Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1216, Repealing Mandatory Funding for Graduate Medical Education

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and support the gentleman's motion to move the previous question. This motion demonstrates we are serious about creating jobs, growing the economy, and lowering gas prices.

My Republican colleagues are instead relitigating an issue that was debated exhaustively over the past year. As I traveled all across my district last week, not surprisingly, not a single one of my constituents said the health reform should be altered to fund graduate medical education in qualified teaching health centers through direct appropriations. Rather, my constituents want to hear what Congress is doing now to lower the price of a gallon of gas. They want to know how we are responding to turmoil in the Middle East and speculation by Wall Street, which are causing this price spike.

In Montauk Point, the eastern most point of my district, regular unleaded gas cost $4.89 a gallon yesterday. Recreational and commercial fishermen, small businesses and the whole local economy are all being squeezed by gas prices.

My constituents want to know what Congress is doing in response and how we plan to create jobs and expand our economy. But since the new Republican majority took over this year, we haven't debated a single jobs initiative or any meaningful proposal to reduce the price of gas for consumers--not one. In the 140 days since the 112th Congress began, we have debated zero job bills and only a handful of bills related to energy, most of which focus on reducing the price of gas 10 years from now, maybe.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can focus on our priorities: Reducing gas prices, creating jobs and helping middle class American keep up in today's economy.

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