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Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 114 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

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Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 114 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 114 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 No. 43 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was pursuant to clause 12(c) of rule I, of an immi- lions of Americans. Grant that the se- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- nent impairment of the place of reconvening verity of this late winter storm wane. pore (Ms. CHENEY). at that time. The impairment is due to se- But for those affected, may the assist- vere weather. ance of first responders and more fortu- f Sincerely, PAUL D. IRVING, nate neighbors ease the passage DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER Sergeant at Arms. through this weather, prove that the PRO TEMPORE fiber of our national community is f The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- strong and reliable. fore the House the following commu- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER May all that is done this day be for nication from the Speaker: PRO TEMPORE Your greater honor and glory. WASHINGTON, DC, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under Amen. clause 12(c) of rule I, the Speaker es- March 13, 2017. f I hereby appoint the Honorable LIZ CHENEY tablished this time for reconvening and to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. notified Members accordingly. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PAUL D. RYAN, f Speaker of the House of Representatives. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will lead the House in the Pledge f PRAYER The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick of Allegiance. COMMUNICATION FROM THE SER- J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: The SPEAKER pro tempore led the GEANT AT ARMS OF THE HOUSE Gracious and merciful God, we give Pledge of Allegiance as follows: The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- You thanks for giving us another day. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the fore the House a communication from In this Chamber, where the people’s United States of America, and to the Repub- the Sergeant at Arms of the House of lic for which it stands, one nation under God, House gathers, we pause to offer You indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Representatives: gratitude for the gift of this good land OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS, on which we live, and for this great Na- f HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, tion which You have inspired in devel- Washington, DC, March 13, 2017. oping over so many years. Continue to RECESS Hon. PAUL D. RYAN, inspire the American people, that The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Speaker, House of Representatives, through the difficulties of these days ant to clause 12(c) of rule I, the Chair Washington, DC. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: As you are aware, the we might keep liberty and justice alive declares the House in recess subject to time previously appointed for the next meet- in our Nation, and in the world. the call of the Chair. ing of the House is 12:00 Noon on March 14, On this day the House anticipates Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 2 min- 2017, for morning hour. This is to notify you, weather which is already affecting mil- utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H2055 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:41 Mar 16, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD17\H13MR7.REC H13MR7 bjneal on DSK2TWX8P1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 No. 43 Senate The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was the weekend, former Obama Health and its core focus without improving called to order by the President pro Human Services Secretary Kathleen health outcomes in States like mine. tempore (Mr. HATCH). Sebelius said President Clinton had a Now is the time for creative thinking f point. to increase access and to lower costs. Of course, ObamaCare is crazy. Pre- Now is the time for a CMS Adminis- PRAYER miums are spiking across the country trator with the right experience as we The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- by 25 percent nationwide and as much repeal and replace ObamaCare. I know fered the following prayer: as 47 percent in Kentucky for individ- this nominee will strengthen the vital Let us pray. uals. Choices have fallen from coast to programs she has been tasked to lead Father in Heaven, Holy is Your coast, with about one-third of the because she has a history of doing just Name. You brought light from dark- counties nationwide and nearly half in that. I look forward to confirming Ms. ness and order from chaos. You can Kentucky having only a single insurer Verma later today so that she can get bring order to our Nation and world. to choose from on the exchanges, and to work immediately developing solu- Use our lawmakers to fulfill Your pur- healthcare markets are teetering clos- tions to the crisis of ObamaCare. poses. May they become Your merciful er to the edge of collapse. The hands to reduce the pain and discord in ObamaCare status quo is simply not an f our world. option. NOMINATION OF NEIL GORSUCH Lord, use their daily experiences of We have an obligation to the Amer- joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, vic- ican people to repeal and replace Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the tory and defeat for Your glory. Protect ObamaCare. We have a three-pronged endorsements for Supreme Court nomi- them with Your shield of love as You process to get there. The first is the nee Judge Neil Gorsuch keep rolling in fill their hearts with Your peace. May legislation. House committees are cur- from across the political spectrum. As they not let evil talk pass their lips rently considering the specialized piece I noted last Thursday, more than 150 but strive to speak the truth in love. of legislation that allows us to repeal former Columbia University class- Infuse them with the spirit of kindness, ObamaCare and implement some, but mates joined that extensive list re- compassion, and forgiveness. not all, of the important replacement cently. Those classmates represented a We pray in Your merciful Name. reforms we want to make. variety of backgrounds, home States, Amen. Another is an additional replacement faiths, and political views. But they all f reform that goes even further in mak- agreed on one thing—that Judge ing healthcare more affordable and ac- Gorsuch is extremely well-qualified to PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE cessible. The remaining prong is Exec- be our next Supreme Court Justice. The President pro tempore led the utive action. There is much the admin- On Thursday, I also noted that we Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: istration can do to help bring calm out could expect more supporters with I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the of chaos from Obama’s broken prom- sterling reviews of the judge in the United States of America, and to the Repub- ises. Health and Human Services Sec- near future. Sure enough, that very lic for which it stands, one nation under God, retary Tom Price has already taken evening the American Bar Association indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. steps to do just that, and the nominee awarded Judge Gorsuch the highest f before us, Seema Verma, who has been possible rating: unanimously ‘‘well nominated to head the Centers for qualified,’’ meaning no one on the re- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Medicare and Medicaid Services, can viewing panel found him other than LEADER take important steps as well. ‘‘well qualified’’—unanimously ‘‘well The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. KEN- Ms. Verma is extremely qualified, qualified.’’ NEDY). The majority leader is recog- with a health policy background and a The Democratic leader and the nized. record of success. She is committed to former Democratic chairman of the Ju- f protecting Medicare and modernizing diciary Committee have called the Medicaid so the programs deliver the ABA ‘‘the gold standard by which judi- REPEALING AND REPLACING best results for those who need it. She cial candidates are judged.’’ So on the OBAMACARE AND THE NOMINA- also understands the challenges that gold standard, Neil Gorsuch got a TION OF SEEMA VERMA ObamaCare has created for families. unanimous ‘‘well qualified.’’ There is Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, last Remember, ObamaCare raided funds no higher score. And today, it is a year, Bill Clinton called ObamaCare from Medicare. Remember, ObamaCare group that believes Judge Gorsuch is ‘‘the craziest thing in the world.’’ Over dramatically enlarged Medicaid beyond ‘‘well qualified’’ to be a Supreme Court ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S1753 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Mar 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13MR6.000 S13MRPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE S1754 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 13, 2017 Justice based on his integrity, profes- how the President talks like a populist they need or shell out huge amounts— sional competence, and judicial tem- and promises one thing but governs thousands and thousands of dollars out perament. That is high acclaim from from the hard right, delivering some- of your own pocket, which you may not an organization that our colleagues on thing entirely different.
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