Press Releases | Page 4 | Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Walorski Applauds Trump Administration Action to Protect Life

Proposed Rule Would Restrict Title X Funding for Abortion Providers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement on the Trump administration’s proposal to update the Title X family planning program and restrict taxpayer funding for abortion providers:

“Every human life is precious, and taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the destruction of life. Congress recently renewed critical funding for community health centers that provide quality health care but do not perform abortions. I applaud the Trump administration’s decision to support women’s health care and protect the unborn by restricting federal funding for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.”

BACKGROUND

On April 30, Walorski and 152 of her pro-life colleagues sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar calling for new Title X regulations. The administration’s proposed rule would not reduce Title X funding but rather would ensure taxpayer dollars do not indirectly fund abortions.

Last year, Congress passed H.J.Res. 43, which overturned an Obama administration rule that would have forced states to administer Title X funding to abortion providers. In February, Congress passed a long-term budget agreement that extended funding for community health centers – which take an innovative, patient-focused approach to ensure vulnerable and underserved populations have access to quality, affordable health care – for two years.

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

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Walorski Bill to Combat Opioid Epidemic Approved by Committee

Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act Would Improve Access to Non-Opioid Alternative Treatments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today applauded committee passage of her bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid epidemic by improving access to non-opioid pain treatments.

The Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act (H.R. 5722), named for the South Bend doctor shot to death after refusing to write a prescription for opioid painkillers, was approved by the Ways and Means Committee as part of broader legislation to address opioid abuse. Dr. Graham’s wife Julie was in the audience as the committee voted to send the legislation to the House floor.

“Opioid abuse is a serious crisis in our communities, and we need to work together to find commonsense solutions to prevent and treat addiction,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Before he was tragically killed, Dr. Todd Graham was leading the way in treating the underlying causes of pain rather than simply prescribing pills. With this bipartisan legislation, we can give doctors better tools to treat pain and prevent addiction so they can follow Dr. Graham’s example.”

“Todd’s mission as a doctor was to help his patients by treating their pain, not just masking it,” Julie Graham said. “He understood how important non-opioid alternatives are to preventing addiction and helping people lead better lives. I can’t think of a better way to honor Todd’s legacy than to help his fellow doctors give their patients the care that’s right for them.”

BACKGROUND

Video of Congresswoman Walorski speaking about the Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act at the committee markup can be found here.

H.R. 5722 aims to reduce overprescribing of opioids by examining ways to expand the use of non-opioid alternatives in Medicare. It was included in the Medicare and Opioid Safe Treatment (MOST) Act (H.R. 5776), one of several bills passed by the Ways and Means Committee to address the opioid crisis.

H.R. 5722 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study ways to improve access to non-opioid pain management treatments. HHS would solicit stakeholder feedback, conduct a study, and submit recommendations to Congress improving payment, coverage, and coding policies related to the use of multi-disciplinary, evidence-based non-opioid treatments for acute and chronic pain management for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A or B. The study would include an evaluation of possible coverage and payment barriers that prevent Medicare beneficiaries from accessing non-opioid alternative pain treatments and technologies. More details on the legislation and the full bill text are available here.

Todd A. Graham, M.D., a doctor with more than three decades of service, was shot and killed on July 26th, 2017, after refusing to prescribe an opioid painkiller to the shooter’s wife. Dr. Graham was a double board-certified physician in both Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine.

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

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Walorski Calls for VA Accountability in Testimony Before Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Cites Past Problems at Indiana VA Facilities in Demanding “Culture of Accountability”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, calling for greater accountability across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure veterans get the quality, timely care they deserve.

“Hiring, firing, and mobility throughout VA are stagnant, and human resources are overdue for a complete makeover,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “The VA Accountability Act is a major accomplishment, but accountability also has to be a principle that the workforce, especially the middle management, actually embraces. The VA needs a culture of accountability to our veterans.”

Walorski, a former member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, testified about issues facing Hoosier veterans as part of the committee’s bipartisan “Member Day.” She recently met with top officials from VA facilities in Indiana to discuss ways to boost staffing at the Mishawaka VA clinic and improve services and care for Hoosier veterans.

Last year, Congress passed the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to give the VA secretary new tools to punish wrongdoing, protect whistleblowers, and fill critical leadership positions. The House also passed the VA Scheduling Accountability Act (H.R. 467), Walorski’s bill to require VA facilities to follow all scheduling rules and withhold bonuses from facility directors who fail to certify compliance annually.

Video of Walorski testifying before the committee is available here. The full text of her testimony is below.

Good morning Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, and members of the Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss issues at the Department of Veterans Affairs and ways we can improve accountability and build a healthier culture so our veterans get the care they earned. There are many highly dedicated staff and leaders at the VA, but bureaucratic obstructions continue to hinder their ability to execute VA’s mission. The result is subpar care across the system that we cannot tolerate.
As many of you know, I spent four years on this committee and sat through hearings on some of the worst scandals at the VA. We exposed long wait times in Phoenix, dangerous prescribing practices of a Wisconsin doctor known as the “candy man,” mistreatment of a veteran named Barry Coates, who died of cancer after bureaucratic delays, and countless other incidents across the country. My home state of Indiana has not been immune to such scandals either.
The DEA raided a medical center after it purchased more powerful and larger quantities of addictive prescription drugs than any other facility in our area;
A veteran in severe pain with a mental health condition was moved through multiple VA and non-VA facilities without being proper treatment. He was discharged, sent home, and two days later he took his own life;
A veteran was misdiagnosed with muscle spasms when he actually had cancer that almost killed him;
A doctor was tapering veterans off their opioid pain medications without a face-to-face meeting or physical assessment;
An employee was “blind scheduling” to pad the schedule with fake appointments; and
A podiatrist may have botched over a hundred surgeries.
I have fought with administrative personnel at all levels of the VA to ensure veterans get the care we’ve promised them. While the facilities that serve veterans in my district have been improving, there is still a long way to go before they are providing continuous high-quality care.
The VA management culture has to be shaken up. The senior leadership is a revolving door, while middle management too often looks the other way at wrongdoing and protects each other at any cost.
The VISNs need to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Sitting in the regional office and waiting for the phone to ring is not enough. An inspection every year is not enough. The VISN managers need to do aggressive oversight of the medical centers and clinics in their boundaries. They are supposed to be the first line of defense against mismanagement, and it just isn’t happening.
Hiring, firing, and mobility throughout VA are stagnant, and human resources are overdue for a complete makeover. The VA Accountability Act is a major accomplishment, but “accountability” also has to be a principle that the workforce, especially the middle management, actually embraces. The VA needs a culture of accountability to our veterans.
Mr. Chairman, I am proud of this Committee’s legislative accomplishments when I served on it, and I commend you for what you are achieving now. But legislation can only take VA part of the way. We all have to get in the trenches in our districts, expect excellence, and demand answers when it is not happening.

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 U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement on the dedication of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem:

“America stands strong with Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East. Our alliance is only stronger now with our embassy where it belongs: in Israel’s undeniable and eternal capital. The dedication of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem today – on the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence – reaffirms our steadfast commitment to this enduring friendship.”

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

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Walorski Congratulates 2018 Congressional Art Competition Winner

Penn H.S. Student’s Artwork Will Be Displayed in U.S. Capitol for a Year

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today congratulated Hannah DeSchepper, a Penn High School junior, on winning the 2018 Congressional Art Competition for Indiana’s 2nd District. DeSchepper’s winning artwork, “Kehinde Kahlo,” will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year alongside other winners from across the country.

“Congratulations to Hannah on this exciting achievement!” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Visitors at the Capitol will be able to see her passion and creativity with her artwork on display for the next year. I want to thank all the talented young Hoosier artists who entered this year’s Congressional Art Competition – it’s always a privilege to see such impressive work.”

BACKGROUND

Congresswoman Walorski announced the winner at a reception she hosted at South Bend International Airport for the students who submitted entries and their teachers. Walorski also awarded second place to Kenna Musser, a student at Penn High School. Her artwork, “Grant Wood’s Therapeutic Landscape,” will be displayed in Walorski’s Mishawaka District Office for the next year.

High school students from throughout Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District submitted entries, and a judging panel of two local artists helped select the winning entry.

Each spring, members of Congress sponsor a nationwide high school arts competition. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent across the nation. Since the contest began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have been involved.

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 Legislation to Combat Opioid Epidemic

Bipartisan Bill Named for Dr. Todd Graham, South Bend Doctor Killed After Refusing to Prescribe Opioids, Aims to Expand Non-Opioid Treatments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid epidemic by improving access to non-opioid pain treatments. The Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act (H.R. 5722), named for the South Bend doctor shot to death after refusing to write a prescription for opioid painkillers, aims to reduce overprescribing of opioids by examining ways to expand the use of non-opioid alternatives in Medicare. Walorski was joined by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) in introducing the bill.

“Opioid abuse is devastating families and communities across the country, and the senseless murder of my dear friend Dr. Todd Graham was a tragic reminder of how serious this crisis is,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “We have already taken steps to reduce overprescribing of opioids, but we must do more to ensure patients have access to non-addictive pain management options. As we continue working toward commonsense solutions to the opioid epidemic, this bipartisan bill will help break down barriers to non-opioid treatments and give doctors better tools to prevent addiction.”

“As opioid addiction impacts families in every community across the country, it’s imperative that we find alternatives to keep more individuals from that destructive path. That starts with expanding options for patients,” said Rep. Chu. “And with millions of beneficiaries, Medicare is one of our best tools for that. When it comes to combatting this crisis, patients need to have access to every tool in the toolbox that can help treat and manage pain. I want to thank Jackie Walorski for her hard work on this bill as well. The opioid epidemic knows no partisanship, and I am proud to partner with Rep. Walorski to bring life-saving alternatives to opioids to more Americans.”

BACKGROUND

The Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act of 2018 would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study and submit recommendations to Congress on improving access to non-opioid pain management treatments.

H.R. 5722 would direct HHS to solicit stakeholder feedback and conduct a study on ways to improve payment, coverage, and coding policies related to the use of multi-disciplinary, evidence-based non-opioid treatments for acute and chronic pain management for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A or B. The study would include an evaluation of possible coverage and payment barriers that prevent Medicare beneficiaries from accessing non-opioid alternative pain treatments and technologies.

The study would include evaluations of potential legislative and administrative changes to Medicare to allow beneficiaries better access to non-opioid treatments for pain, such as cognitive behavioral interventions, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical medicine, biofeedback, chiropractic, and acupuncture therapy. It would also provide analysis of Medicare coverage and payment for medical devices, non-opioid based drugs, and other therapies (including interventional and integrative pain therapies) approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pain.

In addition, the bill would direct HHS to analyze the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain to consider whether the adoption of the VA/DoD pain rating scale would be more beneficial to Medicare patients with chronic pain.

The bill would also require HHS to develop recommendations on legislative and administrative action in the following policy areas:

Expanding coverage and payment for non-opioid pain management therapy options that minimize the risk of substance use disorder;
Treatment strategies for beneficiaries with psychiatric disorders or substance use disorders, those who are at risk of suicide, or those with other comorbidities that require specialty care;
Appropriate case management for beneficiaries who transition between inpatient and outpatient settings, or between opioid therapy to non-opioid therapy; and
Outreach to educate Medicare beneficiaries and providers on alternative, non-opioid therapies to manage and treat acute and chronic pain, including potential creation of a beneficiary education tool.

HHS would consult with stakeholders, including frontline provider and beneficiary groups, to ensure input is provided from across the medical community.

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

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Walorski Meets with Local VA Leadership

Discusses Veterans Care Issues with Officials Overseeing Indiana VA Facilities, Including Mishawaka VA Clinic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today met with top officials from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Indiana to discuss ways to boost staffing at the Mishawaka VA clinic and improve services and care for Hoosier veterans.

“My top priority is always to make sure Hoosier veterans get the timely, quality care they earned,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “I asked the leaders of our local VA facilities to update me on efforts to restore a culture of accountability and ensure the VA works for all our veterans. We had a productive discussion, and I look forward to continuing to work together to keep our nation’s promise to the men and women who served in uniform.”

BACKGROUND

Walorski met with Robert McDivitt, Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 10; Michael Hershman, Director of VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS); and Dr. J. Brian Hancock, Director of the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.

VANICHS serves veterans in northern Indiana, including at the Fort Wayne Campus, Marion Campus, and recently-opened St. Joseph County VA Health Care Center in Mishawaka. VISN 10 encompasses most of Indiana as well as Michigan and Ohio.

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 Iran Nuclear Deal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after President Trump announced the U.S. is withdrawing from the nuclear agreement with Iran:

“This fundamentally flawed agreement did nothing to stop Iran’s hostile behavior or permanently end its nuclear ambitions. President Trump’s decision is a critical step toward holding the Iranian regime accountable. Now the U.S. and our allies must work together to address Iran’s dangerous and destabilizing actions, including its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, threats to our ally Israel, and support for terrorism.”

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

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Walorski Calls for Changes to Tariff Product Exclusion Process for Manufacturers

Leads Bipartisan Letter to Secretary Ross Requesting Improvements to Provide Relief for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today called for improvements to the product exclusion process for steel and aluminum tariffs to reduce burdens on manufacturers and other small businesses. In a bipartisan letter led by Walorski, 39 Members of Congress asked Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to implement changes to streamline the process and provide certainty and relief to small businesses impacted by the tariffs.

“We appreciate that, in response to Member and constituent requests, you have implemented a product exclusion process for the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs,” the Members wrote. “However, we are concerned that over a month after the process began, the review process is moving far too slowly and that it places a significant burden on manufacturers, especially small businesses. We write today to urge you to make needed changes to that process that would improve how it functions and provide relief to small businesses.”

A signed copy of the letter is available here, and the full text is below.

May 7, 2018
The Honorable Wilbur Ross
Secretary
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Secretary Ross,
We appreciate that, in response to Member and constituent requests, you have implemented a product exclusion process for the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. However, we are concerned that over a month after the process began, the review process is moving far too slowly and that it places a significant burden on manufacturers, especially small businesses. We write today to urge you to make needed changes to that process that would improve how it functions and provide relief to small businesses.
The Department of Commerce announced the exclusion process on March 18, 2018 and began accepting applications a day later. Since then, thousands of applications have been filed. However, as of May 4, the Department has posted 1,572 steel and 129 aluminum applications. That is a far too slow of a pace given the volume and the fact that this process is over a month and a half old.
We were pleased that Department of Commerce responded to past Congressional suggestions, such as our request that Customs and Border Protection provide retroactive relief in the event of a positive product exclusion determination. It is abundantly clear, however, that more changes are needed. As such, we request that the Department:
Provide relief to those experiencing undue delays in the application review period by extending relief retroactive to the date of submission if the application was considered complete on the date of submission, or to the date when requested information that rendered the application complete was submitted if Commerce had notified the applicant that additional information was needed;
Allow exclusions covering ranges of certain dimensions with the same Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code in order to clear up confusion surrounding the form, simplify the application process for manufacturers – some of whom we understand have had to split one request into as many as 30 separate requests because of this issue – prevent duplicative requests, and reduce the time it takes the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to review and vet applications;
In particular, both the steel and aluminum forms contain contradictory and confusing requests. Section 2.j states that “ranges…are allowed.” However, section 3.b asks for “information on the single steel [or aluminum] product that is the subject of this Exclusion Request: 1) dimensional information for the single aluminum product and a single size – not a range of products or sizes…A separate Exclusion Request must be submitted for each steel [or aluminum] product by physical dimension.” Further adding to the confusion, section 3.b at the same time asks for the minimum and maximum of various specifications.
Allow trade associations to apply for exclusions for an industry, again in order to save both manufacturers (particularly small businesses that otherwise might not be able to afford to apply) the time and money spent filing and BIS the time spent reviewing duplicative applications;
Take measures to protect sensitive information and trade secrets, including proactively informing applicants about avenues to protect sensitive information and trade secrets and excluding unnecessary application requirements such as metallurgical composition;
Provide timely information to companies requesting exclusions, including status and anticipated wait time, so they can plan;
Publish an “FAQ” page clarifying the exclusion request process in plain language, including who must file, what should be included in supplemental materials, how to protect sensitive information and trade secrets, and differences with the separate proposed Section 301 tariffs, which we understand have caused confusion due to similar timing;
Incorporate the concept of grandfathering existing contracts in evaluating exclusion applications in order to avoid undue disruption to the operations of U.S. companies that are already relying on qualified suppliers of needed inputs;
Regularly review the impact of tariffs on the economy and downstream users and implement a plan to sunset them if they prove to have a significant negative impact;
Consider the needs of U.S. manufacturers for custom-made and other specialized steel and aluminum inputs, many of which are not available from domestic producers and for which an advance application may be impractical due to one-off orders; and
Authorize all companies granted product exclusions to import tariff-free from any source country unless it is proven to be unfairly traded, given that the basis of the exclusion request is that the U.S. company cannot source the product domestically.
We stand committed to working with you and the President to find a targeted approach that will reach our shared goals while avoiding lasting negative impacts. However, we believe that significant improvements to the exclusion process are still needed to prevent unnecessary duplication, reduce the burden on small businesses, and provide certainty and relief.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,

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 Tariff Exemption Announcement

Administration Extends Steel and Aluminum Tariff Exemptions for U.S. Trading Partners

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to extend exemptions from the steel and aluminum tariffs for the European Union, Canada, and Mexico:

“President Trump’s decision to extend tariff exemptions for our trading partners is good news for our local manufacturers and their workers. I will continue working with the administration to protect Hoosier jobs by ensuring the tariffs are narrowly targeted and provide American businesses the flexibility and long-term certainty they need to grow.”

BACKGROUND

Congresswoman Walorski has worked to minimize the harmful impact of the steel and aluminum tariffs that recently took effect. After Walorski led 15 of her Ways and Means colleagues in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging retroactive relief for companies that successfully petition for product exclusions from the tariffs, President Trump signed an order ensuring tariffs paid while a product exclusion request is pending will be returned if the exclusion is granted.

Walorski also recently pressed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer on the administration’s response to threats of retaliatory tariffs that could harm American farmers, manufacturers, and other small businesses. She called on the administration to consider the impact retaliatory measures could have on small businesses and family farmers in Indiana.

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

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