[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 185 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5729-H5730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING NATIONAL SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Hern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HERN. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in honor of National Spina 
Bifida Awareness Month.
  Spina bifida is a rare condition that develops in the womb. It stems 
from a hole in the spinal cord, a condition known as a neural tube 
defect. As the spinal column fails to close properly, nearly every 
major organ system is impacted.
  Children born with spina bifida typically undergo dozens of surgeries 
at a young age. For those who survive to adulthood, they live with 
complex physical, mental, and other health challenges.
  There are precious few resources available for the 166,000 
individuals living with spina bifida in the United States, including my 
sister and my niece. I have another sister who was born with spina 
bifida as well and passed away shortly after birth.
  I am very familiar with the challenges faced by those who suffer from 
spina bifida. It has been a part of my life since childhood.
  The medical community has taken many steps forward since my sisters 
were diagnosed with spina bifida several decades ago. Whereas spina 
bifida used to be a childhood death sentence, many individuals with 
spina bifida are living well into adulthood, a tremendous milestone. 
But there is more we can do.
  Funding for spina bifida is low. There is only one entity in the 
Federal Government studying spina bifida. It is the Spina Bifida 
Program at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities at the CDC.
  Americans living with spina bifida deserve the same respect and 
dignity in life as everyone else. Spina bifida research needs dedicated 
funding to ensure a better future for Americans with spina bifida.


                        Remembering Pat Campbell

  Mr. HERN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Pat Campbell, a 
friend not only to me but to many Oklahomans who listened to him on the 
radio every morning.
  Pat passed away yesterday morning after a long fight with brain 
cancer. Everyone who knew Pat knows he was a fighter.
  Pat got his start on radio largely on accident, because he would call 
in and debate a liberal radio host. The station was so impressed with 
his calls that they gave him his own show.
  After that, he became a regular guest of Tucker Carlson's on MSNBC 
and would go on to be a guest commentator on shows like ``The O'Reilly 
Factor'' and ``Fox and Friends.''
  Pat had an extraordinary impact on radio, not only in Tulsa but 
around the Nation. He was a passionate voice for conservative values 
and a truly great friend.

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  I will greatly miss Pat, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to his 
family and all those who loved him.

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