Congressional Record—House H11493
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November 18, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11493 Crowism, social injustice, segregation, and those present have voted in the affirm- care Prescription Drug Bill to provide discrimination. However, our strong faith and ative. a much needed payment update to phy- belief in the promise of America has enabled Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, sicians for the next 2 years. us to persevere in the face of adversity. on that I demand the yeas and nays. I represent Las Vegas, which is home In all areas of life, African Americans have The yeas and nays were ordered. to the fastest growing seniors popu- made an important contribution. In music, from The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- lation in the United States. In my com- jazz to hip-hop, African Americans continue to ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the munity, we are facing a health care cri- have a strong influence upon our nation’s mu- Chair’s prior announcement, further sis. The rapid growth of southern Ne- sical heritage. From Langston Hughes and proceedings on this motion will be vada has put a strain on the health Richard Wright, to Maya Angelou and Toni postponed. care system, and many doctors face a Morrison, African Americans have enriched f tough choice when it comes to treating Medicare patients because reimburse- this country’s literary heritage. We have ex- GENERAL LEAVE celled in film, sports, and business and con- ments are not keeping up with the tinue to sow into the life of this nation. Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- costs of practicing medicine. In addi- African American scientists, inventors, edu- mous consent that all Members may tion to staffing costs and utilities and cators, and physicians, such as Dr. Charles have 5 legislative days within which to rent, malpractice insurance for doctors Drew and Dr. Ben Carson to name a few, revise and extend their remarks and in- in my community has skyrocketed have and continue to enrich the daily lives of clude extraneous material on H.R. 3491. anywhere from 150 to 400 percent. all Americans—from developing blood trans- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there We rely on our doctors to treat more fusion and blood bank procedures to learning objection to the request of the gen- than 150,000 seniors under the local the path of the mind to perform delicate brain tleman from Ohio? Medicare system; but with the cost of surgery. Inventors, such as Garrett Morris and There was no objection. doing business so high and the demands Granville T. Woods to name just a few, have f for their services at a premium, in developed everything from the stoplight and MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES many instances our doctors cannot af- gas mask to critical railway switching tech- ON H.R. 1, MEDICARE PRESCRIP- ford to see new Medicare patients. We nology. TION DRUG AND MODERNIZA- used to talk about the quality of Additionally, we have proudly served our na- TION ACT OF 2003 health care, but the situation is becom- tion with distinction in every war—from the ing so bad that we are no longer talk- Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a Revolutionary War to today in Operation Iraqi ing about the level of treatment the motion to instruct. Freedom. The struggle for freedom, equality, patient receives, but whether or not The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and civil rights has always been a struggle for they will receive any treatment at all. Clerk will report the motion. My community is struggling to at- the full realization of true democracy in Amer- The Clerk read as follows: ica. Our legacy is firmly ingrained in the very tract enough medical professionals to Ms. BERKLEY moves that the managers on fabric of this democracy. However, in spite of address the health care needs of our the part of the House at the conference on ever-expanding population. But how our triumphs and accomplishments, there the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on does not exist a national museum located in the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 1 be can we expect more doctors to see more Washington D.C. on or near the National Mall instructed as follows: Medicare patients if we continue to cut dedicated to the documentation of African (1) To reject the provisions of subtitle C of payments to doctors under Medicare? If American history. This bill creates such a mu- title II of the House bill. we do not act soon, there will be an- seum. (2) To reject the provisions of section 231 of other 4.5 percent reduction in reim- the Senate amendment. bursements to physicians who are The National Museum of African American (3) Within the scope of conference, to in- History and Culture would properly collect, crease payments for physician services by an treating those who depend on their preserve, exhibit, and honor, on a national amount equal to the amount of savings at- physicians’ care the most, our seniors. level, the period of slavery, Reconstruction, tributable to the rejection of the aforemen- If we allow this to happen, the result the Harlem Renaissance, and other periods tioned provisions. will be a loss of $17 million in pay- associated with African American life, art, his- (4) To insist upon section 601 of the House ments to physicians in my State of Ne- tory, and culture. Not only will this national re- bill. vada alone. The time is long past due pository of the Black experience in America be Ms. BERKLEY (during the reading). that we increase these payments which viewed by millions of tourists who flock to the Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent have limited medical providers from nation’s capital each year, but will be acces- that the motion to instruct be consid- expanding the number of patients re- sible to students and scholars alike. It will also ered as read and printed in the RECORD. ceiving care. I have heard from doctors demonstrate to our youth that they can take The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there in Las Vegas who say they want to pride in their rich cultural heritage. objection to the request of the gentle- treat Medicare patients, but they are Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to lend woman from Nevada? being forced to choose between taking their support to this important piece of legisla- There was no objection. on new Medicare patients or keeping tion. I would just like to take this opportunity The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the lights on in their offices and their to thank my distinguished colleague, Rep- ant to clause 7 of rule XXII, the gentle- practices solvent. resentative JOHN LEWIS, for his tireless dedica- woman from Nevada (Ms. BERKLEY) and According to the AMA, since 1991 the tion and leadership. Mr. LEWIS has committed the gentlewoman from New Mexico cost of practicing medicine has gone up more than 10 years of his life to the vision of (Mrs. WILSON) each will control 30 min- by more than 33 percent, but payments a national monument celebrating the legacy of utes. have grown less than 10 percent. For African Americans on the national mall. We The Chair recognizes the gentle- years doctors have provided important are now on the verge of making that dream a woman from Nevada (Ms. BERKLEY). tests for seniors for cholesterol, depres- reality. Please support this bipartisan bill. GENERAL LEAVE sion, blood pressure, vision, and hear- I also extend my sincere appreciation to Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask ing impairment without any reim- Representatives JACK KINGSTON and ROGER unanimous consent that all Members bursements from Medicare. WICKER, and Senators SAM BROWNBACK and may have 5 legislative days within Medicare reimbursements for pri- CHRISTOPHER DODD for their leadership. which to revise and extend their re- mary care are inadequate, and in Janu- Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back marks and include extraneous material ary they will be too low for many doc- the balance of my time. on this motion to instruct. tors to continue to serve Medicare pa- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there tients. Just last year, doctors’ pay- PEARCE). The question is on the motion objection to the request of the gentle- ments were cut by 5.4 percent; and if offered by the gentleman from Ohio woman from Nevada? we allow them to be cut once again, (Mr. NEY) that the House suspend the There was no objection. this will be the fifth reduction since rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3491. Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1991 and would place doctors’ reim- The question was taken. myself such time as I may consume. bursements 8 percent below 2001 levels. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer a motion It does not make any sense to be cut- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of to instruct the conferees on the Medi- ting payments to doctors when the VerDate jul 14 2003 02:32 Nov 20, 2003 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18NO7.178 H18PT2 H11494 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2003 costs of practicing medicine are on the my colleague from Nevada has offered is available and on sound financial rise. it, because the conference committee footing for generations to come. Our doctors simply cannot afford to on the Medicare bill has already agreed Mr. Speaker, Medicare spends $247 take any more cuts. Already one-quar- that we are not going to have the pro- billion a year as it stands.