Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy Rodgers (R-WA) delivered remarks at the beginning of today’s markup.
“Mr. Chair, Republicans demonstrated yesterday that we are serious about working with you on a targeted, timely package to crush this virus, improve health and wellness in our communities, get kids back to school, people back to work, and a vaccine for everyone who wants and needs one.
“We offered many historically bipartisan solutions:
* More funding for NIH
* More vaccines
* More transparency on vaccine allocation
* More vaccinations for teachers
* More testing for the workplace
* Dedicating FDA funds for better COVID therapies
* More relief through the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund
* More relief to prevent suicides
* And upholding Hyde.
“The Majority struck every single one of these down. Every. Single. One.
“I’m disappointed. I even heard things yesterday like “this is a good idea in theory" and “I support the premise of this amendment."
“Well then what are we waiting for? People’s suffering and begging to get back to work and for their kids to be in school isn’t a premise or a theory.
“It’s reality today.
“I would like to address a few things.
“I won’t pretend to be a Senate rules expert but the Byrd rule can be overcome with 60 votes.
“So, if there was broad bipartisan consensus, such as there seemed to be with Mr. Crenshaw’s amendment on vaccine allocation transparency, that shouldn’t be an issue.
“You also mentioned not being able to go over the $188 billion target.
“But I have not seen anything from the Congressional Budget Office regarding the score of the bill.
“If you intend to object today due to the numbers, I would kindly request that you first walk through the title and give us cost estimates for each section.
“Perhaps this would also be a good time to tell us how many jobs this creates and how many shots it gets into people’s arms.
“Finally, on the reconciliation rules, those would not apply if we had gone through regular order.
“So, turning to today’s bill. I’d like to flag how again this committee print misses the mark on being timely, targeted, and focused on crushing the virus and reopening our schools and workplaces.
“Providing resources to states so they can provide Medicaid for women for one year after having a child instead of only 60 days, which is current law.
“The committee print funds this for 5 years, while a permanent solution passed the House last year, through regular order, in a bipartisan way.
“Providing Medicaid coverage for prisoners 30 days before release.
“We had discussed this as part of addressing the opioid crisis, and given the funding for vaccinations for jails in subtitle A, it is not clear how this addresses COVID-19 and let’s work on this in a bipartisan way.
“It also includes long time more partisan priorities like continuing to expand Medicaid, and more burdensome requirements on states home and community based services program.
“I have longstanding concerns that every time Medicaid expands, the truly vulnerable patients are pushed to the side.
“Republicans also want to continue to focus on helping those mental health and substance use disorder providers.
“We also want to make sure we’re getting accurate data on COVID-19 from our nursing homes.
“I again remind the Chair, I’ve made it clear that we want to work with the Majority on more targeted relief.
“You told me you had every expectation Energy and Commerce would continue its strong bipartisan tradition.
“I’m disappointed that is not the case.
“I hope we all appeal to our better angels today, listen to ideas on how we can work together, and ultimately crush this virus so we restore hope in the American Dream again."
