Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans delivered the following remarks on the House Floor today on H.R. 5376, the Democrats’ plan for more inflation, higher taxes, unreliable & unaffordable energy, fewer but more expensive lifesaving cures, and an emboldened China. Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY) led debate.
Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Guthrie: “This legislation not only crushes hope for patients and their families living with devastating diseases that currently lack a treatment or cure, but also significantly undermines our economic and national security.
“I cannot vote for the more appropriately named Inflation Expansion Act, and I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing.”
Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA): “I rise in strong opposition to this bill that will absolutely increase the deficit, it will absolutely increase inflation, and this bill will absolutely increase energy costs.”
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“But just a few hours ago, we got this, and it was a confirmation that the IRS agents will be getting about $20 billion in new taxes from people making less than $400,000. That’s right, the CBO just confirmed it a few hours ago.
“President Biden, who made that promise multiple times, ‘If you make under 400,000. Don’t worry, your taxes don’t go up.’ This bill breaks President Biden’s promise.”
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI): “The Energy sector has seen the brunt of this increase, with gas prices climbing more than $2.30 per gallon over where they were at the beginning of last year.”
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“On Wednesday, I offered an amendment that would direct this bill not to go into effect until the Secretary of Energy can certify that energy prices are below the prices in January of 2021. That amendment was unsurprisingly not made in order by the Rules Committee.”
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“It does nothing to lower Energy prices, but rather picks winners and losers by pumping billions of dollars into expensive green energy as opposed to an all-of-the above approach.”
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH): “It is concerning that this bill promotes anti-American energy policies. It will put aside $250 billion [in loan authority] at the Department of Energy to subsidize the rush to green energy. This is picking winners and losers in the energy market and will scare away investments in baseload power sources.
“American small businesses need access to more reliable energy, not less. If the grid becomes too reliant on intermittent green energy sources, we will begin to see manufacturers shutter their operations.”
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX): “This legislation will do the exact opposite of what the Democrats intend by killing research and development, reducing quality of care, and threatening patient access to life saving drugs.
“As the most senior doctor in Congress and someone who deeply cares for the well-being of American patients, this bill is anti-doctor and anti-patient. We will see the consequences after final passage. I promise you that.”
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL): “As the American people struggle to put food on their tables and gas in their cars, Democrats bring us here today to raise Americans’ taxes, and destabilize our prescription drug market.
“Sadly, it seems more thought was put into targeting average Americans with an IRS army, and over 1 million new audits than in helping them find cures for their life-threatening ailments.
“Floridians deserve better and the American people deserve better than this bogus piece of legislation that will raise taxes and reduce the number of cures and treatments coming to market.”
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH): “I want to be clear that this isn’t a quote, ‘methane reduction program.’ It’s a massive tax on American producers, American businesses, and American workers.
“It’s a tax on job creators in Ohio. It’s a tax on hardworking Americans trying to heat and cool our homes, a tax on feeding our families, and a tax on the American way of life.”
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA): “Pharmaceutical companies are the drivers of innovation that delivers lifesaving cures to patients. However, this legislation will result in dozens, possibly hundreds, of fewer cures over the next decade.”
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“Medical professionals are sworn to ‘do no harm.’ It is time Congress took the same oath and quit our assault on patients and taxpayers.”
Original source can be found here.
