WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today delivered the following opening statement at a full committee markup of proposals that will improve health care and reduce poverty.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Thank you for joining me today. We’ve made it clear our committee is committed to quickly taking action on legislation that will solve real challenges facing the American people.

“Today’s markup is another example of how we are working through regular order and making progress on policies that will improve health care, reduce poverty, and increase government transparency.

“Last week, Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Member McDermott introduced legislation that will help medical providers better treat patients in their communities. The Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act will promote greater access, increase choices, and improve the quality of health care.

“To be more specific, this bill will:

• Ensure the implementation of new payment policies does not unfairly affect hospitals that were in the process of building off-campus outpatient centers;
• Prevent hospitals that serve low-income communities from being unfairly penalized;
• Increase access to care in rural communities;
• Protect access to quality health care choices for seniors;
• And support physicians who treat patients in ambulatory surgical centers.

“I thank Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Member McDermott for crafting a bill that will empower health care plans and providers to deliver the high quality, affordable care patients deserve.

“Today, we also will move forward on two more bills that will strengthen the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

“As a reminder, Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Buchanan’s bill will make sure that states are sharing ideas about what works to help American families climb the economic ladder.

“And former Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Boustany’s bill will measure state success in helping recipients find jobs and build successful careers. 

“And finally, we are also moving forward with important oversight action today to hold the Administration accountable to the American people. 

“Since February 2015, our Committee and the Committee on Energy and Commerce have been jointly investigating how the Administration decided to make the Cost-Sharing Reduction program payments under the Affordable Care Act. Our investigation has been met with unprecedented resistance from the Administration. Faced with these challenges, I issued a subpoena to compel the testimony of one former Administration employee. Today, we are voting to release the transcript of this testimony so that the American people will have a better understanding of the full scope of our investigation and the Administration’s actions. 

“In conclusion, I’d like to thank all of our members for their leadership on these important health care, poverty and oversight issues.”