Gene Green

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) to the Energy and Commerce Committee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 315, the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act. This important legislation would require the Health Resources and Services Administration to better identify areas with increased need for maternity care services. This would help ensure the placement of maternity care providers within the National Health Service Corps in areas with the most need for their services. Improving access to maternity care providers in our most underserved communities will help reduce the poor health outcomes that can result when women don't have access to quality, prenatal maternity services that they need. Those outcomes can include increased infant mortality, preterm births, low birth weight infants, and maternal mortality. To provide just one example of how limited access to quality maternity care service is affecting American communities is that while global maternal mortality rates have fallen by more than a third from 2000 to 2015, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased. In 2015, 25 women lost their lives during pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 births in the U.S., compared to 23 women who did so in only 2000. It is clear that we must do more to reverse the troubling trend and other poor outcomes that result in limited access to maternity care providers. Congress must make it a priority to ensure our women have access to prenatal and maternity care services. I support H.R. 315. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 302, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act. This bill solves a problem unique to sports medicine professionals who are required to travel to different States with their teams. Medical licensure is regulated on a State-by-State basis and does not work across State lines. Thus, often when a sports medicine provider travels with a team to another State, they are technically practicing without a license, and their medical liability insurance is rendered null. This is not something that is not important. This weekend, the Houston Texans are proud to be in the playoffs. They are going to New England, and we would like to have our Texas doctors making sure our players are safe. This bill would ensure that sports medicine professionals who contract with a team are covered by their medical liability insurance while traveling with their team. It also provides that any incidents of medical malpractice occurring under the care of a traveling team sports medicine professional must be treated as if it occurred in the professional's primary State of practice, regardless of where the game took place. Providers still would not be allowed to practice beyond the scope of their licenses, and they may only treat athletes on the field. By working with the Energy and Commerce Committee and stakeholders last Congress, the sponsors of this bill have created a sensible solution to this distinct problem. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill. I thank Mr. Guthrie from Kentucky and Mr. Richmond from Louisiana for their excellent work. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 304, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017. Ensuring that we have access to the right medicine at the right time is critically important in emergency situations. While controlled substances have abuse and diversion potential, they also have lifesaving potential. In fact, they are very often used by emergency medical services--EMS--providers in situations where every minute counts. Currently, these providers must often administer controlled substances during emergencies using a standing order. However, it is unclear whether or not this is permissible under current law. To help clarify the current law, H.R. 304 would amend the Controlled Substances Act to make clear that EMS personnel can, in fact, administer controlled substances in emergency situations under a standing order from an EMS medical director. This bill helps guarantee that patients will have timely access to drugs they need during an emergency. It will also streamline the DEA's emergency medical services registration process by allowing a single registration for a State EMS agency as opposed to a separate registration for each EMS agency location. To help safeguard against diversion, the bill will hold registered EMS agencies responsible for receiving, storing, and tracking all controlled substances. This bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House floor last Congress, and it incorporates important feedback from a wide range of stakeholders. I believe our efforts in this important bill will ensure that EMS professionals have the flexibility that they need to respond during emergencies, while preserving the DEA's ability to enforce controlled substances laws and regulations. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 304. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank Congressman Hudson and Congressman Butterfield, both great members of our committee on this very bipartisan bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Section 3: ``The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. ``Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes.''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act works, but the majority of Republicans want to make America sick again. Republicans have voted more than 60 times to roll back the historic progress that has been made to expand health care to 20 million-plus Americans and to improve coverage for those who already have it. At every turn, they have undermined the law at the expense of American families and now are setting the path for full repeal. 2.6 million Texans stand to lose healthcare coverage, including 20,000 in our district. Fifty thousand of my constituents would gain coverage if Texas would have expanded Medicaid along with more than 1 million Texans. Texas stands to lose $62 billion in Federal funding for Medicaid, CHIP, and financial assistance for marketplace coverage if the new President and Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act. Making America sick again is not the solution. Let's don't have a repeal until we have a replacement.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 11. I'd like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for bringing this resolution to the Floor. Your continued bipartisan support for our friend and ally, Israel, sets the right tone for any discussion this body has regarding this vital relationship. Almost 70 years ago, on May 14, 1948, with the support of fiercely Democratic president, Harry Truman, the nation of Israel was born. Created in the aftermath of World War II, the special relationship that our two countries now enjoy was founded. For 70 years, our government has supported Israeli interest because they represent American interest. Throughout the decades, from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama, from the great Texan, and Speaker Sam Rayburn to Speaker Ryan, our government has worked across party lines and across branches of government to ensure the one, true democracy in the Middle East is able to grow and prosper without hindrance. Recently, we have reaffirmed our support for Israel by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding and resoundingly telling the world that we support our ally in the Middle East. UNSCR 2334 does not align with this affirmation. It should be the policy of the United States to support a viable two- state solution, where Palestinians and Israelis live in prosperity and security. This does not mean negotiating out of fear or forced necessity. I want to, again, express my gratitude and appreciation for this body and our friends on the Foreign Affairs Committee for leading by example. U.S.-Israeli relations have always been bipartisan and should remain that way. It is my hope the new Administration will build on the foundation created by the Presidents and elected officials that came before us and support Israel in a bipartisan fashion. I ask my colleagues to support House Resolution 11.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow my colleague and my neighbor in Texas to regret the loss of our two National Guardsmen from the 36th Division. The 36th Division is a historic division, Texas division, T-Patchers, and to lose two of our soldiers is tragic. But I am on the floor today to talk about health care. The Republican majority has taken the first legislative step to make America sick again. The first step was to take away health care from tens of millions of Americans, including premium increases for millions more in America. The second action lights the fuse on the dangerous legislative process that threatens to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and health tax credits that Americans are now benefiting from. There should be no reform without a replacement because we may never have a replacement, but we have millions of Americans who will lose their healthcare coverage because of the actions of this House. Let's don't make America sick again.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 612, that reauthorizes the Water Resource Development Act. WRDA is once again a bipartisan bill with broad support. This bill protects and develops our communities and our waterways. As one of many members who represent a major port, I know firsthand that ports are enormous economic engines for growth. The Port of Houston has allowed Houston and Harris County to be the energy capital of the world. The jobs and economic growth, including refining and manufacturing, associated with the Port are a driver for the entire region. This WRDA bill provides essential federal support for the Houston Ship Channel dredging to 50 feet which will allow for larger, deeper draft ships that will increase trade at America's second busiest port. The bill also modernizes how partners can work with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop projects for local and national benefit as we move forward. Additionally, flood control projects in this bill preserve our communities that are facing increased hazards from record rainfall and rising sea levels. The support for the Brays Bayou project will help shield areas that have been devastated by deadly flooding earlier this year. I am proud to support a bipartisan bill that both supports our economic development and protects our vulnerable communities.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 620, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 621, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 622.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for providing the time. I rise to express strong support for the 21st Century Cures Act. Almost 3 years ago, we set out on a mission to do something positive to boost medical research and innovation and accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments. After countless hours devoted to roundtables, white papers, hearings, and drafts, today, Cures has bipartisan support and endorsements from over 700 organizations representing a full spectrum of stakeholders and the strong support of the administration. My Houston area neighbors, Congressmen Pete Olson and Mike Burgess, and I held a roundtable in the Houston area with the great institutions at our Texas Media Center in the Houston area. It dedicates $6.3 billion in new investments to support priorities like the Cancer Moonshot and Precision Medicine Initiative within the National Institutes of Health, and to combat prescription drug abuse. This also provides money for the Food and Drug Administration to advance the agency's mission and implement the policies in the underlying bill. This influx of investment will be put towards solving today's complex scientific problems, getting new treatments from the lab table to the bedside, and improving public health. In addition to this much-needed funding, there are so many provisions in this package worthy of support. From facilitating the development of new antibiotics to fight against superbugs, to advancing the use of modern clinical trial designs, to fostering the next generation of medical researchers, the 21st Century Cures Act will develop hope and new treatments for Americans in need. While some of these provisions are technical in nature, the real-world impact they will have is not abstract. Patients and families deserve to have their elected officials respond to their needs, and this bill does that. Eighteen months ago, 344 Members supported Cures when it passed the House of Representatives. Since then, we have responded to feedback and tailored the bill, and it now includes additional priorities like improvements to our mental health system and nonpartisan provisions to strengthen Medicare on behalf of beneficiaries. I want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Pallone, Congresswoman DeGette, and Chairman Pitts for their leadership, vision, and determination. I also want to thank our staff, the House Legislative Counsel, and the countless stakeholders without whom we would not be here today. It was a privilege to be part of this landmark effort. As an original sponsor and coauthor of the 21st Century Cures Act, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, the following is my complete statement: I rise to express my strong support for the 21st Century Cures Act. Almost three years ago, we set out on a mission: do something positive to boost medical research and innovation, and accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments. After countless hours devoted to roundtables, whitepapers, hearings and drafts, today Cures has bipartisan support and endorsements from over 700 organizations representing the full spectrum of stakeholders, and the strong support of the Administration. My Houston area neighbors Congressmen Pete Olson and Mike Burgess held a roundtable with the many great institutions at our Texas Media Center. It dedicates $6.3 billion in new investments to support priorities like the Cancer Moonshot and Precision Medicine Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and to combat prescription drug abuse. It also provides money to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the agency's mission and implement the policies in the underlying bill. This influx of investment will be put towards solving today's complex scientific problems, getting new treatments from the lab table to the bedside, and improving public health. In addition to this much needed funding, there are so many provisions in this package worthy of support. From facilitating the development of new antibiotics to fight against superbugs to advancing the use of modern clinical trial designs to the fostering of the next generation of medical researchers, the 21st Century Cures Act will deliver hope and new treatments to Americans in need. While some of the provisions are technical in nature, the real-world impact they will have is not abstract. Patients and families deserve to have their elected officials respond to their needs. This bill does that. Eighteen months ago, 344 members supported Cures (H.R. 6) when it passed the House of Representatives. Since then, we have responded to feedback and tailored the bill, and it now includes additional priorities like improvements to our mental health care system and non-partisan provisions to strengthen Medicare on behalf of beneficiaries. I want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Pallone, Congresswoman DeGette, and Chairman Pitts for their leadership, vision, and determination. I also want to thank our staff, House Legislative Council, and the countless stakeholders without whom we would not be here today. I want to particularly thank Tiffany Guarascio, Arielle Woronoff, Rachel Pryor, Kimberlee Trzeciak, Megan Velez, Waverly Gordon, Polly Webster, Kristen O'Neill, Paul Edattel, John Stone, Carly McWilliams, Adriana Simonelli, JP Paluskiewicz, Tim Pataki, Josh Trent and others on the Energy and Commerce Committee staff for all their work. It was a privilege to be a part of this landmark effort. As an original sponsor and co-author of the 21st Century Cures Act, I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise to announce that later today the Environmental Protection Agency will issue its final plan to clean up the San Jacinto River Waste Pits, a Superfund site in eastern Harris County, Texas. The communities of eastern Harris County, especially Channelview and Highlands, have fought for a decade to ensure that toxic waste that was dumped alongside the San Jacinto River 50 years ago will be fully removed and permanently protect our children and our children's children from the dangers found at the site. I thank the EPA and Region 6 for its hard work and diligence on this very important issue for our community. I would also like to thank the community members and local officials who have fought to clean up the site and ensure our community is made whole. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to EPA's announcement today.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5303, the Water Resource Development Act. WRDA is usually a vehicle for bipartisan cooperation, but, unfortunately, that is not the case this year. This is the only time in my 23 years in Congress that I am unable to support WRDA. In my area in Houston, we need WRDA. We need flood assistance. But my particular issue with this is that I represent a large part of the Port of Houston. As one of many Members that represents a major port, I know firsthand that ports are enormous economic engines for growth. The jobs and economic growth, including refining and manufacturing on the banks of the Houston Ship Channel, supported by the Port of Houston, has allowed Houston and Harris County to become the energy capital of the world. But this is about more than just the Port of Houston. This is about all of America's ports, from LA-Long Beach to Miami and New Orleans. This is $3 trillion in shipments in these ports. The harbor maintenance tax is meant to fund critical projects to keep our ports running at full capacity. Yet, only a fraction of that money is appropriated each year, leaving billions of dollars sitting unused while maintenance costs climb in the Port of Houston and around the country. Every day, ships are forced to idly wait for high tides or deeper channels because we do not put enough of this money to work for them. We need to ensure that we are investing for the future by investing in vital infrastructure projects. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this legislation until the bipartisan harbor maintenance trust fund provision is included.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Many areas have faced severe frequent floods in recent years. Too many of these disasters have deadly consequences for our communities. Since the beginning of the 114th Congress, more than 200 Americans have died as a result of flooding. In Texas alone, 77 people have perished as a result of flooding in under 2 years. Heavy rains and flooding killed eight people in 1 week this last April. This amendment would go far to address these tragedies by allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize flood control projects for areas that have lethal flooding to provide security and peace of mind to residents in these communities. Both Congressman Al Green and I represent different parts of Houston, Harris County. His area was pretty devastated, along with the northwest part where Congressman McCaul represents, and a number of other folks. But there is a reason why we are called the coastal plain in the Houston area, because when it floods, we fill up the bayous, we fill up the rivers, and the only place it goes is in our businesses and in our homes. That is why this amendment is so important. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and protect our most vulnerable communities.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment that Congress left in mid-July without adequately funding the Zika crisis. The number of confirmed Zika cases across the United States and territories quadrupled while Congress was on recess. The number of cases rose from 4,222 in mid-July to 16,822 last week. Zika poses a grave, unprecedented threat to public health. It is time for Congress to fulfill its constitutional and moral duty to protect the health and welfare of our country. It is an appalling disservice to the American people that we have not yet provided resources to combat this virus that already is having real effects on our families. We have delayed funds for medical research and help to our local communities. The majority's reluctance is putting the health and lives of the American people at risk, and inaction now is only more costly in the long run. I sincerely hope we can return to work with a renewed sense of responsibility for health and welfare of our Nation and approve the funds necessary to prevent Zika spreading in the country. We need our communities safe. Pass a clean Zika funding bill.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Zika is here, and Congress is not doing its job. Yesterday, health officials in Houston, Harris County, Texas, diagnosed an infant with microcephaly, which is a birth defect that causes a severe underdevelopment of the brain and a long list of health problems. This is the first documented case of Zika-related microcephaly in Texas. Unfortunately, it is one of the many tragedies that will continue if we fail to act. Zika poses a grave and unprecedented threat to our public health. It is time Congress fulfills its constitutional and moral duty to protect the health and welfare of our people. It is an appalling disservice to the American people that we are not yet providing resources to combat this virus. Congress' reluctance to provide funding is attributed to a distorted sense of fiscal responsibility. The fact of the matter is that their reluctance is putting the health and lives of the American people at risk, and inaction now will only be more costly in the long run. We are delaying medical research for a cure for Zika. We are delaying funding for our communities to fight Zika. We need to work with a sense of responsibility for the health and welfare of our Nation and approve the funds that are necessary to prevent Zika from spreading in our country.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to S. 304, the so-called ``Conscience Protection Act.'' This bill would allow employers, insurance companies, and other health care entities to refuse to provide, pay for, cover, or refer for abortion services. This is an overreaching and dangerous proposal under which employers, among others, could deny women comprehensive health insurance coverage and intrude on their personal health care decisions. This legislation is unnecessary since existing federal law already protects individuals who do not want to participate in abortion care and many states have refusal clauses for individual who wish to refuse to participate in abortion care. A woman's medical decisions should be left up to her and her physician; they should not be vulnerable to the arbitrary discrimination of an employer or other outside party. As responsible lawmakers, we have a duty to reject any and all provisions that seek to codify a health care system in which discrimination against women is legal and encouraged. The Supreme Court has upheld the right of women to choose regarding this matter. It is time that we move on from attempts to undermine this right and instead focus on improving health care quality and access for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing S. 304.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 399.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2646, legislation to improve our mental health system. This bill is a positive step forward. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work to improve access, prevention, and treatment for those with mental and behavioral conditions. We worked extensively and collaboratively to craft the legislation. I want to particularly thank Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Upton; Ranking Member Pallone; Representatives Kennedy, Matsui, Loebsack, Tonko, and DeGette for their contributions; and Congressman Tim Murphy for elevating the conversation about mental health. H.R. 2646 includes new grant programs that expand access to critical mental health services, such as community crisis response systems and adult suicide prevention. It provides new tools to improve compliance with mental health parity, HIPAA training programs for patients and providers to better understand their protections and rights, and a peer professional workforce development grant. I am pleased that this legislation extends the Federal Tort Claims Act to help professional volunteers at community health centers. It also affords the full range of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services to Medicaid children who receive care in Institutes of Mental Diseases. While not comprehensive and lacking key resources, today's vote marks a significant step forward to strengthening our Nation's mental health system. Again, I want to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and their staffs, and I urge Members to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in opposition to H. Con. Res. 112, expressing the sense of Congress opposing the President's proposed $10 tax on every barrel of oil. During my time in Congress, I have represented all five major refineries and countless energy production firms in East Harris County. I know the importance of the domestically produced and refined oil to the U.S. economy. I also know the importance of a well-funded transportation system. Houston is growing rapidly and our transportation system needs to expand with our population. I stand in opposition to today's Sense of Congress because of this knowledge and experience. But to clarify, we shouldn't make things tougher on American companies and domestically-produced crude. I do not support a $10 dollar tax on our natural resources. I do not support a $10 dollar tax on wildcatters in West Texas, North Dakota or any other areas in the U.S. that supply crude to the Texas Gulf Coast. It is these companies that are responsible for the energy renaissance in the U.S. These entrepreneurs lowered our gas prices, reduced our foreign dependence and made the U.S. the largest producer of oil in the world. I do support a $10 dollar tax on imported oil from foreign sources. Imported oil from countries that may or may not be our friends does not benefit our national security or domestic economy. We should sharpen our competitive edge and expand our 21st century transportation system by taxing imported oil. I stand with our domestic companies, we should continue to produce and refine U.S. crude for the benefit of U.S. consumers and workers. But I stand in opposition of this overly expansive Sense of Congress and I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 274.