Marsha Blackburn: “I thank the gentleman from Texas for his work that has just been so consistent on how we meet the needs of our health…”

“I thank the gentleman from Texas for his work that has just been so consistent on how we meet the needs of our health centers, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and also on the repeal for IPAB. When we talk about IPAB, it is so important that we mention our colleague and my fellow Tennesseean, Dr. Phil Roe, who is a Member of this Chamber. I applaud him for his consistent work on keeping that in front of us. I think it is fair to say, as Chairman Burgess has said, that we have worked diligently on the CHIP issue. I know that the gentleman from New Jersey is not pleased with how that is going to be paid and how we address the payments. But I have to say, our goal, Madam Speaker, is to make certain that the States have the funding that is necessary for them to meet the needs of children who are needing these health services. This is something that we have been diligent in our work to meet those needs and to work with our States and to see how best to do this so that needs are being met right there where those children have them and that the States have the resources they need. When it comes to the Independent Payment Advisory Board, we ought not have to be discussing this today because this is something that should never have been passed in the first place. It is something that was completely unnecessary. We are looking at going in and changing this, and for good reason.…”