H798 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 4, 2015 with great standing and credibility in tation. That was an important, signifi- talk about and hear about as it relates her community. Rosa Parks had stat- cant event in history. to the Edmund Pettus Bridge because ure. Rosa Parks had the backing of the It was Rosa Parks who received a lot there is a person that I conclude is the NAACP. Rosa Parks had people who of the credit. I love her, and I think she greatest unsung hero of the civil rights could get her out of jail. deserves all the credit she received, but movement who had a hidden hand in She had people who could work with I also think there are these unsung he- the march from Selma to Montgomery. her and help to stage, if you will, in the roes and heroines who have not re- b 1745 minds of some, this moment in time ceived their fair share of credit for when she literally decided that she was what they too have done. In fact, they When they went back to make the not going to move back nor stand up so are the shoulders that giants stand on. final march with Dr. King, as they that her seat could be held and had by Claudette Colvin is the giant on whose moved across the Edmund Pettus a person of a different hue. shoulders Rosa Parks stood on. Bridge, they had a hidden hand that It was a bold thing to do. It was a Moving to another giant, we all know had signed a court order. That court very bold thing to do in the South, the of Dr. King, and last week and earlier order was signed by the Honorable segregated South at that time, the seg- this week, we talked a lot about Selma, Frank M. Johnson, a Republican ap- regated South where the Constitution and we talked about the march that pointee to a Federal court, appointed accorded us all of the rights of other took place there. by the Honorable President Dwight Ei- citizens, but our friends and neighbors In talking about that march, we senhower. denied us those rights that the Con- talked about how people assembled at a Frank M. Johnson signed the order stitution accorded us. This was the seg- church, and they decided that they clearing the way for them to march regated South, and this was Rosa were going to march peacefully from from Selma to Montgomery. And it is Parks. She decided to take that seat, Selma to Montgomery. As they pro- interesting to note that he was a con- backed by the NAACP and backed by a ceeded to march, they came to a turn- temporary of George Wallace. In fact, host of persons who were prepared to ing point in history. They came to one they were classmates. He and George work with her and support her. of those seminal moments in history Wallace had a constant confrontation, The truth be told, the honorable Rosa that will forever define the life of a a mild form of confrontation, some- Parks, who is considered by many the country, to be quite candid. times it got a little bit more than mild, ‘‘mother of the civil rights movement,’’ They came to the Edmund Pettus but they continually battled each the honorable Rosa Parks stands and Bridge, and they confronted the con- other. Frank M. Johnson was so much stood at that time on the shoulders of stabulary on the other side of the Ed- of an impact on the times that he had a giant. She stood on the shoulders of mund Pettus Bridge. If you have not to be guarded 24 hours a day. He was a a giant that we rarely hear about and gone to the Edmond Pettus Bridge, you Federal judge unlike any other. In fact, rarely read about. should go and see the Edmund Pettus Dr. King said he put the justice in the It is the story of a giant who was but Bridge. word ‘‘justice,’’ the Honorable Frank 15 years of age at the time she made If you understand the times that M. Johnson. her mark, if you will, in history. It is these persons were living in, you have So the question becomes, on whose the story of a giant who was arrested 9 to realize that these were some brave, shoulders did Dr. King stand on that months before Rosa Parks for doing courageous, and bold souls to be will- day when they marched across the Ed- the same thing that Rosa Park did. She ing to march across the Edmund mund Pettus Bridge? On whose shoul- was a 15-year-old girl, Claudette Pettus Bridge, knowing that the con- ders did the marchers stand on? They Colvin. She was the first person ar- stabulary was on the other side with stood on the shoulders of a hidden hand rested under the circumstances com- clubs and on horses. of the civil rights movement, the Hon- parable to Rosa Parks in Montgomery, You have to ask yourself candidly: orable Frank M. Johnson. Alabama. Would you have confronted what you Frank M. Johnson integrated She went to jail. Little is known knew was waiting for you in the form schools, he integrated the jury system. about her. Little is known because it of possible death on the Edmond Pettus He changed the face of the South, and was thought at the time that she was Bridge? so little is known about this giant on not the ideal person around which to The Honorable JOHN LEWIS indicates the shoulders of whom many of the rally. It was thought at the time that that he thought he was going to die great icons of the civil rights move- a more senior person was needed, a per- that day because, when confronted by ment stood on that day. This is not to son who had greater standing in the the constabulary with these clubs, they demean or diminish—obviously, we community. She was not that person. beat the marchers all the way back to can’t—the role of Dr. King and the Ah, but here is where history—his- the church. Honorable JOHN LEWIS; this is simply tory—tells the story. She was one of If you see the movie ‘‘Selma,’’ you to say there are others whose stories four people to file the lawsuit—the law- can get a fair depiction and representa- are not told enough, whose stories suit—that ultimately ended segrega- tion of what happened on the Edmund should be told more. tion of the bus line in Montgomery, Pettus Bridge. There will be another And on an occasion like this when we Alabama. march this year across the Edmond want to celebrate Black history, I Although Rosa Parks, Dr. King, and Pettus Bridge. For those who are inter- think we have to acknowledge that the multitudes marched and protested, ested, I am Congressman AL GREEN. there were unsung heroes and heroines they marched and they protested for You can call my office, and we will tell on whose shoulders many of the giants approximately a year or more, it was you about it. You might want to join stood on. And we also have to acknowl- not the march or protest that actually us. edge that many of these unsung heroes brought about the ending of this form Let’s talk about the Edmond Pettus and heroines are not of African ances- of invidious discrimination. It was Bridge and this march. Dr. King was try. You see, there really is a White really the lawsuit, Browder v. Gayle. It not there for Bloody Sunday. There side to Black history. Frank M. John- is important to note that there were were reasons that compelled him to do son is a part of this White side of Black four plaintiffs in the lawsuit and that some other things in his life. There history. But we also must know that Claudette Colvin was one of those four were other persons there. The Honor- Frank M. Johnson, the great hero that plaintiffs. able JOHN LEWIS was one of them. he was, is not in the history that we It was that lawsuit that made the In a sense, when Dr. King came speak of, is not celebrated to the ex- difference in the lives of not only those back—or he came to Selma following tent that he should be. people in Montgomery, but people Bloody Sunday to march, he was stand- So tonight, I want to say to the fam- across the length and breadth of this ing on the shoulders of those who had ily and friends, relatives, those who country because that was one of the already gone before him and confronted knew him, we celebrate him tonight. first times that the opinion expressed this constabulary. We celebrate the Honorable Charles in Brown v. Board of Education was ex- Let’s really take a closer look at the Hamilton Houston tonight. We cele- panded to include public transpor- history—at the history that we rarely brate the Honorable Claudette Colvin

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Feb 05, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K04FE7.064 H04FEPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE February 4, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H799 tonight. These are persons who were in some heavy lifting to reinstate section with you. I was not born in the State the shadows but who made a difference, 4 of the Voting Rights Act. that I represent. Nebraska is my home. and giants stood on their shoulders. And, as they marched once before, we It is where I have decided to raise my Now to close. Let’s go back to the will march once again this year. My family. It has given me a bounty of op- Edmund Pettus Bridge because a sig- hope is that we will be able to in this portunity, and I am so privileged to be nificant thing occurred. At the Ed- Congress come to a bipartisan conclu- a Representative from Nebraska. I was mund Pettus Bridge when they sion that section 4 of the Voting Rights born in the Deep South in a State marched across, at that time there Act is still important to a good many where segregation and racial difficul- were five African Americans in Con- people, and that we will work together ties were particularly difficult. gress; there were four Latino Ameri- to revitalize section 4 of the Voting When I was in third grade, it was cans in Congress, Hispanic Americans; Rights Act so as to give section 5 the time for my birthday, and we had a and there were three Asian Pacific Is- potency it needs to provide the cov- birthday party and I invited all of my landers in Congress. Now, rather than erage that has been of great benefit to classmates. This was basically a White, five African Americans, we have 48. us. middle class stable school in a stable Rather than four Hispanic Members, Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful to have neighborhood, but there was one Afri- we have 38. Rather than three Asian had the opportunity to share these can American family, either because of Pacific Americans, we have 14. I would thoughts at this moment in time about the beginning of desegregation that also note that there were 14 females in some of the great heroes and heroines was taking place at that time or be- Congress at that time. We now have and some of the unsung heroes of the cause they lived in proximity, they 104. civil rights movement. I thank you, were at the school. One of the young Crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge and I thank the leadership for allowing boys was named Philip Brown. He was provided the world an opportunity to us this time to celebrate Black History not only my classmate, but my friend. see the horrors of invidious discrimina- Month in these, the great United So I invited all of the boys, including tion, of onerous segregation, the hor- States of America. God bless you, and Philip, to my birthday party. Philip rors that people, decent God-fearing God bless our great country. didn’t come. And I saw him on the I yield back the balance of my time. human beings in the South, had to suf- Monday afterward and I asked him, I fer. And it provided the President of f said: Philip, I didn’t see you at my the United States, the Honorable Presi- AMERICA’S NATIONAL birthday party. Why didn’t you come? dent from the State of Texas, Lyndon CONVERSATION He said: I did. They wouldn’t let me Johnson, the opportunity to sign the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under in. Civil Rights Act of 1965. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Now this is an 8-year-old child. That Civil Rights Act is in no small uary 6, 2015, the Chair recognizes the I remember then thinking during the part why I happen to stand before you party, my father had come over to me gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. FOR- in the Congress of the United States of and whispered in my ear, in terms of TENBERRY) for 30 minutes. America. I stand on the shoulders of Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, the time, he said: Jeffrey, is Philip a many giants. Many of them are known first, if my friend, Congressman GREEN, Black boy? to us, but there are a good many of wouldn’t mind staying a moment, I And I said: Yes, and I didn’t think them who are not known to us, and I would like to offer a few comments on any more about it. am proud to say that during this time what you said. Unfortunately, I missed He had to go outside. My father had of Black History Month, it is appro- the larger body of your talk, but I to go outside and talk to Philip’s fa- priate for us to acknowledge them and would like to add a few things, if you ther because the establishment there, celebrate them for what they have don’t mind. unbeknownst to us, but the establish- done to make it possible for many of us Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I welcome ment didn’t let in African American to have the opportunities that we have. the opportunity to stand with you, my children. And today, as we look back and we dear friend. Thank you. Now, I want to fast-forward, though. revisit the Special Order hour, ‘‘50 Mr. FORTENBERRY. I think it I told that story to my little children. Years Ago From Selma: Where Are We should be acknowledged that we were I have five daughters, and they are and Where Are We Headed?,’’ I must elected at the same time. growing up now, but I told this to them tell you, in concluding, that we are Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. We are a few years ago. To your point about headed back to the future. We are classmates. progress being made, they were visibly headed back to the future because the Mr. FORTENBERRY. We are class- upset. They said: Daddy, you have to Civil Rights Act of 1965, which ac- mates. While we are on different sides go find Philip. You have to go find him. corded us the many opportunities that of the political aisle, nonetheless I Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. What a we have today, that Civil Rights Act of hope that you consider me as much of wonderful thought. 1965, section 4 of it has been evis- a friend as I consider you. Mr. FORTENBERRY. Because they cerated. And as a result of the eviscera- Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I do. And if were deeply touched, wounded, if you tion of section 4, we have seen, unfor- I may say, I rarely think of sides of the will, by this story. How could this hap- tunately, section 5 of the act lose its aisle when you and I are talking. It pen to a little child? potency because without section 4, you doesn’t become a significant factor in But I think you rightfully acknowl- don’t have a section 5. Section 5 has our lives as we converse and we cele- edge that those days are behind us. And been emasculated; section 4 evis- brate our friendship. through all of the difficulties, toils and cerated, section 5 emasculated. Section Mr. FORTENBERRY. I would like to struggles that occurred, thankfully 5 is there, but it does not have the cov- note a couple of things you pointed out they are behind us. And I think what erage areas that it is to address. And so in your speech, and then you can move you said is appropriate, that Black His- without section 5, we find ourselves on with your evening. I don’t want you tory Month ought to also be called back to a point in time wherein we will to stay through my other comments, America’s History Month because these have to again relitigate the whole but nonetheless, you said a few things. chapters are an important, essential question of the right to vote, to a cer- You talked about the important part of our national fabric and our na- tain extent—very limited—but also in progress that has been made in this tional culture. this context the means by which we country, and I think that is notable. Again, I didn’t intend to dialogue were able to secure many of the seats You talked about that particularly dif- with you. But I was sitting there in Congress that the 48 Members pres- ficult period in the 1960s, and you re- thinking of this, and I have never ently enjoy. ferred to Black History Month as shared that story publicly. But I think So without that section 5, an effec- America’s history month as well. I the main part of the story is the pain- tive, potent section 5, we find ourselves think those are all notable comments, ful look on my own little children’s with a circumstance where we are and I wanted to tell you that. faces when they heard that, and I think looking back now to that future, that In that tough time, something hap- that means good progress. future that is going to require us to do pened to me that I would like to share I yield to the gentleman.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:43 Feb 05, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K04FE7.066 H04FEPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H800 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 4, 2015 Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I appreciate I do want to make this comment that mired in mediocrity, nor should we be you sharing that vignette with me be- things at the courthouse during all divided by class or income, but I do cause it is very much heartfelt. It is that time changed a great deal as to think we have to acknowledge several good to have a person to tell the actual who was at the courthouse in the difficult truths. story. If you have read it, you will courtroom representing either the I think our national conversation know of what I speak; if you haven’t, I State of Texas or the citizen accused, should also start here. The reality is commend it to you—Dr. King’s ‘‘Letter as you referred to him. we have a tale of two very different from a Birmingham Jail.’’ Were you the first African American economic recoveries. One recovery was Mr. FORTENBERRY. I am very fa- to practice in the courtroom? Or was it working pretty well for transnational miliar with it. Ned Wade or Ron Mock? Which one of corporations, many of which are sub- Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. It is one of you was it? sidized indirectly by the state, but the the greatest pieces of literary history, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I was not other recovery is not working quite as saving a few holy books, I would say. It and probably someone prior to Ned well for everyone else. is absolutely one of the best stories of Wade. There were other lawyers who Too many families are facing down- what that time was like. Dr. King talks were there long before us. ward mobility, stagnant wages, and an about how he had to explain to his chil- Mr. POE of Texas. It has changed a increased cost of living, and many feel dren why they couldn’t go to a certain great deal. In fact, the judge who took abandoned by a Washington and Wall theme park, and how he could see the my place is an African American judge Street axis. There is an incomplete pic- clouds over their heads as they were at the courthouse in Houston. It is ture being given, I think, in the dy- saddened by their inability to go to the hard looking back on history to realize namics of the statistics that are now theme park because of who they were. things were not always that way at the being promulgated about the current I ask people to please read that letter courthouse and the legal profession as economy. because it really parallels what you are they were in many other professions. Yes, we have some good news. Energy saying tonight here on the floor of the I think your accomplishments as an prices have significantly fallen, and House of Representatives. You are attorney and as a jurist are admirable. that is taking a lot of pressure off a lot right—we have come a long way from They have served the State of Texas of sectors and a lot of individuals. those times. These times are difficult quite well, but you fought a lot of bat- Some recovery is happening. But as the head of the Gallup organi- in a different way, however. There is tles during that time as well, and I zation points out, the recent reports still great work to be done, and you want to thank you for fighting those that the unemployment rate has and I can work together to get some of battles. dropped to 5.6 percent are really quite this additional great work done. Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Well, thank misleading. The Department of Labor But notwithstanding all that I have you. doesn’t count those who are trapped in said tonight, I conclude with this: On a I know that your time is of the es- unemployment and who have stopped bad day, it is still good to live in the sence, and you have been very generous USA. looking. with me, Mr. FORTENBERRY. In fact, the further you unpack these Mr. FORTENBERRY. Amen. Will the gentleman allow one addi- Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. On a bad statistics and you look at what is caus- tional comment? The Honorable TED ing the causal relationship here is, un- day when your spouse wants to leave POE and I have had a friendship for you, or on a bad day when your puppy fortunately, we are entering into a pe- many, many years. He is imminently riod of what I am calling an entrepre- wants to bite you, let your puppy bite correct. We were on different sides of you and let your spouse leave you, in neurial winter, where there are more the table, literally, in the courtroom, small businesses dying than there are the United States of America, on a bad but we never allowed many of the po- day, it is still good to live in the USA. being born; in other words, the net out- litical maneuvers of the time, the po- come of small business creation is in a b 1800 litical issues of the time, to prevent us negative range for the first time in the Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank you for from being friends, and we brought history of our country. listening to me and your commentary that friendship to the Congress of the The reason this is significant is this tonight. Let’s continue our robust United States of America. is where most jobs come from. Most friendship and our collegiality as we While there is still great work to be people in America are working hard work through differences and difficul- done—even in the courts, there is still and are looking for their opportunity ties, which are inevitable in a body like great work to be done. There is great in small business. We are not talking this where there are indeed philo- work to be done in the area of litiga- about larger entities, which have an sophical divides. tion that still is matriculating through important role in not only economic There ought to be certain principles the courts, but we still have to ac- recovery and in creating employment that unite us, and I have myself quoted knowledge that it is a better time to do for many, but small businesses are from Dr. King’s letter in the Bir- it now than to do it then. where the majority of jobs are created. mingham jail in other speeches. We have greater friendships and It is also where this dynamic of an Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you greater opportunities. On a bad day, it interdependent economy, a healthy very much. is still good to live in the USA. economy, is really born, an oppor- Mr. POE of Texas. Will the gen- Mr. FORTENBERRY. A great expres- tunity economy, where the benign tleman yield? sion. Thank you. forces of competition create a certain Mr. FORTENBERRY. I yield to the Thank you, Judge POE. interdependency between the one who gentleman from Texas. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how is making a good with their own two Mr. POE of Texas. I thank you for much time is remaining? hands or their intellect and selling it yielding. I won’t take all of your time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to another who needs that good and, in You and I, our careers have mirrored. tleman from Nebraska has 20 minutes turn, reinforcing a social dynamic that We both became lawyers the same remaining. is essential to personal well-being and year, and we both started at the court- Mr. FORTENBERRY. Thank you, Mr. a healthy economy. house in Houston I think the same Speaker. Well, how did we get into this posi- year—’73, ’74, right in there. Before I deviated, I had some other tion? I think we have to analyze this as Of course, you were on one side, the thoughts that I wanted to convey to- well. defendant side, and I was on the pros- night. Mr. Speaker, let me start out Mr. Speaker, I received a phone call ecution side. We worked before the with this thought. last spring, and the gentleman was same judges. You and I both became It is a high goal, a principle, that I very, very eager to talk to me, so I judges about the same time and then think across this body we all share, called him back. In fact, he was so we left the bench at the same time and and it is this: Americans deserve a eager to talk to me that he was actu- ran for Congress and joined Mr. FOR- smart and effective government. I ally sitting at the Nebraska spring TENBERRY in the infamous class of 2004 don’t think nor do I think many of us football game where the white team or ’5. believe that Washington should be versus the red team, they play it out.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:43 Feb 05, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K04FE7.067 H04FEPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE February 4, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H801 This is a big deal in Nebraska. Tens comes in the world. The question is dential decisions about what is really of thousands of people actually go to how do we get there? necessary and what is not, I think this this game. He was sitting in the stands, Well, from my perspective, a new is a mechanism by which we can again and he took his time out from watch- framework, a new architecture of ap- significantly empower families to save ing the Nebraska spring game to talk proach is needed, but it basically ex- money, control their first health care to me which is a high honor. pands a policy that we already have. dollar cost, and be protected at the He wanted to point out that he was a A long time ago, I had a very signifi- same time. small business person. He owned and cant headache. I was in my twenties. I The health savings account is a tax- started a heating and air-conditioning carried my own health care policy, and preferred vehicle whereby money is set business and, until very recently, had it was very expensive, so I had a very aside on a tax-preferred basis and accu- five employees. Because he could see high deductible. mulates over time. Now, most people in what was coming—particularly in Because the headache was particu- their lifetimes don’t get significantly health care—he got rid of all of his larly severe, I decided: Well, I assume sick, so there is the opportunity here jobs, and it is just him now. the family physician will probably just again for young people to begin to set If you ask the question—and ana- send me on to a specialist. aside money in this tax-deferred ac- lytics are showing this—as to why So I called the ear, nose, and throat count that actually helps them pay for small businesses are not taking proper specialist directly and went and got an when ordinary medical expenses arise. risk going out into the marketplace to appointment. She did an x ray and Then again, if something really goes create new products and hire people, said: I can’t really tell from the x ray, wrong, you have catastrophic insur- there are two simple—this is a bit sim- so I am going to have to do a CAT scan. ance. plistic—but two answers are what come I said: Doctor, is that really nec- Over time, these accounts would be- forward. The first is health care, and essary? You know, I understand the come larger and larger and help supple- the second is regulation. problem of liability and the need to ment retirement, help supplement the You see, in the name of trying to cre- push the boundaries on testing. Is it Medicare system, strengthening those ate an orderly and just and fair econ- really necessary? important retirement security pro- omy when Washington overreaches and She asked me directly, almost kind grams. creates an environment that is setting of indignant, she said: Why are you up the guardrails for proper economic talking to me about this? I said: Be- b 1815 function, if it is too heavyhanded and cause I am paying for this. My deduct- I think this is a key to reworking our it is penalizing those who don’t have an ible is very, very high. I am actually current health care model, not for ev- army of lawyers and accountants and paying the cost of this test. I just want eryone, but an expansion of this oppor- regulatory personnel, that means that to know if this is absolutely necessary. tunity, I think, is the right architec- the playing field suddenly shifts to- Help me to make that decision. ture in moving forward for the next ward much bigger entities that, in She said: Oh, yes, of course, it is nec- generation, particularly, so that we many ways, can become impersonal. essary. But now that you said that, I guarantee access to affordable, quality The more Washington imposes regu- am just looking at your sinuses, so why health care. latory burdens that are affecting the don’t we call places in town that have I think we carry forward some impor- outlook and expectation of small busi- the machine and see if they will widen tant provisions in that no one with a ness people, the more they are hesi- the cross section and give you a dis- preexisting condition can be denied. I tating to hire. count? I said: Great. think the provision whereby children The second factor is health care. In 3 minutes, she had her assistant can stay on their parents’ health care Now, I think we have to have this hard call. We found a place in town that was longer, now until age 26—I actually conversation. We have a broken health about $75 cheaper than normal. The supported that before the new health care law. The Affordable Care Act, as it doctor got the test that she needed. care law—is smart policy. We remove is called, could be called now the Perhaps most importantly, in the ag- caps on insurance, but that doesn’t ‘‘Unaffordable Care Act.’’ save any money. It just penalizes those The law was designed to fix some real gregate, the resource was more prop- who get really sick. We carry those cracks in our system that were very erly allocated, all because I had the in- evident. People with preexisting condi- centive to ask a simple question be- provisions forward, again, to protect tions or people being priced out of the cause I was actually paying for the persons in a vulnerable circumstance, market were having a very difficult test. but we give everyone the access to af- time finding health insurance, and that Now, we have a policy that encour- fordable, quality health insurance. needs to be addressed, and it needs to ages health savings accounts. Some There is a lot of detail that would go be addressed through Washington pol- Americans have them; some Americans into how you would make that hap- icy. don’t. They are not appropriate for pen—whether or not you would spread But we need a health care system every American, particularly Ameri- that cost over the entire market that is focused on decreasing cost and cans who are getting older and at the through regulation or whether you improving health care outcomes while ending point of their professional ca- would subsidize it like the government also helping vulnerable persons. What reers, because health savings accounts does in other insurance markets, like we have gotten now is higher esca- coupled with catastrophic insurance flood insurance and crop insurance. lating cost, fewer choices, and a damp- are a very, very proper way, I think, to Nonetheless, I think that is the right ening effect on the entrepreneurial manage health care when you are framework and architecture for a ro- small business economy—again, where younger and in middle life. We ought to bust, competitive health insurance most jobs come from. It is not me say- be expanding this. marketplace that is going to improve ing this. This is what the statistics are The second point is: How do we get health outcomes, reduce costs, and pro- bearing out and the research is bearing there? Guaranteed access to affordable, tect vulnerable persons. out; and it is a hard, hard reality. quality catastrophic health insurance What will we get if we do this? What Instead of just saying ‘‘no’’ to the Af- with health savings accounts. will we get if we are courageous enough fordable Care Act, those of us who have What you get for that is you are pro- as a body to step forward and say, ‘‘Do said ‘‘no’’ many times also have a re- tected. If something really goes wrong, you know what? We can do better. sponsibility to find a responsible re- if you are in the hospital in the emer- Americans deserve better than the cur- placement in public policy for us— gency, you shouldn’t be put in the posi- rent arrangement’’? again, one that is going to increase tion of asking: Who is the chief anes- We will get peace of mind for our- competition, improve health care out- thesiologist around here? I need to selves and for our doctors. I think this comes, give additional choice, while compare prices. would go a long way toward helping re- also decreasing cost, and protecting No, in those scenarios, you are pro- solve the underlying problem here of vulnerable persons. tected. But in ordinary health care de- stagnation in the economy, particu- Mr. Speaker, I think Americans de- cisions, in partnership with your doc- larly among those who want to be en- serve the best possible health care out- tor—health care provider—making pru- trepreneurs—small business persons

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