"Tracking the Healthcare Initiative" 

by Donna Garner

8.13.09

Tracking a major initiative through Congress is very confusing, and healthcare reform is particularly complex because it involves many different Senate and House committees. This healthcare initiative (H. R. 3200) pushed through Congress largely by the Democrats deals with over one-seventh (18% of GDP) of our nation's economy and is meant to nationalize our entire healthcare system: 

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3200

H. R. 3200 creates 53 new government agencies, mentions “shall” 1,683 times, “taxes” 172 times, and “penalties” 156 times.  If H. R. 3200 were to pass, this nationalized healthcare system would be almost impossible to sustain financially; the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the cost would be $1.04 Trillion over ten years. Unfortunately, a huge entitlement program such as this would be almost impossible to reverse for decades to come.

Frequently bills pass through Congress that have little direct impact on us individually, but healthcare is different; it touches each one of us directly and personally.  H. R. 3200 would put Big Government between us and our doctors with bureaucrats making most of our healthcare decisions.  

To simplify this confusing maze of numerous bills and "cast of characters," I have written a brief explanation of the process. Because I am not a legislative scholar nor a lawyer, you will need to verify the following information for yourselves. I have included the links for this purpose.

THE HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE:  HOUSE 

http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/07/americas-affordable-health-choices-act.shtml

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3200

The Chairmen of the three House Committees with jurisdiction over health policy  introduced their comprehensive healthcare reform legislation on July 14, 2009. The name of the legislation is America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and was sponsored by Rep. John Dingell, Democrat;  co-sponsors were Reps. Andrews, Kildee, Maloney, Miller, Pallone, Rangel, Stark, Waxman -- all Democrats. The July 14, 2009, version can be viewed at:  http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

That bill was then referred to five House committees. The three most important committees are:  

(1) House Committee on Education and Labor:  Rep. George Miller, Democrat, Chairman

(2) House Committee on Ways and Means: Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Democrat, Chairman

(3) House Committee on Energy and Commerce:  Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Democrat, Chairman

The two others are (4) House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Chair, Rep. Edolphus Towns, Democrat) and (5) House Committee on the Budget (Rep. John Spratt, Democrat). 

The three main House committees (Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce) worked together to develop their healthcare proposals. 

(1)  House Committee on Education and Labor

The House Committee on Education and Labor passed H. R. 3200 on July 17, 2009: http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-Reported-080309.PDF and the amendments at: http://edlabor.house.gov/markups/2009/07/hr-3200-americas-affordable-he.shtml

(2)  House Committee on Ways and Means

The House Committee on Ways and Means passed H. R. 3200 on July 17, 2009:

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legis.asp?formmode=item&number=687 with amendments at: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/catext3200.pdf

(3)  House Committee on Energy and Commerce

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is still working on amendments (a.k.a., "marking up") to H. R. 3200 and plans to finalize their bill and vote on it after the recess. [This is Rep. Waxman's committee, and he is supposedly negotiating with the Blue Dog Democrats.]

Next Step: The House Rules Committee

Next, the House Rules Committee will work with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat) and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Democrat Majority Leader) to meld the three committee versions into one bill. The Rules Committee will work on the principles of adding amendments, will test each amendment for germaneness, and will consider committee rules and the rules/precedents of the House.   

Final Vote in the House

Then the full House will vote on its final healthcare bill. 

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THE HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE:  SENATE  

Senate Health, Education, Labor, Pensions Committee

Senate Health, Education, Labor, Pensions Committee [a.k.a., HELP]: Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat, Chairman; ranking Republican, Michael B. Enzi

On July 15, 2009, the HELP committee voted on America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (a.k.a., Kennedy Bill): http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

Senate Finance Committee

Senate Finance Committee: Sen. Max Baucus, Democrat, Chairman; ranking Republican Charles E. Grassley

The Senate Finance Committee has not yet finalized its work. This committee is charged with figuring out the taxes involved and the Medicare provisions needed to pay for the healthcare initiative.

Senate Democrat Leaders

Democrat leaders in the Senate (Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Richard J. Durbin) will try to merge the bills from the two Senate committees. 

Final Vote in the Senate

The full Senate will vote on its final bill.

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FINAL STEPS

A House-Senate conference committee will attempt to work out a compromise version as they consult with the White House.  If the bill is then approved in identical form by both the House and the Senate, the bill would be sent to the President for his signature.