Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I indicated that the 1-hour notice was required to be given. We gave the notice, as I understand it, at 1:15. That is less than the hour, and for that reason I asked for the unanimous consent. It is a technicality.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I too have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Ehrlich], the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3632 has received strong bipartisan support and will correct a problem with the current implementation of the nursing home quality assurance standards. Let me say that Congressman Ehrlich, the sponsor of the bill, deserves special recognition for his efforts in moving this bill. One of the requirements of the act was annual resident assessment for all Medicaid nursing home residents. The underlying statute also has as a requirement that for each resident of a nursing facility who is mentally ill or mentally retarded, an additional evaluation be completed. These additional reviews have proved to be costly and unnecessary. The Commerce Committee, the States, and the administration have come to the conclusion that this additional annual review is unnecessary. This bill repeals this requirement for an additional assessment for the mentally ill and the mentally retarded. It would require, as an alternative, that additional assessments only occur when there is a significant change in the resident's physical or mental condition. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. The bill was marked up, I believe last week, out of committee.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. It might be helpful to the gentleman form Michigan, but it is not to me.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3632.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the health centers programs play a vital role in bringing community-based primary care to millions of Americans in underserved areas. Nationwide, over 2,400 health centers provide basic services to over 9 million persons. S. 1044 consolidates the authority for the four health centers programs--community, migrant, homeless, and public housing and authorizes it through fiscal year 2001. Fiscal year 1997 is authorized at $802 million, the amount provided in the House Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. Consolidating these programs will eliminate duplication while maintaining their unique functions that have made them so effective. The bill provides special definitions and provisions for the farm worker, homeless, and public housing health care programs. Total funding for health centers in fiscal year 1997 must be distributed so that each of these programs will receive a percentage of the overall funding equal to its percentage of funding in fiscal year 1996. For example, homeless health centers received 8.6 percent of the total amount provided to health centers so it will receive 8.6 percent in fiscal year 1997. The bill clarifies the current authority to use funds for grants to assist health centers in developing networks and managed care plans, so that they can continue to become integrated into the evolving managed care environment. In addition, the bill authorizes a loan guarantee program to help centers obtain private sector financing to help with the initial phase of establishing a network. There are also provisions to encourage the establishment of health centers in rural areas, including a provision authorizing the Secretary to give special consideration to the unique needs of sparsely populated rural areas. S. 1044 also helps to address the problems in rural areas by authorizing a rural health outreach, network development, and telemedicine grant program. These health centers provide an invaluable service to many Americans who otherwise would be without health care. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1044) to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to consolidate and reauthorize provisions relating to health centers, and for other purposes.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Health and Environment Subcommittee, I must rise in opposition to section 406 of H.R. 3539. This new section changes current law respecting the promulgation of aircraft emission standards. Although the changes are specifically made to the Clean Air Act, and not to the underlying bill, I believe this is a matter which is properly addressed through the normal legislative process and not through last minute legislating in a conference which was closed to the committee of jurisdictional interest in this matter. The new section 406 is not a radical departure from current law. It maintains the present requirements of the Clean Air Act for consultation between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration regarding aircraft emission standards. However, the new section is duplicative at best and troublesome at worst for its attempt to alter standards affecting the promulgation of new emission standards. While I do not personally object to considering noise and safety as part of developing new emission standards--I do object when my subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Clean Air Act, is allowed neither time nor opportunity to assess recommended changes to the law. Section 406 has not been subject to proper review by the Health and Environment Subcommittee and there is no legislative record to support its inclusion in H.R. 3539. This section was added without the consent of the Commerce Committee or the Subcommittee on Health and Environment. Years ago, I objected when such provisions were added by the former majority in various bills and conference reports--most often late in the session and very often late at night. I do not believe the new majority should fall into the same trap of ignoring bona fide interest and expertise of the committee of jurisdiction. As we all know, what may appear to be simple and innocuous legislative language often can have an impact far beyond that which is apparent in the initial review. Aircraft emission standards are an important subject for consideration within the Clean Air Act and within the committee given explicit authority over the act. And so, Mr. Speaker, this is a protest against doing business in this manner.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 1044.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1791, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, I mean the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Barton], who is the chief sponsor--their loss would be our gain--the chief sponsor of this legislation. And certainly the American Osteopathic Association picked the right person to lead this legislation for them because he certainly is a doer. (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2988, the Traffic Signal Synchronization Act. Under section 176 of the Clean Air Act, transportation plans, programs and projects must conform to a State's air quality implementation plan [SIP]. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. EPA requires that nearly all transportation projects be reviewed to ``conform'' to the State's implementation plan for attaining or maintaining the national ambient air quality standards. This includes traffic synchronization projects, even though most, if not all, synchronization projects lower vehicle emissions. By requiring that these projects be reviewed before they can be implemented, some projects may be delayed by a year or more, resulting in an increase in vehicle emissions. Clearly, this situation is contrary to the original intent of the Clean Air Act. As chairman of the Commerce Health and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Clean Air Act, I would like to thank Representative McKeon, who introduced H.R. 2988, for bringing this matter to the attention of the Commerce Committee. I would also like to thank Representative Waxman, the ranking minority member of the Health and Environment Subcommittee, for his willingness to seek a bipartisan solution to this problem. During our markup, the Commerce Committee unanimously approved an amendment in the nature of a substitute which allows synchronization projects to proceed at the earliest opportunity while a regional emissions analysis or other conformity determinations are made. However, nothing in the bill, as amended, would relieve a jurisdiction from its responsibility to conduct a regional emissions analysis at a later date, if one is deemed necessary by EPA. It is the purpose of the legislation that traffic light synchronization projects be approved and that any emissions increase or decrease caused by such synchronization be credited or made up in the overall SIP. Altogether, H.R. 2988, as amended, will streamline the approval process for traffic synchronization projects and act to speed up these projects--resulting in lower emissions. I believe H.R. 2988 is consistent with correction's day and would urge my colleagues to support passage of this important legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3666, the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. This legislation contains several important provisions for my home State of Florida. First, the conference report for H.R. 3666 includes $20 million for the construction of the first phase of a new spinal cord injury [SCI] unit at the James Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, FL. The State of Florida has one of the highest concentrations of veterans with spinal cord injuries [SCI] or spinal cord disease in the country. The 70 SCI beds currently in operation at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center were originally intended for use by psychiatry patients and are inadequate for the unique needs of SCI patients. The VA first proposed expanding the current SCI unit in 1979. The construction of a new SCI unit will replace Tampa's severely overburdened SCI unit and improve services to meet the high demand for specialized care provided to spinal cord injured veterans in the State of Florida. I have been working on this project for several years and am pleased that the House Appropriations Committee recognized the importance of the SCI unit project and included its funding in H.R. 3666. I want to thank Chairman Lewis and ranking minority member Stokes for their continuing support of this important project. This construction funding will allow the process of building the new spinal cord injury unit to move forward. The conference report also retains a Senate amendment which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a national plan for the allocation of health care resources among health care facilities. This provision would ensure that veterans have similar access to health care regardless of where they live. This resource allocation problem has been verified by the General Accounting Office in a report entitled ``Veterans' Health Care: Facilities' Resource Allocation Could Be More Equitable.'' The GAO found that the Department of Veterans' Affairs continues to allocate funding based on past budgets rather than current needs. In addition, the Agency has failed to implement the resource planning and management system [RPM] developed 2 years ago to help remedy funding inequity. Since coming to Congress, I have heard from veterans who have moved to Florida and have been denied care by the VA. Prior to moving, these veterans were able to receive care from their local VA medical facility. However, once they move to Florida, which has one of the lowest rates of non-mandatory care in the country, they are turned away by the VA because they fall into the discretionary care category. It is hard for these veterans to understand how they can lose their VA health care simply by moving to another part of the country. As their representative in Congress, I share their frustrations. Therefore, I am pleased that the House conferees agreed to the Senate amendment. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3666. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2508) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for improvements in the process of approving and using animal drugs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2508, The Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996. The bill will better protect our animals by streamlining the approval and marketing of new animal drugs and medicated feeds. A broad bipartisan consensus has enabled us to develop this important legislation which will bring needed flexibility to the FDA animal drug review processes. Among its improvements, the legislation redefines ``substantial evidence'' to provide FDA with greater flexibility to determine what types of studies, including field investigations, are necessary and appropriate for demonstrating the effectiveness of any specific animal drug product. The bill requires FDA to issue regulations defining substantial evidence and adequate and well-controlled field investigations taking into account the practical conditions that exist in the field. To improve cooperation between FDA and industry, the bill requires FDA to hold a presubmission conference at the request of a sponsor submitting a new animal drug application or a request for an investigational exemption. The legislation also streamlines the process for the approval of combination animal drug products when the individual active ingredients or animal drugs used in combination have been approved previously. In addition it authorizes FDA to establish a scientifically based safe tolerance for new animal drugs. The bill creates a new class of animal drugs, veterinary feed directive drugs, intended for use in feed under the professional supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The bill streamlines the requirements for feed mills that make medicated feeds. Finally, the bill authorizes FDA to establish import tolerances for new animal drugs not approved in the United States. In conclusion, I want to thank Members on both sides of the aisle who support the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Klug] who will speak on behalf of himself and a few hundred thousand cattle in Wisconsin.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Allard], a sponsor of this very much needed legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], who, if he does not have the largest animal drug manufacturer in his district, I understand he certainly has one of the largest. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Ganske], who, as we know, performed a humanitarian act in South America during the break and has come back with a fairly serious sickness. As I understand it, he came back specifically today to speak on this particular piece of legislation because he feels very strongly about it.