April 26, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3695 here, other than some people want to true that a single-payer system will member of the Greatest Generation benefit while other people actually suf- have longer waiting lines. It is just not and spent her life in service to others. fer. the case. People will say this, but it is It is incredible to reflect. She was There is an important debate going not true. only the second woman in our Nation’s on in our country. There is an impor- The fact is that we need to have the history to be both the wife and the tant conversation that we are having debate. We need to have the discussion. mother of a United States President. in communities all over. I hope that all We need businesses to say: Well, what Mrs. Bush joined Abigail Adams in an across the United States, in church would it mean to me if I didn’t have to exclusive club of those who have ad- basements, synagogue basements, pay health insurance out of my busi- vised our Nation’s Chief Executives mosques, Quaker meeting rooms, VFW ness expenses? long before they reached the Oval Of- halls and union halls, in lodges and cof- Individuals have to ask: What would fice. fee shops all across America, wherever it mean if they never had to pay for In her capacity as First Lady, Mrs. people gather, folks will get together copays, deductibles, things like that, if Bush used her influence to enact posi- and discuss our healthcare future as they could get eyes, ears, other types tive change. Although her name was Americans. of coverages that they need, what never on a ballot, the American people There is a better way, and I think would it mean if these things were pos- chose Mrs. Bush as a leader and as a that it is right in front of us. sible? How would it impact our econ- role model. I was speaking about this issue with omy? Would it free people and allow Just yesterday, the Energy and Com- somebody who told me: Well, Keith, I them to be more creative and more in- merce Health Subcommittee marked mean, look, how are we going to pay novative? up more than 50 bills that offer solu- for this? We have seen our country see a de- tions to what is currently a significant I thought that was an interesting cline in small business development crisis in our country dealing with question, given that we just passed a first in startups. Is this in part because deaths caused by opioids, a devastating Republican tax bill that carved about people are locked into debt in jobs just epidemic that has touched literally $1.5 trillion out of Federal revenue over so they can have insurance? I think every neighborhood in our Nation. the next 10 years. Some people have es- there is certainly a possibility there. Combating this crisis requires not only timated it is even higher than that. At the end of the day, we have got to legislation, but compassion and under- Nobody was particularly worried about have a dialogue about how we can bet- standing. But years ago, in her work to help how we are going to pay for that. But ter serve the American people. Other the most vulnerable, Mrs. Bush epito- the question is still a legitimate ques- countries around the world are doing mized such compassion. I actually tion. We do have to pay for things. it, and it is time for us to move for- mentioned this at the start of yester- I think that, if we look at the fact ward in that direction, too. day’s markup in committee. A signifi- that about two-thirds of all the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance cant part of Mrs. Bush’s legacy will al- healthcare spending now is public of my time. ways be her simple embrace of a child spending, we are two-thirds of the way f there now. We need to figure out how with HIV/AIDS at a clinic at a time when the illness was not well under- we are going to come up with the rest. HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY stood and, I dare say, the illness was People will see the healthcare expendi- OF FIRST LADY BARBARA feared by most people in the country. tures that they are already making be PIERCE BUSH This simple act, this simple embrace, able to be part of how we will pay this. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under to reach out and pick up a child at an But the other part is a legitimate ques- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- HIV/AIDS clinic, helped to tion. uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from Texas destigmatize HIV/AIDS in American I think that we can set out a system (Mr. CULBERSON) is recognized for 60 culture. It was a seemingly small, but of a payroll tax or, perhaps, a tax on minutes as the designee of the major- ity leader. a powerful, gesture in 1989. Wall Street trades. There are a number Then Mrs. Bush paved the way for ac- of things that we can do. And we also GENERAL LEAVE ceptance of patients with HIV/AIDS, can squeeze costs out of the system. Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask their families, and they were moved We know that simply because you unanimous consent that all Members out of the shadows and could begin to have got multiple insurance compa- participating tonight may have 5 legis- look at treatment options. The world is nies, multiple payers, that there is lative days in which to revise and ex- vastly different today for the patient rampant waste in the system; and if we tend their remarks and include extra- with HIV/AIDS because of that simple were to squeeze it out and we get effi- neous material on the topic of this Spe- act of compassion evidenced by Mrs. ciencies, we would be able to lower cial Order. Bush. costs in the system. If we could control The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there As Congress now considers how best costs better, we would be able to have objection to the request of the gen- to end the opioid crisis and other a world-class system, as other coun- tleman from Texas? human dignity issues before us, I hope tries have, with excellent health out- There was no objection. we can remember and follow Mrs. comes and be able to still pay for it. It Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, it is Bush’s unwavering dedication to al- is not beyond our reach. my privilege tonight to pay tribute to ways do what is right. I can tell you that it has often been the life of a great Texan and a great I am certainly proud to join my fel- said that single-payer systems have American: Barbara Pierce Bush. low Texan from Houston honoring his long waiting lines. Well, not according Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to constituent tonight and expressing our to the data. One grant from the Com- yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. condolences to former President monwealth Fund looks at what percent BURGESS), my colleague. George H.W. Bush and the rest of the of adults can get a same-day doctor’s Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Bush family and celebrating the won- appointment when they are sick, the gentleman for yielding, and I thank derful life of former First Lady Bar- counting systems like Canada, the the gentleman for calling this Special bara Pierce Bush. United Kingdom, and the rest. And the Order hour to honor the life and legacy Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I fact is that in New Zealand, Germany, of his constituent, Barbara Pierce thank the gentleman for those re- Australia, and the United Kingdom, Bush, whom we lost last week. I am marks. people can get same-day doctor visits certainly proud to stand with my col- Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush at a higher rate than in the United league from Texas to honor the life and do exemplify all of the greatest char- States. It is not the case that you have the legacy of our former First Lady acter traits that made the Greatest to have these long lines and you have Barbara Bush. Generation what it is and made this to wait so long in every system. From Rye, New York, to west Texas, country what it is. It has been a privi- Of course, the U.S. system will be an to the West Wing, Mrs. Bush served her lege to represent the Bush family and American system. We will design it for family and her country with integrity, to succeed George H.W. Bush in Con- our own purposes. But it simply is not strength, and grace. She, indeed, was a gress, who was followed by Bill Archer. VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K26AP7.142 H26APPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with HOUSE H3696 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 26, 2018 I succeeded Bill Archer. He was chair- There are many whose lives were en- George’s 18th birthday, they both be- man of the Ways and Means Com- hanced by the service, graciousness, came each other’s first kiss. mittee. He succeeded George H.W. and the love that First Lady Barbara Their engagement was officially an- Bush.