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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, gave the following opening statement at a subcommittee markup of four health bills, including the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007.
"Good morning. Today the Subcommittee is meeting to markup four important bills:
- H.R. 1343, the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007, introduced by my good friend Mr. Green and Mr. Pickering;
- H.R. 5669, the Poison Control Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act, sponsored by Mr. Towns and Mr. Terry;
- H.R. 1553, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, sponsored by Ms. Pryce and Mr. Van Hollen;
- H.R. 3112, the Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act of 2007, sponsored by Mr. Sensenbrenner.
"Each of these bills is vitally important to protecting the public health and improving access to health care services for millions of Americans.
"Next week marks 'Cover the Uninsured Week,' a time of year in which we try to come together and highlight the fact that far too many Americans currently lack basic health coverage and are unable to access the health care services they need. While we can agree that our country is facing a growing crisis when it comes to the uninsured, we tend to see things differently when we talk about how to reach the goal of affordable and stable health care for all.
"One program, however, that has received broad bipartisan support for its efforts in addressing the needs of the uninsured is the Community Health Centers program. For the past forty years, there has been one place that Americans have been able to go to, regardless of their ability to pay, and receive the medical treatment that they deserve---our nation’s community health centers.
"Since the mid 1960s, community health centers have served as a first line of defense to provide quality preventive and primary health care services. During the hearing the Subcommittee held on the health centers program last year, we heard about what an important role these centers play in medically underserved communities. We heard from Steven Miracle of Georgia Mountain Health Services, who talked about the success they have experienced in providing health services to the medically needy, as well as the persistent challenges they continue to face in light of our strained health care system.
"Indeed, as more and more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured, the demands on our state’s health centers are growing exponentially. Increased demand coupled with aging facilities and difficulties in recruitment and retention of health professionals has placed tremendous strain on our health centers. Accordingly, action by the Subcommittee today to reauthorize this program will strengthen our community health centers and help them fulfill the role they play in guaranteeing access to high quality health services.
"I want to thank Mr. Green for sponsoring this important bill. He has been a steadfast advocate for the health centers program and there is no doubt in my mind that it is because of his efforts that we are finally able to act upon this bill today.
"In addition to the Health Centers Renewal Act, the Subcommittee will also mark up the Poison Center Support, Enhancement and Awareness Act introduced by my good friend Mr. Towns and Mr. Terry.
"Poison Control Centers are our nation’s primary defense against injury and deaths from poisoning. These centers are on call 24 hours a day to help providers and the public with possible exposures to poison. In addition, poison centers provide essential follow up care, professional health care provider education, nationwide data collection on poisoning and a number of other services. These centers are of tremendous value to our communities and I thank Mr. Towns and Mr. Terry for working together to reauthorize this important program.
"H.R. 1553, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007 was introduced by Representatives Deborah Pryce and Chris Van Hollen, both of whom have been tireless advocates for beating back cancers that inflict children.
"This legislation would strengthen federal investment in pediatric cancer research by advancing medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensuring patients and families have access to current treatments and information regarding pediatric cancers, and promoting public awareness of pediatric cancer. Although the five year survival rate for children with cancer is steadily increasing, cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined. I’m hopeful passage of this bill will help us win the fight against childhood cancer.
"Finally, the Subcommittee will markup H.R. 3112, the Prenatally Diagnosed Awareness Act of 2007, introduced by Mr. Sensenbrenner. This legislation would ensure that pregnant women or mothers of newborns with a prenatally diagnosed condition have timely access to updated, scientific information about the life expectancy, intellectual and functional development, and treatment options for their child.
"In addition, this legislation would provide families with referrals to support services; improve our nation’s epidemiological understanding of prenatally diagnosed conditions; and support health care providers who provide the results of prenatal or postnatal tests to patients.
"I would like to once again thank all my colleagues for their hard work on these bills, especially for their willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the Subcommittee’s consideration of them. I now recognize Mr. Deal for the purpose of making an opening statement."
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