Global Health Innovation Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Chairman Royce for convening this mark-up on a number of substantive pieces of legislation. As our time is limited, I will focus on a few key items.

I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 3445, and I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, as well as my friend and colleague Karen Bass, for trying to strengthen the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

I would like to thank my good friend and fellow member of the New Jersey delegation, Albio Sires, for his bipartisan Global Health Innovation Act of 2017, H.R. 1660, of which I am a cosponsor.

This bill will allow us to exercise greater oversight over USAID programs and to gauge how effectively USAID is developing and utilizing innovations in health programs.

I support H.R. 3320 and commend Chairman Yoho for his work on this timely bill. The Chinese Communist government has been slowly squeezing Taiwan's international space, taking extraordinary measures to exclude Taiwan from multi-lateral institutions like the World Health Organization.

Such exclusions create real international blind spots that pose threats to global health and security. As you all know, SARS spread from Taiwan and China to other parts of the globe.

With the World Health Organization in particular, I intend to push for admission of Taiwan.

I commend Ranking Member, Mr. Engel, along with Chairman Yoho, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Sherman, for putting together H. Res. 422, on Hong Kong.

The threats to Hong Kong's autonomy and its freedoms are real and progressing. These freedoms and the rule of law are vital economic interests of the United States and the foundation of the city's vitality, creativity, and entrepreneurial sprit.

Beijing has become more assertive in Hong Kong's affairs over the past several years and ramped up efforts to destroy the pro-democracy movement over the summer. Six legislations were disqualified through unprecedented interventions by the National People's Congress into Hong Kong's judiciary. The pan-democratic minority could stop pro-Beijing legislation in the past, but now it cannot. China can push through any measure it wants now with its block of unelected legislators.

And, as you all know, the Hong Kong government has re-sentenced the leaders of the peaceful Umbrella Movement of 2014. Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow should now be considered Hong Kong's first political prisoners. They will not be the last, as new trails begin soon.

This resolution is needed but should not be our last word. That is why I introduced, along with Congressman Tim Walza (a fellow CECC Commissioner), the Hong Kong Human Rights & Democracy Act--a bill that I introduced in the last Congress and which has been introduced by Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Ben Cardin in the Senate.

I would urge my colleagues to consider this legislation and find ways to protect U.S. interests in a free and autonomous Hong Kong in addition to Ranking Member Engels' resolution which is before us today.

Hizballah is a cancer that has metastasized in Lebanon and threatens to invade nearly every corner of the region if we do not stay vigilant. H.R. 3329, introduced by Chairman Royce, would choke off additional sources of financial support for this malignant growth, particularly by targeting the group's grass roots fundraising enterprise that it expanded to circumvent existing sanctions. Building on the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act that the House passed unanimously in 2015, this bill would require third-party sanctions on those who substantially support Hizballah fundraising operations.

The reports required in this legislation would also go further to ferret out the extent of the group's fundraising network, which it would rightly classify as a transnational criminal organization. Make no mistake: Hizballah is an international crime syndicate, wrapped in an Iranian paramilitary proxy, inside a terrorist organization, masquerading as a political resistance movement.

H.R. 3342 introduced by Mike Gallagher would direct our government to use the tools at its disposal to impose penalties on Hizballah for employing human shields to defend its installations and outposts. Hizballah's use of innocent human lives to protect its nefarious activities is a clear human rights violation and plainly demonstrates that Hizballah is an enemy of Lebanon's freedom-loving people. The bill also encourages the President to direct our Permanent Representative at the United Nations to use her voice and vote to push for a resolution condemning this sickening practice. I can confidently say that the United States could not ask for a stronger or more clear-eyed defender of American interests and the security of our most critical regional ally, Israel, at the UN than Ambassador Haley.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1660) to direct the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to submit to Congress a report on the development and use of global health innovations in the programs, projects, and activities of the Agency.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1660, the Global Health Innovation Act. I thank Mr. Sires of New Jersey, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, for bringing this forward in a timely manner.

Over the past two decades, we have made unprecedented progress in addressing some of the most difficult global health challenges of our time. When you think about it, global rates of child mortality have dropped by 53 percent. The prevalence of tuberculosis has been cut, in fact, by half. Malaria deaths are now down 47 percent.

Five countries in sub-Saharan Africa once ravaged by HIV/AIDS are on the verge of controlling their epidemics. The eradication of polio is within reach. The only place it still exists is on the Pakistani-Afghan border, which the Taliban controls. As you know, the Taliban resists vaccinations. They, in fact, assassinate health workers who vaccinate. That is the only reason we have not been able to eradicate this last spot where polio continues to create damage to young lives.

Yet, despite these successes, we still do have a long way to go. Part of that is reflected in the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa that resulted in 11,000 deaths in 10 countries. It serves as a very stark reminder of the global threat of infectious diseases.

Though global child and maternal death rates have been cut in half, there is still an estimated 830 mothers around the world who continue to die from preventable causes every day. That is why we talk about maternal health.

USAID is working to address these global health challenges by harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation to develop low-cost, high-impact health technologies. They are devoting considerable time and resources to developing these innovations.

This bill makes sure that we ensure that they are being effectively deployed. It supports USAID's efforts, while also enhancing congressional oversight. It directs the Administrator of USAID to report on the development and use of global health innovations in its programs, particularly those related to HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and combating infectious diseases to ensure that our investments in global health are deployed and are delivering results.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Sires of New Jersey, ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. I thank him for bringing forward this timely measure.

The Global Health Innovation Act seeks to accelerate USAID's work to identify, develop, and expand access to low-cost, high-impact health technologies that will enhance the U.S. global health security agenda. Frankly, that will save a lot of lives.

What it does is ensure that the time and the resources that are being directed toward developing these technologies are put to good use, and are put to good use quickly.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. I want to start by thanking Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their work on global health and their efforts to bring this bill to the floor. Chairman Royce has put in the time and effort to make sure the Foreign Affairs Committee is frequently thought of as the most bipartisan committee in Congress, and I thank him for his public service.

I also thank the Members who have cosponsored this bill, especially Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who has graciously acted as the Republican lead. Additionally, I thank the staffers who worked hard to bring H.R. 1660 to the floor for consideration.

Infectious diseases and other health conditions still claim the lives of nearly 9 million people each year. Emerging health threats, such as drug resistance, pose a serious threat to human health across the globe. New vaccines, drugs, tests, and other health tools are desperately needed, but progress cannot be made without a sustained investment in research and development.

U.S. investments in global health research are central components of U.S. foreign policy to increase national security, strengthen U.S. relations around the world, and reduce infectious diseases. The U.S. has a legacy of leadership in global health research through agencies like USAID.

This is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 1660, the Global Health Innovation Act. This will provide the oversight needed to gain a clearer picture of USAID's global health research and development.

Over the years, research and development projects have greatly expanded at USAID, searching for advancements towards an HIV/AIDS-free generation, preventable maternal and childhood deaths, and preventable infectious diseases.

This legislation is an effort to keep up with USAID's efforts and ensure their research and development activities reflect our goals and priorities. This report asks them to provide clarity on their goals and metrics to better understand their work.

H.R. 1660 directs the USAID Administrator to report annually to Congress on the development and use of global health innovations in USAID programs, projects, and activities. The report must also include how the Agency measures progress towards their health-related goals.

I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 1660 to allow Congress to exercise its oversight powers and ensure USAID's research and development efforts reflect their priorities.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1660, Global Health Innovation Act, because it encourages the continual research and development of new global health strategies and promotes transparency between our Federal agencies and the United States Congress.

Under H.R. 1660, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) would be required to report to Congress on the development and use of global health innovations in USAID programs, projects, and activities.

This annual report would have to include a thorough description of:

The extent to which global health innovations include drugs, vaccines, and mobile technologies, as well as related service delivery improvements and behavior changes;

How innovation has advanced USAID's efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, end preventable child and maternal deaths, protect communities from infectious diseases, and further its Global Health Strategic Framework;

Progress made toward health product development goals;

How USAID's investments in innovation relate to its goals;

How USAID leverages investments to improve health innovation, develops affordable global health products, and advances health innovations in development;

USAID's collaboration with other federal agencies; and

How USAID is coordinating global health innovation activities between its Global Development Lab, Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact, and Bureau for Global Health.

The report would have to be submitted within 180 days of the bill's enactment, and then annually for four years.

The critical research and development of global health technologies has facilitated the development of life-saving technologies saving countless lives across the globe.

Ultimately, the goal of H.R. 1660 is to support a long-term program to develop these much needed health technologies and innovative easy- to-use health solutions for low resource environment.

I have always been an advocate for the protection of women and children.

This bill would help to stifle the spread of infectious diseases in underdeveloped countries, and work to find new and improved ways to fight infection for those who cannot fight themselves.

So I stand for H.R. 1660; and I ask my colleagues to stand with me in support of this bill, and the pursuit of improved global health.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 364, H.R. 1660.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.