Thomas Edmunds Price (born October 8, 1954) is an American physician and Republican Party politician who served as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 6th congressional district, encompassing the northern suburbs of Atlanta, from 2005 to 2017.

[7][11] Price was a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a politically conservative group founded in 1943 to "fight socialized medicine" and known to promote a range of scientifically discredited claims.

[14] Before entering the state senate, Price was politically active as a member of the Republican Party and traveled with the Medical Association of Georgia in the early 1990s to oppose the Clinton health care plan of 1993.

[19] During his tenure as a state senator, Price served on the committees for Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Education, Ethics, Health and Human Services, Insurance and Labor, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Rules.

[25] In late April 2003, Price formally announced his candidacy for Georgia's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

[24][39] Despite this handicap, Price had out-raised his opponents by late July,[40] and although he was briefly overtaken by Clay,[41] he reclaimed his top position in the 6th district race within a few months.

[38][52][53] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution proceeded to endorse Price in the run-off election, arguing that he had demonstrated strong leadership abilities in the state senate, during "difficult budget years".

Price defended these bills, arguing that the former would return more tax-payer money to Georgia and that the latter could potentially help the United States achieve energy independence.

[71][72][73] Price then faced a Democratic challenger in the general election - Steve Sinton, a media figure from Cobb County, who had co-founded the liberal talk radio news network Air America.

He was endorsed by Ryan,[110] as well as by the Tea Party-affiliated organization FreedomWorks, conservative political commentator Erick Erickson,[111] future vice-president and then-governor of Indiana Mike Pence, and outgoing Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling.

His vocal leadership on issues like health care, tax reform, and fiscal matters has been vital to our messaging and policy efforts.

No one will work harder than Congressman Price at building a strong and compelling communications and policy strategy that reflects the will of our membership and the needs of the nation.

[126] In May 2015, as House Budget Committee chair, Price released health care legislation which was described by Bill Kristol of the National Review as "the strongest Obamacare alternative offered in Congress to date.

"[127] Greg Sargent of the Washington Post wrote of the bill, "it's good to have a fleshed out plan, because it helps clarify the differences between the parties on health reform.

[129] On multiple occasions, Price supported the proposed Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have implemented a nationwide ban on abortions occurring after the twentieth week of pregnancy.

[143][144][145][146][147] In 2017, during his confirmation hearing to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Price was questioned about this comment and responded, "What I meant is that when I had patients in my office who could not afford a medication we did everything we could to make sure they could have it.

[166] Price voted to reduce federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions.

[168][170] In 2006, Price voted against the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act - a bill which maintained the moratorium on most offshore oil and gas drilling in the United States.

In 2007, Price voted against the No Oil and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act, which would have removed sovereign immunity protections for OPEC, allowing the organization's members to be sued in the U.S. court system.

[171] In 2009, Price voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act,[171] which would have implemented a cap and trade system on greenhouse gas emissions.

[190][191] Although the bill failed to become law, the 2008 Supreme Court decision District of Columbia v. Heller found that the absolute prohibition of handguns in D.C. was unconstitutional.

[193] In 2009, Price supported the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, which would have made concealed carry permits issued by any state valid nationwide.

[195] Price has written in support of legislation that allows green cards that went unused due to bureaucratic inefficiencies to be reissued to foreign physicians and nurses who are trained to practice in the United States.

Price said, "that is a model that has proven to be incapable of providing the type of macroeconomic diagnosis folks need to make sure we are pursuing policies that will help generate economic opportunity and bring down the nation's debt.

"[216] On November 29, 2016, Price was nominated for United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) by President-elect Donald Trump.

[233][234] Following Politico's reporting on the matter, Price said that he would stop taking taxpayer-funded private jet flights pending a formal review by his department's inspector general.

On September 26, the House Oversight Committee started a bipartisan investigation led by Representatives Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) of all use of private and government-owned planes by non-elected government officials of the Executive Branch, citing 5 U.S.C.

[241] On July 13, 2018, the inspector general of HHS issued a report finding that Price had repeatedly violated government travel rules and had wasted at least $341,000 through his use of chartered jets and military aircraft.

In 2015–2016, according to congressional financial disclosures, Price purchased shares totaling between $60,000 and $110,000 in value in Innate Immunotherapeutics, an Australian biotech company.

[246] Less than a week after the stock purchase, Price introduced legislation, the HIP Act, that would delay a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation until 2018.