| Supreme Court Review |
May 14, 2012 |
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Patrick Leahy, D-VT
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"Madam President, I was fortunate to be able to attend the argument before the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the provision in the affordable care act providing that individuals should take personal responsibility for paying for their health care by obtaining health insurance or pay a fine. I have watched a lot of arguments in the Supreme Court. Obviously, as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee I pay close attention—as do all Members—to what goes on there. I heard a great deal of instant analysis from commentators after the argument, including their predictions on how the Court will rule. I didn’t hear much devoted to the role of the Chief Justice of the United States."
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| Commerce, Justice, Science, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 |
May 10, 2012 |
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Mazie Hirono, D-HI
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"This bill underfunds programs that are critical to Hawaii, including programs that support fisheries and ocean stewardship programs. It includes a $20 million cut to the Legal Services Corporation, denying legal aid to tens of thousands in underserved communities, as well as many military families. Funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, program in the bill is well below the administration’s request. Fortunately, we were successful in passing an amendment to increase funding for COPS by $126 million (equivalent to the FY 2012 level), but many other amendments to this bill have made it even worse. For instance, amendments were adopted that would: Prevent use of Department of Justice funds in the legal defense of the Affordable Care Act; Prohibit funding to implement the National Ocean Policy; Eliminate funding for science-based climate change education efforts that will help prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; Prohibit funding of Census Bureau collection of detailed housing, economic, and demographic statistics. "
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| Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act Of 2012—Motion To Proceed |
May 10, 2012 |
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Mark Udall, D-CO
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"As you know, and we all know, there is a broad consensus that we have to prevent these Stafford loans from doubling on July 1. However, many of our friends on the other side want to raid the Prevention and Public Health Fund to offset the cost of these student loans. This fund is aimed at preventing chronic disease and it was implemented as a part of the Affordable Care Act. The Prevention and Public Health Fund helps to reduce chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, while also providing much-needed dollars toward immunization for children."
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| Stop The Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act Of 2012—Motion To Proceed |
May 7, 2012 |
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Tom Harkin, D-IA
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"Many of my Republican colleagues have acknowledged the critical importance of investing in prevention and wellness, which makes the use of this offset that is eliminating it all the more troubling. Preventing disease, expanding access to screenings, encouraging people to stop using tobacco—these used to be bipartisan goals strongly supported by a vast majority of Republicans and Democrats alike. So in the affordable care act we created the prevention fund, with the express goal of ramping up our investments in these prevention and wellness initiatives, again, with Republican support."
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| Taxation |
April 27, 2012 |
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Allen West, R-FL
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"At the time, a very controversial amendment, the 16th Amendment, had been cited in multiple Supreme Court cases, most significantly in Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad and in Stanton v. Baltic Mining Company. The Court ruled it was never the intent of Congress to place a direct tax on the American people. Mr. Speaker, that’s a decision we now see being debated again in the Supreme Court with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
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