Weekly Update from Congressman Heath Shuler

Statement

Last week the House of Representatives spent the majority of its time in Washington considering the complete repeal of the health insurance reform law passed last year. While I did not support the health care bill when it came to the House floor in 2010, I also did not support its total repeal and the political theater that ensued. This effort simply continues the divisive nature of our political discourse and does nothing to address the needs of American families and businesses.

Full repeal of the existing health care law also would have meant the loss of many of its positive effects that have the support of Democrats and Republicans. For example, a broad bipartisan group support the ability of parents to maintain coverage for their children until the age of 26, the closing of the Medicare prescription drug benefit donut hole so more seniors can afford all their medications, and preventing the denial of coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. It would be immoral and unproductive to take positive effects of the law away.

However, I also understand that we must take steps to improve the current health care law. That is why I supported two separate efforts last week to address some of the negative impacts of the bill.

Along with more than 250 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, I cosponsored H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, legislation that would repeal the onerous 1099 reporting requirements placed on small businesses. I also voted in favor of H. Res. 9, which directs the appropriate House committees to write new health care legislation which could potentially replace the existing law.

H. Res. 9, which was introduced by House Republicans, requires any new health care legislation to meet the following criteria:

1. Foster economic growth and private sector job creation by eliminating policies and regulations that place a burden on businesses
2. Lower health care premiums through increased competition and choice Preserve a patient's ability to keep his or her health plan if they want
3. Provide those with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health coverage
4. Reform the medical liability system to reduce unnecessary and wasteful health care spending
5. Increase the number of insured Americans
6. Protect the doctor-patient relationship
7. Provide the States greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs
8. Expand incentives to encourage personal responsibility for health care coverage and costs
9. Prohibit taxpayer funding of abortions and provide conscience protections for health care providers
10. Eliminate duplicative government programs and wasteful spending
11. Not accelerate the insolvency of entitlement programs or increase the tax burden on Americans

Moving forward I am hopeful we can work together, regardless of party affiliation, to address the very real healthcare challenges before us. That is what the American people expect and deserve.

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