Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7213) to amend the Public Health Service Act to [enhance activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism spectrum disorder and enhance programs relating to autism/reauthorize certain programs with respect to autism spectrum disorder?], 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. 7213, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act, or the Autism CARES Act of 2024, led by Congressman Chris Smith.

First, I am grateful for all the work that has been done and the tremendous leadership of Representative Smith. He has been a fierce advocate and a leader on these issues for decades.

Autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States with recent studies showing an increasing prevalence nationwide.

Research has also shown that early intervention and therapies often lead to positive outcomes later on in life for individuals with autism.

The Autism CARES Act of 2024 will reauthorize critical programs and activities and support autism research, services, training, and monitoring across the Federal Government.

Importantly, it also takes steps to ensure the public and all individuals within the autism community have an opportunity to engage in and are included in the research process and other activities related to autism spectrum disorder.

I appreciate the passionate engagement and support from stakeholders throughout this process, and I am really grateful that we are considering this bill on the floor tonight before the program's September 30 expiration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the prime sponsor and the champion of the legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this 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. 8089) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program, 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 insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8089, the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act is a straightforward bill, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia) for putting forth this proposal.

The bill would require States to regularly check the Social Security Administration's Death Master File for doctors who are enrolled in their Medicaid programs and to remove the doctors who are already dead. It almost sounds silly, but it can be quite serious.

When a doctor dies, their national provider identification, or NPI, is not immediately deactivated. The NPI of the deceased physician is low-hanging fruit for a hacker to steal and start billing Medicaid with. This can go on for a long time if no one is checking for suspicious activity.

To address waste, fraud, and abuse, States will need to be an active partner. Removing deceased doctors from a State's Medicaid program is a simple step States can take.

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 gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8084) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to verify certain eligibility criteria for individuals enrolled for medical assistance quarterly, 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 insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General, States pay hundreds of millions per year to Medicaid-managed care organizations to care for beneficiaries who have passed away.

It feels almost impossible to believe that precious Medicaid dollars intended to help pregnant women, children, and those in need would instead go to insurance companies to help manage care for people who are already deceased. Yet, it is happening.

H.R. 8084 will hopefully change this by requiring States to check the Social Security Administration's Death Master File every quarter to identify individuals still enrolled in the State's Medicaid program who are deceased. This is a commonsense solution that will better serve the people Medicaid is intended to help. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the subcommittee chair of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce, and the prime sponsor of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6160) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program, 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. 6160, led by Mr. Molinaro, which reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program administered by the Administration For Community Living.

This program helps support State systems to provide community-based respite care services to family caregivers tending to children and adults with disabilities and chronic conditions.

There are about 53 million family caregivers in the United States, more than 5 million who are parents or guardians caring for children with special healthcare needs.

Many family caregivers have unmet respite needs, and studies show that increasing respite accessibility can decrease burnout rates and help individuals continue caregiving.

Reauthorizing the Lifespan Respite Care Program will continue vital resources for family caregivers so they can operate at their highest potential.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro), the prime sponsor of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4351) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain poison control programs.

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 S. 4351, the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024. I thank Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer, the sponsor of H.R. 7251, the House bill passed unanimously by the Energy and Commerce Committee. We applaud her leadership on this important bill and on the reauthorization of this program.

The Poison Control Network Program supports local poison centers to ensure that they can provide 24/7 access to specially trained providers, physicians, or toxicology experts, to provide guidance on possible poisoning and toxic exposures.

This reauthorization will help continue to provide resources for the Poison Help Line, which is a toll-free number for people to access trained experts.

It also renews funding for a nationwide media campaign to spread awareness for the Poison Help Line and disseminate best practices for poison prevention.

In fiscal year 2021, the most common poisonings reported were related to medications such as nonprescription fentanyl. This category is the most common poisoning that resulted in death for both adults and children.

In fact, children under the age of 6 were involved in almost half of all calls to local poison centers.

Poison centers play a critical role in helping to curb the rates of poisonings and toxic exposures. Reauthorizing this program will ensure local centers receive the resources they need to educate their communities and be available to help patients in need.

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), a subcommittee chair on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7406) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome, 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 on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7406, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024, which I have led alongside my colleagues Diana DeGette, Tom Cole, Rosa DeLauro, Pete Stauber, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.

As many know, one of my primary missions here in Congress has been to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. It is deeply personal to me.

Our son, Cole, was born with that extra 21st chromosome, and for the past 17 years, I have seen the world through his eyes. It has made me a better mom and a better legislator.

When the INCLUDE Project was established in 2018, Down syndrome was among one of the least studied and funded genetic conditions at NIH despite being the most common chromosome abnormality, affecting 1 in every 700 babies.

Individuals with Down syndrome also have an increased risk of common diseases and medical conditions, such as cardiac issues, autoimmune conditions, and an early onset Alzheimer's-type dementia, which means the value of this research is hardly limited to the Down syndrome community. It has the potential to provide benefits to millions of people battling other conditions, as well.

The INCLUDE Project has made great strides, funding over 200 research awards, producing at least 600 publications, and helping to coordinate Down syndrome research and resources at over 20 institutes and centers.

H.R. 7406 will help us take Down syndrome research to new heights and usher in a new era of breakthroughs to ensure that every person with Down syndrome and their families have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the dad of Isaac, most importantly.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 265) to reauthorize the rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program, and for other purposes.

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 rise in support of S. 265, the SIREN Reauthorization Act.

EMS agencies play a critical role within our healthcare system, especially in rural areas where they may be the only provider for miles. More than half of rural EMS agencies are staffed solely by volunteers and oftentimes must raise their own funds just to continue operating.

The SIREN Reauthorization Act would continue vital resources for the Rural Emergency Medical Services Training program, which helps support local EMS agencies with recruitment and training efforts as well as purchasing equipment, including overdose reversal medication.

First responders are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and must be able to properly acquire and administer overdose reversal medications to help save lives and prevent overdose deaths.

Reauthorizing this program is crucial to help bolster the rural health workforce.

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

Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, 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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7858) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare incident to modifier for mental health services furnished through telehealth, 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. 7858, the Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024, led by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), a valuable member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. James' legislation will put in place program integrity measures so that we can better understand the extent to which telehealth is working for patients on Medicare.

Over the past several years, telehealth has proven itself to be a vital way for patients to access care, especially in rural communities. Telehealth services are still being used widely among Medicare beneficiaries compared to prepandemic levels. Evaluation and management services, such as doctors' visits and following up to imaging, have accounted for nearly all of telehealth spending in Medicare.

As Congress works to continue allowing seniors to access telehealth through Medicare, this bill will implement a key recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general to increase transparency and allow more detailed data collection on types of providers performing telehealth services.

This will help ensure Medicare beneficiaries are not just benefiting from expanded access and quality care, but the best value these technologies have to offer.

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

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, September 11, 2024.

Hon. Jason Smith,

Chair, Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chair Smith: I write regarding H.R. 7858, the ``TELEMH

Act of 2024,'' which was referred in addition to the

Committee on Ways and Means.

I ask that the Committee forgo action on the bill so that

it may be scheduled for consideration on the House floor.

This concession would in no way affect the Committee's

jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill. In

addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I

would support the Committee's request for conferees on the

conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include

this letter and your response in the Congressional Record

during debate on the bill.

Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the

extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over

matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further

opportunities to work with you this Congress.

Sincerely,

Cathy McMorris Rodgers,

Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James).

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1648) to facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries, and for other purposes.

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 S. 1648, the Launch Communications Act. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a similar version, H.R. 682, which was led by the gentlemen from Florida's Second and Ninth Districts, Representatives Soto and Dunn.

This legislation is the product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. It takes important steps to streamline the process for commercial space launch providers to access the spectrum frequencies they need and ensure that a lack of coordination between Federal agencies does not hamper the thriving commercial space economy.

Importantly, just like Congressman Dunn's H.R. 682, this bill not only adds a new license model to meet growing demand, but preserves the ability of launch providers to avail themselves of the special temporary authority model that has served us so well.

I thank Senator Schmitt for working with us and for leading this product in the Senate, and I urge my colleagues to support S. 1648.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also urge and encourage everyone to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1513) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task force to be known as the ``6G Task Force'', and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, H.R. 1513, the FUTURE Networks Act, led by Representative Matsui.

The United States leads in the development of next-generation wireless technology. We have led the world in the development and deployment of 4G technologies, and carriers are now currently deploying 5G across the country. It is now time to look ahead to the next generation, 6G.

The United States must continue to be at the forefront of technological development and keep ahead of our adversaries. To do this, we must lead at international standards-setting bodies, identify new use cases for 6G, and understand potential security and supply chain issues that must be addressed as the technology is developed.

H.R. 1513 will support this effort by requiring the FCC to establish a 6G task force made up of both the public and private sectors to develop a report on the standards development process and possible uses of sixth-generation technology.

This task force will ensure that the United States is unified among industry and government and is doing what is needed to cement our leadership in 6G.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Matsui for her leadership and work on this legislation before the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill advanced with a strong, bipartisan vote out of the committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I was absent during yesterday's final vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 397.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which originated after a veteran from Spokane asked for my help.

She had recently retired from service and was days away from her first VA appointment when she had a heart attack. She was rushed to the ER where she made a full recovery, but the VA refused to pay for her care. Why? Because she hadn't seen a VA doctor in the last 24 months.

It didn't matter that she had just enrolled or that many VA facilities have 30- to 60-day delays.

They denied her the coverage she needed, and her bills were piling up.

That is why I introduced the RELIEVE Act to waive the 24-month rule for 60 days following a veteran's enrollment in the VA healthcare system.

My amendment today highlights the importance of helping veterans establish care to ensure they qualify for outside emergency coverage. It is time for Congress to eliminate the emergency coverage gap, and I urge my colleagues to join me in making sure every veteran has access to the treatment they have earned.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to address the troubling state of housing for servicemembers and their families at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane.

According to the Air Force, roughly 85 percent of the 650 privatized homes at Fairchild were constructed in the 1950s. They are aging rapidly and approaching a point where they will not be fit for families living on base.

Reports of mold, cracks in the foundation, siding falling off, chipping paint, and roofs in need of repair are just a few of the many issues with the housing on base. Needless to say, this is unacceptable.

Our servicemembers and their families sacrifice so much for our country. They deserve a comfortable, dependable home that isn't falling apart around them, and it is our job to make sure they have one.

This amendment is critical for ensuring Congress has the ability to conduct the oversight of the conditions of Air Force housing as we work together to make the necessary and long-overdue renovations and repairs.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and join me in making quality housing for servicemembers and their families a top priority.

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

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4763.

Blockchains are a new foundational technology that will reshape our daily lives. Through innovative design approaches, blockchains can be used in all kinds of applications, like tracking products through supply chains or facilitating the tokenization of financial assets.

Unfortunately, many American innovators are being pushed abroad by overzealous regulators. According to a report by Electric Capital, the U.S. share of blockchain developers has declined from 40 percent in 2017 to 29 percent in 2022.

I am excited about this legislation providing clear rules of the road. This is a clear complement to some of the work that we have been doing in the Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure American leadership in blockchain technology.

I will clarify some of the nonfinancial applications and uses that may be unintentionally captured by the bill.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Based on conversations I have had, it is my understanding that the intent of this bill is to ensure that the current authority over certain restricted digital asset transactions remains with the SEC and that the CFTC would only be authorized to regulate certain intermediaries in spot digital commodity markets. Is this correct?

Can the gentleman clarify the intent when it comes to exclusive jurisdiction of the CFTC and how this would impact the current protections for Americans against fraud and market manipulation?

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thompson, Chairman McHenry, and Representative Hill for the clarification and for all of their work.

Mr. Speaker, my heart is full today as I rise to recognize my good friend and former colleague, Washington State Senator Mike Padden, who will retire at the end of the year after serving the people of Spokane Valley and the Fourth Legislative District for 28 years. I'd like to be the first of many to congratulate him on a distinguished career of service and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Senator Padden, a graduate of Spokane's very own Gonzaga Law School, was first elected to the State House in 1980. He quickly earned the trust and confidence of his peers who elected him as their Majority Floor Leader in 1995. Shortly after, Senator Padden stepped away from the State House to accept an appointment as a judge on the Spokane County District Court, a position he would be re-elected to three more times before retiring--the first time--in 2007

If there's one thing my colleagues should know about Mike, it's that he is a devout public servant who committed himself to putting people before politics. That's why, in 2011, Mike answered the call to serve once again, this time in the State Senate; a position he will hold until the year's end.

For nearly three decades, Senator Padden cultivated a reputation built on principled conservatism. He is a staunch defender of life, a steadfast advocate for stronger public safety, and a fierce promoter of everything Eastern Washington has to offer. While serving in various leadership roles on both the House and Senate Law and Justice Committees, Mike made it a top priority to build relationships with his colleagues across the aisle to pass meaningful legislation and improve lives.

Thanks to his dogged determination and commitment to delivering results, he successfully strengthened laws around DUI convictions, expanded access to housing by reducing barriers to condominium construction, and provided critical support to businesses trying to help their employees invest in the company's future. These are just a few of his most recent legislative achievements from a long career of service that will be remembered for years to come.

In addition to serving in the State Senate, Mike has spent the past six years on his parish council, volunteers for Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels, is a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, and acts as a state commissioner--and one time Spokane chapter president--for American Legion Baseball.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for Mike's committed service to his community and our great state. He has been a tremendous advocate for those he has represented, and as he looks ahead to his well-deserved retirement, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him for his almost three decades of devotion and public service. The best is yet to come.