Committee Statements

Thank you for yielding.
 
It is unfortunate that you chose not to consider fully this committee’s interest and important stake in the House Democrat version of the Violence Against Women Act before it made it to the House floor last week, and before that H.R. 1, you’ve deemed this one-sentence Democratic attack on the administration worthy of the full committee’s consideration without a hearing on the issue.
 
Nevertheless, the fact that a bill referred primarily to the Energy and Commerce Committee, followed by this committee and the Ways and Means Committee is being considered here today is still worth noting. At the risk of sounding like the college instructor I used to be, I’ll give you partial credit, Mr. Chairman.
 
This committee has jurisdiction over employer-sponsored health care. Our focus should be on improving those options. Rather than focus on this priority, we are here today to consider H.R. 1010, which would eliminate short-term limited duration insurance plans. These plans are an obvious potential solution for millions of Americans, working or not, who may find themselves between jobs, or unable to afford rising premiums in the already expensive individual market.
 
Democrats conveniently fail to mention that short-term limited duration plans were legal under the Obama administration, and that states still have the authority to regulate these plans, both under the Obama administration and under the current rules. If states choose to limit or prohibit the sale of these plans, they are free to do so. By considering this bill, House Democrats are reiterating that they favor one-size-fits-all federal mandates, instead of respecting the judgment of state lawmakers and authorities to act in their state’s best interest.

One of the worst examples of Big Brother I've ever seen.
 
If House Democrats want to attempt to codify and enshrine in the law, for posterity, their obsession with taking away affordable health insurance options, leaving hardworking Americans with fewer choices and higher premiums, that is certainly an option for them.
 
Republicans on this committee remain fully dedicated to protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions and unleashing new customizable, affordable, workable healthcare options that take into account the changing needs of all Americans at all stages of life.
 
H.R. 1010 is a one-sentence bill that will not lower drug prices, will not protect anyone from surprise billing, will not lower premiums, will not cut any out-of-pocket costs, and will not provide one cent of tax relief. Its failure to achieve any of those objectives makes it simply unacceptable to us as Republicans.