GOP DOCTORS' CAUCUS

2012-11-27_pnn_0021.jpg - 2012-11-27_pnn_0021.jpg - Paul.jpg - Price.jpg - Roe.jpg - Simpson.jpg - Heck.jpg - Murphy.jpg - Harris.jpg - Ellmers.jpg - Fleming.jpg - DesJarlais.jpg - Gosar.jpg - Broun.jpg - Buerkle.jpg - Burgess.jpg - Bucshon.jpg - Boustany.jpg - Benishek.jpg - Cassidy.jpg - Black.jpg - Rep. Charles Boustany - Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, was first elected to Congress in December 2004. Serving his fourth term in office, Boustany represents Louisiana’s Seventh Congressional District, which covers Acadiana and South Louisiana. As a physician, Congressman Boustany understands the importance of healthcare and is at the forefront of healthcare policy in Congress. He believes the patient-doctor relationship is the most important part of healthcare and has worked to implement patient-centered healthcare solutions. Increased access to tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) represent one opportunity for patients to strengthen their control over their healthcare decisions, and Boustany introduced legislation allowing seniors and veterans to participate. Boustany is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight. As chairman of Oversight, Boustany focuses on revising the tax code to make it easier for American businesses to compete, which in turn will create jobs, and highlight the job killing aspects of the health care bill. Congressman Boustany was raised in Lafayette and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) before graduating from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1982. He returned to Lafayette in 1990 and began a successful medical practice. For fourteen years, he ran a small business and was committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare to his patients and the community. In Congress, Congressman Boustany is committed to serving the people of Southwest Louisiana with the same dedication and care that he provided as a physician and community leader. Charles and his wife Bridget reside in Lafayette and have two adult children. Rep. Dan Benishek - Dan Benishek was born in Iron River, Michigan. His father worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and then in the iron mines of Iron County. Dan's father died in a mining accident in 1957 and Dan’s mother, with the help of family, raised Dan and his brother, Tim. He graduated from West Iron County High School in 1970. Dan went on to earn a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1974 and graduated from Wayne State Medical School in 1978. Dan completed a Family Practice internship in Flint at St Joseph's Hospital. He completed his General Surgery residency back at Wayne State in Detroit. He has served as a general surgeon in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in a private practice since 1983. He has worked part-time at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain for the past twenty years. Dan and his wife, Judy, currently live in Crystal Falls. They have five children and two grandchildren. Dr. Benishek is an avid hunter and fisherman and a proud member of the NRA and the GOA. Prior to being sworn into Congress on January 5, 2011, Dr. Benishek had never sought nor held any previous public office. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle - Ann Marie Buerkle is a life long Central New Yorker who proudly represents the people of New York State’s 25th Congressional District. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2010 general election, and took the oath of office on January 5, 2011. The third oldest of five children, Ann Marie Buerkle was born in Auburn, New York; her parents both immigrants to the United States from Italy. She attended elementary and high school in Auburn, and worked in her parents grocery store the Mohegan Market A witness to the strong work ethic of her parents, Ann Marie grew up believing that if she worked hard enough she could achieve most anything. In 1972 she graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing and went to work in New York City’s Presbyterian Hospital. In 1977 she graduated from Lemoyne College with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and continued her work in nursing. In 1990, Ann Marie returned to college, this time to earn her law degree. She graduated from Syracuse University School of Law in 1994 with a Juris Doctorate degree. She worked in a private law firm and was appointed in 1995, by then Attorney General, as an Assistant New York State Attorney General representing Upstate Medical University. Rep. Paul Broun - Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) spent most of his career practicing general medicine and, in 2002, started a unique service specializing in full-time house calls. Providing patient care without the bureaucratic mess of the general healthcare system helped him identify many of the ways government is damaging the availability and quality of healthcare. Congressman Broun considers his experience as a doctor integral to many of his major legislative efforts. Some highlights include joining the American Center for Law and Justice in filing amicus briefs with the Supreme Court concerning Obamacare, authoring the Sanctity of Human Life Act to define life as beginning at conception, and his OPTION Act, which will repeal Obamacare and put in its place constitutional, market-driven, patient-centered reforms. Congressman Broun has served in Congress since 2007, and originally hails from Athens, GA. Rep. Charles Boustany - Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (LA-07) is a retired cardiothoracic surgeon who served the people of South Louisiana for over 20 years. Elected to Congress in 2004, Dr. Boustany is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight. In 2009, he delivered the Republican response to President Obama's health care address to a joint session of Congress. He has fought against President Obama's health care plan, voting to repeal it and introducing several pieces of legislation to overturn the law. Rep. Diane Black - Congressman Diane Black (TN-06) credits her work in local hospitals as key to helping win her first race for a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Black, a Registered Nurse for over 40 years, remembers knocking on doors when she first started out, and constituents would remember her from her nursing work in area hospitals. During her nursing career, she spent most of her time in emergency rooms, but also worked as an outpatient surgery nurse as well as a home care nurse. Now in Congress, she serves on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the House Budget Committee. Welcome to the GOP Doctors Caucus, Rep. Black. Rep. Buerkle - Rep. Buerkle Rep. Ellmers - Rep. Ellmers Rep. Murphy - Rep. Murphy Rep. Harris - Rep. Harris Rep. Heck - Rep. Heck Rep. Hayworth - Rep. Hayworth Rep. Benishek - Rep. Benishek Rep. Diane Black - Congressman Diane Black (TN-06) credits her work in local hospitals as key to helping win her first race for a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Black, a Registered Nurse for over 40 years, remembers knocking on doors when she first started out, and constituents would remember her from her nursing work in area hospitals. During her nursing career, she spent most of her time in emergency rooms, but also worked as an outpatient surgery nurse as well as a home care nurse. Now in Congress, she serves on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the House Budget Committee. Welcome to the GOP Doctors Caucus, Rep. Black. Rep. Gosar - Rep. Gosar On June 23, Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (GA-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (GA-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Rep. Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-1), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-1), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS. (AZ-1), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS. (AZ-1), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R.N. (NY-25), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R.N. (NY-25), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, GOP Doctors Caucus chairmen Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11) and Tim Murphy, PhD (PA-18), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, GOP Doctors Caucus chairmen Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11) and Tim Murphy, PhD (PA-18), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Sen. John Barrasso, M.D.(WY), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Sen. John Barrasso, M.D.(WY), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, GOP Doctors Caucus co-chair Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, GOP Doctors Caucus co-chair Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. On June 23, Rep. Diane Black, R.N. (TN-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. - On June 23, Rep. Diane Black, R.N. (TN-6), along with fellow members of the GOP Doctors Caucus and Senate health care providers, spoke during a press conference addressing President Obama’s plan for Medicare reform. Rep. Dan Benishek, M.D. - Gingrey Official - Congressman Desjarlais - Dr. Price - Rep. Larry Buchshon - Member placeholder - Congressman John Fleming - Congressman Fleming (LA-4) took first place last year in the U.S. House GOP New Media Challenge. Dr. Fleming was most instrumental in gaining new Facebook fans, but also excelled on Twitter and YouTube as well. The GOP Doctors Caucus is proud of his accomplishment and hopes to follow his good example on the new media front. Rep. Gingrey speaking @ Dec 09 Doc Fix Press Conference with House Minority Leaders - Rep. Gingrey speaking @ Dec 09 Doc Fix Press Conference with House Minority Leaders Leadership Press Conference on Doc Fix - Leadership Press Conference on Doc Fix Minority Whip Eric Cantor speaking at Doc Fix press event - Minority Whip Eric Cantor speaking at Doc Fix press event House Minority Leader John Boehner @ Doc Fix Press Conference - House Minority Leader John Boehner @ Doc Fix Press Conference - - - - - - - - - - Congressman Gingrey and Congressman Fleming talk health care - Congressman Gingrey and Congressman Fleming talk health care Doctors Caucus and RSC Press Conference on Health Care and Jobs - Doctors Caucus and RSC Press Conference on Health Care and Jobs Doctors Caucus and RSC Press Conference on Health Care and Jobs - Doctors Caucus and RSC Press Conference on Health Care and Jobs Co Chairs: Congressman Gingrey and Congressman Murphy - Co Chairs: Congressman Gingrey and Congressman Murphy Members of the Witness Panel - Members of the Witness Panel including: Paul Fronstin, Ph.D. – Employee Benefit Research Institute; John Sheils, Lewin Group; Dr. Christopher Hughes - PA State Director of Doctors for America; Marge Krueger - Communications Workers of America District 13; Jim Martin - 60 Plus Association. Members of the Witness Panel - Members of the Witness Panel including: Paul Fronstin, Ph.D. – Employee Benefit Research Institute; John Sheils, Lewin Group; Dr. Christopher Hughes - PA State Director of Doctors for America; Marge Krueger - Communications Workers of America District 13; Jim Martin - 60 Plus Association. Members of the Doctors Caucus question Witness Panel - Members of the Witness Panel including: Paul Fronstin, Ph.D. – Employee Benefit Research Institute; John Sheils, Lewin Group; Dr. Christopher Hughes - PA State Director of Doctors for America; Marge Krueger - Communications Workers of America District 13; Jim Martin - 60 Plus Association. Doctors caucus attempts to shed light on health care debate - Doctors caucus attempts to shed light on health care debate Rep. Murphy - Rep. Simpson - Rep. Roe - Rep. Price - Rep. Paul - Rep. Gingrey - Rep. Linder - Rep. Fleming - Rep Cassidy - Rep. Burgess - Rep. Broun - Rep. Boustany - Rep. Boozman - Congressman Boozman - As an optometrist Congressman Boozman has taken a strong interest in eye health issues, establishing the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas and working as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to low-income families. Rep. Boozman has a also led a bipartisan effort to pass legislation requiring the FDA to regulate non-corrective colored contact lenses as medical devices.