Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, my amendment requires the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office to study the impacts of the exchange grants on allowing States to set up State-run exchanges, as opposed to having the Federal Government establish and operate the States' exchanges. Dr. Burgess and I have had a colloquy on this back and forth all afternoon, and I know he just mentioned it again. My whole point today has been that if we are going to have exchanges, which I know many of my Republican colleagues would not want to do, but they are not repealing the State exchanges. They are simply saying that they are not going to give them any money to proceed. I think that is a very shortsighted plan because the fact of the matter is that the State exchanges would work best if they had the flexibility and they had the money so that they could figure out what was the best way to tailor the health care exchange program to their needs in their State. My view is that by denying them that money through the State grants, we are simply letting the Federal Government come in and essentially run the exchange. My colleague Mr. Burgess keeps mentioning over and over again, well, the Health and Human Services Secretary is going to do this and is going to do that. Well, if he doesn't like that, then why in the world would he let her do it by saying they are not giving the States the money to do their own thing? I mean, if you believe in States' rights, if you don't want the Health and Human Services Secretary to control the process, then let the States do their thing, and the only way they are going to be able to do that is if they get some money to accomplish that goal. I mentioned my home State of New Jersey has already received some money through these grants. They are doing demographic surveys. They are trying to find out who the clientele are, what the health concerns are of the clientele so that they can make decisions about what kinds of plans they would have on the exchanges, what they would offer on the exchanges. This is the type of thing that is allowed and encouraged if you have State grants. Without the State grants, that won't be possible. All I'm saying with my amendment is to let us see what the GAO says would happen if the Federal Government comes in and runs these exchanges rather than the States. I don't think it is going to be a good thing by comparison, but I would like the GAO to certainly study it. I would point out, 49 States, the District of Columbia, and four territories have gotten beyond the ideology and have applied for these exchange grants. There is almost nobody on either side of the aisle that doesn't have their State applying for these grants, because the States know that if they are going to set up these exchanges, they might as well have the money so they can have the flexibility to do it the right way. So all you are doing by repealing these grants is pulling the rug out from the States, your own State in almost every case, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. I don't want to repeat what Mr. Deal said, now the Governor of Georgia, but my colleague from Texas often mentions the Governor of Utah, and I just wanted to read a quote from the Governor of Utah.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. I hold the gentlewoman in a lot of respect, but it bothers me that you say we are going to come back and keep voting and voting again on repeal, repeal, repeal. We know this isn't going to pass the Senate. When I went home the last 2 weeks, all I heard was: What are you doing to create jobs? Deal with the economy. When we deal with this and keep doing the same thing over and over again, we don't deal with jobs. I yield now 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Mr. PALLONE. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that my colleague on the other side, Dr. Burgess, got up and talked about the Ryan budget, or the Republican budget, I should say, because as far as I know every Republican voted for it, and most Democrats voted against it, and he also mentioned, I think, President Clinton's efforts to achieve health care reform. The Democrats over the years--Harry Truman, President Clinton, President Obama--have all been reaching out to try to achieve health care reform and find a low-cost way of providing a good benefit package to all Americans, and it's sad to think that on the other side of the aisle, when they became the majority, the first thing they did was to pass this Republican budget that actually puts an end to Medicare and really jeopardizes the future of Medicaid as well. I think it says a lot about the fact that the Democrats are trying to expand health care choices and options and provide low-cost health care with a good benefit package. The Republicans are taking the plans that exist now like Medicare and Medicaid and either ending them in the case of Medicare or in the case of Medicaid really making it so it's going to be very difficult for Medicaid to continue. We already have in place, as I mentioned in the beginning of this debate, many of the positive aspects of the Affordable Care Act, all those things that eliminate discrimination, let you put your children on your policy, start to plug up the donut hole for prescription drugs for seniors. This is working. This is legislation that's working and making a difference for the American people and making it possible now with these State exchanges, once they're up and running with the tax credits that are available, for even those other 32 or 30 to 40 million Americans who don't have health insurance insurance now to finally have it. Now, why do the Republicans want to eliminate this? I listened to Dr. Burgess. He says it costs too much. The fact of the matter is the CBO said the Affordable Care Act was going to save money, reduce the deficit over 10 years. I know they only like to look at the CBO numbers when they think they're beneficial to their point of view, but the fact of the matter is the CBO is a nonpartisan arm of this Congress and they say that the Affordable Care Act reduces the deficit over 10 years. At the same time, we're covering everyone and we're providing a good benefit package just like, say, Blue Cross or Blue Shield does today. What this bill does is to eliminate choices, because if the States are allowed to tailor a program in exchange for their own constituents in their State, I believe it will be more robust, it will be a better plan tailored to those people from New Jersey, in my case, or Texas, in the case of Dr. Burgess. By taking away the money for the exchanges, all you're going to do is make that more and more difficult. States will still have to do it, but they won't have a good plan. They may limit their choices. They may not have a lot of choices which they would have if they have some money to plan and be rational about how this works. Of course, the more likely scenario is that we will simply have a Federal exchange and a lot of States will opt out and not even have their own State exchange. I think that would be a mistake to do. I really do. As much as I'd rather have a Federal exchange than no exchange, I do think it makes sense to have State exchanges. So, again, I think that what the Republicans are doing now, and I think that Mrs. Blackburn said it earlier--she said we're just going to repeal this, and we're going to take a piece of it and repeal something else until we get rid of the whole thing. Well, don't waste the time of the Congress on doing the same thing over and over again. I was home for the last 2 weeks. We all had a break. We're at home for 2 weeks. All I heard, I didn't hear about health care. I heard about jobs and how the economy was starting to sputter again. You know, the last quarter was not as good as it could have been, and the fact of the matter is that since the Republicans have come into the majority here they're not doing anything to create jobs. We don't have a bill to create jobs. We keep doing the same thing every day. Today, it's going to be defund health care; tomorrow it's going to be abortion again. I don't know how many times we're going to have these same bills that come out of our Health Subcommittee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is unfortunate. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. Again, I listened to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) before, and basically she said we're just going to keep repealing and repealing and repealing. I understand that you want to get rid of the whole bill. But why do you bring up legislation today that, again, I guess you're doing it because you don't want to keep repealing the whole bill over and over again because it becomes ludicrous. So instead you take pieces out--in this case, the State exchanges--and you say we're not going to give States the grants to actually follow up. It's obvious, when we talked about Nathan Deal, he doesn't like the law. He'd like to see it repealed. But he's saying if you're not going to repeal it, then don't defund it because then the States can't carry out their functions in an effective way. So all I'm saying to my colleague from Texas is if you just want to keep repealing and repealing, like Mrs. Blackburn said, go ahead and do it. We'll waste time, which doesn't make sense. But if you're going to then take pieces out, then don't say to the States, We're going to defund you and not allow you to do what you're already required to do or set this over to the Federal Government. You see, this is the absurdity of what the other side of the aisle is trying to do. It's just a complete waste of time. I yield now 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Mr. PALLONE. I now yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. I would just like to point out to the gentleman, 49 States and the District of Columbia, along with 4 territories, have been awarded $54 million in planning grants. So all you are doing here--these exchanges are still going to exist even if this bill passed and became law. All you are doing is taking away the money, in almost every case, from your own State to try to set up these exchanges and not have it become a national exchange. So the gentleman can talk all he wants about the funding, but the fact of the matter is it is most likely his own State is asking for this funding so they can get these exchanges established. Why do the Republicans want to take money away from their own State? I yield now 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the ranking member of our full Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Phil Daly Hose Company #2 of Long Branch, New Jersey, as its members gather to celebrate its 125th Anniversary. Since its founding in 1886, Phil Daly Hose Company has faithfully protected the local residents, businesses and visitors of the City. Their honorable and courageous actions are undoubtedly deserving of this body's recognition. Phil Daly Hose Company continues to expand their capabilities through the acquisition of new technology. The Art Smeal Pumper, capable of delivering 2000 gallons of water per minute, will provide the fire company with greater capabilities to assist residents and provide greater services to the citizens of Long Branch. Similarly, the addition of the Emergency One Rescue Truck has expanded the fire company's abilities to assist with rescue mission throughout the area. Phil Daly Hose Company has a proud and long standing history of valor and sacrifice. Their heroic actions while serving their community is a testament to the selfless actions of the members to protect and serve the residents of Long Branch. The members of this fire company continue to exemplify their unwavering dedication and service for their fellow citizens and community. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Phil Daly Hose Company #2 on its 125th Anniversary and thanking the men and women who have served and protected the City of Long Branch.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. PALLONE. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Mr. PALLONE. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the distinguished ranking member of the full committee.

Mr. PALLONE. I yield 2 minutes to our distinguished ranking member emeritus, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell).

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Teri O'Connor, the recipient of the 2011 Women of Distinction Award presented by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. Ms. O'Connor has demonstrated unwavering commitment to serving the people of Monmouth County. Ms. O'Connor's devotion is undoubtedly deserving of this body's recognition. Ms. O'Connor is currently the County Administrator for Monmouth County and manages the day-to-day operations of 60 county departments comprised of over 3,000 employees. Her responsibilities include supervising, directing and managing all county administrative departments, divisions and offices. She is also responsible for carrying out the policies and directives of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. In addition to her duties as County Administrator, Ms. O'Connor admirably serves as Administrator and Freeholder Representative to the Emergency Management Homeland Security Working Group since 2002. She has also supervised the County Insurance Office for 13 years. Ms. O'Connor is currently Freeholder Liaison to the Freehold Center Partnership as well as County Representative to Freehold's Downtown Planning & Design Committee. Through her personal, professional and community achievements, Ms. O'Connor embodies the mission of the Girl Scouts to help young girls build courage, confidence and character. Mr. Speaker, please join me in leading this body in congratulating Ms. O'Connor for receiving the prestigious Women of Distinction Award, presented by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. Her steadfast dedication is an example of what hard work and determination can accomplish.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. All I hear from the other side, the gentleman from Iowa is trying to rehash the campaign, talking about who got elected in November, saying the President should be defeated so we have a new President. What are you doing to create jobs? It's 100 days of the Republican majority, and I don't see a single job creation bill. Now, the Democrats, with our health care reform, we're trying to expand options, give people low-cost insurance, end discrimination, and look for new ways of training doctors so we have more doctors to cover people. We're trying to give the American people options and choices, and eliminate all of the problems that they have had with the health care system. And the Republicans say, No, get rid of it. Defund it. How many times are we going to vote on this same thing? And then later today you're going to come back and try to destroy Medicare and say the elderly should not have health care options and should have to go out and buy their insurance, and maybe get a little help from the government. Or if they have to go to a nursing home, you're going to block grant Medicaid and say, well, the nursing home may not be available to them, or the quality of the nursing home care will be really terrible again, as it may have been years ago. So I don't understand what you're up to. Look to the American people. Look to create jobs for them. Look to create health care options. Don't destroy. Don't destroy.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it's sort of ironic that today we're going to bring up a budget, the Republican budget, that would end Medicare as we know it, but at the same time seek to repeal the health care reform legislation, or at least defund it. I don't understand how my Republican colleagues keep talking about repealing or defunding health care reform and yet have nothing to replace it with, and in this case are trying to gut or end as we know it the existing health care programs that we have for senior citizens and the disabled in the case of Medicare, and in the case of Medicaid for low-income people. They would tell seniors, in their budget, that they're supposed to go out and buy their own health insurance, and somehow they're going to give them some help. They call it premium support from the Federal Government. But they're now going to have to pay out of pocket to just buy their insurance more and more. So they have to pay out of pocket for the premium, they have to pay out of pocket for a deductible, and they have to pay out of pocket for the copay. Where does it end?

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking Democrat on the Labor, Health Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).