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Lowering drug costs is simple, and it’s bipartisan. Unfortunately, this week the House majority missed a great opportunity to pass legislation that would lower drug costs for Americans by inserting four partisan poison pills into an otherwise bipartisan and noncontroversial package of healthcare bills.
Three bills that passed unanimously in the Energy and Commerce Committee had the opportunity to become law this week. Instead, the legislation that came to the floor included provisions that would allocate millions of taxpayer dollars toward Obamacare failures and restrict health care choices, including short-term limited-duration insurance plans, that were expanded last Congress. The Washington Post described the maneuver as a “political pothole in the way of bipartisan drug pricing bills,” but Republicans thought of a better way to use the money that Democrats insist on spending to bailout Obamacare. We offered a motion to recommit that would have redirected the over $4 billion authorized in the bill for Obamacare bailout provisions towards the NIH Innovation Fund to support childhood cancer research. Unfortunately, that measure didn’t pass. And H.R. 987 will surely die in the Senate.
H.R. 5, which passed in the House today, may have “equality” in its title, but it does not serve all people. The bill redefines “sex” under the Civil Rights Act to include “a sex stereotype, sexual orientation or gender identity.” The bill’s vague definition of gender identity will lead only to uncertainty, litigation and harm to individuals and organizations that will be forced to comply with a law that the authors don’t even seem to understand. Opening schools and workplaces to expanded liability based on a “perception or belief, even if inaccurate” of suspected discrimination would have untold chilling effects on hiring, career advancement and discourse in the classroom—ultimately working against the goal of eliminating discrimination.
Furthermore, this bill is alarming in its meticulous and intentional destruction of religious freedom protections with provisions that gut the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Also, by including in the definition of “sex,” “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition,” the bill favors pro-abortion advocates at the expense of the religious freedom of pro-life health care providers.
Nobody should be forced to perform, refer, pay for, or otherwise participate in an abortion and refusing to do so should not be a crime of discrimination. I introduced an amendment that would have clarified that provisions related to the definition of sex including “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition,” could not construed as creating a right to abortion on demand. My amendment would have protected health care providers from being charged with discrimination for their beliefs, but it was not allowed to be debated or voted on.
| Caring for Vietnam Veterans |
In a bright moment of bipartisanship this week, the House passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Act with a vote of 410-0 to take care of Vietnam veterans. This bill extends VA disability compensation to veterans who served on U.S. Navy ships off the coast of Vietnam and have been diagnosed with diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. The benefits were also extended to veterans’ children, who have suffered residual health problems.
This Police Week, Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard, who died in the line of duty last May, had his name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. His sister, Olivia, and a group of his colleagues came to Washington for the occasion. It was my honor to give them a Capitol tour and have them watching from the House Gallery as I honored Trooper Bullard on the floor. Before National Police Week is over tomorrow, don’t forget to thank a police officer for all they do to keep us safe!
Click here or the image above to watch my floor remarks. |
Girls on the Run of the High Country in Boone |
The Emerick Family, ALS advocates |
Vulcan Materials Company |
North Carolina members of the National Realtors Association |
National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors of North Carolina |
On May 17, 1954, in Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided to end racial segregation in public education, a historic decision that paved the way for truly equal opportunities in America.
When Congress returns to DC next week, we will debate our current tax incentives for retirement savings and the power vested in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Sincerely,
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