Virginia Foxx: “I am prepared to close and yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, as we debate the impact of H.R. 1309…”

“I am prepared to close and yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, as we debate the impact of H.R. 1309 on healthcare providers, I note that this bill is in violation of the House's pay-as- you-go, or paygo, rule. The paygo rule requires that legislation affecting direct spending not increase the deficit. Any legislation projected to increase direct spending must be offset by equivalent amounts of direct spending cuts, revenue increases, or a combination of both. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 1309 will increase the deficit by $60 million between 2020 and 2029. In addition, CBO estimates the cost of H.R. 1309 to private entities will be at least $1.8 billion in the first 2 years and at least $750 million annually thereafter. Democrats wrote this particular paygo rule months ago, and they are already abandoning it. It is not hard to find $60 million in savings for the taxpayers, and the Democrats' failure to do so speaks volumes about their regard for fiscal discipline. This significant violation of the budget rules is yet another reason to oppose this bill. Madam Chair, protecting the safety of healthcare and social service workers is not a partisan issue. I reiterate that statement. All of us here today, regardless of our political beliefs, appreciate the hard work and empathy that healthcare workers and community caregivers demonstrate every single day on the job.…”