Congressman
Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Democrats' Health Care Plan Opposed by Veterans Organizations

Posted by: Henry E. Brown, Jr. (March 21, 2010, 06:10 PM)

Several veterans organizations spoke out against the Democrats’ health care plan, H.R. 4872, saying that the bill “betrays our nation’s veterans and service members”.

The current legislation does not protect health care programs for our nation’s veterans, military retirees, military personnel and their families and survivors.  My Republican colleagues, Representative Steve Buyer and Representative Buck McKeon, offered an amendment that would protect these programs and ensure that those who have fought for our country are provided with the health care they have earned. Unfortunately, the amendment was ignored.

As Ranking Republican of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I am extremely disappointed. This is yet another reason why I am pushing for Democrats’ to scrap this bill and start over on health care reform.

Posted in Health Care, Veterans | View Full Posting

Why I am Opposed to the Democrats' Health Care Plan

Posted by: Henry E. Brown, Jr. (March 19, 2010, 09:25 AM)

Why I am Opposed to the Democrats’ Health Care Plan

For the past year, my constituents in South Carolina have done everything they can to make it clear that they do not want a government takeover of health care. In November, I voted NO on the House health care bill, H.R. 3962, but despite a complete lack of Republican support, the health care bill passed.

This week, we are expected to consider the Senate’s final version of health care legislation which calls for even more taxes, more regulations, more spending and more federal control over our current health care system.

I am still against this government takeover of health care and I will vote NO when this legislation is once again brought to the House floor.  Below are some reasons why I am opposed to the Democrats’ health care plan.

Increases your health care costs: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that the health care bill would raise premiums for struggling middle-class families, resulting in non-group premium increases of $300 per year for individuals and $2,100 for families.

Millions of people will lose their current coverage, whether they like it or not: Despite the President’s claim that “if you like your coverage, you can keep it,” a new regime of government-run exchanges will force as many as 10 million Americans to give up their current employer-sponsored health care coverage in exchange for a government-run health care plan.

Taxes all Americans: The legislation taxes individuals who purchase insurance, individuals who do not purchase insurance and small and large businesses alike. Ultimately, the Democrats’ heath care plan will create $569.2 billion in tax increases.

More out-of-control spending that we cannot afford: According to the CBO, the bill currently before the House would spend nearly $1 trillion over its first ten years. Our country is already trillions of dollars in debt; we simply cannot afford another big-spending bill, especially when Republicans have proposed health care reform that could lower the deficit and decrease the cost of health insurance for the average American.

Taxpayer dollars will be used to fund abortions: The bill that passed the House in 2009 prohibited any Federal funding of abortion, consistent with the law since 1976. Despite strong bipartisan support for the continuation of this policy, the Senate bill would allow your Federal tax dollars to be used to cover abortions for the first time.

Harmful for Seniors: The current proposal cuts Medicare by half a trillion dollars and slashes Medicare Advantage enrollment by 8.5 million. It also raids the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for a new entitlement. This not only puts Seniors’ care at risk, but also treats their benefits like a bank for new government programs.

Creates unconstitutional mandates: Citizens would be forced to purchase government approved health care, regardless of whether they want it, need it or can afford it. Those who do not comply will be punished with fines and those who refuse or cannot pay these fines will be threatened with jail time.

Kills more jobs: The bill requires all employers to provide employees with government approved healthcare. Businesses that do not fulfill these requirements are penalized with a crippling tax that could force businesses to stop hiring or lay off employees. In fact, according to a model developed by the Council of Economic Advisers, the taxes in the bill could cause five million jobs to be lost.

Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting

A Testament to the Impact of Fishing on Coastal Communities

Posted by: Henry E. Brown, Jr. (March 02, 2010, 03:15 PM)

Last week, I joined close to 200 fishermen from South Carolina and thousands of fishermen from all over the East Coast for the United We Fish Rally on Capitol Hill. We gathered to protest red snapper and shallow-water grouper fishing bans that are harming coastal communities. These bans were hastily implemented based on out-of-date research without considering alternative solutions. However, closing fisheries in coastal cities that rely on both the commercial and recreational fishing industry kills jobs throughout the community. In a state like South Carolina where unemployment is 12.6 percent, the economic impact of these bans must be considered and should not be taken lightly.

I was among many Members who spoke at the rally about what Congress can do to help reverse these harmful bans and prevent future closures. I specifically spoke about the legislation I introduced on Tuesday, the Transparency in Job Loss from Fishery Closures Act of 2010, which instructs NOAA to report the economic impact of fishery closures, review alternatives to prevent overfishing without closing fisheries, and places restrictions on implementing future closures.  The fishing industry amounts to $600 million-per-year business for the state of South Carolina, so it is crucial that the regulators re-evaluate updated research before making additional decisions that could harm South Carolina’s economy and unemployment rates.

Our state is among the top five in the nation for unemployment, and these fishing bans have lead to even more job losses in an already suffering job market. It is important that regulators understand that the fishing industry is not the only facet of the economy that is harmed by the restrictions. If fishermen can’t come to South Carolina because of fishing bans, then restaurants, hotels and other small businesses will also miss out on valuable customers.

With people chanting “I Fish, I Vote” and holding colorful signs reading “Fishing Feeds Families” and “Fishing=Jobs” the rally certainly got people’s attention. The turnout itself is a testament to the fishermen’s dedication, both to their industry and to their livelihoods.

I was encouraged that so many from South Carolina made the trek to Washington to remind Congress of the importance of fishing to coastal industries and I’m glad Congress can help by passing the Transparency in Job Loss from Fishery Closures Act of 2010. I will continue to stand by South Carolina fishermen in protecting their careers and the careers of all those who earn their living on the water and along the coast.

Posted in Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting