Health Care

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to a letter from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. It concisely sums up many of the problems in the Pelosi health care bill for our small family farms.

According to the letter, ``The employer mandate and 8 percent payroll tax will place an enormous burden on a significant portion of agriculture and its related industry. Although some tax incentives are provided in the legislation, farmers are price-takers, not price-makers. They do not have the option of merely passing along those mandated costs.''

The letter continues, ``It is concerning that there are no allowances for seasonal workers. Requiring coverage for seasonal workers would have significantly adverse economic effects on many farmers across this country.''

And finally, ``Our Nation cannot afford the projected costs of H.R. 3962, especially considering the growing deficits and other fiscal calamities with entitlement programs that must be dealt with in the immediate future.''

This legislation makes little sense when many farmers around the country are struggling with high feed costs, unsustainable energy prices, and a difficult national economy. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 3962.

Source