[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10801-10803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRAUMA SYSTEMS AND REGIONALIZATION OF EMERGENCY CARE REAUTHORIZATION 
                                  ACT

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4080) to amend title XII of the Public Health Service Act to 
reauthorize certain trauma care programs, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4080

       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 ``Trauma Systems and 
     Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN TRAUMA CARE PROGRAMS.

       Section 1232(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300d-32(a)) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
     ``2019''.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO CERTAIN TRAUMA 
                   CARE PROGRAMS.

       (a) Allocation of Funds for Competitive Grants for 
     Regionalized Systems for Emergency Care Response.--Section 
     1232(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-
     32(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2014, not more 
     than 50 percent of such amounts remaining for such fiscal 
     year after application of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be 
     allocated for the purpose of carrying out section 1204.''.
       (b) Clarifications Under Trauma Systems Formula Grants 
     Requirements Relating to the American Burn Association.--
     Section 1213 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300d-13) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting ``and (for a fiscal 
     year after fiscal year 2014) contains national standards and 
     requirements of the American Burn Association for the 
     designation of verified burn centers,'' after ``such 
     entity,'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking ``and the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics,'' and inserting ``the American Academy 
     of Pediatrics, and (for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2014) 
     the American Burn Association,''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``and not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
     of the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care 
     Reauthorization Act'' after ``Act of 2007''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics'' and inserting ``the American Academy 
     of Pediatrics, and (with respect to the update pursuant to 
     the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care 
     Reauthorization Act) the American Burn Association''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--Part B of title XII of the 
     Public Health Service Act is amended--
       (1) in section 1218(c)(2) (42 U.S.C. 300d-18(c)(2)), in the 
     matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``1232(b)(3)'' 
     and inserting ``section 1232(b)''; and
       (2) in section 1222 (42 U.S.C. 300d-22), by striking 
     ``October 1, 2008'' and inserting ``October 1, 2016''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) 
each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page 10802]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support of H.R. 4080, the Trauma Systems 
and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act, introduced 
by Representative Michael Burgess.
  This bill amends the Public Health Service Act by reauthorizing two 
important grant programs: the Trauma Care Systems Planning Grants and 
the Regionalization of Emergency Care Systems.
  The first program supports State and rural development of trauma 
systems and the second funds pilot projects to design, implement, and 
evaluate innovative models of regionalized emergency care.
  We know that immediate access to trauma care within the golden hour 
after injury is critical. By improving access to the specialized care 
designed to treat trauma injuries, both of these trauma bills will save 
lives.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4080, the Trauma Systems and 
Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act. I am proud to be 
the lead Democratic sponsor on this important bill with my colleague 
from Texas, Dr. Burgess. I want to thank him for his leadership and 
commitment to this issue.
  This bill reauthorizes the programs that provide grants to States for 
planning, implementing, and developing trauma care systems, and 
establishes pilot projects that design innovative models of emergency 
care systems.
  Ideally, trauma and emergency care systems respond quickly and 
efficiently to ensure that the seriously injured individuals receive 
the care they need within that golden hour--the time period when 
medical intervention is most effective at saving lives.
  However, unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death for 
Americans aged 44 years and younger, and access to trauma centers is 
inconsistent throughout the country. In fact, 45 million Americans lack 
access to a trauma care center within that golden hour, which is the 
first hour after the injury.
  Emergency departments and trauma centers are overcrowded, the 
emergency care system is splintered, and surgical specialists are often 
unavailable to patients who need them. This legislation helps establish 
the systems that save lives and improve the functioning of our trauma 
care systems.
  Again, I want to thank Representative Burgess for championing this 
effort with me. I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Chairman 
Upton, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Waxman, Ranking Member Pallone, 
and the work of the committee's staff in advancing this bill through 
the Energy and Commerce Committee and bringing it to the floor today.
  I support this bipartisan and I urge my colleagues to do the same, I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas, Dr. Burgess, the distinguished vice chairman of the Health 
Subcommittee, who has been a real champion on this issue and is the 
prime sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, trauma is the leading cause of death for 
people under the age of 65. It is expensive, costing nearly $403 
billion a year, third only to heart disease and cancer. It affects 
individuals of all ages, 35 million times each year, or one person 
every 15 minutes.

                              {time}  1845

  H.R. 4080 reauthorizes two existing, bipartisan grant programs that 
support the regionalization of emergency care and trauma systems across 
the country.
  Trauma systems deliver a full range of care to injured patients. Most 
Members of the House have trauma systems either in their districts or 
nearby that are able to serve their constituents.
  This bill is supported by the American Association of Neurological 
Surgeons, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the 
American Burn Association, the American College of Emergency 
Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the Emergency Nurses 
Association, the American Trauma Society, the Congress of Neurological 
Surgeons, and the Trauma Center Association of America.
  A study released in April found that patients living near a recently 
closed trauma facility were 21 percent more likely to die from their 
injuries. Two years after closure, the likelihood of death increased to 
29 percent, emphasizing the importance of these grants.
  This legislation passed out of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee 
on Health by a voice vote and passed the full committee on April 3 
unanimously. This legislation is broadly supported by medicine. It is 
bipartisan, and it has gone through regular order.
  I want to thank Chairman Upton and Chairman Pitts as well as Ranking 
Members Waxman and Pallone, and the Energy and Commerce staffs on both 
sides of the dais: Clay Alspach, Robert Horne, Brenda DeStro, Katie 
Novaria, as well as Anne Morris Reid.
  Mr. Green and I have worked on this issue for years, and I appreciate 
his continued partnership on the bill. I also want to thank his staff, 
Kristen O'Neill.
  Finally, from my office, I want to thank Adrianna Simonelli and JP 
Paluskiewicz, who shepherded the bill through the process.
  I urge all Members to vote in favor of this legislation. It is 
important for all of our districts.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4080, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care 
Reauthorization Act.
  I would especially like to thank Dr. Burgess of Texas and 
Representative Gene Green of Texas for introducing this very important, 
critical piece of legislation.
  As has been mentioned, the leading cause of death for people under 
the age of 45 is trauma. It is, unfortunately, something a majority of 
States is not adequately prepared to handle. According to the CDC, 
trauma kills more Americans than AIDS and strokes combined. The Nation 
needs a robust network to respond quickly and efficiently to get 
seriously injured individuals to the appropriate trauma center within 
that golden hour that has been much discussed, which is the time period 
when medical intervention is the most effective in saving lives and in 
saving function.
  H.R. 4080, if enacted, will allow for the development of innovative 
State and regionalized care, which is necessary to prevent these trauma 
deaths. The bill would also direct States to update their model trauma 
care plans with the input of stakeholders. When the difference between 
life and death rests on the ability to deliver coordinated trauma care 
within the golden hour, we need legislation in place, such as H.R. 
4080, in order to improve the delivery of emergency medical care to 
severely injured patients.
  While we are at it, at some point, we should deal with the issue of 
liability reform for trauma centers because we need on-call specialists 
to deliver that care when we most need it, but that is a fight for 
another day. Today, let's get H.R. 4080 done.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation that was 
introduced by Dr. Burgess and Mr. Green.

[[Page 10803]]


  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in closing, as a cosponsor of 
this bill and in working with my colleague Dr. Burgess for a number of 
years on trauma care, I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Again, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4080 is another very important 
and bipartisan bill, and I urge all of the Members to support it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jolly). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4080, 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.

                          ____________________