Date: 2011-01-07
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague from the Rules Committee for allowing me to speak. I rise in strong opposition to this rule on H.R. 2. the Patients Rights Repeal Act. Just yesterday. the Congressional Budget Office said that this repeal would cost $230 billion in additional Federal debt. Its amazing. this is our first major piece of legislation and the Republicans are already adding to the national debt. The issue facing our country is jobs. Instead of repealing health care. we should be bringing up a jobs bill like the China currency reform. Where is that bill on the floor with the new majority? Let me tell you what this bill will do. At least in Texas. we will see tragedy happen. 161.000 young adults will lose their insurance coverage through their parents health care planthats only in Texasand 2.8 million Texans who have Medicare coverage will be forced to pay copays now for preventative services like mammograms and colonoscopies. Medicare will no longer pay for the annual visit of nearly 2.8 million Texansand many more Americans for Medicareand 128.682 Texans on Medicare will receive higher prescription costs if this law is repealed. Madam Speaker. yesterday Congressional Budget Office said "over the 20122021 period. the repeal of health care reform on federal deficits . . . will cost $230 billion." Texas and the rest of the nation cannot afford to add an additional $230 billion in deficit spending. The issue facing the country is jobs. Instead of repealing health care. we should bring up a jobs bill like China currency reform. The Republicans came into office promising to reduce federal spending and reduce the deficit. but their first act in the Majority is to try to pass a Rule that would exempt H.R. 2 for statutory PAYGO. In addition to adding billions in dollars to the deficit. consideration of H.R. 2 would jeopardize the current and future health care benefits of my constituents. The negative effects repealing the Affordable Care Act will have on Texas and all Americans. Up to 161.000 young adults would lose their insurance coverage through their parents health plans. Nearly 11.8 million residents of Texas with private insurance coverage would suddenly find themselves vulnerable again to having lifetime limits placed on how much insurance companies will spend on their health care. Insurance companies would once again be allowed to cut off someones coverage unexpectedly when they are in an accident or become sick because of a simple mistake on an application. This would leave more than 1.1 million people in Texas at risk of losing their insurance. More than 1.1 million residents of Texas would not know if they are receiving value for their health insurance premium dollars. as insurers in state would no longer be required to spend at least 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars on health care rather than CEO salaries. bonuses. and corporate profits. Nearly 2.8 million seniors in Texas who have Medicare coverage would be forced to pay a copay to receive important preventive services. like mammograms and colonoscopies. Medicare would no longer pay for an annual checkup visit. so nearly 2.8 million seniors in Texas who have Medicare coverage would have to pay extra if they want to stay healthy by getting checkups regularly. A total of 128.682 Texans on Medicare would see significantly higher prescription drug costs. In Texas. Medicare beneficiaries received a onetime. taxfree $250 rebate to help pay for prescription drugs in the "donut hole" coverage gap in 2010. Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the "donut hole" in 2011 will be eligible for 50 percent discounts on covered brand name prescription drugs. Madam Speaker. when Texans and all Americans will soon be finally free from worrying that affordable coverage will not be available to them and their families when they need it the most. repealing the Affordable Care Act would be devastating. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote no on the rule to consider H.R. 2.