Thank you Mr. Chairman.  I’d like to start out by saying my bill, H.R. 2576, is about fairness.  This summer, when the Associated Press first reported that President Obama’s health care law would allow middle class Americans to become eligible for Medicaid, I was shocked.   The Affordable Care Act’s new income formula that determines eligibility for government… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, the Committee on Ways and Means favorably reported out two bills: H.R. 674, sponsored by Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), to repeal the 3 percent withholding rule on certain payments made to vendors by government entities and H.R. 2576, sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), to align the income definition for certain health programs to more… Read more

Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statements today upon House passage of the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea and GSP/TAA: Chairman Camp stated:  “Today, the House passed on a bipartisan basis some of the most important job-creating legislation in the last several years by… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Speaker, today is a good day.  Many of us have been working for years for the opportunity to approve our pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.  We have called on the President throughout his term to submit all three agreements to Congress, but opposition among some Democrats led many to believe that we would have to… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Speaker, I urge rapid passage of this legislation to implement the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.  This agreement enjoys broad bipartisan support, and it is clear why:  it levels the trade playing field between the U.S. and Panama; it is good for U.S. companies, workers, and farmers; and it advances our national security and leadership… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) The U.S.-Korea agreement is the most commercially significant trade agreement considered by the Congress in 17 years.  And it couldn’t come at a better time.  With the unemployment rate stuck stubbornly above nine percent, we must seek out and take advantage of all opportunities to create American jobs.  This agreement, known as KORUS, will do… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2832, the bill which renews the Generalized System of Preferences program and also contains the Trade Adjustment Extension Act of 2011.  This bill is the cornerstone of a carefully crafted bipartisan, bicameral agreement that prompted the President to send the three trade agreements to Congress last Monday and,… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that we have finally reached this important moment.  Next month we will mark five years since the United States and Colombia signed the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.  U.S. workers and job-creating exporters have had to wait for far too long for the President to submit this promising agreement to Congress, but… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in strongly supporting passage of this legislation to implement the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.  This agreement and the others that we are considering today will give our economy a much needed shot in the arm by opening markets to our companies, workers, and farmers.  Plus, unlike some other plans that… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) As I’ve said already tonight, I’m excited to be here.  The U.S.-South Korea trade agreement is the most commercially significant trade agreement the United States has signed since I’ve been in Congress. The delay in implementing this agreement has been felt across the country.  If our exporters can’t compete because of high tariffs or non-tariff… Read more