Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 No. 36 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was their families. Too often, we find that Doctors understand the facts. They called to order by the Speaker pro tem- people don’t get the care they want and tell their families. It’s probably not ac- pore (Ms. JENKINS). they need. curate to say they get less care, but This has been a passion of mine for f what is accurate is they get different years now to make sure that families care. They’re more likely to use hos- DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO and patients are equipped to deal with pice services. They’re more likely to TEMPORE the end of life. It was my legislation have palliative care to make sure in The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- that was in the health care reform that their final moments they’re not in fore the House the following commu- was, unfortunately, not in the final pain. They’re less likely to have nication from the Speaker: legislation because the reconciliation invasive, painful, expensive treatment, process wouldn’t allow the Senate to particularly if they don’t want it, be- WASHINGTON, DC, consider it in the House bill. We’re March 6, 2012. cause they’ve taken care of making I hereby appoint the Honorable LYNN JEN- working on it again with legislation sure that their wishes are known and KINS to act as Speaker pro tempore on this entitled Personalize Your Health Care, respected. day. H.R. 1589, to make sure that these pro- Now, I don’t want everybody to ‘‘die JOHN A. BOEHNER, visions that are strongly supported by like a doctor,’’ but I do want everybody Speaker of the House of Representatives. the public finally become law. to have the knowledge and the power I think, perhaps, the best case that I f so that their wishes, whatever they have seen for this legislation is found are, are respected. It is time that Con- MORNING-HOUR DEBATE by Dr. Murray in his article, ‘‘Why gress passes legislation to make sure The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Doctors Die Differently.’’ It is a sim- ple, powerful, two-page statement ex- the American public has the informa- ant to the order of the House of Janu- tion and that their wishes, whatever ary 17, 2012, the Chair will now recog- plaining the hows and whys. Doctors actually do pass away, but their wishes may be, are respected, be- nize Members from lists submitted by cause those final months or weeks or the majority and minority leaders for they pass away differently. What is in- teresting is that, of these who are well days of life deserve to be gentle, morning-hour debate. thoughtful, respectful, and people hav- The Chair will alternate recognition off and connected to the medical care profession, it’s not how much health ing whatever care they and their fami- between the parties, with each party care they get in their final months but lies want. limited to 1 hour and each Member actually how little. They do have more I strongly urge my colleagues to look other than the majority and minority information than the average member at H.R. 1589, Personalize Your Health leaders and the minority whip limited of the public. They know their choices, Care. to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall and they act to make sure that their f debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. choices are respected. Doctors are more AFGHANISTAN f than three times likely than the aver- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The WHY DOCTORS DIE DIFFERENTLY age member of the public to have an advance directive that instructs fami- Chair recognizes the gentleman from The SPEAKER pro tempore. The lies, doctors, hospitals how they want North Carolina (Mr. JONES) for 5 min- Chair recognizes the gentleman from to be treated. That percentage is even utes. Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 min- higher for older doctors. Mr. JONES. Last week, Congress- utes. They know, for instance, in their last woman BARBARA LEE and I asked for a Mr. BLUMENAUER. Recently, there moments, most doctors don’t want classified briefing on Afghanistan. has been a series of very powerful arti- CPR performed on them. Unlike on tel- Really, the only thing I can say about cles in the popular press about what we evision, where 75 percent of the CPR the briefing, because it was classified, call ‘‘end of life.’’ The most recent was instances that the American public is that I will continue to come to the by Dr. Ken Murray in The Wall Street watches are successful and patients go floor and to say let’s bring our troops Journal last week, entitled, ‘‘Why Doc- on to lead happy, normal lives, doctors home from Afghanistan. tors Die Differently.’’ This series of ar- know that after the ribs are broken, Also last week, we had two Army of- ticles focuses in on this end of life pe- which is what happens normally in ficers from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, riod—usually the most intense, the CPR that’s done properly, that fewer who were in Afghanistan to train, and most painful, the most expensive. It’s than 8 percent live even another they were shot by the Afghan trainee too often confusing for patients and month. at point blank range. This brings the 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. H1155 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:19 Mar 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06MR7.000 H06MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H1156 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 6, 2012 count to 42 Americans who have been stan 11 years after it started. The a pillar of support for the children of killed in Afghanistan while working money that we’re going to cut here in Plymouth. Quietly, and without rec- with the Afghans to train them to be America of the senior citizens and the ognition, John endowed a fund to ben- police and soldiers. When you factor in children who need programs to have a efit the Plymouth High School speech how many coalition troops have been better quality of life, we are going to team, a State leader in debate competi- killed, along with the Americans, it’s cut their programs, but we are going to tion. about 70. It is a totally impossible situ- keep spending $10 billion a month in To further advance the strength of ation, as well as the fact that we con- Afghanistan. It makes no sense. local schools, John has made donation tinue to spend $10 billion a month Madam Speaker, before I close, I after donation to help with the pur- there. would like to encourage every Member chase of books for school libraries, I have beside me, Madam Speaker, a of Congress—who has the authority, leadership seminars for students, and poster from the Greensboro News- should they want to implement that the expansion of scholarship and other Record in Greensboro, North Carolina. authority—to read the National Intel- award programs. In addition, John The headline is ‘‘Get Out,’’ and there is ligence Estimate on Afghanistan that maintains an intern program at U.S. an honor guard bringing a transfer case was published in 2011. It is classified, Granules, and it provides work experi- off the plane. The sad thing is that the but every Member of Congress can take ence and scholarship assistance and a day is on a Sunday in February 2011, 1 hour—it’s about 55 pages, I’ve read chance for our children to succeed and and we’re now in March of 2012. We it—and read it. You need to read it, for their dreams to come true. continue to spend money that we can- and then maybe you can help us make John has also been a supporter of not even account for. We send auditors better decisions here on the floor about youth baseball, in particular, American to Afghanistan to try to account for what in the world are we doing in Af- Legion Post 27, and he has also ex- the $10 billion a month that is being ghanistan spending Uncle Sam’s money tended his support to the Indiana Base- given to Mr. Karzai so he can lead Af- that he doesn’t even have. He has to ball Hall of Fame. When he was in- ghanistan—buy some new roads and borrow his money from the Chinese to ducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall camps, I guess—while our troops are pay Karzai. of Fame in 2009, he humbly, as he al- losing their legs, their arms, and their Where does that make any sense? ways did, reminded everyone that his lives in a war that should be ended The American people do not think it contributions were dedicated to his now, not later. We will, during the de- makes any sense. community’s youth and to their future bate on the DOD bill in May, continue We did a teletown hall about a month and that it was not about him.