Date: 2012-02-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

My good friend from Georgia. some things bear repeating. I love February 2. It happens to be my daughter. Ericas. birthday. Some call it Groundhog Day. I call it a day of great celebration for a bit of joy that came into our lives. So its a day for many that is happy. Its a day that many humorously look forward to great weather. Some remember our good friend. Bill Murray. and it is a day that symbolizes repetition. Sometimes the pain of Americans deserves to be repeated over and over again. And Id like to answer my good friend. not speaking for Mr. PALLONE. but. in actuality. we have the opportunity now to have bipartisan hearings. Nothing is precluded. Mr. PALLONES statement was accurate. He was not writing the structure of longterm care. He was indicating that. for Americans. it was vital. What is disappointing is that my friends on the other side of the aisle are willing to give up so easily. I dont understand that. Wheres the American genius? Of course. they will cite HHS. but they know that Congress directs HHS. They know that the repeal of this legislation for longterm care will simply kill the opportunity for Americans to find relief. As we look to the future. we are just a month away until taxes go up on middle class families. and Americans looking for work lose their unemployment insurance. and seniors face losing access to their doctors. We could be working on that. move the conference committee a little faster. But were now adding an extra burden. Lets repeal the CLASS Act. It doesnt disturb me that HHS has made several tries. and in a time frame has not found a cure yet. But knowing research and knowing science and being near and in the community of the Texas Medical Center. I know how long it takes to get a good answer in health care. But what I do want to stress to my friends. can they deny that 82 percent of Americans say that taking care of relatives who are aging or ill is demanding? Eightytwo percent of them say that. 72 percent indicate that taking care of them is overwhelming. 56 percent said that as they are taking care of their sick relatives. they are getting ill. Yet we want to abandon the discussion on longterm care when Ive already said on the floor of the House that $450 billion of that longterm care is already in private hands. Its in families. Its through their labor. They are overwhelmed. Only $14 billion is in the private industry sector. See how much theyre standing up to the bar. and $101 billion in Medicaid. We have to find a solution that balances benefit and burden. Listen to a constituent from Texas who took care of her son after he was seriously injured in a roadside bombing while patrolling in Iraq. She did not return home 7 years in order to be with her Son. Debbie initially took a leave of absence from her job. but ended up resigning to become a fulltime caregiver for her son. Because she no longer had a paid job. and her husband was the only one working. they had to start using their retirement savings to survive. Her son is now better. great news. and active in the community. And she continues her work. But the catastrophic impact to the family continues on. Rhonda has gone from a parttime. visiting caregiver to her elderly parents to a livein. fulltime caregiver. Even after the death of her own 23yearold daughter in a car accident. and her only brother becoming disabled after an illness. before 2001 she was a fulltime working mother of two. Where is the relief for these humans. these individuals. these people in need? Where is it? Its in the amendment I offered that indicated that it is important to note that longterm care is important. and a study should engender to be able to determine that. But more importantly. lets. again. look at this in a way that we take our time and look at the macroeconomics and take into consideration how we can best configure this. But let me tell you very clearly that if we repeal this CLASS Act. the burden will fall on local and State governments and the millions of caregivers who already. through their own effort and their own toil. with love. I will tell you with love. expend $450 billion that we dont compensate them for. lose their jobs. raise the deficit. add to the debt because they are not able to take care of themselves. And as we see. some 76 million baby boomers. Mr. Chairman. going forward. Let me just say. dont repeal this bill. It bears repeating. Help those who need your help. Mr. Chair. I move to strike the last word. Today. I am joined by Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. to call attention to the grievous threats posed by to H.R. 1173. "The Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011". to key provisions in the Affordable Health Care Act. H.R. 1173 bill would repeal title VIII of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Supports (CLASS) Programa national. voluntary longterm care insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services and supports. This piece of legislation is yet another example of the Republican Majority failing to act on the top priorities of the American people. At a time when we should be focused on building our economy. advancing underserved and underrepresented communities. addressing the needs of our Nations seniors. and focusing on the deficit. as well as. unemployment insurance. Instead of generating bold new ideas to help small businesses hire more Americans. to aid in the revitalization efforts of our manufacturing industry. to advance the cause for energy independence. to address the needs of families hurt the most by this economic down turn. Instead. The Republicans have brought forward a bill to repeal a self sustaining program for the aging and the disabled. The CLASS program is meant to help someone who is unable to bath. cloth. or conduct basic life actives. We should not be attacking programs that are designed to address issues of long term care. Title VIII also authorized and appropriated funding through 2015 for the National Clearinghouse for LongTerm Care Information (clearing house). H.R. 1173 would rescind any unobligated balances appropriated to the National Clearinghouse for LongTerm Care Information.