Chairman Smith: Legislation Protects Patients, Seniors, and all Taxpayers

Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following opening statement at a Committee markup of health care, tax administration, and Social Security bills.

As prepared for delivery.

"Before we begin, I want to take a moment to honor the life and memory of Charlie Kirk. Many of us on this Committee knew Charlie and admired his courageous example of open debate and advocacy he showed to our country's next generation. Charlie not only modeled how to engage in the public square; he modeled faith and family values. To spend time with him, or attend a campus event, or watch one of his videos, was to know his abiding faith in his Savior. The boldness of Charlie's faith helped him to point the way for an entire generation. Charlie Kirk is gone too soon. His wife Erika and two small children remain in our prayers.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge two of our valued colleagues who recently announced they would be departing Congress at the end of next year: Danny Davis and Dwight Evans. Representative Davis has been a consistent voice for America's most vulnerable for decades: children, the poor and the sick. He was a gracious host for one of our field hearings last year in Chicago. Congressman Evans leaves behind a long legacy of fighting for the people of Philadelphia, block by block. We will all miss you both and your service on this Committee.

"Turning to today's markup, the bills before us reflect the numerous opportunities the Ways and Means Committee has to work together to improve the lives of our fellow Americans.

"To start, we will consider four health care bills. The first, the 'Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act,' from Representatives Arrington and Sewell, honors the life of Ms. Sewell's late mother by providing multi-cancer early detection screenings for seniors. Over the next 10 years, the U.S. government is projected to spend close to a trillion dollars treating cancer. 75 percent of that will be spent on late-stage cancer. If we can detect and treat cancer earlier, we can not only help Americans live longer, but also bring down the costs of fighting this disease.

"Next, we will consider two bills introduced by Health Subcommittee Chairman Buchanan. The 'Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act,' also led by Congressman Evans, continues the successful Hospital at Home program for another five years. Hospital care provided at home cuts mortality rates, reduces the risk of falls and infections, and lowers recovery times. When we had a hearing on this topic, a woodworker from rural North Carolina credited his complete medical recovery to this program. More Americans need the same opportunity to receive hospital care in the comfort of their home.

"The 'Healthcare Efficiency Through Flexibility Act,' co-led with Representative Panetta, helps medical providers use technology when reporting patient quality measures. Digital reporting generally helps medical providers save time caring for patients and reduces administrative burden and costs. However, not all providers have the 'back office' technology needed for digital reporting. These rules must change, so providers, like small and rural providers, lacking digital technology aren't unfairly penalized. This bill clarifies the quality measure reporting process and creates a pilot program to test better ways to incorporate technology in this process moving forward.

"Our last health care bill will give seniors access to new breakthrough medical devices sooner. These devices are FDA-certified as being both safe, and offering better treatments for serious diseases than currently available alternatives. Unfortunately, Medicare is slow to cover these new technologies for seniors. Patients can wait up to five years to use these devices after they have been deemed safe and effective. This bill from Representatives Moore and DelBene, the 'Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act,' gives seniors faster access to breakthrough products by providing an immediate four years of Medicare coverage. Again, getting the latest technological breakthroughs in the hands of America's seniors will result in better outcomes, healthier lives, and lower costs.

"Our next two bills protect taxpayers from government abuse. The first, introduced by Representatives Moran and Sewell, strengthens taxpayer rights in judicial proceedings before the Tax Court. The second continues the Committee's work to refocus the IRS on serving taxpayers. Last year, the IRS changed the rules so that it has never been easier for the agency to charge excessive or arbitrary penalties. Now, agents are permitted to both obtain their supervisor's approval for penalties at any point in the process and from virtually anyone above them-not just their immediate supervisor. This has resulted in sign off on penalties after they have already been levied on taxpayers. This bill, from Congressman Grothman, provides fairer treatment to taxpayers at the IRS by effectively repealing this anti-taxpayer rule.

"Last on the agenda are three Social Security bills that help Americans maximize their benefits and fight identity theft. Representatives Smucker and Beyer's 'Claiming Age Clarity Act' better informs seniors of the consequences of claiming Social Security benefits at different ages. We will also consider the 'Social Security Child Protection Act' from Congressman Smucker and the 'Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act' from Congressman Kustoff. Both bills protect Americans - especially children - from the harm of identity theft. And both policies passed this Committee last Congress with total support.

"The bills we are considering today are common-sense, bipartisan ideas. I understand there are many issues in front of Congress at the moment that are hotly debated on both sides of the aisle. I urge this Committee to remain focused on the bills in front of us today which protect patients, seniors, and taxpayers. All of these are bipartisan and all help the American public and folks we were elected to serve."