(Remarks as Prepared) The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act was signed into law on December 17, 1999, having received nearly unanimous support of the House by a vote of 418 to 2 and the Senate by a vote of 95 to 1.  The legislation was about work and it was intended to help individuals with… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Thank you, Chairman Levin, for calling this hearing on investment.  A hearing is exactly what we need on this topic.  There is so much mis-information out there about the investment protections in our BITs and our trade agreements.  The myths abound because the investor-state mechanism is… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. I’m glad the Committee is getting to work early on Airport and Airway Trust Fund financing.  We all can agree that funding improvements to the nation’s airports and air infrastructure is vitally important to creating and sustaining economic growth and promoting commerce.  This is an issue that can and should be addressed in a… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. I want to take a moment of personal privilege in welcoming Secretary Sebelius to the Ways and Means Committee; I expect it will be a place we meet often.  And, as much as I respect this room and what happens within its walls, I think we would both readily admit that the Leelanau Peninsula, an area I represent and I understand… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. Before I make any opening statement I want to take a moment to recognize the Chairman’s commitment to the issue before us – health reform in the 21st century – and his receptiveness to work across party lines to find the right way to reform… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Today’s hearing offers a valuable chance to review the effects of Democrats’ so-called economic stimulus legislation on workers and especially the unemployed. But instead of discussing how many unemployed Americans have gotten a job -- because that didn’t happen in the wake of last year’s stimulus bill, much less this year’s -- our colleagues will tout how many… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. Last night I conducted a telephone town hall with my constituents in Northern Michigan about health care reform and I want to begin by sharing the concerns of one of the many people I spoke to.  This is what she told me: “We are a small… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you, Mr. Camp, for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I anticipate that we will agree on much of what is discussed here today, and I am grateful that you called this hearing. We are going to hear about significant payment problems in the U.S. health care system, and specifically about those in Medicare.  Republicans believe, as does most every witness here today, that… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. It is hard to believe, but Dan Rostenkowski and Bill Archer were sitting in these chairs the last time Congress undertook comprehensive health care reform.  As we know, back then Congress and the Administration were not even close to agreeing on a path forward.  Well, more than the people sitting in these chairs have changed… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you, Chairman Neal.  I share many of the concerns you outlined in your statement and look forward to working together on responsible, common-sense steps that will make our efforts to crack-down on individuals who commit tax fraud more effective.  Thank you also to our witnesses.  I appreciate your willingness to join us today and… Read more