the Lenten season that was eventually extended to a weekly occurrence. Allen Chapel AME Church also facilitated bringing Covenant House to Asbury Park, providing a haven to the homeless youth throughout the community. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Allen Chapel AME Church on its 80th anniversary. Its dedicated service to its congregants and the greater Asbury Park community is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the reason we have the shutdown is because of the Republican leadership. The irony today is that the Republicans keep talking about the other side of the aisle here or the other House, yet they are going to go home at around 12 today, if not sooner, and not come back until Monday after 6:30. So if you really cared about negotiating and doing something, you wouldn't send everyone home for the next 3 days. You are not serious. The spending levels have already been agreed on. I heard our Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, on the floor the other day saying she agreed with the spending levels. So the money isn't the issue. And I don't even hear the health care reform being talked about much anymore on the Republican side of the aisle. I have no idea why the Speaker of the House continues to keep the government shut down, other than maybe they think they can show that they can do it. This is absurd and it is cruel on the people, the people that are being furloughed. The effect on the economy is just awful at this point with this continued shutdown. You come here and say you are going to piecemeal approach and we have bills every day to open up a little part of the government. Open the entire government. Pass a clean continuing resolution.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have heard my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle say that they want to keep the government open. Well, it's simply not true, Mr. Speaker. Look, let's face it: the Republicans are in charge of this House. It's Speaker Boehner and the Republican leadership that shut the government down. They could simply bring up the Senate resolution that would keep the government open at any time now, today or any time, and the government would reopen. So I don't want to hear this constant rhetoric that, oh, the Republicans want to keep the government open. It's simply not true. They are in charge. They have the responsibility. Speaker Boehner has the responsibility to bring up a clean resolution that would keep this government open. Now, I have heard that our appropriators--and you listen to Nancy Pelosi. They have said that we have agreed to the government spending levels on the other side of the aisle, so that's not the issue here. There is no issue anymore about how much we're going to spend. It's simply that Republicans want to close the government down because of the Affordable Care Act. It should not be linked in any way. If anybody suggests this is not a problem, 22 percent of the gross national product is dependent upon the Federal Government. This is having a negative impact on our economy. Mr. Speaker, open the government again.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this shutdown was totally brought about by the Republican leadership. If you listened to our Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, when she spoke earlier, she made it quite clear that there wasn't any real disagreement with regard to the budget or the continuing resolution to keep the government going. The fact of the matter is that last night, the Republican leadership could have simply passed the clean Senate bill to keep the government running, at least for a short period of time, if further negotiations were necessary. But that's not what they wanted to do. They wanted to shut it down in the name of repealing or defunding the Affordable Care Act. We've already been through that. We had an election. The Affordable Care Act was passed 3 years ago. Those 30 or 40 million Americans who have no health insurance can actually sign up today. We should not be going through that exercise again for the 41st or 42nd or 43rd time. Do not believe the Republican leadership. They wanted to shut this place down. They have shut it down. And I don't see any effort to try to reopen it. It's a sad day for the American people.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I heard the Speaker say that the House has done its work by delaying ObamaCare. I'd like to remind the Speaker and all my colleagues on the GOP side that the work that has to be done is to pass a budget to keep the government open. The issue of ObamaCare is over. It was resolved in the last Presidential election when the President was reelected and said that he was going to continue with it. Why do we continue to talk about ObamaCare? I assure my colleagues on the Republican side that people in my district are clamoring for ObamaCare. They want to sign up so that they can get health insurance and affordable health insurance. That's not what we should be litigating here today. The fact of the matter is that Republicans are saying, It's my way or the highway. They're saying that if you don't agree to delay ObamaCare, we're not going to pass a budget and we're going to shut the government down. That is not leadership. They're in charge. They're the majority here. They're supposed to do their business and not try to go to the 45th and 46th vote on ObamaCare. I could sit here and say I'm not going to vote for a budget unless you agree to pass gun safety legislation. That's not the way this place is supposed to operate.