smith: i rise in support of h.r. 954, the co-op consumer protection act tsms a simple bill rooted in fairness. if you're a consumer who complied with the federal man tate to obtain hurns krge an your coverage was terminated mid year because the consumer oriented and operated plan or co-op you bought from collapsed you shouldn't be liable for the individual penalty for the remained ore they have calendar year. we don't need to spent a lot of time on the listry of the co-op program, but briefly, nearly $2 billion was dist withouted to the co-ops that received a.c.a. money have closed or in the process of closing with six struggling to remain solvent. health republic of new jersey, announced it would be wipeding down prior to the 2017 plan year two weeks ago, just days after we marked up this bill in the ways and means committee. the first co-op to close was co-op opportunity health which sold plans in 2014 before being taken over by the iowa department of insurance late that year. all health providers in nebraska and iowa were made whole to plan holders through the state's guarantee fu