[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 183 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H9348-H9349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GLOBAL HEALTH INNOVATION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2241) to direct the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development to submit to Congress a report on the 
development and use of global health innovations in the programs, 
projects, and activities of the Agency, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2241

       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 ``Global Health Innovation Act 
     of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a 
     period of 4 years, the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development shall submit to Congress 
     a report on the development and use of global health 
     innovations in the programs, projects, and activities of the 
     Agency.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by 
     subsection (a) shall include the following:
       (1) A description of--
       (A) the extent to which global health innovations described 
     in subsection (a) include drugs, diagnostics, devices, 
     vaccines, electronic and mobile health technologies, and 
     related behavior change and service delivery innovations;
       (B) how innovation has advanced the Agency's commitments to 
     achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation, ending preventable 
     child and maternal deaths, and protecting communities from 
     infectious diseases, as well as furthered by the Global 
     Health Strategic Framework;
       (C) how goals are set for health product development in 
     relation to the Agency's health-related goals and how 
     progress and impact are measured towards those goals;
       (D) how the Agency's investments in innovation relate to 
     its stated goals; and
       (E) progress made towards health product development goals.
       (2) How the Agency both, independently and with partners, 
     donors, and public-private partnerships, is--
       (A) leveraging United States investments to achieve greater 
     impact in health innovation;
       (B) engaging in activities to develop, advance, and 
     introduce affordable, available, and appropriate global 
     health products; and
       (C) scaling up appropriate health innovations in the 
     development pipeline.
       (3) A description of collaboration and coordination with 
     other Federal departments and agencies, including the Centers 
     for Disease Control and Prevention, in support of global 
     health product development, including a description of how 
     the Agency is working to ensure critical gaps in product 
     development for global health are being filled.
       (4) A description of how the Agency is coordinating and 
     aligning global health innovation activities between the 
     Global Development Lab, the Center for Accelerating 
     Innovation and Impact, and the Bureau for Global Health.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the Global Health Innovation Act introduced by 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires).
  I would just point out that, over the past two decades, we have made 
unprecedented progress in addressing some of the most difficult global 
health challenges of our time. Global rates of child mortality have 
dropped by 53 percent. Malaria deaths are down by 47 percent. Maternal 
mortality has been reduced by 44 percent. The eradication of polio is 
within reach.
  Yet, despite these successes, we have a long way to go. The Ebola 
outbreak in West Africa should serve as a stark reminder of the global 
threat of infectious disease. Though child and maternal mortality rates 
have been drastically reduced, there are still 5.9 million children 
under the age of 5 who died from preventable causes in 2015. There were 
830 mothers who died from preventable causes every day. I have been to 
Africa and have often seen the disastrous effects of these diseases.
  USAID's Global Development Lab and Center for Accelerating Innovation 
and Impact is working to address these global health challenges by 
bringing together science, technology, innovation to develop low-cost, 
high-impact health technologies.
  This legislation, written by Mr. Sires, before us today seeks to 
support these efforts while bettering congressional oversight. It 
directs the administrator of USAID to submit to Congress five annual 
reports on the development and use of global health innovations in its 
programs, particularly those relating to HIV/AIDS, to maternal and 
child health and to combating infectious diseases.
  I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires), the 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, for 
bringing this forward in a timely manner.
  I urge Members to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
rise in support of this measure.
  I want to start by thanking Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel 
for their work on global health and their efforts to bring this bill to 
the floor.
  I would also like to thank the many Members who have cosponsored this 
bill, especially Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who has gracefully 
acted as the Republican lead.
  Additionally, I would like to thank the staffers who worked 
diligently to bring H.R. 2241 to the floor for a vote.
  Infectious diseases and other health conditions still claim the lives 
of nearly 9 million people each year. Emerging health threats, such as 
drug resistance, pose a serious threat to human health across the 
globe.
  New vaccines, drugs, tests, and other health tools are desperately 
needed. Progress cannot be made without a sustained investment in 
research and development.
  U.S. investments in global health research are central components of 
U.S.

[[Page H9349]]

foreign policy to increase national security, strengthen U.S. relations 
around the world, and reduce infectious diseases.
  The U.S. has a legacy of leadership in global health research through 
agencies like USAID. That is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 2241, 
the Global Health Innovation Act. This will provide the oversight 
needed to gain a clearer picture of USAID's global health research and 
development.
  Over the years, research and development projects have greatly 
expanded at the USAID, searching for advancements toward an HIV- and 
AIDS-free generation and preventable maternal and childhood deaths, and 
preventable infectious diseases.
  This legislation is an effort to keep up with the scope of USAID's 
expanded efforts and ensure their research and development activities 
reflect their goals and priorities. This report asks them to provide 
clarity on their goals and metrics to better understand their work.
  H.R. 2241 directs the USAID administrator to report annually to 
Congress on the development and use of global health innovations in 
USAID programs, projects, and activities. The report must also include 
how the Agency measures progress, investments, and developments toward 
their health-related goals.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 2241 to allow 
Congress to exercise its oversight powers and ensure USAID's research 
and development efforts reflect their priorities.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel once 
again. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2241.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, the Global Health Innovation Act will enable 
Congress to conduct more effective oversight of USAID's effort to 
develop and expand access to low-cost, high-impact health technologies.
  I support this bill, and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2241, 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. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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