Pete Stark

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Jim McDermott to reintroduce the Save Our Climate Act, a bill to place a tax on carbon. A carbon tax is the most straightforward and efficient way to end our addiction to fossil fuels and confront global climate change. While I have introduced this proposal in years past, I am more confident than ever that the time for action has arrived. We have a President-elect who consistently acknowledges that our planet is in peril. The upcoming economic recovery package will focus on creating ``green jobs'' and investing in clean energy. The best solution is to place a tax on what we want to reduce-- pollution; and to put that revenue into what we want to increase--work, income, and investment in new technology. A carbon tax is the best way to do that. Under the Save Our Climate Act, carbon based fuels--coal, petroleum and natural gas--are taxed at a rate of $10 per ton of carbon content. The tax will increase by $10 per ton of carbon every year, making it less affordable to burn fossil fuels as time goes on. When the United States reaches the International Panel on Climate Change's standard of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 percent, the tax will be frozen. A tax provides certainty for businesses, as they will know what the level of tax will be from year to year and can make adjustments in their business plans. This legislation is also simple to administer and will require no new bureaucracy to implement. For these reasons, the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, concluded last year that a carbon tax is the most economically efficient policy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This bill does not prescribe how the revenue will be spent, but it is appropriate that we consider relief for low- and middle-income consumers who may face modestly higher energy costs, and investments in alternative energy sources, health care, and education. The Save Our Climate Act will generate a small energy price increase each year, equal to about 2 cents per gallon of gas annually. Consumers over the past year have endured increases 100 times that. The only difference is that the increase in price went to overseas coffers, not to build our transportation networks, provide relief for workers, and health care for our citizens. As the tax rate increases, fossil fuel prices will increase. Producers will have an incentive to invest in cleaner alternative energies, and those alternative energy sources will become more competitive. For businesses, the carbon tax is direct, creates price certainty, and signals that it is time to take bold action and invest in business models that utilize low pollution technology. Even the CEO of Exxon commented last week calling a carbon tax a ``direct and transparent approach.'' I don't normally find myself on the same side as the oil companies, but in this case, I agree. The Save Our Climate Act is a first step toward a sensible tax code that incentivizes innovation and rewards responsibility. I encourage all to support it.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Schauer from Michigan for 1 minute.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) who understands that many of the adults on the program last year were pregnant women.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Washington, Dr. McDermott. (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for 1 minute, and Mr. Lewis understands that the AARP has endorsed this bill.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished Congresswoman from Florida (Ms. Kosmas).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, at this time I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Markey).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, at this time I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, at this time, I am delighted to recognize for 1 minute the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, if I may, I will yield myself 2 minutes. I just want to rise and ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2. It has done a lot of things. It expands insurance coverage to another 4 million children. You can argue one way or the other that they may have insurance someplace else, but this will guarantee that those 4 million additional children will get the medical care or the insurance and, without which, they will not get first-class medical care in this country. We've passed this bill in several different forms in the past, and I want to thank the 40 or 50 Members from across the aisle who have supported it in the past. We've made some changes, and we've acknowledged the legitimacy of all legal residents in our Nation by giving States the option to cover them if they choose. I am glad to report that the bill is fully financed. We can argue about what happens 4 or 5 years out, but I am sure we'll have more of an argument on whether the very rich should enjoy escaping the capital gains tax or whether we should do away with the inheritance tax, which will bother many of the opponents much more than the idea of the tobacco tax or, indeed, the prohibition on the unethical kickbacks that physicians receive from ownership hospitals, most of which are of questionable safety and quality. This legislation expands health coverage to our Nation's children, and it is worthy of our support. I would like to take just a moment to thank the staff members who have worked so hard over the past almost 2 years. From the staff on the Committee on Energy and Commerce: Bridgett Taylor, Karen Nelson, Andy Schneider, Amy Hall, Purvee Kempf, Tim Gronninger, Hasan Sansour, and Bobby Clark.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself an additional 10 seconds. From our own staff on the Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee: our staff director--Cybele Bjorklund--Jennifer Friedman, Debbie Curtis, Karen McAfee, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and Drew Dawson. I urge the passage of H.R. 2. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I'm delighted to recognize the Speaker of the House, the distinguished gentlelady from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of pay equity. The Supreme Court's ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear was absurd. If I broke the law for nearly two decades--as the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company did when they stiffed Lilly Ledbetter out of the pay she deserved for 19 years--I couldn't turn around and say that I didn't owe anything because no one caught me during the first 6 months. Yet that's exactly what the Supreme Court allowed Goodyear to say to Ms. Ledbetter. The existing law is unfair. Many workers don't even discover that they're being discriminated against until the existing 180-day statute of limitations has passed. In every other area of American tort law, the clock restarts with every new violation. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act simply fixes existing law so that sex discrimination is treated the same way. My Republican colleagues love to call up the ``frivolous lawsuits'' bogeyman to scare hard-working Americans out of their rights, but there's nothing frivolous about equality and justice. The wage gap in the United States has remained stagnant over the last 7 years. Women in the United States still make less than 78 cents for every dollar a man makes. Women of color have it even worse: African-American women earn only 68.7 cents and Latin American women 59 cents for every dollar an American man makes. That's why I'm a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and why I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in passing this important legislation. American workers deserve better. They deserve equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual and gender orientation. When they don't get it, they deserve their day in court.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was a landmark piece of legislation. Along with other civil rights laws, it has helped to cut the gender-based wage gap in America nearly in half. But women are still paid less than 78 cents for every dollar a man is paid. African American and Latin American women face even greater income disparities. For the last seven years--after four decades of steady progress toward equality--the wage gap has remained stagnant. The Paycheck Fairness Act will give workers the tools they need to get back on track to equality in the workplace. It modernizes the Equal Pay Act, bringing it in line with other civil rights laws by updating rules for class-action suits and permitting punitive damages. Further, it closes a major loophole relating to affirmative defenses, requiring employers to substantiate the rationale for pay disparities if they claim they aren't based on gender. If enacted, the Paycheck Fairness Act will also strengthen the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's ability to detect illegal salary practices. It's far past time to stand up for fair pay for women. I'm proud to cosponsor this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009, legislation to provide universal health coverage to our Nation's children. During the campaign, President-elect Obama spoke of the need to mandate coverage to ensure that every child receives needed health care services. MediKids is the simplest, most effective means of achieving that goal. While it is critical that any reform proposal meet the special needs of children, I want to be clear that I am not suggesting we start with children or stop with children. I am looking forward to working with the new Administration and Congressional colleagues on a health reform effort for which the goal is assuring comprehensive care for everyone. I am open to other proposals and believe that we have to look across the board at various options. However, I submit that MediKids contains many elements that could be useful in the upcoming debate. Nearly 9 million children in this country still lack health insurance coverage. The majority of these children live in families with at least one full-time worker. Often, their families are not offered coverage by their employers at all or they cannot afford the premiums. These simple, but sobering, statistics speak to the need for change. Our system is fundamentally broken when a working parent cannot get health coverage for his or her children. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I think we should build on what works. When Congress created Medicare more than 40 years ago, our Nation's seniors were more likely to be living in poverty than any other age group. Many senior citizens were unable to afford needed medical services and unable to find health insurance in the private market, even if they had the resources. Today, as a result of Medicare's success, seniors are much less likely to be shackled by the bonds of poverty or to go without needed health care. Sadly, children are now the group who are most likely to be living in poverty. Kids in America are nearly twice as vulnerable to poverty as adults. This travesty is morally reprehensible, and it has grave consequences for the future of our country. Our future rests on our ability to provide our children with the basic conditions to thrive and become healthy, educated, and successful adults. Poor children are often malnourished and have difficulty succeeding in school. Untreated illnesses only worsen their chance to become productive members of our economy. Healthy children are the key to our economic future. The MediKids Health Insurance Act would create a new Federal health insurance program for children. Modeled after Medicare, MediKids would provide comprehensive benefits appropriate to children, simplified cost-sharing, prescription drug coverage and mental health parity. Every child in America would be automatically enrolled in MediKids at birth and maintain that eligibility through age 23. The cost, adjusted for income, would be applied to the family's annual tax bill, unless they opted for other coverage and showed proof of that coverage. As such, parents would retain the choice to enroll eligible kids in private plans or other Government programs such as Medicaid or SCHIP. However, if a lapse in the other insurance coverage occurred, MediKids would automatically fill in the gap. MediKids doesn't have complicated enrollment and eligibility hoops. Instead, it assures that families will always have access to affordable health insurance for their children, and it ensures that all children get a truly healthy start in life. MediKids was originally written in close collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics. They have endorsed MediKids as the best way to provide health coverage to all our children. The bill has also been endorsed by the Children's Defense Fund, Families USA, the National Association of Children's Hospitals, and other organizations advocating for better health care for America's children. As we work on health care reform, we need to pay particular attention to the unique needs of our Nation's children. MediKids is a model that accomplishes that goal.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to reintroduce the AmeriCare Health Care Act of 2009. I have often spoken before this body about the great need to reform our health care system. For too long, we have been plagued with an inadequate patchwork system that today leaves nearly 46 million Americans uninsured. We spend more per person than any other country in the world, yet our health outcomes lag well behind that of other industrialized nations. The failing economy is even more proof of our need to act now. Our broken health system is a tremendous financial burden on our Nation's families and businesses alike. Since 1999, family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance have increased 119 percent, nearly 4 times the increase in wages (34 percent) and inflation (29 percent) during that same time. About one in three Americans reported a serious problem ``paying for health care and health insurance'' in October 2008. Half of all bankruptcies can be traced to medical bills. 49 percent of people in foreclosure named medical problems as a cause of their financial difficulties. According to the New America Foundation, our economy lost as much as $207 billion last year because of the poor health and shorter lifespans of those without health insurance. General Motors spends more on health care than on steel. While I'm not suggesting we import the Canadian health system, it is worth highlighting that if we paid the same amount for health care as Canada, G.M. would have accumulated an additional $22 billion in profits over the last decade. Inadequate health coverage is crippling our economy. The President-elect declared that health care reform should happen ``this year''. Chairman Rangel and I are ready to work with him, Chairmen Waxman and Miller, our leadership and the Senate to achieve this goal. AmeriCare is a template of a way that we can achieve universal health care. AmeriCare is built on a framework that is consistent with many of the principles that President-elect Obama identified during the campaign. Like President-elect Obama's plan, it includes a public plan option. It uses Medicare's existing administrative infrastructure, but improves upon Medicare's benefits to address some of the current gaps in coverage. A public plan option is the only way to ensure that beneficiaries have access to an option that promotes people over profit. As Medicare itself includes both public and private plan options, one could make the case that AmeriCare has an exchange, like Obama's plan as well. Like President-elect Obama's plan, it maintains employer sponsored coverage. People can keep the coverage they have if they like it. We need to build on what works, not create an entirely new system. Like President-elect Obama's plan, it includes a pay-or-play component to ensure that the private sector continues to play a role in providing health care. AmeriCare meets the Health Care for America Now! reform principles. It was endorsed last year by the coalition, as well as provider groups, beneficiary advocates, and unions including: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Consumers Union, Families USA, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Public Hospitals, SEIU, Universal Health Care Action Network. AmeriCare is a practical proposal to ensure that everyone has affordable health coverage in our country. It builds on what works in today's health care system to provide simple, affordable, reliable health insurance. I look forward to working with President-elect Obama as he assumes the office of the President to achieve a universal health care program that meets the principles that he will outline to Congress. I will submit for the Record a short summary of AmeriCare. More can be found on my website at http://www.house.gov/stark. AmeriCare Health Care Act of 2009 Overview: The AmeriCare Health Care Act (``AmeriCare'') is a practical proposal to ensure that everyone has health coverage in our country. It builds on what works in today's health care system to provide simple, affordable, reliable health insurance. People would be covered under the new AmeriCare system, modeled on Medicare, or they would continue to obtain health coverage through their employer. Using the administrative efficiencies within Medicare and building on the existing coverage people receive through their jobs today, we can create an affordable, efficient, and stable universal health care system in America--and guarantee access to medical innovation and the world's most advanced providers and facilities. Structure and Administration: Creates a new title in the Social Security Act, ``AmeriCare.'' Provides universal health care for all U.S. residents, with additional coverage for children (under 24), pregnant women, and individuals with limited incomes (< 300 percent FPL). Sets out standards for supplemental plans with a focus on consumer protection. Requires the Secretary to negotiate discounts for prescription drugs. Benefits: Adults receive Medicare Part A and B benefits; preventive services, substance abuse treatment, mental health parity; and prescription drug coverage equivalent to the BC/ BS Standard Option in 2008. Children receive comprehensive benefits and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) coverage with no cost-sharing. Cost Sharing: There is a $350 deductible for individuals/ $500 for families (indexed over time), and 20 percent coinsurance. Total spending (premiums, deductibles, and co- insurance) is capped at out-of-pocket maximum of $2,500 individual/$4,000 family (indexed over time), or 5 percent of income for beneficiaries with income between 200 percent-300 percent FPL and 7.5 percent of income for beneficiaries with income between 300 percent-500 percent FPL. There is no cost sharing for children, pregnant women and low-income individuals (below 200 percent FPL). Sliding scale subsidies are in place for cost-sharing for individuals between 200 percent and 300 percent FPL. Financing: At April 15 tax filing each year, individuals either demonstrate equivalent coverage through their employer or pay the AmeriCare premium based on cost of coverage and class of enrollment (individual, couple, unmarried individual with children, or married couple with children). Employers may either pay 80 percent of the AmeriCare premium or provide equivalent benefits through a group health plan (the contribution for part-time workers is pro-rated). AmeriCare does not affect contracts or collective bargaining agreements in effect as of the date of enactment, and employers may choose to provide additional benefits. Employers with fewer than 100 employees have until January 1, 2014 to comply (employees of small businesses would still only pay 20 percent of the premium).

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to yet another taxpayer funded bailout of an industry that has been poorly managed for years. I voted no when Wall Street came asking for their handout in September and I will vote no to bailing out corporations that have refused to evolve and build products that people want to buy. The automakers are in trouble because they have been mismanaged. For years they built gas-guzzlers, stifled innovation, and lobbied against reasonable environmental and safety standards. Even when credit was flowing freely, Americans weren't buying Detroit's products. Workers are not to blame--they have already accepted deep wage and benefit cuts. If there was anything in this bill that provided protection for those workers, then I might think differently. What I see, however, is a repeat of the September bailout scenario; a large commitment of taxpayer money with very little explanation of how these funds will address the significant problems of the industry. Indeed, the CEOs tell us that the $15 billion will ``get them through January.'' And then what? If you want to see quality cars being made by unionized workers, go to my district. At the NUMMI plant in Fremont, UAW-organized workers build cars, such as Corollas, that people want to buy. This plant is a joint venture between GM and Toyota and has made a profit for both companies. They are not here asking for a bailout. Let's not repeat the mistakes of three months ago by throwing good money after bad.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the service of my colleague Jim McCrery of Louisiana who is retiring after over 20 years as Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Jim and I have also served together on the Committee on Ways and Means for 16 years. Though we are from opposite sides of the aisle--and we frequently take opposite perspectives on issues--he is a colleague I admire greatly and a friend I will miss. One of the many downsides to the increased partisanship in Congress is that many Members do not take the time to develop personal relationships across the aisle. Jim has never adhered to that philosophy. Maybe that's because he started in Congress on the staff of a Democratic Member of Congress. But I believe it's because Jim values the array of opinions to be had in Congress and is willing to look at the data and listen to others' thoughts before he makes up his mind-- not necessarily always toeing a straight party line. As the Ranking Member on the Committee on Ways and Means during this session of Congress, Jim and our Chairman Charlie Rangel restored civility and respect to the proceedings of our Committee--something that didn't exist under the leadership of the previous Chairman. For Jim, the title ``Honorable'' is truly representative of him. He's served his constituents and this country well. His leadership and service will be missed. I wish Jim and his family all the best.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Baldwin High School Boys Varsity Cross-Country team for their first place finish in the McDonald's Cross Country Festival at Maymont, Virginia. The team finished 25 seconds ahead of the second place team in the silver division. With their decisive victory the boys of Baldwin are now recognized among to top cross-country teams in Pennsylvania this year. The McDonald's Cross Country Festival at Maymont draws over 3,000 of the best high school athletes from 15 different States. The Baldwin team put in long, hard hours of training to place among the elite teams in the State. I would like to recognize the dedication of T.J. Hobart, Matt Cecala, Dennis Logan, Michael Cain, Paul Degregorio, George Crompton and my grandson, David Wainwright. I congratulate their fine performance in Maymont. I recently spoke with Baldwin's cross-country coach Wright and he highlighted the special comradery and commitment of everyone on the team. The Baldwin team has attended the meet for the last 3 years; however, the dedicated young men I have mentioned are the first to emerge victorious. The coach spoke of his pride with the boys' accomplishment and I share his pride today. It is my honor to recognize the victory of the Balwin Boys Varsity Cross-Country team, especially my grandson David. I commend their hard work and commitment to teamwork as they head into ``championship month'' in Pennsylvania. I wish the boys the best of luck in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League State Championship in Hershey later this month.

Mr. STARK

Mr. STARK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and unfortunately, I have to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill. Somebody in the press not so long ago earlier this week said eight out of 10 of my colleagues know nothing about economics or banking, and this bill shows that he was quite right. This bill does nothing but bail out Wall Street and large corporate America. It spends $800 billion that the taxpayers will end up having to pay for, and it does nothing for middle Americans. Is there a crisis in this country? Yes, there is, but there is not a crisis for those people who have been working, trying to pay their bills. There's not a crisis for your average community bank who has no problem with liquidity. There is not a crisis for your credit cards being unable to work. That's Paulson's way to scare us, as Colin Powell tried to scare us some years ago by saying if we didn't vote for an ill-conceived war we'd see terrorists on the streets. We're getting the same kind of misinformation now, the same kind of rush to judgment to tell you that a crisis will occur. It won't. Vote ``no.'' Come back and help work on a bill that will help all Americans.

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of providing much needed assistance to the millions of workers struggling to make ends meet. Unlike the Wall Street bailout we just passed, extending unemployment benefits will actually help to keep people in their homes. Unlike giving a $700 billion blank check to Henry Paulson, extending unemployment benefits will stimulate the economy and will bring money into local communities. Last month the economy lost 160,000 jobs--the ninth month in a row of job loss. Without congressional action, 800,000 workers are expected to lose their unemployment benefits in October. In my State of California, the unemployment rate is 7.7 percent and climbing. Many of these workers are exhausting their benefits and are unable to find work. This legislation will provide immediate relief to these workers. Today we heard a lot of bluster about Main Street. Make no mistake, people are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table. Wall Street has already gotten their share; I urge all of my colleagues to make sure that we take this small step to help millions of workers get their share.