[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5588-H5589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGENITAL HEART FUTURES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7189) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize 
a national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and 
awareness program, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7189

       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 ``Congenital Heart Futures 
     Reauthorization Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE 
                   RESEARCH, SURVEILLANCE, AND AWARENESS PROGRAM.

        Section 399V-2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280g-13) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
     (g) and (h), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
       ``(f) Report and Strategy.--
       ``(1) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act 
     of 2024, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Committee 
     on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
     the Senate including the following:
       ``(A) A description of past and present activities of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services to increase awareness 
     and knowledge of the public with respect to congenital heart 
     disease, including efforts to address the lifelong needs of 
     congenital heart disease patients.
       ``(B) An assessment of past and present activities of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services to increase education 
     and training of health care providers with respect to 
     congenital heart disease, including efforts to address the 
     lifelong needs of congenital heart disease patients.
       ``(C) A description of the current workforce capacity in 
     the United States of health care providers who treat adult 
     patients living with congenital heart disease.
       ``(2) Strategy.--
       ``(A) Development; submission to congress.--Not later than 
     1 year after submitting the report required by paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall develop and submit to Congress a strategy 
     for improving efforts to increase awareness and knowledge of 
     the public and education and training of health care 
     providers with respect to congenital heart disease. Such 
     strategy shall include findings and recommendations to--
       ``(i) address any public awareness and research gaps and 
     opportunities related to the lifelong needs of congenital 
     heart disease patients, including long-term health outcomes, 
     quality of life, mental health, and health care utilization;
       ``(ii) address any shortages in the current workforce of 
     health care providers who treat adult patients living with 
     congenital heart disease, which may include strategies to 
     enhance

[[Page H5589]]

     fellowship training programs or other continuing education 
     programs; and
       ``(iii) foster collaboration and dissemination of 
     information across Federal agencies, health care providers, 
     researchers, and patient organizations.
       ``(B) Consultation.--In developing the strategy under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, as appropriate, 
     consult with qualified stakeholder groups, including patient 
     organizations, health care professionals, research entities, 
     health insurance providers, accrediting organizations, and 
     relevant Federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, 
     and the Health Resources and Services Administration.''; and
       (3) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. 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 in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7189, the Congenital 
Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this particular bill.
  This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will reauthorize a national 
congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program 
at HHS for the next 5 years through FY 2029.
  I am so proud to have been involved in the creation of this pivotal 
program and its reauthorization efforts, and I am grateful to my 
colleagues on this bill; Representatives Schiff, Carter, Soto, Salazar, 
and Cardenas, as well as our bicameral partners, Senators Durbin and 
Young, and I thank them for their efforts.
  I have been glad to lead the Congressional Congenital Heart Caucus 
with Representative Schiff. Over the last years, we have become all too 
familiar with the struggles this patient community faces on a daily 
basis, unfortunately.
  In particular, I also thank the broad set of stakeholders that 
support this initiative and the thousands of advocates speaking on 
behalf of the approximately 2 million patients living with congenital 
heart defects.
  This includes the Adult Congenital Heart Association, Conquering CHD, 
Mended Little Hearts, and The Children's Heart Foundation.
  I thank them for their partnership on this issue and again for 
support of this bill. We have to get this done together, folks. Let's 
pass this in a bipartisan fashion.
  Now, the advocates that come up here do an outstanding job for family 
members and friends that have congenital heart defects as well as the 
patients.
  In the United States, more than 40,000 babies are born with heart 
defects each year, making it the most common type of birth defect.
  It is estimated that more than 2 million people are currently living 
with a heart defect nationwide, but thankfully, they are living much 
longer into adulthood.
  Thankfully, medical care and treatments have advanced. Individuals 
with heart defects, as I said, are living longer and healthier lives. 
Thank goodness.
  This bill will continue the support for research and education 
regarding congenital heart disease and the impact heart defects have on 
individuals throughout every stage of life.
  It would also require HHS to develop a strategy to address any 
research gaps and workforce shortages, particularly as it relates to 
healthcare providers who treat adult patients living with congenital 
heart disease.
  Importantly, this strategy will be developed with the input of expert 
stakeholder groups and relevant Federal entities.
  I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill. It is so very 
important, Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 7189, the Congenital 
Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Representative 
Bilirakis and cosponsored by Representative Soto. The bipartisan 
legislation will reauthorize a national congenital heart disease 
program through 2029.
  In the United States, about 40,000 babies are born with congenital 
heart disease, or CHD, every year. Congenital heart disease prevents 
normal blood flow through the heart and can become a critical issue 
that results in a baby needing surgery or other procedures early in 
life.
  Thanks to scientific advancements in diagnosis and treatment, many 
babies and children can reach adulthood living with CHD. To continue 
our progress, we have to continue to support research, surveillance, 
and awareness for CHD.
  First passed in 2010, the bipartisan Congenital Heart Futures Act 
authorized research and data collection related to CHD.
  The act expands the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 
infrastructure to track epidemiological data for CHD. It also increased 
the National Institutes of Health's research to study lifelong CHD to 
see how those with the disease can still live a long and healthy life.
  H.R. 7189 will reauthorize our national congenital heart disease 
program so we can continue to make strides in addressing CHD. It also 
builds on our Nation's CHD program.
  This bill will assess current research efforts at NIH to ensure we 
have a better understanding of CHD. The bill also expands research at 
the CDC by directing the agency to understand healthcare utilization, 
demographics, and best practices for CHD.
  Finally, the bill allows CDC to establish and implement an awareness 
campaign so that those with CHD and their families understand the 
healthcare needs related to this birth defect.
  Again, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Bilirakis and Soto, for 
their leadership in reauthorizing the Congenital Heart Futures Act.
  Thanks to their efforts, we can pass this bill and continue to make 
strides in addressing CHD.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to reauthorize 
this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we support this important bill 
on a bipartisan basis to continue to address the Nation's CHD program 
effectively.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on 
this particular bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 7189, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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