THE DAILY WHIP: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017

H.Res. 600– Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 849– Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017 (Rep. Roe – Ways and Means/Energy and Commerce) (One hour of debate).  The Rules Committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the resolution.  Members are urged to VOTE NO.

H.Res. 601– Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3922 — Community Health And Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017 (Rep. Walden – Energy and Commerce)(One hour of debate).  The Rules Committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the resolution. 

The Rules Committee rejected a motion by Ms. Slaughter of New York to make in order and provide appropriate waivers for Mr. Pallone’s amendment that would extend critical funding for CHIP and Community Health Centers that was last authorized in the bipartisan Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015, instead of the partisan offsets in H.R. 3922.   Members are urged to VOTE NO.

H.R. 849– Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017 (Rep. Roe – Ways and Means/Energy and Commerce) (One hour of debate).  This bill would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which was established under the ACA in response to high rates of growth in Medicare expenditures and is charged with developing proposals to "reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending." However, due in part to the success of the Affordable Care Act in slowing Medicare’s growth rate, IPAB will not be triggered until 2021. By repealing IPAB before it has a chance to work, the bill would eliminate an important safeguard that will help reduce the rate of Medicare cost growth responsibly while protecting Medicare beneficiaries. Repealing IPAB is not only bad policy, but it is not fiscally sound. This legislation includes no offsets and will add $17.5 billion to the deficit.  

Since Republicans have been unable to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they are attempting to dismantle the law piece by piece. The bill is simply another in a long line of House Republican efforts to undermine both the Medicare guarantee and the Affordable Care Act. Instead of wasting money, energy, and time attempting to repeal and weaken the ACA, Republicans should bring up the bipartisan Alexander-Murray plan for a vote, and work with Democrats to stabilize our markets and improve health care for all Americans.

Bill Text for H.R. 849:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 849:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report  (PDF Version)