This week, the Congressional Budget Office released new long-term projections of government spending and debt that reiterated the need for immediate budget reform. If current law remains unchanged, government health care spending as a percentage of the economy would double by 2037. Because revenues are not anticipated to keep up with all this new spending, the federal debt would explode to double the size of the economy. The CBO reiterates that this would essentially bankrupt the government. Clearly, we are on a dangerous path. In order to strengthen and preserve important health programs, we must act soon. This year’s Republican Budget provided a roadmap for balancing the budget and paying down the debt. To read the report, CLICK HERE.
  This morning, the Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss legislation to set minimum standards for radiation and imaging technicians. States currently set the standards, which vary widely across the country. These tests cost Medicare billions of dollars a year and if improperly done they can yield unclear results or give patients an unnecessarily high dose of radiation. I support the CARE Act, a bipartisan bill to set certification standards for those administering tests. Medicare reimbursement would be dependent on having qualified staff. I hope that we can move this bill forward this year so that we can improve the quality of tests. Lives are certainly at stake. To read my comments from the hearing, CLICK HERE.
The House passed bipartisan legislation to repeal a new medical device tax created by the President’s health care law. Unlike most taxes, the medical device tax is on sales, not profits. This means that companies must pay regardless of whether they are actually making any money in a given year. Already, some companies have reduced their workforce in order to prepare for the tax that starts next year. Over 22,000 Pennsylvanians work in the industry. By some estimates, the tax could reduce unemployment in the field by 10 percent. To watch my comments from a press conference on the bill, CLICK HERE.
The House voted 326-81, along with my support, to include an amendment to the annual energy and water appropriations bill that would help pay for the application to certify the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. While the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has tried to stop the project without the consent of Congress, courts have ordered them to complete a mandatory review. The NRC has refused to do the work citing a lack of funds. The amendment gives them another $10 million to complete the work. Pennsylvanians have contributed over $1.4 billion to build the facility. Read more about what is going on with Yucca Mountain in this week’s op-ed.
In the southern Nevada desert about 100 miles from Las Vegas rises a mountain ridge. Under this ridge sits a complex of tunnels dug by the federal government. They sit empty and unused and having cost taxpayers and electric ratepayers over $15 billion to dig. READ MORE

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	Sloppy Obamacare Grant Process Pays Out Millions  Rep. Pitts discusses a poorly managed Obamacare-created grant program that will pay out more than $10 billion in the next ten years.
	Another Entitlement Program Going Bankrupt  Rep. Pitts discusses the Social Security Disability program and its trust fund that is projected to run dry in just four years.