Joe Pitts

Today, we will discuss reauthorizations of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, PDUFA, the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, BPCA, and the Pediatric Research Equity Act, PREA, all of which expire September 30 of this year.

This is good, bipartisan legislation. I would like to thank Mr. Pallone, Mr. Green, Mr. Waxman, along with our side of the aisle, for developing and helping move this bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield…

I would tell the gentleman from New Jersey that I have no other speakers.

I am also concerned about the process HHS used to issue the rule.

It is ironic that the proponents of the healthcare law talked about the need to expand access to services but the administration issues rules that could force providers to stop seeing patients because to do so could violate the core tenets…

While the rule does include a religious exemption, many entities feel that it is inadequate and violates their conscience rights.

It would be a great loss to the Nation and the communities we serve if our hospitals were compelled by Federal law to forgo their religious mission and consciences in order to comply with the HHS contraceptive mandate.

This is exactly what the founders of this country sought to avoid by adopting the First Amendment to the Constitution.

The HHS definition of religious employer contravenes the First Amendment by putting the Federal Government in the position of determining what parts of a bona fide religious organization are religious and what parts are secular.

If you have moral convictions, you can keep them, just don't try to impose them on everybody else.

We cannot turn the clock back. We shouldn't let the Republicans confuse the issue.

Deny health insurance coverage that includes contraceptive services to millions of American women, that is wrong.

The Federal Department of Health and Human Services forcing every single person in this country to pay for services that they may morally oppose.

We feel very strongly that this can be implemented. And we don't want to give up.

The American people want this Congress to take action on long-term care and on so many other things.

At this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp). (Mr. HUELSKAMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to one of the outstanding pro-life leaders in this House, a pro-life Democrat, my cosponsor of the Protect Life Act, the gentleman from Illinois, Dan Lipinski. {time} 1820

At this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).

Just to correct the gentlelady, there were three Stupak-Pitts amendments. Two were adopted in committee and one on the floor, which got the most publicity. When they went to the Senate, they were all taken out. We're going back to the…

At this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Austria).

Before I yield to the next gentleman, in response to the gentlelady, the House has passed 12 different jobs bills already. I believe the gentlelady has voted against every one. They're sitting in the Senate waiting for action. I would like…

At this time I yield 1 minute to another outstanding voice for the unborn, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) {time} 1800

I am pleased to yield 1 minute to another eloquent voice for the unborn, the chair of the Pro-Life Women's Caucus, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).

I am pleased to yield 1 minute to another leader on the life issue, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

At this time I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).