Press Releases | Page 37 | Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Walorski Discusses Tax Reform with Hoosier Farmers

Joins 2nd District Farmers for Update on Pro-Growth Tax Reform, Regulatory Relief, Farm Bill

KEWANNA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today met with Hoosier farmers to share an update on tax reform and discuss their priorities for a tax code overhaul and the upcoming farm bill.

“Hoosier farmers are the backbone of our economy, and tax reform is critical to making sure they can stay competitive in the global economy and continue investing in future growth,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from our local farmers about the challenges they face and how we can work together to help family farms thrive.”

The meeting, which took place at the Kewanna farm of Fulton County Farm Bureau president Joe Rude, included more than two dozen Indiana Farm Bureau members from across the 2nd District. Congresswoman Walorski and the farmers discussed a wide range of topics, including tax reform, regulatory relief, and the 2018 Farm Bill.

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Walorski is working with her colleagues and the Trump administration on comprehensive legislation to overhaul the nation’s tax code for the first time in 31 years.

Additional photos from today’s Indiana Farm Bureau meeting are available here.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Statement on Opioid Emergency Declaration

President Trump Declares Opioid Epidemic a National Emergency

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after President Trump declared a national emergency over the opioid crisis:

“Opioid abuse is having a devastating impact on our communities, and President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency treats this epidemic with the urgency it requires. I will continue working with my colleagues and the administration to make sure first responders, law enforcement, medical professionals, treatment providers, and families in our communities have the tools and resources needed to solve this crisis.”

BACKGROUND

Congress last year passed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, bipartisan legislation to address the nationwide opioid epidemic. Congresswoman Walorski served on the conference committee that negotiated the final bill, which included two provisions she authored. One requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to participate in state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), and the other allows the VA to use FDA-approved medical devices and other non-opioid therapies to treat chronic pain.

Walorski recently questioned Medicare’s top fraud prevention official at a committee hearing about how safeguards failed to prevent a doctor in Indiana from prescribing more than $1 million in opioids to 108 patients under Medicare’s prescription drug program.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Votes to Put American Security First

House Passes Make America Secure Appropriations Act to Boost Defense Funding, Begin Border Wall Construction, Care for Veterans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today voted for the Make America Secure Appropriations Act (H.R. 3219), which provides critical resources to strengthen America’s national defense, secure our borders, and support servicemembers and veterans.

“We have to put the safety and security of the American people first, which is why we just passed a critical bill to protect our homeland,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “From boosting military personnel, training, and equipment to building the border wall and strengthening nuclear weapons security, this legislation makes the investments needed to keep our nation safe. And it supports our brave men and women in uniform by funding the biggest pay raise in eight years for our troops and providing more resources than ever before to care for our veterans.”

BACKGROUND

The Make America Secure Appropriations Act includes funding for fiscal year 2018 for security-related departments and programs, including:

Department of Defense ($658.1 billion)
- Continues the rebuilding of our military by increasing defense funding.
- Fully funds the authorized 2.4 percent pay raise for our troops.
- Invests $84.3 billion in defense technology research and development and $149.9 billion in equipment and weapons procurement.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs ($88.8 billion)
- Provides $78.3 billion, a record level of funding, for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Increases funding for the construction of military infrastructure our troops depend on by 25 percent.

Energy and Water Development ($37.6 billion)
- Increases funding for the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons programs.
- Allows the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.

Legislative Branch ($3.58 billion)
- Provides critical resources for the U.S. Capitol Police to protect the U.S. Capitol, Members of Congress, staff, visitors, and constituents.
- Continues the pay freeze for Members of Congress.

Physical Barrier Construction ($1.6 billion)
- Fully funds the president’s request for $1.6 billion to begin construction of a southern border wall.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Air Medical Services

Legislation Ensures Fair Reimbursement for Air Ambulance Services Critical to Rural Communities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) this week introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to emergency air medical services that are critical to providing emergency medical care in rural communities. The Ensuring Access to Air Ambulance Services Act (H.R. 3378) would update Medicare reimbursement rates for air ambulance service providers based on actual cost data.

“In critical medical emergencies, the difference between life and death is often a matter of minutes – which is why air ambulance services save lives,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Unfortunately, outdated Medicare reimbursement rates that don’t fully address the costs of air medical transport put these services at risk. This bipartisan bill ensures Hoosiers, especially those in rural areas, continue to have access to the air ambulances they depend on for emergency medical care.”

“This bill is very important to the patients we serve in Indiana, especially in rural areas where air transport makes the difference for critically ill and injured patients,” said Mike Poore, Interim CEO, Lutheran Health Network.

Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne operates Lutheran Air, an emergency medical flight program. Walorski in February visited Wabash Municipal Airport, one of two sites where Lutheran Air operates.

BACKGROUND

Walorski was joined by U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Calif.), and Pete Sessions (R-Texas) in introducing H.R. 3378.

Currently, the Medicare reimbursement rates for air ambulance services are significantly below the costs of providing the services, especially in rural areas. Air and ground ambulance providers are among the few providers that do not report cost data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Ensuring Access to Air Ambulance Services Act would require air medical service providers to report cost data to CMS beginning in 2019. Reimbursement rates would temporarily increase until 2021, when HHS would be required to update rates to accurately reflect the costs of air ambulance services based on the first two years of data. It would also establish a value-based purchasing (VBP) program, which would collect quality data from air medical service providers and distribute bonus payments to providers with high quality scores.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Votes to Strengthen Sanctions on Hostile Regimes

House Passes Tough New Sanctions on North Korea, Iran, Russia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today voted to impose stronger sanctions on North Korea, Iran, and Russia over their efforts to undermine American national security and threaten our allies.

“After years of weak leadership on the world stage under the Obama administration, we are sending an unmistakable message to our adversaries: America stands strong against hostile regimes,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “With these tough new sanctions, we are taking decisive action to protect our national security and counter the threats North Korea, Iran, and Russia pose to the United States and our allies.”

BACKGROUND

The Countering Adversarial Nations Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364) passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 419 to 3.

North Korea could soon target American cities with an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Kim Jong Un’s regime has tested 17 missiles already this year, including its first successful test of a missile that could reach the United States. The new sanctions will squeeze the regime’s access to funding for its nuclear missile program.

Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and a driving force behind unrest throughout the Middle East. Even as Iran receives billions of dollars in sanctions relief under the Obama administration’s nuclear deal, it continues to develop ballistic missiles, unjustly imprison Americans, and support Hezbollah terrorists and the brutal Assad regime. These sanctions will hold the Iranian regime and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accountable.

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has actively worked against American interests and undermined global stability through military activity, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks. The sanctions will put pressure on Putin and his cronies and bolster U.S. and NATO efforts to counter Russian aggression.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Honors Life of Local Non-Profit Founder on House Floor

Michael Becker, Who Co-Founded Hello Gorgeous! to Help Women Fighting Cancer, Passed Away in June

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today honored the life of Michael Becker in a speech on the House floor. Michael and his wife Kim founded Hello Gorgeous!, a non-profit that provides makeover and spa experiences to women fighting cancer. Michael passed away in June after a long battle with cancer.

“The organization Michael and Kim built together and the mission they devoted themselves to brings happiness and hope where it is needed most,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Their passion, drive, and faith inspire us all, and their selfless generosity is an example we should strive to follow.”

Video of Congresswoman Walorski’s speaking on the House floor is available here. The full text of her speech is below.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Michael Becker and to celebrate the positive impact he had on our community.

“In 2006, Michael and his wife Kim founded the non-profit Hello Gorgeous!, which brings joy to women fighting cancer by giving them a red-carpet experience complete with a makeover and spa.

“Reaching 15 states with mobile day-spas and affiliate salons, Hello Gorgeous! has provided unforgettable experiences to thousands of women all over the country.

“The organization Michael and Kim built together and the mission they devoted themselves to brings happiness and hope where it is needed most.

“Their passion, drive, and faith inspire us all, and their selfless generosity is an example we should strive to follow.

“Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege to represent such kind and giving people.

Michael lived a life full of love, laughter, and spirit. My thoughts are with Kim and everyone at Hello Gorgeous!, in whose work I have no doubt Michael’s memory will live on.”

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Applauds House Passage of Benefits for WWII Veterans Exposed to Mustard Gas

Provisions Based on Walorski-Led Bill Would Require Reevaluation of Denied Benefits Claims Tied to Secret Mustard Gas Experiments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today applauded House passage of legislation that includes provisions based on a bill she introduced to ensure World War II veterans intentionally exposed to mustard gas receive the benefits they have long been denied.

“We owe our freedom to the American heroes who served in World War II, and it is simply unacceptable that veterans exposed to mustard gas are being denied the benefits they deserve,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Today we took an important step toward righting this wrong and taking care of these brave veterans who risked everything for our country.”

BACKGROUND

Walorski and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) in March reintroduced the bipartisan Arla Harrell Act (H.R. 1359), which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) to reevaluate previously denied claims for benefits related to mustard gas or lewisite exposure.

The House today unanimously passed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (H.R. 3218), which included provisions similar to the Arla Harrell Act after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee adopted an amendment offered by Congresswoman Rice.

During World War II, the U.S. military secretly conducted chemical weapons testing on American troops, exposing 60,000 servicemembers to mustard gas or lewisite and swearing them to secrecy.

The testing was declassified in 1975, but the oath of secrecy for servicemembers was not lifted until the early 1990s. Since then, the VA failed to adequately notify affected veterans of their eligibility for benefits or to provide proper treatment for the chronic and debilitating conditions that resulted from exposure to mustard agents. The VA has denied approximately 90 percent of benefits claims in the last decade.

The provisions passed as part of H.R. 3218 would require the VA to reevaluate previously denied claims for benefits related to mustard gas or lewisite exposure at certain military sites, with a presumption of full-body exposure in those cases unless it can be proven otherwise.

The VA and DoD would also be required to submit reports to Congress on the testing and how many servicemembers were exposed, as well as on the steps taken to contact affected veterans, high rate of benefits denials and any claims that are again denied after reconsideration.

The Arla Harrell Act is named for an affected World War II veteran from Missouri. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced the legislation in the Senate.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Demands Answers After Indiana Prescriber Writes $1.1 Million in Opioid Prescriptions for 108 Medicare Patients

Questions Top Medicare Fraud Prevention Official About Steps Being Taken to Prevent Fraud and Abuse in Part D

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today questioned Medicare’s top fraud prevention official about how safeguards failed to prevent a doctor in Indiana from prescribing more than $1 million in opioids to 108 patients under Medicare’s prescription drug program.

At a hearing of the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, Walorski asked Jonathan Morse, Acting Director of the Center for Program Integrity in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), about a recent Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General report on questionable prescribing patterns under Medicare Part D that cited an Indiana prescriber who in 2016 “wrote an average of 24 opioid prescriptions each for 108 beneficiaries who received extreme amounts,” at a cost to taxpayers of $1.1 million.

“What processes does CMS have in place to flag and investigate suspicious prescribing practices like this, and what do you think needs to be done to improve the system?” Congresswoman Walorski asked. “Obviously the filters that you’re talking about didn’t catch this. … As a result of these egregious violations, what new things are going into play now?”

“Well, we’re actually very pleased that the CARA [Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act] legislation from about a year ago was passed, and CMS is working to implement the Medicare lock-in program,” Acting Director Morse said. “Lock-in is something that’s been used very effectively by both state Medicaid programs, as well as by private payers, to be able to lock in a single beneficiary and a single prescriber. So essentially it helps monitor that overutilization and it helps sort of prevent that abuse from happening.”

The HHS Inspector General report also found “one in three Medicare Part D beneficiaries received a prescription opioid” last year, including 500,000 beneficiaries who received large amounts.

Video of Walorski questioning Morse at the hearing is available here. The text of their exchange is below.

REP. WALORSKI: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Morse, according to this report, and many of us are talking about reports today, this is the HHS report, Office of Inspector General, on Medicare Part D, and it’s on this issue of opioids that you touched on just at the end of your testimony, and I appreciate that.

What I think is interesting about this and draws a red flag for me is one of the things they talk about here is a prescriber in my home state of Indiana wrote an average of 24 opioid prescriptions each for 108 beneficiaries in a year, costing Medicare Part D $1.1 million just to that Indiana physician. And I guess, I am not a health person, professional, it draws a red flag to me.

And I guess my question is, and I know you were probably getting to this on your statement, but what processes does CMS have in place to flag and investigate these suspicious prescribing practices like this, and what do you think needs to be done to improve the system, because I’m guessing that you’re going to say that, here’s what we do, and you’re going to say, yeah we need to do more, so my question is, what is the more, and whatever the filters are, to have gone through, one doctor in my state to be able to produce these kinds of records, I think is astounding. So just from your professional opinion, where do we go on this, what else has to happen, and then what do we do as Congress to help you get those filters?

MR. MORSE: Thank you. And we’ve reviewed that opioid report from the Inspector General’s office also, and it is quite concerning. We’ve got a number of efforts underway, in Medicare, both fee-for-service and in Medicare Part D, that try to address opioid prescribing abuses, as well as it’s obviously been a major focal point of this administration, of the secretary, of the past administration. CMS already has an opioid strategy that it published in January of 2017 on this very issue, and looking at sort of all the various levers that an agency as a payer can potentially be sort of pulling to help to address the opioid epidemic.

From the program integrity side, we have a number of things that we look at. We work with the Medicare program on the Overutilization Monitoring System that looks at it largely from the beneficiary perspective but looks at, does the beneficiary potentially have too many prescriptions, are there too many potentially in this case opioid prescriptions being prescribed in overlapping ways and how do we kind of make sure that is not –

REP. WALORSKI: Right, but obviously the filters that you’re talking about didn’t catch this. And so, from your perspective, if you had the magic wand and you could say, look, I’m over this, I studied this, I’m the professional, here’s exactly what we need to do, let’s at least try this, what would it be? Because the other thing disturbing about this, there’s a half a million beneficiaries receiving high amounts of opioids. So the filters aren’t working, so whatever was done prior to January of 2017 is not working, so we take that off the chart here, and we say that you say what is it that we’re not seeing here, and what can you in Congress do to help you get there?

MR. MORSE: We also have abusive prescribing authorities within Program Integrity at CMS.

REP. WALORSKI: Do you use them often?

MR. MORSE: We have used them only a handful of times at this point, because part of it is we need to be able to establish sort of that pattern and the practice, and when we see a pattern and practice it often is then referred to law enforcement.

REP. WALORSKI: How long is a pattern and a practice? So my Hoosier doc here that took this to the limit and over the top, so he’s writing an average of 24 prescriptions each for 108 people in a year, and it wasn’t flagged.

MR. MORSE: But when we do see something like that in our data, we flag it for law enforcement, so that’s how those cases begin, though. So in that case, there may have been data from CMS, in this particular case, there may have been data from CMS that we then flag for our law enforcement partners who then begin those investigations. So when the behavior is that egregious, if it’s something that we can see in our data, it is something that we need to be able to send to the inspector general’s office, to the state law enforcement, to DOJ, and then they begin sort of the more serious criminal and civil processes.

REP. WALORSKI: So what happens now as a result of this report? Because still what you’re describing is what’s happening pre-2017. As a result of these egregious violations, what new things are going into play now?

MR. MORSE: Well we’re actually very pleased that the CARA legislation from about a year ago was passed, and CMS is working to implement the Medicare lock-in program. So lock-in is something that’s been used very effectively by both state Medicaid programs as well as by private payers to be able to lock in a single beneficiary and a single prescriber. So essentially it helps monitor that overutilization and it helps sort of prevent that abuse from happening.

REP. WALORSKI: I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Joins Interior Secretary Zinke, Industry Leaders for Roundtable on Outdoor Recreation Economy

Made In America Products on Display Include Newmar RV Built in Nappanee, Ind.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today joined Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, members of the Hoosier delegation, and outdoor recreation industry representatives for a roundtable discussion on how public-private partnerships can boost investment in outdoor tourism and drive growth in American RV and boat manufacturing.

“Northern Indiana is the RV Capital of the World, so Hoosiers know just how vital outdoor recreation is to growing our economy and creating good jobs for American workers,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “This opportunity to boost investment in outdoor tourism through public-private partnerships is a turning point for keeping America’s parks open for business and building even more American-made RVs and boats. I look forward to working with Secretary Zinke to ensure RV and boat manufacturers continue to play a key role in strengthening outdoor recreation and our nation’s economy.”

“Indiana is at the heart and soul of America’s outdoor recreation experience, providing magnificent public lands and lakes and also manufacturing the recreation vehicles we love to use on them,” Secretary Zinke said. “For millions of American families, summer vacation means taking an RV or boat and exploring our lands and waters like the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear, and America’s first national park which is in my neck of the woods, Yellowstone. I’m grateful to Rep. Walorski and Indiana’s Congressional Delegation for helping the President and I highlight Made in America week powered by outdoor recreation.”

BACKGROUND

The event at the Department of Interior featured a roundtable discussion followed by a showcase of American-made outdoor recreation products, including RVs manufactured by Newmar in Nappanee, Ind., and Keystone RV Company in Goshen, Ind.

Participants in the discussion on expanding partnerships to improve visitors’ experience on public lands included Secretary Zinke, Congresswoman Walorski, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Congressman Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and members of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) such as the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Eighty percent of RVs sold in the United States are made in Indiana, and RV manufacturing contributes $26.1 billion to our nation’s economy. Recreational boating contributes $121.5 billion to the economy.

Click on the images above for high-resolution versions of the photos.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Walorski Votes for Defense Bill that Puts Servicemembers, National Security First

FY18 NDAA Boosts Defense Funding, Gives Troops Pay Raise, Keeps Gitmo Detainees Off U.S. Soil

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R. 2810) by a bipartisan vote of 344 to 81:

“Our servicemen and women risk their lives every day to keep America safe, and we need to give them the tools, training, and support necessary to defeat any threat. This NDAA will rebuild our military, support our troops both on and off the battlefield, and keep our nation secure.

“After years of underfunding, this bill invests more in maintenance, modernization, and training, allows our Armed Forces to grow to full strength again, and ensures Hoosier workers continue to play a key role in our national defense by manufacturing high-quality, made-in-America military equipment.

“This bill also fully funds the 2.4 percent pay raise our troops deserve. It provides important resources to help military families. And in the wake of the Marines United scandal, it protects servicemembers from having their private images shared without their consent.

“And the NDAA puts the safety and security of the American people first by keeping in place the ban on closing Gitmo or transferring dangerous detainees to U.S. soil, and by boosting investment in missile defense to counter threats posed by rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea that are developing long-range missiles.

“With this critical legislation, we are investing in our national security and supporting the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to defend our freedom.”

BACKGROUND

Rebuilding Our Military

The FY18 NDAA authorizes $696.1 billion in defense funding, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year.
It aims to close the readiness gap by boosting investment in maintenance, training, restoration, and modernization.
It allows the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard to add personnel to restore the Armed Forces to full strength.
It includes a Walorski-authored amendment requiring a GAO report on how the Department of Defense can improve its acquisition process and manage programs more efficiently.

Supporting Our Troops

The NDAA fully funds the 2.4 percent pay raise servicemembers are entitled to under the law – the biggest in eight years.
It provides support and resources to help address the unique challenges military families face, such as relocation and licensing.

Keeping Our Nation Safe

The NDAA maintains existing prohibitions on closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay or transferring terrorist detainees to U.S. soil.
It provides critical resources to confront threats around the world and destroy terrorist networks such as ISIS.
It boosts missile defense funding to counter increasing threats from hostile nations.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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