Page 14 - LIN-Jan-ForWeb

What we can hope for

IN THE 116 CONGRESS
TH

by Francis Rooney

s we approach a new year
and a new Democrat-led
House of Representatives,
A there will be many areas
of disagreement, but we do not have
to face two years of stagnation. There
are several issues that can, and should,
lead to bipartisan legislation to benefit
require drug companies to give notice and justification for raising the
our country and Southwest Florida.
price of a drug more than 10% at one time.
Over the last two years I have worked
Finally, I introduced the Thomas Jefferson Public Service Act, which
continuously to develop a bipartisan
would create term limits without a constitutional amendment. Under
commitment on Everglades restoration
this proposal, after 6 terms in the House or 2 in the Senate, Members
and water quality. When I got here I began immediately to work on
of Congress will receive only $1 per year in compensation, effectively
getting the funds appropriated to complete repairs of the Herbert
implementing term limits - no constitutional amendment necessary.
Hoover Dike and to expedite completion of the Comprehensive
Critics say this will create a Congress dominated by rich people, but
Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects, especially the EAA
this is a specious argument; 87% of all Americans want term limits.
Reservoir. This was my top priority in running for this position and
If enacted, a culture of capitated service would become pervasive and
remains so now.
anyone who would deviate from it would be readily cast aside.
In my first 30 days in office I wrote a letter to President Trump
The American people want and deserve a government that
asking him to fulfill his campaign commitment to fund Everglades
works. Each of the above-mentioned areas, along with others such as
Restoration and CERP projects. This letter was co-signed by all 27
transportation and infrastructure, have wide ranging support across all
members, Democrat and Republican, of our Florida delegation. This
segments of our society, and it is up to us to find a way to get results.
was the first time that our delegation had come together to unanimously
support the Everglades and Okeechobee Watershed. Subsequently we
have been successful in getting $1.1 billion (more than the previous 8
Francis Rooney is the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 19th
years combined) to complete repairs to the Dike many years ahead of
congressional district. He is the Vice-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
schedule and commence construction of the EAA Reservoir, which
Committee and serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
will permit more water to be sent south of Lake Okeechobee instead of
He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under President
being released into the Caloosahatchee River.
George W. Bush from 2005 to 2008.
Another area where we can work on a bipartisan basis is to enact
a permanent ban on offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The existing moratorium, adopted in 2006, expires in 2022 and needs CONTACT OUR OFFICES
to be made permanent. It is critical for the future of Florida and our Lee County Office
tourism-based economy that offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf be 1039 S.E. 9th Place • Suite 308
stopped for good.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
I also reached across the aisle on prescription drug pricing and
was deeply concerned to learn that pharma had been shielded from Phone: 239.599.6033
competition in the pricing of Medicare part B and part D drugs. Collier County Office
Together with Peter Welch (D-Vt), I introduced the Drug Price 3299 Tamiami Trail East • Suite 105
Transparency Act to have the Department of Health and Human
Naples, FL 34112
Services study linking Medicare Part B and D drug prices to the Phone: 239.252.6225
average price of these drugs in the countries which comprise the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Washington, DC Office
(OECD) where the same drugs are often cheaper than in the 120 Cannon House Office Building
United States. This would establish a global price ceiling and protect
Washington, DC 20515
American citizens from overpaying for the same drugs. I have also Phone: 202.225.2536
introduced the bipartisan FAIR Drug Pricing Act, which would

14 Life in Naples | January 2019