[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD:
  S. 3239. A bill to repeal unwarranted provisions from the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act and to more efficiently use taxpayer 
dollars in health care spending; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
repeal unwarranted and inappropriate ``sweeteners'' that were added to 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the days before final 
passage of the bill.
  These ``sweeteners'' are unjustifiable and only detract from our 
collective goal of putting America's health care system on a better and 
more sustainable path. They also undermine public confidence in the 
legislative process and in elected representatives in Congress.
  In some cases, there are valid policy or fairness reasons why certain 
states or interests may receive seemingly different treatment. But 
several provisions were included in the health reform bill that create, 
rather than diminish, inequity.
  This legislation would repeal four provisions in the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act. These provisions are not supported 
by policy rationales and do not address any inequity in current policy. 
Simply put, they are intended to provide an undeserved windfall to 
specific states.
  This legislation also amends one provision in the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act providing increased Medicaid assistance to 
States recovering from natural disaster. Because there is some 
justification for Louisiana receiving additional help to cope with the 
continued aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, my legislation leaves this 
provision intact, but it decreases the amount of assistance available.
  I was pleased to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act. That law will strengthen America's health care system and reduce 
the national deficit and the five changes to the law that I am 
proposing would help us better meet those goals.
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