WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Subcommittee on Health hearing on “Reauthorizing Vital Health Programs for American Families."
As Prepared for Delivery
Thank you, Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess, for holding this hearing today. I’m glad we’re getting to work on extending several key health care programs that expire at the end of fiscal year, which is just a few months away. The four bipartisan bills we are considering today are a great start. But we have more work to do to fund our nation’s community health centers, special diabetes programs, and other priorities. Thank you to our witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to hearing from you on the bills before us.
At this hearing, we’ll consider four bipartisan bills to reauthorize commonsense public health programs that have a real effect on patients in our communities
First up is H.R. 1058, the Autism CARES Act of 2019, introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA). The number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased over the last several years. Part of this trend may be due to improvements in diagnosis and data collection. As we learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders and identify them at a younger age, we must continue our push to more effectively treat this spectrum of conditions.
The second bill we’ll consider today is H.R. 2507, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019, introduced by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID), Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA). This bill authorizes a five-year extension of newborn screening programs to boost transparency, data collection, and state participation in newborn screening best practices. As our understanding of these conditions has improved over the years, we have realized just how much early intervention care can improve the outcomes for newborns. State-run newborn screening programs are the starting point for our children to live full, healthy lives, and I am glad we’re taking up this effort in a bipartisan way.
We’re also considering H.R. 776, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act, introduced by Representative Peter King (R-NY), Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL), Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Representative G. K. Butterfield (D-NC). This program is the only federal grant program specifically focused on addressing the unique needs of children in emergency medical systems. These grants represent an investment in research regarding best practices, state partnerships to boost capacity for pediatric care, and better data to inform innovation - all with the goal of improving care for our children in health care systems across the country.
Finally, we’ll examine H.R. 2035, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019, authored by Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). This program is very important to me: first, because in 1997 my home state of Oregon became the first state in the nation to create a Lifespan Respite Program to provide relief to family caregivers. Other states soon followed suit; and since 2009 the federal government has offered grants to aide in the implementation of these programs. I have often joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to boost resources for family caregivers taking care of a child or adult with special needs. Now, I’m pleased to be considering the five-year reauthorization of the national respite care program, to help reduce the burnout and stress associated with caring for a family member.
In closing, let me once again thank our witnesses for being here today and Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess for this hearing. I yield back the balance of my time.
