[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H7515-H7516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION ACT OF 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5561) to reauthorize a program for early detection, 
diagnosis, and treatment regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, 
infants, and young children, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page H7516]]

  


                               H.R. 5561

       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 ``Early Hearing Detection and 
     Intervention Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM FOR EARLY DETECTION, 
                   DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT REGARDING DEAF AND 
                   HARD-OF-HEARING NEWBORNS, INFANTS, AND YOUNG 
                   CHILDREN.

       Section 399M(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280g-1(f)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$17,818,000 for fiscal 
     year 2018, $18,173,800 for fiscal year 2019, $18,628,145 for 
     fiscal year 2020, $19,056,592 for fiscal year 2021, and 
     $19,522,758 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting 
     ``$17,818,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026'';
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$10,800,000 for fiscal 
     year 2018, $11,026,800 for fiscal year 2019, $11,302,470 for 
     fiscal year 2020, $11,562,427 for fiscal year 2021, and 
     $11,851,488 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting 
     ``$16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026''; 
     and
       (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fiscal years 2011 
     through 2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2022 through 
     2026''.

     SEC. 3. GAO STUDY ON STATE EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND 
                   INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study reviewing State early hearing 
     detection and intervention (in this section referred to as 
     ``EHDI'') programs. Such study shall--
       (1) analyze how information collected through such programs 
     informs what is known about EHDI activities to ensure that 
     newborns, infants, and young children have access to timely 
     hearing screenings and early interventions, including 
     information on any disparities in such access;
       (2) analyze what is known about how parents use State EHDI 
     websites to seek health and programmatic guidance related to 
     their child's hearing loss diagnosis; and
       (3) identify efforts and any promising practices of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration, the National Institute 
     on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and State EHDI 
     programs--
       (A) to address disparities in outreach for, or access to, 
     timely hearing screenings and early interventions; and
       (B) to ensure that EHDI follow-up services are communicated 
     and made available to medically underserved populations, 
     including racial and ethnic minorities.
       (b) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall--
       (1) complete the study under subsection (a) and submit a 
     report on the results of the study to--
       (A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
     of the Senate; and
       (2) make such report publicly available.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 5561.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Over the last 20 years, we have been very successful in addressing 
one of the most common birth defects affecting America's children, 
congenital hearing loss. Children with this condition are born with 
hearing loss and are at risk for delays in speech, language, social, 
and emotional development. Fortunately, early detection and 
intervention is highly effective in preventing these adverse effects.
  Since the year 2000, Congress has passed and subsequently 
reauthorized Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs, also 
known as EHDI programs; and these programs support State and territory 
programs and systems of care to identify and support children who are 
deaf or hard of hearing. As a result of these EHDI programs, early 
hearing loss screening, diagnosis, and treatment services have greatly 
increased over the last 20 years.
  Consider that before 1993, only 1 in 10 newborns were screened for 
hearing loss. Recent data indicates that today, 97 percent of all 
infants are screened within the first month of their lives; 77 percent 
of infants receive audiological evaluations and diagnosis by 3 months 
of age; and 70 percent of infants were enrolled in early intervention 
services before 6 months of age. These are remarkable achievements that 
help ensure all children with hearing loss have the same opportunities 
as children who can hear.
  So today, we are considering a bill that will help us build on these 
achievements. H.R. 5561, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention 
Act of 2021, would extend funding for the EHDI programs for 5 years 
through fiscal year 2026. This legislation will ensure that these 
services continue to be available for children that are deaf or hard of 
hearing.
  I want to commend our Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Guthrie for 
his leadership on this bill. I urge all my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5561, the Early 
Hearing Detection and Intervention Act, which is also co-led by my 
Energy and Commerce Committee colleague, Representative Matsui.
  Hearing loss in children continues to be all too prevalent in the 
United States. According to recent Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention data, almost 15 percent of children ages six to 19 
experience either low or high-frequency hearing loss in one or both 
ears.
  The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, administered 
through CDC and the Health Resources and Services Agency, has helped 
providers to quickly identify babies and young children who are born 
deaf or hard of hearing, which has led to improved health outcomes and 
brought hope to so many families.
  H.R. 5561 reauthorizes Federal support for these important statewide 
programs that promote early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of deaf 
and hearing impaired newborns, infants, and young children through 
2026.
  My bill will redouble our efforts to truly open the world of 
communication to children experiencing hearing loss. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill on a 
bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5561, 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. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________