Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 116th Congress

Floor Speech

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rules package authorizing the House to intervene in the lawsuit against ObamaCare, Texas v. United States. The American people sent us here to do a job: to solve problems, to improve their lives, and to move this country forward. However, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem to be more interested in playing partisan games than problem- solving.

Why do I say this? Because Democrats have already voted to pass this exact provision last week. They have even filed three motions to intervene in the ObamaCare lawsuit.

On the substance of the matter at hand, ObamaCare is one of the worst, most destructive pieces of legislation to have ever passed this House, and the facts on that are indisputable. Just ask some of my hardworking, God-fearing farmers and ranchers and small businesses in west Texas.

ObamaCare has ruined our healthcare system; it is crushing our economy; and it is breaking the backs of our small businesses and our working families.

Madam Speaker, we shouldn't spend another day nor should we spend another dime on attempting to prop up this top-down, government- controlled healthcare system that is collapsing under its own weight. It is unconscionable to me and the American people to continue to throw good money after bad policy like this.

Instead of doubling down on ObamaCare and its flawed framework of mandates, taxes, and regulations that drove healthcare costs to the Moon, we should be working on policies together that truly reduce costs and continue to provide access to the greatest quality of care in the world here in the United States.

No government plan, no government program can divine these desired outcomes. Only a healthy market with robust competition and maximum consumer choice can achieve them.

Now, my colleagues on the other side talk a lot about protecting Americans with preexisting conditions. I agree. My colleagues on the Republican side agree. That is why we passed our Healthcare Reform Act with protections for folks with preexisting conditions. That is why, last week, Republicans voted to ensure Americans with preexisting conditions are protected.

This is a game. We have already done it. We have already voted. We stand firm to protect people with preexisting conditions.

But today's vote isn't about protecting people with preexisting conditions. It is about Democrat-produced political theater. That is what it is. It is about trying to save what is left of ObamaCare, and it is actually in preparation for a single-payer system, for socialized medicine, and for complete government control of our healthcare economy.

Madam Speaker, the American people deserve real solutions to affordable care. They deserve real solutions: markets that are free to create any number of products and services.

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I repeat: The American people deserve real solutions to the desired outcome of affordable care, and that is markets that are free to create any number, any variety of products and services and people who are free to choose those products and what is best for them and their families.

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