House Rules Committee Approves SGR Package

Press Release

Congressman Joe Pitts (PA-16), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, testified in front of the House Rules Committee in support of H.R.2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The bill, which represents years of work at the subcommittee, was approved by the committee and will come to the House floor tomorrow.

"I believe it is time for the House to act," said Pitts in his testimony. He went on to say: "This bill stands as a testament to the accomplishments the House can deliver when it works together."

Members from both sides of the aisle had high praise for the bill.

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ): "I'm here to support a bill that literally has been decades in the making… Finally we have come together and found a bipartisan compromise to fix it permanently. The Speaker and the Democratic Leader working alongside the committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Mean have put together [what] I consider a very balanced package."

Rules Committee Ranking Member Louise Slaughter (D-NY): "I didn't know if any of us would ever live to see the end of the SGR… I congratulate you for coming up with this."

Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX): "I want to thank both of you for being here today and both Louise and I do recognize that it is a lot of work that you've done."

Rules Committee Member Jim McGovern (D-MA): "First, I want to thank both Mr. Pitts and Mr. Pallone for their work on this… I hope this is one of those teachable moments that demonstrates what can happen when we work together."

Rules Committee Member Tom Cole (R-OK): "This is something we all talk about but need a lot more of around here. Which is genuine bipartisanship, genuine effort to reach a deal, genuine concessions to each side… I appreciate the work that you've done on your committee to arrive at a policy agreement. I know that was a lot of hard work."