Geoff Davis RSS Articles

Thank Our Troops This Holiday Season

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate the season, it is important to take time to remember the brave men and women in uniform who cannot be home with their loved ones during the holidays because they are serving our country abroad.

This year, approximately 285,000 American troops will be serving overseas during the holidays, including more than 6,400 from Kentucky. Fortunately, there are many ways that we can show our support and share the Christmas spirit with our nation’s service men and women.

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for “Holiday Mail for Heroes,” a program that provides Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to soldiers and their families stationed around the globe. Last year, the program received more than 1.4 million cards for service members, their families, and veterans.

Between now and December 7th, holiday cards will be collected at a special address, screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes, and then boxed for delivery by hundreds of Red Cross volunteers. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail. You can send your greeting cards to: Holiday Mail for Heroes; P.O. Box 5456; Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456.

If you would like to send a care package to our deployed service members or their families during the holiday season, the Kentucky National Guard can help. Through their Family Assistance Center, you can obtain guidance and information on popular care package items, unit mailing addresses and organizations that collect care package donations. For more information, call (800) 372-7601.

Many military families could use your assistance to make the holidays brighter for the children of our nation’s fallen heroes. Operation Ensuring Christmas is a non-profit organization that was founded for the purpose of bringing a little extra joy to children who have lost a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Through the website http://www.opchristmas.org/, you can learn how to help send personalized Christmas gift cards to the children of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.

Showing support for our service men and women should not be limited to the holiday season. In order to ensure Kentuckians have access to resources and information on various organizations that need volunteers, donations, and fundraising help to continue their to the troops all year, I recently launched a new “Support Our Troops” section on my website.

On the website, Kentuckians can find out how to give back to veterans and make things a little easier for active-duty soldiers. You can also read about some of the extraordinary ways communities within the Fourth District are paying tribute to our nation’s heroes. To visit the ‘Support Our Troops’ section of the website, go to http://www.GeoffDavis.house.gov/troops/.

We are all deeply indebted to our men and women in uniform for their sacrifices. I hope each of you will find a way to show your support for these brave patriots during this holiday season.

A Better Solution to Health Care Reform

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Although Speaker Pelosi’s flawed 1,990 page health care bill (H.R. 3962) passed the House on November 7th, the debate on health care reform is far from over.

We need health care legislation that will give the American people the reform they have asked for: fix what is broken in our health care system, reduce cost and increase access to health insurance. That is why my Republican colleagues and I introduced the Common Sense Health Reform and Affordability Act (H.R. 4038).

Our health care reform legislation would increase access to health care coverage, reduce costs for all Americans and save the taxpayers’ money. The 219-page bill costs $61 billion and reduces the deficit by $68 billion over ten years for a net savings of $7 billion. Unlike Speaker Pelosi’s legislation, H.R. 4038 does not include job killing tax increases or harmful Medicare cuts that will affect our seniors’ benefits.

Our plan would make health insurance more affordable and therefore more accessible to American families and businesses. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), under H.R. 4038, insurance premiums will be $5,000 less expensive than the cheapest health insurance plan available under the Democrat bill.

H.R. 4038 creates State Plan Finders to ease access to plain English information about insurance plans without the fine print. It also creates a new incentive program that will reward States for taking steps that reduce premium costs and decrease the number of uninsured individuals.

Our bill gives small businesses and associations the power to pool together and offer better health care coverage at lower prices, just like corporations and labor unions do. Additionally, H.R. 4038 would give Americans the freedom to buy insurance across State lines.

To improve coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, our plan would establish State Universal Access Programs. These Universal Access Programs would expand and reform high-risk pools and reinsurance programs to guarantee that all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions, have access to affordable care. H.R. 4038 would also prohibit insurance companies from unjustly cancelling coverage or instituting lifetime spending caps. Additionally, it promotes prevention and wellness by doubling the financial incentives for employers to reward employees who adopt healthier lifestyles.

Health care reform will never be successful unless we include substantive medical malpractice reform. H.R. 4038 includes real medical liability reform to end junk lawsuits and reduce the practice of defensive medicine. CBO estimates that enactment of substantive medical liability reform would reduce federal budget deficits by $54 billion over ten years and reduce overall national health care costs.

We still have the opportunity to improve health care legislation and ensure that the final bill will increase access to affordable health care without piling additional debt on future generations, costing more jobs, or putting the government between patients and their doctors. Although the Common Sense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act failed by a vote of 176 to 258 when it was offered as a substitute to H.R. 3962, I am hopeful that the Majority will incorporate our sensible solutions into final health care reform legislation.

House Passes Massive Government Takeover of Health Care

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, November 7th, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi successfully forced passage of her trillion-dollar government takeover of health care, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). The bill narrowly passed the House by a vote of 220 to 215, despite broad bipartisan opposition.

The expansive provisions included in H.R. 3962 will affect the entire American health care system, which comprises one-sixth of our nation’s economy. The bill creates an enormous bureaucracy with 118 new agencies, programs and commissions that will drastically expand the government’s role in the health care decisions of families and doctors. You can view an organizational chart of the new bureaucracy here.

In addition to the complicated new health care bureaucracy, H.R. 3962 includes a government-run public option that could eventually force private insurers out of business, putting the U.S. on a path to a single-payer, government-run health care system. According to the nonpartisan Lewin Group, the public option could result in as many as 114 million Americans losing their current health insurance coverage, including 106 million Americans who currently have employer-provided health care.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 3962 will cost $1.3 trillion. To pay for its overwhelming cost, H.R. 3962 includes $732.5 billion in job-killing tax increases. These tax increases will affect every American, including families making $250,000 or less, small businesses, people who are unable to afford insurance, and businesses that want to hire new workers.

One particularly troubling provision of H.R. 3962 says that Americans who do not obtain “acceptable health insurance coverage” must pay a 2.5% tax. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation has confirmed that failure to pay this tax could result in criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

At a time when the national unemployment rate has reached a twenty-six year high, H.R. 3962 could further slow job growth in the U.S. thanks to a new $135 billion employer mandate tax (“play or pay”) and a $150 billion small business surtax. These tax increases could cause more than 5.5 million Americans to lose their jobs, according to a model developed by President Barack Obama’s own economic advisor, Dr. Christina Romer.

Americans asked Congress to give them real health care reform that would increase access to affordable quality care without piling additional debt on future generations, costing more jobs, or putting the government between patients and their doctors. Unlike Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues, Republicans listened to the pleas of the people and introduced fiscally responsible and effective health care reform legislation – H.R. 4038, the Common Sense Health Reform and Affordability Act.

H.R. 4038 represents a comprehensive approach to eliminating inefficiencies and waste, instead of a government takeover that will only create more. Our bill focuses on reducing premium costs for all Americans to make health insurance more affordable and accessible without raising taxes or cutting Medicare benefits for seniors. According to CBO, under H.R. 4038, insurance premiums will be $5,000 less expensive than the cheapest health insurance plan available under the Democrat bill.

There are better solutions to improve health care for American families than H.R. 3962. It is time for Congress to listen to the people and reach across the aisle to craft commonsense solutions that will address the problems in our health care system.

Although H.R. 3962 has passed the House, the debate on health care reform is far from over. I encourage you to continue to e-mail me with your thoughts on health care by clicking here.. You can read more about the Republican alternative legislation and stay up-to-date on the debate by visiting my Health Care issue page.

Democrats Reintroduce Health Reform in Bigger, More Expensive Packaging

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

On October 29, 2009, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the Democrats’ new health care reform legislation. The Speaker, who once famously promised the “most open and transparent Congress in history,” added more than 900 pages to H.R. 3200 behind closed doors to develop a bigger, more expensive and more complicated health care reform package, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962).

The American people asked Congress to start over on a new bill that would increase access to affordable health care without piling additional debt on future generations, costing more jobs, or putting the government between patients and their doctors. Unfortunately, the Democrat Majority chose to ignore the voice of the people and propose a bill that includes the same unpopular provisions that were in the Democrats’ previous health care legislation (H.R. 3200) and more.

At 1,990 pages (about 400,000 words), it will take Members of Congress and the American public time to read and comprehend this massive bill, but one thing is already clear: H.R. 3962 is not reform. Speaker Pelosi’s new legislation includes massive tax increases on small businesses and families, harmful cuts to Medicare benefits for seniors, unfunded mandates, budget gimmicks and would make the federal health care bureaucracy more complicated and more rigid by creating over 110 new boards, bureaucracies, commissions and programs.

According to analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 3962 comes with a trillion-dollar price tag. Specifically, CBO estimates that H.R. 3962 will cost approximately $1.2 trillion over the next ten years, a violation of President Barack Obama’s “target” spending total of $900 billion for health care reform legislation.

Health care reform is not reform without provisions that reduce health care costs for individuals, families, businesses and the government. In a recent letter, the Blue Dog Democrats said, “Rising health care costs are the single largest threat to our long-term fiscal picture, our economy and the pocketbooks of America’s families. In order to get a handle on our deficits and address the long-term financial liabilities of Medicare and Medicaid, we must take steps to reduce the growth rate of health care costs.” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Office of the Actuary reported that H.R. 3200 would increase national health expenditures by $750 billion over the next ten years. With double the pages and double the government, H.R. 3962 is likely to be even worse.

To pay for its overwhelming cost, H.R. 3962 includes $729.5 billion in job-killing tax increases. These tax increases will affect every American, including families making $250,000 or less, small businesses, people who are unable to afford insurance, and businesses that want to hire new workers.

In these times of economic hardship, the American people need jobs, not more taxes. When the cost of Speaker Pelosi’s bill is measured in terms of jobs, the bill is more expensive than H.R. 3200. According to the economic model developed by President Barack Obama’s chief economic advisor, H.R. 3962 could cause up to 5.5 million Americans to lose their jobs.

We can increase access to and reduce the cost of quality health care in America. However, H.R. 3962 does not get the job done. Health care reform is an incredibly complex issue that must be carefully debated to find the right way forward. My Republican colleagues and I stand ready to work with the Majority to pass commonsense bills that will improve our health care system.

You can read H.R. 3962 by clicking here. In addition to the legislative text, you can find reading guides and summaries of the bill as they become available. Speaker Pelosi is expected to reveal additional changes to H.R. 3962, so check website often for the most up-to-date information.

Congress Striving to Improve Breast Cancer Education and Treatment

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. It is estimated that 192,370 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. In Kentucky, there were 3,624 reported cases in 2007, according to the most recent data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry.

The widespread and pervasive nature of breast cancer means that most of us have been or will someday be touched by the disease. We owe it to our mothers, sisters, daughters, and ourselves to improve access to the resources needed to detect the disease early and to obtain proper treatment.

In recognition of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I would like to update you on Congress’ work to improve breast cancer education and patient treatment options.

In 2007, Congress reauthorized the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through fiscal year 2012 to provide access to critical screening services for underserved women in the United States. Since 1991, the NBCCEDP has screened more than 2.9 million women and diagnosed more than 29,000 cases of breast cancer. We also passed a bill in 2007 to allow the U.S. Postal Service to continue issuing the special postal stamp that contributes funding for breast cancer research for another four years. Since its inception in 1998, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp alone has raised over $59.5 million for research to improve detection, treatment and in pursuit of a cure.

Although breast cancer in women under forty years of age is rare, it can be very aggressive and is less likely to be detected early. In an effort to give young women the tools they need to prevent and fight this disease, I am a co-sponsor of the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act (H.R. 1740).

If it became law, the EARLY Act would implement a national education campaign to increase awareness in young women of the threats posed by breast cancer. In addition to helping young women identify the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer that lead to early diagnosis, the legislation would also teach important prevention efforts that women can use to reduce their risks.

One issue I hear about on a regular basis from constituents is insurance companies that only cover what is often referred to as a “drive-thru” mastectomy. I am a co-sponsor of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act (H.R. 1691) to put this bad practice to an end by requiring health insurance plans to cover a minimum forty-eight-hour hospital stay for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection for the treatment of cancer. Doctors and their patients should have the final say in how long a patient should be hospitalized following surgery.

For months, Congress has been debating the right way to reform our health care system. The broad bipartisan support behind the proposals described above demonstrates what can be done when we focus on commonsense solutions. To be successful, health care reform must increase choice, improve access and reduce cost. In addition, it must protect the doctor-patient relationship as the focal point for health care decisions. Another reform measure most Americans and their representatives in Congress agree on is preventing the denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, like breast cancer.

Today, there are approximately 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. With more efforts put toward education, early detection programs and health insurance reform, we can make sure the incidence of breast cancer decreases and the number of survivors continues to grow. As a husband and the father of four daughters, I am committed to continuing to support and champion legislation that will help those who are fighting this disease.

Tort Reform Critical to Successful Health Care Reform

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

For months, Members of Congress and the American public have hotly debated the right way to reform our health care system. We all agree that there are steps that can be taken to improve health care to make it more affordable and accessible, but the devil is in the details. It is critical that we find the right prescription for reform without adding to our climbing debt and deficit. One of the essential elements to successful reform that will reduce cost within our current health care system is comprehensive medical liability reform (“tort reform”).

As you may know, current law permits individuals to pursue civil claims against doctors and health care providers for “torts,” or breaches of duty that result in injury. The abuse of this system by trial lawyers causes huge increases in the cost of health care because doctors practice “defensive medicine” in anticipation of being sued. Abuses of the system also result in consistently higher medical liability insurance premiums for doctors, and those costs are passed along to consumers. Medical liability reform, done correctly, would reduce the number of junk lawsuits while protecting the rights of legitimately injured patients to hold the negligent responsible.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article written by three former presidents of the American Medical Association, “Statistics from private insurers, as well as a Justice Department report of 2007, indicate that upwards of 80% of malpractice cases are closed without payment—and when there is a trial, the physician-defendant wins 89% of the time. Yet these lawsuits, even when dismissed or closed without payment, cost doctors time and money, and encourage defensive medicine. This adds billions to the cost of medical care. It also increases malpractice insurance premiums, the costs of which get passed on to patients.”

Not only do abuses of our legal system increase physicians’ liability insurance rates and add to costs for consumers, they also drive qualified individuals out of the profession, reducing the availability of primary care doctors and specialists in some States. In 2002, the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) found that Kentucky had lost a significant percentage of doctors in high-risk fields such as obstetrics, mainly due to the high cost of liability insurance in Kentucky. On October 1st, Dr. John White, president of the KMA, described the lack of doctors in rural areas and estimated that Kentucky needs 2,300 additional doctors to meet national standards.

On October 9th, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that found that the enactment of substantive medical liability reform would reduce federal budget deficits by $54 billion over ten years and $11 billion this year alone. The CBO also states that the implementation of tort reform proposals could reduce national premiums for medical liability insurance by ten percent.

Health care reform will never be successful or sustainable unless we include substantive tort reform. Republicans offered multiple amendments in both the House and Senate in an effort to include medical liability reform in health care reform legislation. All of our amendments were defeated.

During his September 9th address before a Joint Session of Congress, President Barack Obama agreed that tort reform could play a role in making health care more affordable, stating “I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs.” It is time for the rest of the Democratic Leaders in Congress to follow suit and incorporate medical liability reform proposals into health care reform.

REINS Act to Increase Government Accountability

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In early 2006, Democrats gained the Majority in Congress, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Senate Leader Harry Reid and then-Senator Barack Obama in unveiling the Honest Leadership Open Government Act.

In her remarks, Speaker Pelosi said, “Ours must be a government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’… With this agenda, Democrats will create the most open and honest government in history, and put power back where it belongs – in the hands of all the people. Together, America can do better.”

Three years later, this promise has been repeatedly broken as the Majority rushes major bills through the legislative process and stifles debate on critical issues like health care, energy and the economy. These “fast track” procedures have become so commonplace that I joined my colleagues in co-sponsoring a bipartisan resolution requiring all non-emergency legislation to be posted online, in its final form, for at least 72 hours prior to a floor vote (H.Res. 554).

Not only is legislation hastily pushed through Congress under the direction of Speaker Pelosi, but Congress has long failed to exercise appropriate oversight for the rules and regulations that legislation authorizes. In an effort to significantly improve transparency and accountability in government, I have recently introduced the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 3765).

Too often, Congress delegates its constitutional authority for making laws to the executive branch through regulations. In many instances, Congress uses this delegation to delay or avoid accountability for the potentially burdensome impacts of legislation it passes. Under the REINS Act, Congress would be required to affirmatively approve any new major rule proposed by the executive agencies before it can be enforced on the American people.

Last year alone, the executive branch issued 3,006 new rules and regulations. These rules address everything from speed restrictions to reduce the threat of ship collisions with North Atlantic right whales to energy conservation standards for vending machines. Many of those rules are simple and required to ensure the regular operation of our government. However, they also include major rules that can have a staggering impact on our economy. Any rule that may result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, businesses or State and local governments, or significant adverse effects on the economy is defined as a “Major Rule.” In 2008, there were ninety-four “Major Rules.”

Rules and regulations authored by Washington, D.C. bureaucrats can have painful and expensive consequences for families, businesses, and communities in the American heartland. By requiring a vote on every new major rule, the REINS Act will ensure Congress resumes the legislative accountability granted by the Constitution and the responsibility for Congressional decisions intended by our founders.

Speaker Pelosi was right: America can do better. Congress must do better. As Congress considers sweeping legislation on health care, energy, and our economy that will delegate to the executive agencies dozens of new rulemaking opportunities, the REINS Act will ensure that Congress retains ultimate control and accountability for how the laws are implemented.

"Read the Bill" Legislation is Common Sense Government Reform

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Americans are counting on Congress to craft legislation that will effectively and responsibly address critical issues. Unfortunately, on the most important matters of the day, like the economy, energy and health care, Democrat Majority leaders have been consistently unwilling to allow an open process that results in the practical and effective solutions that the people want from their representatives.

Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of using “fast-track” procedures in the past as a way to rush legislation to a vote. Under the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, the Democratic Majority has repeatedly forced passage of staggeringly expensive legislation without first allowing meaningful debate, opportunity for both sides to offer amendments or even enough time to thoroughly read and understand legislation.

Earlier this year, families, communities and businesses nationwide called on Congress to craft an economic stimulus package to jumpstart the economy and create jobs. Rather than heed their call, Speaker Pelosi rushed a 1,075 page bill (H.R. 1) with a trillion-dollar price tag to a vote after allowing Members and the public only fifteen hours to read the final legislation.

In June, the Democrat Leadership set its sights on enacting sweeping new environmental legislation known as “cap and trade” that would affect every American family and business. In the days before the House voted on the bill, the legislative text grew from 946 pages to 1,201 pages. Although both Republicans and Democrats attempted to offer more than two hundred amendments to craft a better solution for America, the Rules Committee only permitted one amendment to be debated on the House floor. The final legislation (H.R. 2454) was not available for review until 3:09 a.m. on the morning of the vote.

It is past time for this practice to stop.

Both the American people and their representatives should have a reasonable opportunity to read a bill and understand its impact and cost before the vote. That is why I am a co-sponsor of H.Res. 554, a bipartisan resolution that would require all non-emergency legislation to be posted online, in its final form, for at least seventy-two hours prior to a floor vote.

In an effort to ensure this important legislation is brought to the House floor without delay, I recently joined 182 of my colleagues in signing a “discharge petition” that would force Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow a vote on H.Res. 554. A discharge petition with 218 signatures or more is a procedural tool that forces a vote on legislation when the Speaker refuses to allow consideration on the House floor. You can read H.Res. 554 and find an up-to-date list of co-sponsors and signatures on the discharge petition by visiting www.thomas.gov and entering the bill number.

Elected representatives cannot do their job properly without the time to read and fully digest the legislation upon which they are voting. With a potential vote on health care reform on the horizon, this issue is more imperative than ever. Americans deserve the opportunity to review the legislation and share their views on it with elected representatives before it comes to the floor. H.Res. 554 would ensure that Congress and the people have the time to at least read the final bill before voting on health care reform legislation that will have generational implications.

To read more about the debate on the economy and stimulus measures, click here.

To learn more about the debate on energy and “cap and trade," click here.

Time to End Federal Funding of ACORN

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

One of Congress’ primary responsibilities is to be a responsible steward of taxpayer money. In recent months, however, the Democrat Majority in Congress seem to have abandoned this fundamental duty as they continue to push legislation that calls for higher taxes and more spending, including the stimulus bill, cap and trade and flawed health care reform.

Kentuckians are sick and tired of seeing their hard-earned taxpayer dollars wasted in Washington. My Republican colleagues and I are determined to bring much-needed accountability and restraint to the federal budget. As part of our commitment to the American people, we have renewed our efforts to end federal funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

As you may know, ACORN receives millions of taxpayer dollars each year. It has repeatedly been associated with fraudulent voter registrations, misuse of taxpayer funds, and blatant disregard of federal tax laws. The expansive list of inappropriate conduct, including investigations and convictions of individuals associated with ACORN, is too long to recount here. The most recent incident involved video footage of ACORN employees giving advice about how to commit federal tax fraud by underreporting and misrepresenting income to the Internal Revenue Service.

According to a report published by Republican staff at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, ACORN has received approximately $53 million in taxpayer funds since 1994. This does not include taxpayer assistance that ACORN may have received at the State and local levels. ACORN is also currently eligible to receive a portion of up to $8.5 billion in federal funds passed in the economic stimulus bill and the 2010 federal budget.

It is past time to stop ACORN from receiving another penny of the American taxpayer’s money. On September 15th, more than 130 House Republicans signed a letter to President Obama asking him to publicly disclose and terminate all federal funding to ACORN and its affiliates. The letter states, “This is a matter of common sense and respect for taxpayer dollars…The Census Bureau has made the commendable decision to sever ties with ACORN, and it is now critical that all remaining federal entities with ties to ACORN do the same.” You can read the full letter here.

On September 17th, House Republicans offered an amendment that would stop all federal dollars from going to ACORN. I am pleased to report that the House of Representatives has adopted it with overwhelming bipartisan support. While this is an important step in the right direction, it is not enough because this amendment could be stripped out before becoming law. That is why I joined more than 150 of my colleagues in co-sponsoring H.R. 3571, the Defund ACORN Act, which will sever the troubled organization’s financial ties to the federal government. I am hopeful that Speaker Pelosi will allow this sensible legislation to come to the House floor for a vote without delay.

As your Representative in Congress, I am committed to stop government waste and protect the taxpayers’ hard-earned money. Rest assured, I will continue fighting to ensure that ACORN’s ties to the federal government are cut once and for all.

Visit my budget issue page to read more about the federal budget and Republican proposals on fiscal discipline.

Illegal Immigrants and Health Care Reform

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Since President Obama’s address to the Joint Session of Congress on September 9th, there have been many conflicting reports about whether illegal immigrants would be able to access the health care benefits included in the reform legislation currently being considered in the House of Representatives (H.R. 3200).

Despite the President’s pledge that his plan for health care reform “would not apply to those who are here illegally,” H.R. 3200 does not do enough to satisfy the President’s standard.

Although Section 245 of the legislation includes language requiring individuals to verify their income in order to receive federal subsidies to purchase health insurance, the bill fails to include any requirement for individuals to verify their citizenship, immigration status, or identity before enrolling in the government health care programs created by the bill.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, “Under H.R. 3200, a ‘Health Insurance Exchange’ would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option…H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitizens—whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently—participating in the Exchange” (CRS Report R40773, Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200).

The nonpartisan Center for Immigration Studies projects that if all uninsured illegal immigrants who qualify based on income levels (a total of 6.6 million people) were to receive the taxpayer-funded subsidies to purchase health insurance as provided in H.R. 3200, it would cost the federal government $30.5 billion annually. That is a drastic increase over the estimated $4.3 billion a year that federal, State and local governments currently spend on health care for illegal immigrants, mainly at emergency rooms and free clinics.

House Republicans agree with President Obama that federal taxpayer subsidies should not be provided to undocumented immigrants. Section 246 of H.R. 3200 says that nothing shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. However, the bill contains no verification mechanism to enforce Section 246 and ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive benefits.

In order to combat this, Congressman Dean Heller [NV-2] offered an amendment during the House Committee on Ways and Means markup of H.R. 3200 to clarify and strengthen the bill by requiring applicants for the bill’s taxpayer-subsidized benefits to verify their citizenship and identity. This amendment was defeated 15-26 on a party line vote.

Many existing federal assistance programs, including Medicaid, Title IV Educational Assistance Programs, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (also known as welfare) and certain housing programs, already use effective verification programs to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining benefits. These programs can provide a model for a similar program that could be incorporated into health care reform legislation.

As we continue towards final legislation, we must guarantee that the final bill includes critical provisions that will require applicants for taxpayer-subsidized benefits to verify their citizenship and identity.

You can read more about the health care reform debate by visiting my health care issue page.