Mark Walker

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), our resident veterinarian in the House.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, we talk about numbers. Twenty-five percent of all Americans have been damaged at some point under this Affordable Care Act. We cannot look the other way. One gentleman who doesn't look the other way but stands up and speaks the truth is Representative Pete Olson. I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, tonight is our third time that we have hosted People's Night. This is a time for our Members to bypass outside forces and influences and talk directly to the American people. Tonight we are presenting something that has been very important, not just a topic, but something that nearly 6 years ago--or a little over 6 years ago--right here where we stand tonight was passed in an overly bipartisan manner and has burdened the American people in what is now known as ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act. This is a piece of legislation that has burdened small businesses and individuals alike. Now we have been asked to fix it, to repeal and to replace. Well, it takes Members to be able to have experience in this particular field to understand the heart of community. One of the people who does that most, specifically in the area of poverty initiatives, who reaches across community lines, reaches across party lines is the gentleman from Kentucky, my good friend, Representative Andy Barr from Kentucky. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Mr. WALKER. I thank Representative Barr. Your compassion on this topic is certainly evident. We appreciate your comments this evening. Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of numbers I would like to share that puts it a little bit in the context of what we are dealing with here. Seventy-five percent of co-ops have failed. In five States, Americans are down to just one option. The great thing about our country's history is that we have choices. We have decisions. Yet, since the takeover of this administration over health care, those choices have continued to reduce. Sometimes you may hear Congress this or Congress that. One of the neat things about Congress is the amount of people coming from diverse backgrounds. Our next speaker tonight is Representative Mike Bishop, former senate majority leader in his home State of Michigan, who was already working on those reforms when he came to the United States Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. WALKER. I thank Representative Bishop of Michigan. One of the numbers my friend just mentioned was 8 out of 10. Nearly 80 percent, according to Gallup, believe this law should be overhauled or completely repealed. So I ask people watching tonight and my friends across the aisle: Are we to do nothing? In fact, even in the press conference today, President-elect Trump said that, if we did nothing, it would continue to fail. But we have an obligation to stand up and do what is right. We can't do nothing. People are suffering--in fact, suffering to the place that even recently a couple months ago a Minnesota Governor was honest enough to talk about how it has damaged small business. Goodness gracious, even a former Democratic President has acknowledged the destruction it has caused for individuals and small businesses. No one knows more about what it does to our States than individual Representatives. One of the fine gentlemen that is speaking tonight is Representative French Hill. He is one of the sharper minds that we have had as part of the 114th class that I have been privileged to meet and serve with for the last 2 years. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

Mr. WALKER. If you listened closely there, Representative Hill talked about some of the premiums increasing. If you think back 6, 7, even 8 years ago, even part of the original campaign talking about the Affordable Care Act, this ObamaCare, we think about three promises--we have all heard them--you can keep your doctor, you can keep your healthcare plan, and premiums are going down. Specifically one that stands out more was the premiums going down $2,500. My Democratic friends want to ignore some of those numbers, but here are the facts: In 2014, premiums increased across the board 37 percent; 2015, again, last year, 25 percent. In fact, in some States, it is out of sight. In my home State of North Carolina, it is 40 percent. But in some places, in Arizona, it is as high as 116 percent. So the process of working to put this together, the RSC plan and the repeal and replace, who better than to have people that have experience in this? There is maybe nobody better in the House who has the insurance background than our friend, Representative Austin Scott from Georgia's Eighth District. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Mr. WALKER. Representative Scott, well articulated. I appreciate your heart on this. Looking at this and tackling this project because of the 2,600 pages of complexities, I guess we don't need to reiterate it, but how the minority leader said that we needed to pass this law to be able to figure out what is in it. Obviously, it is more than just a running joke. With the people in the background, what does it take to kind of wrap our minds around it and to wrap our arms around it so as to find our way back? It takes people with medical experience, and it takes people with budget experience. This is going to be huge. One of the Members we have here with us tonight is the vice chair of the Committee on the Budget, someone who has great concern about the damage that this has caused to the fine folks of Indiana, whom he represents. It is my privilege to yield to the Representative from Indiana, Todd Rokita.

Mr. WALKER. I thank Representative Rokita. Mr. Speaker, as I was sitting here, I just received a text from a volunteer fire department official right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. He writes that they were watching the proceedings this evening: I just want to let you know that even my drug prescription has gone up $200 out of pocket per person. He has three daughters in his family. Think about this. This is real-life stuff. That is why we are stepping in. Part of our plan in the repeal and replacement--the American Health Care Reform Act--allows you to have immediate access to your health savings account. You would not have to worry about somebody's needing a prescription or somebody's needing medicine--one of the children--and, every time, it is $200 out of pocket. That is why it is important to move--and to move with diligence. Someone who knows a little bit about the healthcare industry is my friend Dr. Brian Babin of Texas, who has been dealing with this in his own dentist's practice. He is a former veteran and is someone who cares about his district but who cares about all Americans. It is my privilege to yield to my friend from the great State of Texas, the Lone Star State, Dr. Brian Babin.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, who better to close out our Special Order than a gentleman, a doctor who has employed hundreds of people and has worked with thousands of patients? You may have heard the false narrative that, yes, we have contributed in breaking the program, from the Democrat's perspective, and you guys need to fix it, but you don't have a plan. Well, that is a false narrative and here to tell you why is Dr. Phil Roe. I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line to the American people is this: it is time to return healthcare choices to the American people. God bless and good night. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 1698, the Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act. I commend the leadership of my colleagues and friends from the State of North Carolina, Senator Tillis, Senator Burr, and Representative McHenry, on this important bipartisan issue. Today, we address a dark chapter of the early 20th century in America. Dozens of State governments unjustly and unconscionably operated eugenics programs to sterilize--by force or coercion-- individuals they deemed unfit to have children. It ruthlessly targeted the undereducated, the needy, the disabled, and even African Americans. Thankfully, this shameful practice ended many years ago, but many of its victims are still with us today. While no apology or amount of money or benefit can ever return what was lost, Virginia and our State of North Carolina recently began restitution payments to victims of this grievous injustice. Unfortunately, this program resulted in unintended burdens for eugenics victims. The restitution payments currently count as Federal income against eligibility for Federal benefits, such as Medicaid, and may result in the denial of these benefits. Counting these payments as Federal income when they are compensation for this horrendous injustice is not right. We are considering this important legislation today to close the unintended loophole and ensure the Federal Government does not undermine the efforts of States to provide some amount of restitution to those who were victims of this grave crime of eugenics. This bill should remind us that every life is precious. I wholeheartedly support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. I thank the chairman, and I thank my distinguished colleague from Alabama for working so diligently on this piece of legislation. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4921, the Ditto Act. The Ditto Act is not just about ensuring that the Internal Revenue Service properly maintains its records; it is also about holding the government and the powerful to the same standards to which they hold American citizens. This bill states that, if the IRS requires American citizens to maintain their tax records, then the IRS also has to maintain any record for at least 3 years. Currently, the IRS requests or recommends American citizens maintain certain records or tax information for the ``just in case.'' Essentially, the IRS says that American citizens have to hold on to their information for years at a time in the event that the IRS may request information to audit us, to investigate us, or to take some similar action. However, current investigations and congressional hearings show that the IRS does not hold itself to the same standards, and it does not properly maintain its own records. This unequal enforcement of the law is part of a bigger problem. Continued and recent events, as we have seen recently, point to the fact that government agencies, such as the IRS, attempt to play by different rules than the rest of us. The Ditto Act is another step in ensuring that government bureaucrats are held to the same standards as all Americans. If the IRS insists that we maintain our records, then the IRS should have to play by the same rules and be held similarly accountable for the same information. That is why I have introduced this simple piece of legislation. This bill provides a level playing field. It tells American citizens that their government is operating under the same set of rules that it requires all of us to operate under. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this effort.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of this amendment. President Obama and his administration are threatening to remove Federal funding to North Carolina's educators, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure as punishment for its passage of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. This is despite the fact that this administration's lawsuit against North Carolina is still pending and unresolved. Simply put, our courts have not yet found North Carolina in violation of the law. To punish or to threaten to punish North Carolina before our courts have properly ruled on the case violates our Constitution. It is for our courts, not President Obama, to adjudicate whether someone has violated the law. Further, our Nation was founded on the strength of diverse values. During this time of heated rhetoric, we must focus on maintaining a civil society where the government does not punish people for what they believe, but allows an open discourse to all where all are free to follow their beliefs. This is why this amendment is necessary--to protect North Carolinians from President Obama's executive overreach and maintain our constitutional system.

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

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Chairman, this bill includes over $9 billion in appropriations for 22 nondefense programs that are not authorized by law. Nine of these programs receive a total of $185 million more than their enacted 2016 level. Several of these programs have not been authorized since the 1980s, and one has never been authorized by Congress. My amendment is simple. My amendment would reduce unauthorized nondefense accounts to the 2016 levels. My amendment would also cut around $185 million and send that money to the spending reduction account. In a time when we, as a Nation, are approaching close to $20 trillion in debt, we cannot continue to fund unauthorized accounts in our appropriations process. This is a democratic Nation, and the men and women send the Members of this body, not to slip unauthorized programs in appropriations bills, but to have an open discussion on our funding priorities. Furthermore, the inclusion of appropriations for these programs in the reported bill is a violation of clause(2)(a)(1) of rule XXI of the rules of the House. I applaud Representative Tom McClintock and Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers for their significant work to raise awareness of the problem of unauthorized appropriations and work towards a solution so that the House actually enforces its rules. This year's Energy and Water appropriations includes over $1 billion in appropriations, and six more unauthorized programs that the House did pass in the 2016 Energy and Water bill from last year. If we want to fund a program, we should have an open debate and a transparent process that promotes trust and accountability. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is simple. It simply rolls back or reduces unauthorized nondefense accounts to the 2016 levels. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4987) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3957 2nd Avenue in Laurel Hill, Florida, as the ``Sergeant First Class William `Kelly' Lacey Post Office''.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4747) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6691 Church Street in Riverdale, Georgia, as the ``Major Gregory E. Barney Post Office Building''.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4761) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 61 South Baldwin Avenue in Sierra Madre, California, as the ``Louis Van Iersel Post Office''.