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LIBRARY.
THE U.S. HOUSE GAVELING BACK IN
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THREE
MORE BILLS.
VOTES COMING UP LATER THIS
EVENING AT 6:30.
LIVE COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN.
H.R. 2646, A BILL TO
VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO EXTEND
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW AND
MODIFY CERTAIN AUTHORITIES OF
THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS'
AFFAIRS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
JOHNSON, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA, MR. WALZ, EACH WILL
CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO FLSM
JOHNSON: I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
H.R. 2646, AS
AMENDED, THE VETERANS' HEALTH
CARE FACILITIES HEALTH CARE
IMPROVEMENT ACT WOULD ENCOMPASS
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S
AFFAIRS REQUEST FOR FACILITY
PROJECTS AND LEASES FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2012 AND EXTEND CERTAIN
EXPIRED AUTHORITIES.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY TRACKS
WITH THE RESOURCES PROVIDED IN
THE PROPINGS BILL THAT PASSED
THE HOUSE WITH BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
THE V.A. PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY
MEDICAL CARE AND SERVICES TO
OUR HONORED VETERANS THROUGH AN
EXTENSIVE AND DIVERSE PORTFOLIO
OF MEDICAL FACILITIES THIS
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
GENERATES A GREAT DEAL OF
COSTRY CONSTRUCTION AND
MAINTENANCE NEEDS WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT MUST ADDRESS.
SECTION TWO OF THE BILL WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF
$87 MILLION FOR SEISMIC
CORRECTION AND RENOVATIONS AT
FACILITIES IN LOS ANGELES,
CALIFORNIA, AND SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON.
SECTION 3 OF THE BILL WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF
$850 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT AND
MODIFY MEDICAL FACILITIES IN PA
LOW JA TOE, CALIFORNIA, ST.
LOUIS, MISSOURI, SAN JUAN,
PUERTO RICO, FAYETTEVILLE,
ARKANSAS, AND ORLANDO, FLORIDA.
SECTION FOUR WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE APPROPRIATION OF $50
MILLION FOR LEASING EIGHT
OUTPATIENT MEDICAL FACILITIES
IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, SALEM,
OREGON, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA,
MOBIL, ALABAMA -- MOBILE,
ALABAMA, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, AND SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA.
SECTION SIX WOULD CLARIFY WOULD
INFORMATION THE V.A. MUST
PROVIDE TO CONGRESS WHEN
SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FOR A
MIDGED ME -- MAJOR MEDICAL
PROJECT OR FACILITY PROJECT OR
LEASE.
UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE V.A. IS
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO CONGRESS
A PROSPECTUS FOR ALL MAJOR
MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND
REQUESTS.
IT SHOULD INCLUDE DETAILS
RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION,
EQUIPMENT AND OTHER COSTS FOR
THE PROPOSED PROJECT AS WELL AS
ANY AND ALL ALTERNATIVES
CONSIDERED INCLUDING OPERATING
COSTS.
HOWEVER, THE V.A. HAS NOT
PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION IN
SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO ALLOW
CONGRESS TO EFFECTIVELY
EVALUATE PROPOSED PROMPTS AND
WITHOUT ACCURATE AND COMPLETE
INFORMATION, CONGRESS CANNOT
CARRY OUT ITS STATUTORY MISSION
OF ENSURING AN EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL
FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
CARE FOR OUR VETERANS ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES OR BE ASSURED
WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
TO SIMILARLY IMPROVE OVERSIGHT,
SECTION 7 OF THE BILL WOULD
REQUIRE THE V.A. TO OBTAIN
CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION
WHEN USING BID SAVINGS TO
EXPAND THE PURPOSE OF A MAJOR
MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT.
SECTION 8 OF THE BILL WOULD
NAME THE V.A. TELEHEALTH CLINIC
IN COLORADO THE MAJOR WILLIAM
EDWARD ADAMS V.A. CLINIC THIS
PROVISION WAS ADOPTED FROM H.R.
1658, INTRODUCED BY MY FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE, SCOTT TIPTON,
FROM COLORADO.
I THANK HIM FOR BRINGING THIS
PROPOSAL FORWARD.
MAJOR WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS A
MEDICAL -- MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENT, WAS A TRUE AMERICAN
HERO AND THIS DEDICATION WOULD
APPROPRIATELY MEMORIALIZE HIS
BRAVE SERVICE.
SECTION NINE OF THE BILL WOULD
NAME THE V.A. MEDICAL CENT FOR
THE BIG SPRINGS, TEXAS, THE
GEORGE H. O'BRIEN JR.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
MEDICAL CENTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS, RANDY
NEUGEBAUER, FOR HIS EFFORTS TO
INTRODUCE H.R. 558, WHICH
BECAME THIS PROVISION.
GEORGE H. O'BRIEN JR. IS ALSO A
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HIS
HONORABLE SERVICE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BILL WOULD
EXTEND FOR VARIOUS PERIODS
EXPIRING AUTHORITIES FOR
SEVERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING
THOSE THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO
HOMELESS VETERANS.
IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT
VETERANS CONTINUE TO BE
OVERREPRESENTED IN THE HOMELESS
POPULATION AND HELPING HOMELESS
AND THOSE AT RISK GAIN
ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT THEY NEED
TO REINTEGRATE INTO STABLE
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS AND LEAD
PRODUCTIVE LIVES IS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF THE
VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
THE EXTENSION OF THESE PROGRAMS
WOULD PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP
HOMELESS AND AT-RISK VETERANS
FIND PERMANENT HOUSING,
OVERCOME SUBSTANCE USE OR OTHER
ISSUES, GAIN MEANINGFUL
EMPLOYMENT AND PUT THEM ON THE
PATH TO BEING PRODUCTIVE,
SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF OUR
SOCIETY.
THIS LEGISLATION REPRESENTS A
BIPARTISAN EFFORT AND I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO
CHAIRMAN JEFF MILLER AND
RANKING MEMBER BOB FILNER AS
WELL AS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
CHAIRWOMAN ANN MARIE BUERKLE
AND RANKING MEMBER MIKE MEE
SHOW FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO MOVE
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
THROUGH COMMITTEE AND TO THE
HOUSE FLOOR.
FURTHER, THE MANAGER'S
AMENDMENT REFLECTS AN AGREEMENT
REACHED WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND
RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON VETERAN'S AFFAIRS,
SENATOR PATTY MURRAY AND
SENATOR RICHARD BURR.
I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO
THEM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
BILL, IT IS MY EXPECTATION THAT
FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION IN THE
HOUSE, THE SENATE WILL ACT TO
TAKE UP H.R. 2646 AS AMENDED
AND THE LEGISLATION WILL BE
PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT FOR
SIGNATURE PRIOR TO THE END OF
THE FISCAL YEAR.
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN
SUPPORTING H.R. 2646 AS AMENDED
AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN
EXR HIS SERVICE TO THIS NATION
IN UNIFORM AND NOW ON THE V.A.
COMMITTEE A TIRELESS ADVOCATE
FOR OUR VETERANS AND I THINK
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION
AND SOME IMPORTANT THINGS YOU
JUST HEARD THE GENTLEMAN TALK
ABOUT IS A MODEL FOR HOW WE CAN
DO BUSINESS HERE IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER, AGREING ON
THICKS, DISCUSSING THEM, MOVING
OUT OF SUBCOMMITTEES, TO THE
FULL COMMITTEE AND NOW HERE TO
THE HOUSE FLOOR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT OUR MOST
SOLEMN OBLIGATION OIS TO TAKE
KIR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
HAVE SERVED OUR NATION AND MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
BENEFITS THEY HAVE SO
RIGHTFULLY OWNED.
WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE
SURE THE PLACES THEY RECEIVE
CARE ON ARE WORLD CLASS AND
SAFE THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE $770
MILLION FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS.
IT INCLUDES CRITICAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO VETERANS
CREPTERS AND ADDING FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS AND ABATING
EXISTING ASBESTOS.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR STATE OF
THE ART FACILITIES AND
TRAININGENT CENTERS TO IMPROVE
THE CARE VETERANS RECEIVE AND
MAKE SURE VETERANS FEEL
COMFORTABLE AND WELCOME AT ALL
FACILITIES.
IN ADDITION, IT WILL ASSIST THE
V.A. TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OFER IS SERVICES IN RURAL
IT INCLUDES SEVERAL EXTENSIONS
FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR
LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES.
WE OWE IT TO OUR VETERANS TO
ENSURE THEY HAVE SECURE, SAFE,
CLEAN HOUSING THAT OFFERS A
SUPPORTIVE VETERAN.
AND FINALLY, IT IS CRITICAL FOR
VETERANS WHO SUFFER MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES.
NEARLY A THIRD OF ALL THOSE
PATIENTS THE V.A. SEES IN ANY
YEAR ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF
VETERANS FROM IRAQ AND AFTER
DWAN STAN AND THE INCREASING
NUMBER SUFFERING MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUE, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO
TACK UNTIL CHALLENGE AND THIS
LEGISLATION HELPS BY EXTENDING
THOSE PROGRAMS.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR VETERANS TO
SUPPORT THIS GOOD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, H R. 2646, AS
AMENDED, AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. NEUGEBAUER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. NEUGEBAUER THK EARLIER, I
INTRODUCED H.R. 55 , IT WOULD
RENAME THE VETERANS AFAIRS
CENTER IN BIG SPRINGS, TEXAS,
AFTER GEORGE H. O'BRIEN JR.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
INCLUDING THIS AS PART OF THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY.
BORN IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INCOMES 1926, MR. O'BRIEN
ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS
WHILE ATTENDING TEXAS TECH
HE DEPLOYED TO KOREA.
ON OCTOBER 22, 1952, THE
AMERICANS MOUNTED A
COUNTERATTACK IN THE BATTLE OF
THE HOOK A POSITION OF KEY
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE.
WHEN THE BATTLE AGAIN, SECOND
LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN LEAPED FROM
THE TRENCH AND LED HIS PLATOON
INTO A DEADLY SMALL ARMS
ARTILLERY AGAINST A NUMERICALLY
SUPERIOR FORCE.
STORY BEST.
THOUGH SHOT THROUGH THE ARM AND
THROWN@-- THROWN TO THE GROUND
BY HOSTILE AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
FIRE AS THE NEARED THE ENEMY
POSITION, HE REGAINED HIS FEET,
EWAVED HIS MEN ONWARD AND
CONTINUED TO SPEARHEAD THE
ASSAULT, PAUSING ONLY LONG
ENOUGH TO COME TO THE AID OF A
WOUNDED MARINE.
ENCOUNTERING THE ENEMY AT CLOSE
RANGE, HE PROCEEDED TO HURL
HAND GRENADES INTO THE BUNKERS
AND UTILIZING HIS CARBINE TO
BEST ADVANTAGE AND KILLED AT
LEAST THREE OF THE ENEMY.
IMPRESSIVELY, DESPITE BEING
WOUNDED, HE REFUSED TO BE
EVACUATED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
FOR NEARLY FOUR HOURS AND
CONTINUED TO LEAD HIS MEN IN
ONE YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER HIS
ACTION, HE WAS AWARDED THE
MEDAL OF HONOR BY PRESIDENT
EISENHOWER FOR CONSPICUOUS
GALLANTRY AT THE RISK OF HIS
LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL
OF DUTY AS A RIVAL PLATOON
COMMANDER AGAINST ENEMY
AGGRESSOR FORCES.
UPON HIS DISCHARGE, HE SETTLED
IN BIG SPRING, TBS, RAISE A
FAMILY AND BEGIN A CAREER IN
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY AND OFTEN
PARTICIPATED IN VOLUNTEER
PROGRAMS AT THE BIG SPRING V.A.
IN 2003, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH
"AMERICAN VETERAN" MAGAZINE, HE
STATED THIS MEDAL OF HONOR IS
NOT MINE.
I HOLD IT IN TRUST FOR SO MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T BECOME
GRANDFATHERS.
GEORGE HERMAN O'BRIEN PASSED
AWAY ON MARCH 11, 2005, HE WAS
78 YEARS OLD.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE UNDERLYING BILL AND I'M
PROUD TO HONOR THIS GREAT
AMERICAN VETERAN.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
WE HAVE NO FURTHER
MEMBERS TO SPEAK.
IS THE -- DOES THE GENTLEMAN
SPEAK?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY
HAVE FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
ON THE MANAGER'S AMENDMENT,
H.R. 2646, AS AMENDED.
I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO
SUPPORT H.R. 2646 AS AMENDED,
MY TIME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. SPEAKER, I, TOO,
URGE THE SUPPORT OF THIS
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, THANK THE MEMBER, THE
GENTLEMAN, AND THE STAFF ON
BOTH SIDES FOR PUTTING TOGETHER
AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2646, AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
MR. SPEAKER, I
REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS, A
RECORDED VOTE.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE
IN RECESS FOR A PERIOD LESS
THAN 15 MINUTES.-- CREATED BY CABLE, PROVIDED AS
JUST RETURNED FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
WAS THERE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
HE WROTE A SERIES -- SHE WROTE A
SERIES OF BATTLING THE
AFGHANISTAN INSURGENCY.
OPERATION HAMMER DOWN?
IT WANTED TO CLEAR UP A
TRAINING CENTER, TRAINING CAMP
IN THIS AREA OF THE JUNGLE.
IT IS THIS AREA OF PINE FOREST,
A VERY MOUNTAINOUS AREA COVER
SOLDIERS.
THAT WAS THE MISSION, TO CLEAR
OUT THIS AREA.
WHY DOESN'T MATTER?
WHY WERE THESE FOLKS THERE?
WHY DID IT MATTER?
THEY WERE CONCERNED THE
TRAINING CAMP WAS A DESTINATION
CAMPS FOR FIGHTERS IN THE AREA.
THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE COMING
FAR AND WIDE TO THE CAMP, BEING
TRAINED POSSIBLY BY AL QAEDA
FORCES AND PERHAPS TREATING AL
QAEDA FORCES DURING TRAINING OF
THEIR OWN BECAUSE THERE'S SO
FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN.
THIS IS AN AREA NOT TOO FAR FROM
THE AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN BORDER,
SO THEY THOUGHT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS CLEARING
YOU WRITE THAT THIS HAS
BEEN CLEARED OUT EVERY YEAR
SINCE 20006.
THAT IS KIND OF THE CRUX
HOS-- EVERY YEAR SINCE 2006.
I THINK WHAT WE DO NOT ALWAYS
REALIZE IS THESE ARE SOME REALLY
TOUGH BUT BOTTLES AS WELL.
IT IS HARD TO RAIN.
THESE ARE GROUPS THAT KNOW THE
TERRAIN REALLY WELL.
THIS IS A CAMP THAT A BEEN
CLEARED OUT EVERY YEAR SINCE
2006, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE
SOLDIERS WERE WELL AWARE OF.
SO THEY COME UP WITH
OPERATION HAMMER DOWN.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
THEY ARE SET TO GO INTO
THIS AREA, ONE OF THE PLATOON'S
OUT.
THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN THEY REACH
THE THRESHOLD OF THIS BORDERLINE
CAMP AREA, THEY ARE AMBUSHED.
IT IS A FIRE FIGHT THAT WOULD
LAST THE BETTER PART OF A WEEK.
WHAT THEY ENCOUNTERED WAS SOME
INCREDIBLY SOPHISTICATED
FIGHTING BY TALIBAN FORCES.
THEY WERE MANEUVERED UPON.
THERE WERE SO CLOSE AT SOME
POINTS THAT THEY COULD REALLY
HEAR THESE GUYS TALKING, IT AT
ONE POINT THERE WERE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE MARCHING THROUGH.
GENERALLY THE U.S. SOLDIERS WILL
OFTEN HAVE A LOT OF SUPERIORITY
AT NIGHT, BECAUSE OPPOSITION
FORCES DO NOT HAVE A NIGHT
VISION GOGGLES THE TALIBAN IS
THAT REASON.
THEIR OVERARCHING THROUGH AND
GOT RADIO COMMUNICATION THAT
INSURGENTS WERE TALKING TO EACH
OTHER AND THE READ INSEINSETS HAD
SAVED IT
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2005, COMBATING AUTISM
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2011.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 200 5, A BILL
TO RE-AUTHORIZE -- 2005, A BILL
TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE COMBATING
AUTISM ACT OF 2006.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
MR. PITTS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. DOYLE,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. PITTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
2005, THE COMBATING AUTISM
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF 2011, WOULD
ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES TO CONTINUE
ITS IMPORTANT WORK TO
UNDERSTAND, TREAT AND CURE
SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
IN 2000, CONGRESS PASSED THE
CHILDREN'S HEALTH ACT THAT
INCLUDED FUNDING FOR RESEARCH
AND SURVEILLANCE ON AUTISM.
EVENTUALLY IN 2006 CONGRESS
PASSED THE COMBATING AUTISM ACT
BUT IS NOW BEING RE-AUTHORIZED.
THE COMBATING AUTISM ACT
AUTHORIZES H.H.S. TO RESEARCH
ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES AT N.I.H., CONVENE
AN INTERAGENCY AUTISM COUNCIL,
CONDUCT SURVEIL ONS TO EYE
DEPARTMENTIFY THE EXTENT OF THE
-- IDENTIFY THE EXTENT OF THE
DISORDER AN PROMOTE EARLY
SCREENING AND TRAIN MEDICAL
PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN
AT RISK.
SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST
PASSED IN 2006, RESEARCH HAS
LED TO BETTER DIAGNOSIS, MORE
COMPREHENSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND
PROGRAMS THAT OFFER SUPPORT
ANDRESS PET FOR FAMILIES.
FOR FAMILIES.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION AND I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
SPEAKER.
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS CONSIDERING
LEGISLATION TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
COMBATING AUTISM ACT AND IT'S
NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON WITH THE
COMBATING AUTISM ACT SET TO
MONTH.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS ACT, AND I ALSO WANT TO
THANK MY COUNTERPART, MY
COLLEAGUE AND MY GOOD FRIEND,
CHRIS SMITH, ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
ON THIS ISSUE.
FIVE YEARS AGO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES PASSED
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION BY A
VOICE VOTE THAT PROVIDED THE
SUPPORT AND DIRECTION FOR THE
COUNTRY'S FIRST AUTISM-SPECIFIC
RESEARCH.
THAT BILL, THE COMBATING AUTISM
ACT, INCLUDED LIFE-CHANGING
PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF
AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDERS AND EXPANDED
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ON AUTISM
INCLUDING AN ESSENTIAL FOCUS ON
POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES.
WITH THIS FUNDING, THE CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER DETAILED
SURVEILLANCE OF AUTISM SO THAT
WE HAVE BETTER DATA TO USE,
AUTISM SCREENING AT WELL BABY
CHECKUPS HAVE BECOME MAIN
STREEN AND PARENTS ARE BETTER
-- STREAM AND PARENTS ARE
BETTER EDUCATED ABOUT THE
WARNING SIGNS AS WELL AS THE
TREATMENT OF OPTIONS.
STANDARDS WITH CARE FOR AN
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER HAVE
BEEN DEVELOPED FOR BOTH
PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NONE.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND
INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN WITH
CHANGING.
IT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND LIVING IN A
COMMUNAL HOME.
IT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SPEAKING OR BEING MUTE.
AND FOR MANY PARENTS, IT MEANS
PEACE OF MIND AND A SUPPORT
NETWORK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THIS INITIAL
INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH ON
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
I INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION
WITH MY GOOD FRIEND, CHRIS
SMITH, AS A PART OF A
THREE-BILL PACKAGE.
THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION
WOULD ENSURE THAT THERE ARE
ALSO SERVICES AVAILABLE TO
ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHICH I
THINK IS CRITICAL.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE
THIS BODY WILL HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
ADULTS LIVING WITH AUTISM AND
THAT WE WILL CONSIDER HOW BEST
TO PROVIDE FOR THEM SO THAT
EVERYONE HAS A LONG, FULFILLING
AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
BUT FOR NOW IT IS OF GRAVE
IMPORTANCE THAT THE HOUSE
PASSES THIS RE-AUTHORIZATION
WITH THE SAME OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT AS FIVE YEARS AGO AND
THAT WE CAN GET THIS BILL TO
THE PRESIDENT'S DESK BY THE END
OF THIS MONTH.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL, AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MR.
BACHUS, THREE MINUTES.
THE
RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND
IN FACT BOTH GENTLEMEN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. DOYLE, I
COMMEND YOU AND I COMMEND MY
COLLEAGUE, CHRIS SMITH, FOR
YOUR EXCELLENT WORK OVER THE
YEARS IN COMBATING AUTISM AND
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL TO
RE-AUTHORIZE THE COMBATING
AUTISM ACT.
AS MR. DOYLE SAID, THERE'S AN
INCREASING PREVALENCE OF
AUTISM, AND IT IS THE DIAGNOSIS
AND A CONDITION THAT THESE
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
DEAL WITH FOR THEIR ENTIRE
LIFE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THOSE
FAMILIES.
A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE.
ONE THAT CAN'T BE OVERSTATED.
BUT IT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE FOR
SOCIETY AS WELL BECAUSE THE
LONG-TERM COST INVOLVED IN
PROVIDING CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DEVELOPMENT DISORDERS CAN
BE GRAVE BUT IT CAN BE
LESSENED.
THERE IS HOPE.
THERE IS TREATMENT.
THE BLESSING OF RECENT YEARS IN
FACT HAS BEEN THAT NEW RESEARCH
AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS
ARE MAKING AN ENORMOUS
DIFFERENCE IN BETTERING THE
LIVES OF YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS
WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
AND WITH EARLY AUTISM MANY CAN
LEAD MUCH BETTER IF NOT ALMOST
NORMAL LIVES WHICH IS A
BLESSING FOR ALL OF US AND IT'S
A JOY TO SEE.
IT'S A JOY TO SEE THESE
CHILDREN RESPOND TO EARLY
INTERVENTION AND BEGIN TO
DEVELOP EMOTIONALLY.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL AUTISM CAUCUS, I
PERSONALLY SEEN EXCITING
AT FACILITIES USING
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
CARE.
MITCHELL'S PLACE IN BIRMINGHAM
IS HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN ANDED
A LESSANTS IN ALABAMA IMPROVE
-- ADOLESCENTS IN ALABAMA
IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC AND
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR BY COMBINING IT
WITH A STRUCTURED AND CARING
ENVIRONMENT.
THAT CENTER WAS STARTED BY A
COUPLE WHOSE YOUNG BOY HAD
AUTISM, AND IT IS A BLESSING
FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU ONLY
YOU ONLY NEED TO HAVE IT THAT
CENTER AND SEE THE NEW HOPE
THEY HAVE, NOT ONLY THEY BUT
THEIR PROUD PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS AS THEY REALIZE
THAT EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK,
EVERY MONTH, THEY'RE IMPROVING
AND BECOMING MORE A PART OF
SOCIETY AND MORE A FUNCTIONING
INDIVIDUAL AS FAR AS THEIR
OTHERS.
IT'S LITERALLY A GODSEND TO
THESE FAMILIES, IT'S AN OASIS A
SPRING IN THE DESERT.
A COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IS
THE KEY OTHIS PROCESS.
MY HOME STATE OF ALABAMA, AN
I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY, HAS
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF
CLOSE COOPERATION WHEN IT
FORMED THE ALABAMA INTERAGENCY
AUTISM COORDINATING DOWN SULL
IN 2008.
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, IT LOOKED
TO PENNSYLVANIA AND THE WORK
CHILDREN AND PARENTS ACROSS MY
STATE ARE BEING HELPED BY THE
COUNCIL'S PLANNING AND
AWARENESS EFFORTS.
FINALLY, MR. SPEAKER, THE
COMBATING AUTISM ACT HAS BEEN
CRUCIAL TO PROMOTING THE KIND
OF COORDINATED APPROACH ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
THE RENEWAL OF THIS LEGISLATION
WILL BUILD ON THE SUCCESSES
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED
IN A WAY -- IN A RESPONSIBLE
AND EFFECTIVE WAY.
I CLOSE BY SAYING IT'S MY HOPE
THIS LEGISLATION WILL
RECEIVE OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS DOING
GOOD WORKS WHILE MAKING LIFE
CHANGING INVESTMENTS IN THE
HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
SPECIAL CHILDREN.
THANK YOU.
AND VERY PRECIOUS CHILDREN,
TOO.
THANK YOU, MR. DOYLE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM -- THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS WORDS OF
CONFIDENCE.
AT THIS TIME, I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NORTH CAROLINA, MR.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
LET ME FIRST
THANK CONGRESSMAN DOYLE FOR
YIELDING TIME AND CERTAINLY
THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON
THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
NOT ONLY HAS HE LED ON THIS
ISSUE, BUT HE'S LED ON THE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
AND I JUST WANT
TO THANK HIM PUBLICLY FOR HIS
FRIENDSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
ALSO LET ME THANK CHRIS SMITH,
CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH FOR HIS
BIPARTISAN SPIRIT AND
WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THESE TWO MEN WORKING TOGETHER
HAVE REALLY AND TRULY MADE A
DIFFERENCE.
SO I JOIN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. PITTS AND ALL
THE OTHERS FOR THANKING THEM
FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
MR. SPEAKER, LATER TODAY, THE
HOUSE WILL TAKE UP THIS
LEGISLATION, THE COMBATING
AUTISM RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2011.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I
INTEND TO VOTE FOR THIS VERY
IMPORTANT BILL.
HOWEVER, I'VE COME TO THE FLOOR
TODAY TO MAKE A VERY SIMPLE BUT
IMPORTANT POINT.
THAT I HAD INTENDED TO RAISE
HAD THIS BILL BEEN HEARD IN
REGULAR ORDER AND HAD IT BEEN
CONSIDERED BY OUR COMMITTEE.
ALTHOUGH AUTISM OCCURS IN EVERY
RACIAL AND ETHNIC AND SOSE YO
GROUP, STUDIES SHOW
CLEARLY THAT ON AVERAGE, A
DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM OR AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDER IS ACTUALLY
DELAYED.
IT'S DELAYED BY ALMOST TWO
YEARS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
HISPANIC CHILDREN AS COMPARED
TO THEIR CAUCASIAN
COUNTERPARTS.
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY NOT
KNOW THIS, BUT IT IS A CLEAR
FACT.
MINORITY CHILDREN ARE MUCH MORE
LIKELY TO BE MISDIAGNOSED WITH
CONDUCT-RELATED OR ADJUSTMENT
DISORDERS.
SINCE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EARLY
DETECTION, EARLY DETECTION,
YIELDS BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE
RESULTS, IT IS IMPERATIVE, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT WE EXPAND EFFORTS
TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN
AWARENESS, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT
AND SERVICES.
IN CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAMS OF
THE RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT, I
SIMPLY ASK THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO
EVERY CONCEIVABLE EFFORT
TO ADDRESS THE WELL DOCUMENTED
NEEDS OF MINORITY CHILDREN WHO
ARE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS DISEASE
THAT WE REFER TO AS AUTISM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT PASSAGE OF H.R.
2005.
I YIELD BACK.
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
JERSEY, MR. SMITH, AND THANK
HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, I THANK
MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. PITTS, MORE
YIELDING AND HIS LEADERSHIP ON
ALL EFFORT ISSUES RELATED TO
HEALTH AND IN PARTICULAR
I THANK MINORITY LEAD -- I
THANK SPEAKER BOEHNER AND
MAJORITY LEADER CANTOR FOR
BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR.
I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND,
MR. DOYLE.
WE HAVE WORKED ON THIS FOR WELL
OVER A DECADE.
WE FORMED THE AUTISM CAUCUS
THAT HAS OVER 100 MEMBERS AND
IT'S TOTALLY BIPARTISAN.
IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK
WITH HIM AND THANK HIM FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AS WELL.
I DO RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL, H.R. 2005, THE
COMBATING AUTISM
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF 2005, IT IS
PRNT TO CONTINUE WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION THE PROGRESS
ACHIEVED TO DATE IN
UNDERSTANDING AUTISM AND THIS
DEVELOPING INTERRENTIONS THAT
WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT
IN HELPING INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED
BY AUTISM OR OTHER
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED IN
CONGRESS IN 1980, MR. SPEAKER,
THE AUTISM COMMUNITY ACCEPTED
THAT AUTISM PREVALENCE RATES IN
THE UNITED STATES WERE
SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF THREE
IN 10,000.
TODAY IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE ONE
IN 110.
IN SOME PLACES LIKE NEW JERSEY,
SUGGESTS ONE IN 94.
FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1.5
MILLION INDIVIDUALS IN THE U.S.
WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM AUTISM.
I CHAIRED A HEARING AS THE
CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH AND
HUMAN RIGHTS AFRICA
SUBCOMMITTEE.
MY COMMITTEE RECEIVED TESTIMONY
THAT SOME 67 MILLION PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE SUFFERED FROM A.S.D.
IN THE WORLD, ABOUT TENS OF
MILLIONS IN AFRICA, ACCORDING
TO THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION.
IT IS AN EPIDEMIC THIS BILL,
THIS LEGISLATION, THE COMBATING
AUTISM ACT IS A VERY
RESPONSIBLE AND I WOULD SUGGEST
MODEST EFFORT TO COMBAT THIS
PANDEMIC THAT'S OCCURRING.
IN 1998, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE
RECORD, THE WONDERFUL PARENTS
OF TWO AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN MY
DISTRICT, BOBBY AND BILLIE
GALLAGHER, CANNED ME TO LOOK
INTO WHAT APPEARED AT THE TIME
TO BE AN AUTISM PREVALENCE
SPIKE IN BRICK TOWNSHIP, NEW
JERSEY.
I INVITED C.D.C. AND THE AGENCY
FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCE AND DISEASE
REGISTRY TO INVESTIGATE.
NOT ONLY DID THEIR PROBE SHOW
WHAT APPEARED TO BE ELEVATED
NUMBERS OF CHILDREN WITH THE
DISORDER IN BRICK TOWNSHIP BUT
THE DATA STRONGLY SUGGESTED A
MUCH WIDER PROBLEM THAN
ANTICIPATED IN OTHER PARTS OF
MY STATE.
THEY WERE DOING COMPARISONS AND
THE DATA CALLS PRODUCED
INFORMATION THAT SAID UH-OH, WE
HAVE A PROBLEM, NOT JUST IN
BRICK, BUT ELSEWHERE.
IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THAT, IN
1999, I INTRODUCED THE AUTISM
STATISTIC RESEARCH TO ESTABLISH
CENTERS OF EVIDENCE AND CREATE
A FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
WHICH BECAME TITLE 1 OF THE
CHILDREN'S ACT OF 2000.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN
BILIRAKIS FOR INCLUDING IT IN
HIS BILL AND IT MADE ALL THE
FIVE YEARS LATER, THE
INITIATIVE WAS RE-AUTHORIZED
EXPANDED IN THE COMBATING
AUTISM ACT.
THE LAW WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
MEMBERS TO RENEW TODAY.
ACCORDING TO THE N.I.H., AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDER AND JUST FOR
THE RECORD, AUTISM IS DEFINED
AS IMPAIRED VERBAL OR NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SOCIAL
INTERACTION AND RESTRICTED,
REPETITIVE AND STEREOTYPED
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR RANGING
FROM MILD TO SIGNIFICANTLY
DISABLING.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE
COMBATING AUTISM ACT OF 2011
WILL CONTINUE THE SUCCESS OF
THE C.A.A. OF 2006 BY
AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR
PROGRAMS AT N.I.H., C.D.C.,
URSA FOR THREE ADDITIONAL
YEARS.
I WOULD POINT OUT, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT, AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDER IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND
EFFORTS MADE TO MITIGATE ITS
PREVALENCE AND TREAT WITH EARLY
INTERVENTION THOSE WHO SHOW OR
IT, IT'S NOT
ONLY HUMANE BUT ALSO COST
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT A.S.D.
COSTS PER YEAR IS BETWEEN $35
BILLION AND $90 BILLION WITH A
-- WITH A B.
THE COSTS ARE VERY, VERY LARGE.
H.R. 2005, AS MY COLLEAGUES I
KNOW HAVE SAID, WOULD ALSO
RE-AUTHORIZE THE INTERAGENCY
AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE,
OR IACC.
A PANEL OF GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC MEMBERS TASKED WITH
REGULATING ALL AUTISM RELATED
ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS ANNUALLY
HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN ORDER ATO THE ADDRESS THE
QUALITY, EFFICACY OF GRANTS, IN
OTHER WORDS, LET'S SPEND THE
MONEY WISELY AND AVOID WASTE
AND DUPLICATION.
THEY HAVE CRAFTED THREE
STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLANS, ONE
IN 2009, ONE IN 2010, AND
ANOTHER FOR THIS YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2009, THE
STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDED 40
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DIAGNOSTIC
TOOLS, IDENTIFICATION OF
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
FACTORS AND ASSESSMENTS OF
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH A.S.D.
SETTING.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE
AGING OUT ISSUE IS BECOMING
INCREASINGLY A CONCERN.
WHAT DOES A PARENT WHOSE SON OR
DAUGHTER WHO TURN 21 AND THE
FULL ARRAY OF SERVICES IS NO
LONGER AVAILABLE, WHAT DO THEY
DO?
RECENTLY, HAD CHUCK COLSON'S
DAUGHTER, WHO WROTE A BOOK
CALLED "DANCING WITH MAX," A
WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE BETWEEN
A MOTHER AND HER SON, HER SON
IS AGING OUT AND SHE'S
FRIGHTENED BY THE PROSPECT OF
WHAT HAPPENS AS SHE GETS
ELDERLY AND THE SERVICES ARE
NOT THRESM 2010 STRATEGIC PLAN
HAD 32 NEW OBJECTIVES,
INCLUDING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
OF CO-CONCURRING TRADITIONS
INCLUDING EPILEPSY, SLEEP AND
GAST PROINTESTAL DISORDERS.
THE 2010 PLAN ADDED MORE
DISORDERS, INCLUDING THE USE OF
COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR
NONVERBAL INDIVIDUALS.
I WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES,
AND I HAVE MUCH MORE TO PUT
INTO THE RECORD ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS, BUT THESE
DIFFERENT AGENCIES OF
GOVERNMENTS ARE SURBLINGING TO
TRY TO COMBAT AUTISM.
WE NEED TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE
LEGISLATION.
THE C.D.C. HAS ITS LEARN THE
SIGNS, ACT EARLY.
MY FRIEND MR. BUTTER FEEL
MENTIONED THAT MINORITY
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT
OR DIAGNOSED -- DIAGNOSES ARE
NOT DONE IN A TIMELY WAY.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE PROGRAMS ARE IN PLACE.
THE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE WHAT IS
TRULY A VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE
USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO HELP
THESE AUTISTIC CHILDREN.
THERE'S ALSO THE PROBLEM, AS
THE INFORMATION HAS LEARNED,
EARLY DETECTION IS KEY TO
MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF
BUT STILL, EVEN WITH 10 YEARS'
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATING DOCTORS
AND PARENTS AND EDUCATORS,
THERE IS STILL ABOUT A TWO-YEAR
LAG WHEN THERE'S A DETECTION OF
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY SON
OR DAUGHTER BEFORE THAT
DIAGNOSIS IS ACTUALLY MADE AND
THE EARLIER WE START THE
INTERVENTION STRATEGY THE
GREATER THAT CHILD WILL HAVE A
QUALITY OF LIFE AND A LIFE
WHERE THEY CAN THEN ACHIEVE
THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS BUT IF
WE DON'T CATCH IT EARLY, AND
BEGIN TAKING ACTION, VERY OFTEN
THE LIFE OF THAT CHILD IS MORE
SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED.
THIS LEGISLATION, LIKE I SAID,
IS A MODEST STEP BUT A VERY
CRUCIAL STEP AND I WANT TO
THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS.
THE N.G.O.'S IN THE COMMUNITY,
AUTISM SPEAKS, ALL THE GROUPS,
FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE IN
EDUCATING MEMBERS AND AGAIN,
THANK YOU AGAIN CHAIRMAN PITTS
THIS BILL TO THE
FLOOR AND TO EMBING CANTOR FOR
SCHEDULING IT AND SHEEN --
ENSURING WE ACT ON IT IN A
TIMELY WAY AND MY GOOD FRIEND
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE,
MR. DOYLE, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT
TO THANK MY FRIEND, CHRIS
SMITH, FOR HIS IMPORTANT WORDS.
I HOPE ALL MEMBERS WERE
LISTENING CAREFULLY BECAUSE --
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT
TO THANK MY FRIEND, CHRIS
SMITH, FOR HIS IMPORTANT WORDS.
WE ANTICIPATE SOME PEOPLE
COMING TO THE FLOOR TO SPEAK SO
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI
ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I WANT TO THANK MY
FOOD FRIEND FOR BRING THIS TO
THE FLOOR TODAY.
EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT ONE IN
EVERY 110 CHILDREN IS DIAGNOSED
WITH AUTISM.
AS A WHOLE, DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES AFFECT AN
INCREASING NUMB OF YOUNG PEOPLE
AN SPECIFICALLY STUDENTS.
IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PROVIDE
STUDENTS WITH EXCITING
EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT
OPPORTUNITIES, I WAS HONORED TO
ESTABLISH THE CONGRESSIONAL
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL
DISABLES IN 2010.
LAST WEEK 22 CONGRESSIONAL
OFFICES, REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC, WELCOMED 11
DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
STUDENTS TO THEIR STAFFS TO
SERVE AS INTERNS FOR THIS FALL.
COLLECTING DATA FOR AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND OTHER
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS
VITAL TO ENSURING THAT EVERY
YOUNG PERSON WITH A SIGNIFICANT
DISABILITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY,
THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE
SUPPORT TO BECOME GAINFULLY
EMPLOYED IN AN INTEGRATED
A POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION AND CONTRIBUTE TO AND
ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS IN
TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS
ONCE THEY LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS GIVES THESE INDIVIDUALS
WITH AUTISM HOPE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS, AND I THANK YOU AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF OUR TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I FIRST
LEARNED ABOUT AUTISM WHEN I WAS
A YOUNG STAFFER IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATE.
A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF DAN
COMES INTO OUR OFFICE ONE DAY.
HIS SON, EDDIE, HAD AUTISM AND
HE HAD ASKED US TO SEE WHAT WE
COULD DO AT THE STATE LEVEL TO
HELP.
TIME.
HE'S AN ADULT NOW.
HE'S IN HIS MID 40'S.
A LOT OF PEOPLE'S IDEA OF
AUTISM, IF THEY SAW THE MOVIE
"RAIN MAN," THAT WAS ABOUT THE
ONLY THING THEY KNEW ABOUT
IT WAS SOMETHING PEOPLE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND.
SOMETHING THAT WAS FREQUENTLY
WHEN CHRIS AND I DECIDED TO
FORM THIS CAUCUS OVER 10 YEARS
AGO, ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE
HAD WAS TO BRING EDUCATION AND
AWARENESS NOT ONLY TO OUR
COLLEAGUES, MANY OF WHOM WERE
NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DISORDER,
BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO
TO BRING SOME ATTENTION TO THE
RESEARCHERS AT N.I.H. TOO, THAT
THERE WAS SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER
TO THIS THAN IT'S REALIZED.
IT'S BORNE FRUIT OVER THE
YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN RESEARCH DOLLARS
GREATLY INCREASED AT N.I.H.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT CHRIS SAID,
THE PARENT GROUPS.
THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF THE ALL
TISM COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT CHRIS SMITH OR MIKE
DOYLE.
IT'S THE PARENTS OF THESE
CHILDREN THAT FORM THE MANY
DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT YOU SEE
OUT THERE.
THEIR GRASSROOTS EFFORT REALLY
HAS GROWN THIS MOVEMENT AND
BROUGHT ATTENTION TO IT AND
GIVEN THE STRENGTH AND BROUGHT
IT SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE HAVE A CLOCK TICKING.
THIS ACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF
SEPTEMBER.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN
OVER IN THE SENATE WITH SOME OF
OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT
RE-AUTHORIZING DISEASE-SPECIFIC
I HOPE OUR COLLEAGUES WILL
SPEAK TO THOSE OVER IN THE
I CERTAINLY INTEND TO SPEAK TO
MINE AND STRESS THE IMPORTANCE
OF CONTINUING THE GREAT
PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE OVER
THIS PAST FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO
STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TO
PULL SUPPORT FOR THIS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT ACT.
SO I HOPE THAT WE WILL PASS
THIS SWIFTLY IN THE HOUSE OF
I HOPE ALL OF US WILL USE
WHATEVER INFLUENCE WE MAY HAVE
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE
OTHER BODY TO SEE THAT THEY
ALSO GET THIS RE-AUTHORIZED BY
THE END OF THE MONTH SO THAT
THE PRESIDENT CAN SIGN IT FOR
ALL OF THE FAMILIES OUT IN
AMERICA WHO ARE DEALING WITH
THIS DISORDER.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT
RECORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE
NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
I URGE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT H.R.
2005 AND I COMMEND, AGAIN,
CHRIS SMITH AND MIKE DOYLE FOR
THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE,
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2005.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 1852, THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL G.M.E. SUPPORT
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2011.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
NUMBER 132.
H.R. 1852, A BILL TO AMEND THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT TO
RE-AUTHORIZE SUPPORT FOR
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN CHILDREN'S
HOSPITALS.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
MR. PITTS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. DOYLE,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
MR. PITTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
1852, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2011
WILL HELP THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO
CHILDREN'S FREESTANDING
HOSPITALS TO SUPPORT THE
TRAINING OF PEDIATRICIANS AND
OTHER RESIDENTS.
THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO
ENSURING THE ADEQUACY OF THE
PEED AT RICK WORK FORCE IN THE
-- PEDIATRIC WORK FORCE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THE ACT WAS FIRST ENACTED IN
CONGRESS IN 1999 WITH WIDE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND HAS BEEN
RE-AUTHORIZED TWICE.
SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE
BILL, THE NUMBER OF
PEDIATRICIANS TRAINED HAS
INCREASED BY 35%.
THE WEEK WE MARKED UP THIS BILL
I MET 10-YEAR-OLD ANNA LIPSMAN.
ANNA IS A BRIGHT, OUTGOING
YOUNG GIRL WHO IS FIGHTING
DIAGNOSED JUST A FEW MONTHS
AGO, ANA SPENT TWO WEEKS OF
TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL IN
PHILADELPHIA.
SHE WILL STILL NEED ADDITIONAL
YEARS.
AN CY A STRONG PERSONAL REMINE
-- ANNA IS A STRONG PERSONAL
REMINDER WHY I INTRODUCED THIS
BILL.
WE HOPE TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE
TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES THAT THIS BILL
IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURING THAT
HEALTH CARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR.
PALLONE AND ALL THE 114
CO-SPONSORS THAT WORKED ON THIS
LEGISLATION, AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION, AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
SPEAKER.
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
IN SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION SUPPORT
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OFFERED BY
MY GOOD FRIENDS, MR. PITTS AND
MR. PALLONE.
I KNOW MR. PALLONE IS ON HIS
WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WILL BE
SPEAKING SHORTLY.
THIS CRITICAL LEGISLATION WILL
RE-AUTHORIZE THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM THROUGH 2016
TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN
HAVE ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY
NEED AND DESERVE.
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
PASS THIS BILL WITH UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT.
THE ORIGINAL BIPARTISAN PROGRAM
WAS ENACTED OVER A DECADE AGO
TO PROVIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE
FEDERAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT
AND CARRY OUT NECESSARY
RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAMS.
LAST YEAR ALONE, OVER 50
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS RECEIVED
FUNDING TO CARRY OUT THESE
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
TODAY OVER 40% OF PEDIATRICIANS
AND PEDIATRIC SPECIALISTS ARE
TRAINED THROUGH THE GRADUATE
MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM IS VITAL TO
MAINTAINING THE PEDIATRIC WORK
FORCE AND TO ENSURE CHILDREN'S
ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF
PEDIATRIC CARE PROVIDED IN THIS
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL G.M.E.
PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL
INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN'S
HEALTH, AND I AM PROUD TODAY
THAT WE WILL VOTE TO
RE-AUTHORIZE THIS HUGELY
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY,
SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
H.R. 1852, LEGISLATION TO
RE-AUTHORIZE THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL'S GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM.
TODAY'S LEGISLATION WILL ASSIST
PEDIATRIC TRAINING PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY
MAINTAINING AND STRENGTHENING
EXISTING HOSPITAL GRADUATE
MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR
CHILDREN.
INDEPENDENT CHILDREN'S
HOSPITALS HAVE AN INDISPENSIBLE
ROLE IN THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
WORK FORCE, TRAINING 40% OF ALL
PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS AND 43% OF
PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY FELLOWS AND
PROVIDING PEDIATRIC TRAINING
FOR MANY OTHER RESIDENTS.
NOWHERE IS MORE EVIDENT THAN
THE CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED
HOSPITAL IN MOUNTAIN SIDE, NEW
JERSEY, IN THE DISTRICT I HAVE
THE HONOR IN SERVING.
UNDER THE STRONG LEADERSHIP OF
MY FRIEND, AMY MANSU, THE STAFF
DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF CARING
FOR CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE
HIGHLY QUALIFIED,
EFFECTIVE MEDICAL PERSON ELL
EXIST.
I THANK HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN PITTS FOR HIS
TREMENDOUS WORK IN THIS EFFORT
AS WELL AS RANKING MEMBER
PALLONE, AND I THANK THEM FOR
WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN
CAPACITY TO BRING THIS
LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR.
I'M HONORED TO SERVE ON
CHAIRMAN PITTS' SUBCOMMITTEE,
AND I'M PLEASED THAT THE FULL
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
HAS AGREED WITH WHAT WE HAVE
TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
HERE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT H.R.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS
PROGRAM BE RE-AUTHORIZED.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT MR. PALLONE
IS COMING TO THE FLOOR, ONE OF
THE SPONSORS OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MR. SPEAKER, WE DO
NOT HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS.
I'LL CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
READY TO CLOSE?
MR. SPEAKER, IT
YET.
HIS FLIGHT WAS LATE GETTING IN,
SO WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS
EITHER.
AT THIS POINT WE WILL YIELD THE
REST OF OUR TIME.
THE
HIS TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS INTO THE
RECORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IN CONCLUSION, I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE RANKING
MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MR.
PALLONE, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE.
IT HAS BEEN A BIPARTISAN EFFORT
IN THE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE AND
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
1852.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
2/3 HAVING RESPONDED IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES ARE
SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS PASSED,
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE
IN RECESS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY