SPEAK Act of 2024

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6033, the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, which I am proud to co- lead with my Republican colleague from the other side of the aisle, Representative Steel, and several of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

I am encouraged by this bipartisan effort and commitment to help ensure access to quality care across the United States.

Clear communication between patients and providers improves critical health outcomes, helps prevent potentially deadly errors, and it is the cornerstone of our health system.

As we continue the work to improve healthcare in America, we have a responsibility to all people in America, and this includes the 25 million people with limited English proficiency in the United States.

A failure to address the challenges individuals with limited English proficiency face would impact the health of all Americans, complicating expansions of telehealth services, and leading to higher system costs.

The SPEAK Act is a critical step in addressing these challenges. This legislation recognizes the diverse fabric of our Nation and fosters collaboration that is vital to guaranteeing our healthcare system meets the needs of all individuals.

By bringing providers, physicians, hospitals, health insurance companies, language service providers, and patient voices to the table, we advance our shared goal of increasing access while helping patients feel secure and confident when they seek care.

Helping providers communicate accurate health information to limited English proficient people benefits everyone. Ensuring telehealth advancements are accessible to limited English

proficient people benefits everyone as well.

Developing and implementing best practices to overcome barriers ensures that every individual, regardless of their linguistic background, receives the care they need and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Steel, for co- leading this bill, and I also would like to take an opportunity to thank all of the committee staff and the staff from all of our teams for all of the wonderful work that they put into not just this bill but the many bills we are discussing this evening.

One of the things that frustrates me about being a Congressman is that beautiful moments like this when we come together and work on a bipartisan basis will never be seen on the news. If somebody gets into an argument with somebody in committee, they will carry that over and over and over, which leads the American people to believe we do not work together and that we do not care about everyone. Yes, we do.

So, once again, I thank the chairwoman, the ranking member, and everyone on the committee for bringing these wonderful bills to the floor and the many bills we have yet to work on throughout the rest of this year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6033, the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, or SPEAK Act, sponsored by Representatives Steel and Gomez and cosponsored by Representative Cardenas.

H.R. 6033 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to improve access to healthcare for individuals with limited English proficiency. Specifically, the bill requires the HHS Secretary to consult with healthcare entities such as providers, health insurers, and consumer advocacy groups to identify best practices for improving access to telehealth services for patients with limited English proficiency.

The expansion of telehealth flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency and subsequently in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has allowed millions of patients to receive access to necessary care. Since then, further expansion of telehealth services has helped provide critical services to hard-to-reach populations and helped beneficiaries in areas that are already underserved.

However, individuals and families with limited English proficiency can face significant barriers to accessing telehealth services and other healthcare information technology. H.R. 6033 will help identify and address barriers to accessing virtual health services for millions of patients with limited English proficiency.

This bill is supported by the National Immigration Law Center, the American Medical Association, America's Essential Hospitals, Justice in Aging, the National Health Law Program, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among many others.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardenas).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would urge support for this bipartisan bill because it is so important for improving access for telehealth services for persons with limited English proficiency, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6033) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a task force to improve access to health care information technology for non-English speakers, 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 on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6033, the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, or SPEAK Act, of 2024, led by Congresswoman Michelle Steel.

Mrs. Steel's legislation will make telehealth more accessible for patients with limited English proficiency. Telehealth became widely used during the COVID-19 public health emergency with as many as one in four Medicare beneficiaries utilizing the platform.

In 2022, Congress further extended the availability of telehealth services through the end of this year.

I believe that telehealth technology can, in some cases, help seniors access care in a timelier fashion, keeping them healthier and, in some cases, avoid costly complications from delayed treatment.

As Congress considers further extensions of telehealth flexibilities, this bill will ensure more seniors with limited English language proficiency can still benefit from telehealth.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Steel), who is the leader of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of my healthcare legislation with Congressman Gomez.

The Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, the SPEAK Act, will improve access to telehealth for 25 million Americans with limited English proficiency and will help tackle the over $1.7 billion in medical costs driven by language barriers.

The SPEAK Act will also help bring public and private actors together to identify best practices and improve telehealth access for urban and rural communities.

Telehealth services can be more affordable than traditional care, addressing a key need at a time of rising costs. It is transforming healthcare by increasing access, reducing costs, and improving outcomes.

As we continue to improve healthcare via new technology, I am focused on ensuring no American is left behind in the digital age.

As an immigrant myself who speaks English as a third language, I know the importance of services being available to all Americans.

My beautifully diverse district in southern California is a key example. My constituents speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, and more. I am proud to be their champion in Congress.

No matter what language you speak, Mr. Speaker, everyone should have access to telehealth. Everyone should have access to high-quality and affordable care.

I thank everyone who has supported the bill and worked hard for its passage. The SPEAK Act could be life-changing for so many people.

Mr. Speaker, I call on the House to pass the SPEAK Act and join me in increasing healthcare access, lowering costs, and improving patient outcomes.