Joe Barton

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. I want to thank Chairmen Thomas, Johnson, and Deal for their leadership on this legislation. I want to specifically thank Chairmen Thomas and Johnson for their leadership over the years on health care issues, particularly the issue of physician payment. It has been an honor to work with you on these issues. This legislation will help ensure continued beneficiary access to quality health care. This legislation provides significant relief for payment cuts for physician services for 2007 and promotes appropriate, quality care. This year the Energy and Commerce Committee held a number of hearings to closely examine how we pay physicians, what we need to think about when we talk about how to pay physicians tomorrow, and how we protect the taxpayer from being billed for unnecessary services. We heard about the flaws in the current physician payment system that may contribute to overuse of physician services. We heard about the promise of a system that more fairly pays physicians for the necessary services they provide--those that reflect the best quality and efficient care that a physician can provide for any particular patient. It is important to fix the problems with physician payment once and for all. I believe the legislation today provides an important stabilizing period for physicians. It fills the hole in payments for next year and provides a bonus for those physicians that report data on quality measures. It helps ensure beneficiary access to quality health care. It helps physicians work with us to develop a better payment system, one that provides the right incentives for care rather than the wrong incentives for overuse, and one that recognizes that there are savings accrued when chronic care is managed effectively. I rise today in support of this bill. In addition to providing help in stabilizing physician payment, this bill extends many important payment provisions that affect access to health care, particularly in rural areas, such as therapy and dialysis services. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and I thank my distinguished friends on the other side of the aisle for their strong leadership on these issues in this debate. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. I want to especially thank full committee Chairman Thomas, Subcommittee Chairman Nancy Johnson of the Ways and Means Subcommittee, and Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal of my Health Committee for their leadership on this legislation. It has been an honor to work with all of these folks over the years on the issues, and I am glad that we have some resolution that will help in the years to come. The legislation before us would ensure continued beneficiary access to quality health issues. This legislation provides significant relief for payment cuts that would have gone into effect for physician services for 2007, and does promote appropriate quality care. The Energy and Commerce Committee has held a number of hearings to examine how we pay physicians, what we need to think about when we talk about how to pay physicians tomorrow, and how we protect the taxpayer from being billed for unnecessary services. We have heard about flaws in the current physician payment system, and I think it needs to be structurally reformed. Unfortunately, the bill before us does not. We do not have the depth and scope to do that. But we at least hold our physicians harmless in terms of expected cuts that they would have taken otherwise. Hopefully, in the next Congress we can work a bipartisan basis to come up with a permanent solution to some of these physician payment issues. It is important to fix the problems with physician payment once and for all. The legislation before us today does provide a stabilizing period for physicians. It fills the hole in payments for next year, provides a bonus for those physicians that would report data on quality measures. That is an important first step, in my opinion. It also helps ensure beneficiary access to quality health care. I rise today in support of this bill. I hope that the House will pass it and send it to the Senate and that the Senate will also pass it. Again, I want to thank Chairman Thomas for his leadership. It will be a different Congress in the next Congress without him here in person, but he will always be with us in spirit, and I really, really support the many things that he has done to improve America during his tenure as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the energy security issues we face and to highlight the important role renewable energy plays in producing reliable electricity and curbing demand for power transmission equipment. Given this importance, we must continue to support initiatives to improve transmission, increase generation nationally and encourage renewable energy and conservation. Effective renewable energy policy must include the significant invested energy available through greater recycling. Manufacturing recycled products requires, on average, 17 times less energy than manufacturing the same products from virgin materials. In addition to the traditionally understood benefits of recycling as a conservation and waste management tool, recycling is becoming increasingly understood as an energy source available to combat the Nation's growing energy crisis. For example, recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source. The amount of lost energy from throwing away aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging was equivalent to the annual output of 15 medium sized coal power plants. Increasing the recycling rate of these commodities by 10 percent would save enough energy annually to heat 74,350 million American homes, provide the required electricity for 2.5 million Americans, and save about $771 million in avoid costs for barrels of crude oil. As a result, recycling should be an integral component of our Nation's energy efficiency strategy. The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 acknowledged the high invested energy content of recyclables. Section 1353 mandated the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to conduct a study to determine and quantify the energy savings achieved through the recycling of glass, paper, plastic, steel, aluminum, and electronic devices, and to identify tax incentives that would encourage recycling of such materials. As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I was deeply involved in the creation of this legislation, which I am proud to say was achieved with strong bipartisan participation and support. The Environmental Protection Agency has shown that recycling saves billions in energy costs and hundreds of millions of tons of raw materials. American companies that engage in the use of renewable resources and recyclable materials are already contributing countless billions of dollars per year to our Nation's energy grid. These companies are engaging in practices that are environmentally friendly and energy conservative. By harvesting the invested energy in recycling, this country saves tens of millions of tons of ore, coal, trees and billions of dollars in energy costs. Recycling programs offer a means to conserve natural resources, ease the burden on the grid, reduce excessive municipal waste, protect the environment, create jobs, and save energy. Like the energy drawn from wind or from water behind a dam, recyclable materials contain a vast amount of energy that is available to be harvested. Recyclables possess invested energy, and in order to remain competitive, we must focus on capturing the energy that is already invested in recycling. Through recognition of these policy objectives, we will create the most efficient market-based solutions to ensure a safe, abundant, and stable energy supply to our citizens for years to come.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 707) to reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity, as amended.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the passage of Senate 707, the PREEMIE Act, as amended. This bipartisan bill would expand research into the causes and prevention of premature births, the number one cause of infant deaths in the first month of life, and a serious and growing problem in the United States. The rate of prematurity has increased more than 30 percent since 1981. We have made vast improvements in treating premature infants, but we have had little success in understanding and preventing premature birth. The knowledge that we have gained has not been translated into improved perinatal outcomes. As the science stands now, nearly 50 percent of all premature births have no known cause. Scientists are learning more about numerous factors that may play a role in premature birth, ranging from genetic factors, environmental triggers, and obesity to socioeconomic factors and life stress. All factors that could possibly play a role in premature birth should be explored. Please join me in acting now to approve this bill and substantially strengthen our Nation's commitment to reducing our spiraling rate of premature births and the often tragic human and societal toll they exact. At this time, I would like to thank the author of the bill, Mr. Upton from Michigan, for his hard work on this important legislation. I also want to thank Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee and Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa for their strong work in the other body on this bipartisan bill. I urge passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), a member of the committee.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. While there is some confusion on this bill, I want to speak in full disclosure on what is in the bill. The primary vehicle before us is a premature infant bill which I think is the number one legislative item for the March of Dimes. As far as I know, there is absolutely no controversy about that bill. I do not know that anybody and any Member opposes that bill. There is also a contact lens bill that deals with the verification program between 1-800 contact lens providers, mail order contact lens providers, and optometrists on verification of the prescription, and that on that particular bill I would say 90 percent of that has been agreed to by the stakeholders. The part that is in dispute is exactly mechanically how to verify the contact lens prescription. The bill would give the FTC the authority to conduct a study and report to Congress on how to solve that problem, I believe within 180 days of passage of the bill. The optometrists, or at least some optometrists, do oppose that. The other item in the bill is an extension of a rule for 6 months dealing with Head Start that Congressman Harkin and Congressman Grassley called about and that I made sure was cleared on both the minority and majority sides at the leadership level and the committee level before I agreed to put that in. The last thing in this bill is an item dealing with a critical care access hospital in Minnesota that was put in at the request of the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle this evening. That is the content of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished doctor from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time and urge passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 335) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week to raise public awareness and understanding of the disease and to foster understanding of the impact of the disease on patients and their families, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1245) to provide for programs to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2653) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to make efforts to reduce telephone rates for Armed Forces personnel deployed overseas, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 4092) to clarify certain land use in Jefferson County, Colorado, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5472) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide waivers relating to grants for preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. My understanding is the version they have is the version the Clerk has, the 12:50 a.m. version.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Yes, sir.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 3678) to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all- hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, please insert this exchange of correspondence on S. 3678 into the Record. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, December 8, 2006. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: We write to clarify the intent of Title I of S. 3678, the ``Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act,'' regarding the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services during Incidents of National Significance under the National Response Plan (NRP). Title I of S. 3678 should not be construed to designate the Department of Health and Human Services as the lead Federal agency under the NRP during incidents of National Significance that require a medical and/or public health response. The NRP is an all-discipline, all-hazards plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for the management of domestic incidents. Under the NRP, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the Federal department responsible for coordinating Federal operations and/or resources during Incidents of National Significance, while the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the Federal coordinator and primary agency for Emergency Support Function 8, Public Health and Medical Services. Nothing in Title I should be interpreted to change or affect the existing relationship between DHS as the incident manager and DHHS as the primary agency for medical services, as currently defined by the NRP for Incidents of National Significance. Rather than amending or otherwise diminishing the existing responsibilities of the Secretary of Homeland Security under the NRP, S. 3678 is intended to clarify and more specifically define the medical preparedness and response authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the Public Health Service Act. A copy of this letter will be included in the Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor and should be construed as a definitive expression of Congressional intent on this matter. Sincerely, Peter T. King, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security. Joe Barton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 1608) to enhance Federal Trade Commission enforcement against illegal spam, spyware, and cross-border fraud and deception, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BARTON of Texas. This is just a bill on spam and enforcement of antispam and spyware, things of this sort. The bill would provide additional authority to the FCC to investigate spam that originates overseas and fraudulent practices of that sort.

Mr. BARTON of Texas. I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 6143) to amend title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend the program for providing life-saving care for those with HIV/AIDS, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. BARTON of Texas

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5280) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the distribution of the drug dextromethorphan, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. Mr. Speaker, the bill I called up, it came over from the Senate and we do not have a copy of it. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my motion on H.R. 5280 until we get everything straightened out.