[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5794-H5796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1344) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize 
a program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding deaf 
and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 1344

       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 cited as the ``Early Hearing Detection and 
     Intervention Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, toddlers, 
     and young children require access to specialized early 
     intervention providers and programs in order to help them 
     meet their linguistic and cognitive potential.
       (2) Families of deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, 
     toddlers, and young children benefit from comprehensive early 
     intervention programs that assist them in supporting their 
     child's development in all domains.
       (3) Best practices principles for early intervention for 
     deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, toddlers, and 
     young children have been identified in a range of areas 
     including listening and spoken language and visual and signed 
     language acquisition, family-to-family support, support from 
     individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, progress 
     monitoring, and others.
       (4) Effective hearing screening and early intervention 
     programs must be in place to identify hearing levels in deaf 
     and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, toddlers, and young 
     children so that they may access appropriate early 
     intervention programs in a timely manner.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM FOR EARLY DETECTION, 
                   DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT REGARDING DEAF AND 
                   HARD-OF-HEARING NEWBORNS, INFANTS, AND YOUNG 
                   CHILDREN.

       Section 399M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280g-1) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 399M. EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT 
                   REGARDING DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING NEWBORNS, 
                   INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN.

       ``(a) Health Resources and Services Administration.--The 
     Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration, shall make awards of 
     grants or cooperative agreements to develop statewide 
     newborn, infant, and young childhood hearing screening, 
     diagnosis, evaluation, and intervention programs and systems, 
     and to assist in the recruitment, retention, education, and 
     training of qualified personnel and health care providers for 
     the following purposes:
       ``(1) To develop and monitor the efficacy of statewide 
     programs and systems for hearing screening of newborns, 
     infants, and young children, prompt evaluation and diagnosis 
     of children referred from screening programs, and appropriate 
     educational, audiological, and medical interventions for 
     children confirmed to be deaf or hard-of-hearing, consistent 
     with the following:
       ``(A) Early intervention includes referral to and delivery 
     of information and services by organizations such as schools 
     and agencies (including community, consumer, and parent-based 
     agencies), pediatric medical homes, and other programs 
     mandated by part C of the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act, which offer programs specifically designed to 
     meet the unique language and communication needs of deaf and 
     hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children.
       ``(B) Information provided to parents must be accurate, 
     comprehensive, and, where appropriate, evidence-based, 
     allowing families to make important decisions for their child 
     in a timely way, including decisions relating to all possible 
     assistive hearing technologies (such as hearing aids, 
     cochlear implants, and osseointegrated devices) and 
     communication options (such as visual and sign language, 
     listening and spoken language, or both).
       ``(C) Programs and systems under this paragraph shall offer 
     mechanisms that foster family-to-family and deaf and hard-of-
     hearing consumer-to-family supports.
       ``(2) To develop efficient models (both educational and 
     medical) to ensure that newborns, infants, and young children 
     who are identified through hearing screening receive followup 
     by qualified early intervention providers, qualified health 
     care providers, or pediatric medical homes (including by 
     encouraging State agencies to adopt such models).
       ``(3) To provide for a technical resource center in 
     conjunction with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the 
     Health Resources and Services Administration--
       ``(A) to provide technical support and education for 
     States; and
       ``(B) to continue development and enhancement of State 
     early hearing detection and intervention programs.
       ``(b) Technical Assistance, Data Management, and Applied 
     Research.--
       ``(1) Centers for disease control and prevention.--The 
     Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, shall make awards of grants 
     or cooperative agreements to State agencies or their 
     designated entities for development, maintenance, and 
     improvement of data tracking and surveillance systems on 
     newborn, infant, and young childhood hearing screenings, 
     audiologic evaluations, medical evaluations, and intervention 
     services; to conduct applied research related to services and 
     outcomes, and provide technical assistance related to 
     newborn, infant, and young childhood hearing screening, 
     evaluation, and intervention programs, and information 
     systems; to ensure high-quality monitoring of hearing 
     screening, evaluation, and intervention programs and systems 
     for newborns, infants, and young children; and to coordinate 
     developing standardized procedures for data management and 
     assessing program and cost effectiveness. The awards under 
     the preceding sentence may be used--
       ``(A) to provide technical assistance on data collection 
     and management;
       ``(B) to study and report on the costs and effectiveness of 
     newborn, infant, and young childhood hearing screening, 
     evaluation, diagnosis, intervention programs, and systems;
       ``(C) to collect data and report on newborn, infant, and 
     young childhood hearing screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and 
     intervention programs and systems that can be used--
       ``(i) for applied research, program evaluation, and policy 
     development; and
       ``(ii) to answer issues of importance to State and national 
     policymakers;
       ``(D) to identify the causes and risk factors for 
     congenital hearing loss;
       ``(E) to study the effectiveness of newborn, infant, and 
     young childhood hearing screening, audiologic evaluations, 
     medical evaluations, and intervention programs and systems by 
     assessing the health, intellectual and social developmental, 
     cognitive, and hearing status of these children at school 
     age; and
       ``(F) to promote the integration, linkage, and 
     interoperability of data regarding early hearing loss and 
     multiple sources to increase information exchanges between 
     clinical care and public health including the ability of 
     States and territories to exchange and share data.
       ``(2) National institutes of health.--The Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health, acting through the Director of 
     the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication 
     Disorders, shall, for purposes of this section, continue a 
     program of research and development related to early hearing 
     detection and

[[Page H5795]]

     intervention, including development of technologies and 
     clinical studies of screening methods, efficacy of 
     interventions, and related research.
       ``(c) Coordination and Collaboration.--
       ``(1) In general.--In carrying out programs under this 
     section, the Administrator of the Health Resources and 
     Services Administration, the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, and the Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health shall collaborate and consult 
     with--
       ``(A) other Federal agencies;
       ``(B) State and local agencies, including those responsible 
     for early intervention services pursuant to title XIX of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (Medicaid Early 
     and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program); 
     title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et 
     seq.) (State Children's Health Insurance Program); title V of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) (Maternal and 
     Child Health Block Grant Program); and part C of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 
     et seq.);
       ``(C) consumer groups of and that serve individuals who are 
     deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families;
       ``(D) appropriate national medical and other health and 
     education specialty organizations;
       ``(E) persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their 
     families;
       ``(F) other qualified professional personnel who are 
     proficient in deaf or hard-of-hearing children's language and 
     who possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and attributes 
     needed to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, 
     toddlers, children, and their families;
       ``(G) third-party payers and managed-care organizations; 
     and
       ``(H) related commercial industries.
       ``(2) Policy development.--The Administrator of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration, the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Director 
     of the National Institutes of Health shall coordinate and 
     collaborate on recommendations for policy development at the 
     Federal and State levels and with the private sector, 
     including consumer, medical, and other health and education 
     professional-based organizations, with respect to newborn, 
     infant, and young childhood hearing screening, evaluation, 
     diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems.
       ``(3) State early detection, diagnosis, and intervention 
     programs and systems; data collection.--The Administrator of 
     the Health Resources and Services Administration and the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     shall coordinate and collaborate in assisting States--
       ``(A) to establish newborn, infant, and young childhood 
     hearing screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention 
     programs and systems under subsection (a); and
       ``(B) to develop a data collection system under subsection 
     (b).
       ``(d) Rule of Construction; Religious Accommodation.--
     Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or 
     prohibit any State law, including State laws which do not 
     require the screening for hearing loss of newborns, infants, 
     or young children of parents who object to the screening on 
     the grounds that such screening conflicts with the parents' 
     religious beliefs.
       ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       ``(1) The term `audiologic', when used in connection with 
     evaluation, refers to procedures--
       ``(A) to assess the status of the auditory system;
       ``(B) to establish the site of the auditory disorder, the 
     type and degree of hearing loss, and the potential effects of 
     hearing loss on communication; and
       ``(C) to identify appropriate treatment and referral 
     options, including--
       ``(i) linkage to State coordinating agencies under part C 
     of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1431 et seq.) or other appropriate agencies;
       ``(ii) medical evaluation;
       ``(iii) hearing aid/sensory aid assessment;
       ``(iv) audiologic rehabilitation treatment; and
       ``(v) referral to national and local consumer, self-help, 
     parent, and education organizations, and other family-
     centered services.
       ``(2) The term `early intervention' refers to--
       ``(A) providing appropriate services for the child who is 
     deaf or hard of hearing, including nonmedical services; and
       ``(B) ensuring the family of the child is--
       ``(i) provided comprehensive, consumer-oriented information 
     about the full range of family support, training, information 
     services, and language and communication options; and
       ``(ii) given the opportunity to consider and obtain the 
     full range of such appropriate services, educational and 
     program placements, and other options for their child from 
     highly qualified providers.
       ``(3) The term `medical evaluation' refers to key 
     components performed by a physician, including history, 
     examination, and medical decisionmaking focused on 
     symptomatic and related body systems for the purpose of 
     diagnosing the etiology of hearing loss and related physical 
     conditions, and for identifying appropriate treatment and 
     referral options.
       ``(4) The term `medical intervention' refers to the process 
     by which a physician provides medical diagnosis and direction 
     for medical or surgical treatment options for hearing loss or 
     related medical disorders.
       ``(5) The term `newborn, infant, and young childhood 
     hearing screening' refers to objective physiologic procedures 
     to detect possible hearing loss and to identify newborns, 
     infants, and young children who require further audiologic 
     evaluations and medical evaluations.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) Statewide newborn, infant, and young childhood 
     hearing screening, evaluation and intervention programs and 
     systems.--For the purpose of carrying out subsection (a), 
     there is authorized to be appropriated to the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration $17,800,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
       ``(2) Technical assistance, data management, and applied 
     research; centers for disease control and prevention.--For 
     the purpose of carrying out subsection (b)(1), there is 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention $10,800,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2016 through 2020.
       ``(3) Technical assistance, data management, and applied 
     research; national institute on deafness and other 
     communication disorders.--No additional funds are authorized 
     to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out subsection 
     (b)(2). Such subsection shall be carried out using funds 
     which are otherwise authorized (under section 402A or other 
     provisions of law) to be appropriated for such purpose.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which 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 Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased that, today, the House is considering H.R. 1344, the 
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2015. This bipartisan 
bill sets a strong precedent for working together on the many big 
issues before Congress this month.
  This bill, which I introduced along with Congresswoman Lois Capps, 
reauthorizes the program for the early detection, diagnosis, and 
treatment of deaf and hard of hearing newborns, infants, and young 
children.
  H.R. 1344 encourages hearing tests and intervention for newborn 
babies. Through early detection, these children and their families can 
be made aware of a child's hearing loss and given access to specialized 
early intervention providers and programs in order to help children 
meet their potential. This reauthorization increases the focus on loss 
to followup. So those children whose hearing loss is identified don't 
just stop with identification; they may go on to receive intervention, 
treatment, or an introduction to deaf services.
  This program has proven success. In 2000, only 40 percent of newborns 
were screened for hearing loss. That number rose to just over 86 
percent in 2011, and, today, the CDC reports that, roughly, 97 percent 
of all infant children are screened for hearing loss.
  In closing, I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Capps, for 
her leadership over the years on this important bipartisan issue. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1344 so we can continue these vital 
services for newborn babies and young children.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing Detection and 
Intervention Act. This important legislation is led by Representatives 
Lois Capps and Brett Guthrie, both members of our committee.
  Beginning in 2000, Congress took steps to facilitate the development 
of newborn and infant screening and intervention programs. This bill 
reauthorizes and makes further improvements to the Early Hearing 
Detection and Intervention Program, which supports detection and 
treatment for hearing-impaired newborns and young children.
  The early identification of a child's hearing loss increases the 
likelihood that intervention and treatment services can successfully 
prevent or limit developmental delays. Research shows that it can 
significantly improve quality of life and education outcomes for 
children with hearing impairments. The vast majority of deaf children 
are born to parents who do not have impaired hearing and who, 
therefore, may not be able to identify their children's conditions 
early on. The outreach services provided for by the program 
reauthorized in this bill may help ensure

[[Page H5796]]

that children and their parents receive appropriate screenings and 
followup.
  I want to thank Representatives Capps and Guthrie for their 
leadership on this issue. I thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member 
Pallone, and Chairman Pitts for their work to advance this important 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1344, the Early 
Hearing Detection and Intervention Act.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), my colleague and a cosponsor 
of the bill.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1344, the Early Hearing 
Detection and Intervention Act, which I was so pleased to coauthor with 
my colleague from Kentucky, Congressman Brett Guthrie.
  Hearing loss in newborns is considered an invisible disability. 
Almost 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born deaf 
or hard of hearing, and even more children lose their hearing later on 
during childhood. When hearing loss is left undetected, it can impede 
speech, language, and cognitive development; but we know that, when 
hearing loss is caught early, children have much better outcomes. In 
fact, early intervention can help children overcome hearing issues and 
get them ready to learn on par with their peers.
  That is exactly what the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act 
does, pronounced ``Eddie.'' As it is commonly called, EHDI has helped 
families in all 50 States and the District of Columbia identify 
children in need of care early when interventions are most effective.
  By all accounts, this program has worked. Since the implementation of 
the EHDI program 15 years ago, we have seen a tremendous increase in 
the number of newborns who are being screened for hearing loss. Back in 
2000, when we first set up the EHDI program, only 44 percent of 
newborns in the country were being screened for hearing loss. Now we 
are screening newborns at a rate of over 96 percent. This is a 
remarkable achievement, but our work is not done.
  While it is important that all babies are screened for hearing loss, 
it is just as important that those babies who do not pass this 
screening receive a diagnostic evaluation and be connected to early 
intervention programs. Unfortunately, according to the Centers for 
Disease Control, 36 percent of newborns who fail their initial hearing 
screenings are not receiving appropriate followup care. This 
reauthorization effort will focus on those children, helping to bridge 
the gap between screening and intervention.
  My background is as a school nurse for over 20 years, and I have 
worked with so many students who were lagging behind their classmates 
due to undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Mrs. CAPPS. These children did not need to suffer. We can and must 
help them succeed through stronger investments in followup and 
interventions, such as sign language training, hearing aids, and 
speech-language development. Early identification and intervention are 
both keys to a child's well-being.
  Our legislation would ensure that these programs are there for the 
children who need them. A vote for this bill is a vote to keep this 
program strong. I urge my colleagues to support our bipartisan bill.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank my friend from 
California (Mrs. Capps) so much for our working together to move this 
bipartisan bill forward. I thank our subcommittee ranking member, Mr. 
Green, and our chairman, Chairman Pitts.
  I was involved in this effort in Kentucky when I was in the State 
Senate. I have seen the difference that it makes, and I am glad to be 
involved in this on a national level. Knowing that 97 percent of our 
babies are screened so they can get intervention and treatment very 
early in their lives makes a big difference. I am proud to be a part of 
this, and I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1344.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1344, the ``Early Hearing 
Detection and Intervention Act of 2015'' introduced by my colleagues 
Representatives Capps and Guthrie.
  H.R. 1344, would reauthorize the Early Hearing Detection and 
Intervention Program. Prior to the creation of this program, less than 
50 percent of all newborns were regularly screened for hearing loss. 
I'm proud to say that thanks to this program about 97 percent of 
newborns now receive a hearing screening. Through this program, 
children gain early access to interventions and treatments that are 
critical in minimizing a hearing-impaired child's risk of developmental 
delays, especially communication, social skills and cognition. H.R. 
1344 would ensure that we continue to support this valuable public 
health program that has a proven track record of success.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1344, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________