WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives this evening is poised to consider five bipartisan public health bills led by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The measures build upon the committee’s proven record of success with a number of legislative accomplishments to improve public health already signed into law in the 113th Congress. The legislation under consideration this evening aims to help individuals with traumatic brain injuries, newborns, trauma patients, and those with autism.
“The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, under the leadership of Rep. Joe Pitts, has an outstanding record of accomplishment, working in a bipartisan manner on legislation that truly touches people’s lives. As the House tackles important bills to boost newborn health, traumatic brain injury treatment, trauma care, and autism research, we will continue working to advance important public health initiatives. With a number of bills already signed into law, and those working their way through the legislative process, the 113th Congress is shaping up to be known as the public health Congress," commented full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI).
The House will consider the following measures:
H.R. 1098, the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act, authored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), reauthorizes programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track and reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to provide support programs for TBI patients and their families.
H.R. 1281, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), reauthorizes the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2008 to continue federal activities that assist states in improving their newborn screening programs, supporting parent and provider newborn screening education, and ensuring laboratory quality and surveillance. The bill also continues research on newborn screening conditions at the National Institutes of Health.
H.R. 3548, the Improving Trauma Care Act, authored by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), amends the Public Health Service Act to improve the definition of trauma by including injuries caused by thermal, electrical, chemical, or radioactive force. These injuries are commonly treated by burn centers.
H.R. 4080, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Rep. Gene Greene (D-TX), reauthorizes Trauma Care Systems Planning Grants, which support state and rural development of trauma systems. It also reauthorizes pilot projects to implement and assess regionalized emergency care models.
H.R. 4631, the Autism CARES Act, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), extends the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 to continue federal research, early identification and intervention, and education related to autism as well as the activities of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
