Post by bot on Dec 6, 2013 21:32:03 GMT -5
House Republicans Fail to Act on Critical Legislation with One Legislative Week Left Before the End of the Year
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
The House is scheduled to meet for only five more days this year, and I'm disappointed that House Republican leaders appear ready to head home without finishing our work on a long list of critical legislation. I hope they will change course and ensure that the House takes action this year on a budget agreement that replaces the sequester, a farm bill with adequate nutrition program funding, and an extension of unemployment insurance, among other important items. I will continue to urge Congress to reach agreement on a budget that gives our economy certainty, balances spending reductions with new revenues, replaces the reckless across-the-board sequester cuts, and helps put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path.
While the House did not take action on any of these issues this week, we did pass the Innovation Act, which is an important step toward improving our patent litigation system, combating patent trolls, and protecting businesses from abuse litigation.
This week the Administration continued to make significant improvements to HealthCare.gov, allowing more Americans to access quality, affordable health care. Already, millions of Americans are receiving critical benefits, as insurance companies can no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, children can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26, and seniors are saving money with the closing of the ‘donut hole.’ As more Americans continue to see these and other benefits of the Affordable Care Act, I hope Republicans’ will drop their obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act and instead work with us to ensure this law works for everyone.
Sincerely yours,
STENY H. HOYER
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
The House is scheduled to meet for only five more days this year, and I'm disappointed that House Republican leaders appear ready to head home without finishing our work on a long list of critical legislation. I hope they will change course and ensure that the House takes action this year on a budget agreement that replaces the sequester, a farm bill with adequate nutrition program funding, and an extension of unemployment insurance, among other important items. I will continue to urge Congress to reach agreement on a budget that gives our economy certainty, balances spending reductions with new revenues, replaces the reckless across-the-board sequester cuts, and helps put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path.
While the House did not take action on any of these issues this week, we did pass the Innovation Act, which is an important step toward improving our patent litigation system, combating patent trolls, and protecting businesses from abuse litigation.
This week the Administration continued to make significant improvements to HealthCare.gov, allowing more Americans to access quality, affordable health care. Already, millions of Americans are receiving critical benefits, as insurance companies can no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, children can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26, and seniors are saving money with the closing of the ‘donut hole.’ As more Americans continue to see these and other benefits of the Affordable Care Act, I hope Republicans’ will drop their obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act and instead work with us to ensure this law works for everyone.
Sincerely yours,
STENY H. HOYER