Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin lives in an alternate reality, one where the state is still all-powerful and can control reality for its citizens.

In the 1930s, Stalin could make people disappear by sending them to the gulags and then erasing any mention of them in state archives. By controlling all information, he could pretend that black was white and up was down.

Today, in Russia, Putin wants to pretend that the Ukrainian insurgency is homegrown, that Russian soldiers on the other side of the border are lost or just volunteers. He wants to pretend that Kiev is controlled by Nazis. His state-owned media dutifully reports these fictions as fact.

The Soviet Union hasn't existed in more than 20 years. It collapsed out of weakness, and Russia remains weak and wholly dependent on energy exports today. Putin can pretend all he wants, but the reality is that he does not have the power of the secretary general or the czars. Let's not let him turn his dreams into reality by abandoning our friends and NATO allies. We must stand up for their freedom and support them more vigorously.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 717, I call up the bill (H.R. 3522) to authorize health insurance issuers to continue to offer for sale current group health insurance coverage in satisfaction of the minimum essential health insurance coverage requirement, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3522.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3522, the Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2014, sponsored by my good friend and colleague and important member of the Health Subcommittee, Dr. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

This bill is a necessary tool for America's workers that will allow for health insurance coverage in the small group market during the 2013 calendar

year to be continued to be offered through calendar year 2018. In other words, if you like your group health insurance plan, you can keep it.

It has been over 4 years since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, and we are still hearing from constituents, small business owners, and employees who are continuing to struggle with the adverse effects of this law.

Here is what Roger from Columbia, Pennsylvania, wrote to me last year:

I am the third generation family owner of a business. We

have 32 employees and have been providing health insurance

for our employees and their families for over 25 years. This

week, we received a renewal notice from our current provider,

which is a 40 to 50 percent higher premium than our current

contract, with less overall benefit coverage. If we choose to

renew early, before the ACA takes effect, our premiums will

increase 11.4 percent. Our President told us that the ACA

would decrease health insurance costs.

My constituents--businesses, as well as individuals--have bitterly conveyed to me the myriad of concerns they face.

Eastern Lancaster County School District announced it would ``outsource'' about 100 of its support staff workers to private companies to avoid possible penalties under ObamaCare.

In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the community college decided to cut hours for 400 adjunct faculty and other employees, so it wouldn't have to pay $6 million in ObamaCare-related fees.

From Auntie Anne's franchises, I have been told they have put their growth plans on hold, hiring has been pushed off, and they may no longer be able to afford to provide employee insurance coverage. In 2012, they experienced a 19 percent increase in insurance premiums and a 30 percent increase in 2013.

Here is what Tom and Rosemarie had to say from Lititz, Pennsylvania:

I have been crunching numbers to prepare for ObamaCare, and this is what I face: close my doors December 31, 2014 . . . or . . . pay $40,000 a year to insure my employees or ``pay'' a fine of $2,000 per employee per year over the first 30, at the price of $166 per month per employee over the first 30. So now, the 10 that have insurance, as well as my husband and I, will no longer be insured because the penalty is more affordable than to cover . . . this is ridiculous. I am outraged.

Mr. Speaker, we can do better than this. We can enact patient- centered free market reforms, where private insurers engage in robust competition and create the same kind of market-based inducements to reduce prices and improve services that occurs in most other parts of the American economy.

We can start by enacting H.R. 3522. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. American workers who like their health care plan should be able to keep it, just like President Obama and the supporters of the Affordable Care Act promised.

I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, September 10, 2014.

Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Upton: I am writing concerning H.R. 3522, the

``Employee Health Care Protection Act,'' which is scheduled

for floor consideration today.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has

jurisdiction over the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Section

5000A of the Internal Revenue Code requires individuals to

maintain minimum essential coverage or pay a penalty. Section

2(b) of H.R. 3522, both as reported out of your Committee and

Rules Committee Print 113-56, modifies which health care

plans would meet the requirement of minimum essential

coverage. However, in order to expedite this legislation for

floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this

bill. This is being done with the understanding that it does

not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 3522, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration.

Sincerely,

Dave Camp,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), the vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Bill Cassidy, a valued member of the Health Subcommittee and prime sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey, another valued member of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) another member of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers), another member of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire on the time remaining for both sides?

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

Mr. Speaker, congressional Democrats constantly say that the ACA is not a perfect bill, and that they want to make changes. If they are sincere about that statement, they should join us in supporting H.R. 3522, a bill that received bipartisan support at Energy and Commerce to protect American workers who will lose their plan under the Affordable Care Act.

Thirty-nine Democrats joined us last year and voted for a similar bill to let Americans keep their plan in the individual market. We should work together to provide that very same protection to the tens of millions of American workers who depend on employer-sponsored health coverage.

Last fall, millions of Americans all across the country had their health plans canceled, despite repeated promises from the President and his allies in Congress that if you liked your health care plan, you would be able to keep it. And so, in the fall of 2013, health plan cancelations were concentrated in the individual market.

Sadly, millions of Americans with employer-sponsored coverage, group plans, will also face plan cancelations because of the Affordable Care Act. And some experts have testified before the Energy and Commerce Committee that approximately 50 million young American workers with fully insured coverage face plan cancelations or disruptions because of ACA requirements and regulations.

Forbes warned last year, and I will quote: ``Starting in October 2014, many employees of small businesses will start getting the same notices that are now being mailed to individuals, informing that their existing health plans are also being canceled.''

Well, Mr. Speaker, Americans rightly feel misled by the President, by congressional Democrats. Their false assurance that Americans could keep their health care plan was recognized as the 2013 ``Lie of the Year.''

So, we have this legislation before us this year to apply to the group plans. As long as they were in existence in 2013, they could be available today. And I urge Members to support the legislation.

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

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

The President not only made a promise that, if you liked your doctor you could keep your doctor, he said, if you liked your health care plan, you could keep your health care plan no matter what--period. He also promised reductions in premiums of $2,500 per family.

Americans are not seeing the $2,500 reduction in premiums that the President promised under the ACA. Instead, Americans are seeing higher premiums and deductibles under the President's health care law. Some of the premium increases are outrageous, and the deductibles--I don't know how a family could save the $10,000 to $15,000 for their deductibles that some of them are telling us they are going to have. In fact, the administration's own actuaries have confirmed that premiums are going up under the ACA. Earlier this year, actuaries from CMS estimated that 65 percent of small businesses will see premium increases under the Affordable Care Act. Middle class Americans working for these 11 million small businesses will see higher premiums, meaning less take- home pay for working Americans.

The American people want real health care reform, but the ACA is making things worse. The President's health care law has led to canceled health care plans, fewer choices, higher premiums, and higher deductibles for middle class families. Ultimately, the law needs to be replaced with better solutions that lower costs and provide better health care choices.

However, let's be clear about what H.R. 3522 actually does. The bill does not repeal the ACA. We have heard the mantra of how many 50-some votes there have been to repeal. Instead, this bill simply lets American workers keep their health care plans, and it expands coverage options.

Congressional Democrats constantly say that they want to change the parts of the ACA that don't work. If they are sincere about that pledge, they should join us in supporting H.R. 3522. This is a bipartisan bill to protect American workers who will lose their plans under the health care law. As I said last year when we had a similar bill for the individual market cancelations, 39 Democrats joined us and voted for that bill to let Americans keep their plans in the individual market.

Congress should work together to provide the same protection to the millions of American workers with group coverage, and that is what the Employee Health Care Protection Act does. Families, not Washington, should decide if they want to keep their health care plans.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 3522.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4709) to improve enforcement efforts related to prescription drug diversion and abuse, 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 to include extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today is important and necessary legislation to bring greater clarity to the requirements for the safe and secure distribution and dispensing of controlled substances to combat the abuse of prescription drugs. H.R. 4709, the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, introduced by my colleagues, Representative Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Peter Welch of Vermont, and Judy Chu of California, will facilitate greater collaboration between industry stakeholders and regulators in an effort to combat our Nation's prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Safeguarding our prescription drug supply chain is important to protect against diversion and abuse of prescription medicines. H.R. 4709 will clarify key terminology in the Controlled Substances Act to give registrants a better understanding of their responsibilities under the law.

Further, the bill will allow DEA-registered companies to submit corrective action plans to address potential violations in the absence of an imminent danger, creating a more robust and meaningful dialogue about addressing drug diversion.

That should in turn curtail unnecessary supply chain disruptions that adversely affect patient access to much-needed medications.

Additionally, the legislation requires that a report be submitted to Congress by the Secretary of HHS in consultation with the DEA and other government and industry stakeholders about how collaboration between enforcement agencies and industry can benefit patients and prevent diversion and abuse.

Equally important, H.R. 4709 will improve enforcement efforts regarding the complex and challenging problem of prescription drug diversion and abuse. It will ensure patient access to necessary medications by creating a more collaborative partnership between drug manufacturers, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and Federal enforcement and oversight agencies such as DEA and the FDA.

After hearings last April in the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which I chair, we heard that a more feasible and practical solution to this serious problem of drug diversion and abuse is attainable, and those provisions are included in H.R. 4709. The legislation is supported by the National Community Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, as well as the Alliance to Prevent the Abuse of Medicines, among others.

I would like to acknowledge and thank my good friend, Congressman Tom Marino, for his excellent work with this legislation. My friend from Pennsylvania is a former district attorney and former U.S. attorney. He understands the importance of law enforcement in this area. But he also understands that we will be more effective if we proceed in a collaborative, communicative, and transparent fashion. He has done excellent work here.

Mr. Speaker, by approving this legislation, we will be giving our Nation's law enforcement additional tools while protecting our patients and securing our drug supply chain in a reasonable, commonsense way.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and vote for H.R. 4709.

I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, July 28, 2014.

Hon. Fred Upton,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rayburn House

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Upton: On June 10, 2014, the Committee on

Energy and Commerce ordered reported H.R. 4709, the

``Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act

of 2014.'' As you know, the Committee on the Judiciary was

given an additional referral on this measure upon

introduction. As a result of your having consulted with the

Judiciary Committee concerning provisions of the bill that

fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to discharge the

Committee on the Judiciary from further consideration of H.R.

4709.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual

understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4709

at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the

subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and

that our committee will be appropriately consulted and

involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward.

Our committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of

an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate

conference involving this or similar legislation, and

requests your support for any such request.

Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter

confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4709, and

would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this

matter be included in the Congressional Record during

consideration of the legislation on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Bob Goodlatte,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), vice chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and another leader on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to my friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino), the leader on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, for over five decades now, the Chinese Communist Party has ruled Tibet harshly and has treated the Tibetan people with great disdain.

The current regime says that Tibet is open to all visitors, but the truth is that actual access is highly restricted and is subject to arbitrary closures. It is difficult for tourists to access the region, and it is almost impossible for journalists and diplomats to get in to report on conditions.

When Chinese officials get visas to the U.S., they are not kept out of certain States or cities. They are free to travel our Nation, as are Chinese tourists and reporters. It is time that the Chinese Government lives up to its word and allows access to Tibet, not only for Americans, but for the many religious pilgrims from nations around the world.

I am a proud cosponsor of Congressman McGovern's bill, H.R. 4851, the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2014. The bill restricts access to America for those Chinese Government officials who are responsible for blocking travel to Tibet. This is a matter of basic fairness and is critical to ensuring that human rights are protected in Tibet.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:

[From the Christian News Network, Feb. 6, 2014]

(By Heather Clark)

West Chester, PA.--A baby boy was recently born in

Pennsylvania after his life was spared from abortion through

a miraculous series of events.

Baby Roman was 18 weeks gestation when his parents went to

Planned Parenthood in West Chester last July for an abortion.

``I went to Planned Parenthood because I was stuck in my

own world doing everything that I wanted to do,'' Roman's

mother, Cartier, who had a previous abortion in 2012, told

Christian News Network. ``I was going to go get another

abortion.''

Cartier, 21, had three other children and a stepchild, and

was living in government housing, where she was limited to an

occupancy of six people. If she had the baby, she and her

husband feared that they might have to find housing

elsewhere, but had nowhere else to go.

At Planned Parenthood, Cartier found out that she was too

far along in her pregnancy to have an abortion at the

facility. She was directed to go to Cherry Hill, New Jersey

that day to end the baby's life.

``[Planned Parenthood] gave me this paper and said, `Here's

other places that will do it,' '' she explained. ``And when I

left, my husband and I got in the car [and were going to

drive to New Jersey for the abortion].''

That day, a number of Christian sidewalk counselors stood

outside of the facility offering help to abortion-minded

mothers. Mary Ellen Caris, who has been active in pro-life

ministry since 1989, was one of the counselors that

eventually had contact with the couple.

``They came out an hour or so after they initially went

in,'' she stated, ``They didn't look at us, and they didn't

want to take any information.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1528) to amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow a veterinarian to transport and dispense controlled substances in the usual course of veterinary practice outside of the registered location, 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 materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to include an exchange of letters between the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, April 28, 2014.

Hon. Fred Upton,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Upton, On April 3, 2014, the Committee on

Energy and Commerce ordered reported H.R. 1528, the

``Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2013.'' As you know,

the Committee on the Judiciary was given an additional

referral on this measure upon introduction. As a result of

your having consulted with the Judiciary Committee concerning

provisions of the bill that fall within our Rule X

jurisdiction, I too agree to discharge the Committee on the

Judiciary from further consideration of H.R. 1528.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual

understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1528

at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the

subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and

that our committee will be appropriately consulted and

involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward.

Our committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of

an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate

conference involving this or similar legislation, and

requests your support for any such request.

Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter

confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 1528, and

would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this

matter be included in the Congressional Record during

consideration of the legislation on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Bob Goodlatte,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1528, the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2014, introduced by Representative Kurt Schrader of Oregon.

This is a commonsense bill that is supported by the veterinary community and will bring clarity to the sometimes conflicting guidance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, relative to the Controlled Substances Act and the ability of a licensed veterinarian to transport and dispense controlled substances in the usual course of veterinary practice outside of the registered location. Simply put, the bill allows veterinarians to legally carry and dispense controlled substances in the field.

This bill has a direct impact on my district--home of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center. Vets are often required to provide ambulatory services in the field, especially in rural areas and for the care of large animals such as cows or horses. Sometimes it is not feasible for owners to bring the animals to a hospital or a clinic like New Bolton Center, and so vets provide essential house call visits.

Clarification of the law is necessary to allow vets to transport, administer, and dispense controlled substances outside of their registered location whether to provide pain management, anesthesia, or euthanasia. Passage of this important legislation will allow veterinarians the complete ability to provide care to their animal patients beyond their clinics. This will protect the health and welfare of the Nation's animals, ensure public safety, and safeguard the Nation's food supply.

A companion bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on January 8, 2014. H.R. 1528 includes 185 cosponsors and is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the ASPCA, the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and a veterinary coalition coordinated by the AVMA of over 110 organizations.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), who is a veterinarian himself.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to ask all of the Members to support this commonsense bill that is on behalf of the life and safety of our animal patients and the safety of our food supply.

I urge bipartisan support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4631) to reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to autism, 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 materials into the Record on the bill.

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

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in support of H.R. 4631, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support-- CARES--Act of 2014, introduced by Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey.

Autism CARES demonstrates our continued effort to address the needs of children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, ASD.

Thanks to the monitoring done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, we know that as many as 1 in 68 children have ASD.

With recent studies showing that ASD can be detected in the first 6 months of life, the screening and diagnosis funded in the bill will mean early diagnosis and improved health and behavioral outcomes.

Many of these children are now transitioning into adulthood and will need community-based services to replace those provided by the schools. As a part of this bill, HHS will be required to study their needs and available services to identify gaps and make their transition seamless and productive.

The bill would also fund important research at the National Institutes of Health to understand and treat ASD and the operation of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Chris Smith, the distinguished prime sponsor of the legislation, who has really provided the leadership on this issue.

I yield an additional minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), a valued member of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), one of our distinguished leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to support this very important bipartisan legislation. I urge all Members to do so, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4080) to amend title XII of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain trauma care programs, 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 materials into the Record on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support of H.R. 4080, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act, introduced by Representative Michael Burgess.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act by reauthorizing two important grant programs: the Trauma Care Systems Planning Grants and the Regionalization of Emergency Care Systems.

The first program supports State and rural development of trauma systems and the second funds pilot projects to design, implement, and evaluate innovative models of regionalized emergency care.

We know that immediate access to trauma care within the golden hour after injury is critical. By improving access to the specialized care designed to treat trauma injuries, both of these trauma bills will save lives.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Dr. Burgess, the distinguished vice chairman of the Health Subcommittee, who has been a real champion on this issue and is the prime sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Again, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4080 is another very important and bipartisan bill, and I urge all of the Members to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3548) to amend title XII of the Public Health Service Act to expand the definition of trauma to include thermal, electrical, chemical, radioactive, and other extrinsic agents, 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 materials into the Record on the bill.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 3548, the Improving Trauma Care Act of 2014, introduced by Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act by expanding the current definition of ``trauma'' to include an injury resulting from exposure to thermal, electrical, chemical, radioactive, and other agents.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I also urge Members to support this commonsense legislation, bipartisanly supported.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1281) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs under part A of title XI of such 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 insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 1281, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014, introduced by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard of California and Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho, which now includes 120 cosponsors.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend and revise a grant program for screening, counseling, and other services related to genetic disorders. H.R. 1281 reauthorizes Federal programs that provide assistance to States to improve and expand their newborn screening programs, support parent and provider education, and ensure laboratory quality and surveillance.

Newborn screening is an important public health program for testing every newborn for certain conditions not apparent at birth. This early screening and diagnosis can be life changing for these children and their families. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann).

Mr. Speaker, I urge support, again, for this important and bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1098) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to traumatic brain injury and to trauma research, 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 materials into 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. 1098, the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act, introduced by Representative Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, which will continue to provide the needed services that help patients with a traumatic brain injury, TBI.

More than 3.17 million Americans live with a disability that resulted from a TBI, including children and adults, athletes and soldiers.

The prevention and surveillance work done at the Centers for Disease Control keeps the public and providers aware of TBI research that leads to early diagnosis and treatment.

Research at the National Institutes of Health improves the understanding of TBI and identifies treatments that will improve lives. Programs available at the Health Resources and Services Administration help families to better care for their members who suffer from a TBI.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is another piece of important legislation, and it enjoys bipartisan support. I urge the Members to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, with Russian-backed militants creating chaos in Ukraine, neighboring Moldova has put their forces on high alert.

Moldova and Ukraine share a similar problem of breakaway states within their borders. In fact, there is evidence that Russian forces located in the Transnistria region of Moldova have been involved in the recent violence seen in Odessa, Ukraine.

Moldova, just like Ukraine, wishes for a better relationship with their European neighbors, but could see its attempts to cement friendships undermined by pro-Russian provocateurs.

We should make it clear that any effort to undermine Moldova's sovereignty will not be tolerated. Last week, I introduced a bipartisan resolution that calls on this House to support Moldovan independence and oppose aggression by the Russian Federation.

It is clear that Vladimir Putin will take advantage of any sign of weakness. We need to display strength on behalf of our friends in the region, engage them, and support their right to defend the independent Republic of Moldova from aggressive actions.

Mr. Speaker, a little over four years ago my esteemed colleague from New Jersey, the honorable Chris Smith, rose in this chamber to bring due attention to one of the great Christians of the twentieth century--the noted Chinese teacher and church-planter, Watchman Nee. Today, I rise to complete the circle on this compelling story by honoring Watchman Nee's closest co-worker, Witness Lee. Together they labored tirelessly in China from 1932 until the conquest of mainland China by the Communist Red Army under Mao Tse Tung in 1949. Today, the story of Watchman Nee is somewhat well known, given his numerous writings that have become Christian classics, such as The Normal Christian Life and Sit, Walk, Stand. Capping his inspirational biography was his martyrdom in a Chinese labor farm in 1972.

Witness Lee's story is less known in the West but is in no way less significant. Although Nee was the clear leader when they labored together in China, it was left to Witness Lee, to preserve and continue their work outside of China and to spread it far beyond the Chinese- speaking world. When it became apparent in 1949 that the Communists would prevail in China, Watchman Nee insisted that Witness Lee emigrate to carry on their work in Taiwan and throughout the Far East. Lee agreed. Subsequent developments not only validated Nee's insight (he was imprisoned shortly thereafter, and the churches raised up under his and Lee's ministry were forced underground), but also confirmed that their message and ministry had the potential to reach far beyond China.

Almost immediately Lee's ministry began to have a profound impact in Taiwan. Tens of thousands turned to Jesus Christ for their salvation and began congregating in simple, New Testament churches, as their Chinese brethren had done in China during the previous two decades. Today, there are more than 200 such local churches in Taiwan with more than 200,000 believers. It is a similar story in the Far East and Australasia, with churches established in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Witness Lee did not confine his work to Asia. In 1962 he came to North America and began to minister from Los Angeles, where he established Living Stream Ministry, the publisher of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee in English and over fifty other languages. Witness Lee's speaking and writing continued to emphasize ``Christ as life'' and God's desire to ``build His church'' on the basis of the oneness of God's people, rather than on any ethnic or cultural differences. This was the same message that he had learned from his spiritual mentor, Watchman Nee. Since the early 1960s the spread of the local churches under Lee's ministry throughout the North and South America, Europe, and Africa has been remarkable. There are more than 4,000 churches and 400,000 believers meeting on every inhabited continent, including 200 churches and several thousand believers in Russia and the Russian- speaking world.

Inside mainland China the number of ``hidden'' believers following the ministry of Nee and Lee has continued to grow despite the Chinese government's often extreme measures to suppress and openly persecute them. Historically, members of the churches in China who appreciate the ministry of Nee and Lee have been among the most harshly persecuted. Thousands have been imprisoned, countless beaten, and many even martyred. It is estimated today that there may be two million believers and thousands of local churches in China that draw their spiritual nourishment and supply from the ministry of Nee and Lee.

Recently, reports have reached the West that Christian believers in two provinces have been imprisoned merely for possessing copies of the Recovery Version, a study Bible published by Living Stream Ministry and Taiwan Gospel Book Room, the publishing entity Lee established in Taiwan. Today Watchman Nee is still labeled as a ``dangerous counterrevolutionary,'' and Witness Lee is officially branded as a ``cult leader.'' The writings of both men are banned in China. It is tragic that Watchman Nee died in a Chinese prison farm, totally unaware of how profoundly his life and ministry would impact the entire world. It is a similar tragedy that Witness Lee died in 1997 with such a blatant, gross distortion hanging over his name and his ministry in his homeland.

It is ironic that at a time when China is taking such a prominent role on the world stage in so many areas of society, it is missing an obvious opportunity to further improve its reputation with in the international community.

Rather than slander the names of two faithful men of God, China should take national pride that two of its own, neither of whom were political in either their message or their leadership of the flock, have had extraordinary impact far beyond the Chinese-speaking world.

Mr. Speaker, I call upon the Chinese government today to release all those being held simply because of their faith in Christ and to abandon this national campaign to discredit and distort the record of two brave followers of the One who came with the message of salvation, forgiveness and peace, and instead, to celebrate with us the contributions of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee to believers the world over.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1557) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for graduate medical education programs in children's hospitals.

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 materials in the Record on the bill.

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

I am glad that, today, we will pass a bill that will help keep American children healthy. Today, the House considers S. 1557, the Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013. This is companion legislation to my own bill, H.R. 297, which passed the House at the beginning of this Congress. I am pleased that we have worked out the slight differences between the bills and that we can now reauthorize an important program that makes sure our Nation has enough doctors trained to treat children.

The Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program helps encourage more young doctors to pursue this important specialty. Without it, we would certainly see fewer medical professionals enter pediatrics and pediatric subspecialties.

Children need doctors trained just to treat them. Nationwide, this program supports the training of more than 5,000 doctors. Locally, in my area of Pennsylvania, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia participates in the program.

I have had the privilege of visiting the hospital a number of times and meeting with the young patients and the doctors learning how to treat them.

I am proud to have worked on this legislation with Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Frank Pallone. We originally introduced this bill in the 112th Congress. It has been a long road. I am glad we can finally send this bill to the President for his signature.

This is yet another bipartisan bill that we have successfully moved through the Health Subcommittee. It is proof that, despite our differences, we can find common ground and work together on legislation in a bipartisan way to help Americans stay healthy.

I would like to especially thank Monica Volante on my staff, as well as the staff of the Health Subcommittee, especially Brenda Destro and Katie Novaria, who worked tirelessly on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to ask all Members to support S. 1557, very important legislation with bipartisan support, and I yield back the balance of my time.