[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       H.R. 1098, H.R. 1281, H.R. 4080, H.R. 3548, AND H.R. 4631

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 30, 2014

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for five public 
health bills before the House today.
  H.R. 1098, the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2014, 
extends surveillance and research activities for traumatic brain 
injuries (or TBI), as well as other programs for TBI services and 
supports overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. I 
represent the nation's largest Veterans Affairs health facility--the 
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. TBI is one of many complex health 
problems affecting the veteran community served by this facility. I am 
pleased that we were able to include a provision in the bill that calls 
on HHS and the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to report on 
their progress in coordinating TBI efforts for current and former 
members of the military. I also want to commend the sponsors of the 
legislation, Congressman Pascrell and Congressman Rooney, for their 
work on this issue.
  H.R. 1281, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 
2014, extends newborn screening services and related activities for 
many conditions that are not otherwise apparent at birth and, if left 
untreated, can cause severe disability or even death. I want to thank 
the sponsors of this legislation, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and 
Congressman Simpson, as well as the sponsors of the Senate companion 
bill, Senators Hagan and Hatch. The bill before the House today is the 
product of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations to assure House and 
Senate passage of this measure. I would also like to thank Senators 
Harkin and Alexander for their leadership on this measure in the Senate 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
  H.R. 4080, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care 
Reauthorization Act, reauthorizes four grant programs that seek to 
improve access to trauma care services within states and in rural 
areas. Energy and Commerce Members, Congressmen Burgess and Green, are 
to be commended for their sponsorship of this legislation and 
leadership on trauma care issues.
  We are also considering another bill today related to trauma care: 
H.R. 3548, the Improving Trauma Care Act. This legislation expands the 
current definition of trauma for the purposes of trauma care grants to 
include burns and other injuries resulting from electrical, chemical, 
or other exposures. Congressman Johnson should be commended for his 
work on this issue.
  Finally, H.R. 4631, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, 
Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014, would extend autism 
spectrum disorder activities at the Department of Health and Human 
Services and ensure these efforts are better coordinated with 
activities across the federal government. The legislation before us 
reflects bipartisan and bicameral efforts to advance a bill that can 
pass both chambers well in advance of the September 30 sunset 
provisions that are in current law. I want to thank Congressmen Smith 
and Doyle, as well as Senators Menendez and Enzi, who sponsored the 
Senate companion bill. And again, I would like to thank Senators Harkin 
and Alexander for their work on this issue in the HELP Committee.
  All of these bills were worked out with Mr. Pallone, Mr. Pitts, and 
Mr. Upton. I appreciate their cooperation and contributions, and I am 
pleased to support all five of these bipartisan measures and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Finally, I want to acknowledge the hard work of staff on both sides 
of the aisle, and to commend them for their work on these bills. I 
particularly want to recognize Anne Morris Reid, our lead public health 
staffer, who has moved on to a job in the Senate, but leaves the House 
with an impressive record of accomplishment.

                          ____________________