[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 15820-15821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   PROTECTING PENSIONS OF COAL MINERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge swift 
passage of H.R. 2403, the Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act. 
This important legislation protects the pensions of coal workers who 
have spent their lives producing affordable, reliable energy for our 
country.
  These miners were promised a pension when they signed up for the job, 
and, ever since the Truman administration, Congress has made sure that 
the commitment is honored. It is our duty to continue to uphold this 
promise made to our miners.
  Without help from Congress this year, the United Mine Workers of 
America pension fund will be insolvent in 2017, resulting in massive 
cuts to benefits for 22,000 West Virginia mine workers and their 
families. The Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act provides 
relief funding for these pensions without increasing spending of 
taxpayer dollars. Our country's hardworking coal miners are responsible 
for fueling and shaping our economy over the last 250 years. Retired 
coal miners and their widows deserve our respect, appreciation, and, 
above all else, the benefits that they were promised.
  With 47 Republican and 40 Democrat cosponsors in the House, this bill 
is strongly supported by Members on both sides of the aisle. Again, I 
urge our leadership to bring H.R. 2403, the Coal Healthcare and 
Pensions Protection Act, to a vote immediately.


                      Congratulating Dr. Tom Price

  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate my colleague and Budget Committee chairman, Dr. Tom Price, 
on President-elect Trump's recent appointment as the new Secretary for 
the Department of Health and Human Services. Chairman Price has become 
a friend to me over the past 2 years and will continue to do great 
things in his new job in the Trump administration.
  When I was first elected to serve West Virginia's Second 
Congressional District in 2014, I promised my constituents that I would 
fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. My 
first month in office on February 3, 2015, House Republicans 
successfully voted to repeal ObamaCare. In December of that same year, 
the Senate passed our legislation to repeal ObamaCare. President Obama 
vetoed it at that time. But we will have a new President next year.
  Healthcare costs are on the rise because of ObamaCare. ObamaCare adds 
burdensome taxes, regulations, and mandates onto American consumers. 
The limited choice in health insurance plans is harming families and 
their budgets.
  ObamaCare has killed 2.9 million jobs a year, has continued to raise 
health insurance costs, and has also placed the Federal Government in 
between patients and their doctors. Who are these 2.9 million 
Americans? They are disproportionately low-wage workers earning well 
below the average annual wage for all workers, which is less than 
$46,000 a year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 
people who are hurt the most by ObamaCare are the ones that ObamaCare 
is supposed to help the most.
  Research done by the National Center for Policy Analysis found that 
the average monthly premium costs in every demographic rose 
substantially after ObamaCare was implemented.

[[Page 15821]]



                              {time}  1015

  West Virginians who get their health insurance through employer-
sponsored programs are paying some of the highest rates in the United 
States. In West Virginia, premiums through employer-sponsored health 
insurance programs have climbed at a steady rate of about 6.4 percent 
annually since 2010, and it keeps getting worse. The 33,421 West 
Virginians who are currently enrolled in the Affordable Care Act do not 
need to see their rates hiked up again.
  As a Republican in Congress, I want to ensure that everyone has 
access to health care, but it will be quality health care that people 
choose for themselves. That is why House Republicans have come up with 
a plan we call A Better Way. Our plan recognizes that people deserve 
more patient-centered care, not more bureaucracy. That means more 
choices, not more mandates.
  A Better Way plan offers many improvements that will help West 
Virginia's Second Congressional District, including commonsense reforms 
to allow health insurance sales across State lines. You should have the 
freedom and flexibility to choose the care that is best for you. 
Insurers should compete for your business and treat you fair. You and 
your family should have access to the best lifesaving treatment in the 
world.
  Under Chairman Tom Price's leadership, I believe that our healthcare 
system in America will thrive. Again, I would like to extend my sincere 
thanks to my friend, Dr. Tom Price.

                          ____________________