Tom Price

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I include for the Record a letter endorsing and supporting H.R. 2009 from the group FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks, Washington, DC, Dear FreedomWorks Member: As one of our millions of FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 2009, the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act''. Introduced by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), this bill would stop the Internal Revenue Service or any other Treasury department from enforcing any part of ObamaCare. Currently, the IRS will be the most crucial department for actually enacting and enforcing ObamaCare. The premium subsidies that are supposed to help individuals purchase health insurance through the exchanges are actually tax credits, distributed by the IRS. And most significantly, the IRS is responsible for administering the ``tax'' upon individuals who refuse to purchase a government-approved insurance plan--the individual mandate. More ominously, ObamaCare requires the IRS to collect a vast amount of sensitive information about the kind of insurance coverage you have, and will store this information in a massive new database. ObamaCare's supporters, of course, claim that the IRS would never share the medical information they collect, and that the agency would only collect the exact data necessary to determine eligibility for premium subsidies. And yet, a lawsuit filed in California alleges that the IRS illegally seized the medical records of 10 million individuals in that state. Having the same organization that is both targeting political opponents and stealing people's medical records in charge of people's health care seems like a recipe for disaster. Rep. Price's bill would stop the IRS in its tracks, completely erasing their role in ObamaCare. I urge you to contact your representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act today. Sincerely, Matt Kibbe, President and CEO, FreedomWorks. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), a fellow member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining on each side?

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine), a freshman Member.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments from my friend from Wisconsin. His chastising us for voting to repeal or change portions of the Affordable Care Act is curious, in light of the fact that the gentleman, himself, I believe, supported one of our efforts just 2 weeks ago on delaying the employer mandate. But hope springs eternal that he'll be able to support our efforts in this endeavor on H.R. 2009. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I will insert a letter in support of H.R. 2009 from the Americans for Tax Reform into the Record. I reserve the balance of my time. [From Americans for Tax Reform, June 20, 2013] ATR Supports H.R. 2009, the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013'' (By Ryan Ellis) ATR supports H.R. 2009, the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013,'' sponsored by Cong. Tom Price (R-Ga.) ATR is pleased to announce its support for H.R.. 2009, the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013.'' The bill is sponsored by medical doctor and Congressman Tom Price (R- Ga.) We would urge all Congressmen to co-sponsor and support the bill. GAO has reported that there are 47 new powers the IRS has acquired under the Obamacare law. We here at ATR have pointed out time and again the 20 new or higher taxes that are contained in Obamacare. With a new scandal coming out of the IRS seemingly every day, the last thing that agency should be doing is snooping into the personal health care lives of over 300 million Americans. Yet that's just what the IRS is about to do. They will be the agency tasked with implementing the individual mandate and the employer mandate. They will force all of us to disclose our personal health identification information to them when we file our 1040s every April. They will be talking to our insurance companies and the Department of Health and Human Services about our health insurance packages. This is outrageous. The IRS should have nothing to do with our health care. Passage of H.R.. 2009 would ensure that the agency which gave us Star Trek videos and Tea Party harassment keeps its hands off our health care.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I will include into the Record a letter endorsing H.R. 2009 from a group of six taxpayer advocate organizations. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. August 2, 2013. Hon. Tom Price, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Price, We the undersigned groups, representing millions of Americans, strongly support your legislation, H.R. 2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. This bill would prohibit the U.S. Treasury Department from enforcing any provision of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), ensuring that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be removed from implementing or enforcing any component of Obamacare. The last several months have proven to be an eye opening experience for those who are concerned with the growing power of the federal government, especially the IRS. Repeated and systemic encroachment into the lives of American citizens by targeting the very thing they cherish the most, the freedom of speech, is a cause of great concern among many people from all sides of the political spectrum. It is imperative to take steps to ensure we rein in the power of an organization that has proven to be incapable of handling the authority they have right now with the responsibility and dignity the American people expect. New developments on the unnerving offenses have been uncovered on a regular basis for the last few months and it is time to make certain that the IRS is unable to extend these offenses into the lives of citizens when it comes to their health care. This legislation makes explicitly clear that the neither the Treasury Department, nor ``any delegate'' shall have the power to enforce any provision or amendment from Obamacare at anytime going forward as the Administration moves to implement the law. It is paramount that this legislation passes, with overwhelming support, as it is clear that the American people have no desire to have the IRS involved in the decisions they and their families are making when it comes to their health care. We have already seen the consequences of the President's health care law on premiums and job creation and it would be catastrophic to allow the IRS to contribute to the chaos, considering their recent record of abuses and mismanagement. The American people deserve to be trusted with their own decision making when it comes to their lives, including their health care choices. The last thing anyone wants is to have an agency they are already afraid of to be granted more. We thank you for offering this commonsense language and we urge all members of Congress to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2009. Sincerely, David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance. Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform. Jeff Mazzella, President, Center for Individual Freedom. Carrie Lukas, Managing Director, Independent Women's Forum. Seton Motley, President, Less Government. Pete Sepp, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would tell the gentleman that I have other speakers that may be coming, but at this point, I have no other speakers on the floor. I am prepared to close at any point.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I will submit a letter from 22 organizations from around the country endorsing H.R. 2009, and I reserve the balance of my time. August 1, 2013. Dear Congressmen: We, the undersigned organizations and free market leaders write in united support of House efforts this week to get the IRS out of Obamacare. The House will consider a measure on Friday sponsored by Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) to remove the IRS from any role in the implementation of the Obamacare law. It's a basic belief of most Americans that patients, families, and doctors--not IRS bureaucrats--should be making health care decisions. While this has always been the case, its importance has been heightened in recent months by the uncovered political targeting by the IRS of Tea Party and other free market groups. The IRS should not be anywhere near people's medical decisions until this black cloud of political scandal has been lifted. Unfortunately, the GAO reports that the IRS has no fewer than 47 powers to implement Obamacare. That's 47 too many. Allowing the IRS to enforce Obamacare is opening up the door to more abuse, more targeting, and more harassment of American citizens. The myriad of new taxes the IRS will impose under the guise of health care reform will destroy jobs, stifle economic growth, and impede medical innovation in this country. With Obamacare coming fully online in 2014, now is the time to stop the IRS from becoming a full partner in our families' healthcare decisions. House efforts to prevent this from happening are welcome and all Members of Congress should support these efforts. Sincerely, Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; Dean Clancy, Freedom Works; Al Cardenas, American Conservative Union; Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express; Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots; Heather Higgins, Independent Womens' Voice; Steven J. Duffield, Crossroads GPS; Brandon Arnold, National Taxpayers Union; Colin Hanna, Let Freedom Ring; Jim Martin, 60 Plus Association; Grace-Marie Turner, Galen Institute; Phil Kerpen, American Commitment; Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America; Ken Hoagland, Restore America's Voice; John Tate, Campaign for Liberty; Peter Ferrara, National Center for Policy Analysis; Ari Winkour, Harbour League; Gregory T. Angelo, Log Cabin Republicans; Mark Schiller, MD, Doctor-Patient Medical Association; Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D, author of Beating Obamacare; Brian Baker, Ending Spending; David Wallace, Restore America's Mission. (Signatures are for information purposes only).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, it's important for folks to appreciate that the Republican goal in health care is to make certain that every single American has the highest quality health care. We simply believe it ought to be patient-centered health care. And my friends on the other side of the aisle talk about patient-centered health care, but what they support is health care with Washington making decisions. We believe patients and families and doctors ought to be making medical decisions. Now, what have we heard in opposition to this piece of legislation today? We've heard that Republicans have no plan. Well, on the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have multiple pieces of legislation. I, in fact, have H.R. 2300, which is a patient-centered bill that makes certain that everybody has affordable coverage; that they are able to have the financial feasibility to purchase the coverage that they want, not that the government forces them to buy. And portability is solved. You don't lose your insurance if you change your job or you lose your job. We solve the whole challenge of preexisting illnesses and injuries, but in a patient-centered way, not a way that the government forces you to purchase what they want you to purchase. And it would provide insurance for every single American. Second, we've heard this isn't a responsible piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, let me suggest that the American people think this is a responsible piece of legislation, where over 80 percent don't think the IRS ought to have a thing to do with their health care. We've heard that this bill isn't going anywhere at all. Why do it? It's a futile attempt. Well, I'll remind my colleagues of seven pieces of legislation--bills passed in this House, bills passed by the United States Senate, and signed into law by President Obama--that either repealed or defunded portions of his own health care law. H.R. 4 repealed the small business paperwork mandate; H.R. 1473 cut $2.2 billion from the ``stealth public plan'' and froze the IRS budget; H.R. 674 saved taxpayers $13 billion by adjusting eligibility for ObamaCare programs; H.R. 2055 made more reductions to the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the IRS; H.R. 3630 slashed billions of dollars from ObamaCare slush funds; H.R. 4348 saved another $670 million from the boondoggle, ``the Louisiana Purchase,'' that was included in the original bill; and H.R. 8 repealed the unsustainable CLASS programs. All of those repealed or changed portions of the Affordable Care Act signed into law by the President of the United States. We've heard heart-wrenching stories from our friends on the other side about health challenges and illnesses. And, yes, Mr. Speaker, there are real challenges out there. As a physician, I can attest to that, having spent over 20 years taking care of patients. But the American people don't want Washington deciding what kind of health care they must have or can't have. We need patients and families and doctors making those medical decisions. And then there's the preposterous assertion from the other side that Republicans don't like affordable care, quality care, accessible care. Nonsense, Mr. Speaker. Nonsense. What we want is the highest quality of care that respects the principles of affordability and accessibility and quality and choices and responsiveness and innovation. We simply want patients and families and doctors to be in charge of health care, not Washington, D.C., and not the IRS. I urge support of H.R. 2009, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order against the motion to recommit.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on our side?

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Am I correct that the other side is out of time?

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. PRICE of Georgia

Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 300, I call up the bill (H.R. 2668) to delay the application of the individual health insurance mandate, and ask for its immediate consideration.