[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 188 (Monday, December 5, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8754-H8755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION ACT OF 2022

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 4052) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4052

       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 2022''.

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

       Section 399M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280g-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e), by inserting ``(3)'' before ``The 
     term `medical evaluation' ''; and
       (2) in subsection (f)--
       (A) 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 2023 through 2027''; 
     and
       (B) 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 
     ``$10,760,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027''.

     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 2 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) 
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 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on S. 4052.
  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, today I rise in support of S. 4052, the Early Hearing 
Detection and Intervention Act. Last year, we passed the House version 
of this bill, H.R. 5561, which was sponsored by Health Subcommittee 
Ranking Member Guthrie and Representative Matsui. I thank both of them 
for their leadership on this issue.
  Over the last 20 years, Mr. Speaker, 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 2000, Congress has passed and subsequently reauthorized Early 
Hearing Detection and Intervention programs, also known as EHDI 
programs. These programs support State and territory programs and 
systems of care to identify and support children who are deaf or hard 
of hearing. Thanks to these programs, early hearing loss screening, 
diagnosis, and treatment services have greatly increased over the last 
two decades.
  Consider that before 1993, only 1 in 10 newborns were screened for 
hearing loss. Today, according to data from the Centers for Disease and 
Prevention, 97 percent of all infants are screened within the first 
month of their lives. Furthermore, 60 percent of infants receive 
audiological evaluations and diagnosis by 3 months of age, and 72 
percent of infants were enrolled in early intervention services before 
they are 6 months old. These are remarkable achievements that help 
ensure all children with hearing loss have the same opportunities as 
children who can hear.
  Today, we are considering a bill that will help us build on these 
achievements. S. 4052, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention 
Act, would extend critical funding for EHDI programs for 5 years 
through fiscal year 2027. This legislation will ensure that these 
services continue to be available for children who are deaf or hard of 
hearing.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4052, the Early Hearing 
Detection and Invention Act, the companion legislation to H.R. 5561 
sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee members, Representatives 
Guthrie and Matsui.
  S. 4052 is very similar to the legislation that passed the House 410-
17, and I hope in the upcoming vote it will receive even more ``yes'' 
votes.
  Hearing loss in children continues to be all too prevalent in the 
United States. According to recent CDC data, almost 15 percent of 
children aged 6 to 19 experience either low- or high-frequency hearing 
loss in one or both ears.
  The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, administered 
through the 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.
  S. 4052 reauthorizes Federal support for these important statewide 
programs that help early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of deaf 
and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children through 2027.
  This bill will help redouble our efforts to truly open the world of 
communication to children who experiencing hearing loss.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all Members to vote for this 
on a bipartisan basis and mention that when it passes today that it 
will go to the President's desk.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H8755]]

the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 4052.
  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. MOORE of Alabama. 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.

                          ____________________