[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H237-H238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORTING THE REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2--legislation 
to repeal the so-called Affordable Care Act--a new effort to strengthen 
our health care system.
  This will be the first step in ensuring that the American people will 
remain in control of their own health care through a system that is 
patient-centered and provides health care choices, not government-
imposed mandates.
  Many people question why we are doing this. They ask, Why repeal the 
new health care law if there are good provisions in it?
  Well, there may be some aspects of the 3,000-page bill, which is now 
law, that were commendable 10 months ago. However, those few positive 
provisions do not outweigh the fact that the new law's most damaging 
aspect is that it turns over to the Federal Government individuals' 
rights to make their own health care choices for themselves and for 
their families. The new law has given Washington bureaucrats 
extraordinary power to control the health care decisions of all 
Americans:
  Forcing us to buy health insurance that Washington deems to be 
acceptable; potentially fining us for refusing to do so, which I 
believe would be unconstitutional; determining our choices of doctors, 
hospitals and home care; deciding which medicines we can take and which 
medical procedures will be available to our families; putting one-sixth 
of our economy under government control.
  Let me be clear. I support health care reform. However, I do not 
support this new health care law, which represents, to a very great 
extent, a Washington takeover of our health care system. This law is 
creating over 150 new boards, bureaus, committees, commissions, 
offices, pilot programs, working groups, and agencies which will issue 
onerous regulations that will change our health care system forever--
and not for the better.
  Remember, over 90 percent of Americans have health coverage for 
themselves and for their families. Why did the last Congress insist on 
a virtual takeover of the other 10 percent?
  That is why I support the repeal, coupled with major changes to 
assist those who do not have coverage, without harming the plans of 
hundreds of millions of Americans who do.
  My colleagues, why is this repeal necessary today?
  Because the negative effects of this new law are already being felt 
and are threatening the practice of medicine as we know it. This new 
law has eroded your right to choose your health care and your doctors, 
and it is putting bureaucrats and politicians in charge.
  Despite predictions from the White House, insurance premiums are not 
going down. To the contrary, premiums are rising across the Nation for 
people who have insurance as insurance companies struggle to pay for 
the costs of a raft of new mandates imposed by Washington.
  Even as we speak, doctors are changing their practices because this 
new law discourages their ability to work as single practitioners or in 
group practice. In addition, doctors face more paperwork, more red 
tape, and more risk to their licenses to practice.

                              {time}  1940

  Furthermore, the new law does nothing to solve or diminish the wave 
of junk medical lawsuits that force doctors, medical professions, and 
hospitals to practice expensive defensive medicine.
  Also missing from the law is any program to promote and support 
medical education in America, the next generation of young people who 
we will count on for care. At the same time, doctors and hospitals will 
face reduced Medicare reimbursements and even more onerous Medicare 
rules and regulations, causing even more physicians to refuse to treat 
senior citizens.
  And what about the promises we heard about the benefits of the new 
law? To protect Americans from being denied coverage due to preexisting 
or other conditions, 27 States have created their own high-risk 
insurance pools. Others have used an option in the law to let their 
residents buy coverage through a new Federal health plan. Last spring, 
Medicare's chief actuary predicted that 375,000 people would sign up 
for one of these special plans by the end of 2010. In fact, the 
Department of Health and Human Services reported last month that just 
over 8,000 people had enrolled. This difference of 367,000 enrollees 
raises real questions about the then-majority's demand for this 
provision.
  And with claims to provide coverage for another 34 million Americans, 
we need to be reminded that 18 million of these newly insured people 
will gain coverage through the financially stressed Medicaid program, 
which is almost broke. My colleagues, current Medicaid enrollees are 
already having trouble finding doctors who will see them because of low 
reimbursement rates. This law proposes to add another 18 million 
patients to a struggling and absolutely necessary program.
  In addition, our hospitals are already reeling. Passage of the new 
health care law has accelerated the layoff of hundreds of employees in 
hospitals in my congressional district. When further Medicare cuts take 
hold, how are these institutions going to maintain their quality of 
care? They aren't.
  And what of the advertised benefits of the new health care law? 
Backers actually claimed the new law would reduce the Federal deficit. 
This claim is based on dubious economic assumptions, double counting, 
and other budget gimmickry. And it is astounding that this law counts 
10 years of anticipated revenues to offset 6 years of new spending. 
Here's a simple fact: If ObamaCare is fully implemented, it will not 
cut the deficit. The law will actually add more than $700 billion to 
the deficit in its first 10 years.

[[Page H238]]

  And what about jobs? Our first priority should be creating private 
sector employment opportunities, especially in America's small 
businesses.
  However, the evidence is clear: by raising taxes, imposing new health 
mandates and regulations, and increasing uncertainty for small business 
employers, investors and entrepreneurs, ObamaCare is already destroying 
jobs in our country.
  With nearly 10 percent unemployment and massive public debt, the 
American people want us to focus on cutting spending and expanding our 
economy.
  That's why I will urge my Colleagues to support this important repeal 
legislation and take the first steps towards replacing it with reforms 
that will bring down costs, expand health care accessibility and 
protect American jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, this week we have the opportunity to ensure that our 
constituents remain in control of their own health care through a 
system that is patient-centered and provides health care choices, not 
Washington-imposed mandates.
  I urge support of H.R. 2--the repeal of Obamacare.

                          ____________________