WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), today held a markup to consider eight bipartisan bills, six of which originated in the Health Subcommittee.
The full committee passed the following public health bills unanimously by voice vote:
* H.R. 4365, Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016, introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), would amend the Controlled Substances Act to enable paramedics and other emergency medical services (EMS) professionals to continue to administer controlled substances to patients pursuant to standing orders issued by their EMS agency’s medical director.
* H.R. 1192, National Clinical Care Commission Act, authored by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), would establish a National Clinical Care Commission to evaluate and recommend solutions regarding better coordination and use of federal programs relating to supporting care for people with metabolic syndromes and related autoimmune disorders.
* H.R. 1209, Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, introduced by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), increases data collection by HHS to help place maternal health professionals in more appropriate geographic regions and health professional shortages through their existing participating in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). There is no new authorization of appropriations for this bill nor does it open or expand participation in the NHSC.
* H.R. 1877, Mental Health First Aid, introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), requires SAMHSA to award grants to initiate and sustain mental health awareness training grants. Individuals throughout a community would be eligible for inclusion in training such as first responders, law enforcement, or teachers. The goal of these programs is to train individuals to accomplish safe de-escalation of crisis situations, recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and encourage timely referral to mental health services.
* H.R. 2713, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), reauthorizes grants and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate nursing education in specified areas of nursing. The legislation also amends the PHSA to include clinical nurse leaders as advanced education nurses making clinical nurse leader education programs eligible for advanced education nursing grants.
* H.R. 3537, the Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), would place a number of synthetic drug compounds on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
“Collectively, these bipartisan bills will improve the health of Americans across a large spectrum of issues," stated Chairman Upton. “From better coordinating federal efforts regarding autoimmune and metabolic syndromes, to updating the list of dangerous synthetic drug compounds to get them off our streets, these bills will all make a difference for folks in Southwest Michigan and across the country."
