[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  FOUNDATION OF THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION CHARTER AMENDMENTS ACT OF 
                                  2017

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5385, 
the GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018.
  H.R. 5385 amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the 
program of payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate 
medical education programs.
  Americans across our nation need care, and the Children's Hospital 
GME (CHGME) program has been utilized by hospitals across our country 
to train doctors who can provide that necessary aid.
  I represent the 18th District of Texas which is home to the Methodist 
Hospital System, one of the largest medical institutions in the world.
  H.R. 5385 will allow Houston to continue to recruit and train many 
talented doctors.
  CHGME was created in 1999 because Congress recognized that a 
dedicated source of support for training in children's hospitals was 
necessary to strengthen the pediatric workforce.
  Since then, CHGME funding has enabled children's hospitals to 
dramatically increase training overall, and in particular grow the 
supply of pediatric specialists--the area of greatest shortage in 
children's health care.
  If CHGME is allowed to expire, we will lose the progress we have made 
in this field.
  According to data from a 2017 Children's Hospital Association survey, 
pediatric specialty shortages continue to affect children's ability to 
receive timely, appropriate care.
  The funds generated from this legislation. will help train the 
medical professionals we desperately need.
  In a time when there are growing health disparities within our 
nation, it is important to address the needs of underserved urban 
areas.
  The more medical professionals we train, the greater the likelihood 
that these underserved communities will have access to proper medical 
care.
  CHGME funds the training of pediatric providers at eligible 
children's hospitals.
  The 58 children's hospitals that receive CHGME funding train 
approximately half of the nation's pediatricians, more than 7,000 
annually.
  We should provide the funds necessary to train students in a 
profession that will benefit society.
  We must train the very professionals who will one day save the life 
of a child.
  I support this legislation because it will increase the quality of 
medical training in the United States.
  I believe that H.R. 5385 improves upon a system that sets the bar for 
medical care internationally.
  By passing H.R. 5385, CHGME can continue to succeed in bolstering 
research potential at these institutions as well as helping to cure a 
problem that supersedes political boundaries: children's illness.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5385.

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