Build Back Better Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the inflation expansion act which is threatening the same industries that it purports to help.

Washington Democrats who claim to champion electric vehicles are pushing a bill--you are pushing this bill that will threaten an over $5 billion investment Hyundai is making in the First Congressional District of Georgia.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this is serious. This is a $5 billion investment that they are threatening. This will be the automaker's first dedicated electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the United States and will create over 8,000 jobs upon completion.

This bill's new EV tax credit discriminates against and excludes South Korea, a key strategic trading partner and longtime ally of the United States and may actually violate the KORUS Free Trade Agreement.

This burdensome regulation could prevent billions of dollars in investment, thousands of jobs, and affordable electric vehicles from coming to market in the United States.

The answer is clear: We need innovation not regulation. The private sector is leading the charge. You are messing around with a $5 billion investment and 8,000 jobs, Mr. Speaker. I hope that you will let my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the inflation expansion act, which includes deeply troubling proposals that will kneecap medical innovation and harm patients' access to cures.

Madam Speaker, for 40 years, I was behind the counter. I was the one who had to tell the patient how much their prescription was going to be. I was the one who witnessed the senior citizens trying to make a decision between buying their medication or buying their groceries. I was the one who had to tell the mother how much the antibiotic was going to be and see her in tears trying to find the money to pay for that antibiotic. I know all too well about prescription drug prices.

Today, I am behind the podium as my Democratic colleagues decide whether to mortgage those same patients' health and well-being for a political win. This is immoral, and it must be stopped.

The United States leads the world in medical innovation. I have watched it, and I have seen it as terminal illnesses became treatable with a simple pill. I have seen the relief on a patient's face when they heard that a new treatment is available for their once incurable disease. This bill eradicates hope.

Madam Speaker, we need to help lower drug prices and costs for patients, but this legislation goes about it in all the wrong ways. Pharmaceutical companies are the drivers of innovation that deliver lifesaving cures to patients. However, this legislation will result in dozens, possibly hundreds, of fewer cures over the next decade.

I tried to fix this self-imposed problem in the Rules Committee on Wednesday, but it was rejected. I also introduced an amendment to block the Federal Government from funding radical green lobbying groups, but that was rejected.

There is no excuse for the Federal Government to steal billions of dollars from taxpayers, including $1.5 billion in funding for tree equity, while inflation sits at a 40-year high.

Medical professionals are sworn to do no harm. It is time Congress took the same oath and quit our assault on taxpayers and mostly on patients.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source