WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), today approved three bipartisian pieces of health legislation: H.R. 2405, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act; H.R. 1254, the Synthetic Drug Control Act; and, H.R. 1852, the Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act.
“These important bills are critical to our efforts to protect the American people and ensure patients have access to quality health care. I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their overwhelming bipartisian support to draft and pass these bills," said Upton.
The Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 extends the widely used program for five years. CHGME provides support to Children’s Hospitals for pediatric medical residency programs. Today, over 40 percent of pediatrians and pediatric specialists are trained through the CHGME program. H.R. 1852, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), passed by voice vote.
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2011 reauthorizes certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. H.R. 2405, introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), continues to build the nation’s preparedness infrastructure and foster the development of medical countermeasures to better respond to terrorist attacks. H.R. 2405 passed by voice vote.
The Synthetic Drug Control Act would make synthetic drugs that imitate the effect of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines illegal. H.R. 1254, introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), passed by voice vote.
