[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H7653-H7666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GABRIELLA MILLER KIDS FIRST RESEARCH ACT
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2019) to eliminate taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns
and party conventions and reprogram savings to provide for a 10-year
pediatric research initiative through the Common Fund administered by
the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2019
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Gabriella Miller Kids First
Research Act''.
SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF TAXPAYER FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTY
CONVENTIONS; USE OF FUNDS FOR PEDIATRIC
RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) Termination of Payments for Conventions; Use of Funds
for Pediatric Research.--Section 9008 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(i) Termination of Payments for Conventions; Use of
Amounts for Pediatric Research Initiative.--Effective on the
date of the enactment of the Gabriella Miller Kids First
Research Act--
``(1) the entitlement of any major party or minor party to
a payment under this section shall terminate; and
``(2) all amounts in each account maintained for the
national committee of a major party or minor party under this
section shall be transferred to a fund in the Treasury to be
known as the `10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund',
which shall be available only for the purpose provided in
section 402A(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, and only
to the extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance
in appropriation Acts.''.
(b) Continuation of Priority of Payments From Accounts Over
Payments to Candidates.--
(1) Availability of payments to candidates.--The third
sentence of section 9006(c) of such Code is amended by
striking ``section 9008(b)(3),'' and inserting ``section
9008(i)(2),''.
[[Page H7654]]
(2) Availability of payments from presidential primary
matching payment account.--The second sentence of section
9037(a) of such Code is amended by striking ``section
9008(b)(3)'' and inserting ``section 9008(i)(2)''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Elimination of reports by federal election
commission.--Section 9009(a) of such Code is amended--
(A) by adding ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
(B) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraph (3)
and inserting a period; and
(C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (6).
(2) Elimination of penalties.--Section 9012 of such Code is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking the second sentence;
(B) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) and
redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
(C) in subsection (e)(1), by striking the second sentence;
and
(D) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``, or in connection
with any expense incurred by the national committee of a
major party or minor party with respect to a presidential
nominating convention''.
SEC. 3. 10-YEAR PEDIATRIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) Allocation of NIH Funds in Common Fund for Pediatric
Research.--Paragraph (7) of section 402(b) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(b)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(7)(A) shall, through the Division of Program
Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives--
``(i) identify research that represents important areas of
emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health
challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis
and would benefit from conducting or supporting additional
research that involves collaboration between 2 or more
national research institutes or national centers, or would
otherwise benefit from strategic coordination and planning;
``(ii) include information on such research in reports
under section 403; and
``(iii) in the case of such research supported with funds
referred to in subparagraph (B)--
``(I) require as appropriate that proposals include
milestones and goals for the research;
``(II) require that the proposals include timeframes for
funding of the research; and
``(III) ensure appropriate consideration of proposals for
which the principal investigator is an individual who has not
previously served as the principal investigator of research
conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health;
``(B)(i) may, with respect to funds reserved under section
402A(c)(1) for the Common Fund, allocate such funds to the
national research institutes and national centers for
conducting and supporting research that is identified under
subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) shall, with respect to funds appropriated to the
Common Fund pursuant to section 402A(a)(2), allocate such
funds to the national research institutes and national
centers for making grants for pediatric research that is
identified under subparagraph (A); and
``(C) may assign additional functions to the Division in
support of responsibilities identified in subparagraph (A),
as determined appropriate by the Director;''.
(b) Funding for 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative.--
Section 402A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
282a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and moving the
indentation of each such subparagraph 2 ems to the right;
(B) by striking ``For purposes of carrying out this title''
and inserting the following:
``(1) This title.--For purposes of carrying out this
title''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Funding for 10-year pediatric research initiative
through common fund.--For the purpose of carrying out section
402(b)(7)(B)(ii), there is authorized to be appropriated to
the Common Fund, out of the 10-Year Pediatric Research
Initiative Fund described in section 9008 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, and in addition to amounts otherwise
made available under paragraph (1) of this subsection and
reserved under subsection (c)(1)(B)(i) of this section,
$12,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.'';
and
(2) in subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(1)(D), and (d), by
striking ``subsection (a)'' each place it appears and
inserting ``subsection (a)(1)''.
(c) Supplement, Not Supplant; Prohibition Against
Transfer.--Funds appropriated pursuant to section 402A(a)(2)
of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection
(b)--
(1) shall be used to supplement, not supplant, the funds
otherwise allocated by the National Institutes of Health for
pediatric research; and
(2) notwithstanding any transfer authority in any
appropriation Act, shall not be used for any purpose other
than allocating funds for making grants as described in
section 402(b)(7)(B)(ii) of the Public Health Service Act, as
added by subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert
extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Gabriella Miller Kids
First Research Act of 2013. H.R. 2019, authored by my colleague, Gregg
Harper, is a bill that will help countless kids and families across the
country.
The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act would prioritize funding
for the research of pediatric diseases and disorders such as cancer,
autism, and Fragile X. It would eliminate taxpayer financings of party
conventions, political money, and use these funds instead to expand
pediatric research at the NIH Common Fund through their common fund.
This bill certainly does put kids first.
You know, Gabriella Miller was a little warrior in the battle against
childhood cancer. At only 10 years of age, she had the courage miles
beyond her years. A frying pan and a walnut is all you need to
understand her brave outlook on life.
When she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she was told that the size
of that tumor was about like a walnut; and from then on, Gabriella
traveled with her trusty frying pan squashing countless walnuts along
the way all over the world.
That is the kind of courage and outlook on life that she had.
Advancing health research for millions of young patients who suffer
from rare and genetic diseases has got to be a priority. While we have
made great strides in the country in finding cures and treatments, we
certainly have a great amount of work to do. Included in the work is
pushing for research that is going to help uncover cures for pediatric
diseases.
In order for clinical trials and other advancements to meet their
full potential, adequate resources have got to be directed for
pediatric research. The legislation is an example of how much can be
accomplished by ending wasteful spending and redirecting those funds
towards national priorities like pediatric research.
This effort is going to help families like the Kennedys in Mattawan,
Michigan, my constituents. Eric and Sarah have two wonderful little
girls, Brooke and Brielle, who have the rare disease called spinal
muscular atrophy. Those two little angels, who are fighting SMA with
the same vigor and sunny outlook exhibited by Gabriella, are decorated
little generals in the effort to boost research for rare diseases and
serve as inspiration for every one of us.
The sad reality is that it is often difficult to conduct research
into rare diseases due to the small number of individuals with those
diseases; but we are working to change that--yes, we are--and provide
families with greater hope for a cure and in advances of treatment.
This bill has over 150 cosponsors and is supported by a long list of
patient advocacy groups including Autism Speaks, Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and FightSMA.
I wholeheartedly agree with the bill's Democrat sponsor, Peter Welch
from Vermont, who recently said last night on CNN:
Can we just put the battle axes down for a while and take a
step forward?
He thinks we can. We need to.
With all of us today with so many diseases, we need to pass this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Angelman Syndrome Foundation,
Aurora, IL, July 5, 2013.
Hon. Eric Cantor,
Majority Leader, House of Representatives,United States
Capitol, Washington, DC.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Leader Cantor and Congressman Harper: On behalf of the
Angelman Syndrome Foundation, ASF, I write in strong support
for H.R. 2019, the Kids First Research Act. This important
legislation will
[[Page H7655]]
expand pediatric medical research activities at the National
Institutes of Health, NIH, by approximately $130 million.
Pediatric research should be a national priority, and ASF
applauds Congressman Harper for his leadership on this issue.
This legislation has the potential to develop treatments and
unlock the cure for thousands of impacted children, including
those with Angelman Syndrome.
Angelman syndrome is a single-gene neurodevelopmental
disorder that is related to autism. Continued research for
pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Angelman
syndrome, will lead to effective treatments that will help
combat the autism epidemic in the U.S. The Angelman Syndrome
Foundation's mission is to advance the awareness and
treatment of Angelman syndrome through education and
information, research, and support for individuals with
Angelman syndrome, their families and other concerned
parties. We exist to give all of them a reason to smile, with
the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
On behalf of ASF, thank you again for your leadership and
for supporting the Kids First Research Act.
Sincerely,
Eileen Braun,
Executive Director.
____
ASCO, July 10, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives,Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Harper: On behalf of the American
Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), thank you for the
introduction of The Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R.
2019). In this difficult budget environment, we are pleased
to see any amount of available funds transferred to vital
medical research and offer our endorsement of the
legislation. We commend this bipartisan effort in
acknowledging that medical research should be a priority for
federal spending.
ASCO is the national organization representing more than
30,000 physicians and other health care professionals
specializing in the treatment and research of both pediatric
and adult cancers. Through its support of research leading to
breakthrough improvements in cancer treatment, the NIH
consistently provides a dramatic return on investment, both
in the form of lives saved and economic growth. Our members
witness first hand on a daily basis the high risk, high
reward research that begins with NIH funding and results in
safer, more effective treatment options for cancer patients.
Given its track record of unmatched successes, we are truly
alarmed by the impact of recent budget cuts to the NIH and
the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Budget stagnation in the
last few fiscal years now compounded by cuts due to
sequestration has led to the lowest number of new grants
being funded at NIH since 1998. This is a devastating blow to
the pace of medical research progress especially since it is
occurring at a time of unprecedented basic and clinical
science discoveries that point to rapid progress against many
cancers. It has put life-saving discoveries on hold, stalled
the careers of the young medical scientists who would be
developing cures, and slowed one of our nation's areas of
historical technology leadership that is also a key economic
driver. Given the human and economic costs of these cuts,
ASCO calls on Congress to repeal sequestration and return to
regular order in budget negotiations. It is urgent that we
prevent the $19 billion in sequestration cuts to the NIH
expected over the next ten years and return the NIH to a
priority position in federal budget negotiations.
The Kids First Research Act is a great step in the right
direction to put the NIH back on a plan for reasonable growth
and can make a difference. Through NIH's time-tested peer
review process, this infusion of $130 million over the next
ten years will turn available dollars into new hope for the
health of America's children and all of our citizens. But it
is important to note that it will not compensate for the
larger cuts in this area of investment that have already
happened and are on track to worsen.
ASCO stands ready to help in your efforts to support
medical research at the NIH. If you have any questions or
would like assistance from ASCO on any issue involving cancer
research, please do not hesitate to contact Amanda Schwartz
at Amanda
.[email protected] or 571-483-1647.
Sincerely,
Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP,
President, American Society
of Clinical Oncology.
____
Bear Necessities,
Pediatric Cancer Foundation,
Chicago, IL, July 3, 2013.
Re: Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019)
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Harper: On behalf of the countless
children waging their courageous battle against pediatric
cancer, we strongly and respectfully urge you to support the
Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019).
This measure will provide much needed additional federal
support to complement ongoing research supported by
substantial private funding from national non-profit
childhood cancer organizations, as well as by the National
Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. Passage of
this bill will ensure that the investments of both public and
private resources reach their fullest potential by enabling a
critical mass of research and discovery required to culminate
into promising medical treatments that are ``safe and
effective'' for many childhood diseases, including childhood
cancer.
As you may know, one in every 330 children in the United
States develops cancer before the age of nineteen. The
incidence of cancer among children is increasing. Each school
day, enough children are diagnosed with cancer to empty two
classrooms. Depending on the type of cancer and the
development upon diagnosis, approximately 2,300 children will
die from cancer in any given year. The number of children
diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each year puts more
potential years of life at risk than any single type of adult
cancer. Cancer remains the number one disease killer of
America's children.
There are more than 360,000 childhood cancer survivors of
all ages in the United States. Unfortunately, 74% of
childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some
40% of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or
die from such illnesses. Survivors are at significant risk
for secondary cancers later in life. Current cancer
treatments can affect a child's growth, fertility, and
endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently
immunologically suppressed. Radiation therapy to a child's
brain can significantly damage cognitive function, especially
if given at a very young age. While currently there is very
little in terms of ``safe and effective'' cures for any
particular type of childhood cancer, the underlying genetics
of the disease and recent research breakthroughs make such
treatments foreseeable.
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation thanks you for
sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019)
and we applaud your ongoing commitment to improving the lives
of thousands of children diagnosed with life-threatening
diseases and sparing families from the devastation that these
types of diagnoses cause. We look forward to working with you
to pass this important bill to help ensure a brighter future
for America's children.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Casey,
CEO and Founder.
____
March of Dimes Foundation,
Office of Government Affairs,
Washington, DC, July 17, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Tom Cole,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Peter Welch,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representatives Harper, Cole and Welch: On behalf of
the March of Dimes, a unique collaboration of over 3 million
volunteers affiliated with 51 chapters representing every
state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, I would like
to express our support for H.R. 2019, the Kids First Research
Act. This legislation would provide a welcome infusion of
resources directed to pediatric research at the National
Institutes of Health, NIH.
Our nation must commit to a sustained investment in
pediatric research to build our future by improving the
health of the next generation of children. As one example,
over 500,000 infants are born preterm in the U.S. each year.
Among those who survive, one in five faces health problems
that persist for life such as cerebral palsy, intellectual
disabilities, chronic lung disease, and deafness. Research
breakthroughs that allow us to reduce the rates of preterm
birth would lead to significant declines in infant mortality
and save millions in healthcare and special education costs.
The March of Dimes takes no position on H.R. 2019's
elimination of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, but
if this step is pursued, we strongly support directing the
resultant funds to pediatric research. In addition, we urge
Congress and the Administration to work together to find a
balanced approach to deficit reduction that ensures the
necessary resources are available to fund lifesaving research
across the federal health agencies.
Thank you again for your leadership in introducing the Kids
First Research Act. We look forward to working with you to
make pediatric research a national priority.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer L. Howse,
President.
____
Brooke's Blossoming Hope
for Childhood Cancer Foundation,
December 10, 2013.
Hon. Blake Farenthold,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Farenthold: As a medical research organization
working to accelerate the development of promising medical
discoveries or cures for cancers common to children,
adolescents, and young adults, we write to express our strong
support for your legislation, the Kids First Research Act of
2013 (H.R. 2019).
This measure provides much needed additional federal
support to complement ongoing research supported by
substantial private funding from national non-profit
childhood cancer organizations, as well as by the National
Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. Passage of
this bill will ensure that the investments of both public and
private resources reach their fullest potential by enabling a
critical mass of research
[[Page H7656]]
and discovery required to culminate into promising medical
treatments that are ``safe and effective'' for many childhood
diseases, including childhood cancer.
As you know, one in every 330 children in the United States
develops cancer before the age of nineteen. The incidence of
cancer among children is increasing. Each school day, enough
children are diagnosed with cancer to empty two classrooms.
Depending on the type of cancer and the development upon
diagnosis, approximately 2,300 children will die from cancer
in any given year. The number of children diagnosed with
cancer in the U.S. each year puts more potential years of
life at risk than any single type of adult cancer. Cancer
remains the number one disease killer of America's children.
There are more than 360,000 childhood cancer survivors of
all ages in the United States. Unfortunately, 74% of
childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some
40% of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or
die from such illnesses. Survivors are at significant risk
for secondary cancers later in life. Current cancer
treatments can affect a child's growth, fertility, and
endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently
immunologically suppressed. Radiation therapy to a child's
brain can significantly damage cognitive function, especially
if given at a very young age. While currently there is very
little in terms of ``safe and effective'' cures for any
particular type of childhood cancer, the underlying genetics
of the disease and recent research breakthroughs make such
treatments foreseeable.
Brooke's Blossoming Hope for Childhood Cancer Foundation
thanks you for sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013
(H.R. 2019) and we applaud your ongoing commitment to
improving the lives of thousands of children diagnosed with
life-threatening diseases and sparing families from the
devastation that it causes. We look forward to working with
you to pass this important bill to help ensure a brighter
future for America's children.
Sincerely,
Jessica Hester, M.A. Ed.,
Chief Executive Officer and Founder.
____
Rally Foundation,
Sandy Springs, GA, December 10, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Harper: As a non-profit organization that exists
to fund childhood cancer research, the Rally Foundation for
Childhood Cancer Research, we write to express our strong
support for your legislation, the Kids First Research Act of
2013 (H.R. 2019).
This measure provides much needed additional federal
support to complement ongoing research supported by
substantial private funding from national non-profit
childhood cancer organizations, as well as by the National
Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. Passage of
this bill will ensure that the investments of both public and
private resources reach their fullest potential by enabling a
critical mass of research and discovery required to culminate
into promising medical treatments that are ``safe and
effective'' for many childhood diseases, including childhood
cancer.
As you know, one in every 330 children in the United States
develops cancer before the age of nineteen. The incidence of
cancer among children is increasing. Each school day, enough
children are diagnosed with cancer to empty two classrooms.
Depending on the type of cancer and the development upon
diagnosis, approximately 2,300 children will die from cancer
in any given year. The number of children diagnosed with
cancer in the U.S. each year puts more potential years of
life at risk than any single type of adult cancer. Cancer
remains the number one disease killer of America's children.
There are more than 360,000 childhood cancer survivors of
all ages in the United States. Unfortunately, 74 percent of
childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some
40 percent of childhood cancer survivors have severe
illnesses or die from such illnesses. Survivors are at
significant risk for secondary cancers later in life. Current
cancer treatments can affect a child's growth, fertility, and
endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently
immunologically suppressed. Radiation therapy to a child's
brain can significantly damage cognitive function, especially
if given at a very young age. While currently there is very
little in terms of ``safe and effective'' cures for any
particular type of childhood cancer, the underlying genetics
of the disease and recent research breakthroughs make such
treatments foreseeable.
The Rally Foundation thanks you for sponsoring the Kids
First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019) and we applaud your
ongoing commitment to improving the lives of thousands of
children diagnosed with life-threatening diseases and sparing
families from the devastation that it causes. We look forward
to working with you to pass this important bill to help
ensure a brighter future for America's children.
Sincerely,
Dean Crowe,
Founder and CEO.
____
Solving Kids' Cancer,
December 10, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Harper: On behalf of Solving Kids'
Cancer, I am writing to express our strong support for your
legislation, the Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019),
which would supply critical funds to the National Institutes
of Health for pediatric medical research.
As you know, cancer kills more kids in the U.S. than any
other disease. Each school day, enough children are diagnosed
with cancer to empty two classrooms. We at Solving Kids'
Cancer believe that Every Kid Deserves to Grow Up. For kids
with the deadliest childhood cancers, including
neuroblastoma, sarcomas and brain tumors, their chances of
ever living long enough to be able to cast their first ballot
are less than 50 percent. This is unacceptable.
Children with cancer need new treatment options today. As
we enter a new era in cancer research with advances in
immunotherapy, innovative clinical trials that harness a
child's own immune system to fight cancer will help change
the future of childhood cancer. But without the necessary
funding, children battling cancer will be left behind, with
limited treatment options.
Solving Kids' Cancer is proud to lend our support of the
Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019). On behalf of the
families and children with cancer, thank you for turning
awareness into action and for helping to change the world for
children.
Sincerely,
Scott Kennedy, MBA,
Co-founder and Executive Director.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill before us today because
it is a disingenuous and empty attempt by the Republicans to divert
attention from the fact that they have voted to cut research time and
time again. So instead, they will stand before the American public with
words that they have no action to back up.
The National Institutes of Health serve a vital mission of supporting
biomedical research so that we may better understand and better treat
diseases that burden American families; and I stand firmly in favor of
supporting NIH research funding, especially as it relates to pediatric
research.
Let me be very clear for the record here today. H.R. 2019 does not
achieve this purpose. Had this bill, which had been introduced back in
May, gone through regular order and come to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce for hearings and markup, we would have had the opportunity to
discuss and debate the merits of the legislation.
This bill claims to support research on childhood diseases by
authorizing--and I note not appropriating, but only authorizing--$12.6
million for NIH pediatric research grants through savings from ending
the public contribution to the cost of political party nominating
conventions.
I emphasize that the bill only authorizes funding because I would
like to point out that the appropriations needed to actually make these
funds available to NIH would still be subject to discretionary spending
caps of the Budget Control Act and sequestration cuts.
Now, the sequester alone has cut $1.5 billion out of NIH'S funding in
fiscal year 2013. Even worse, through the Ryan budget, the Republicans
adopted spending allocations for fiscal year 2014 that would make
additional cuts to NIH, which could result in $6.7 billion in cuts in
total.
For pediatric research, the proportional cut would amount to $800
million, which is 60 times more than the increase that this bill claims
to provide. That's why I think the Republicans are not making a sincere
effort to support NIH research. This is a joke.
The best thing, Mr. Speaker, we can do to support NIH and research on
pediatric diseases is to pass a balanced and constructive budget
package and to provide the Appropriations Committee with a reasonable
and realistic amount of funding to work with.
Until then, I would urge my colleagues to oppose this bill that is
nothing but a guise. It is a ruse. It does nothing to ensure that we
are increasing pediatric cancer research dollars.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Virginia
(Mr. Wolf), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Mr. WOLF. I thank the chair.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation I have cosponsored, the
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. I particularly want to thank
the bill sponsors, Gregg Harper, Eric Cantor, and Mr. Welch of Vermont,
for honoring the memory of my constituent, Gabriella Miller, Loudoun
County's volunteer of the year.
[[Page H7657]]
Gabriella was a 10-year-old straight A student at Loudoun County Day
School, who died on October 26 after a courageous 1-year battle with an
inoperable brain cancer tumor. In a short amount of time, they achieved
many goals. She started the Smashing Walnuts Foundation--which refers
to the walnut-sized tumor in her brain--a childhood cancer foundation;
she co-wrote a children's book and received an honorary degree from
Shenandoah University out in Winchester, Virginia.
Last December at her request I wrote to Macy's as part of the massive
250,000 letter campaign she organized to benefit the Make-a-Wish
Foundation. Gabriella raised a lot of money, and more importantly she
touched a lot of lives; and I am sure she touched a lot of lives of
Members who are in this body.
The bill before us today will help supplement existing NIH research
efforts for childhood cancers and disorders by creating a 10-year
pediatric research initiative fund, paid for with the remaining
Presidential Election Campaign Fund.
I know her parents, Mark and Ellyn, who are with us here today. Her
younger brother Jake and her family and friends know of the remarkable
impact she has had on our community, on our country, and on families
that are facing this nationwide.
I urge, hopefully, a unanimous vote on this.
{time} 1445
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Waxman), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise, reluctantly, to oppose this bill.
First of all, I want to express to Gabriella Miller's family my
sincere sympathies.
We all want to fund more research to fight pediatric disease. Nothing
could be a more worthy objective. If we could only reverse the cuts
that this House has adopted under Republican leadership, the National
Institutes of Health could make an even greater amount of progress in
understanding and treating so many different devastating diseases for
children and others.
This bill was never heard in committee. We never had a chance to have
witnesses come forward and talk about it or debate how best to achieve
the bill's stated goals. That is why many of us think it is more a
statement than a credible proposal, especially when you look at the
Republican House majority's record on biomedical research funding. It
is a dismal one.
They wrote and passed a bill which would have significantly cut NIH.
They supported sequestration, which similarly reduced the NIH budget by
nearly $2 billion in 2013 alone. And now this bill comes along, where
they claim to provide NIH with about $13 million a year for pediatric
research. That is a miniscule amount compared to the funding for
pediatric research NIH lost due to Republican budget cuts and
sequestration.
The way we usually handle NIH is the Appropriations Committee issues
a bill appropriating money for NIH. They can do that. If we increase
the money for NIH, they can do that. They don't need this bill to
increase funding for pediatric research. What they need is a higher
spending cap. This bill doesn't bring about a higher spending cap.
And then I have concerns I want to express about the way they
structure the investments in pediatric research by funding it through
the NIH Director's Common Fund. By design, that fund is not disease or
population specific, giving NIH flexibility to determine funding
priorities each year. It also doesn't take into consideration the
existing pediatric research initiative, which we strengthened with the
recent enactment of pediatric research network legislation.
Researchers all across the country have echoed the importance of
sustained NIH funding for our Nation's health, our economic growth, and
our global leadership on biomedical research.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
Mr. WAXMAN. Regrettably, this legislation before us does nothing to
truly advance research at NIH. If we really had a sincere commitment to
strengthen research at NIH, let's work together on a bipartisan basis.
Let's have hearings on the legislation. Let's make sure that we have
funding for all the research activities.
I think that we need to find a solution to restore NIH funding rather
than purely symbolic legislation.
This reminds me of the time when the Republicans closed the
government. They refused to pass an appropriations bill for the
government to function. And then people said, Well, what about the
parks? They said, Well, we'll have a bill just to open the parks. What
about NIH research? Well, we'll do NIH research, but not the Centers
for Disease Control and not other things.
If you are going to do the job, do it right, and don't pretend,
especially to a family that is grieving, that you are really doing more
for pediatric research when the overall NIH funds are not increased.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind my friends that this is bipartisan
legislation. I congratulate Mr. Welch for being the lead Democratic
sponsor.
I just want to say, too, in terms of looking at the money, the bill
itself says:
All amounts in each account maintained for the national
committee of a major party or minor party under this section
shall be transferred to a fund in the Treasury to be known as
the ``10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund,'' which
shall be available only for the purpose provided in section
402A(a)2 of the Public Health Service Act, and only to the
extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in
appropriations Acts.
Tell me how to write it tougher. We did it.
I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, (Mr. McCarthy),
the majority whip.
Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank Chairman Upton.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2019, named in the memory of a
remarkable young lady, Gabriella Miller.
The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act gives pediatric research
a shot in the arm through additional targeted funding, funding that is
fully offset by reining in taxpayer funding of political conventions.
The National Institutes of Health works admirably in distributing
important Federal funding on basic medical research, but more can be
done for childhood illness. In 2012, only 2 percent of NIH funding was
spent on pediatric cases.
Today's bill provides additional funding for the NIH to help address
the need for coordinated research on various childhood diseases,
including cancer, autism, and juvenile diabetes. It helps provide a
down payment to the promise that we have to our next generation by
helping our scientists and researchers find the cures today to
childhood illnesses.
There is no Republican or Democrat form of childhood illness, and
there is no Republican or Democrat way to fight it. By working together
on this bipartisan bill, we can put our children above the Presidential
politics of every 4 years.
I want to thank my good friends Congressman Gregg Harper and
Congressman Peter Welch for their work on this legislation. I also want
to thank Majority Leader Cantor for his continued leadership on these
issues affecting America's families across the country.
Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2019.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Vermont (Mr. Welch).
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, but I want to go
through the controversy.
First of all, the argument about campaign finance reform, this is
about taking money away from political conventions. The majority on
both sides of the aisle have supported that.
Number two, there is an argument that this does not restore NIH
funding. That is absolutely true, and we should restore full funding
for the National Institutes of Health. Passing this bill doesn't stop
us from doing that. It may even put us a step forward.
Third, there is an argument that the money will not get to the
intended target because of the way it is designed. But if there is any
expression of good faith, it is that the appropriators have made a very
clear indication that they
[[Page H7658]]
are willing to do everything they possibly can in order to make this
happen.
Fourth, it is limited in its scope and in its funds. That is true.
But the fact is it does do something. It takes a step forward.
We are having an argument here about whether this is bipartisan or
not. We are having an argument about bipartisan or not. We are having
an argument about process. But I think if we are candid, we have to
acknowledge that, as an institution, both sides have failed when it
comes to an overall comprehensive budget, including for the NIH.
On August 12, 2011, this Congress voted 269-161 to implement the
sequester, and in the I-told-you-so brand of argument, I voted against
that. I voted against it because, in my view, the consequences of that
sequester were predictable and foreseeable. These across-the-board cuts
from the NIH to the Pentagon made no sense, but that is the box this
institution, this House of Representatives, has put itself in.
What we have with this bill, in my view, is an opportunity to lay
down the battle axes for just a moment and take a step forward. No one
is here--least of all, me, where I am being used, to some extent, as a
bipartisan face--to suggest that this does more than it does. But what
it does do is something good, and it can begin a process, which is my
hope, where we restore full funding to the National Institutes of
Health.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Cantor), majority leader of the House.
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from
Michigan.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Gabriella Miller Kids
First Research Act. I also would like to thank my colleague, the
gentleman from Vermont, for his courage in providing bipartisan
support, along with some other colleagues in support of this bill, as
well as the Republican cosponsors, Gregg Harper from Mississippi and
Tom Cole, my colleague from Oklahoma who is here in this Chamber.
For those colleagues who are here in the Chamber, we are joined by
Gabriella Miller's parents, Ellyn and Mark Miller, who are in the
gallery. I want to thank them for their courage in being here and for
their understanding of what goes on on this floor and to not take it in
any other way other than we are trying to do what is right in terms of
delivering on the legacy of their daughter.
Mr. Speaker, Gabriella Miller, a young girl from Virginia, was only 9
years old when she found out she had an inoperable brain tumor the size
of a walnut and wasn't given long to live. Despite her diagnosis,
Gabriella and her family chose to fight and share her dream with others
of overcoming childhood disease.
Gabriella was so determined that she captivated people's hearts at
rallies, through online videos, and raised hundreds of thousands of
dollars for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She even wrote a book for other
children about understanding cancer. She poured every remaining ounce
of her life into raising awareness for pediatric research for other
children, with the hope that they would not have to suffer the same
fate. In her last few months, Gabriella left a mark on the world that
will never be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that Washington has a spending
problem. The problem is not only that we spend too much, but that we
are spending taxpayer dollars on the wrong priorities. Medical research
for children should be a national priority.
The first NIH bill I scheduled as majority leader was a bipartisan
bill authored by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and
Representative Lois Capps to strengthen pediatric research networks.
The President signed the bill into law last month.
The bill before us today builds on that legislation by providing
resources through the NIH Common Fund for high-risk, high-reward
research that has the potential to transform pediatric research for
children suffering from many different diseases and disorders. For the
first time, Congress will establish a Pediatric Research Initiative
Fund that will serve as an accountability mechanism to help ensure that
dollars are reaching their intended target.
While all of us support the NIH, this bill is an opportunity to push
the agency to make big discoveries that will improve and ultimately
save so many lives. We don't have to accept the status quo as the best
we can achieve. Yes, the NIH needs taxpayer resources, but it also
matters how we invest and apply those dollars.
{time} 1500
Now, Mr. Speaker, some of my colleagues on the other side of the
aisle say this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the sequester
cuts. I agree. The sequester cuts were, unfortunately, indiscriminate,
and I and my colleagues have proposed alternatives to them, but let's
not let Washington politics get in the way of any effort to help these
kids. This is one step of many that we should take together.
How many times do we meet parents and families who share their
stories and ask for help? I recently had the privilege of meeting
Gabriella's parents, Ellyn and Mark, and they personally shared with me
Gabriella's fighting spirit. In fact, in one of her last interviews--
and you can view this online--when asked what Gabriella would like to
tell our political leaders, she said, ``Stop talking. Start doing. We
need action.''
This, Mr. Speaker, is our opportunity to act.
Outside of this building, this legislation has tremendous support.
The leading children's research hospitals, United for Medical Research,
and over 100 patient advocacy groups support this bill. Currently, it
leads all other bills on cosponsor.gov with over 2,500 citizen
cosponsors. This kind of support is great, but what matters now are the
Members of this House and how they vote. The question before the
Members today is simple: What is more important--finding cures for our
children or balloons for party conventions and catering for
politicians?
The bottom line is that this bill is a choice between allocating
moneys for political conventions or pediatric medical research. That is
the choice. The bill isn't just about a government agency or taxpayer
dollars. It is not about Democratic issues or Republican issues. It is
about a cause, frankly, that should unite each and every one of us.
Yes, I would say to my colleague from California that this is a
serious first step--it is not everything--but to not sit here and
impugn anyone's motives, much less say something that is somehow a
commentary that this isn't constructive towards the plight of the
parents like the Millers who are around this country and who are
searching for some indication that we can break the political gridlock
on an issue like this. I align myself with the comments of my colleague
from Vermont, who says, Can't we just put down the battle axes for
something like this? Can't we all do that for somebody like Gabriella?
Now, Gabriella may no longer be with us, but her fight lives on. I
ask, Mr. Speaker, that all of us stand united today and join in this
fight.
Again, I want to thank Congressman Gregg Harper, and I want to thank
Congressman Peter Welch for introducing this bill as well as to thank
Congressman Cole from Oklahoma. Earlier this year, they began the
effort to join with so many who have come before in order to raise
awareness of the need for medical research and, yes, this time, of the
need for us to prioritize the funding for pediatric research.
I would like to thank Gabriella's parents, the Millers, who are so
brave in their commitment to this effort and who realize this is just a
first step--being here with us today and joining us in this fight.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All Members are reminded that it is not in
order to introduce or to bring to the attention of the House occupants
of the gallery.
The Chair will remind all persons in the gallery that they are here
as guests of the House and that any manifestation of approval or
disapproval of proceedings is in violation of the rules of the House.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
[[Page H7659]]
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this legislation because it is
window dressing, and it is not the big picture.
Thirteen million dollars is less than 1 percent of the $1.5 billion
sequester cut. It is less than 1 percent. The NIH is our research
institution. It is our Department of Defense. It defends us from cancer
and heart disease and Alzheimer's and AIDS and diabetes, but it is not
being prioritized. It should be the number one priority of this House--
keeping Americans safe and alive. Now, the $13 million was picked
because that is the amount of money we put into political conventions.
It just so happened to fit. We could have picked the F-35 bomber and
saved billions of dollars and taken that out, which we don't need, and
put in that money, which would have made a real difference in research.
As for Kids First Research, I live in the city that has the best
pediatric cancer facility in the world, St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital. It needs more than this. Kids later will get Alzheimer's and
AIDS and heart disease and cancer, and they need to be protected. In
the long run, they can only be protected with the full funding for the
NIH. I urge the full funding for the NIH and not smoke and mirrors.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Harper), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. HARPER. First of all, I want to thank Congressman Peter Welch for
his hard work on this bill, and I certainly thank Leader Eric Cantor
and Congressman Tom Cole.
Mr. Speaker, creating a lifetime of hope and opportunity for our most
vulnerable kids is more important than subsidizing weeklong political
pep rallies for the Democratic and Republican parties. This is why the
House must advance H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research
Act, a bill that pays for children's medical research with the $126
million that the Federal Government currently sets aside for political
conventions.
On November 14, 2013, I had the privilege to meet in Leader Cantor's
office with Ellyn and Mark Miller. I watched them struggle to come up
with the words to express their grief, which I saw become steadfast
determination to do something special for Gabriella by allowing this
bill to be named after their precious daughter. I am wearing the yellow
``Smashing Walnuts'' bracelet that they gave me that day. I have
watched numerous videos of Gabriella in which she has made moving and
profound statements, such as, ``Once you get cancer, you kinda gotta be
all grown up,'' and ``Sometimes you have to stop talking and start
doing.''
As the father of a 24-year-old son who is living with Fragile X
syndrome, I understand the challenges families face in raising children
with special needs, but I also recognize the value of expanded and
improved medical research. While raising a child with a genetic
disorder can be very difficult, for my family, it has been a blessing,
especially knowing that my son, Livingston, is here today.
Mr. Speaker, Evie Horton and her cousin, Reese McDonald, who are kids
from Mississippi who fight with all of their strength to overcome the
struggles of spinal muscular atrophy, are two more reasons that I
introduced this bill. Recent scientific research breakthroughs have
also given hope to so many families, but in order for clinical trials
and other advancements to meet their full potential, additional Federal
research must be directed to pediatric research.
Mr. Speaker, Members of both parties have an opportunity to
demonstrate the priorities of this body. Will it be research for our
most vulnerable kids or will lawmakers vote to continue funding
political party conventions at the taxpayers' expense?
I have listened to how this has been described by the other side. It
has been called a joke, a ruse, a fraud, not credible, window dressing,
smoke and mirrors, and their referring to Republicans supporting
sequestration, I guess, means that it has been forgotten by our friends
on the other side of the aisle that 95 Members of the Democratic Party
voted in favor of sequestration.
Mr. Speaker, let's get our priorities straight. Let's vote ``yes'' on
the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.
National Fragile X Foundation,
Walnut Creek, CA, June 12, 2013
ATTN: Scot Malvaney, Policy Director.
Representative Gregg Harper,
Cannon Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Harper: Confirming our earlier
conversations with your office, the National Fragile X
Foundation indeed agrees that additional research is needed
to find the cures for fragile x syndrome, autism spectrum
disorder, childhood cancer, and many other diseases impacting
children.
We are therefore pleased to add our support to The Kids
First Research Act (H.R. 2019) that you recently introduced
with Representative Tom Cole.
As you well know, Fragile x syndrome is one of the
conditions for which a cure (or targeted treatments) exist
right around the corner.
We wholeheartedly support this critical research initiative
which seeks both to identify much needed additional funding
for the NIH and to promote collaborations and collaborative
spending across related conditions like fragile x syndrome
and autism.
Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.
Jeffrey Cohen, JD,
Director, Government Affairs.
____
Global Genes, Rare Project,
Aliso Viejo, CA.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Harper, Global Genes/RARE Project is one
of the leading rare and genetic disease patient advocacy
organizations in the world. What began as a grassroots
movement in 2009 with a few rare disease parent advocates and
foundations has grown to over 800 global organizations. Our
mission is centered on increasing rare disease awareness,
public and physician education, building community through
social media and supporting research initiatives to find
treatments and cures for rare and genetic diseases.
We, along with the organizations listed below, are writing
to support The Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019).
This bipartisan bill would eliminate taxpayer financing of
presidential campaigns and party conventions and reprogram
those savings to provide for a 10-year pediatric research
initiative through the Common Fund administered by the
National Institutes of Health.
During these trying fiscal times, we are pleased to see
efforts that would increase funds for pediatric research.
Unfortunately, pediatric research is terribly underfunded
and largely overlooked, as medicines and devices are often
untested in children. Children are usually prescribed
medications that have only been tested in adults, which is
unacceptable. Children are not adults. More efforts must be
made to properly research drugs and devices in the pediatric
population, and this is an important step in that process.
We are pleased to express our strong support for H.R. 2019,
and believe this legislation will help to bring increased
funding and awareness to pediatric medical research. We look
forward to working with you and your staff to ensure this
bill is enacted into law.
Sincerely,
Global Genes/RARE Project, Alstrom Angels, Cure AHC, Dravet
Syndrome Foundation, FMDSA, Gavin R Stevens Foundation, GT23
Foundation, Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, Hannah's Hope Fund
for GAN, Hereditary Disease Circle, I Have IIH Foundation, In
Need of a Diagnosis, INOD, Jonah's Just Begun, Joshua
Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease Klippel-Feil Syndrome
Alliance.
Little Miss Hannah Foundation, MPS Society, National
Gaucher Foundation, Inc., National Tay-Sachs & Allied
Diseases Association, Inc., Noah's Hope, Noonan Syndrome
Foundation, Peace, Love, and Trevor Foundation, Rasopathies
Foundation, Sanfilippo Foundation for Children, Sarcoma
Foundation of America, Stop ALD Foundation, Team Sanfilippo,
United Leukodystrophy Foundation, U.R. Our Hope.
____
National Down Syndrome Society,
New York, NY, May 9, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon HOB, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressmen Gregg Harper: On behalf of the National
Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), I am pleased to offer this
letter of support for your legislation H.R. 1724, the Kids
First Research Act. This legislation will expand pediatric
research at the National Institutes of Health by prioritizing
resources for research for children with Down syndrome which
are currently underrepresented in the NIH budget process.
NDSS supports over 400,000 Americans with Down syndrome
along with their families, friends, teachers, coworkers and
others who make people with Down syndrome a priority. Our
mission is to be the national advocate for the value,
acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
The re-directing of federal dollars that are currently
spent on presidential campaigns and party conventions will
expand pediatric research at NIH through the NIH Common Fund.
This funding will be used for research that is critical to
improve the quality of life for individuals with Down
syndrome other pediatric conditions.
NDSS is the largest nonprofit dedicated to advocating for
people with Down syndrome
[[Page H7660]]
and their families at the federal, state and local levels of
government. At NDSS, we envision a world in which all people
with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their
quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become
valued members of welcoming communities. Your legislation
aligns directly with our mission, and we are proud to support
your efforts.
Our organization applauds your work on behalf of people
with Down syndrome and other pediatric conditions, and looks
forward to working with you. On behalf of all individuals and
families from the Down syndrome community, I thank you for
your leadership on this legislation and offer our
enthusiastic endorsement.
Sincerely,
Sara Hart Weir,
Vice President,
Advocacy & Affiliate Relations.
____
JDRF,
New York, NY, May 10, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Harper: On behalf of JDRF and its
volunteers, I write to share JDRF's support for your
legislation, the Kids First Research Act of 2013, which would
provide additional funds to the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) for research on pediatric diseases and disorders.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a costly and burdensome autoimmune
disease for which there is no cure. The disease usually
strikes in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, and
lasts a lifetime. People with T1D must closely monitor their
blood sugar levels and inject or infuse insulin in order to
live. Even with the best of efforts and latest technology,
blood sugar levels in patients still fluctuate widely and
over the long-term can result in devastating complications,
such as kidney disease.
Unfortunately, the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is
rising at an alarming rate. From 2001 to 2009, T1D among
youth increased 23 percent. If unabated, the prevalence of
T1D in youth would double every generation.
JDRF is doing its part to advance research to better treat,
prevent and ultimately cure T1D. Last year, JDRF spent $110
million on T1D research. Our work complements the research
being done at NIH. The additional funding provided to NIH by
the Kids First Research Act of 2013 could help us realize new
therapies and research breakthroughs, that could improve the
quality of life for people with T1D and help reduce the
associated costs of the disease, sooner rather than later.
Your leadership on this issue and strong support of other
issues that affect the T1D community are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Brewer,
President & Chief Executive Officer.
____
Autism Speaks,
New York, NY, May 14, 2013.
Hon. Greg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Harper: I am writing to thank you for your
leadership on behalf of America's autism community, as
demonstrated by your commitment to prioritize autism and
pediatric research through the Kids First Research Act. As
you know, recent CDC data suggests the prevalence of autism
is closer to 1 in 50 children. As you also know, many of
these individuals also have Fragile X Syndrome and your
commitment to this community has made a real difference
during your time in Washington, DC. It is critical to the
autism community that we have national leadership to address
the epidemic growth of this disorder.
I am grateful that you and your colleagues recognize this
crisis and are striving to address it in several policy
areas, including research, disability savings accounts and
improved services for our military families affected by
autism. I am particularly encouraged by your desire to see
autism and pediatric research elevated as a priority at the
National Institutes of Health through the Kids First Research
Act.
I look forward to working with you in the days and weeks
ahead in addressing America's autism crisis.
Sincerely,
Liz Feld,
President.
____
The Coalition for
Pediatric Medical Research,
June 6, 2013.
Hon. Fred Upton,
Chairman Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S. Congress,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Joe Pitts,
Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on
Health, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Henry Waxman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S.
Congress, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Frank Pallone,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee
on Health, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairmen Upton and Pitts & Ranking Members Waxman and
Pallone: On behalf of the Coalition for Pediatric Medical
Research (CPMR), a group of more than 20 of our nation's
leading children's research hospitals, I am writing to offer
our support for H.R. 2019, the Kids First Research Act of
2013.
For too long, our nation has underinvested in pediatric
research as a proportion of the overall population. Healthy
living begins with a healthy infancy and childhood, and
inadequate support for pediatric research negatively affects
our nation's children, particularly those suffering from
devastating diseases and disorders. It also hinders our
ability to prevent and/or treat adult-onset disorders, such
as diabetes and heart disease, whose causes are rooted in the
childhood years.
H.R. 2019 is a much-needed step forward to address this
imbalance. This legislation will help make clear that the
health and well-being of our children is a national priority
by reallocating scarce public resources to support pediatric
research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This infusion of funds would provide a much-needed
boost to our pediatric research community, enabling it to
expand research efforts to identify causes of and treatments
for many of the most devastating diseases and disorders that
affect children. The Coalition is particularly pleased that
the legislation would fund multi-institute research
activities under the Common Fund, helping drive coordination
and collaboration.
The Coalition strongly believes that if enacted into law, a
portion of this funding should be used to provide competitive
awards to support the research infrastructure and resources
necessary to conduct a comprehensive 21st Century pediatric
research agenda. Such support should focus on shared and core
resources such as biobanks, data warehouses, bioinformatics
infrastructure, and the advanced computing technologies
needed to process increasingly large data sets. It should
also help expedite clinical trials in patients with rare
diseases, helping link sites and enabling researchers to
recruit a critical mass of kids with any one condition. In
addition to the Kids First Research Act, the Coalition
continues to strongly support H.R. 225 and S. 424, the
National Pediatric Research Network Act, which would
authorize NIH to establish a National Pediatric Research
Network. We see these two proposals as highly synergistic and
complementary and applaud your committees and the full house
for quickly passing this bill--for the fourth time--earlier
this year.
On behalf of the Coalition, I thank you for your attention
to this. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact me at 202.312.7499 or via nicholas.manetto@
faegrebd.com.
Sincerely,
Nick Manetto,
Coalition Advisor.
____
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
Washington, DC, June 6, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon HOB, Washington, DC.
Hon. Peter Welch,
House of Representatives, Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC.
Hon. Tom Cole,
House of Representatives, Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC.
Dear Representatives Harper, Cole and Welch: The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary
health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Each year, over
140,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with blood cancers,
accounting for nearly 10 percent of all newly diagnosed
cancers in the United States. LLS funds lifesaving blood
cancer research around the world and provides free
information and support services. The mission of LLS is to
cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and
provide our patients with affordable, sustainable access to
quality healthcare.
LLS is writing to support H.R. 2019, the Kids First
Research Act, which will increase funding for pediatric
medical research activities administered through the Common
Fund at National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R. 2019
provides much needed funding for crucial research projects,
at a critical time in our nation's progress in medical
research. In cancer research in particular, we are yielding
unprecedented examples of precision based medicine that are
fundamentally altering the way in which we will categorize
and treat cancers going forward. These funds will help
advance the important projects funded by the NIH in areas of
high unmet medical need.
LLS understands and appreciates the tremendous challenges
and fiscal constraints Congress currently faces and the need
to identify a balanced approach to funding necessary national
priorities. We appreciate the bi-partisan support that this
legislation has received, and look forward to serving as a
resource for your offices.
Best,
Emily Shetty,
Senior Director,
Federal Legislative Affairs.
[[Page H7661]]
____
Children's Hospital Association,
Alexandria, VA, Overland Park, KS, June 8, 2013.
Hon. Fred Upton,
Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce, Rayburn House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Henry Waxman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, Rayburn House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman, On behalf of
over 220 of the nation's children's hospitals, I am writing
in support of H.R. 2019, the Kids First Research Act of 2013.
As you know, children are not just ``small adults.''
Children require highly-specialized care and equally
specialized research. Despite children accounting for nearly
20 percent of our nation's population, the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) has historically invested a far
smaller percentage of research dollars--between five and 10
percent--in pediatric biomedical research. Healthy living
begins with a healthy infancy and childhood, and inadequate
support for pediatric research does a disservice to our
nation's children.
The Kids First Research Act of 2013 would enhance our
nation's commitment to pediatric research and help make clear
that the health and well-being of our children is a national
priority. The legislation would provide a much-needed boost
to the pediatric research community, supporting expanded
research efforts to identify causes of and treatments for
many of the most devastating diseases and disorders that
affect children.
In addition to the Kids First Research Act, the Association
continues to strongly support the National Pediatric Research
Network Act, H.R. 225, and its companion bill in the Senate,
S. 424. This legislation would authorize the NIH to establish
a National Pediatric Research Network. The Association views
these two proposals as collaborative and applauds the
committee and the House for quickly passing H.R. 225 earlier
this year.
IA On behalf of the Children's Hospital Association, thank
you for your support on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Jim Kaufman,
Vice President, Public Policy.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Price).
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this is a sad and, indeed,
depressing debate because there is such a transparent effort underway
to weaken our Nation's campaign finance laws even further by the
perfectly legitimate, compelling case for sick children in our country.
This represents the worst of Republican cynicism--I have just got to
say it--and since this measure stands no chance of passing in the
Senate, it is a fitting end to the least productive session of Congress
in modern history.
The passage of this bill will do nothing to increase the Federal
funding of pediatric disease research. That is why it is so cynical.
Simply authorizing a new program will not translate into additional
funding in the current appropriations environment. If the majority were
really serious, it wouldn't have passed a budget that makes adequate
funding for medical research impossible or, perhaps, it would actually
try to negotiate a comprehensive budget agreement that lifts
sequestration once and for all from pediatric research and many other
priorities. To make matters worse, this bill would make it more
difficult to modernize and reinvigorate one of the most successful
examples of campaign finance reform in our Nation's history--the
Presidential public financing program--which has given candidates a
viable alternative to private and corporate fund-raising for more than
three decades.
Now, I agree with my colleagues from both parties in that paying for
Presidential nominating conventions is not a wise use of taxpayer
dollars, but if the House majority is truly concerned about this issue,
I would encourage it to schedule a vote on my bill, the Empowering
Citizens Act, which not only would prevent taxpayer dollars from being
used for conventions, but it would also include important ``soft
money'' provisions to prevent high-dollar special interests from
funding conventions. The Empowering Citizens Act would mend, not end,
the Presidential public financing system, bringing it up to date with
campaign realities. It would also establish a voluntary small donor
public funding program for congressional campaigns as well as strong
rules forbidding the coordination between super-PACs and political
parties or campaigns.
I believe we are at a tipping point in the short history of campaign
finance reform in our country. We can either choose to stand by the
commonsense reforms that restored America's faith in elections after
the Watergate scandal or we can choose to cede the control of political
campaigns entirely to wealthy corporations and interest groups.
The responsible choice is clear, so I strongly urge my colleagues to
oppose this measure in the hope that the Republican majority will both
get serious about medical research funding and will get serious about
the oversized influence of millionaires and billionaires and super-PACs
in our democracy.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance), a cosponsor of the bill and a
member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.
My colleagues have told the story of Gabriella Miller. She was one of
the many young people every year who leaves this world too early due to
disease. Too many families share this grief.
Today, we take a step in making a difference in the lives of those
who are struggling with pediatric diseases and disorders, such as
cancer and autism. Today, Congress, in working together, will target
taxpayer funding for scientific research and lifesaving treatments that
can lead to better outcomes and, I hope, someday, to a cure.
Especially during the holiday season, we should be thankful for our
many blessings. I am thankful, in part, for the families and advocates
whose challenges we may never understand but whose commitment and love
for their children is unyielding and inspiring. Today, we take action
in their name.
{time} 1515
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, can I ask how much time is remaining on
both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) has
8 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
has 8 minutes remaining.
Mr. PALLONE. Thank you.
I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey),
the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Gabriella
Miller and her courage and the courage of her parents, but I oppose
this hypocritical bill.
I have spent my career fighting to ensure that our researchers have
every resource to find lifesaving treatments and cures. This bill would
do nothing to increase investments in medical research.
It is unfathomable to me that those who championed the cuts of $1.55
billion to the NIH now try to authorize with no promise to fund. That
cut of $1.55 billion led to a cut of $255 billion to the National
Cancer Institute and $66 million to the Child Health Institute that
funds pediatric research.
My heart is with the family of Gabriella Miller and my dear friends
who lost a little girl of about 6 years old from a childhood cancer,
and I will never forget it. Let's work together to truly fund, to
appropriate money, not pretend by authorizing. It is a nice thing to
do, but we have to vote ``no'' on this cynical bill.
I ask today that we join together to increase investments, to
increase funding for pediatric research, not support cuts to the
National Cancer Institute, cuts to the National Institutes of Health.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), a member of the Appropriations
Committee and a cosponsor of the bill.
Mr. COLE. I thank my friend for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by praising my friend Gregg Harper and
my friend Peter Welch, who come to this floor with a very worthy
purpose, and that is to redirect government funding toward something
that is not particularly important toward something that is very
important--medical research for children.
The question when you have a worthy goal is always: How do you pay
for it? Where will you actually get the resources?
For many years, I have brought to this floor legislation that would
eliminate public funding for political party
[[Page H7662]]
conventions and Presidential campaigns. I could go into debate ad
infinitum. The President has never used any public funding--didn't feel
the need for it--in either of his two campaigns. Neither did Mr.
Romney. On the political conventions, both political parties this year
actually did take the money.
I can tell you as a former chief of staff on the Republican National
Committee who put on the convention in 2000, they do not need it. They
absolutely do not need it. They can raise all the money they need from
private sources, just as their nominees raised money from private
sources.
That bill has actually passed this House on multiple occasions with a
bipartisan vote. I was prepared to do that again and I got a call from
Leader Cantor. He said: Tom, I know you have been working on this
problem for a long time. I know you are concerned about it. What if we
redirected that money towards something that is a better purpose, a
better use of public dollars? And he mentioned Gregg's bill. I couldn't
agree with him more.
So for those of you that are looking for something sinister or trying
to link this to something it is not connected to, like the sequester,
it is simply a modest step in the right direction. It takes money that
we know is wasted and puts it to good use.
For those of you that say it can't pass the other body, the other
body in the last Congress on amendment voted 95-5 to take away public
funding of political conventions. We still have a disagreement on
Presidential campaigns. But funding political conventions really is
more important than directing this money to a more worthy purpose? We
are not even trying to take it out of the Federal budget. I just think
that kind of logic defies imagination.
This is a good-faith effort to do something that ought to bring us
together instead of pull us apart. It is a modest step. I would be the
first to admit that. But let's take the modest step in the right
direction, take public dollars that we are now wasting on political
conventions, give them to researchers, and let them do their work. That
is just simply a better use of the public purse in a time of limited
means.
So I urge support for my friends' bill, H.R. 2019, Mr. Harper and Mr.
Welch. I want to thank Leader Cantor. This was his idea of bringing two
ideas together. I think it is a good one. I hope this House embraces it
in a bipartisan fashion.
I want to thank my friend, the chairman of Energy and Commerce, for
his effort to bring this forward and advance it.
Everylife Foundation
for Rare Disease,
Novato, CA, June 10, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Harper: The EveryLife Foundation for Rare
Diseases is dedicated to accelerating biotech innovation for
rare disease treatments through science-driven public policy.
We are writing to support the Kids First Research Act of
2013 (H.R. 2019). This bipartisan bill would eliminate
taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns and party
conventions and reprogram those savings to provide for a 10-
year pediatric research initiative through the Common Fund
administered by the National Institutes of Health.
During these trying fiscal times, we are pleased to see
efforts that would increase funds for pediatric research.
Unfortunately, pediatric rare diseases and cancer is terribly
underfunded and largely overlooked by drug companies and
research institutions. Public funding is essential to help
spur the development of treatments for these children.
We are pleased to express our strong support for H.R. 2019,
and believe this legislation will help to bring increased
funding and awareness to pediatric medical research. We look
forward to working with you and your staff to ensure this
bill is enacted into law.
Sincerely,
Emil D. Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D.,
President.
____
June 27, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Rep. Harper: On behalf of United for Medical Research
(UMR), a coalition of leading research institutions, patient
and health advocates, and private industry joined together in
support of medical research funded by the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), we write to thank you for the introduction
of the Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019). We strongly
support increased funding for NIH, and appreciate your
identification of medical research as a priority in a time of
deficit reduction and fiscal austerity.
The lifesaving research funded by NIH has already yielded
extraordinary benefits to human health and serves as a beacon
of hope for those still suffering from disease or disability,
including the families of children afflicted with
heartbreaking conditions. NM also plays a role in sustaining
the U.S. economy, supporting over 400,000 jobs and generating
nearly $60 billion in nationwide economic output in 2012
alone. Unfortunately, recent cuts to the NIH budget threaten
both our ability to improve human health and our worldwide
leadership in medical research. UMR believes it is critical
to renew our commitment to funding NIH, and we are grateful
for your effort to find creative solutions to support medical
research.
To ensure continued success in our quest for treatments and
cures to our most devastating childhood and adult diseases,
as well as continuing to reap the substantial return on
investment to our economy, it is imperative that funding for
NIH be sustained through regular, annual increases in
appropriations. The Kids First Research Act is an important
step in mitigating the loss of funding caused by a decade of
reduced budgets, we thank you for it, and we look forward to
working with you to reinvigorate our investment in the life
sciences.
Sincerely,
United for Medical Research.
____
Just-In-Time Neuroblastoma
Foundation, Inc.,
Greenwood Village, CO, June 28, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Harper: As a non-profit organization working to
promote awareness of childhood cancer, we write to express
our strong support for your legislation, the Kids First
Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019).
This measure provides much needed additional federal
support to complement ongoing research supported by
substantial private funding from national non-profit
childhood cancer organizations, as well as by the National
Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. Passage of
this bill will ensure that the investments of both public and
private resources reach their fullest potential by enabling a
critical mass of research and discovery required to culminate
into promising medical treatments that are ``safe and
effective'' for many childhood diseases, including childhood
cancer.
As you know, one in every 330 children in the United States
develops cancer before the age of nineteen. The incidence of
cancer among children is increasing. Each school day, enough
children are diagnosed with cancer to empty two classrooms.
Depending on the type of cancer and the development upon
diagnosis, approximately 2,300 children will die from cancer
in any given year. The number of children diagnosed with
cancer in the U.S. each year puts more potential years of
life at risk than any single type of adult cancer. Cancer
remains the number one disease killer of America's children.
There are more than 360,000 childhood cancer survivors of
all ages in the United States. Unfortunately, 74% of
childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some
40% of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or
die from such illnesses. Survivors are at significant risk
for secondary cancers later in life. Current cancer
treatments can affect a child's growth, fertility, and
endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently
immunologically suppressed. Radiation therapy to a child's
brain can significantly damage cognitive function, especially
if given at a very young age. While currently there is very
little in terms of ``safe and effective'' cures for any
particular type of childhood cancer, the underlying genetics
of the disease and recent research breakthroughs make such
treatments foreseeable.
The Just-In-Time Neuorblastoma Foundation thanks you for
sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013 (H.R. 2019)
and we applaud your ongoing commitment to improving the lives
of thousands children diagnosed with life-threatening
diseases and spearing families from the devastation that it
causes. We look forward to working with you to pass this
important bill to help ensure a brighter future for America's
children.
Sincerely,
Katrina M. Brohman,
Co-Founder & Vice President.
____
The Nicholas Conor Institute,
San Diego, CA, June 17, 2013.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Harper: As a medical research organization working
to accelerate the development of promising medical
discoveries or cures for cancers common to children,
adolescents, and young adults, we write to express our strong
support for your legislation, the Kids First Research Act of
2013 (H.R. 1724).
This measure provides much needed additional federal
support to complement ongoing research supported by
substantial private funding from national non-profit
childhood cancer organizations, as well as by the National
Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute. Passage of
this bill will ensure that the investments of both public and
private resources reach their fullest potential by enabling a
critical mass of research and discovery required to culminate
into promising medical treatments that are ``safe and
effective'' for many childhood diseases, including childhood
cancer.
As you know, one in every 330 children in the United States
develops cancer before the
[[Page H7663]]
age of nineteen. The incidence of cancer among children is
increasing. Each school day, enough children are diagnosed
with cancer to empty two classrooms. Depending on the type of
cancer and the development upon diagnosis, approximately
2,300 children will die from cancer in any given year. The
number of children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each
year puts more potential years of life at risk than any
single type of adult cancer. Cancer remains the number one
disease killer of America's children.
There are more than 360,000 childhood cancer survivors of
all ages in the United States. Unfortunately, 74% of
childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some
40% of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or
die from such illnesses. Survivors are at significant risk
for secondary cancers later in life. Current cancer
treatments can affect a child's growth, fertility, and
endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently
immunologically suppressed. Radiation therapy to a child's
brain can significantly damage cognitive function, especially
if given at a very young age. While currently there is very
little in terms of ``safe and effective'' cures for any
particular type of childhood cancer, the underlying genetics
of the disease and recent research breakthroughs make such
treatments foreseeable.
The Nicholas Conor Institute for Pediatric Cancer Research
thanks you for sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013
(H.R. 1724) and we applaud your ongoing commitment to
improving the lives of thousands children diagnosed with
life-threatening diseases and spearing families from the
devastation that is causes. We look forward to working with
you to pass this important bill to help ensure a brighter
future for America's children.
Sincerely,
Beth Anne Baber, Ph.D., M.B.A.,
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder.
____
Pulmonary Hypertension
Association,
Silver Spring, MD, June 21, 2013.
Hon. Joe Pitts,
Chairmen, Subcommittee on Health Energy & Commerce Committee,
Cannon House Building.
Hon. Kevin Brady,
Chairmen, Subcommittee on Health Ways & Means Committee,
Cannon House Building.
Hon. Frank Pallone,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Health Energy & Commerce
Committee, Cannon House Building.
Hon. Jim McDermott,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Health Ways & Means
Committee, Longworth House Building.
Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members: I write you today on
behalf of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) to ask
for your support of the public health goals of the Kids First
Research Act (H.R. 2019). Please work to advance this
legislation through the legislative process so that its
provisions establishing a new pediatric research initiative
at the National Institutes of Health (N111) might be enacted.
The pulmonary hypertension (PH) community understands the
value of investing in critical pediatric medical research. PH
is a disabling and often fatal progressive condition where
the blood pressure in the lungs rises to dangerously high
levels. In PH patients, blood flow between the heart and
lungs is blocked or constricted. As a result, the heart must
pump harder causing it to enlarge and ultimately fail. PH can
be idiopathic, and occur without a known cause, or be
secondary to other conditions, such as, scleroderma, lupus,
blood clots, and sickle cell. PH impacts individuals of all
races and ages, including children. Similar to other disease
states, pediatric research into PH lags behind adult
research. While there are nine FDA-approved treatments
available for adults with PH, none are approved for children.
PHA supports a pediatric research program to improve the
lives of children impacted by PH and we are pleased that
Congress is interested in supporting pediatric research at
NIH. In the interest of improving care for PH patients, PHA
also engages in advocacy activity, including advocating for
the Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Diagnosis Act (H.R.
2073), budget neutral legislation designed to improve
diagnosis of PH before the condition reaches an advanced
stage. We hope you will continue to support and advance
legislative efforts focused on bolstering research activities
and improving care for patients with PH, such as H.R. 2019
and H.R. 2073.
Sincerely,
Rino Aldrighetti,
President & CEO.
____
Foundation for Angelman
Syndrome Therapeutics,
Hon. Eric Cantor,
Majority Leader, House of Representatives, United States
Capitol, Washington, DC.
Hon. Gregg Harper,
Member of Congress, House of Representatives, Cannon House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Leader Cantor and Congressmen Harper: On behalf of the
Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST), I am
pleased to offer this letter of support for H.R. 2019, the
Kids First Research Act. This legislation will expand
pediatric medical research activities administered through
the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health. By
prioritizing resources for pediatric research, this bill will
provide much needed funding to bolster FAST's commitment to
find treatments, and eventually a cure for Angelman Syndrome.
The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (or FAST)
is an organization of families and professionals dedicated to
finding a cure for Angelman Syndrome and related disorders
through the funding of an aggressive research agenda,
education, and advocacy. Angelman Syndrome (or AS) is a
neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1 in
15,000 live births. Although the cause of AS is known, there
are currently no treatments available for this disorder. FAST
is committed to assisting individuals living with Angelman
Syndrome realize their full potential and quality of life.
On behalf of FAST, I thank you for your leadership and for
supporting this important legislation. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Paula Evans,
Chairperson.
____
Brain Injury Association
of America,
Vienna, VA, June 26, 2013.
Hon. Joseph R. Pitts,
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Pitts: The Brain Injury Association of
America (BIAA) is the nation's oldest and largest brain
injury patient advocacy organization. BIAA supports H.R.
2019, the Kids First Research Act. Thank you for introducing
this very important legislation. The Kids First Research Act
will ensure important pediatric research is funded at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a misdiagnosed,
misunderstood, under-funded neurological disease affecting at
least 1.7 million children and adults in the U.S. each year.
Depending on type and severity, brain injuries can lead to
physical, cognitive, and psychosocial or behavioral
impairments ranging from balance and coordination problems to
loss of hearing, vision or speech. Fatigue, memory loss,
concentration difficulty, anxiety, depression, impulsivity
and impaired judgment are also common after brain injury.
Even so-called ``mild'' injuries can have devastating
consequences that require intensive treatment and long-term
care. Often called the ``silent epidemic,'' brain injury
affects people in ways that are invisible. The injury can
lower performance at school and at work, interfere with
personal relationships and bring financial ruin.
Thank you for supporting pediatric research at NIH. Please
contact Amy Colberg, BIAA's Director of Government Affairs
with any questions.
Sincerely,
Susan H. Connors,
President/CEO.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is the ranking member of the Labor-HHS
Appropriations Subcommittee.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the so-called Kids
First Research Act, which despite its name does absolutely nothing to
support kids or pediatric research.
This bill does not include a single additional dollar for pediatric
research. It just ends another program. It merely suggests this money
should be used to fund NIH if, and only if, a later appropriations bill
calls for it. The money does not automatically go for pediatric
research.
This is a feel-good messaging bill that plays a bait-and-switch on
American families hoping and praying for research dollars to save their
children. This majority wants to pretend that they are supporting
medical research when, in fact, they have continually cut this
fundamental priority since 2011.
Consider the very first bill passed in this House in 2011, H.R. 1.
That bill was supported by all but three Republicans. Almost every
single Member of this majority voted to cut $1.6 billion from the
National Institutes of Health. Most of those who have spoken this
morning were those who voted to make that cut.
That cut is 100 times larger than the $12.6 million increase that
this legislation pretends to provide. Because of the deep and reckless
sequestration cuts, NIH has been cut by $1.5 billion more. We don't
know whether the budget deal that is being discussed today will put
that money back.
Because of these misguided policies, the National Cancer Institute
has been slashed by $255 million and the Child Health Institute by $66
million.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the
gentlewoman from Connecticut.
Ms. DeLAURO. I strongly support investing in medical research. My
heart goes out to the Miller family. I am a
[[Page H7664]]
cancer survivor. One of my proudest accomplishments in this body is
working in a bipartisan fashion to double the NIH budget between 1998
and 2003. We did it then, and it is something that we need to do again;
but this bill, this bill is a sham.
If the majority believes, as I do, that we should increase funding
for pediatric research, then let us increase funding for pediatric
research. Let us not waste time playing games and misleading the
American people.
I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Collins), a cosponsor of the bill.
Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to add my name to the list of those
who support this legislation. H.R. 2019 bears the name of a child whose
bravery and wisdom should inspire us all.
Gabriella Miller reminds us that government has the ability and the
obligation to strive for the greater good--to protect the innocent, to
preserve their futures. If we lose sight of that goal, we have failed.
In the year that I have been in Congress, most of my time has been
spent fighting against bad policies and bad politics, but today is
different. Today, I stand before this body and proclaim we can do
something and we can help. The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act
prioritizes pediatric research to help children with autism, cancer,
and other diseases.
If you were to ask me what defines Doug Collins, I would tell you
three things: I am a man of faith; I am a husband; and a father, a
father to a daughter who has spina bifida, but also inspires me to be
the type of person that I would want to be.
She is a lot like Gabriella Miller. Gabriella Miller really won her
fight. My daughter continues. It reminds us that you can help and when
you can help, you should. When you can make a difference, no matter how
small, it still matters. It is still worth doing.
I am a freshman here, but what amazes me is when you take a step
forward in putting something productive on the floor which makes at
least a small statement--and Congressman Harper brings forth that with
others--when you take a small step forward and bring something down to
this floor and are ridiculed and it is said it is window dressing, I am
sorry, this is not window dressing. It is a step to being the
government we are called to be, and that is prioritizing, that is
putting faith back into a system in which people have lost faith.
On the floor today, it is no wonder that they have lost faith. When a
good-faith effort is put forward and it is criticized in light of
children and research to make other political points, that is what is
truly appalling today; that is what is bad.
This is a simple step that was brought forth in good faith. All I am
saying is let's prioritize. I agree with my friends across the aisle:
it is time we prioritize our mission; it is time we prioritize our
battles here. This is one step forward.
I would encourage all Members to support something that actually does
make a difference.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our Democratic whip.
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman who preceded me said he is a freshman. I
have been here for 33 years. For 23 of those years I served on the
Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. I served
under some extraordinary Republicans and some extraordinary Democrats
who chaired that committee. The ones I served under made sure that the
NIH got the resources it needed to investigate, research, and try to
come up with the cures that will ameliorate the afflictions of mankind
from a health perspective.
Of the sponsors of this bill, 134 of them voted for the Ryan budget.
The Ryan budget--had it been adopted, had it been implemented--would
have cut the National Institutes of Health by $6 billion.
The budget that we are going to consider will still require
reductions in NIH funding by perhaps as much as 80 times to 100 times
the money that is theoretically in this bill. By the way, there is no
money in this bill. This is an authorization. As I am sure Ms. DeLauro,
who is the ranking member, has pointed out it provides no money.
Many of you, perhaps, are going to vote for a budget that will cut
NIH; but you are going to pass a bill, and that is what Mr. Collins
apparently is concerned about, because we are saying that this is a
facade, a pretense of support. Paper will not help pediatric research.
Money will, investment will.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PALLONE. I yield an additional minute to the gentleman from
Maryland.
Mr. HOYER. To that extent, this is not real. It is a message.
Everybody on this floor, I presume, is for children's health, is for
pediatric research, is for trying to make sure that our children are
healthy and saved from disease and affliction. I presume all of us are
for it, but talk is cheap.
The Ryan budget would have cut $800 million from pediatric research
alone; 134 of the sponsors of this bill voted for the Ryan budget. In
other words, on one hand you are given--theoretically, if there was
money available to do this--$11 million for pediatric research with
this hand--that is 113 over 10--and $800 million being taken away with
this hand.
Who do you think you are fooling?
{time} 1530
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PALLONE. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from
Maryland.
Mr. HOYER. So let's not fool the public that we are doing something
for pediatric research. I know my friend, Mr. Upton, has been a
supporter of NIH in years past. And he is my dear friend and a good
Member, but I tell my friend, this bill does not do anything for
pediatric research.
You will have an opportunity to vote for pediatric research; vote to
get rid of the sequester. Vote to invest in the National Institutes of
Health, not to cut it. That will make a difference for pediatric
research.
I urge the defeat of this bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I did appreciate the nice words that were directed to me
by my friend, Mr. Hoyer, in support of the NIH. And I will remind those
that don't know that I was the Republican lead a number of years ago
with Mr. Waxman and Mr. McCain and Mr. Wellstone to double the money
for the NIH, one of the most significant things that this Congress, I
think, has ever done.
But I have got to say, I simply don't understand the opposition to
this bill. Yes, I am absolutely supportive of the NIH bill, and will
continue to do that, and more money. The Ryan-Murray budget agreement
which we will be voting on tomorrow, I will be supporting it. It
includes programs like the NIH, which I am told will be increased about
$23 billion, or 2 percent over the current levels.
In today's ``The Hill,'' there is a full-page ad offered by First
Focus Campaign for Children. It says, ``Thank you for making children
your First Focus,'' and it lists maybe as many as 80 to 100 Members,
including many of those who spoke today against the bill, but it says,
``Thank you for making children your First Focus.'' That is what this
bill is about.
It is not just a simple authorization. Yes, we do pass those from
time to time. This actually directs. The language of the bill says,
``shall be transferred.'' Shall. It doesn't use the word ``may,'' ``may
be,'' whatever. ``Shall be transferred to a fund in the Treasury to be
known as the `10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund' which
shall''--not may--``which shall be available only for the purpose
provided in . . . the Public Health Service Act, and only to the extent
and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.''
We made it pretty tight. The authors of this bill made it pretty
tight. Tell me how we can make it tighter.
Mr. HOYER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. UPTON. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
[[Page H7665]]
Mr. HOYER. I will be glad to make a suggestion on how you could do
that.
Mr. UPTON. Well, to me, we use ``shall'' a number of different times.
Mr. HOYER. You have got to have money.
Mr. UPTON. Well, that is what we do. We take money.
Mr. HOYER. If you don't have any money, you can't spend it.
Mr. UPTON. The money comes from the political conventions. I mean,
that is the direct offset that is used.
All of us cry for these families that lose these beautiful little
kids. This bill, if it passes and gets enacted, will provide money to
help families like Gabriella's, who lost a beautiful little girl, who
really used the last year of her life to promote a fund like this and
work with the NIH. That is what this should be all about, and I commend
Mr. Cantor and others.
The rule that we hear is you have to find an offset when you increase
spending. That is what this bill does. And it finds an offset that I
think many of us could accept to actually fund the program and direct
the dollars to a fund within the NIH to make sure that it works. That
is what we want to have happen.
I would urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. Yes, it is under
suspension, no amendments. We need a two-thirds vote, so I ask my
colleagues to support this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2019, the Kids
First Research Act. This among the most hypocritical bills I have seen
during my time in Congress, and it should be rejected. My friends on
the other side of the aisle say this bill will increase pediatric
research funding at the National Institutes of Health, when in fact it
does nothing of the sort. Furthermore, their record demonstrates that
they have little interest in actually funding life-saving medical
research for children.
This legislation does not give NIH a single dollar to spend on
pediatric research. Instead, it only provides an authorization for
future funding to be provided by the Appropriations Committee. The
unfortunate fact is this funding is still subject to sequestration
which has resulted in $1.55 billion being cut from NIH during fiscal
year 2013. Therefore, this bill does not increase spending at NIH at
all. It seems this is nothing more than a distraction to confuse people
about the terrible record the GOP has on this issue.
Since my friends on the other side of the aisle have been in the
majority, NIH funding has decreased by $4.2 billion, or 13 percent.
Furthermore, the funding allocation provided to the Labor-HHS-Education
Subcommittee for fiscal year 2014 is 22 percent below the enacted
level, meaning more cuts are coming. The small, $16 million
authorization that this bill provides will do nothing to reverse the
damage that these policies have had on medical research across our
country.
If my Republican colleagues are serious about helping children and,
promoting medical research, they should work with Democrats in a
bipartisan manner to repeal sequestration and replace it with sensible
spending cuts, rather than allowing these damaging cuts to NIH to
continue. NIH does not need another meaningless authorization that goes
unfunded, they need actual dollars that go to research. I find it hard
to believe that my friends on the other side of the aisle truly care
about funding pediatric research when their record demonstrates just
the opposite. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this cynical
legislation.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the
``Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.'' H.R. 2019 purports to end
the public's contribution to political party conventions and redirect
the savings into research on childhood diseases at the National
Institutes of Health. In fact, the bill does no such thing.
While I strongly support efforts to increase funding for pediatric
research and other research at NIH, I do not believe H.R. 2019 does
anything to advance this goal. This bill claims to make available to
NIH, the $12.6 million per year raised as public support for the
expenses of party conventions. In actuality, that bill would not do
anything to restore the funding cuts that Republicans have strongly
supported over the last few years, because it does not actually provide
any additional funds to NIH. It only directs the money to be made
available in appropriations.
These funds will still have to go through the regular appropriations
process, fully subject to the Budget Control Act caps--as reduced by
sequestration--and will have to comply with the spending allocations of
the Appropriations Committee. It is this exact process, caps, and
especially sequestration that cut $1.55 billion from NIH last year
alone, dramatically reduced NIH funding for cancer and other research
capabilities.
This bill only authorizes $12.6 million per year, which is four-
tenths of one percent of the roughly $3.6 billion that NIH spent on
pediatric research last year. Adding one more unfunded authorization
will not interrupt the destructive downward trend this country is
experiencing in research funding. It is not even an honest attempt to
do this. NIH is already authorized to spend well beyond the $12.6
million a year this legislation allows.
Republicans aim to show that pediatric research is a priority, but
you only have to look at H.R. 1, the House Republican spending proposal
from the 112th Congress, to see what their true priorities are. That
proposal, which the vast majority of Republicans supported, slashed
total funding for the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee by 22 percent,
which would have cost NIH $6.7 billion. The reality is that few
Republicans are genuinely interested in providing adequate funding for
the NIH.
Mr. Speaker, if my Republican colleagues truly want to support
pediatric research, they should restore the $4.2 billion that has been
cut from NIH's funding since they took the majority, and they could
support my bill, H.R. 900, which fully repeals sequestration.
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend this chamber for
coming together to pass The Gabrielle Miller Kids First Research Act.
Ask any parent, our kids always come first, so when it comes to
utilizing taxpayer dollars; it only makes sense that Washington places
the children of our nation ahead of partisan politics.
This bill prioritizes allocations for scientific research of
pediatric diseases and disorders such as cancer and autism. By
eliminating taxpayer funding for the Republican and Democratic national
conventions, and applying these funds to critically needed research for
cures to childhood disorders, we are truly doing important and lasting
work for our constituents--including the most precious and vulnerable.
As a member of the Autism Caucus, the chance to prioritize federal
dollars for critical research on Autism, and those families living with
it, is a great opportunity. Ensuring the best for our children,
especially those with pediatric disorders, is vital for the continued
success of our nation. It is heartening that this Congress was able to
come together and work on their behalf.
I am proud to have the opportunity to work with Autism groups in my
community, in Pennsylvania's 8th District, that are ready to work with
the us in putting an end to Autism and all other pediatric diseases.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate to quickly take up this bill and show
that Washington is ready to put our kids first.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
opposition to H.R. 2019, The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.
This bill completely bypassed procedure in the House, skipping any
committee action prior to a full House vote and leaving no opportunity
for discussion as to what could be the best way to fund pediatric
research.
While my colleagues and I fully support increased funding to the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and pediatric research, the ``Kids
First Research Act'' would not provide any additional funds to the NIH
for this purpose. The bill merely authorizes that the Presidential
Election Campaign Fund be available to a certain extent. These funds
would still be subject to the Budget Control Act caps and the normal
Appropriations Committee process.
H.R. 2019 is merely a messaging tactic for House Republicans to
appear to be supportive of biomedical research funding. House
Republicans attempted to cut $1.6 billion from NIH funding in 2011.
This year, sequestration cut the NIH budget by $1.55 billion and took
an additional $255 million from the cancer institute and $66 million
from the child health institute within the NIH.
If House Republicans intend to increase funding for NIH research,
they should do so by replacing sequestration with a more balanced
approach. This bill not only restricts funding for the NIH, it
represents Congressional micromanagement of research. Overall, HR. 2019
does nothing to advance the goals of biomedical research. I urge my
colleagues to support the work of our scientists and researchers and
oppose the Kids First Research Act.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, today House Republicans forced a vote on
the cynically misnamed ``Kids First Research Act.'' The bill purports
to increase funding for pediatric research by transferring $12.6
million from the public financing for party nominating conventions.
That might sound substantial if it weren't designed to mask the fact
that House Republicans have slashed NIH funding by $4.2 billion in the
last three years. In fact, their most recent budget proposal would have
cut NIH funding by another 20%. It's one of the most cynical acts I've
seen in a Congress and reminds me of what my friend, humorist Jim
Boren, used to say, ``If you're going to be a phony, at least be
sincere about it.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by
[[Page H7666]]
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2019, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 2019 will be
followed by 5-minute votes on suspending the rules and passing H.R.
2319, S. 1471, H.R. 3212, and H.R. 1992.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 295,
nays 103, not voting 33, as follows:
[Roll No. 632]
YEAS--295
Aderholt
Amash
Amodei
Bachmann
Bachus
Barber
Barletta
Barr
Barrow (GA)
Barton
Benishek
Bentivolio
Bera (CA)
Bilirakis
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Bonamici
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Capuano
Carney
Carter
Cartwright
Cassidy
Castor (FL)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Conaway
Cook
Cooper
Costa
Cotton
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Daines
Davis, Rodney
DeFazio
Delaney
DelBene
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Duckworth
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Enyart
Esty
Farenthold
Fattah
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Frelinghuysen
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Grayson
Green, Gene
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guthrie
Hall
Hanabusa
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Himes
Holding
Horsford
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Keating
Kelly (PA)
Kilmer
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Lankford
Latham
Latta
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lummis
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
Massie
Matheson
McAllister
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinley
McNerney
Meadows
Meehan
Meng
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mullin
Mulvaney
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Neal
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Olson
Owens
Palazzo
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Peters (CA)
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Petri
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Rahall
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Ruiz
Runyan
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Scalise
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Southerland
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Stutzman
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Tsongas
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Walz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Wenstrup
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yarmuth
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IN)
NAYS--103
Andrews
Becerra
Blumenauer
Brady (PA)
Broun (GA)
Brown (FL)
Capps
Caardenas
Carson (IN)
Chu
Cicilline
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Crowley
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeGette
DeLauro
Dingell
Doggett
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Frankel (FL)
Grijalva
Gutieerrez
Hahn
Higgins
Hinojosa
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kaptur
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Levin
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujaan, Ben Ray (NM)
Maloney, Carolyn
Matsui
McCollum
McGovern
Michaud
Miller, George
Moran
Nadler
Napolitano
Negrete McLeod
Nolan
O'Rourke
Pallone
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Pingree (ME)
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Saanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Scott, David
Serrano
Sires
Slaughter
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Van Hollen
Vargas
Vela
Velaazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waxman
Wilson (FL)
NOT VOTING--33
Bass
Beatty
Bishop (GA)
Butterfield
Castro (TX)
Clarke
Conyers
Culberson
Cummings
Doyle
Franks (AZ)
Fudge
Green, Al
Herrera Beutler
Jackson Lee
Lee (CA)
Lewis
McCarthy (NY)
McDermott
McMorris Rodgers
Meeks
Moore
Nunnelee
Pastor (AZ)
Radel
Rangel
Ruppersberger
Schock
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Sewell (AL)
Waters
Watt
{time} 1600
Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD,
and Mr. TIERNEY changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Messrs. KINGSTON, CARNEY, DEUTCH, Ms. GABBARD, Messrs. GARAMENDI,
YARMUTH, PETERSON of Minnesota, and Ms. HANABUSA changed their vote
from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the bill, as amended, was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
eliminate taxpayer financing of political party conventions and
reprogram savings to provide for a 10-year pediatric research
initiative through the Common Fund administered by the National
Institutes of Health, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mr. NUNNELEE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 632, I was unavoidably
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
Stated against:
Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 632 I was at a
medical appointment in Baltimore, MD and therefore unable to vote. Had
I been present, I would have voted ``no.''
____________________