Last week House Democrats moved forward with their government-run health care plan working to complete the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee which oversees health care legislation. Their plan would cost over $1 trillion raise taxes up to $818 billion on individuals and small businesses eliminate up to 4.7 million jobs cut up to $500 billion in Medicare programs and move 114 million Americans off their current private health care coverage to a government-run plan.
In an effort to help our Democrat Majority colleagues practice what they preach Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) of the Energy & Commerce Committee offered an amendment that would have required all federal elected officials including the President Vice President and Members of Congress to join the same government-run health care plan proposed under the legislation.
Not surprisingly the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman (D-CA) refused to consider the amendment in the Committee.
If the Majority is so confident that their plan will provide the very best health care for the people they represent then I think they should demonstrate that confidence by enrolling themselves. That is why I have joined 65 other Republican Members in cosponsoring House Resolution 615 legislation to ensure that any Member of Congress who votes for government-run health care should also forgo their current health care benefits and enroll in the government-run plan.
Congress should not be able to pick winners and losers in health care shielding themselves from the ill-effects of a government-run health system while pushing it on the American people. As your Member of Congress I remain committed to supporting patient-centered solutions and to opposing the current plans for a government takeover of healthcare.
Advancing Injured Military Members Care
As you know thousands of our brave servicemen and women are returning from combat with severe limb injuries Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) resulting in an inability to hold a job properly care for their families or in some cases overcome suicidal tendencies.
As a nation we have the responsibility for their care and recover.
Since 2006 I have been actively engaged in researching the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and I am particularly encouraged with the potential of HBOT to treat brain-injured soldiers suffering from TBI and PTSD.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) uses a chamber to administer oxygen in prescribed dosages for a variety of external and internal injuries. The oxygen acts as a catalyst in healing wounds that often fail to respond to other medical and surgical practices and that lack the blood circulation and blood-oxygen levels necessary to heal.
This week Congress passed the Defense Department spending bill and I was pleased that the House unanimously approved my amendment requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy within the Department of Defense. This amendment builds on a similar amendment I added to the Veterans Affairs spending bill last month.
Between the two Departments I am very pleased that these initial reporting requirements can provide the first steps toward expanding the use of hyperbaric therapy in both military and VA medical facilities.
Currently HBOT is being used to treat our injured soldiers and veterans suffering from non-healing diabetic foot wounds crush injuries exceptional blood loss and other complex wounds. HBOT often saves a soldier from an expensive painful life-altering and potentially life-threatening amputation.
Recent research has suggested a promising new cross-application of HBOT for treating Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) but service members with TBI are currently only able to receive HBOT from private physicians for their injuries making the treatment cost-prohibitive in many cases.
The Defense Center on Excellence (under the Department of Defense) is scheduled to complete a study on hyperbaric treatment for TBI in December of 2010.
My amendments along with the scheduled report next year will give us a better understanding of the current inventory and application of HBOT and provide the resources needed to expedite new and innovative treatments to our injured soldiers.
Richardson Town Hall Meeting
This week marks the beginning of Congress August District Work Period and I am looking forward to meeting with constituents in North Texas to discuss their views about the work of Congress and the direction of America.
On Wednesday I will host a town hall meeting in Richardson. I welcome the attendance of any 32nd District resident from the Richardson area. I will also host a town hall meeting in Irving later in August and I hope to reach the Dallas/Addison regions of my district in the coming months as well.
Wednesday August 5 2009
7:00pm 8:30pm
Richardson Civic Center/City Hall • Grand Hall
411 W. Arapaho Road Richardson TX 75080
Especially during these challenging economic times job creation economic growth and fiscal responsibility are among my top priorities in Congress. I look forward to discussing these and other issues with constituents at the Richardson Town Hall Meeting.
For more information or to RSVP please contact my Dallas District Office at 972.392.0505.
