Nathan Deal

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the cooperation of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) in bringing this resolution to the floor. As you have heard, those of us from Georgia have paid tribute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), who has been the victim of IPF. But it is a testament to his fighting spirit and to the esteem with which we hold him that we have used his situation as the example for which this legislation has been based. We urge the adoption of the concurrent resolution so that those in the American public as a whole can become aware of the significance of this disease. Hopefully through our efforts here and the efforts of researchers across the country, we will find a cure for this now fatal disease. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 178) recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, about 7 years ago, my good friend and a good friend of many Members in this Chamber, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that, despite his own lifetime experience in the medical care field, he said he had never heard of before. In fact, the vast majority of Americans have never heard of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. That is why we are here today, to raise the awareness of the American public about this debilitating and fatal disease so one day we may seek and find a cure. IPF is a serious lung disorder for which there is no known cause, and more importantly, at this time no known cure. IPF causes progressive scarring or fibrosis of the lungs, gradually interfering with a patient's ability to breathe and ultimately resulting in death. Recent studies have identified that approximately 83,000 individuals suffer from IPF in the United States, and an estimated 30,000 new cases develop each year. The availability of a new treatment option for IPF is essential to improving overall patient care and further research will be required to develop these new therapies as well as assess their safety and efficacy. Over the past 7 years, as I have watched my friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), I have seen firsthand the debilitating effect this disease can have on a person's life, and given that the median survival rate for IPF patients is only 2 to 3 years, we are extremely fortunate to have our friend with us today. But unfortunately, each year thousands of Americans are not as fortunate as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) and that is why I encourage my colleagues to adopt this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston). (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) for closing.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this bill, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), who is one of the leaders on the drafting of the House counterpart to this legislation.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are facing a growing national health care crisis involving the abuse of prescription drugs. Earlier this month, Columbia University released a report that showed that more Americans are now abusing controlled prescription drugs than cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin combined. The report also stated the number of Americans who admit abusing prescription drugs nearly doubled to over 15 million from 1992 to 2003, while abuse among teens has tripled. H.R. 1132 will provide immediate assistance to States to help them reduce prescription drug abuse. The bill will provide new funding to help States establish and operate data systems that will allow physicians to detect and prevent prescription drug abuse. Physicians are on the front line of providing care to patients and understand the need to stop prescription drug abuse before it starts. H.R. 1132 will provide physicians with the tools they need to learn when their patients attempt to obtain multiple prescriptions for addictive drugs. The bill will also allow physicians to continue to provide proper medication therapy to their patients. This is why groups like the American Medical Association, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians all support this legislation. I would like to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for their efforts on this bill. As a result of their hard work, the bill has been strengthened and improved from last year when the House approved similar legislation by voice vote. Among the many improvements are requirements that drug monitoring programs meet new standards for the security of information handling, availability of information, limitations on access to the database, and procedures to ensure database accuracy. I would also like to thank the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee for their hard work and in particular thank Ryan Long and John Ford for their efforts to negotiate a bipartisan agreement on this bill. H.R. 1132 will allow States to reduce the improper abuse of prescription drugs and ensure that monitoring programs can communicate with each other to stifle interstate drug diversion. I urge my colleagues to support this needed legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would simply urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), who is the author of the House companion legislation.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for allowing us to consider the Drug Addiction Treatment Expansion Act, S. 45. In 2000, Congress passed the Drug Addiction Treatment Act which has resulted in improved access to drug abuse treatment. This law has allowed qualified practitioners to prescribed addiction treatment medications from their office settings so long as the number of patients to whom the practitioner provides such treatment does not exceed 30 patients. However, the Drug Addiction Treatment Act also limited the number of patients a group practice could treat to 30 as well. This limitation has created an unnecessary barrier to access to drug addiction therapy. Under current law, a practice of 500 doctors would still be limited to treating only 30 patients in the same way as a single physician. This policy effectively limits the ability of patients to get access to treatment for their drug addictions. This legislation before us today would lift the 30-patient limit for group practices, but would still keep in place the 30-patient limit for individual physicians. I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for his leadership on this legislation that further expands access to needed addiction therapy. The Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary have both favorably reported companion bills to S. 45, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a member of the Subcommittee on Health.