Our bipartisan bill, and i would ask our leadership to bring this legislation to restore Economic Growth and job opportunity to the senate bill to the senate floor for action as soon as possible. Thank you, mr. President. I would yield to my colleague from pennsylvania for his remarks. Mr. Casey mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from pennsylvania. Mr. Casey mr. President , thank you very much. I first want to commend and salute the work thats been done already on this legislation by the senior senator from maine and for her leadership. Senator collins appropriately focused on the issue of jobs and job creation. I know in our state weve got, at present we are finally below the half million unemployed number. We went many, many months when the Unemployment Rates went as high as gosh, it must have been as high as 550,000. It went down, but it hovered around a half a Million People for far too much months. Were below that now. Were at about 443,000, still a big number, belo
Television for serious readers. Coming up next hearing on the Health Care Law and federal subsidies for insurance providers. This is an hourandahalf. The chair will recognize an opening statement. Todays hearing is once again about protecting taxpayers and consumers from the consequences of the Affordable Care act, mainly the giveaway of taxpayer dollars to ensures. First, section 1342 of the Affordable Care act created what are known as risc corridors, a mechanism that will protect Insurance Companies from some of the financial losses. It works by decreasing payments to plans whose expenses are below projections, those with healthier than expected and release and redistributing those dollars to plants whose expenses exceed projections, those with sicker than expected enrollees. If done in a budget neutral fashion taxpayers would have little to be worried about when it comes to risk. But while the administration has paid lip service to the program being budget neutral it has also indic
Expense. If they live far from a va hospital, 40 miles is the agreedupon distance, you will secretary the. A. Ability to fire senior managers accused of mismanagement. They can obviously fire those who are ill performing. Timekes a very long because of federal rules about letting employees go and their process to appeal. This was one of the reasons the controversy started in the first place. V. A. More to come on this deal in the house and senate. Did address the immediate crisis of veterans being forced on the long waiting lines for health care. It strengthens the va so that we can put a permanent end to long waiting lists. It addresses the very serious problem of accountability and makes certain that this honest and incompetent senior officials at the va do not remain employed there and in addition and provide some other significant benefit for veterans and their families. Funding for veterans needs must be considered a cost of law, and appropriated as charges that they. Planes and t
A sustainable ceasefire. One that addresses all of the concerns, the longterm concerns as well, begin to talk about the underlying causes of the conflict in gaza, although they will not be resolved in the context of a ceasefire discussion. To try to build, to begin and move in a process and that is what we are trying to achieve. That thehe only way conflict is going to be resolved. If we can make some progress, the people in this region, who deserve peace, can take one step towards that elusive goal by stopping the violence which catches innocents on all sides in the crossfire and begin to try to build a Sustainable Way forward. Any process to asolve the crisis in gaza in lasting and meaningful way must lead to the disarmament of hamas and all terrorist groups. We will work closely with israel and regional partners and the International Community in support of this goal. We continue to have these discussions. In discussions succeeded putting a 12 hour humanitarian ceasefire in place. F
Gratitude that we thank you for the privilege of being called americans. With humility, let us realize the responsibility this privilege entails. Let your presence in us be the light that causes this nation to shine bright in the world. Grant your favor, wisdom and protection to our troops here and abroad. Place within our leaders and representatives here in the house and senate. May our president be guided by your truth and our differences let us seek you first. Please give each of us in this place and every citizen of this nation a contrite heart and a willingness to follow your way. N christs name we pray, amen. The speaker pro tempore the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stands approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from new york, mr. Higgins. Mr. Higgins i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america indivisible, with libe