[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8150-H8152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPROVING TRAUMA SYSTEMS AND EMERGENCY CARE ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 8163) to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to 
trauma care, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8163

       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 ``Improving Trauma Systems and 
     Emergency Care Act''.

     SEC. 2. TRAUMA CARE REAUTHORIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 1201 of the Public Health Service 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 300d) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by inserting ``analyze,'' after ``compile,''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``and medically underserved areas'' 
     before the semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (4), by adding ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (C) by striking paragraph (5); and
       (D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5);
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination.--The 
     Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
     Preparedness and Response, shall support the efforts of 
     States and consortia of States to coordinate and improve 
     emergency medical services and trauma care during a public 
     health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to 
     section 319 or a major disaster or emergency declared by the 
     President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act. Such support may include--
       ``(1) developing, issuing, and updating guidance, as 
     appropriate, to support the coordinated medical triage and 
     evacuation to appropriate medical institutions based on 
     patient medical need, taking into account regionalized 
     systems of care;
       ``(2) disseminating, as appropriate, information on 
     evidence-based or evidence-informed trauma care practices, 
     taking into consideration emergency medical services and 
     trauma care systems, including such practices identified 
     through activities conducted under subsection (a) and which 
     may include the identification and dissemination of 
     performance metrics, as applicable and appropriate; and
       ``(3) other activities, as appropriate, to optimize a 
     coordinated and flexible approach to the emergency response 
     and medical surge capacity of hospitals, other health care 
     facilities, critical care, and emergency medical systems.''.
       (b) Grants To Improve Trauma Care in Rural Areas.--Section 
     1202 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-3) is 
     amended--
       (1) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
     ``grants to improve trauma care in rural areas'';
       (2) by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities for the purpose of carrying out research 
     and demonstration projects to support the improvement of 
     emergency medical services and trauma care in rural areas 
     through the development of innovative uses of technology, 
     training and education, transportation of seriously injured 
     patients for the purposes of receiving such emergency medical 
     services, access to prehospital care, evaluation of protocols 
     for the purposes of improvement of outcomes and dissemination 
     of any related best practices, activities to facilitate 
     clinical research, as applicable and appropriate, and 
     increasing communication and coordination with applicable 
     State or Tribal trauma systems.
       ``(b) Eligible Entities.--
       ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this section, an entity shall be a

[[Page H8151]]

     public or private entity that provides trauma care in a rural 
     area.
       ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will 
     provide services under the grant in any rural area identified 
     by a State under section 1214(d)(1).''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Reports.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
     section shall submit to the Secretary such reports as the 
     Secretary may require to inform administration of the program 
     under this section.''.
       (c) Pilot Grants for Trauma Centers.--Section 1204 of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-6) is amended--
       (1) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
     ``pilot grants for trauma centers'';
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``not fewer than 4'' and inserting ``10'';
       (B) by striking ``that design, implement, and evaluate'' 
     and inserting ``to design, implement, and evaluate new or 
     existing'';
       (C) by striking ``emergency care'' and inserting 
     ``emergency medical''; and
       (D) by inserting ``, and improve access to trauma care 
     within such systems'' before the period;
       (3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B) and inserting the following:
       ``(A) a State or consortia of States;
       ``(B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as defined in 
     section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
     Assistance Act);
       ``(C) a consortium of level I, II, or III trauma centers 
     designated by applicable State or local agencies within an 
     applicable State or region, and, as applicable, other 
     emergency services providers; or
       ``(D) a consortium or partnership of nonprofit Indian 
     Health Service, Indian Tribal, and urban Indian trauma 
     centers.'';
       (4) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``that proposes a pilot project''; and
       (ii) by striking ``an emergency medical and trauma system 
     that--'' and inserting ``a new or existing emergency medical 
     and trauma system. Such eligible entity shall use amounts 
     awarded under this subsection to carry out 2 or more of the 
     following activities:'';
       (B) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``coordinates'' and inserting 
     ``Strengthening coordination and communication''; and
       (ii) by striking ``an approach to emergency medical and 
     trauma system access throughout the region, including 9-1-1 
     Public Safety Answering Points and emergency medical 
     dispatch;'' and inserting ``approaches to improve situational 
     awareness and emergency medical and trauma system access.'';
       (C) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking ``includes'' and inserting ``Providing'';
       (ii) by inserting ``support patient movement to'' after 
     ``region to''; and
       (iii) by striking the semicolon and inserting a period;
       (D) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking ``allows for'' and inserting ``Improving''; 
     and
       (ii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;
       (E) in paragraph (4), by striking ``includes a consistent'' 
     and inserting ``Supporting a consistent''; and
       (F) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Establishing, implementing, and disseminating, or 
     utilizing existing, as applicable, evidence-based or 
     evidence-informed practices across facilities within such 
     emergency medical and trauma system to improve health 
     outcomes, including such practices related to management of 
     injuries, and the ability of such facilities to surge.
       ``(6) Conducting activities to facilitate clinical 
     research, as applicable and appropriate.'';
       (5) in subsection (d)(2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the 
     proposed'' and inserting ``the applicable emergency medical 
     and trauma system'';
       (ii) in clause (i), by inserting ``or Tribal entity'' after 
     ``equivalent State office''; and
       (iii) in clause (vi), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
     and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) for eligible entities described in subparagraph (C) 
     or (D) of subsection (b)(1), a description of, and evidence 
     of, coordination with the applicable State Office of 
     Emergency Medical Services (or equivalent State Office) or 
     applicable such office for a Tribe or Tribal organization; 
     and'';
       (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``population in a 
     medically underserved area'' and inserting ``medically 
     underserved population'';
       (7) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``described in'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the system 
     characteristics that contribute to'' and inserting 
     ``opportunities for improvement, including recommendations 
     for how to improve'';
       (C) by striking paragraph (4);
       (D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs 
     (4) and (5), respectively;
       (E) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking ``; 
     and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (F) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking the 
     period and inserting ``; and''; and
       (G) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) any evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies 
     developed or utilized pursuant to subsection (c)(5).''; and
       (8) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
       ``(h) Dissemination of Findings.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the completion of the final project under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives a report describing the information contained 
     in each report submitted pursuant to subsection (g) and any 
     additional actions planned by the Secretary related to 
     regionalized emergency care and trauma systems.''.
       (d) Program Funding.--Section 1232(a) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-32(a)) is amended by striking 
     ``2010 through 2014'' and inserting ``2023 through 2027''.

  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. 8163.
  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.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8163, the Improving 
Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act, sponsored by Representative 
O'Halleran of Arizona. This bill will improve access to trauma services 
throughout the country and better coordinate emergency care when 
patients need it the very most.
  Traumatic injury is a major public health issue claiming more than 
270,000 lives every year, and accounting for billions of dollars in 
healthcare spending throughout the Nation.
  Trauma affects every one of our communities, but about 46 million 
Americans, most of whom live in rural areas, do not live within one 
hour of a Level I or Level II trauma center. This is often referred to 
as the ``golden hour'' following traumatic injury. Prompt medical 
treatment during this hour produces the highest likelihood of 
preventing a patient's death.
  H.R. 8163 reauthorizes grants that will enhance access to trauma 
care, improve coordination among trauma systems, and provide resources 
for rural access to trauma services. The grants included in the bill 
are intended to help trauma systems develop best practices, not only 
for their own patients, but also to facilitate the dissemination of 
those best practices to similar trauma systems throughout the Nation to 
improve overall care.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce 
Committee for their tremendous work to reach bipartisan agreement on 
this bill. I also commend Representative O'Halleran for his tireless 
advocacy on this issue for all rural communities.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8163 is a strong bill that will help people in 
every community. I urge my colleagues to support it, and 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 to express my support for H.R. 8163, the 
Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act of 2022, which is 
sponsored by my Energy and Commerce Committee colleague, Representative 
  Tom O'Halleran.
  This legislation renews a program in the Public Health Service Act 
that authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award 
grants to improve local trauma care readiness and emergency medical 
services.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, 
trauma is a leading cause of death for children and adults under the 
age of 44. Ensuring access to trauma care requires many crucial 
components, and the window of opportunity for a chance at survival is 
narrow for a severely injured patient; a prompt response is truly a 
matter of life and death.
  However, in many rural parts of the United States, accident victims 
and others suffering life-threatening injuries may not be able to 
receive needed trauma care within an hour, or even many hours, 
following an incident.
  H.R. 8163 will help ensure seriously injured patients have the best 
possible chance for survival by supporting States to coordinate and 
improve regional emergency medical services and

[[Page H8152]]

trauma care, and by supporting trauma centers to improve their 
emergency system situational awareness and access.
  The bill also authorizes grants for carrying out research and 
demonstration projects to support the improvement of emergency medical 
services and trauma care in rural areas.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Pallone and Chair Eshoo for working with 
us to make sure the State match is maintained.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of 8163, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge support. This is bipartisan. 
This is really important to rural areas, in particular.
  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 New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8163, 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. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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