[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              H. RES. 1023

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                           HON. JOHN SULLIVAN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record that 
today I introduced H. Res. 1023, challenging the constitutionality of 
the House and Senate passed health care bills with respect to the 
individual mandate requiring American citizens to purchase government 
approved health insurance. My resolution also demands the removal of 
the individual health insurance mandate from any final healthcare 
reform bill that Congress considers.
  H. Res. 1023 builds off the efforts of at least 36 state 
legislatures, including Oklahoma, that are looking to limit or oppose 
health mandates in the House and Senate passed health care reform bills 
that would require purchase of government approved health insurance. 
These state actions are in direct opposition to the draconian national 
health care reform measures that are currently under consideration by 
the House and Senate.
  Throughout the healthcare debate, the Administration and this 
Congress have largely ignored the most fundamental question of all--
whether or not the Federal Government is overstepping its 
constitutional bounds by taking over our healthcare system. Even back 
in 1994, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, wrote that 
it would be an unprecedented form of Federal action for Congress to 
mandate that all individuals are required to purchase health insurance. 
I introduced this resolution to send a strong message that the personal 
mandates in both the House and Senate passed healthcare bills are 
unprecedented and unconstitutional--nowhere in the Constitution is 
Congress given the power to force Americans to purchase a good or 
service or enter into a contract--which these bills would do.
  By forcing Americans to purchase government approved health 
insurance, the Administration and the Democrat majority are essentially 
saying that you don't have a right to choose what health insurance plan 
is best for you, your family or your business--I strongly disagree.
  There are better ways to bring health insurance to the uninsured. 
There are incentives that Congress could pass right now with bipartisan 
support--such as allowing individuals to purchase insurance across 
state lines to reduce cost, and offering tax deductions for individuals 
and families who are uninsured--that would make purchasing insurance 
easier and cheaper for all Americans. Unfortunately, the House and 
Senate passed healthcare bills coerce and compel individuals to 
purchase insurance with tax penalties and possible prison terms.

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