[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2124-H2125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Public Health Week and to applaud the passage of legislation to address 
health issues that impact the quality of life of all Americans. I 
commend my colleagues for joining me in passing critical health care 
legislation to improve the lives of Americans, from the youngest to the 
oldest among us, by increasing their access to care.

[[Page H2125]]

  It is fitting that we address this legislation during National Public 
Health Week, a time when our attention is focused on the critical need 
to improve public health. I think it is also fitting that we recognize 
this week while we remember Ryan White, who died 18 years ago 
yesterday. This brave young man, whose namesake, the Ryan White CARE 
Act, has saved so many from the ravages of HIV/AIDS, taught us all an 
important lesson about our personal roles in improving the public's 
health.
  I am the sponsor of two bills that passed this week, the Early 
Hearing Detection & Intervention Act, which amends the Public Health 
Service Act regarding early detection, diagnosis and treatment of 
hearing loss, and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management Act, which 
provides schools with guidelines on how to create appropriate 
management and emergency plans for children with food allergies.
  I also support the following bills that were adopted by the House 
this week:
  The Wakefield Act, which amends the Public Health Service Act to 
improve emergency services for children who need treatment for trauma 
or critical care;
  The Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act, which provides revised 
standards for quality assurance in screening and evaluation of 
gynecologic cytology preparations to ensure that health care 
professionals who screen and interpret tests for cervical cancer are 
skilled in today's medical technology;
  Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, which provides for 
the expansion and improvement of traumatic brain injury programs by 
providing grants to States to support the treatment and rehabilitation 
of traumatic brain injury patients.
  The Safety of Seniors Act, which directs the United States Department 
of Health and Human Services to oversee and support education campaigns 
focused on reducing falls and preventing repeat falls among older 
Americans;
  And finally, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which establishes 
grant programs to provide for education and outreach on newborn 
screening and coordinated follow-up care once newborn screening has 
been conducted.
  These bills will make great strides in ensuring the public's health 
and the essential mission of our Nation. Without health, children 
cannot grow to be all that God meant for them to be, adults cannot 
fulfill their role as contributing members of our society, and our 
elderly cannot peacefully live out their golden years.
  If one were to ask any of us to list those things that might be the 
enemy of our destiny, we would all have to agree that poor health would 
be at the top of the list. For this reason, I will continue to fight 
for the expansion of quality health care programs to help ensure that 
every American can benefit from a more vibrant and productive quality 
of life.

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