Political Quotes

“Mr. President, on October 22, 2018, the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury issued a document, entitled State Relief and Empowerment Waivers, relating to section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act and its implementing regulations. Although it was not submitted to Congress for review under the Congressional Review Act, CRA, this so-called guidance document seemed to me to be a substantive rule that should be subject to review under the CRA. Accordingly, I wrote a letter, along with Chairman Pallone of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asking the U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO, to determine whether the CRA applied. This week, I received a reply, in which the GAO general counsel concludes that the 2018 guidance ``is a rule under the CRA, which requires that it be submitted to Congress for review.'' I ask unanimous consent that the letter from GAO, dated July 15, 2019, be printed in the Congressional Record following my remarks. The letter I am now submitting to be printed in the Congressional Record is the original document provided by GAO to my office. I will also provide a copy of the GAO letter to the Parliamentarian's office. Based on Senate precedent, my understanding is that the publication of the GAO legal opinion in today's Record will start the ``clock'' for congressional review under the provisions of the CRA. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: U.S.…”