Once things calmed down, Democrat Ann Kuster of New Hampshire said she took offense to the use of "a five-letter word that begins with 's' and ends with 's.'"

Presiding member Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts, a friend of Mullin's, cut off further argument by declaring a 10-minute recess.

When the meeting resumed, a more subdued Mullin asked that his words be withdrawn and went on to say the subcommittee, which handles health care-related legislation in the Energy and Commerce Committee, should work together to fix the health care system.

"The ACA is health care," he said. "Good, bad or indifferent, it's what we have. If you want to get serious about trying to fix it, then I'm all about it.

"We always say the Republicans this and the Democrats this, (but) what have we done? Except point fingers at each other and try to get political scoring points?" Mullin said.

During the exchanges, Mullin seemed to indicate employees of Mullin Plumbing and its affiliates may rely on the ACA exchanges for health insurance.