[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H12072-H12075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           STATE HIGH RISK POOL FUNDING EXTENSION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4519) to amend the Public Health Service Act to extend 
funding for the operation of State high risk health insurance pools.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4519

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``State High Risk Pool Funding 
     Extension Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR OPERATION OF STATE HIGH RISK 
                   HEALTH INSURANCE POOLS.

       Section 2745 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300gg-45) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 2745. RELIEF FOR HIGH RISK POOLS.

       ``(a) Seed Grants to States.--The Secretary shall provide 
     from the funds appropriated under subsection (d)(1)(A) a 
     grant of up to $1,000,000 to each State that has not created 
     a qualified high risk pool as of the date of enactment of the 
     State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005 for the 
     State's costs of creation and initial operation of such a 
     pool.
       ``(b) Grants for Operational Losses.--
       ``(1) In general.--In the case of a State that has 
     established a qualified high risk pool that--
       ``(A) restricts premiums charged under the pool to no more 
     than 200 percent of the premium for applicable standard risk 
     rates;
       ``(B) offers a choice of two or more coverage options 
     through the pool; and
       ``(C) has in effect a mechanism reasonably designed to 
     ensure continued funding of losses incurred by the State in 
     connection with operation of the pool after the end of the 
     last fiscal year for which a grant is provided under this 
     paragraph;
     the Secretary shall provide, from the funds appropriated 
     under paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and (2)(A) of subsection (d) and 
     allotted to the State under paragraph (2), a grant for the 
     losses incurred by the State in connection with the operation 
     of the pool.
       ``(2) Allotment.--Subject to paragraph (4), the amounts 
     appropriated under paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and (2)(A) of 
     subsection (d) for a fiscal year shall be allotted and made 
     available to the States (or the entities that operate the 
     high risk pool under applicable State law) that qualify for a 
     grant under paragraph (1) as follows:
       ``(A) An amount equal to 40 percent of such appropriated 
     amount for the fiscal year shall be allotted in equal amounts 
     to each qualifying State that is one of the 50 States or the 
     District of Columbia and that applies for a grant under this 
     subsection.
       ``(B) An amount equal to 30 percent of such appropriated 
     amount for the fiscal year shall be allotted among qualifying 
     States that apply for such a grant so that the amount 
     allotted to such a State bears the same ratio to such 
     appropriated amount as the number of uninsured individuals in 
     the State bears to the total number of uninsured individuals 
     (as determined by the Secretary) in all qualifying States 
     that so apply.
       ``(C) An amount equal to 30 percent of such appropriated 
     amount for the fiscal year shall be allotted among qualifying 
     States that apply for such a grant so that the amount 
     allotted to a State bears the same ratio to such appropriated 
     amount as the number of individuals enrolled in health care 
     coverage through the qualified high risk pool of the State 
     bears to the total number of individuals so enrolled through 
     qualified high risk pools (as determined by the Secretary) in 
     all qualifying States that so apply.
       ``(3) Special rule for pools charging higher premiums.--In 
     the case of a qualified high risk pool of a State which 
     charges premiums that exceed 150 percent of the premium for 
     applicable standard risks, the State shall use at least 50 
     percent of the amount of the grant provided to the State to 
     carry out this subsection to reduce premiums for enrollees.
       ``(4) Limitation for territories.--In no case shall the 
     aggregate amount allotted and made available under paragraph 
     (2) for a fiscal year to States that are not the 50 States or 
     the District of Columbia exceed $1,000,000.
       ``(c) Bonus Grants for Supplemental Consumer Benefits.--
       ``(1) In general.--In the case of a State that is one of 
     the 50 States or the District of Columbia, that has 
     established a qualified high risk pool, and that is receiving 
     a grant under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall provide, 
     from the funds appropriated under paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and 
     (2)(B) of subsection (d) and allotted to the State under 
     paragraph (3), a grant to be used to provide supplemental 
     consumer benefits to enrollees or potential enrollees (or 
     defined subsets of such enrollees or potential enrollees) in 
     qualified high risk pools.
       ``(2) Benefits.--A State shall use amounts received under a 
     grant under this subsection to provide one or more of the 
     following benefits:
       ``(A) Low-income premium subsidies.
       ``(B) A reduction in premium trends, actual premiums, or 
     other cost-sharing requirements.
       ``(C) An expansion or broadening of the pool of individuals 
     eligible for coverage, such as through eliminating waiting 
     lists, increasing enrollment caps, or providing flexibility 
     in enrollment rules.
       ``(D) Less stringent rules, or additional waiver authority, 
     with respect to coverage of pre-existing conditions.
       ``(E) Increased benefits.

[[Page H12073]]

       ``(F) The establishment of disease management programs.
       ``(3) Allotment; limitation.--The Secretary shall allot 
     funds appropriated under paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (2)(B) of 
     subsection (d) among States qualifying for a grant under 
     paragraph (1) in a manner specified by the Secretary, but in 
     no case shall the amount so allotted to a State for a fiscal 
     year exceed 10 percent of the funds so appropriated for the 
     fiscal year.
       ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed to prohibit a State that, on the date of 
     the enactment of the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension 
     Act of 2005, is in the process of implementing a program to 
     provide benefits of the type described in paragraph (2), from 
     being eligible for a grant under this subsection.
       ``(d) Funding.--
       ``(1) Appropriation for fiscal year 2006.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006--
       ``(A) $15,000,000 to carry out subsection (a); and
       ``(B) $75,000,000, of which, subject to paragraph (4)--
       ``(i) two-thirds of the amount appropriated shall be made 
     available for allotments under subsection (b)(2); and
       ``(ii) one-third of the amount appropriated shall be made 
     available for allotments under subsection (c)(3).
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 2007 
     through 2010.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010, of 
     which, subject to paragraph (4)--
       ``(A) two-thirds of the amount appropriated for a fiscal 
     year shall be made available for allotments under subsection 
     (b)(2); and
       ``(B) one-third of the amount appropriated for a fiscal 
     year shall be made available for allotments under under 
     subsection (c)(3).
       ``(3) Availability.--Funds appropriated for purposes of 
     carrying out this section for a fiscal year shall remain 
     available for obligation through the end of the following 
     fiscal year.
       ``(4) Reallotment.--If, on June 30 of each fiscal year for 
     which funds are appropriated under paragraph (1)(B) or (2), 
     the Secretary determines that all the amounts so appropriated 
     are not allotted or otherwise made available to States, such 
     remaining amounts shall be allotted and made available under 
     subsection (b) among States receiving grants under subsection 
     (b) for the fiscal year based upon the allotment formula 
     specified in such subsection.
       ``(5) No entitlement.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed as providing a State with an entitlement to a grant 
     under this section.
       ``(e) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
     section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
     as the Secretary may require.
       ``(f) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress an annual report on grants provided under this 
     section. Each such report shall include information on the 
     distribution of such grants among States and the use of grant 
     funds by States.
       ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Qualified high risk pool.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified high risk pool' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 2744(c)(2), except 
     that a State may elect to meet the requirement of 
     subparagraph (A) of such section (insofar as it requires the 
     provision of coverage to all eligible individuals) through 
     providing for the enrollment of eligible individuals through 
     an acceptable alternative mechanism (as defined for purposes 
     of section 2744) that includes a high risk pool as a 
     component.
       ``(2) Standard risk rate.--The term `standard risk rate' 
     means a rate--
       ``(A) determined under the State high risk pool by 
     considering the premium rates charged by other health 
     insurers offering health insurance coverage to individuals in 
     the insurance market served;
       ``(B) that is established using reasonable actuarial 
     techniques; and
       ``(C) that reflects anticipated claims experience and 
     expenses for the coverage involved.
       ``(3) State.--The term `State' means any of the 50 States 
     and the District of Columbia and includes Puerto Rico, the 
     Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern 
     Mariana Islands.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are on the verge of passing H.R. 
4519, the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act. Simply put, this 
bill will help more people get health insurance.
  People with preexisting conditions or high health care expenses face 
major difficulties when they seek to purchase health insurance. This is 
especially true for workers in small businesses or those who are self-
employed, so they often go without health insurance and turn to 
government programs like Medicaid when they become sick or disabled.
  This bill authorizes Federal grant money to help fund the initial 
startup and operation of State high risk pools. Risk pools allow 
eligible individuals to purchase health insurance, pay premiums and 
receive health coverage through private insurers. This grant money will 
allow States with these pools to cover more individuals and reduce the 
premiums they must pay.
  Mr. Speaker, my home State of Texas was left out of the Federal 
funding when this program was created, and now States like my State of 
Texas will have the ability to access these Federal funds. This bill 
will help reduce the number of uninsured and provide affordable health 
insurance for more Americans. That is an important part, affordable 
health insurance, one of the things we talk about every day in this 
body.
  I want to thank the bill's sponsors, John Shadegg and Ed Towns, and I 
want to thank their staffs for their hard work on this bill. I would 
also note that the bill before us today is the result of bipartisan and 
bicameral compromise, and I want to additionally thank the staff at the 
Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee for their efforts 
on this legislation. Lastly, I would like to thank the staff of the 
Energy and Commerce Committee, including Bill O'Brien on the majority 
staff, Amy Hall and Bridgett Taylor on Ranking Member John Dingell's 
staff for their efforts to develop this bipartisan proposal that will 
help States to insure individuals who would otherwise not have been 
able to get affordable health coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 3204, which authorizes 
funding for State high risk insurance pools. I commend my colleagues 
Mr. Shadegg and Mr. Towns for their hard work on this legislation.
  In many States, high risk insurance pools are the only options for 
individuals who have been denied access to coverage in the commercial 
insurance system. This legislation before us is intended not only to 
strengthen existing high risk pools but to help States without such 
pools, my State of Ohio is one of them, to establish them. But as we 
reauthorize this legislation, it is important to place high risk 
insurance pools in context. These pools are a symptom of a troubled 
insurance system, not a cure for it.
  The fact is, health insurance itself is supposed to serve as a high 
risk pool. It used to be that health insurance was offered to everyone 
at the same premium because any one of us could be the unlucky one to 
need health care that we simply could not afford. By spreading the risk 
broadly, good health insurance could be affordable for everyone 
regardless of their health needs. But commercial insurers did what 
businesses do: They figured out, of course, how to maximize profits. 
You cannot blame them for that. You can, however, blame us, blame this 
Congress, blame State legislators, blame policymakers for letting them 
get away with it.
  The best way to earn profits in the health insurance industry is 
simple: It is to avoid insuring people who might actually use their 
coverage. Health insurers use every trick in the book, as we know, that 
they can come up with to avoid those people. To the extent that they 
can get away with it, commercial insurers underwrite and price people 
who need coverage right out of the insurance market. Private health 
insurance used to be a community; now it is a country club. So we are 
left with stop-gap mechanisms like high risk insurance pools. They are 
far from ideal, but our most vulnerable citizens would be worse off 
without them. We should make sure high risk insurance pools are 
available. But we should also keep

[[Page H12074]]

working until we render them unnecessary.
  I appreciate the author's willingness to accept an amendment I 
offered during committee to ensure that States use at least 50 percent 
of the bill's funding to expand to the pool or to improve the high risk 
coverage. As it stands today, States can and States have used Federal 
risk pool funding to replace dollars collected for the pool from 
private health insurers, leaving the risk pools themselves no better 
off. That is a subversion of the bill's purpose. That is a questionable 
use of Federal funding.
  My amendment reminds the States the Federal high risk pool funding is 
intended to expand the quality and the reach of high risk pools, not to 
let commercial insurers again off the hook for making these pools 
necessary. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation on behalf 
of individuals disenfranchised from private health insurance.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).
  (Mr. SHADEGG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the full 
committee chairman, Mr. Barton, who is not with us today, who has been 
hospitalized as a result of a medical problem and, I understand, doing 
well; the ranking member, Mr. Dingell; the chairman of our 
subcommittee, Mr. Deal; as well as the ranking member, Mr. Brown, for 
moving this important legislation forward. It is in fact critically 
important legislation for all Americans but particularly for those with 
preexisting conditions and those with chronic illnesses.
  H.R. 4519 extends Federal funding, which was first made available 
under the Trade Act of 2002, for the establishment and the operation of 
State high risk pools. The bill provides $15 million in seed grants to 
any State or, as a result of a bipartisan amendment of the bill, to any 
territory which has not yet created a State high risk pool for creation 
of that high risk pool. That is very important, because a number of 
States do not yet have them. This money is available as $1 million one-
time grants for the creation of such a high risk pool.
  In addition, it provides $75 million in each of the fiscal years 
between 2006 and 2010 for the operational expenses of these high risk 
pools. Those moneys are allocated according to a formula referred to a 
moment ago by the ranking member, Mr. Brown. That formula includes the 
number of qualifying States, the number of uninsured individuals and 
the number of individuals enrolled in the State's high risk program. 
These moneys are extremely important, and I think it is important also 
to note that territories are available both for the seed grants to 
establish a high risk pool and for the operational grants.

                              {time}  1645

  State high risk pools, as have been noted here, help provide health 
insurance for those who have preexisting conditions or chronic 
illnesses or who for any other reason cannot afford health insurance. 
High risk pools allow individuals who are eligible to purchase health 
insurance to pay a premium and receive coverage.
  Because they are at-risk people with very high medical needs, these 
premiums are capped in the high risk pool, and often the premiums do 
not cover the cost of the health insurance that is provided. As a 
result, the cost of operating the pool needs to be subsidized or offset 
by the States. States operating these pools make up that shortfall, and 
the operating funds that are provided here assist in doing that.
  There are many things that we can do in this area of health 
insurance; and I agree with my colleague, Mr. Brown, that high risk 
pools are not in fact a solution; they are, in fact, rather a symptom 
of a problem we have in health insurance today.
  I think that there is much more that we can and should do to make 
health insurance affordable and available to all Americans. I would 
like to see us create here in this Congress a refundable tax credit for 
all Americans so that they can go out and purchase health insurance 
themselves. We have sadly today in America some 44 million-plus who 
cannot afford health insurance and who are, therefore, uncovered.
  If we were to create a tax credit allowing people to take a portion 
of the income taxes they would otherwise send to the government to go 
buy health insurance, and for those who are poor and do not pay income 
taxes now, make that a refundable tax credit, that is, actually provide 
them with a voucher or with cash to go buy health insurance, we could 
cut the number of uninsured in America dramatically. And that would be 
a huge step forward in this Nation, to reduce the number of uninsured 
and make sure that everyone in this country has health insurance.
  Unfortunately, that legislation is not before us at this point. It is 
the kind of progress that I hope we can make. But this legislation is. 
Before we move forward on the idea of a refundable tax credit, we must 
make sure that we take care of those who are most in need in America. 
High risk pools are a targeted tool for the uninsured. They are a 
safety net.
  In addition to providing access to insurance for those with 
preexisting conditions and the chronically ill, they also alleviate the 
need for cross-subsidization. All of us are aware that those of us 
buying insurance today pay a higher premium because of the needs of 
those who cannot afford insurance.
  High risk pools alleviate that need. I join my colleagues in calling 
for the passage of this legislation. I appreciate that it is a 
bipartisan effort, and I want to thank my colleagues on the opposite 
side of the aisle for their help. I urge passage of the legislation.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Norwood).
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4519, which would 
extend seed grant money for the creation and operation of high risk 
pools. I thank my friend, Mr. Shadegg, for bringing this. This is 
extremely important legislation. It has the potential, if it works 
right, to help all of us pay lower premiums in the future for our 
insurance policies.
  This is a nonpartisan issue. High risk pools have quietly become very 
important and are a very important part of our Nation's public-private 
patchwork of health care coverage. The folks covered are often times 
employed. They are paying taxes. But they cannot get coverage under a 
normal insurance plan.
  Pools are already covering thousands of people who through no fault 
of their own do not have access to group health insurance and cannot 
simply afford the coverage in the individual market. Thirty-one States 
are already operating high risk pools that offer good coverage at 
reasonable prices.
  I hope with the passage of this bill my home State now will be able 
to join that number. Mr. Speaker, this legislation takes us a step 
closer to making sure that everyone can purchase the health insurance 
protection they need. I know the worries associated with a serious 
health condition, and my constituents know the danger that catastrophic 
health care costs can pose to working families, especially rural 
families and the self-employed. High risk pools reduce costs on the 
government in the long term by providing a private safety net of 
coverage.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I hope at some 
point in time we will take up Mr. Shadegg's idea of tax credits for 
health care. But in the meantime, we need to make sure we get these 
high risk pools in place, and that will allow many Americans to buy 
health care insurance because the premiums will be reduced.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just in closing, I would say that I do 
appreciate Mr. Shadegg bringing this bill to the floor today. I 
appreciate him bringing up the concept of the refundable tax credit. I, 
too, think this is important legislation, that we in the Chamber today 
have some of the best minds on the health subcommittee. I hope we can 
work together to get that passed next year.
  I hope we can look at other opportunities such as what Governor Jeb 
Bush

[[Page H12075]]

is doing down in the State of Florida for purchasing insurance for 
those working poor who cannot afford it. But this is a good bill; this 
is good legislation. It will be very helpful back in my home State of 
Texas.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4519, the State 
High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005. I do so mainly because 
this bill would not only extend the authorization for Federal support 
for State high risk health insurance pools until 2010, but also because 
it provides, for the first time, authorization for the U.S. territories 
to receive this Federal support. With this Federal support, the U.S. 
territories will be able to establish and operate high risk health 
insurance pools like those already successfully operating in several 
States.
  The costs of providing health care in the U.S. territories are very 
high due to the number of uninsured individuals, the prevalence of 
chronic diseases among residents, significant transportation expenses, 
and small risk pools over which to spread the cost of health insurance. 
Additionally, the vast majority of employers in the U.S. territories 
are small businesses. Like most small businesses nationwide, Guam's 
small businesses are limited in their financial ability to offer 
affordable health coverage to their employees.
  The State high risk pool model is an innovative method to address the 
need for health insurance for high risk populations. To date, 31 States 
have established high risk health insurance pools. However, section 
201(b) of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-210), which authorized 
Federal funding for the creation and initial operation of high risk 
pools in the States did not include the U.S. territories among those 
eligible to receive this funding. The ineligibility of the U.S. 
territories for this assistance remains a concern. Previous versions of 
this bill being considered today to reauthorize this Federal program 
did not include the U.S. territories among those to be qualified to 
receive seed funding and additional grants to initiate and operate high 
risk pools.
  However, the bill before us today, the product of negotiations over 
the last several months, does include the U.S. territories. H.R. 4519 
will enable Guam and the other U.S. territories to form high risk 
insurance pools. The establishment of such pools will save the Federal 
Government Medicaid resources, because individuals with chronic 
illnesses will have another alternative to utilize to pay for expensive 
healthcare services. Assisting the U.S. territories in operating high 
risk pools will help the local treasuries with insuring high risk 
individuals. The establishment of high risk pools will reduce the risk 
of the general pool of health insurance consumers in the U.S. 
territories. This will allow for greater competition in the health 
insurance market, reduced costs for consumers, and will result in more 
economically manageable and affordable employee health plans for small 
businesses.
  I came to this floor on July 27 of this year to highlight the need to 
include the U.S. territories in this Federal program, when this House 
debated H.R. 3204, the precursor to the bill before us today. The 
gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Shadegg, the author of this bill, 
recognized this need. The gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Deal, and the 
gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Brown, supported this request. I thank them 
for their leadership and for their attention to and understanding of 
the needs of the U.S. territories. Additionally, I want to thank the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Barton, and the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. 
Dingell, the chairman and the ranking Democratic member of the House 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, respectively, and their staffs, for 
their attention to this issue. I thank all of these gentlemen for their 
cooperation and assistance on this important issue. Together, with my 
colleagues from the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Christensen, American Samoa, 
Mr. Faleomavaega, and Puerto Rico, Mr. Fortuno, we were able to improve 
the legislation to take into account the needs of the U.S. territories. 
I look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services and the Government of Guam in establishing a high risk pool in 
Guam with Federal seed money.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4519.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the House is taking up H.R. 
4519, a bill to reauthorize funds for State high risk health insurance 
pools, a program that was first passed in the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Act. This bill also makes a number of improvements to the 
program.
  High risk pools are by no means a solution for all of the more than 
45 million uninsured in this nation. As long as we, however, continue 
to have a system of health care cobbled together as it is, high risk 
pools will fill part of the void.
  Unfortunately, these high risk pools have included very high premiums 
and limited benefits. When Congress first provided funding for these 
pools, the majority of the States used the funding to lower assessments 
on insurance companies rather than improve benefits or reduce out-of-
pocket costs for families. H.R. 4519 includes an important provision 
that would ensure some portion of this Federal funding goes to 
improving the pools by reducing premium costs or improving benefits for 
those who need health care.
  And although we have taken a small step here to do good, the Congress 
is considering a budget reconciliation package that includes harsh cuts 
in the program that provides health insurance to more than 50 million 
Americans--Medicaid. These cuts would strip benefits and increase out-
of-pocket costs for low-income families and individuals, including 
children, pregnant women, and those living with disabilities.
  If Congress were really determined to help the uninsured, we would 
begin by rejecting the provisions in the reconciliation package that 
cut coverage and increase costs for our most vulnerable citizens.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4519.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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