[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT T. SCHILLING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 2, 2011

  Mr. SCHILLING. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, December 2, 2011, I attended 
the funeral of Pfc Adam E. Dobereiner in Rock Island, Illinois. Pfc 
Dobereiner died on November 18, 2011 in the Kandahar Province of 
Afghanistan while serving his country. Our nation owes Pfc Dobereiner 
and his family a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice. We must always 
remember the service of heroes both past and present.
  Had I been present in Washington, DC on December 2, 2011, my votes 
would have been as follows:
  For roll No. 882, which would clarify that an agency shall take into 
account whether a problem disproportionately impacts certain vulnerable 
subpopulations, and whether such an impact would be mitigated by new 
agency action--H.R. 3010 stresses smart, efficient and economical rule 
making. We should always be looking to maintain levels of service at 
the lowest cost possible. Under this bill, federal agencies already 
take public health or general welfare considerations into account. 
Therefore, I would have voted ``no''.
  For roll No. 883, which would clarify that the agency would retain 
the discretion to determine whether to provide advanced notice, not 
later than 90 days, of a proposed rule prior it being published in the 
Federal Register. For the sake of transparency, the underlying bill 
makes advance notice of these rules mandatory; therefore, I would have 
voted ``No''.
  For roll No. 884, which would clarify that regulations to protect 
public health and safety would not be blocked or repealed by H.R. 
3010--Again; the underlying bill provides for the consideration of 
public health and general welfare. Therefore, I would have voted 
``No''.
  For roll No. 885, which would exempt from the Act actions by the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Atomic Energy Act--All federal 
regulations must be examined for their effect on health, public 
welfare, the economy and jobs. The NRC should not be carved out of this 
review. Therefore, I would have voted ``No''.
  For roll No. 886, which would exempt all rules promulgated by the 
Department of Homeland Security--All federal regulations must be 
examined for their effect on health, public welfare, the economy and 
jobs. The DHS should not be carved out of this review. Therefore, I 
would have voted ``No''.
  For roll No. 887, which Would have recommitted the bill so that it 
would ``not apply to new regulations or the revision of existing 
regulations that reduce costs or increase coverage for pharmaceuticals 
and other health services for seniors, or efforts by the Secretaries of 
Health and Human Services, Veterans Administration, and Defense to 
negotiate lower prescription drug prices''--Because the whole point and 
intent of the underlying bill is to lower costs, including the costs of 
prescription drugs, I would have voted ``No.'' When it comes to vital 
health services for our seniors, it is vital that we keep the promise 
of both Medicare and Social Security. I have voted to do exactly that 
since coming to Congress eleven months ago. We also must continue to 
work to preserve these programs for our children and their children.
  For roll No. 888, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011, which 
would reform the process by which Federal agencies analyze and 
formulate new regulations and guidance documents, I would have voted 
``Yes''.
  We must ensure that the regulations put forth by the federal 
government--more specifically the 4,000 final rules that federal 
agencies issue each year--are truly needed and necessary for the public 
welfare. This includes public health and our economy. I truly believe 
that our economic recovery is being held back because of overregulation 
and uncertainty coming from the government. My number one priority as a 
representative is fostering job creation to strengthen our economy so 
that American families can pursue their version of the American Dream. 
H.R. 3010 promotes increased public participation when it comes to 
considering regulations, stresses that lower cost regulations should be 
pursued, and provides more certainty to our businesses which represent 
the key to growing jobs in America.
  It is an honor to serve the people of the 17th Congressional District 
of Illinois.

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