THE DAILY WHIP: TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

**Following one minute speeches, the House is expected to recess until approximately 3:00 p.m. At that time, the House will reconvene and consider the fourteen bills listed for consideration under suspension of the Rules. Any recorded votes requested will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. Members are advised that the 6:30 p.m. vote series will include the vote on passage of H.R. 1190.

Suspensions (14 bills)

1. H.R. 805– Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act of 2015 (Rep. Shimkus – Energy and Commerce)
2. H.R. 2576– TSCA Modernization Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Shimkus – Energy and Commerce)
3. H.R. 893 – Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, as amended  (Rep. Fortenberry – Financial Services)
4. H.R. 1698– Bullion and Collectible Coin Production Efficiency and Cost Savings Act, as amended  (Rep. Huizenga – Financial Services)
5. H.R. 2620– To amend the United States Cotton Futures Act to exclude certain cotton futures contracts from coverage under such Act, as amended (Rep. Scott (GA) – Agriculture)
6. H.R. 1640 – Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Consolidation Accountability Act, as amended (Rep. Walker – Homeland Security)
7. H.R. 1633– DHS Paid Administrative Leave Accountability Act of 2015, as amended  (Rep. Loudermilk – Homeland Security)
8. H.R. 1646– Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act, as amended (Rep. Watson Coleman – Homeland Security)
9. H.R. 1615 – DHS FOIA Efficiency Act, as amended (Rep. Carter (GA) – Homeland Security)
10. H.R. 1626– DHS IT Duplication Reduction Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Hurd – Homeland Security)
11. H.R. 1637– Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Ratcliffe – Homeland Security)
12. H.R. 2390– Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act, as amended (Rep. Thompson (MS) – Homeland Security)
13. H.R. 2200 – CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act, as amended (Rep. McSally – Homeland Security)
14. Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 615 – Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications (Rep. Payne – Homeland Security)

Complete Consideration of H.R. 1190– Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015 (Rep. Roe – Ways and Means/Energy and Commerce) 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 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, CBO projects that the IPAB will not be triggered until 2024. 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. The bill is simply another in a long line of House Republican efforts to undermine both the Medicare guarantee and the Affordable Care Act.

Further, because the CBO has estimated that the cost of repealing IPAB would be $7.1 billion over 10 years, Republicans have chosen to pay for the cost of repeal with cuts to the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. This fund is used to make national investments in prevention and public health, to improve health outcomes, and to enhance health care quality. It has been used to increase awareness of and access to preventive health services and reduce tobacco use - concentrating on the causes of chronic disease to help more Americans stay healthy.

Eliminating these funds in the name of damaging the sustainability of Medicare is a two-pronged attack on our nation’s public health. The White House agrees and has issued a SAP stating that the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill.

This bill marks the 60th time that Republicans have voted to repeal, defund or undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite the Supreme Court’s upholding of the law’s constitutionality, the reelection of President Obama, and Speaker John Boehner’s declaration that: “Obamacare is the law of the land,” Republicans refuse to stop wasting time and taxpayer money in their effort to take away the patient protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act.

Positive effects of the Affordable Care Act are already being seen across the country: over 16 million previously uninsured Americans now have health insurance, people cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition, women cannot be charged more for the same insurance policy, and the rate of Medicare cost growth is at the lowest it has been in 50 years. However, Republicans are making it once again clear that repealing the Affordable Care Act is their only goal. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

The Rule, which was adopted on Wednesday, June 17, provides for no further general debate. The House will vote on passage of the bill today.

Bill Text for H.R. 1190:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 1190:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Wednesday, June 24: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to consider H.R. 2042–Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015 (Rep. Whitfield – Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule).