Phil Roe

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. If the gentleman will yield for a moment, you are absolutely dead right on this. In my district, I visited four businesses, one is the City of Johnson City, Tennessee, where I was mayor. Another is Holston Munitions, or BAE Corporation. They have instituted a wellness program that in the last 5 years they have not had a premium increase. What they have done is they have basically incentivized behavior, for instance, smoking. If you smoke, and one of my good friends had a patient come to him the other day, and he said last spring, and this was in June, she said I have to quit smoking by the first of July. He thought, that is pretty good. I am glad to hear that. They've been trying to get you to quit for several years. But why are you going to quit? She says well, my insurance changes and they are going to penalize me if I smoke. It is going to cost me money. So, if you don't smoke, or you get your hemoglobin A1C, which is the way we monitor your sugar and diabetes, to get your hemoglobin A1C down, you lose weight, they will pay you for that. So you can earn the money back. And they have done that with their wellness program and been wildly successful. To tag-team into your health savings account, just me personally in 2 years, and people will say that, well, you can't use that in Medicaid or you can't use that, I absolutely disagree with that. In our own medical practice, of the 294 people that get insurance through our practice, 84 percent use a health savings account. These are the folks that check you in at the front and draw the blood and the nurses that assist us and so forth. So it works very well for everybody. We all respond.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I think, in summary, in closing up this evening, what we have got this week is a discussion, I think the single biggest social discussion we have had in this Nation in 50 years, since Medicare. The challenge is how do we make health care affordable, and how do we provide it for the citizens now who don't have it? I think, as Dr. Burgess stated just a moment ago, that right now, the bill before us, they are not our solutions. We keep hearing there are no Republican solutions. There absolutely are. They are not on the table. They are not being discussed. This bill right here, H.R. 3962, all 1,990 pages, that is what we are discussing this week, and, as Dr. Fleming said, we are probably going to vote on this week. So I think that this needs to be looked at as quickly as we can by the American people to try to peel this onion back, so to say, and look at what's there. I appreciate my colleagues being here tonight, and we'll be here throughout this week to further discuss this bill and what is in this bill.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. As a physician with over 30 years experience in treating patients, I came to Washington to participate in the great health care debate. Everyone in this Chamber agrees, we need health care reform. I will tell you, to be the first, I want to opt out of the public option. We've tried that in Tennessee, and it was a fiscal disaster. Costs tripled in less than 10 years, quality decreased, and access decreased. What are we going to do? We're going to take $400 billion to $500 billion away from our senior citizens' health care while in 2011, we're going to add 3 million to 3.5 million baby boomers each year. That's 30 million more people. Guess what: They can do the math. Decreased access, decreased quality, and increased costs will be the result of this right here. Americans should ask themselves one question at the end of the day: When this huge, 1,000-page, incomprehensible bill, which I've read every page of, comes to fruition, will the health care that I get and my family gets and that my doctor is able to provide for me, will it improve? The answer is ``no.''

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I am so proud to recognize and commend the town of Jonesborough and Washington County for its 10th year anniversary of the Jonesborough Veterans Park. In 1999, Washington County celebrated this park at the groundbreaking ceremony, and on Memorial Day of 2000, the Jonesborough Veterans' Park construction was completed. Memorial Day of 2000 was extra special for veterans all throughout Washington County because of the Jonesborough Veterans Park. Mr. Speaker, I introduced a Resolution, congratulating the Jonesborough Veterans Park for their 10th anniversary and for a decade of successful management and preservation of the park land. This will be a reminder that we in the First District are committed to honoring our veterans. I want to thank the volunteers in Washington County who worked on this park and who remain dedicated to honoring our veterans.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have just one comment. I have been the mayor of a city, Johnson City, Tennessee. A lot of information for the school system comes through us. And I was at a meeting one day, and one of the school board members was very exuberant about how we could use computers, and computers are the most important thing. I held my hand up, and I said, Look, I don't have a clue how a computer works, but I can read. So I read the manual, and in 30 minutes or 20 minutes' time, I'm online. Reading changes lives. The statistics in this country are staggering. When you look at the amount of people in prisons and on welfare who cannot read, it is basically enslavement. We must in our education system--and I have thought of this many times--a good education where you can read may help solve the health care crisis, because people who can read can get a good job and provide for themselves. So I would encourage my colleagues to support this and encourage the schools to help teach and encourage teen reading. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume, and I rise today in support of House Resolution 836, expressing support for Teen Read Week. More than 20 percent of adults read below a fifth-grade level, which is well below the reading level needed to earn a minimum wage. Almost 44 million adults in the United States don't read well enough to read a short story to their child. It is estimated that illiteracy costs U.S. taxpayers more than $20 billion per year. More than three our of four of those on welfare and 68 percent of people arrested are illiterate. In U.S. prisons, three out of five inmates cannot read. The ability to read proficiently is one of the most important skills children and adolescents can acquire. This skill is important to people of all ages, from children just entering school to adults in the prime of their careers. Teen Read Week highlights the importance of encouraging teenagers to read. Research has shown that children and teens who are proficient readers perform better in almost all school subjects. Therefore, it follows that teens who struggle to read are more likely to drop out of high school than those who do not. In addition, research indicates that there's a strong link between teens who are juvenile offenders and the inability to read at grade level. Teen Read Week takes place October 18 through 24, 2009. It was first recognized in 1998 and has taken place the third week of every October since that time. Teen Read Week encourages teens to read for fun. Reading for fun highlights the importance and enjoyment of reading for teens and adolescents. Research has shown that teens who read for fun are more likely to succeed in the workforce than those who do not. The theme for Teen Read Week 2009 is ``Read Beyond Reality.'' By recognizing Teen Read Week, we show our support for promoting teen literacy and encouraging teens to read. I am honored to support this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to join me. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1818, a bill that amends the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in Environmental Policy Act. The Morris K. Udall Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to honor Mr. Udall and help educate new generations to protect the environment. The foundation works to increase the awareness of our Nation's natural resources, foster a greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment in the development of our Nation, and, through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, provide mediation and other services to resolve environmental disputes involving Federal agencies. Finally, the foundation also supports several educational programs that help students in environmental programs in undergraduate and graduate school. As previously noted when we took up the House version of this bill, the legislation before us honors Stewart L. Udall's service to the Nation by adding his name to the foundation, making it the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. Mr. Udall served in Congress and in the administration and then continued his work for the environment in the private sector. I thank the gentlelady from California, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. And I heard my good friends, Dr. Fleming from Louisiana and Dr. Cassidy, both mention this. But I looked at it, and I thought How can we make insurance portable? How do you affect preexisting conditions? If you have a large group market, you don't have a problem with preexisting conditions. For instance, in our city, where I was mayor, it didn't matter. How did we handle a preexisting condition? We took everyone in. Everyone paid the same rate, and we bought catastrophic coverage in case someone had a leukemia or a cancer or a severe heart problem and covered that issue. We also used prevention and wellness. And I can tell you there are four organizations in my community, in my area, that have had minimal health care increases in the last 4 to 5 years. How do they do that? Well, they change the incentives from consumption to wellness. And let's say you came in and you were hypertensive and you had diabetes and you smoked and you were overweight. Well, we would penalize you financially for that. These organizations--and there are businesses there that have been able to hold their costs down--but if you changed and modified your behavior, we rewarded you for that and you would actually earn money by changing your behavior. And guess what that's done? That's empowered the patient to be in charge of their own health care. And we hear all the time about insurance companies. And I can tell you right now, I'm not sitting here defending an insurance company. And you and I--I'm a surgeon, and I've spent as much time on the phone trying to get an insurance company to approve care than I actually do in the cases. But in our own practice we have about close to 300 people who get their care from our group, 70 providers, 300 or so employees. What we did, and what I've done, is use this as a health savings account card. And what Dr. Cassidy was talking about, so people understand how this empowers the individual, is this: so much money, whether it's $2,000 or $3,000 and you go buy first dollar. You're going to shop. I do. If I go get a scan, I want the best price. At the end of that year, if I don't spend that money, it goes into an account, as Doctor Fleming said. Now, how many people in our group chose to use this? Eighty-four percent, instead of traditional accounts, they used a health savings account.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Well, Dr. Broun, we have. Let me say I was here this morning early, and I came to this Congress, I practiced medicine, OB-GYN, delivered almost 5,000 babies, and I came to this Congress with a nonpartisan background as the mayor of Johnson City, Tennessee. That was my political background. So I came here to try to help be part of this great health care debate. How I started my time off was I brought every think tank that I could find--Brookings Institute, which is a left-leaning think tank, Heritage Foundation, Cato, AEI--into my office and sat down and listened to them and said, What is the problem? How do we define the problem of our country right now as far as health care is concerned? One of them was escalating costs. How do we deal with that? How do we deal with the uninsured and how do we deal with preexisting conditions? I think the thing that troubles most of us out there, and me as an individual, quite frankly, is if you lose your job, you lose your health care. That is something that everyone in this country fears, and certainly in a bad job market. So I thought about that at great length and brought some basic principles which we have, and I stood on the House floor this morning and heard three different individuals say that there were no other plans out there. That is absolutely false.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Yes.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Dr. Broun, what happened was exactly as you point out. In 1993, we were spending $2.6 billion. We had a lot in the State of Tennessee on our Medicaid plan. We changed to a plan called TennCare. By the year 2004, it was a $7.5 to $8.5 billion plan. It tripled the cost. Forty-five percent of the people who got on the plan had private health insurance and dropped it--exactly what's going to happen in the public option. And how did the governor, a Democratic governor, rein in costs? He cut the rolls. He rationed care in that way. And that is exactly what will happen in a public option that we're talking about. We'll go into it in more detail. Let me take 30 seconds and tell you if we could agree on this and pass a meaningful health care bill, this is all you have to do. Eliminate State lines so you can form association health plans; give tax credits for low-income people to buy affordable health care; have a tax deduction for individuals. Last year I was an individual when I ran for Congress, and I couldn't deduct my health care premiums. It made them 30 percent higher. Number four, let young people who don't have a job when they get out of high school or college, let them stay on their parents' health care until they're 25, 26 years old. It costs the government a big fat zero. You can cover 7 million young people doing that. Tort reform and SGR fix. Those are not terribly expensive things to do. I think we can all agree on them. And I believe we can get a meaningful health care plan that doesn't blow up a system that's working for 80 or 85 percent of the people right now.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Well, Dr. Broun, if you'll yield back.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Yes.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, just to dovetail, I do remember, I believe Charlie Scott played in the old ABA for the Virginia Squires. I have seen him play many times, a great athlete and a great human being. As my colleague Mr. Kissell from North Carolina clearly stated, an education doesn't just affect one person. It affects a family, it affects a community, it affects a nation. So this family that has had this commitment to education for over a century is to be commended. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 660, recognizing the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute founded in 1904 by Emmanuel McDuffie and his wife, Tinny. Laurinburg Institute is the oldest of only four historically African American boarding schools still in existence in the United States. It was founded to help provide suitable education and training in the common pursuits of life for African Americans in the Laurinburg, North Carolina, area. At the turn of the century, Laurinburg Institute instructed African American teachers and youth in various academic branches of study and in the best methods of theoretical and practical industrial applications for agriculture and the mechanical arts. In 1956, the Laurinburg Institute built a new campus, integrated its faculty and student body, and expanded its foreign student program, which consisted of students from Russia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. It also further solidified its nationally and internationally recognized athletic and music programs. The Laurinburg Institute has graduated over 50,000 students. Today, we recognize the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Institute and acknowledge its remarkable contribution to the education of African Americans. I commend the dedication of the McDuffie family in creating and sustaining the legacy of Emmanuel and Tinny McDuffie. Congratulations to its third-generation administrators, president and CEO, Frank McDuffie, and his daughter, Frances McDuffie, who serves as vice president and chief operating officer, as well as the faculty, staffs and students of Laurinburg Institute. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to Mr. Guthrie of Kentucky.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 837, recognizing Kentucky Wesleyan College for over 150 years of service as an institution of higher education. Kentucky Wesleyan College, in partnership with the United Methodist Church, fosters a liberal arts education that nourishes, stimulates and prepares future leaders intellectually, spiritually and physically to achieve success in life. Founded in 1858, Kentucky Wesleyan College was originally located in Millersburg. Classes began in 1866, and the first commencement took place in 1868. At first, it was a training school for preachers; but soon, business classes and liberal arts classes were added to the curriculum. In 1890, the school moved to Winchester, and soon after, women began to be admitted to the school for the first time. In 1951, the school moved to its present location in Kentucky's third largest city, Owensboro. Kentucky Wesleyan secured full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1947. Increasingly, Kentucky Wesleyan graduates were making their mark in the graduate and professional schools of the region. The strong curriculum in business and liberal arts was expanded to include major programs in preprofessional areas. Kentucky Wesleyan earned an enviable reputation for the many students being sent to medical, dental, law, and graduate schools. Kentucky Wesleyan gained national recognition in athletics when its men's basketball team won men's championships in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990 and 1999. No Division II school has ever surpassed this record. In the 1990s, Kentucky Wesleyan College revised its mission statement to focus on preparing leaders for the 21st century. The college reaffirmed its commitment to the liberal arts and modified the general education program toward fulfilling the new mission statement. Offering 27 majors in 10 preprofessional curriculums, Kentucky Wesleyan College has a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. Superb teaching from a global perspective provides a rich classroom experience at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Students sharpen their skills, their critical thinking, by learning how to find, use and defend worthwhile information. In addition, students are encouraged to serve in anticipation of a lifetime of service to others. Kentucky Wesleyan's students meet the needs of others and positively impact the world around them. Congratulations to President Dr. Cheryl King, the Kentucky Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff on over 150 years of service as an institution of higher education. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I concur with the gentlewoman, and I would urge the passage of this resolution; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 811, expressing support for the designation of October 2009 as National Principals Month. The role of principals has been redefined in the 21st century. Gone are the days when principals spent most of their time with bus schedules, fire drills and general curriculum. Today's school leaders must keep abreast of State and Federal goals, the latest technologies and teaching practices, as well as learning to use data to spot gaps in learning among all students. It should come as no surprise that principals, like other organizational leaders, set the tone for high achievement in their schools. Regardless of location, racial or socioeconomic demographics, communities demand that principals lead the instructional and academic performances in their schools. Leadership is an important factor in the creation of good schools. Influenced by the academic standards movement, which focuses on equity and instruction, school leaders are thinking anew about how to define quality in our schools and about how to create and manage the environments that support them. Principals lead schools, and they tie the daily operations to school and student learning goals that are set by parents, staff, and the community. They also set high expectations for the academic and social development of all students, teachers and staff; and they ensure the resources to meet these high standards. Principals are also charged with hiring and retaining high-quality teachers and with holding them responsible for student learning. Today's school leadership also connects professional development to school learning goals, and it provides opportunities for teachers to work, plan, and to think together. Principals are among the hardest working, yet often the least recognized, individuals in education. These unsung heroes deserve to be recognized for the essential role they play in preparing today's students for the challenges of tomorrow, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. I also would like to comment about my principal at Clarksville High School, Mr. Thompson, who is a retired sergeant in the Marine Corps. He had a hard time keeping us in between the white lines. I think part of my success today is due to Mr. Thompson, my principal, who kept a lot of young boys out of trouble and who pointed them in the right direction education-wise. Many principals across this Nation and probably most of us in this room could acknowledge that. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) to control.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, this week The Washington Post published a poll supposedly showing that 57 percent of the American people support, and I quote, ``having the government create a new health insurance plan to compete with the private health insurance plans.'' Unfortunately, what The Post failed to ask and what poll after poll has consistently shown is that Americans who claim to support a government-run option switch their opinion when they find out that creating such a plan will decrease quality and access and increase costs. How do I know this will happen? I practiced medicine in Tennessee under a plan very similar to what the Democrats are proposing here. We sought to increase access to health insurance by lowering provider payments and promising free medical care to our State's government-run Medicaid plan. Our plan was called TennCare, but it might as well have been called H.R. 3200. It resulted in costs tripling in 10 years and rationing of care when our State couldn't pay for the care that was promised. Our businesses realized they could shift the cost to the public sector, and our State saw 45 percent of individuals on TennCare who had previously been on private health insurance. It was a disaster. And I'm trying to prevent that disaster from playing out on a national level.