Joe Barton

The Affordable Care Act has never had, never had even a plurality of positivity. It is about a 52 to 53 percent negative right now when you look at the polling numbers.

I feel like I am stuck in a Dickens novel. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times.

I have a bill out there, have had for some time, H.R. 1196, which would allow the bronze- and silver-level plans to be each considered as an HSA-compatible plan by definition.

I will put the gentleman from California down as being undecided on the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from College Station, Texas (Mr. Flores).

Isn't there something we can do under existing law to shut those Internet sites down?

We need to do something about it. ISIS and the terrorist networks can't beat us militarily, but they are really trying to use the Internet and all of the social media to try to intimidate and beat us psychologically.

They have declared war against us.

Do we need to, on a bipartisan basis, give additional authority to shut some sites down?

I think the European Union has highlighted a substantial issue, and that the U.S. privacy laws aren't as strong as they could be.

In the somewhat longer term, perhaps it will give impetus to this committee and the Congress to address some of the fundamental issues and hopefully come up with stronger privacy protections for our citizens.

I want to thank both chairmen for this joint hearing, and it is a very important topic.

I want to tread lightly in this area.

I just want to say I am troubled that we are beginning to take the position that access to wireless programs... are some sort of an entitlement.

I believe markets work. I believe open, transparent markets are better than regulated markets.

I only would like to say we support the amendment and we will honor the deal we just made on the prior amendment. I ask for a ``yes'' vote on a voice vote on the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

No. You have got my word. I will be on the conference committee if we have one. Your amendments will be in the conference report that goes to the President if we get that far.

I will if you rise to voice vote on your amendment. I will make it a package deal. I will give you this amendment and the next amendment double enthusiasm if they are both voice votes and you actually really do vote for the bill or at…

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Houston for offering it. Is she willing to do this on a voice vote and consider voting for the bill if we accept it?

I would rise in mild opposition, which could turn to support. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.

I do support the gentleman's amendment. I want to commend him for his leadership on this issue. I hope we will accept it on a voice vote. I see Mr. Rush. I am willing to yield to my good friend from Chicago (Mr. Rush) if he wishes to speak…

The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), and myself support your amendment and ask that it be accepted.

Chairman Upton and I strongly support the gentleman from Indiana's amendment. We commend him for offering it. We think it adds to the bill.

If the gentlewoman from Michigan is willing to accept the same deal that the gentleman from California just accepted, we will accept the amendment. We will vote for it on a voice vote, and we will move on down the road to catch my plane at…

Reclaiming my time, I commend the gentleman for his thoughtful understanding from Mr. Pallone. And, with that, we accept the gentleman's amendment. I'm going to ask everybody to vote for it on a voice vote. I yield back the balance of my…

Then, Mr. Chairman, I oppose the gentleman's amendment and ask every Member to vote against the amendment. Mr. Chairman, we are not violently opposed to this. It is a study. I am confident that this bill will on a net basis reduce…