Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3391) to extend the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes, 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. 3391, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0.

In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 10,000 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Major advancements over the past several decades have improved survival rates, with 85 percent of children with cancer now living until 5 years or older. However, estimates predict that, tragically, over 1,000 children will still die from cancer this year, making it the leading cause of death from disease for kids.

This legislation would ensure progress toward a better understanding of childhood cancer and structural birth defects will continue. It would also prioritize nonduplicative research and coordination on pediatric research across the National Institutes of Health.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee and a leader on consumer protection in this Congress.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3821) to reauthorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018.

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 today in support of H.R. 3821, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act.

Firefighters are among our Nation's first responder heroes. They are on the front lines of the most dangerous and frightening emergencies, and they bravely answer the call to save our family members and loved ones from harm.

Tragically, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death for firefighters, and firefighters are more likely to develop certain types of cancer than the general public.

This legislation reauthorizes the voluntary National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, which will help us to monitor, study, and understand the relationship between the toxic exposures firefighters face and cancer risk.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Pascrell and Fitzpatrick for their work on this bipartisan legislation, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey for bringing this forward and working hard for this. He has seen what happens to firefighters in his community from 9/11 and on, and it is really important work that our firefighters do.

As he said, there is a group from Kentucky in town today with whom we had a chance to talk. They are the heroes who go into burning buildings to save our families and all the other things they do for us.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3821, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 498) to amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to secure the suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents, and for other purposes, 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. 498, the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act, led by Mr. Obernolte.

In 2021, more than 48,000 people died by suicide in the United States. That equates to 132 people every day. These are our family members, our neighbors, and our friends. This number is staggering, and unfortunately, suicide deaths are continuing to rise. People need hope and healing.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers used to support people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. This has proven to be a vital resource, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when government-imposed lockdowns led to increased social isolation and loneliness.

The lifeline suffered a cybersecurity attack in December 2022 and was proactively taken offline for several hours. It is unknown how many individuals were hurt by the outage, but we do know that individuals in emotional distress or suicide crisis were unable to utilize the lifeline for hours.

H.R. 498 would improve the lifeline's cybersecurity protections by requiring coordination between SAMHSA and the chief information security officer within HHS.

Additionally, this bill would require the lifeline administrator and local call centers to report any cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to SAMHSA as soon as they are identified. My hope is that this bill would help prevent future cyberattacks and disruption of services so individuals in crisis can access this resource and get the help they need.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), who is a leader of cybersecurity in this Congress and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill. We have our two good friends from California working together across the aisle in a bipartisan way in the Energy and Commerce Committee. This is an important bill to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3836) to facilitate direct primary care arrangements under Medicaid, 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 on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the work today of Congressman Crenshaw, a fierce advocate for primary care access for patients in this country.

Primary care is the backbone of our healthcare system, and we know that investing now in connecting Americans to primary care will keep people healthier and save money along the way.

The Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act is a straightforward bill that will help clarify current law to ensure that States have the tools and flexibility needed to offer primary care services in a variety of manners and settings through the Medicaid program.

One way to deliver primary care that shows promise is called direct primary care. Direct primary care clinics have been expanding around the country, and allow patients to pay a set amount per month for access to a primary care doctor to help address the basic need of healthcare.

This legislation makes sure that the State could explore an option like this for Medicaid enrollees in their State. It is a simple yet effective bill, and I believe it will lead to better outcomes and save taxpayers dollars in the long run.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw), a strong proponent of this bill, and one of the strongest proponents in Congress for primary care.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), a member of the Ways and Means Committee and a good friend of mine.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Dr. Schrier and all the work that she has done, all the work that the two gentlemen who spoke as primary sponsors have done on this bill. It is a good bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3836, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3843) to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize grants to address dental workforce needs.

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. 3843, the bipartisan Action for Dental Health Act led by Representative Simpson.

Oral health plays an important role in the well-being of all Americans.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, we will be facing a shortage of close to 9,000 general dentists and more than 23,000 dental hygienists over the next 15 years.

The Action for Dental Health program directs Federal funding to State and local organizations to help support the dental workforce and improve access to care for patients.

This bill reauthorizes this important program for a 5-year period and strengthens the impact of existing resources to enhance oral healthcare.

Advancing early diagnosis and preventive dental treatments will improve the patient care and health outcomes. This reauthorization is an important step in addressing barriers to oral healthcare services.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), a dentist who is a Member of the House, chairman of the subcommittee on the Appropriations Committee, and my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is an important piece of legislation. I thank my friends for bringing this forward. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3843, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in support today of H.R. 6544, the Atomic Energy Advancement Act.

I represent western Kentucky coal communities, including Muhlenberg, McLean, and Ohio Counties. Unfortunately, Washington Democrats' war on coal has resulted in the loss of good-paying jobs and key energy production for our Commonwealth and our Nation.

I introduced the Nuclear for Brownfields Site Preparation Act, which is included in this package, to ensure that we continue to use Kentucky's experienced energy workers to bring back American energy independence and ensure our leadership as an energy producer. We have an opportunity to repurpose sites, like retired coal facilities, to reinstate American energy dominance.

I am committed to making sure we have affordable, reliable energy from a diverse energy portfolio, while empowering communities who powered our Nation for generations to help us continue to keep the lights on for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from South Carolina

for yielding me time. I rise in support of the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act.

Last month, the Biden administration doubled down on its war against American energy production by effectively banning American LNG exports. This decision disincentivizes American LNG production, eliminates American jobs, and undermines our national security.

Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, in the aftermath of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, we instituted an embargo on Russian oil and gas, defunding Russia's war machine. Our European allies joined us in this effort. However, with few domestic alternatives, they rely on our LNG exports. In fact, 87 percent of U.S. LNG exports went to the European Union, the United Kingdom, or Asian markets.

I often hear from our NATO allies about the importance of American energy production to global security. Without American energy independence, we and our allies become reliant on our adversaries for our energy needs and economic security. It is paramount to our national security at home and around the world that we continue to make energy in America.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act led by Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Rodgers. This bill would permanently ban the use of quality-adjusted life years or similar measures under any Federal healthcare program.

Quality-adjusted life years. Think of that term. Should an academic or Washington bureaucrat be able to say some people are more valuable than others, that vulnerable populations like those with disabilities don't deserve the same access to treatment as others?

Individuals with disabilities, chronic conditions, and others to whom quality-adjusted life years or similar measures may discriminate against, deserve the chance to choose which treatments they access without a Washington bureaucrat or an academic with no clinical experience making the decision for them.

I support this legislation. I appreciate the chair for bringing it forward and sharing her personal story of why this is important. We all know and love Cole. I didn't know he wanted to be a race car driver. I think I did at 16, as well. He is a wonderful young man, and he represents a great group of people who don't deserve to be discriminated against.

Mr. Chair, I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my Field Representative, Carsen Parker, for her service to Kentucky's Second District.

Carsen is a Glasgow, Kentucky native and joined my office in May 2021. A proud graduate of Glasgow High School, she attended the University of Kentucky where she studied Economics. She began her career in my Bowling Green office as Staff Assistant, helping residents of Kentucky's Second District with federal agencies, including helping expedite and process countless passports. In May 2022, she transitioned to Field Representative. Carsen traveled across numerous counties to hear the concerns of constituents and help with community issues. In this role, Carsen developed an enthusiasm for our veterans and enjoyed working to support the military communities at Fort Knox and Hardin County as a whole. That passion has led her to her new endeavor, as she leaves my office to help veterans and their families.

I want to thank Carsen Parker for her work serving Kentucky's Second District as my Field Representative and I wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.

Over the past several years, I have heard from countless Kentuckians about the challenges they face and the pain they are feeling due to rising healthcare costs. This bipartisan, landmark legislation marks the first step in driving transformational change across our healthcare system.

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act incorporates transparency requirements in nearly every aspect of the healthcare system. We are building on the Trump-era price transparency rules for hospitals and insurance plans. We are requiring pharmacy benefit managers to disclose prices and fees to lower costs for patients and employers. We are even requiring transparency for clinical labs.

We have countless testimonials and data to show that transparency lowers costs. Recently, a multinational equipment manufacturer fired their PBM and started managing their own prescription drug benefits for its employees because they finally understood what they were being charged.

The most important part about this bill is that, for once, it is not a top-down, Washington-knows-best approach to the cost of healthcare.

The American people have given Congress this mandate, with over 95 percent of surveyed voters supporting healthcare price transparency to reduce healthcare costs, according to a 2022 KFF poll.

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act directly lowers costs that seniors are paying out of pocket for certain drugs like cancer drugs and other medicines administered in doctors' offices that are owned by hospitals.

Seniors receiving Medicare should not be paying more for a drug based solely off the location of where they receive the drug. We are fixing this.

I should note that we are able to get major policy changes in this legislation while making sure the bill saves the American people money, an estimated $700 million. This is an objective that Congress very rarely prioritizes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Rodgers for her vision and steadfast leadership on this bill. I will proudly be casting a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5378, and I urge my House colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

(H.R. 4531) to reauthorize certain programs that provide for opioid use disorder prevention, recovery, and treatment, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4531, the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.

Over the past 2 years, we have lost over 200,000 Americans to drug overdoses and poisonings. This is a step in the wrong direction, as the United States saw decreases in year-over-year drug overdoses between 2018 and 2019.

Tragically, our best efforts to drive down these overdose rates were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which left millions of Americans isolated and shuttered from support systems that helped those struggling with substance use disorder stay on track.

These statistics show the policies and programs we enacted in 2018 were working prior to the pandemic. However, since 2018 we have seen the horrors that illicit fentanyl and other illicit substances, like xylazine, have caused our local communities.

In the past 3 years, over 70 percent of all drug overdoses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been the direct result of poisonings from fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances.

Earlier this year, I convened an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee field hearing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we heard firsthand accounts from law enforcement and treatment providers about the harsh realities of the crisis.

We heard the heart-wrenching testimony from Michael Straley, who lost daughter, Leah, a few years ago to fentanyl poisoning, underscoring the daily stresses of families with loved ones battling substance use disorder. That work has helped inform the bill before us today.

We are reauthorizing important programs such as State-level prescription drug monitoring programs, residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, and other prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

We are also placing xylazine into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, while maintaining access for veterinarians and ranchers to use in animals.

Xylazine is an emerging lethal street drug that is a unique threat as it is not an opioid, and so it does not respond to FDA-approved opioid reversal medications.

That said, H.R. 4531 provides even greater access for treatment providers to use Federal funds to purchase over-the-counter opioid overdose reversal medications, which we know have helped reduce opioid overdose rates in communities across the country.

We are also building on important steps we took in 2018 to help those who rely on the Medicaid program access care.

We are permanently requiring Medicaid programs to provide lifesaving medication-assisted treatment. We are permanently codifying the flexibility for States to waive outdated policies that prevent vulnerable individuals from seeking comprehensive wraparound and substance use disorder care. We are also assisting foster care youth by ensuring they do not lose their Medicaid services if they are receiving the behavioral care they need at qualified residential treatment programs.

Finally, the legislation before us today promotes access to long-term recovery and support services like workforce training for individuals in recovery.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I thank my Democratic colleague, Representative

Ann Kuster, for her help on this important legislation and historical leadership on addressing the opioid crisis.

I also thank all of my colleagues for working with us to ensure the policies of H.R. 4531 are fully offset, which was essential to ensuring this legislation could get to this point.

Again, I thank my colleague from New Hampshire for working with me on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4531, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), who is the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), my friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chair of the committee, the ranking member, and the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster) all working together to solve this problem which every American family is facing or knows of someone or has some relation to someone who is. This touches everybody far and wide, urban and rural, suburbs and small towns. Particularly in my home State, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we have really had families just devastated by this.

We have to close the border. We have to get a handle on what is coming across the border. We have to make sure that we have things in place to prevent people from bringing these to our young people and adults. We are here today, though, to make sure those who have this substance use disorder have access to proper care, the opportunity to not just recover, but to have full and productive lives.

We believe that on both sides of the aisle, and we have worked together for this. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3226) to reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act, 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 stand here today firmly committed to the principle that every life is worth living. That starts with giving babies born prematurely a fighting chance at growing up and living their lives to the fullest.

In 2021, the preterm birth rate increased to 10.5 percent, which was the highest recorded rate since 2007. Last year, 1 in 10 babies were born prematurely.

Premature babies have a higher risk of infant mortality, developmental delays, and chronic health conditions.

This is why I rise today in support of H.R. 3226, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023, led by Energy and Commerce Committee members Dr. Burgess and Dr. Miller-Meeks, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Eshoo, and Representative Robin Kelly.

The legislation would reauthorize programs that are critical to Federal research, education, and intervention activities to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality.

The bill would also authorize a study to identify best practices to help detect and prevent preterm births as well as better understand the factors that lead to such births.

This critical legislation will help to reduce preterm births and ensure that babies have effective treatments to give them the best start in life.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I think Ms. Eshoo just stepped off the floor, Mr. Speaker, but my good friend from California announced she is not running for reelection. She is the primary sponsor of this bill in the House, and it is an important bill.

All life is important. It is important that we move forward and give everybody an equal chance to live a full, productive, and happy life.

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

I appreciate my friend from California, Mr. Speaker, for all of her hard work. We will miss her, but we have another year to continue to work on good things like this.

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

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to honor Bobette Franklin upon her retirement from a 29-year career in the United States Congress assisting Kentuckians with the federal government processes.

I first had the pleasure of meeting Bobette, a Bowling Green native, over 30 years ago. As a staff member for my predecessor, she developed a passion for advocating for Kentuckians who had challenges with federal agencies and quickly gained the respect of many in Kentucky's Second District, especially among veterans and their families. When I was sworn in, I knew it was critical to keep her enthusiasm, knowledge, and earned constituent trust on my team. Two years later, Bobette departed my office to become Director of Constituent Services for Senator Rand Paul, which allowed her to share her passion for public service across the Commonwealth.

In November, Bobette will be retiring after nearly three decades of service to Kentuckians. I offer my deepest gratitude to Bobette for her service and wish her happiness as she spends her retirement with her husband, Steven, and her son Noah.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of Steve Blackburn from Glasgow, Kentucky after 43 years of service with the T. Marzetti Company.

Steve began his career as a temporary employee in the processing department in their first manufacturing plant on Indianola Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. He has proven to be an important team member at the T. Marzetti Company, being instrumental in the greenfield startup in Horse Cave, Kentucky in 2006 and Sister Schubert's in 2007. Nearly a half century later, Steve will retire as the Senior Director of Operations.

A loving father of 4 and grandfather of 6, Steve plans on enjoying retirement with his wife of nearly 14 years, Angela. Congratulations to Steve on his hard-earned retirement.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.