Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 758, the Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act, would allow the National Institutes of Health to support up to 20 national pediatric research consortia that would conduct vital pediatric research. Specifically, the Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act would allow but not require the National Institutes of Health award grants to public or nonprofit private entities to pay for the cost of planning, establishing, and providing a basic operating support for up to 20 national pediatric research consortia. These consortia would conduct basic clinical, behavioral, social, and translational research. They could also provide training on advanced diagnostic and treatment methods relating to pediatrics. The consortia will foster efficiency and collaboration at all levels of pediatric research, and they will provide patients with greater access to vital research.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 758, the Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act.

This legislation is an important step towards understanding and eradicating diseases in children. The consortia will lead to new insights to the major disorders that affect children and will empower researchers to discover innovative strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Pediatric research and care is currently underfunded despite the fact that children comprise 20 percent of our nation's population. Enrolling and evaluating a sufficiently large group of children is the most effective way of understanding these disorders and to monitor how they manifest in adults. By having Pediatric research institutions collaborate and share information in a methodical way, we can speed up breakthroughs and treatments to fight diseases that affect children.

This investment in research is an important step in speeding up the development of therapies to combat devastating diseases in children. I am proud to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 758) to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of pediatric research consortia, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 758, the Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act. The goal of H.R. 758 is to enhance the Nation's research program into pediatric conditions by creating a strong research infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill and yield back the balance of my time.