Sense of House Regarding any Final Measure to Extend Certain Expiring Provisions

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, last week the House passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act with the support of both sides of the aisle. The economy is struggling--perhaps getting better, but struggling.

The President asked for a 1-year extension of the payroll tax holiday. We agree with that, a 1-year extension. Extend and reform the unemployment insurance plan benefits; we agree with that. A 2-year extension of the so-called doc fix. I'm a physician. I have been here now for 3 years. In the 3 years I have been here, Mr. Speaker, we've had six temporary extensions. This will be number seven. For access to care for patients, we must get a permanent fix for SGR or no patients are going to have access. And I have spoken to numerous colleagues who totally disagree with this 60-day extension. The true shovel-ready project, which is the Keystone pipeline, will give us access to energy in this continent with one of our best neighbors, Canada.

All of these issues that we've talked about are paid for with spending cuts, not tax increases and not deficit spending. The Senate, however, passed only a 60-day extension; the House, 1 year. Sixty days versus 1 year.

The distinguished Senator from Tennessee, Senator Bob Corker, just said, ``Senator Reid should stop this political gamesmanship, call the Senate back into session, and follow the `regular order,' '' which means both sides of the aisle, the House and the Senate, produce a conference bill ``to produce better legislation that reflects the will of the House and Senate.''

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