House Proceeding 01-26-10 on Jan 26th, 2010 :: 1:16:05 to 1:19:15
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1:15:50 to 1:16:10( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: fiscal yr for 2008 payment for temporary assistance to united states citizens returned from foreign countries to provide necessary funding to avoid shortfalls in the medicare program for low-income qualifying individuals and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule the gentleman from washington, mr. mcdermott, and the

1:16:05 to 1:19:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jim McDermott

1:16:11 to 1:16:31( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: from florida, ms. brown-waite, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognized the gentleman from washington. mr. mcdermott: i ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from new jersey, mr. pallone, be allowed to control 10 minutes of the time for debate on this bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered.

1:16:32 to 1:16:53( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: mr. mcdermott: i ask that all members have five elect slative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on s. 2949. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. mcdermott: madam speaker, two weeks ago, the largest earthquake in haiti wreaked havoc throughout the country.

1:16:54 to 1:17:15( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: some of those affected are u.s. citizens now being evacuated back to the united states. we need tookt today to continue a program that helps the americans get back home. the repatriateuation act provides assistance to u.s. citizens coming back to the united states due to a cris

1:17:16 to 1:17:36( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: by help them pay for flights, temporary lodging, food, and medical assistance. recipients are expected to reimburse the government for such aid unless repayment poses a significant hardship. this program has an annual funding cap of only $1 million, which is far short of the funding need to help all the

1:17:37 to 1:17:57( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: u.s. citizens returning home. there are roughly 45,000 americans living in haiti when the earthquake hit and over 14,000 have already been evacuated. the bill before us increases the program's funding cap to $25 million for this year so that it continue -- it can

1:17:58 to 1:18:18( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: continue to serve u.s. citizens returning from haiti. it's worth noting that we have raised this program annual funding cap in response to past international cray cease, most recently in 2006, congress responded to a request from the bush administration to increase the program's funding to help americans evacuating lebanon.

1:18:19 to 1:18:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: as sent over by the senate, this bill also continues funding for another group of needy americans, low-income senior citizens, a progra known as qi that now helps medicare beneficiaries with their expenses if they're only slightly above the poverty line

1:18:42 to 1:19:02( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: and requires additional funding to continue to provide stains to every state throughout the rest of the year this bill provides necessary funding to address this shortfall and ensure the program continues to operate. the congressional budget office reports that the cost of both of these provisions is fully offset by a reduction in the medicaid improvement fund which

1:19:03 to 1:19:15( Edit History Discussion )

Jim McDermott: proves additional funding to h.s. for program management. in short this bill helps people in great need of assistance without raising the deficit. madam speaker, i urge my colleagues to support this