Op-Eds

Energy empowers growth and Louisiana knows this better than any other state. The oil and natural gas industry serves as an integral part of the state's economy, supporting almost 400,000 jobs annually across the state. Leading to an overall contributi

"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." – then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (March, 2010) During the debate to pass Obamacare, the President and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi swore up and down the individual mandat

Robert McNamara, who served as secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, stated in a 2003 documentary: "Never answer the question that is asked of you. Answer the question that you wish had been asked of you." Health and Human Servi

Over the past year our nation has begun a slow recovery from the tough economic times facing our country, but one sector of the economy continues to drive the American comeback: agriculture. American farmers fuel billions of dollars into our nation's

Obamacare rationing will leave seniors without necessary medical assistance

As the price of gasoline skyrockets, President Barack Obama continues to ignore the need for a rational domestic energy policy. Since the President was sworn into office, the price of gasoline has doubled. The national average of a gallon of regular un

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington Tuesday comes at a pivotal moment for U.S.-China relations. This visit by the likely next president of China is a chance to discuss Beijing's responsibilities in strengthening the global ec

As physicians and Members of Congress we were deeply disappointed in President Obama's new so-called "contraception mandate," including his decision to coerce employers into providing coverage for medications that terminate human life.

‘Obamacare" appears ready to collapse under its own weight. Look at the CLASS Act, a government-run long-term care program Congress is likely to vote to repeal from the 2010 law. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ignored

As Louisiana's representative on the House Ways & Means Committee and Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee, I relish fighting on the front line against the Obama Administration and its assault on Louisiana's energy producers. However, I was s

From imposing a six-month drilling moratorium off the Louisiana coast to supporting the failed $535 million taxpayer subsidized solar company Solyndra to delaying progression of the Keystone XL Pipeline, President Obama has proven he simply does not under

Oil prices hit $105 a barrel last week, the highest in more than two years. Meanwhile, rigs sit idle in the Gulf of Mexico, and Louisiana workers continue to wait while permits slowly trickle out.

Vigorous economic growth in the United States is essential for a full recovery of the global economy. Implementation of an aggressive, export-oriented trade policy is imperative to achieve the necessary growth to reverse the high level of unemployment here in the U.S. and to restore American competitiveness.

American energy production is vital to our national security, yet it is under attack. Not only do these delays in the permit process hurt job growth in the region, they make us more dependent on foreign oil, something I have fought vigorously throughout my career in Congress. Production must be clean and safe, and I feel we are heading in the right direction.

Ill-conceived decisions made by the President and members of his Administration threaten our way of life, as the moratorium on deep water energy production has led companies to begin moving rigs overseas and eliminating Louisiana jobs. As our state struggles through this challenge, why isn't the President working to help Louisiana workers and families?

Dr. Berwick's writing suggests he does not believe that kind of individualized care is either possible or beneficial. If true, seniors and low-income families who depend on Medicare and Medicaid deserve to know what kind of care Dr. Berwick envisions for them. Unfortunately, President Obama's recess appointment of Dr. Berwick prevents any public vetting process from taking place.

My constituents in Southwest Louisiana tell me they want solutions to the problems we face. Rising health care and energy costs, higher taxes and more bureaucracy all impact them directly. Washington needs to listen, and America Speaking Out gives my constituents and you the opportunity to be heard.

Threats of higher costs and more regulation from Washington stifle job creation by entrepreneurs, innovators and small-business owners. To create jobs, Washington must get serious about passing comprehensive tax relief and expanding business opportunities in global markets.

If congressional Democrats are serious about reaching a bipartisan consensus, they should scrap the current House and Senate measures and work toward common-sense solutions.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill cuts more than $135 billion from hospitals serving seniors. It eliminates $40 billion from home health agencies, $15 billion from nursing homes and nearly $8 billion from hospices. Each of these important Medicare services helps our seniors during very difficult times for them and their families, and these cuts would hurt their care.

As a doctor, I saw firsthand the problems many patients face finding a doctor, navigating the system, and paying their health care bills. Unfortunately, Democrats' plans in Congress fail to focus on quality.

Too often, people are denied access to the doctor of their choice, especially as fewer and fewer doctors accept patients with Medicare and Medicaid – the government's current health care plans.

The Obama Administration's recent decision to accelerate stimulus funds falls well short of what Americans need to get back to work. American workers need a commonsense plan to make small businesses and entrepreneurs competitive again, not simply more government spending.

As a doctor and member of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group, I have seen first hand American families and small businesses worried about rising costs and losing their coverage. The Urban Institute reported that President Obama's health care plan would cost at least $1.5 trillion, more than double the $634 billion called for in the President's original budget.

I believe integrating transportation needs as part of current and future plans is vital and am committed to securing the funding needed. Necessity, not popularity, needs to determine how these funds are distributed. Realistic expectations for what can be completed and the work involved will help the public hold their elected officials accountable.

Across Louisiana, energy production drives our economy and creates good-paying, high-quality jobs. Funds from offshore production are rebuilding our coast, and the environment thrives because of the quality work by those in the oil and gas industry.

Controlling rising costs remains the top priority on the health reform agenda. Rising health costs make health insurance coverage unaffordable for millions of Americans. Others face massive increases in copayments, premiums and deductibles. Nevertheless, solutions to these problems must first allow Americans to maintain their existing private coverage.

Congress must decide whose interests we serve – patients and doctors who need better information on clinical effectiveness or third party payers whose primary concern is cost.

Increasing American energy production must be one part of the solution. In Louisiana, we are prepared to lead. As the world consumes more oil, extreme environmentalists continue to block safe oil exploration in the deep waters off our coast and in restricted federal lands. Increasing American production leads to more American jobs, and as our national economy begins to slow, keeping good paying jobs in Louisiana is critical.

The OCS is one of the greatest potential sources of oil and gas yet to be explored because of the existing federal ban. Both Congress and the President prohibited exploration off most of our nation's coast in the 1980's, but Louisiana allowed energy discovery. Now, Louisiana ranks fourth in energy production, and money from the energy industry is rebuilding our coast to protect against another hurricane.

Increasing American energy production is the single most legitimate solution to our energy crisis. Responsible American energy production leads to more American jobs, more supply to lower cost and reduced dependence on foreign sources like Venezuela and the Middle East. It is a win-win-win solution, but many Washington Democrats continue to oppose any increased American production.

Since I joined Congress, our delegation secured funding for hurricane recovery, passed the Water Resources Development Act that authorized $1.9 billion for Louisiana waterway projects and pressed off-shore oil production revenues through Congress when many said it could not be done.