i thank the gentleman for yielding me this time . 
mr. speaker , first of all , i have respect for our insurance commissioners , but i want to say that three out of the last four in louisiana went to jail . 
so that is no automatic protection . 
i think other states have had similar problems . 
the preemption language in the bill only grants two limited exceptions from state laws that regulate insurance . 
fully insured ahps are exempted from state laws that would , one , preclude them from establishing an ahp ; or , two , prevent them from designing their own benefit package . 
these two exemptions are narrowly tailored to allow ahps to set a uniform benefit package that can be offered across state lines and to ensure that state regulators will not pass laws that prohibit the establishment of ahps . 
state laws that regulate insurance and do not impact benefit design will apply , including prompt pay , external review , and solvency requirements . 
assistant secretary ann combs testified to this at a march 2003 subcommittee on employer-employee relations hearing . 
at that hearing she noted that , quote , `` fully insured ahps would purchase insurance products with solvency standards and consumer protections regulated by the states. '' further specifying which state laws are not preempted is unnecessary . 
all state laws will apply except those that prevent a uniform benefit design or prevent an ahp from existing . 
consumer protection laws that states see fit to pass will apply to fully insured ahps . 
no further change in the legislation is necessary . 
benefit mandates , as we have discussed , will be preempted as is the case for unions and large employers . 
