Congressman Charles Boustany Weekly Republican Address 05/16/09 VIDEO TEXT

TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks by Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, (R-Southwest Louisiana) today delivered the weekly Republican Address, urging Congress and the President to work to achieve commonsense solutions to lower the cost of healthcare while ensuring quality and access.

Hello, I’m Charles Boustany, a doctor and member of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group.

We all know that in this troubled economy, American families are increasingly worried about their healthcare. In my home of Louisiana, I hear constantly from families and small businesses about rising costs and fears of losing coverage, and as a physician I saw this first-hand.

Let me be clear, Republicans want to work with President Obama and other Democrats to ensure that every American has access to affordable, high-quality health coverage.

Despite our differences on some important healthcare-related issues, we are convinced there are areas offering potential for common ground on healthcare reform among the two parties.

We believe we must make quality healthcare coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of preexisting health conditions.

President Obama has called for a plan that "puts us on a clear path to cover all Americans," and said "no American should be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions."

Republicans agree.

We believe healthcare reform must let Americans who like their healthcare coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the healthcare plan that best meets their families’ needs.

The president has said Americans "should have the option of keeping their employer-based health plan," and said reform "should provide Americans a choice of health plans and physicians."

Republicans agree.

We believe healthcare reform must improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases, and respecting the value of human life. The president has said healthcare reform must address "cost drivers" in our system such as "obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and smoking."

Republicans agree.

We believe it is possible -- and necessary -- to achieve these objectives through common-sense reforms without raising taxes, rationing care, eliminating employer-sponsored health benefits for working families, empowering government bureaucrats at the expense of patients and doctors, or adding even more to our ever-growing national debt.

At the same time, Republicans are concerned about news reports indicating that some Democrats favor a policy called a "government" or "public" option. We need to be clear about what this means.

From my former practice, I know allowing the government to replace the health coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently have through their jobs could have devastating consequences.

A government takeover of healthcare will put bureaucrats in charge of healthcare decisions that should be made by families and doctors. It will limit treatment options and lead to rationed care.

And to pay for government healthcare, your taxes will be raised. That is something we cannot support, and frankly, it would clearly violate some of the principles the president himself has endorsed.

That having been said, I want to reiterate Republicans’ sincere desire to work with President Obama and Democrats to find common ground on the issue of healthcare reform. Despite our differences, we are convinced there are areas of common-sense agreement on healthcare reform among Republicans and Democrats.

This issue is just too important to let partisanship or blind ideology get in the way. Let’s all work together to do the right thing for the American people. Thank you for listening. ###

Nancy Pelosi claims CIA mislead her about Torture Methods TEXT VIDEO

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims CIA mislead her about Torture Methods.

Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that in 2002 the CIA "misled" her about torture techniques used by the U.S. military. She stated that she learned of the military's use of waterboarding in 2003.

TEXT TRANSCRIPT, as prepared for delivery. Speaker Pelosi's Remarks at Press Conference About Briefing on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.

Washington, D.C. –Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke this morning at a press conference in the Capitol on Congressional briefings related to enhanced interrogation techniques. Below are her remarks as prepared:

“Throughout my entire career, I am proud to have worked for human rights, and against the use of torture, around the world.

“As Ranking Member of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee in the 1990s, I helped secure the first funding for the Torture Victims Relief Act to assist those suffering from the physical and psychological effects of torture.

“I unequivocally oppose the use of torture by our government because it is contrary to our national values.

“Like all Members of Congress who are briefed on classified information, I have signed oaths pledging not to disclose any of that information. This is an oath I have taken very seriously, and I have always abided by it.

“The CIA briefed me only once on some enhanced interrogation techniques, in September 2002, in my capacity as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee.

“I was informed then that Department of Justice opinions had concluded that the use of enhanced interrogation techniques was legal. The only mention of waterboarding at that briefing was that it was not being employed.

“Those conducting the briefing promised to inform the appropriate Members of Congress if that technique were to be used in the future.

“Congress and the American people now know that contrary opinions within the Executive Branch concluded that these interrogation techniques were not legal. However, those opinions were not provided to Congress.

“We also now know that techniques, including waterboarding, had already been employed, and that those briefing me in September 2002 gave me inaccurate and incomplete information.

“At the same time, the Bush Administration was misleading the American people about the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

“Five months later, in February 2003, a member of my staff informed me that the Republican chairman and new Democratic Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee had been briefed about the use of certain techniques which had been the subject of earlier legal opinions.

“Following that briefing, a letter raising concerns was sent to CIA General Counsel Scott Muller by the new Democratic Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, the appropriate person to register a protest.

“But no letter could change the policy. It was clear we had to change the leadership of the Congress and the White House. That was my job.

“When Democrats assumed control of Congress in 2007, Congress passed legislation banning torture and requiring all government agencies to abide by the Army Field Manual. President Bush vetoed this bill barring the use of torture. An effort to overturn his veto failed because of the votes of Republican Members.

“We needed to elect a new President. We did; and he has banned torture.

“Congress and the Administration must review the National Security Act of 1947 to determine if a larger number of Members of Congress should receive classified briefings so that information can be utilized for proper oversight and legislative activity without violating oaths of secrecy.

“I have long supported creation of an independent Truth Commission to determine how intelligence was misused, and how controversial and possibly illegal activities like torture were authorized within the Executive Branch.

“Until a Truth Commission is implemented, I encourage the appropriate committees of the House to conduct vigorous oversight of these issues.”

For Immediate Release 05/14/2009 Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616