Senate Republicans’ failure to come to a consensus on how to dismantle former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law could potentially put the issue back in the hands of Sen. Lamar Alexander. The Tennessee Republican, who chairs the Senate committee with jurisdiction over health care issues. Lamar stated he would call hearings before his committee to look for ways to stabilize the individual insurance market. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a South Pittsburg Republican and a physician who ran for Congress on a pledge to repeal Obamacare, also expressed frustration with the Senate and urged lawmakers not to give up. “We must keep pressure on defenders – both Democrats and some Republicans, unfortunately – of the unacceptable status quo,” he said.

Representative DesJarlais made the following statement on the Senate Healthcare vote, “Make no mistake. As I always have been, I am committed to free-market health care reform that will succeed where Obamacare has failed. Tennesseans’ premiums have nearly doubled year after year. Deductibles are prohibitively expensive. Many have no insurance options at all, and small businesses are struggling to cope with taxes and regulations, while millions across the country remain uninsured. Reducing the federal government’s role in health care and our economy will provide better options to Americans, who expect their elected representatives to keep their word. We must keep pressure on defenders – both Democrats and some Republicans, unfortunately – of the unacceptable status quo.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., a physician who ran for Congress on the promise to repeal Obamacare, expressed frustration, but also determination, after several Senate Republicans, who previously voted to repeal Obamacare in its entirety, helped Democrats to defeat their constituents’ wishes last night.

The conservative Freedom Caucus member issued the following statement, reiterating his pledge to Tennesseans, experiencing the worst of the former president’s failed health care law:

“Make no mistake. As I always have been, I am committed to free-market health care reform that will succeed where Obamacare has failed. Tennesseans’ premiums have nearly doubled year after year. Deductibles are prohibitively expensive. Many have no insurance options at all, and small businesses are struggling to cope with taxes and regulations, while millions across the country remain uninsured. Reducing the federal government’s role in health care and our economy will provide better options to Americans, who expect their elected representatives to keep their word. We must keep pressure on defenders – both Democrats and some Republicans, unfortunately – of the unacceptable status quo.”

With Freedom Caucus members, Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04) recently introduced a discharge petition to force a House vote on a clean Obamacare repeal. The parliamentary procedure requires 218 signatures to bring the bill to the House floor. The group is currently negotiating with members of the House and Senate to make more progress. The Congressman also thanked President Trump for his efforts to hold members of Congress to their promises.

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Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., praised the announcement of a $27 million business investment and as many as 1,000 new jobs in Pikeville, Bledsoe County, an economically distressed area in Tennessee’s Fourth District, which he represents in Congress. A local entrepreneur made an investment in his community. Manufacturing jobs are coming back to the United States, especially Tennessee. Nationwide, we’re producing more energy, constructing better infrastructure, and attracting foreign and domestic investment,” said DesJarlais. 

Congressman DesJarlais voted for a bipartisan bill to sanction Iran, North Korea and Russia, threatening the United States and its foreign allies. Russia continues to harass NATO allies in Eastern Europe, Iran recently took another American hostage, and North Korea test-launched another ballistic missile on Independence Day. "The governments of North Korea, Iran and Russia are in different ways actively seeking to harm Americans and our interests abroad. Just this week, the U.S. Navy fired a warning shot at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the Persian Gulf," said Rep. DesJarlais. "Stronger sanctions send a clear message that America will punish aggressive behavior towards our people."

Each Military branch is conducting its own study about allowing transgender individuals to serve, but the future and timeline of those studies are now unclear. Mattis called for the delay out of concerns the policy change may affect "readiness and lethality. Trump indicated his position came at the advice of his generals and military experts. A DesJarlais spokesperson stated that, "(DesJarlais) supports the judgment of the Commander in Chief and his military leaders, who have previously asked for a delay in a policy change late in the Obama administration in the midst of a readiness crisis." 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) coordinates federal drug control activities, including prevention, treatment and law enforcement. The Acting Director testified at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing yesterday, where specialists discussed a nationwide opioid epidemic, especially severe in Tennessee.

   Rep. Scott DesJarlais’ home state ranks second in the country in opioid prescriptions per capita. In 2015,  at least 1,451 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses, more than died in vehicle accidents. At the hearing, the Congressman, a former doctor, recounted his experience as a medical professional:  

Click to watch Rep. DesJarlais describe Tennessee’s opioid problem

    “As a former physician, I would make it a point to educate my patients on the power of these drugs. Also, I think there’s a responsibility among the patients to know it should be illegal to share these drugs... If one of the problems is over-prescribing, that needs to be stopped,” said Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04).

    “Because of the scope of this problem, the time is right do that. Law enforcement should focus on people who share or sell these medications. The bottom line is, we have a huge number of people dying every year. It’s not time to think about what we should do, we should be doing it.”

    Last year, Rep. DesJarlais voted for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a major reform of federal drug policy, which the President signed into law. Among other provisions, CARA created drug monitoring and prescription take-back programs, expanded access to emergency overdose medication, and mandated pain management alternatives at Veterans Administration hospitals. The law funded treatment for opioid-addicted newborns.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., voted for a bipartisan bill yesterday to sanction Iran, North Korea and Russia, threatening the United States and its foreign allies. Russia continues to harass NATO allies in Eastern Europe, Iran recently took another American hostage, and North Korea test-launched another ballistic missile on Independence Day.   

    “The governments of North Korea, Iran and Russia are in different ways actively seeking to harm Americans and our interests abroad. Just yesterday, the U.S. Navy fired a warning shot at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the Persian Gulf,” said Rep. DesJarlais. “Stronger sanctions send a clear message that America will punish aggressive behavior towards our people.”

    Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04) is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The sanctions bill would crack down on North Korean shipping and illicit trade in rare minerals necessary for weapons development. Other sanctions would restrict North Korea’s access to cash to further curtail its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

    The sanctions would punish contributors to Iran’s missile program, which the Islamic regime is developing to deliver nuclear warheads. To punish Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and disruptive cyber activities, they also target key sectors of the Russian economy. The Russia, Iran, and North Korea Sanctions Act provides financial and democratic aid to Russia’s neighbors.  

   Rep. DesJarlais explained the U.S. must negotiate from a position of global strength, a priority of congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump. The Senate passed a version of the sanctions bill last month, and the White House has indicated the President will sign agreed-upon legislation.  

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., praised the announcement of a $27 million business investment and as many as 1,000 new jobs in Pikeville, Bledsoe County, an economically distressed area in Tennessee’s Fourth District, which he represents in Congress.

    Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Bledsoe County Mayor Gregg Ridley, Pikeville Mayor Philip Cagle, and representatives of the Textile Corporation of America made the announcement at the future site of Textile Corp.’s manufacturing facility in Pikesville yesterday. The company plans to refurbish a shuttered automotive plant and train employees quickly to produce American-made goods. 

    “This is a great story,” said Rep. DesJarlais, who is in Washington this week to work on health care, veterans issues and tax reform. “A local entrepreneur made an investment in his community. Manufacturing jobs are coming back to the United States, especially Tennessee. Nationwide, we’re producing more energy, constructing better infrastructure, and attracting foreign and domestic investment.”

    Shirley Pond, who staffs the Congressman’s field office in Cleveland, attended the event in his place.

    Rep. DesJarlais pointed to his home state’s pro-growth economic policies, such as low taxes and regulations. This year in Congress, he and Republicans successfully canceled $70 billion of federal regulations, costing Americans jobs and income. However, jobs in Bledsoe County, where the jobless rate is the fifth highest in Tennessee, are lagging behind.

    “This is an exciting time for Bledsoe County,” Mayor Ridley said. “A Tier Four economically distressed county getting 1,000 local jobs is a pivotal moment for our citizens and an answer to many prayers. I welcome Textile Corporation of America to our community and trust they will experience many years of prosperity.”

    Textile Corp.’s payroll will be approximately $1 million each month and add $35 million annually to the region’s economy, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veterans issues are at the forefront of House Republicans’ agenda in Congress. Yesterday, Rep. Scott DesJarlais, M.D., voted for bills to fund the Veterans Choice program, allowing vets to seek private care outside the Veterans Administration health system, and to extend veterans’ education benefits to non-traditional programs and past the current expiration deadline.

    The series of legislation builds on the Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, a significant reform to the federal bureaucracy, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month. That law eases hiring and firing rules at the VA, authorizes the secretary to reduce underperforming or negligent employees’ pay and pensions, and to recoup improper payments.

    “We’re making significant strides to provide U.S. military vets the best health care possible. That means striking outdated civil service rules that protect underperforming federal employees at the expense of heroes who need their help,” said Rep. DesJarlais, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “New guidelines will attract better doctors and nurses and reward those who do their jobs properly.”  

Rep. DesJarlais at National World War II Memorial with Tennessee veterans

    Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04) also voted yesterday to make VA employee bonuses and moving expenses more transparent, after investigations revealed employees hiding patients on secret waiting lists to collect performance bonuses, and senior executives abusing relocation benefits. As well, the Congressman voted for measures to create efficiency at VA procurement offices and to encourage veteran-owned businesses.

    He voted to train more physician assistants and for childcare for vets undergoing serious treatment at VA facilities. The House-approved bills will now move to the Senate for consideration.  

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