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Regardless of personal background or political leanings, we all share a concern for access to health care for ourselves and our families. I am committed to making health care more affordable and more accessible. Memphis supports a strong health network and first-class medical research facilities. I’m proud to represent the city’s fine medical institutions and help enable them to continue their high quality of patient care and their outstanding medical research. In 2007, I secured millions of dollars in federal funding for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, the University of Memphis, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, and Southwest Tennessee Community College for projects in biomedical research, medical facilities, and nursing instruction. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the University of Tennessee together have received millions of dollars in federal grants since I’ve been in office. I will continue to support their work and the other important research projects underway across our community. I supported medical research on a national scale through increased funding for NIH for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. I voted in favor of stem cell research, and I will continue to stand up for legislation that supports Tennesseans who live with cancer, diabetes, and other life-altering diseases as well as the doctors and researchers who are fighting for cures. One of the most devastating and heart-breaking health problems confronting our community is the high rate of infant mortality across Memphis. The infant mortality rate in the United States is one of the highest of any industrialized nation in the world; furthermore, the city of Memphis has one of the highest rates in the country. In October, I hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on infant mortality, featuring research and medical professionals from Tennessee and across the nation who gathered to discuss this troubling issue. Brian Dobbins and Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy from The MED and Erin Do and Jessica Gibson from the State of Tennessee Comptroller’s Office provided different perspectives on the alarmingly high rate of infant mortality in Memphis and what must be done to lower it. Since holding the briefing, I have been working with nurses, nurse-midwives, and many health care professionals to draft legislation aimed at reducing infant mortality and improving prenatal care. I have also supported legislation in the House that addresses prenatal health and newborn health: I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2236, the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2007, and H.R. 3825, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2008. The community’s response to a combined effort to lower the tragically high number of infant deaths in Memphis has been powerful and inspirational, and I look forward to continuing our work together to help the mothers, babies and families in the 9th District. Another pressing health issue is the growing nursing shortage. This shortage is felt across the nation and Memphis, especially, has a critical need for more nurses. I have always supported nurses and I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, chaired by former nurse Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA). It was an honor to deliver $312,000 to the University of Memphis for its community health building, which funds expansion to the school’s nursing program, and $312,000 to Southwest TN Community College to expand nursing programs there as well. In both 2007 and 2008, I co-signed letters to the House Appropriations Committee in support of increased funding for Nursing Workforce development. Through legislation, I am working to provide funds to expand nursing school facilities and increase their faculties, in order to admit and train more capable men and women who want to become nurses. I have cosponsored H.R. 677, the Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007, to enable studies on the challenges facing nursing schools; H.R. 772, the Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2007; and H.R. 2384, the Nurse Faculty Higher Education Act, to support nurses and the nursing profession. Disparities in health care quality and access are problems that Congress wishes to ameliorate. I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 676, the National Health Insurance bill, which would establish national, comprehensive health insurance, providing coverage for all Americans. I believe that adequate health care is a fundamental right of every American. As such, income should not determine one’s ability to receive necessary medical services. Congress is addressing racial health disparities through a number of important bills such as the Minority Diabetes Initiative Act and the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007. The House sought to end discrimination against people who suffer from mental illnesses and disorders by passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, and sought to end discrimination in health coverage through the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. I was proud to cosponsor and vote in favor of both bills. I have vigilantly supported legislation to provide additional education, services, and resources for issues in women’s health. I was proud to help pas the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act, which has been signed into law. I am a cosponsor of the Heart Disease Education, Analysis, Research, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act and the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, which I also voted for, as well as numerous bills that provide comprehensive reproductive health services and promote responsible family planning. The House passed H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which prevents a 10% payment reduction for physicians in Medicare (which would have resulted in millions of seniors losing access to the doctors they know and trust), enhances Medicare prevention and mental health benefits, improves and extends programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and improves access to care for rural seniors. This bill became law after the House and Senate successfully overrode the President’s veto. I also believe that our nation’s federal health insurance programs, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare and Medicaid, must be fixed to better meet the needs of the American people. I have heard from physicians, nurses, therapists and other health professionals, as well as patients, about the Administration’s cuts to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, and I have heard their frustration. These reductions in reimbursement are undue and untenable and I have joined many of my colleagues in opposing the cuts. I also will continue working to ease the financial burdens facing disabled and elderly Americans. I have cosponsored a number of bills that aim to fix the flaws in Medicare and protect the cuts that the Administration is trying to make. These bills include Medicare Part D Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2008 and the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007, which I was proud to help pass. As Congress works to pass major Medicare legislation, I will monitor the legislation’s progress and continue to listen to the needs of the constituents. The House also passed the final version of Mental Health Parity/Addiction Equity as part of H.R. 1424, Economic Rescue/Tax Extender Package. The bill is designed to end discrimination against patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses and addiction care by prohibiting insurers from imposing treatment or financial limitations when they offer mental health and addiction care that are more restrictive from those applied to medical and surgical services. In addition to Medicare and Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has been a leading health issue facing Congress. Congress created CHIP in 1997 with broad bipartisan support. CHIP provides health coverage for children in working families with parents who either can’t afford insurance or hold jobs that lack health care benefits. I was proud to speak on the floor in support of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. It is appalling that in 2007 my colleagues across the aisle rallied against a program that currently provides health coverage for over 6 million children and could ensure the health and wellbeing of an additional 4 million uninsured young people. Congress passed S. 2499, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP Extension Act, which extends CHIP through March 31, 2009 and provides additional funding to ensure that no children currently enrolled will be dropped from their coverage; blocks the scheduled 10.1% cut in Medicare physician payment for six months; and imposes a six-month moratorium on certain of the Bush Administration’s Medicaid regulations.
As I fought to pass important Medicare reforms and authorize funds for the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, I also fought to pass legislation to benefit Tennessee’s hospitals, including The MED. The failed Children’s Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007 and the twice-vetoed Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 all would have provided additional federal funds for Tennessee’s busiest public hospitals as well as a reimbursement provision for services The Med has provided to residents of other states. These bills failed to pass and, therefore, the Tennessee-specific language was not adopted; however, I will continue working with the Tennessee Congressional delegation to fight for The MED and Tennessee’s other hospitals. YouTube Videos:
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