Phil Roe RSS Articles

State Flexibility Necessary in Education Reform

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

My focus in Congress continues to be on creating jobs and growing our economy. Ultimately, doing this starts with creating an education system that gives Americans the tools they need to get jobs in the global economy.

Improving our nation’s education system is critical to securing a successful future for our children and grandchildren. Last week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee, of which I am a member, began considering changes to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law for the first time in over a decade. H.R. 3938, the Student Success Act, and H.R. 3990, the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, will raise the standard in public education, return crucial decision-making authority to the states, and ensure that the unique needs of every student are being met.

Since NCLB was signed into law 10 years ago, Tennessee and its educators have done their best to provide a quality education to all students. While NCLB addressed some shortcomings in the education system, it opened up a whole new set of problems that simply haven’t been addressed. On February 9, 2012, Tennessee was granted a waiver providing greater state and local flexibility from standards within NCLB. While this waiver will help Tennessee’s education system in the short-term, I am concerned that – rather than working with Congress to fix the problems in our education system permanently – the Administration is trying to have states pass their agenda through the backdoor.

That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act. These bills enable true education reform by giving states more flexibility to meet local needs and providing accountability needed for successful outcomes. There is also an assurance that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely because funding is used to strengthen programs that are already successfully working in school districts around the country. These bills offer long-term solutions for our education system that will help pave the path of our children’s future

I believe education reform should be driven at the state and local level, not by bureaucrats in Washington. Our teachers in East Tennessee know best how to meet the needs of their students. I believe both the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act help empower more local decision-making. These bills consolidate more than 70 programs to make sure that states and school districts have the maximum flexibility to use federal funds as they see fit towards local priorities.

This legislation will also eliminate the seriously flawed accountability measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which requires states to set annual goals for students across the board. Currently, if AYP goals aren’t met, the law requires federally mandated interventions. According to the Center on Education Policy, almost half of all public schools in the U.S. failed to meet the goals set by AYP in 2011. Eliminating this flawed standard will give teachers more time to spend with their students, rather than dealing with more mandates issued by the federal government.

Additionally, the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act require states to determine their own teacher and school accountability systems with a set of parameters to ensure no school system falls behind. Under this legislation, each state will have the chance to develop their own improvement plans for schools that fail to make satisfactory progress.

While speaking with educators throughout the First District, they are concerned the Highly Qualified Teacher Requirement does not take into account the unique needs and challenges of smaller, more rural school systems. That is why I am pleased this legislation also eliminates the Highly Qualified Teacher Requirement established in NCLB. Again, we have the ability to make teacher evaluations in Tennessee that account for the unique needs of each school district.

The public school system in the United States is second to none, but it is no secret we still have work to do. I strongly believe we can get our education system back on track while returning control to those who best know education- teachers and school administrators. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that this is an issue of national importance. I will continue working to ensure schools in the First District of Tennessee have the freedom and flexibility they need to successfully and effectively educate our children.

Another Budget Failure

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

On Monday, President Obama released his $3.8 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget proposal containing many similarities to his FY 2012 budget that was overwhelmingly rejected by the Senate by a vote of 97-0. If Congress were to adopt the president’s budget, we are looking at dangerous levels of debt, exceeding 100 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year for the next 10 years.

Failing to fulfill his promise to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term, Obama instead proposed a fourth consecutive year of deficits greater than $1 trillion. Under President Obama’s watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation’s history. Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since Obama took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president ever.

Our nation’s economy is in a fragile state of recovery, which economists agree is the worst time to raise taxes. However, President Obama is proposing $1.5 trillion in new taxes. His plan would raise tax rates across the board on small business owners and entrepreneurs. We will not be able to create jobs if the government is acting as a roadblock to the job creators.

So how can the president predict any sort of realistic GDP growth in his plan when the entire country will be severely hit with higher taxes? It is yet another unrealistic estimate in his deeply flawed budget proposal. Instead of cutting duplicative, wasteful and bloated government programs, the president plans to tax hardworking Americans.

The president is also, once again, cutting Medicare in his proposal. It began with the Affordable Care Act when he cut $500 billion out of Medicare to pay for a new entitlement program for government-run health care. Then, he created a rationing board known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that is charged with cutting benefits that are not deemed to be cost effective. Now, because these cuts have failed to save Medicare from bankruptcy, the president is again proposing doubling down and strengthening the IPAB to ration even more care.

So what are others saying about President Obama’s FY 2013 budget proposal? In an LA Times Editorial they stated, “The day after the Greek Parliament approved another round of deep spending cuts in the face of violent protests, President Obama released a budget proposal for the coming fiscal year that offers no real solution to the United States' long-term fiscal problems.” The Washington Post said, “The final budget of his first term does not reflect the leadership on issues of debt and deficit that Mr. Obama once vowed.” An Editorial in Bloomberg states, “Do as I say, not as I do. That was the unwelcome message in President Barack Obama's federal budget for 2013.”

The unsustainable amount of government debt is so high that it is straining economic growth. Therefore, Congress must reject the president’s budget and pass a budget that will restore economic growth, create jobs and enact enforceable and meaningful cuts, in order to preserve our future.

Roe Announces FEMA FY 2011 SAFER Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the Funding Opportunity Announcement and application materials under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program (SAFER). The application period for the FY 2011 SAFER Program will open on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. EST and will close on February 24, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

“I am pleased new grant funding is available for our hardworking first responders in the First District of Tennessee,” said Roe. “Our first responders on the front line of duty deserve the staff and equipment needed to ensure our communities are safe. If qualified, please sign up for a SAFER grant through FEMA before the deadline, and as always, let us know if our office can be of any assistance.”

Background:

The purpose of these grants is to improve or restore local fire departments’ staffing and deployment capabilities so they may more effectively respond to emergencies. SAFER offers grants to support activities in two categories: 1) Hiring of Firefighters and 2) Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.

The Hiring of Firefighters grants provide financial assistance to help fire departments increase frontline firefighters, rehire firefighters that have been laid off, retain firefighters facing imminent layoffs, or fill positions that were vacated through attrition. With the enhanced or restored staffing, a SAFER grantee’s response time will be reduced sufficiently and an appropriate number of trained personnel will be assembled at the incident scene. One hundred percent of the actual salary and benefits for the SAFER-funded firefighters will be fully funded for the two-year period of performance.

The Recruitment and Retention grants assist fire departments with the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters who are involved with, or trained in, the operations of firefighting and emergency response. The grants are intended to create a net increase in the number of trained, certified, and competent firefighters capable of safely responding to emergencies likely to occur within the grantee’s geographic response area. One hundred percent funding is provided for periods of up to four years.

Funding Information:

The Department will award approximately $380 million in SAFER grants.

Contact Information:

For additional information, please visit www.fema.gov/firegrants or contact Chris Rizzuto at 202-786-9450 or Andrew White at 202-646-3183.

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Congress Needs to Enact Reforms That Will Ensure Long-Term Economic Success

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The slight drop in unemployment in the recent job report was welcome news that shows a positive gain in our economy. However, the economy is still in a fragile state, so Congress must continue to move forward with reforms that put this country on a path to ensure long-term economic success.

That is why the House passed HR 3581, the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, a bill that would increase transparency in federal budgeting by providing a more honest accounting of how certain costs are calculated and a clearer picture of the government’s total budget. Preliminary non-partisan estimates show that current accounting understates the cost by some $55 billion a year, because it does not account for market risk. The bill fixes this shortcoming by requiring market risk to be explicitly included, which brings federal budgeting in line with what’s long been standard practice in the private sector for valuing similar financial commitments.

Additionally, H.R. 3581 would bring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on budget to recognize the budgetary impact of these housing-related government-sponsored enterprises. Since the financial crisis these enterprises have become the explicit financial responsibility of the federal government and these reforms would ensure that the budgetary implications of that fact are reflected in the federal budget.

Next week, President Obama is expected to introduce his budget plan for fiscal year 2013, which starts Oct. 1. It is expected to mirror the budget he proposed last September. However, the president’s budget failed to actually address the fiscal problems facing this nation, including entitlement reform. The president’s budget proposal does not offer solutions to address these unsustainable spending, deficit and debt levels. In fact, the president’s budget was so bad that the Senate rejected it by a vote of 97-0. Until we see real leadership in addressing our debt crisis, we won’t reach any agreement because he is the one who will approve any bill passed by the House and the Senate.

To lower the deficit, instead of cutting duplicative, wasteful and bloated government programs, the president plans to end tax cuts for hardworking Americans. This is further evidence that the president is handing the bill over to the American people rather than fixing what is broken in the federal government. Washington doesn’t have a taxing problem, it has a spending problem, and we must reform the way business is done in Washington.

Congress needs to pass reforms that are focused on creating jobs and strengthening our economy. A viable solution for the future of America would be to pass a budget that rewards hardworking taxpayers and provides economic certainty so our small business can thrive.

Congress Must Pass A Fiscally Responsible Budget

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that shows the deficit will exceed $1 trillion for the fourth consecutive fiscal year. With another budget due soon, the president and Congress need a viable long-term plan to restore our national security and lift the massive burden of debt this nation is currently facing. This debt burden is ultimately our greatest barrier to creating jobs because it threatens to slow economic growth.

We must slow spending and cut the deficit at a thoughtful, yet aggressive, rate. With the Senate’s failure to produce or pass a budget for over 1,000 days, this government continues to run on autopilot without a fiscal plan – an unsustainable and expensive way to keep the government running. It is simply not a viable solution for the future. The Senate, led by Harry Reid, has a responsibility to the American people to make the tough choices and pass a budget that enacts real, sustainable spending cuts because the health of our economy is on the line. We cannot afford another failure by the Senate to legislate.

The CBO also projected the jobless rate would rise to 8.9 percent by the end of 2012, and to 9.2 percent in 2013. This means business as usual will keep Americans out of work well into the future. It is yet another reminder that our rising deficit directly affects this nation’s jobless rate. If we want to get folks back to work, we must simultaneously work on lowering the deficit.

Reforms must come with an agenda focused on restoring economic growth and creating jobs. Ultimately, I believe Congress needs accountability, and that is why I support passage of a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. The amendment failed in the House last year, but it is the most important tool Congress can have to ensure future prosperity. It would mandate future Congresses to balance the budget, except in the case of wars or military conflict.

A rising deficit and unemployment rate would be devastating for an already weak economy. Our number one focus in Congress must remain on job creation, and that means we must get wasteful Washington spending under control, reduce unnecessary and burdensome regulations, revamp the tax code to encourage economic growth and work towards a more energy independent America by passing good policies like the Keystone XL pipeline.

Hardworking Tennessee taxpayers want relief, but do not want to see Congress put future generations further in debt to pay for current policies. We can and we must pay for these policies by eliminating wasteful Washington spending.

A better answer for the future of our nation would be to pass a budget that cuts spending and provides economic certainty. Tennesseans deserve fiscally responsible leadership and common sense solutions to get our country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

GOP Doctors Caucus: Repeal of Insolvent, Disastrous CLASS Act Vital First Step

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus applauded the passage of H.R. 1173: the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011—a bill to repeal Obamacare’s failed CLASS Act program. This broken component of the healthcare law was included to create the illusion of tens of billions in savings that simply do not exist. Repeal of this unsustainable program is essential so that it is not put back on the table at a future date.

Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D. (LA-07): “CLASS serves as the perfect example of a government-run program destined to fail. Washington Democrats ignored warnings from experts when they used the program as a budget gimmick in Obamacare. The CLASS Repeal Act marks another victory for the American people against Obamacare. Flawed from inception, I am proud to see the House vote to strike down this Ponzi scheme. I urge leaders in the Senate to take this bill up immediately and pass it.”

Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., Co-Chair (GA-11): “During this fiscal crisis, financing another broken entitlement program is something that no one in Washington should support. Sneaky accounting tactics can no longer hide the insolvency of the CLASS Act—and the American people should not be on the hook when the program inevitably requires a taxpayer bailout to stay afloat. It’s time for this administration to stop wasting time defending the numerous flaws in the CLASS Act and instead put that focus towards saving the Medicare program for the millions of seniors who depend on it each day.”

Rep. Tim Murphy, M.D., Co-Chair (PA-18): “CLASS is nothing more than a government-run healthcare plan that saddles taxpayers and the federal budget with billions in debt. It was an empty promise from the President to our seniors and the disabled, and another example of why we need to fully repeal Obamacare. Passage of the repeal bill moves us one step closer to dismissing CLASS once and for all and saving the taxpayers billions of dollars."

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10): “Every day, more and more taxpayers are deciding that they want a refund on Obamacare,” said Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10). “Between the repeal of the 1099 provision, the upcoming Supreme Court case on the individual mandate, and the Administration admitting that they cannot implement the CLASS provision – we are truly starting to see the wheels fall off of the President Obama’s pride and joy. It’s time that we put a full stop to the implementation of Obamacare by repealing it in its entirety and replacing it with a market-based solution that Americans can actually afford.”

Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08): “It is important to formally repeal the CLASS Act and I am pleased to support this common sense legislation. This unsustainable program would have increased federal expenditures and debt and was deemed to be financially insolvent. Repealing the CLASS Act is important to ensure it is not implemented at a future time which would have added to the massive debts we currently face. I will continue to work to repeal Obamacare in its entirety and replace it with common sense, private sector solutions that improve the quality of care while at the same time reducing costs for patients.”

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R.N. (NY-25):“The CLASS Act must be repealed. The program is unsustainable and its repeal has bipartisan support. While America should be having a serious conversation about sustainable long-term care programs, this Administration chose to use the issue of long-term care as a budget ploy to inflate the amount of money that would be available to pay for the total cost of the Health Care law. Our country needs real health care reform, not gimmicks that will drive us even deeper into debt.”

Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26): “The CLASS Act was a budgetary deception included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as an attempt to mask the actual cost of the law,” said Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. “From the beginning we knew this program was structured in a way that would not allow the program to be properly paid for and would only add even more to the deficit. Complaints about the insolvency of the program have come from both sides of the aisle as well as from the administration’s own Chief Actuary. Instead of focusing on reducing the costs of long term care insurance for Americans, the president’s health care law exploits tax payer confidence through creating another program that is poorly structured and will cost taxpayers even more money.”

Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06): “Today, the House of Representatives repealed the CLASS Act and took a step towards real health care reform. Although the CLASS Act attempted to address a real need, which is to give access to long-term care coverage, its structure was so flawed that it could not deliver on its stated goal. In reality, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said it would have eventually added tens of billions of dollars to our national deficit - making the CLASS program unsustainable. With CLASS now repealed, it’s time to focus on real health care reforms that will truly address long-term care issues, reduce costs and improve care.”

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01): “I fully support the repeal of the insolvent CLASS Program, a new entitlement created by Obamacare that if implemented would require a massive government bailout by future generations of taxpayers. This provision is just one part of the flawed Obamacare law that according to the CBO could destroy up to 800,000 jobs.”

House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA): “The president’s health care law was built with smoke and mirrors in order to hide its true cost from the American people. The CLASS Act is just one prime example of the budget gimmicks Democrats employed to force their bill through Congress. Congress should repeal the CLASS Act outright and take the law off the books and out of the hands of this administration. However, much remains to be done to protect American families from the destructive nature of the president’s health care law. Republicans have not wavered in our fight to repeal the law in its entirety so that it can be replaced with positive, patient-centered solutions that expand access to quality, affordable health care – solutions that address challenges in our health care system without doing damage to the doctor-patient relationship or the economy.”

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01): “The CLASS Act is another example of the budget trickery the President and his allies used to pass their health care bill. They claimed the law would save taxpayers money and make health care more affordable, but the opposite is true. The health care law fails to address the cost crisis within the current health care system, and in fact, dramatically increases costs for all involved. It became clear soon after passing the Affordable Care Act that the CLASS Act was completely unworkable because the core program is simply too expensive. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1173, legislation to repeal the CLASS Act, the decision to table the program is the right alternative because we have to start being honest with hardworking taxpayers that our country simply cannot afford the costs for this program moving forward.”

Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus call on the Senate to make the fiscally responsible choice and support Senator Thune’s companion bill to repeal the CLASS Act program for good. The GOP Doctors Caucus has helped lead the fight against Obamacare, a law which ensures government takeover of the nation’s healthcare system.

The GOP Doctors Caucus is composed of 21 medical providers in Congress who use medical expertise and experience to develop patient centered, patient driven healthcare reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.

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Roe Statement on 1,000 Day Budget Resolution

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01), cosponsor of H.Res. 516, released the following statement regarding the Senate’s failure to pass a budget in 1,000 days:

“Today, there are 13.1 million unemployed Americans. Today, our national debt exceeds $15.2 trillion, with no signs of slowing. And today marks the 1,000^th day since the U.S. Senate has passed a budget.

“Every April 15^th, every single taxpayer has to submit their budget to the IRS so that they can settle up with Uncle Sam. Why won’t the Harry Reid-led Senate settle up with the American people?

“At a time when this country desperately needs fiscally responsible leadership, it is nowhere to be found in the Senate. Just last May, Senator Reid remarked, 'There’s no need to have a Democratic budget in my opinion…it would be foolish for us to do a budget at this stage.'

“People are hurting all across this country, and the Democrats—for political purposes—refuse to release a blueprint detailing how they will respond to the continuing economic crisis. This is unconscionable.

“Republicans, by contrast, have chosen to lead. We passed a budget which would have cut wasteful spending, kept taxes low, and created an environment that would allow us to create the jobs we need to put Americans back to work. Democrats were quick to criticize this plan using stale scare tactics from the past. But they didn’t care to offer the American people an alternate vision.

“Passing a budget this year must be a priority. Let’s hope Sen. Reid is listening.”

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Roe Statement on the State of the Union Address

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01), chair of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions subcommittee for the House Education and the Workforce committee, released the following statement in response to the State of the Union address:

“Three years and three trillion-dollar deficits later, it is clear that hardworking Tennessee taxpayers deserve better answers, better solutions and a better result.

“To date, the president’s record tells its own story. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress in 2009, President Obama promised to ‘cut the deficit in half’ by the end of his first term. However, the reality is that under President Obama’s watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation’s history. Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since Obama took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president. We must get serious about enacting spending cuts that put us on a sustainable fiscal path.

“This country’s economic growth is constrained because of the outrageous levels of spending by this president. The national debt is rising and has now reached over $15 trillion – officially surpassing the size of our economy at 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). On February 6, another budget is due. This country cannot afford another 1,000 days without a budget and without certainty. The American people deserve fiscally responsible leadership and common sense solutions to get our country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

“It is my hope that his words and his promises align with his actions because the American people deserve the truth and a better future.”

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DR. ROE in the THE HILL: Americans deserve better answers

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address to the joint session of Congress and to the nation. Three years and three trillion-dollar deficits later, it is clear that hardworking Tennessee taxpayers deserve better answers, better solutions and a better result.

To date, the president’s record tells its own story. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress in 2009, President Obama promised to “cut the deficit in half” by the end of his first term. However, the reality is that under President Obama’s watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation’s history. Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since Obama took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president. Additionally, there was a 25 percent increase in non-discretionary spending by the president when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate. We must get serious about enacting spending cuts that put us on a sustainable fiscal path.

Additionally, the president claimed that one of his top accomplishments is the overhaul of the health care system; however, since passage of the Affordable Care Act, this nation’s health care system has weakened tremendously as costs have continued to skyrocket. As a compilation of Gallup surveys from 2011 recently released reveals, "more American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since Gallup and Healthways started tracking it in 2008." Specifically, when the daily survey results were averaged across the entire year, more than 17 percent of those polled said they were uninsured in 2011, up from 14.8 percent in 2008. The president’s health bill also contains an unconstitutional mandate to purchase coverage Americans can’t afford.

In the Senate we have seen a failure of leadership and a failure to legislate. It has been 1,000 days since the Democratic-led Senate has produced a budget. So why isn’t the president encouraging his colleagues to pass a much needed fiscal blueprint that would give this country stability and certainty?

This country’s economic growth is constrained because of the outrageous levels of spending by this president. The national debt is rising and has now reached over $15 trillion – officially surpassing the size of our economy at 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Another budget is due. This country cannot afford another year without a budget and without certainty just because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid thinks it would be “foolish to do a budget at this point.” The American people deserve fiscally responsible leadership and common sense solutions to get our country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

A better answer for the future of our nation would be to pass a budget that cuts spending and provides economic certainty. A better solution to get our nation back on track would be to create jobs by loosening credit, leveling the playing field by enforcing trade rules and creating new opportunities for American exports, and by moving forward with energy initiatives like the Keystone XL pipeline. A better result would produce legislation that affirmatively answers the questions I ask myself before considering any legislation: Is it constitutional? Does it shrink the size of government? Does it expand liberty? Does it protect this nation? Every time I cast my vote, I make sure the answer to all those questions is a resounding YES.

The president has another opportunity to rein in spending and work with his Democratic colleagues to pass a budget that is 1,000 days overdue. It is my hope that his words and his promises align with his actions because the American people deserve the truth and a better future.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/206453-rep-phil-roe-r-tenn

Roe Statement at the March for Life Rally

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01) joined other pro-life leaders on the National Mall in Washington, D.C for the March for Life rally.

The march marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (officially Jan. 22), a Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol.

Dr. Roe gave the following statement at the March for Life rally:

“Good afternoon, I’m Congressman Roe from the First District of Tennessee. I am glad to be here today with other legislators fighting for the rights of the unborn.

“Until 3 years ago I spent the past 30 years practicing medicine and have delivered nearly 5,000 babies. I strongly support the sanctity of life. I have seen human development occur from the earliest stages of a fetus all the way through birth, which strengthens my conviction in the right to life.

“I believe that life is a precious miracle from God that begins at conception. And as a legislator, it’s my responsibility and privilege to protect those who do not have a voice. You have my word that I will always fight for the right to life because it is my conviction that we are all unique creations of a God who knows us and loves us before we are even conceived.

“For over 30 years, Congress has prevented taxpayer funded abortions. Unfortunately, this door has been reopened with the passage of the Affordable Care Act; the largest expansion since the pivotal Roe versus Wade decision. In response, I have introduced a resolution which declares that the president’s health care bill is unconstitutional. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this resolution gets passed and ultimately restore the trust that the American people have in their own government, and in doing so, make sure that the door to taxpayer funded abortions remains closed.

“We must make our laws consistent with our science and restore full legal protections to all who are waiting to be born. If government has any function at all, it is to protect the most innocent among us. Thank you again for joining me today to recognize this important cause.”

Tonight, Dr. Roe will speak on the House floor for the Congressional Pro-Life Leaders Special Order.

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