[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GME SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.,

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2014

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1557, 
the Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013.
  As every parent knows, it's very important to have a trusted doctor 
to turn to when their child gets sick. Since its inception in 1999, the 
Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program--known as 
CHGME--has helped to make sure that a doctor is there and prepared to 
diagnose any symptoms our children face.
  In fact, the program has been a true success. In the 1990s declines 
in pediatric training programs threatened the stability of the 
pediatric workforce. CHGME helped to reverse these dangerous declines. 
Even then, Congress, on a bipartisan manner recognized that if we 
didn't create and fund programs that would train doctors to treat these 
children, there won't be anyone left to take care of them.
  That is why, the House overwhelmingly supported reauthorization of 
the program in the 112th and 113th Congresses, passing standalone 
legislation in September 2011, including the reauthorization in broader 
legislation in December 2012, and approving standalone legislation one 
year ago.
  The legislation before us today--which has already cleared the Senate 
by unanimous consent--reauthorizes the program through fiscal year 2018 
and makes two important changes to the program.
  First, S. 1557 allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
undertake a limited program expansion to include children's psychiatric 
hospitals and other freestanding children's hospitals that have been 
ineligible to participate in the program for technical reasons.
  Second, it gives the Secretary the authority to redistribute funding 
set-aside for the newly-eligible hospitals that is unused, based upon 
quality measures that are consistent with residency program 
accreditation criteria and that are developed in consultation with 
stakeholders.
  With this federal CHGME support, children's hospitals can play a key 
role in ensuring the continued growth of our nation's pediatric 
workforce. In 2012, the program supported the training of 6,015 
resident physicians nationally. The program will also help to enhance 
hospitals' research capabilities and improve hospitals' ability to 
provide care to vulnerable and underserved children.
  I want to thank Congressman Joe Pitts, the Chairman of our Health 
Subcommittee, for working with me on the House bill. Together with his 
help and leadership, we advanced House CHGME legislation upon convening 
the 113th Congress. A special thanks to Chairman Upton and Ranking 
Member Waxman for their support in addressing this critical program.
  I also want to commend Senators Casey and Isakson for their 
leadership on this legislation in the Senate and hard work to address 
concerns raised about children's psychiatric hospitals and other 
children's hospitals being excluded from the program in a fair and 
balanced way.
  Mr. Speaker, this program has proven results and it is past time that 
we finally reauthorize CHGME so that we can provide certainty to 
hospitals, doctors and their patients.
  Children in our communities are counting on this program to train a 
future generation of pediatricians. I urge my colleagues to vote 
``yes'' on S. 1557 and to send this measure to the President.

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