The Richmond County Daily Journal - February 27, 2010
I heard a television pundit say peace was breaking out in Washington this week. I hope he was right. Most of us understand that it is time to put aside political bickering and posturing, and work together to bring reasonable solutions to the issues our nation faces.

I know there is a lot of talk about health care and still work to be done, but I was proud this week that we worked together to pass a badly-needed bill. It makes health insurance companies more accountable to consumers and puts an end to the unfair and anti-competitive tactics so many of these companies have used for years to take advantage of consumers and stifle competition.

On Wednesday, 405 colleagues joined me in voting for the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act. I was proud to have been an original sponsor of this bipartisan bill that is a reality-based answer to bringing competition and transparency to the health insurance industry.

It is only a two page bill. In just two-pages, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act repeals a 65-year-old antitrust exemption for health insurance companies. During those 65 years, health insurance companies used anti-competitive practices like price fixing, agreements not to pay, and underpayment of doctors and hospitals while dividing the market in uncompetitive ways. These practices harm consumers and choke off competition in the marketplace.

Health insurers were the only entity other than Major League Baseball to enjoy this exemption. This bill ensures that health insurers are forced to abide by the same standards of fair competition that all other industries do. It holds insurers accountable, protecting consumers and strengthening competition. Under this legislation, antitrust agencies like the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission will have the authority to investigate evidence of anti-competitive practices.

I also sponsored a resolution which won bipartisan support this week. House Concurrent Resolution 238 recognizes the significant contributions that African-American veterans have made to our nation’s Armed Forces and their sacrifices in serving our country.

I am immensely proud to represent the Eighth District’s veterans. It was my privilege to sponsor this bill to honor our African-American veterans, who’ve sacrificed so much, yet, have, at times, been treated with less respect and sometimes, even denied equal benefits.

African-American veterans have served our nation in every military action from the Revolutionary War to the current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. A constituent of mine, Michael Lawson, recently told me about the little known role that the first all black fighting regiment had during WWI. They were the 15th New York Infantry, known as The Harlem Hellfighters, later federally designated as the 369th Regimental Army.

They fought for democracy in France valiantly, including 191 days without a replacement and never lost a prisoner or a foot of ground. He said there had been no formal American recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of these young men. The French did recognize them with the Croix de Guerre, their highest military honor as well as a monument dedicated by a grateful French government.

Michael knew all about the Harlem Hellfighters because his grandfather, Major Melville T. Miller, served more than 50 years in the United States Army through two World Wars and the Korean War. Major Miller began his service as a member of the unit when he was just 16 years old.

Whether Jackie Robinson, who fought for our freedom in World War II before breaking down barriers in baseball, the Tuskegee Airmen who distinguished themselves in World War II, or the long unrecognized Harlem Hellfighters, African-American service members have been an invaluable part of our nation’s history.

This bill also gave me the opportunity to recognize my friend, Dan Cagle. Dan was a Montgomery County veteran of the Korean War. When I was a child, he would always take time to share his stories of the Korean War with me. Through him and my father, a decorated World War II veteran, I learned a strong sense of service to my country. It was an honor to sponsor this bill to recognize the dedication and valor Dan and so many African-American veterans have shown in defense of our nation.

Another important action from this week was in my work as a member of the House Rural Health Care Coalition. I urged the House leadership to retroactively extend critical rural health payment adjustments under Medicare that recently expired. These payments, which include reimbursements to rural hospitals, doctors, and ambulatory services, preserve access to quality health care services in rural areas. Failing to extend them could impact much-needed care for our seniors. A lapse, even temporarily, would have tremendous impact on the ability of our rural health care providers to provide quality care to rural constituents.

I had a nice surprise at the end of the week when I was recognized as one of the most moderate Members of Congress in the rankings by the National Journal. It is refreshing and important to see that we can put aside our political differences and work together to get things accomplished. I will continue to do my best to work for these common-sense, bipartisan solutions.

Congressman Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East Franklin St., Rockingham, NC 28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704) 786-1612; Fayetteville number (910) 920-2070; Washington office: 512 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) 225-3715. Web site, kissell.house.gov