Nathan Deal

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 864, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act. Commonly referred to as the STOP Act, this legislation takes several important measures to address the problem of underage drinking. Underage drinking is a serious problem in our country that has serious consequences. It is estimated that nearly one-third of children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 20 use alcohol, which is a higher percentage than those who use tobacco or illicit drugs. Alcohol is a leading contributor to death and injury among adolescents. Over 5,000 young people die every year as a result of injuries that involve drinking. Not only does underage drinking cause accidents, injuries and death, but it can have a lasting impact on a young person's physical development. Studies have shown that the human brain continues to develop into a young person's early 20s, and that exposure of the developing brain to alcohol may have long-lasting effects on intellectual capabilities and increase the likelihood of alcohol addiction. The legislation before us today will take several steps to address the problem of underage drinking at the national level. It would also assist States, localities and institutions of higher learning in their efforts to prevent underage drinking. The bill would create a nationwide media campaign to educate youth and parents on the dangers of underage drinking. It would also assist States in collecting data on underage drinking laws and their enforcement around the country, so that States can collaborate and learn from each other about which strategies are most effective at combating this problem. The bill also calls for research to be conducted on the influences and pressures that entice youth to consume alcohol. I am pleased to recognize Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, the lead sponsor of the bill, Congressman Tom Osborne and other Members who have worked so hard on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Flake from Arizona be able to control 5 minutes of my time.

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

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me say to my friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) that I agree with his observations and I agree with his concern; but as pointed out by Mr. Osborne, I believe that this is a bill that can help solve part of that problem, to give some oversight mechanisms to existing allocations, to give some response back to this Congress about programs that are working and that are not working. I think the challenge that we all face, and I pledge to him to work with him cooperatively in this effort, is in the appropriations process. And pointing out this is not an appropriations bill, this is an authorization bill, that in the appropriations process, that we try to make sure that our appropriators funnel the money only to those programs that are authorized, such as this one, that will have some oversight and response back to this Congress, so that we can eliminate duplicative programs. I would pledge to him that I would work cooperatively with him in that effort. But I do believe this is a well-thought-out piece of legislation and one that I would urge this body to adopt

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

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1028) supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1028, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week and to commemorate the life and service of DEA Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in a battle against illicit drugs. As my colleagues are aware, Red Ribbon Week, which will take place during the week of October 23 this year, encourages children and teens to choose a drug-free life. The resolution before us today encourages all people of the United States to promote drug-free communities and to participate in drug-free prevention activities in support of healthy, productive, drug-free lifestyles. We know that ultimately education is the answer to preventing drugs among our children. What Red Ribbon Week does is nationally recognize the importance of keeping our youths off drugs, and I am particularly pleased that we are also commemorating Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena with this resolution. The agents of the Drug Enforcement Agent serve the public to make our communities a safer place to live and work. Our gratitude to them for doing their part in our communities and to keep them drug free should certainly be recognized. Mr. Speaker, I think this is a great resolution, and I would like to commend my good friend from Indiana, Mr. Souder, for sponsoring this legislation and for his leadership on this issue. I would also like to commend my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Terry from Nebraska, for serving as an original cosponsor of the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), who is the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Mary Jean Duckett. Ms. Duckett served as the Deputy Director of the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group (DEHPG) within the Center for Medicaid and State Operations at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and retired on March 3, 2006 after 39 years of distinguished Federal service. More than half of her career was dedicated to the Medicaid program at CMS, and I rise in honor of her service. Ms. Duckett served as a champion for people with disabilities and long-term illness to live meaningful lives in the community. She worked tirelessly to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries received effective and high quality services. Most recently, her skillful and seasoned insight was of great assistance to the Energy and Commerce Committee during the development of home and community-based care legislation, including the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration that was passed as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Ms. Duckett can be proud that her work on this legislation will have a significant impact on the lives of many people with disabilities and enable them to live and work in the community. Ms. Duckett started her career in the Social Security Administration working the graveyard shift as a secretary so she could attend college full-time during the day. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and then went on to earn a Master's degree in Social Policy while still working full-time and raising two children with her husband. Using this education and her experience, she worked her way up into the CMS management team as the Director of the Division of Benefits Coverage and Payment in DEHPG within the Center for Medicaid and State Operations and eventually became the DEHPG Deputy Director. She provided national leadership in increasing care options for individuals with disabilities by assisting states and others stakeholders in designing financially sound Medicaid programs that emphasize long-term services and supports that foster choice and opportunity for full participation in community life, including independent living, economic self-sufficiency and recovery for individuals of all ages. Ms. Duckett served as a pioneer in helping states provide alternatives to institutional settings. She is part of the foundation upon which the home--and community-based service (HCBS) program in CMS has been built. The HCBS program was created in 1981, and she contributed to the development, approval, and implementation of each of the approximately 290 home and community based programs operating throughout all 50 states today. The wealth of knowledge she developed will continue to benefit individuals with disabilities and long-term illnesses across the country every day. Ms. Duckett's expertise was invaluable and extensive, and her commitment to serving individuals with disabilities and long-term illness served as a model for people that worked for her. She provided an infallible sense of public service, and she always put other people first. Her contributions will be carried on as further steps are taken towards improving or maintaining the ability of individuals to contribute to society in a setting of their choice, averting deterioration in individuals' functional status, and reducing the likelihood that individuals with disability and the elderly will need institutional care. On behalf of the million plus people living in the community of their choosing instead of an institution, who may never know who she is, or how directly and fundamentally her work impacted them, I sincerely hope that you will join me in recognizing and thanking Mary Jean Duckett for her dedication and service to the Federal Government, and in wishing her the best in her retirement.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

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 on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5574) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for graduate medical education programs in children's hospitals.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 5574, the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Support Reauthorization Act of 2006, which is legislation to reauthorize the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Payment Program for another 5 years. Without question, Children's Hospitals are an integral part of this country's health care delivery system. They improve health outcomes by providing a unique set of specialized health care services and treatment options for children. The Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Payment Program is designed to provide financial assistance to children's teaching hospitals, which do not receive significant Federal support for their resident and intern training programs through Medicare because of their low Medicare patient volume. By reauthorizing this important but relatively young program, we are able to help ensure that the mission of these teaching hospitals is continued. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that this legislation makes improvements to the program by strongly encouraging the participating hospitals to report important new data measures to the Department of Health and Human Services. As my colleagues are aware, we originally considered this bill under suspension of the rules on June 21, and the legislation passed by a strong bipartisan vote of 421-4. We are here today to reconsider this legislation because the Senate passed this bill with an amendment by unanimous consent on Tuesday. This legislation will keep the important reporting requirement reforms embodied in the House bill. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill today so that we can send this important legislation to the President for his signature. I would like to thank the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Enzi of Wyoming, for his leadership and hard work in moving this bill through the Senate. I would like to thank the 20 members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who joined me as original cosponsors of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to specifically commend Chairman Deborah Pryce of Ohio and Chairman Nancy Johnson of Connecticut for their strong and continued leadership on this important issue. I encourage my colleagues to support the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), a long-time supporter of this program.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time. In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Pallone, who was an original cosponsor of this legislation. And it is true that we have made a bipartisan effort. I think that is the way we should do more things around here. I appreciate the cooperative spirit with which this bill has now moved through both bodies.

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

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 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, as amended.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, because I believe that we must reform the unacceptable status quo for the benefit of those suffering from HIV/AIDS across our great Nation. As my colleagues are aware, the Ryan White CARE Act was first authorized in 1990 and was reauthorized in 1996 and 2000. And although the legislative authority expired on September 30, 2005, the program continues to operate at its current funding level. The outcomes and treatments for HIV and AIDS have changed over the years, and so have the needs of those who suffer from the disease. For example, persons with HIV now live longer due to advances in drug therapies. However, many patients are on waiting lists for these life-saving drugs, because Ryan White funds are being spent on nonmedical services. Those include services not covered for Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, including buddy and companion services, dog walking, therapeutic touching, and housing assistance. Dog walking? Therapeutic touching? Is this what the Federal Government really wants to pay for? The Ryan White CARE Act program is designed to provide needed medical services to people suffering from HIV/AIDS. If we do not pass this bill, the status quo will remain. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program, ADAP, provides needed life-saving therapies to those suffering from HIV/AIDS. These are crucial medications that extend and prolong life. Next year, funds to supplement States' ADAP spending will be used for hold-harmless payments based on an old, inaccurate case count. Patients will not receive needed drug therapies if the status quo remains. Currently, there is a 50 percent difference in funding for AIDS cases for some areas of the country over other areas due to outdated formulas. Some States cannot find enough doctors to write prescriptions for needed medications, while others are paying for buddy and companion services. If we do not pass this legislation, the status quo will remain. Mr. Speaker, the status quo to me is unacceptable, and I think it is unacceptable to the taxpayers, and it is unacceptable to those suffering from AIDS/HIV. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this needed and timely legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono), the original sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5533) to prepare and strengthen the biodefenses of the United States against deliberate, accidental, and natural outbreaks of illness, 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 on this legislation and insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5533, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2006. Like the NIH Reform Act that we will be considering later this evening, this legislation is the end product of a cooperative, bipartisan effort to help improve research outputs for the benefit of all Americans should the unspeakable happen here again on American soil. As my colleagues are no doubt aware, biodefense is an area where the Federal Government must take a strong role because there is no business model that will support the investments we need without a clear path from the Federal Government. However, we also know that the expertise in this area mostly lies with the private sector, so we must make sure that we facilitate a strong working partnership. Project BioShield was signed into law on July 21, 2004, to help encourage the development of new bioterrorism countermeasures. The legislation provided procedures for bioterrorism-related procurement, hiring and awarding of research grants in an effort to make it easier for United States Department of Health and Human Services to quickly commit substantial funds to countermeasure projects. This past April, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Project BioShield; and at this hearing our expert witnesses identified a number of barriers to fully realizing Project BioShield's potential. They highlighted the fact that there is no single point of authority within the Department of Health and Human Services for the advanced research and development of medical countermeasures to make important procurement decisions. Additionally, HHS has limited purchasing and contractual flexibility, and this inefficient structure and limited flexibility exacerbates the shortcomings of the status quo. Drug and vaccine development is unnecessarily lengthy, often taking between 8 and 12 years, and many potential products fail prematurely following basic research due to limited funding for advanced research and development. There simply is not enough motivation for academic researchers, drug and vaccine manufacturers and other possible partners to commit substantial resources to bring new and improved products to the market quickly. I believe that the legislation before us today helps address the problems raised in our hearing and represents a huge improvement over the status quo. I would like to commend the chairman of our Energy and Commerce Committee, Chairman Barton of Texas; Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan; and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California for their strong leadership on this legislation that builds on the achievements of the Project BioShield Act and takes further steps to identify and promote medical countermeasures to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies, including potential pandemic infectious diseases. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers), the author of the legislation.