[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E431-E432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PROTECTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5) to 
     improve patient access to health care services and provide 
     improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the 
     liability system places on the health care delivery system;

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in reluctant, but strong, 
opposition to this bill. I say reluctant, because I support repealing 
the Independent Payment Advisory Board, as do many Democrats.
  Now, make no mistake, I strongly support the Affordable Care Act. 
This bill will lower costs, strengthen Medicare, and provide 33 million 
uninsured Americans with health insurance. This is a tremendous 
accomplishment. But I have concerns with IPAB, including how it will 
operate and that it gives up important Congressional authority over 
pricing. Abdicating our responsibility is not the right thing to do for 
our seniors. I was elected by my constituents to protect Medicare.
  I supported this bill in the Ways and Means Committee, and I would 
love to support it on the floor. That's why it's so disappointing that 
the majority would abandon any semblance of compromise by attaching 
this sharply partisan medical malpractice proposal. Capping malpractice 
settlements limits patient protection. There's no question that we need 
to protect health care providers from frivolous litigation, and I am 
willing to work in a bipartisan way to develop those protections. But 
not at the expense of the vast majority of Americans who have, for too 
long, lived without access to affordable quality health care, and who 
should

[[Page E432]]

also be afforded the fullest protection of our legal system.
  I urge a no vote and I hope that the Majority comes to its sense, 
embraces bipartisanship, and comes back with a bill I can support.

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