[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8252-H8253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONERS WEEK
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 500) honoring the goals and
ideals of National Nurse Practitioners Week.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 500
Whereas there are more than 106,000 licensed nurse
practitioners in the United States providing high-quality,
cost-effective health care;
Whereas nurse practitioners are registered nurses, with
advanced education and advanced clinical training, most with
master's or post-master's degrees;
Whereas nurse practitioners diagnose acute and chronic
conditions, prescribe medications, treat illnesses, and
counsel patients on health care issues, in coordination with
physicians and other health care providers;
Whereas the excellence, safety, and cost-effectiveness of
the care provided by nurse practitioners has been
established;
Whereas nurse practitioners provide health care to people
of all ages and in diverse health care settings, such as
private office practice, hospitals, long-term care
facilities, schools, State and local health departments, and
managed care facilities;
Whereas more than 20 percent of nurse practitioners
practice in rural settings with populations of less than
25,000, and of the 62 percent who work in cities with
populations of more than 50,000, more than 39 percent work in
inner-city areas; and
Whereas the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners has
designated the week of November 7-13, 2004, as National Nurse
Practitioners Week in recognition of the many contributions
that this dedicated group of health care professionals makes
to the health and well-being of the people in the communities
they serve in this great country: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) honors the goals and ideals of National Nurse
Practitioners Week; and
(2) offers sincere support to nurse practitioners around
the country as they continue to provide high-quality health
care to many Americans.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the House Concurrent
Resolution 500.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 500, honoring
the goals and ideals of National Nurse Practitioners Week, introduced
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners has designated the week
of November 7 through 13, 2004, as National Nurse Practitioners Week in
recognition of the many contributions that this dedicated group of
health care professionals makes to the people
[[Page H8253]]
and well-being of the people in the communities they serve in this
great country.
Currently, there are more than 100,000 licensed nurse practitioners
in the United States providing high-quality, cost-effective health
care. These nurses have advanced education and advanced clinical
training, most with Master's or post-Master's degrees. Every day they,
in coordination with physicians and other health care providers,
diagnose acute and chronic conditions, prescribe medications, treat
illnesses, and counsel patients on health care issues.
I urge my colleagues to offer their support to nurse practitioners
around the country and to help us support H. Con. Res. 500.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, nurse practitioners play a critical role in meeting our
Nation's medical needs. Working hand-in-hand with other professionals,
nurse practitioners improve the flexibility and responsiveness and
efficiency of our health care system. Because of their focus on primary
care, disease prevention, and counseling, nurse practitioners serve as
health care first responders for many American families. From weight
management, blood pressure, dangerous infections, injuries, nurse
practitioners have the frontline view of health care in our country.
Nurse practitioners also improve the health care system's ability to
reach underserved populations. As we all know, primary health care is
desperately needed in many urban and central city communities.
As this resolution notes, nurse practitioners have been there to help
meet this need. Twenty percent of nurse practitioners serve in rural
areas. Forty percent who serve in metropolitan areas work in central
city settings.
In this age of double-digit health care cost inflation, nurse
practitioners help to improve the cost effectiveness of American health
care. By improving patient choice of provider and by promoting
competition, nurse practitioners help to moderate spiraling health care
costs.
Nurse practitioner training programs were first developed some 40
years ago. A shortage of doctors forced State governments to innovate,
and a few nurse practitioners were certified, mostly, in those days,
initially in pediatrics. From that modest beginning, the nurse
practitioner profession has grown to fill an important and vital role
in America's health care system. There are now more than 100,000 nurse
practitioners serving the American public.
I join my colleagues in urging the House to agree to this concurrent
resolution celebrating those 100,000 nurse practitioners and marking
the goals and ideals of National Nurse Practitioners Week.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), the writer of this bill, a
gentleman who is a medical doctor, who certainly has practical real-
world experience in the world of nurse practitioners.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for allowing this bill
to come to the floor. I am aware that there are many of pieces of
legislation that could have filled these hours this week.
Mr. Speaker, nurse practitioners fill a vital role in America's
health care system. As the gentleman from Ohio pointed out, there are
over 106,000 nurse practitioners providing high-quality care around the
Nation, and they are especially important in rural and underserved
areas.
These health care professionals are critical in my district,
especially in areas of Fort Worth, Texas. John Peter Smith, the public
hospital system in Tarrant County, maintains 23 clinics for low-income
and indigent patients around the county.
Nurse practitioners are able to enhance the services provided in many
of these health care clinics. By utilizing nurse practitioners, John
Peter Smith is able to see significantly more patients in an outpatient
setting and to do so on a finite, fixed taxpayer-funded budget. John
Peter Smith and the patients served by the health system could not do
without the dedicated corps of nurse practitioners.
And on a personal note, Mr. Speaker, I have worked with nurse
practitioners both in a training program at Parkland Hospital and I
have had several come through my private practice in Lewisville, Texas,
who trained there and stayed on with me to work in private practice,
Lori Driggs and Jenny Andrews, and certainly I learned a great deal
more from them than I was ever able to teach them.
Mr. Speaker, on November 7 through 13, 2004, the American Academy of
Nurse Practitioners will recognize National Nurse Practitioners Week to
honor the dedication and commitment of these health care professionals.
I rise to commend nurse practitioners for the contribution they make to
the health and well-being of our country.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I simply rise in strong support
of H. Con. Res. 500, honoring the goals and ideals of National Nurse
Practitioners Week. I also want to commend the gentleman from Florida
(Chairman Bilirakis), chairman of the subcommittee, and the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Brown), ranking member, for the tremendous work that
they do on health and health-related issues.
A great deal of my personal health care is provided by a nurse
practitioner, and I simply commend her and all of the other nurse
practitioners throughout the country who make up an integral part of
our health care delivery system. And I would urge agreement to this
concurrent resolution.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 500.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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