[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23682-23683]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RESEARCH REVIEW ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM M. THOMAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following correspondence for 
the Record.


[[Page 23683]]


                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                  Washington, DC, October 6, 2004.
     Hon. Joe Barton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
     Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
       Dear Chairman Barton: I am writing concerning H.R. 5213, 
     the ``Research Review Act of 2004,'' which is scheduled for 
     floor consideration today.
       As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has 
     jurisdiction over matters concerning title XVIII of the 
     Social Security Act. Section 4 of the bill requires the 
     Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study 
     on the coverage standards that, under Medicare, apply to 
     patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and thus falls 
     within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means.
       However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. 
     This is being done with the understanding that it does not in 
     any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the 
     appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this or similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 5213, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration.
           Best regards,
                                                      Bill Thomas,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                  Washington, DC, October 6, 2004.
     Hon. Bill Thomas,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thomas: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 5213, the ``Research Review Act of 2004,'' on which the 
     Committee on Ways and Means received a named additional 
     referral upon introduction.
       I appreciate your willingness not to exercise your referral 
     on H.R. 5213. I agree that your decision to forego action on 
     the bill will not prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means 
     with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or 
     similar legislation.
       I will include a copy of your letter and this response in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 5213 on 
     the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Joe Barton,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________