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Blackburn Votes to Repeal Obamacare, Says Law is Too Expensive To Afford

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today issued the following statement on her vote to fully repeal President Barack Obama's health care law.

“As the events of the past few weeks have demonstrated, President Obama’s administration is full of broken promises to the American people. While we await the ramifications of the recently revealed scandals, the House of Representatives today voted to rectify the President's most famous broken promise: Obamacare.

“Despite the fact that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been busy shaking down private companies for more money to implement the law, Obamacare’s reputation has become so damaged that some Democrats are now running from it. One of its chief architects, Senator Max Baucus, has even called the implementation of Obamacare an impending 'train wreck'. The truth is, Obamacare will not lower the healthcare costs for families and businesses, but rather raise them significantly. Simply put, Obamacare is too expensive to afford and it must be repealed.

“This law was unpopular when the Democrats rammed it through Congress without a single Republican vote three years ago and is even more unpopular now. Whether it is the skyrocketing cost of insurance premiums, new taxes, or laundry list of broken promises, the burdens that Obamacare has placed on hard-working American families grow with each passing day.”

Blackburn Reacts to Gosnell Decision and Calls for Congressional Action

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today reacted to the guilty verdict that was handed down in the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who faced 258 total counts and charges including infanticide, racketeering, selling third-trimester abortions, and failure to follow 24-hour waiting periods. Gosnell today was found guilty on at least three first degree murder counts.

“Today is a sad day. It has now been proven that Kermit Gosnell put a price tag on innocent human life and perpetrated merciless violence against women and babies,” said Blackburn. “Gosnell’s conviction is not only an indictment of the abortion industry at large, but it’s also a wakeup call for Congress to re-evaluate the inhuman conditions and the late-term abortion attitudes and practices which have recently come to light in many states. No one -- not the President, Planned Parenthood, nor the mainstream media -- can say Congress shouldn’t move forward with prompt legislation to protect women and children from further Gosnell-like violence and destruction.”

In the wake of the Gosnell trial, Congressman Blackburn and other leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee launched a nationwide investigation examining how states monitor and regulate abortion clinics. Read more HERE.

Gosnell’s trial revealed gruesome insights into the abortion industry and highlighted the reality that abortion involves taking a human life. The graphic accounts that came from the Gosnell trial, in spite of the national broadcast news networks’ failure to effectively report, brought to light the brutality of abortion and the nature of what happens in abortion clinics across the country. Although Gosnell was only tried for the death of four abortion survivors and one woman, he is likely responsible for killing hundreds of babies born alive by using a “snipping” method which he described as his way of “ensuring fetal demise.”

Congressman Blackburn is the Vice-Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a Founding Member of the Women’s Republican Policy Committee.

In Wake of Gosnell Trial, Committee Leaders Examine How States Monitor and Regulate Abortion Clinics and Protect Women’s Health

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday sent a letter to public health officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to examine how each state regulates and monitors abortion clinics and protects the health and safety of women. The trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell raises troubling questions about the practices of abortion clinics, and whether state health departments are appropriately monitoring these facilities. For example, the Pennsylvania District Attorney investigating Dr. Gosnell found that the Pennsylvania Department of Health deliberately chose not to enforce patient safety laws at abortion clinics — laws designed to ensure women have the same safeguards as patients of other medical providers. In fact, the report states that nail salons are more closely monitored.

Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) stated, “Planned Parenthood called Gosnell’s ‘House of Horrors’ an ‘outlier,’ but we’re learning Gosnell is not an aberration: approached by women who complained about the disgusting conditions at Gosnell’s facility, they didn’t report it. When the Pennsylvania Department of Health found out about Gosnell they sat on their hands and the media was silent. Now we’re discovering that other big abortion businesses refuse to give medical treatment to babies who survive botched abortions and we’re finding out the truth from former pro-choice nurses who called their own Gosnell-like clinics ‘ridiculously unsafe’ where ‘meat-market style of assembly-line abortions’ happen. Oversight and enforcement are desperately needed so we can help stop these Gosnell scenarios from continuing.”

Health Subcommittee Chairman Pitts added, “The trial of Kermit Gosnell has revealed a clinic with conditions straight out of a horror movie. Because oversight of such clinics was virtually non-existent, Gosnell was able to operate dangerously and illegally for years. Other states should be aware of what happened in Pennsylvania and should take strong measures to protect women’s health. We hope that our letter will prompt authorities to take responsible steps to monitor all health care facilities.”

In the letter to the state health officials, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX), Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), Oversight and Investigations Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA), and Vice Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations and Health Subcommittees Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) requested state officials provide details on state licensing of abortion clinics and providers, information on revoked licenses, state inspections of clinics, whether states monitor complaints or adverse health events related to the procedures, disciplinary action, and rules and regulations on facilities and providers. The committee leaders set a May 22, 2013, deadline for the states to respond.

Click here to read a copy of the letter.

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Blackburn Joins House Colleagues Introducing Resolution to Review Illegal Abortion Practices

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Last night Congressman Marsha Blackburn, along with two other co-sponsors introduced H. Res. 206, a resolution calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to review public policies that led to illegal abortion practices, such as those of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortion provider.

Dr. Gosnell is currently standing trial for four counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder for killing four babies who survived abortions, and a woman who died after a botched pain-killer injection, among other charges.

The resolution, which was introduced with three original co-sponsors: Rep. Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Fincher (R-TN), and Rep. Stutzman (R-IN) resolves “Congress and States should gather information about and correct abusive, unsanitary, and illegal abortion practices and the interstate referral of women and girls to facilities engaged in dangerous or illegal second- and third-trimester procedures.”

BLACKBURN: “Gosnell has debunked the myth that abortion in America is safe, legal, and rare. No one -- not the President, Planned Parenthood, nor the mainstream media -- can defend that lie anymore. America is better than allowing Gosnell-like clinic conditions and Gosnell-like abortions from being swept under the rug like nothing ever happened and that women and children never died. Oversight and enforcement are desperately needed so we can help stop these Gosnell abortion horror stories from continuing.”

FINCHER: “The more I hear about the Gosnell trial, the more my heart breaks. With today’s technology you can actually see the baby grow, move and hear their little heart beats. Late-term abortions are unconscionable. As a nation, it’s time to put politics aside and do the right thing to protect innocent little babies.”

STUTZMAN: “We owe it to the weakest among us to investigate public policies and abortion practices to determine what can be done to prevent more of these barbaric crimes. In a nation grounded upon equal protection under the law, Congress has an obligation to gather the facts and prevent future atrocities.”

In the wake of the Gosnell trial, Congressman Blackburn and other leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have launched a nationwide investigation examining how states monitor and regulate abortion clinics. Read more HERE.

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Blackburn and Griffin Demand Accountability in the Lifeline Program

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tim Griffin (R-AR) joined together to demand the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) answer questions about the Lifeline program, which is paid for by American telecommunications consumers. Even though theFCC has adopted two orders to reform the Lifeline entitlement program, it is still plagued by waste, fraud and abuse. The fact that the FCC can’t even comment on whether or not the Tsarnaev brothers, the Boston Marathon bombers, participated in the Lifeline program is further proof the program is mismanaged and dysfunctional.

“The Lifeline program is another example of how the culture of dependency is weakening America. How can the FCC justify the continued growth of the Lifeline program beyond $2.2 billion a year when they can’t even tell us whether the Tsarnaev brothers participated in the program?” asked Blackburn. “I’m convinced that the only way to combat the waste, fraud and abuse of the Lifeline program is to freeze it until we get answers and have safeguards fully implemented addressing duplication, eligibility and illicit use. This effort is really about making government more efficient and doing what we can to lower the cost of consumers’ cell phone bills.”

“Earlier this year I introduced the Stop Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act (H.R. 176) because I was concerned with the failure of the Lifeline program,” said Griffin. “Since millions of law-abiding American consumers pay for this entitlement program through a surcharge on their phone bill, the public has a right to know whether Lifeline benefits were received by the alleged Boston Marathon bombers. Ratepayers deserve to know that the money they pay to support Lifeline is spent wisely and not being used for illicit purposes.”

Click here to read the letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski from Representatives Blackburn and Griffin.

Congressman Marsha Blackburn is Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a Founding Member of the Republican Women's Policy Committee. Congressman Tim Griffin is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Blackburn and Scalise Outraged by Media Cover-up of Planned Parenthood Scandal and Gosnell Murders

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) were joined by 70 of their House colleagues today demanding national broadcast news channels ABC, NBC, and CBS stop blacking outcoverage on high-profile abortion controversies. Their letters specifically reference two instances where the media has covered up the story of Planned Parenthood lobbying in support of infanticide in the Florida State Legislature and in the ongoing murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia. By many accounts, the Gosnell murder trial has become one of the most notorious cases of patient abuse of mothers and children in our nation’s history.

“The broadcasters’ blackout of the Planned Parenthood infanticide lobbying scandal and the Gosnell ‘House of Horrors’ murder trial are the biggest and most politically-motivated media cover-ups in our nation’s history,” said Blackburn. “Censorship and media bias allows the corrupt abortion industry to profit at the expense of innocent women and children. The mainstream media has a responsibility to report the truth, not turn a blind eye to the biggest civil rights issue of our time.”

“If someone went into a hospital and shot seven babies and a mother with an AK-47, the media coverage surrounding the trial would rival a natural disaster,” Scalise said. “Yet seven babies and a mother are dead at the hands of an abortion doctor using a scalpel, and the mainstream media’s silence on this story is deafening.By failing to cover this story and turning their backs on the culture of abortion in this country, the media has failed in their duty to provide unbiased coverage of this horrific tragedy.”

Congressman Marsha Blackburn is Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a Founding Member of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee. Congressman Steve Scalise is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and serves as the Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee.

Here are links to the full text of the letters to ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Blackburn Statement on Baroness Thatcher's Funeral

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today was selected by Speaker John Boehner to lead a delegation of House members to Baroness Margaret Thatcher’s state funeral.

"It is a distinct honor to lead the House delegation to former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Baroness Margaret Thatcher's funeral,” Blackburn said. “Lady Thatcher's fight for freedom and freedom's cause is one we will honor as we pay our respects to her family, her colleagues, and the country she loved. Her deep and abiding friendship with America altered the course of history and I am grateful for her example and legacy."

“Margaret Thatcher was one of the greatest champions freedom has ever known, and her funeral gives Americans and friends around the world an opportunity to pay our final respects,” said Speaker John Boehner. “I’m pleased that Congressman Blackburn will lead a House delegation to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral to communicate our prayers and condolences to her family and the British people.”

The House delegation will also include Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and George Holding (R-NC).

Blackburn Introduces Cybersecurity Legislation - the SECURE IT Act of 2013

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today introduced legislation to better protect America from the threat of cyber attacks -- the Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information, and Technology (SECURE IT) Act of 2013.

“We cannot afford to sit idly by as malicious hacker groups, and the states that sponsor them like China and North Korea, devise more sophisticated and effective ways to attack our citizens, businesses, and government institutions. Secure IT is a conservative, incentive-based framework that opens up collaboration between the government and the private sector while also providing safeguards to citizens when their sensitive data is compromised.

“Pretending this problem can be subtly deposited in our desktop recycling bin is just as much a losing proposition as President Obama’s heavy-handed Executive Order. Instead of playing politics and pushing top-down mandates on the victims of cyber attacks, I’m focused on creating a consensus approach that balances the interests of American citizens and businesses while holding the federal government more accountable.”

The Secure IT Act is designed to improve America’s ability to respond to our escalating cybersecurity challenges. It includes five main components: allowing the government and the private sector to address cyber threat information in a more transparent fashion; reforming how our government manages its own information systems; creating new deterrents for cyber criminals; prioritizing research and development for cybersecurity initiatives; and streamlining consumers’ ability to be notified when they are at risk of identity theft or financial harm.

Read a more detailed summary of the legislation HERE.

Blackburn Statement on President Obama’s Budget

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) issued the following statement on President Obama's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, which was submitted to Congress today.

“Delivered to us more than two months late, President Obama’s irresponsible budget never comes into balance and does nothing to address the real root of our nation’s fiscal problems – Washington’s out of control spending.

“The President’s budget increases each household’s share of the debt to $60,980, adds $964 billion in new spending above projected growth, turns off spending cuts he previously signed into law, and increases taxes by $1.1 trillion. It is not a serious solution.

“Every family has to balance its budget, and I believe Washington should also. That is why House Republicans passed a balanced budget that will foster a healthier economy and help create jobs. If we are going to get our nation back on the path to prosperity, we must stop spending money we don’t have. It’s time for President Obama to cut up the federal credit card and start working with us to balance the budget.”

Blackburn Statement on the Passing of Margaret Thatcher

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today issued the following statement on the passing of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

“Today, I join millions around the world in mourning the loss of one of the greatest conservative leaders our generation has known. Margaret Thatcher inspired us all with her dedication to freedom. She cast away barriers and convinced people to open their minds to the ideals and concepts of freedom, free people and free markets. Lady Thatcher will be remembered for her friendship to America and the alliance she helped forge with President Ronald Reagan to bring peace and prosperity to people around the world. Her legacy will live on in our hearts and minds as we continue the work she began.”