Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act of 2019. I am proud that my bipartisan legislation is being considered because it makes important updates and improvements to the Food and Drug Administration's Purple Book. I am also pleased that it is the first drug pricing bill to be considered by the full House this Congress. The legislation makes it easier for manufacturers to research and develop biosimilars, which are essentially generic biological products, and drive down prescription drug prices for the American people. The so-called ``Purple Book'' lists biological products, including biosimilars, that are licensed by the FDA. The Purple Book is a resource published by the FDA that includes very important information about existing products, about including designations that extend the product's exclusivity, and what active patents each product has. Today, the FDA is not statutorily required to publish this information, nor is the agency required to update the resource in a timely manner. The Purple Book also is not currently user-friendly and is burdensome for companies to access and use. Companies rely on the Purple Book to inform their research and development activities, and it is imperative that the resource is up-to-date and easily accessible, so they can move quickly to produce cost-saving biosimilar drugs which are, essentially, as I said previously, generic versions of the most complex, high-cost biological products. The Purple Book Continuity Act builds on previous work to promote the development of biosimilars and other alternatives to the highest-priced biologic products by putting necessary patent information into an easily accessible resource so companies can more efficiently and effectively direct their work to develop biosimilars. The Purple Book Continuity Act takes an important step to make it easier for the manufacturers to access patent and exclusivity information they need to invest in biosimilar development so that drug prices--the whole point is so that drug prices can be lowered for the American people. So the Purple Book Continuity Act passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote last month and, today, I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1503) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding the list under section 505(j)(7) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1503.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1503. This is a different color book. It is the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Illinois, Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Her bipartisan legislation makes important updates to the Food and Drug Administration's Orange Book to ensure that this resource is accurate and up-to-date to promote the development of generic drugs that save so many Americans so much money. When it passed in 1984, the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, also referred to as Hatch-Waxman, created the Orange Book as a resource for drug manufacturers to reference when deciding when and how to seek approval for new drug products. The so-called ``Orange Book'' contains valuable information, is regularly referenced by manufacturers, and is published in a user-friendly way on FDA's website. But this resource has not been updated since it was created in 1994. That is a long time ago. It is over 3 decades ago. And the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019 makes important updates to the resource to adapt to the changes in drug development since Hatch-Waxman became law. Generic drug manufacturers rely heavily on the Orange Book, and it is imperative that this resource is accurate and up-to-date so drug manufacturers can invest in products that promote competition and lower drug prices for the American people. The Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019 passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote last month, and I was proud to support it. I urge my colleagues to support the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019 today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), the author of H.R. 1503 and a wonderful member of the Health Subcommittee.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to support this bipartisan legislation that is going to move us closer to our overall goal of lowering the cost of prescription drugs for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present during roll call vote number 157, 158, and 159, on April 8, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted: on roll call vote number 157, yes; on roll call vote number 158, yes; and on roll call vote number 159, yes.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee for yielding. First, I include in the Record a letter from the County of Santa Clara, California, relative to the issue of net neutrality and the underlying legislation. County of Santa Clara, Office of the County Executive, San Jose, CA, April 4, 2019. Hon. Anna Eshoo, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Eshoo: The County of Santa Clara strongly supports H.R. 1644, the ``Save the Internet Act of 2019.'' This measure would re-establish federal rules and policies protecting net neutrality as articulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its 2015 Report and Order, In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet (FCC 15-24) (the Order). Like local governments across the country, the County of Santa Clara provides public safety, welfare, and governance services that depend on an open internet. For example, County public health alert systems and the County's virtual emergency operations center could both be hobbled by broadband internet access service (BIAS) provider practices subject to regulation under the Order. The County is deeply concerned that there currently is no ``cop on the beat'' ensuring the protection of such systems, and thus strongly supports H.R. 1644, which would reestablish oversight of BIAS provider practices that threaten public safety. The County's concerns are particularly acute in light of its past experience with BIAS provider practices. The County's experience has demonstrated that BIAS providers will act in their own economic interests, even when doing so threatens public safety. For example, shortly after the FCC revoked net neutrality protections, Verizon throttled Santa Clara County firefighters in the midst of their efforts to fight the then-largest fire in California history--despite repeated requests to remove the throttling and allow the firefights to perform their duties. These events are outlined in the attached Declaration, submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Net neutrality is also vital to the continued economic success of our region. Santa Clara County is a world-leading hub of high-technology innovation and development and is home to almost 2 million residents. Net neutrality is necessary for the prosperity of the county's economy, as it encourages competition among businesses, fosters innovation, creates jobs, and promotes economic vitality both within the county and across the nation. Preserving net neutrality for County of Santa Clara residents has long been an action point for the County. In 2017, the County's Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted resolution number BOS-2017-105, Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara Supporting the Preservation of Federal Rules and Policies Protecting Net Neutrality, to publicly confirm its support of an open internet. In addition, the County of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, along with the City and County of San Francisco, California Public Utilities Commission, 22 states (including California), the District of Columbia, and several private and nonprofit entities filed a lawsuit (Docket 181051, D.C. Cir.) challenging the FCC's December 2017 decision to repeal net neutrality policies with its Report and Order, In the Matter of Restoring Internet Freedom (FCC 17-166). By restoring the FCC's 2015 order In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, H.R. 1644 would ensure net neutrality. In addition, the bill would nullify the FCC's 2017 order In the Matter of Restoring Internet Freedom and would prohibit the enactment of any other rule substantially the same as this order, unless the new rule is specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of the enactment of H.R. 1644. It is for these reasons we support H.R. 1644. On behalf of the County and its residents, thank you for your co-sponsorship of this important measure that will protect net neutrality rules and policies now and in future. Sincerely, Jeffrey V. Smith, M.D., J.D., County Executive. Enclosure: Declaration of Fire Chief Anthony Bowden (Docket 18-1051, D.C. Cir.)

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bill. To those who may be viewing and listening in, it sounds as if, from my Republican friends, that the sky is actually coming down around our ears. I have good news for you. It isn't. The ranking member of the full committee said that the Republicans simply are opposed to paid prioritization, throttling, and blocking. But there is something else that the American people need to know. What they are against here is what they call the heavy hand of government. We say it is the Federal Communications Commission that should be able to enforce the law against throttling, blocking, and paid prioritization. It is as simple as that. They don't want a cop on the beat. This is a very simple, three-page bill, but it is powerful because it puts in place the protections that the FCC came up with in 2015. Notably, the courts upheld that decision. There is much talk on the other side of the aisle about Silicon Valley. You are not from Silicon Valley; I represent it. There are companies there that had filed suit against the ISPs because of what they have done. If you don't think that the ISPs haven't misbehaved, talk to the firefighters of Santa Clara County. Talk to them. They were fighting the worst fire in California's history when they were being throttled. They called Verizon, and Verizon tried to sell them an upgraded plan as they were trying to save lives. Across America, 86 percent of the American people--Democrats, Republicans, and Independents--support what we are doing. We want this for our constituents. We want the protection of consumers. We don't want any mitts on the internet. It is as simple as that. Groups from A to Z, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to the American Library Association, support this. I am proud to be a net neutrality warrior, and I ask everyone in the House to become one, too, by voting for H.R. 1644. It is a simple, three-page, powerful bill that will serve the people of our country well.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 271, Condemning the Trump Administration's Legal Campaign to Take Away Americans' Health Care. Last week, the Trump Administration launched a monstrous attack on our nation's health care system and on the people of our country when it was announced that they would be joining the 18 Republican state attorneys general in support of the Texas vs. United States lawsuit to strike down the entirety of the Affordable Care Act. By joining this lawsuit, the Trump Administration demonstrated they do not believe Americans should have access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance or that the 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions should be protected. I've already heard from many constituents who are frightened about losing protections for their preexisting conditions, panicking about being able to afford their medical bills, and worried about where they can go to get their health insurance if this lawsuit succeeds. For those enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, if this lawsuit is successful, 13 million Americans who gained health insurance through the Medicaid expansion will lose their health insurance; the 9 million Americans who rely on tax credits to help them afford their insurance plan will no longer be able to afford their insurance; and the 130 million patients with preexisting conditions could be denied coverage or charged more. Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law over 20 million Americans have gained health insurance that requires coverage for preexisting conditions; disallows charging sick consumers more; allows children to stay on their parent's health insurance until the age of 26; and provides coverage for preventive health services with no cost sharing. The insurance reforms of the ACA protect every American, including those who get their health insurance through their employer. Every insurance plan today is required to cover ten basic Essential Health Benefits; there are no longer lifetime limits; and women can no longer be charged more because they are females. All of this is at risk if this lawsuit succeeds, and the Trump Administration demonstrated their total disregard for the consequences of its actions on the people of our country last week. On the first day of the 116th Congress the House voted to intervene in this lawsuit on behalf of the tens of millions of Americans who rely on and have benefited from the ACA. Today, we renew our promise to the American people that we will fight this Administration's sabotage and do everything to protect, defend and improve the ACA. The resolution we're considering today condemns the Texas vs. United States lawsuit and the Trump Administration's recent actions to intervene to seek the invalidation of every provision of the ACA. It calls on the Department of Justice to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, cease their efforts to destroy access to affordable health care, and reverse its position in the court case. I urge my colleagues to support this timely and critically important resolution we are considering today

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1839, the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019. I'm very pleased the House is considering this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend and authorize important Medicaid programs that serve medically complex children, seniors, and people with disabilities, mental health and substance use disorders. I'm especially proud that H.R. 1839 includes the ACE Kids Act. ACE Kids is the product of years of extensive work by my colleagues, former Congressman Joe Barton and Congresswoman Kathy Castor. This bill will improve care for the sickest children enrolled in Medicaid, which is the backbone of our health care system for these children. Children with complex medical conditions require a large amount of health services which are expensive and difficult for families to coordinate. The ACE Kids Act aims to better coordinate this care while reducing overall Medicaid spending. Each state's program will be specifically tailored to fit each child's needs and will provide families with a care coordinator. It is based on existing programs that save money while decreasing hospital visits and improving care. This legislation has broad bipartisan support and was passed by the House last December by a vote of 400 to 11. I urge all Members of the House to support it. This bill also extends spousal impoverishment protections for recipients of home and community based services in Medicaid. These important protections ensure that spouses of Medicaid patients do not have to spend down their own assets for the Medicaid beneficiary to qualify for home and community based long term care services. Home and community based long term care services are critical to meeting the care and treatment needs of Medicaid beneficiaries, but spouses should not have to risk impoverishment for their loves ones to access these important services. H.R. 1839 authorizes additional funding for the Money Follows the Person demonstration which has been successful in transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions into community settings. The bill also extends the Excellence in Mental Health demonstration for two states to provide mental health services in community settings. Evidence shows that keeping patients in their communities and out of institutions improves outcomes, and I'm pleased to support extensions of these critical programs to ensure that patients can access services in the best setting for their needs. The bill offsets these important extensions by closing loopholes that drug companies have exploited to misclassify their drugs and receive inappropriate rebates on their products. It also makes changes to third-party liability in child support, and denies federal funding for penis pumps in Medicaid. I'm grateful that this bipartisan, bicameral legislation is being considered today to strengthen the Medicaid program for children with complex medical conditions, seniors, and people with disabilities, mental health and substance use disorders and I'm very proud to support it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I can't believe what I am hearing from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Against higher ethics in Congress, they are, what, accepting any kind of corruption in this institution and what corrupts our democracy? You are for gerrymandering? You want dark money to continue? This is absurd. This is about strengthening our democracy. This should have 435 votes. I am so proud that two of my bills have been incorporated into H.R. 1; one is that we have a national holiday for our national elections. People shouldn't have to choose between their job or their families. They should be able to go and vote. Presidents and all Presidential candidates should be mandated to put out 10 years of their tax returns so that the American people can vet them in their own minds to see if they are worthy of the highest office in the land.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, I'm very proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, the most significant gun violence legislation to be considered in the House in over a decade. H.R. 8 strengthens our current laws on background checks by closing loopholes and ensuring that dangerous people do not have the opportunity to purchase a weapon. This legislation is critical and long overdue because 40 percent of gun sales are made with no background check at all. Over 70 percent of Americans, including a majority of gun owners, support universal background checks. Why? Because they help keep guns out of the hands of criminals. The current system has already stopped three million gun sales to convicted felons and others who are prohibited by law from owning a firearm. These checks do nothing to infringe upon the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and use firearms for recreation, subsistence, or even self-defense, and importantly, the vast majority of background checks are completed within minutes. When the Supreme Court first recognized an individual's right to carry a gun in the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, it also acknowledged that the Second Amendment does not prevent Congress from imposing reasonable restrictions on gun sales. The right of responsible citizens to keep and bear arms must be carefully weighed against the right of all Americans to live in a safe society, and I believe H.R. 8 strikes the right balance between protecting the latter without infringing upon the former. For too long, unreasonable forces have prevented serious consideration of virtually any gun legislation, no matter how commonsense it is. Ninety-six Americans are killed by a gun every day, and we owe it to them, their families, and the people of Newtown, Orlando, Las Vegas, Parkland, and so many other communities to take meaningful action. Too many innocent lives have been taken and the American people deserve so much better. I wish to thank the thousands of devoted activists, including Moms Demand Action, for raising their voices across my Congressional District and across our country to end gun violence in our nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act. I've worked on this legislation with my partner Representative Susan Brooks for almost a year and it reflects months of negotiations and compromise reached by the House and Senate. This bill also includes important updates to the Over-the-Counter Monograph program at the Food and Drug Administration. I am proud to reintroduce this bill in the 116th Congress and pleased the House is taking it up so quickly. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act we're considering today is critical to our national security. The legislation updates the original Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act I authored with then-Representativelichard Burr in 2006, by directing federal agencies to respond to new and emerging threats, and strengthen our nation's existing preparedness and response programs. This legislation reauthorizes critical programs that ensure our nation is prepared to respond to naturally occurring and manmade disasters. These threats are real and our country must be prepared to adequately respond to them. This reauthorization meets the challenges that we face today and those we anticipate facing in the future. The policies in this bill are almost identical to those passed under suspension by the House in September 2018 with small changes made at the request of the Senate. The House passed an identical bill at the end of the 115th Congress by a vote of 367 to 9. This bill also includes overdue updates to the Over-the-Counter Monograph program which will streamline the process by which over-the- counter products are regulated and approved by FDA and will improve patient safety. It establishes a new user fee program that will enable FDA to act faster to address safety issues associated with over-the- counter drugs and bring innovative over-the-counter drugs to market. It's imperative that after the House passes this legislation today that the Senate take it up quickly and send it to the President's desk as soon as possible. PAHPA expired on September 30th and reauthorizing these programs is critical to our national security. I'm proud of this legislation and I urge my colleagues to support the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present during roll call vote number 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, and 500 on December 21, 2018, due to a death in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted: On rollcall vote No. 483, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 484, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 485, I would have voted no. On rollcall vote No. 486, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 487, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No 488, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 489, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 490, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 491, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 492, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 493, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 494, I would have voted no. On rollcall vote No. 495, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 496, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 497, I would have voted no. On rollcall vote No. 498, I would have voted no. On rollcall vote No. 499, I would have voted yes. On rollcall vote No. 500, I would have voted yes.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7328. This is a good bill. I think it is an important one. It is the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2018. Kind of a mouthful, but what it does is it streamlines how over-the-counter drugs are regulated. This will enable the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, to act faster to address safety issues associated with over-the-counter drugs and bring innovative over-the-counter drugs to market. The legislation will also establish a new user fee program to provide the FDA with reliable and stable funding to implement the reforms in this bill. These user fees are already in place with the pharmaceutical industry, with others. It works very well, and it allows hiring the necessary additional staff to oversee the over-the-counter market. This updated legislation, very importantly, reflects that it is both bipartisan and bicameral, and I urge the entire House to support the bill. I also want to point out that, rolled into this bill, H.R. 7328, is what we call PAHPA, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act. I am very proud to have authored this originally in a past Congress. But also my partner in this Congress has been Congresswoman Susan Brooks. I couldn't ask for a finer partner. The legislation really reflects months of negotiations and compromise reached by both the House and the Senate, and the bill makes important updates to, as I said, the over-the-counter monograph program. What we are considering in terms of this particular bill is an update, and it directs Federal agencies to respond to new and emerging threats and strengthens our Nation's existing preparedness and response programs. This has a great deal to do with our national security, and that is why it is so important. The legislation not only reauthorizes critical programs to allow our country to be prepared to respond to naturally occurring and manmade disasters--and we know these threats are real--but it also meets the challenges that we face today and those that we anticipate facing in the future. I am very glad that this legislation was rolled into H.R. 7328, and I once again want to salute the work that Congresswoman Susan Brooks did on this particular bill that is part of H.R. 7328. Mr. Speaker, I have two speakers on my side, but I will reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), my friend and colleague.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I don't have any other speakers, but let me just close by saying I think that, between the chairman of our subcommittee and my two colleagues and their remarks--and mine included--that these are very good bills that are going to accomplish good things for the American people. So whether it is what was rolled into H.R. 7328--PAHPA and the underlying bill, the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act--I feel very confident that, with its passage, we will have accomplished something that is excellent for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a highly respected Silicon Valley leader, a friend and a constituent, Brad D. Smith, on his retirement as President and Chief Executive Officer of Intuit, Inc. During his 11 years at the helm of the company, Brad's exceptional leadership doubled Intuit's customer base and tripled the company's earnings. His commitment to Intuit's employees and workplace culture has made Intuit one of the best companies to work for in America according to Fortune. Brad D. Smith was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on April 6, 1954, and grew up in the nearby town of Kenova, a community of 3,500 that Brad credits with teaching him integrity, humility, and teamwork during his formative years. He graduated from Ceredo-Kenova High School and was accepted by and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. He ultimately decided to return to West Virginia and enroll at Marshall University where he graduated in 1986 with a degree in Business Administration. Brad has been a very generous benefactor of Marshall University over the years, and in November, 2018, Brad and his wife, Alys Smith, made a $25 million gift to the University's Lewis College of Business. Brad and Alys also established the Brad and Alys Smith Family Scholarship at Marshall University for West Virginia and Ohio students, with a preference for first-generation college students. Brad joined Intuit in 2003 as Vice President and General Manager of Intuit's Accountant Central and Developer Network in Plano, Texas. Intuit is headquartered in Mountain View in California's 18th Congressional District and is the highly successful maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks, and related tax preparation and accounting software. Over the next five years, Brad held a number of executive positions and headed each major division of Intuit before being named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2008. While serving as Intuit's CEO and President, the company grew to 9,000 employees worldwide, its revenue doubled, and its stock rose from $31 in January 2006, to $205 as of December 2018. In January 2016, Brad cemented his legacy with the company when he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. Brad Smith is a trusted friend who has informed my thinking and my understanding of a number of important public policies and as he prepares to begin a new chapter of life, I congratulate him on a job done exceedingly well and wish him every success in his future endeavors.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and my classmate, Mr. Green, for his distinguished service here in the House. He is retiring, and I want to salute him. I also want to salute my partner in this effort, Mr. Lance from New Jersey. He is going to be missed at the committee and missed in the House. I think he has always been value added to the Congress, and we all wish him well. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation. The shorthand for it is the PREEMIE Act. It is legislation that I introduced with Congressman Lance to expand research, education, and the prevention of preterm birth. Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is the leading cause of newborn mortality and the second leading cause of infant mortality in our country. In 2016, over 388,000 infants were born too early; and, every year, over 20,000 babies in the United States will die before their first birthday, many of them from complications of preterm birth. In addition to being the leading cause of newborn death, premature birth can cause a lifetime of health challenges and intellectual disabilities for children who survive. In addition to the emotional and physical toll of prematurity, there are significant healthcare costs to families, medical systems, and our overall economy. A report by the Institute of Medicine found the cost associated with preterm birth in the United States was $26.2 billion annually--that is a staggering amount of money--or $51,600 per infant born preterm. While employers, private insurers, and individuals bear about half the costs of healthcare for these infants, 40 percent of this amount is paid for by Medicaid. Moms and babies face higher risks than ever before. After the statistics decreasing for over a decade, which is exactly what we wanted them to do, for the third year in a row now the preterm birth rate in our country has worsened, so the passing of this legislation has come at the right time. I am proud of the work that we have done on this Reauthorization Act and that it is going to head to the President for his signature, and I am proud to have authored the original PREEMIE Act with Congressman Fred Upton in 2006. This updated reauthorization builds on the important investments that have been made, and we add to them. I think that is the most important thing to say. With the incidence of preterm birth increasing across the United States, we need to do everything that we can for the mothers and for the newborns so that we improve the outcomes for them because it is their lives. The PREEMIE Act did pass the Senate unanimously on September 12, and I have every confidence that the House is going to double the record. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me and, again, pay tribute to him for his exceptional service here in the House.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jack Lucier and to extend my condolences to his wife, Judy, his children and his grandchildren. Jack Lucier was born in Millbrae, California, on April 19, 1928, and died on November 14, 2018, in Menlo Park, California, having reached the age of 90. Jack was fondly known to all those who knew him as `First Class Jack', a fitting sobriquet for a kind and gracious man. A graduate of Bellarmine Prep and Santa Clara University, he joined Levi Straus in 1952. It was at Levi Straus that he met his future wife, Judy Roche, and they married in 1961. Jack and Judy soon created an interior design company which they ran for more than a quarter century. They also created a beautiful family of two daughters and two sons. Jack gave generously of his time and considerable talents to his community, including Sacred Heart Schools, the Menlo Park Library and Church of the Nativity. He was a golfer, a cook, a great reader, and he loved world travel. He leaves his beloved wife of 57 years, Judy; his son Daniel Lucier and wife Moira; Mary Askins and husband Mark; Anne Ashendorf and husband Michael; and Christopher Lucier. He also leaves his six grandchildren whom he adored: John and Michael Lucier, Julia and Emily Askins, and Charlie and Molly Ashendorf. I've been blessed by the friendship of Jack and Judy Lucier and their family for over four decades. They are respected throughout our community as a family of deep faith, of community engagement, and as contributors to the betterment of our community and our country. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Jack Lucier and in extending our most sincere condolences to his entire family. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him, and we are a grateful nation for all Jack Lucier did to strengthen our country by living a life of values.