[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1447-E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HEALTH IT WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2014

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 15-19, 
2014 as the 9th annual National Health IT Week. This is an important 
opportunity to reflect upon the importance of health information 
technology in stimulating the U.S. economy and improving health care in 
our country. My own district, which includes Silicon Valley, is home to 
a growing number of innovative digital health startups and companies 
making an impact in health care. These companies are addressing some of 
health care's most pressing challenges with breakthrough technologies 
and services, all the while creating valuable jobs.
   Health IT supports workforce development in the U.S. and exports 
opportunities abroad. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a need for 
thousands of new health IT jobs over the next decade. Health IT 
workforce development programs need visibility and connection to the 
Administration's programs for job creation. Congressional support is 
needed for funding to expand community college, university-based, and 
non-profit programs to train health IT workers. Policymakers need to 
work with non-profit associations and the business community to launch 
and support internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships that give 
students and transitioning professionals real-world experience. Federal 
agencies should work with U.S. companies, health care organizations, 
and non-profit associations to document lessons learned and best 
practices from the Meaningful Use Program and apply them to overseas 
markets.
   In order to continue on this path, we need to provide incentives and 
frameworks to guide and reward these health care innovators. That is 
why I introduced H.R. 2363, the Health Care Innovation and Marketplace 
Technologies Act, which would create a new office of wireless health 
under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and offer incentives for 
health care innovators. This legislation would not only create jobs, 
but also provide a regulatory framework for innovators who seek to grow 
companies and develop products to transform health care. It is 
imperative that we support these innovators, as it is clear that health 
IT supports workforce development in the U.S. We must also continue to 
prepare students and our workforce for the 21st century demands of the 
technology industry. The growth of health IT undoubtedly has the 
potential to stimulate the economy and bring much-needed innovation to 
our nation's healthcare sector.
   Health information technology is essential to the transformation of 
health care in America,

[[Page E1448]]

and so I am happy to commemorate National Health IT Week.

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