ms. sewell. sewell sewell thank you, mr. ranking member -- ms. sewell: thank you, mr. ranking member. my questions this morning revolve around the resignation of the former national security advisor, michael flynn. director comey, much has been made about russia's historical interference with political elections around the world. meant to cause discord and disunity. especially in western you a lineses -- western alliances. does the f.b.i. generally assume that russian ambassador -- am basses doers to the united states -- ambassadors -- ambassadors to the united states are collecting intelligence on influential americans, especially political leaders? mr. comey: that's not something i can answer in an open setting. ms. sewell: am i right that in the russian playbook, that it's in the russian playbook to use diplomats and business people and russian intelligence officers, whether declared or not, to collect intelligence on influential americans for the purpose of affecting u.s. policy? mr. comey: i can answer as a general matter. nation states that are adversaries of the united states u

ms. sewell? ms. sewell, no. ms. dell sewell, no. >> ms. chew. >> no. >> ms. black, aye. >> chairman brady. >> aye. >> chairman brady, aye. >> the clerk will report the vote. the motion to table is agreed to. are there additional amendments in the nature of a substitute. mr. thompson for which purpose do you request to be served. >> i ask for the gentleman to suspend while the clerk distributes. >> gentleman from california is recognized for purposes of recognized for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. the republicans say their plan insures more choices and moves health care decisions away from washington. they say that, quote, we all want a market that works. we all patients to have access to high-quality affordable priced health care coverage. if they truly want to achieve this shared goal, states need stable market places. my amendment would hold them accountable for those choices. in california my home state we'd like to keep the system we now have in place because it works and we know that the bill before us would disrupt that. two providers in my

ms. sewell: i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will digte the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 3 printed in part b house report 115-39 offered by ms. sule of alabama. -- ms. sewell of alabama. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 198, the gentlewoman from alabama, ms. sewell, and a member opposed, each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from alabama. ms. sewell: i rise in support to enhance recruitment and retainment strategies at the v.a. medical centers. while we focus on strengthening the v.a. work force, we must also focus on making sure geographical diversity of our v.a. work force is reflective of the veteran patient population and that rural populations are adequately represented. i would like to thank chairman roe and ranking member walz for working with me on this critically important amendment and for your dedication to our nation's veterans. my amendment is simple. it allows the secretary to select eligible employees for the fellowship program who represent or serve rural communities in order to alleviate the

ms. sewell. we'll go back to -- i'll yield myself 15 minutes, and we'll go back to mr. gowdy. >> thank you. we were discussing the felonious dissemination of classified material in the last round. is there an exception in the law for current or former u.s. officials who request anonymity? >> to release classified information? >> yes, sir. >> no. >> is there an exception in the law for reporters who want to break a story? >> well, that's a harder question as to whether a reporter incurs criminal liability by publishing classified information and one probably beyond me. i'm not as good a lawyer as mr. schiff said i used to. >> well, i don't know about that, but the statute does use the word publish, doesn't it? >> it does, but that's a question i know the department of justice has struggled with through administration to administration. >> i know they struggled with it, the fourth circuit struggled with it, lots of people struggled with it but you're not aware of anything in the current statute that carves out an exception for reporters? >> no, i'm not aware of anything c

ms. sewell, for five minutes. ms. sewell: mr. speaker, today i rise to express my opposition to the g.o.p. health care bill. on monday, we received from the c.b.o. report -- a report that the house repeal bill will increase the number of uninsured americans by 24 million in 2026. 52 million americans will be uninsured in 2026. which is more than ever before. and definitely more than the affordable care act. the intentions here are clear. the bill's drafters are choosing to ration care for the elderly and working class to fund tax cuts for the nation's highest earners. under the g.o.p. bill, a 64-year-old with an income of $26,000 will have to pay a net of $12,900 more each year for her coverage than she currently does. in addition to the disproportionate harm that this bill will do to seniors, it will also accelerate the insolvency of the medicare trust fund by three years. mr. speaker, the g.o.p. plan cuts $880 billion from the projected medicaid spending over the next decade. while providing almost $600 billion in tax cuts to t

ms. sewell: isn't it true just november, 2016, mr. flynn was dorkwork as a foreign work that principally benefited the government of turkey yet he didn't report it until just last week? director comey: i can't comment on that. ms. sewell: isn't it true mr. flynn was reportedly paid over half a million dollars for this work? director comey: same answer. ms. sewell: isn't it true that the trump white house on at least two occasions was asked by mr. flynn's lawyers whether he should report that work, the work he was doing on behalf of the turkish government, and yet the administration didn't give him any advice to the contrary? do you know anything about that? director comey: i have to give you the same answer. ms. sewell: i know you cannot discuss whether any investigations are ongoing with u.s. persons. and i respect that. i think it's important that the american people understand the scope and breadth of what in public, open source press reportings of mr. flynn's actions that led to his resignation. and while we can't talk about wheth

ms. sewell. >> my final line of questioning is in regard to mr. flynn working as an agent of a foreign power. director comey, following on mr. hines' line of questioning am i correct that the foreign agents registration act requires that individuals who lobby on behalf of a foreign government must register with the united states government? >> i believe that's correct. i know i keep saying i'm not an expert. the reason i'm saying that is, i don't know exactly how they define things like lobbying in the statute but as a general matter if you're going to represent a foreign government here in the united states, touching our government, you should be registered. >> and isn't it true that just last november, 2016, mr. flynn was working as a foreign agent doing work that principally benefited the government of turkey, and yet he didn't report it until just last week? >> i can't comment on that. >> isn't it true that mr. flynn was reportedly paid over half a million dollars for this work? >> same answer. >> and isn't it true that the trump white house o

ms. sewell. i'll yield myself 15 minutes. then we'll go back to mr. gowdy. >> thank you, mr. chairman. director comey, you and i were discussing the felonious disclosure of classified material. is there a law addressing current or former u.s. officials requesting anonymity? >> no. >> or for reporters who want to break a story? >> that's a harder question, as to whether a reporter incurs criminal liability by disclosing classified information. >> the statute does use the word "published," doesn't it? >> that does. that's a question i know the department of justice has struggled with through administration through administration. >> lots of people have struggled with it, but you're not aware of an exception in the current dissemination of classified information statute that cavs out an exception for reporters? >> no, i'm not aware of anything carved out in the statute. i don't think a reporter has been prosecuted, certainly in my lifetime. >> there have been a lot of statutes for which no one has been prosecuted or convicted, and that does not keep people from discussing those statutes,

ms. sewell in ms. sewell, no. ms. delbene? mr. delbene, no. mr. chu? ms. chu, no. ms. jenkins? ms. noem. ms. noem, aye. mr. swiek ert? mr. swiek ert, aye. mr. bishop? mr. bishop, aye. chairman brady? chairman brady, aye. >> the clerk will report the vote. >> 23 yays, 16 nayes. >> there being 23 ayes and 16 nos, the motion on the table is agreed to. the table will stand in recess until the conclusion of floor votes. >>> the house ways and means committee now in recess. for a series of votes on the house floor allowing committee members to go to the floor to vote. the house today among other things, one of the items on the house floor is a defense spending bill for the rest of the current fiscal year. can you watch the house debate and votes on our companion network, c-span. here on c-span 3, we've been watching the house ways and means committee working on republican legislation to replace the health care loss by president obama in 2010. this republican pressure would keep two popular provisions of the 2010 law allowing children to stay on their parent' health insurance until age 26

ms. sewell. we'll go back to -- i'll yield myself 15 minutes, and we'll go back to mr.d i were discussing the felonious dissemination of classified material, is there an exception in the law for current or former u.s. officials who request anonymity? >> to release classified information? >> yes, sir. >> no. >> is there an exception in the law for reporters who want to break a story? >> well, that's a harder question as to whether a reporter incurs criminal liability by publishing classified information, and one probably beyond by kin. i'm not as good a lawyer as mr. sure said i used to be. >> well, i don't know about that, but the statute does use the word "published," doesn't it? >> it does, but that's been a struggle through administration after administration. >> i know the department's struggled with it, the fourth circuit, lots of people have struggled with it, but you not aware of an exception that carves out an exception for reporters. >> no, i'm not aware of any carved out in the statute. i don't think a reporter's been prosecuted, certainly, in my lifetime thou

ms. sewell. >> my final comment is about mr. flynn working as an agent a foreign power, following on the line of questioning, am i correct that the foreign agents registration act requires that individuals who will lobby on behalf of a foreign government to must register with the united states government? >> i believe that that is correct. i am not an expert. the reason that i am saying that is i do not know exactly how they define things like lobbying in the statute, but if you are going to represent a foreign government, you should be registered. >> and is it not true that just last november, 2016, mr. flynn was working as a foreign agent doing work that principally benefited the government of turkey, and yet he did not report it until just last week? >> i cannot comment on that. >> is a nontrue that mr. flynn was reportedly paid over half a million dollars for this work? >> same answer. >> and is a nontrue the trump white house on at least two occasions was asked by mr. flynn's lawyers whether he should report that work? the

ms. sewell. back to you, mr. goudy. >> and you and i were discussing the felonious activity of >> to release classified information? >> yes. >> no. >> is there a room in the law as reporters who want to break a story? >> well, that is a different question if you have area to go beyond -- well, i am not as great of a lawyer as mr. schiff said. >> and is that in the department? >> the departments struggled with it. >> and the 4th circuit have struggled with it, but you are not aware of an exception in the current dissemination statute that carves out an exception for reporters? >> no, not in the statute, but a reporter has not been prosecuted in my lifetime. >> well, a lot of statutes in this case that which no one has been convicted or that, and that is not ending the discussion of that act namely the logan act. how would reporters know that a u.s. citizen made a telephone call to an agent of a foreign power? >> legally? >> yes. >> if it were declassified and then discussed in a judicial proceeding or the congress

ms. sewell, no. ms. dell vany, no. ms. chu, no. mr. smith of nebraska. ms. jenkins. mr. blumenauer, no. chairman brady, aye. >> the clerk will report. 22 yeas and 16 nays. >> with the record 22 ayes and 16 nays, the ayes have it. any objection? >> no. >> the clerk will report. >> committee print, budget reconciliation of recommendations relating to remuneration for certain insurers subtitle, remuneration for certain insurers and title one, remuneration for certain insurers and paragraph 162-m of the internal revenue code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end of the following new paragraph. one, termination. this paragraph shall not apply to taxable years beginning after des december 31,2017. >> so at this time, the measure is read open for any amendment. an amendment offered in substitute was distributed in advance along with the green sheet explaining it and -- >> mr. chairman, i object. >> the gentleman objects and the clerk will report. >>> amendment in the nature of the substitute to the committee print relating to remuneration for certain insurers offered by mr. brady of texas. i

ms. sewell, no. ms. dellvany, no. ms. chu, no. mr. smith of nebraska? ms. jenkins? mr. blumenauer, no. chairman brady, aye. >> the clerk will report. >> 22 yeas, 16 nays. >> with the roll call vote 22 days and 16 nays, the motion to table is approved. any objection? >> no. >> committee print -- subtitle remuneration for certain insurers, section one, renumeration for certain insurers, paragraph 16 of sec the internal revenue code is amended by adding at the following graph -- one, termination. this shall not apply to taxable years beginning after december the 31st, 2017. -- december 31, 2017. ,hairman brady: at this time the measure will be considered read and open for the point. it was distributed along with the green sheet explaining it -- >> mr. chairman, i object. chairman brady: the gentleman objects. the clerk will report. >> amendment in the nature of a substitute for the committee --nt form the numeration four remuneration for certain -- paragraphred by 2.m of theon 16 internal revenue code of 1986 is amended by adding to the end of subparagraph -- one, termination. this paragr

ms. sewell you're recognized. strike the last word. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to express my strong support for this critically important house resolution we're considering today and i'm proud to serve as an original co-sponsor. as we know, the emoluments clause's creation was intended to forbid relationships that might lead to interruption. for four decades, four decades, mr. chairman, presidential nominees have without fail released their full tax returns. yet we now have a president who promised, he made lots of promises on the election trail that he's broken, and this is yet another one. he promised to release his tax returns and now that he's president, he refuses to. so my question today is what does our president have to hide? fortunately, congress, and in particular this committee, has the authority to act and do something about it. the ability of our committee to review and disclose an individual tax information has been in law for 93 years. the authority was used in 1974 to review and make public president nixon's tax returns. during our very fi

ms. sewell. >> my final line of questioning is in regard to mr. flynn working as an agent of a foreign power. director comey, following on mr. hines' line of questioning am i correct that the foreign agents registration act requires that individuals who lobby on behalf of a foreign government must register with the united states government? >> i believe that's correct. i know i keep saying i'm not an expert. the reason i'm saying that is, i don't know exactly how they define things like lobbying in the statute but as a general matter if you're going to represent a foreign government here in the united states, touching our government, you should be registered. >> and isn't it true that just last november, 2016, mr. flynn was working as a foreign agent doing work that principally benefited the government of turkey, and yet he didn't report it until just last week? >> i can't comment on that. >> isn't it true that mr. flynn was reportedly paid over half a million dollars for this work? >> same answer. >> and isn't it true that the trump white house o

ms. sanchez? >> no. >> mr. higgins? >> no. >> miss sewel? miss delben nay? >> no. >> miss chu? >> no. >> miss jenkins? mr. paulson? >> aye. >> miss sewel? chairman brady? >> aye. >> >> miss sewel, do you wish to be recorded? >> yes. >> how would you like to be recorded? >> no. >> miss sewel, no. >> the clerk will report the vote. >> 23 yais, 16 nays. >> there being 23 ayes, 16 nos, the vote is agreed to. >> mr. chairman? >> yes, sir. >> it requires to include that -- >> yes. without objection. are there any further amendments? mr. collier, you're recognized. >> mr. teaberry, you can spend a moment. point of order has been reserved. the court will distribute the amendment. may i ask the gentleman to suspend while the clerk distributes. >> so the gentleman from new york is recognized for five moments. >> mr. chairman, thank you. i recognize also mr. teaberry's reserving the right to agree. but you may be familiar with the particular amendment, in fact, i have a copy here, if you don't mind a moment, mr. chairman, to make a slight change. mr. brady of texas, i'm just going to put mr. crowley of new york in h

sewell, no. mr. del ban nay, no. ms. chew, no. mr. rieker, aye. ms. jenkins? chairman brady? >> aye. >> chairman brady, aye. 23 ayes, 16 nays. >> the motion's agreed to. committee print related to the remunation from certain insuresers. transmitted the house committee on the budget without objection asked the staff authorize to make technical and conforming changes. supplemental additional dece decenting or minority views. the committee print of budget reconciliation relating to repeal of the tanning tax. without objection the measure will be considered as read. at this time an offer of amendment which was distributed in advance. without objection amendment shall be considered as read. open for amendment at any point. i'll now turn to tom bartle the chief of staff of the joint committee on taxation to provide the technical description of the amendment and a nature of the substitute. i ask members hold their questions until after his presentation. mr. bart hold. >> thank you. you have before you two joint committee documents which describe the underlying committee print and th