Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Subcommittee on Health markup on H.R. __, Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2018, H.R. 959, H.R. 1676, H.R. 3728, and H.R. 5385:
Today we are considering five bipartisan public health bills. Taken together these bills will strengthen our nation’s emergency preparedness and response efforts and improve our health workforce. I thank the sponsors for the work they’ve done to date to move these important bills forward.
First, H.R. 959 the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act introduced by Reps. Joyce and Matsui, would strengthen our nursing workforce by reauthorizing several programs that support the recruitment, training, and retention of nursing professionals. I’m pleased to support this much needed legislation.
H.R. 1676, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, introduced by Reps. Engel, Reed, and Carter, would improve education, training, and research into palliative care and hospice care. These are essential services that help individuals battling complex conditions to better manage their illnesses and to be as comfortable as possible at the end of life. This legislation will help ensure that we have the workforce to meet the growing need for hospice and palliative care and I urge its passage.
H.R. 3728, the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) Act, introduced by Reps. Burgess, Schakowsky, and Bucshon would reauthorize programs funded under Title VII of the Public Health Service Act. Investment in these programs helps ensure that we have an adequate supply of health care providers. The bill would also boost training for geriatric providers who are increasingly in demand across the country. I’d like to especially thank Rep. Schakowsky for championing this issue.
H.R. 5385, the Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018 introduced by this Subcommittee’s Ranking Member and Chairman, would reauthorize the CHGME program and importantly increase its authorization level. This will allow children’s hospitals to bolster their graduate medical education training and ultimately help to address shortages of pediatric providers. This program is critical to ensuring that every child has access to the care they need and I strongly support passage of this legislation.
Finally, I’m pleased that we’re considering a discussion draft of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2018 authored by my colleagues Representatives Brooks and Eshoo. This legislation supports critical programs that are the foundation of our nation’s emergency preparedness and response efforts. During our hearing on this discussion draft, I raised a number of concerns, particularly related to the codification of the Administration’s decision to move control of the Strategic National Stockpile from CDC to ASPR. I’m glad that my primary concerns will be addressed in the manager’s amendment offered today.
However, I’d like to emphasize that the draft we’re considering today is far from a finished product. There are still many important outstanding priorities that I believe should be considered. I’m committed to working between now and the full committee to ensure all remaining noncontroversial, bipartisan priorities are included.
Thank you, I yield back.
