Brett Guthrie

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5487, the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2021, led by Representatives Herrera Beutler, Roybal- Allard, Mullin, and Castor. Each year, about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite medical innovations, stillbirth rates remain relatively unchanged and affect women of different ages and backgrounds. No family should have to go through such an unthinkable tragedy, and this is, unfortunately, far too common. H.R. 5487 aims to prevent stillbirth through enhanced research, surveillance, and reporting. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to better support States in collecting more complete stillbirth data. It also establishes a National Institutes of Health fellowship program focused on stillbirth research and pathology. This legislation will help provide much-needed outreach and education on stillbirths, giving healthcare providers additional tools to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies who deserve a fighting chance at life. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a family as well. Mr. Speaker, when you first come to Washington, you start getting to know people who come to advocate for diseases and treatments like this. I met the Ensor family. A lady named Kay Ensor came here with her 11- or 12-year-old daughter at the time, Shelby. Shelby came to my office and said: I can't get a hug from my father anymore, and I don't want any other little girl to feel this way. It may be too late for us, but I don't want it to be too late for somebody in the future. I got to know them, and I visited them in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. Their son, Tanner, was probably 8 or 9 at the time. They rigged up a wheelchair so he could go hunting with his father. But then it got to the point where they couldn't do that at all. Then, unfortunately, I was able to attend Mr. Ensor's funeral. I don't have personal experiences in my family, but just seeing the effort that a family has to go through and the love that they do it in was an example for me to get involved in this issue, and the suffering that the patient goes through but also the extremely difficult circumstances for a family but how they were so loving in everything they did. I want to close with this: I know that Brian and his wife, Sandra, were there at the hearing and touched every one of us. I want to yield back in honor of the Ensor family from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, there are over 300 cosponsors, and we all know that is not an easy task to do at all. It takes a lot of work, a lot of leg work, a lot of effort. The two hardest working people that we have seen this session are Mr. Quigley from Illinois, and my good friend Jeff Fortenberry from Nebraska, who put such effort into this. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the distinguished Republican whip.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3537, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill and want to thank Representatives Fortenberry and Quigley for their tireless efforts to move this bill forward. We would not be here today without your hard work and the tremendous advocacy efforts of the ALS community, who have so passionately made the need for this legislation known to Congress. ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Many people lose the ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. Over 5,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year, and the average life expectancy is only 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. Recent years have brought a wealth of new scientific understanding regarding this disease. There are currently five drugs available to treat ALS, and while this is a remarkable achievement, we have more work ahead of us. H.R. 3537 establishes a grant program through HHS to support research and access to investigational therapies to treat ALS for those patients who cannot access clinical trials. It also directs HHS to establish a public-private partnership for neurodegenerative diseases, which will advance the development and regulatory approval of drugs to help treat ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. This bill will ring hope to those with ALS and their loved ones by promoting access to potentially breakthrough treatments and help us to one day find a cure for this vicious disease. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1193, the Cardiovascular Advances and Opportunities Legacy Act, or the CAROL Act, introduced by my good friend and fellow Kentuckian, Representative Andy Barr. Mr. Speaker, Congress is like a family, and we certainly laugh together and we certainly argue with each other, but there are times we cry with each other. I will never forget the phone call that I received from Robert Aderholt telling me that Carol Barr, who was a wonderful woman, wonderful wife, and wonderful mother, had passed away. Our friend and colleague, Representative Andy Barr, has introduced this bill to honor his wife, who passed away from mitral valve prolapse. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for most demographic groups in the United States. Over 600,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. This is equal to one person every 36 seconds. We know that taking early action is critical to surviving a heart condition. People need to know the warning signs and symptoms. Understanding the gaps in education and information sharing will help the healthcare system better detect these warning signs. This bill authorizes grants administered by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to support research on valvular heart disease and convenes subject matter experts to identify research opportunities to develop more informed treatment guidelines for patients with valvular heart disease. It also instructs the CDC to increase public awareness about the symptoms associated with valvular heart disease and effective strategies for preventing sudden cardiac arrest. This bill will provide timely investments to adequately inform others about valvular heart disease and ultimately save lives. Mr. Speaker, as I said, every 36 seconds, one person dies from heart disease. It is a life; it is a wife; it is a mother; it is Carol Barr. That is who we are here today to honor. We should use the horrible tragedy that the Barrs have gone through to prevent other families from going through the same thing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, today, on the 80th anniversary of the attacks on U.S. naval forces at Pearl Harbor, we remember poignantly the courage and sacrifice of America's Greatest Generation. That legacy of service is rich in Kentucky's Second District, exemplified by the seemingly insurmountable challenges faced by Company D of the 192nd Tank Battalion, which included the Harrodsburg Tankers. On December 8th, across the international dateline and just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese bombers descended on Company D and other U.S. forces who were stationed in the Philippines at Clark Field. A young private and Kentuckian by the name of Robert H. Brooks attempted to sprint to his station to fight back against Japanese forces. Sadly, he lost his life during his heroic action. He was the first casualty of the U.S. Armored Forces in World War II. The fighting in the Philippines was relentless for the U.S. service members and Company D. All of the remaining 66 Mercer County natives-- known today as the Harrodsburg Tankers--survived the initial conflict. However, 29 soldiers were lost to the unimaginable conditions during the three years they were held at prisoner-of-war camps. At Fort Knox there is a parade field named after Private Brooks, called Brooks Field, and we will never forget him and those brave soldiers. The bravery of Private Brooks, Company D, and its tankers from Harrodsburg are an indelible reminder of the price of freedom for all that we must never forget.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 550, the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act, a bill introduced by my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues, Ms. Kuster and Mr. Bucshon. Immunization information systems, or IIS, are important tools in providing immunization care for patients by allowing providers to view a patient's comprehensive immunization history to determine the appropriate vaccinations throughout their life. The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct activities to improve immunization information systems. These activities include designating data and technology standards, developing public-private partnerships, and awarding grants or cooperative agreements to health departments to enhance their systems. Modernizing our immunization infrastructure will give us a better understanding of our current vaccination efforts and will also help us determine which communities may need additional vaccination outreach-- better targeting our efforts to improve health outcomes across the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, current data clearly suggests that vaccinations for women during pregnancy can protect mothers and newborns against infectious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long recommended various vaccinations for pregnant women to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite these recommendations, vaccination rates among pregnant women remain relatively low. But according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, when a vaccine recommendation comes directly from a patient's own OB-GYN, the likelihood of accepting that vaccine could be up to 50 times higher. The Maternal Vaccination Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include obstetric providers in existing vaccination public awareness campaign programs to help increase vaccinations among pregnant and postpartum women. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common virus in the United States, infecting about 13 million Americans each year. While 9 out of 10 HPV infections are benign, in some circumstances, HPV can cause cancer. Records from the CDC indicate about 36,000 cases of cancer each year are caused by this virus. Sadly, many of these infections and cancer diagnoses can be prevented by the HPV vaccine. H.R. 1550 would carry out a national campaign to increase awareness for healthcare providers and patients regarding these cancers. Additionally, the campaign will highlight the benefits associated with HPV vaccines in preventing HPV and HPV-related cancers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).

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

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2355, the Opioid Prescription Verification Act, a bill led by Representative Rodney Davis along with Representatives Bilirakis and Wagner. The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the country. According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, there were over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States from April 2020 to April 2021. That is a 28.5 percent increase from the previous year. The Opioid Prescription Verification Act directs Federal agencies to develop, disseminate, and periodically update training materials to help pharmacists identify and report potential cases of bad actors who attempt to buy and sell controlled substances for illicit use. The bill also incentivizes States to utilize prescription drug monitoring programs and requires certain controlled substances to be prescribed electronically. Additionally, this bill includes data entry requirements that help reduce the potential diversion of prescription drugs. This bill will help stop criminals who perpetuate the vicious cycle of addiction. It is a crucial step toward ending the opioid epidemic and making our communities safer. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time as I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, our beloved home State has areas that have been really affected by the opioid epidemic. We also know that our colleagues back home who serve in our general assembly have spent an enormous amount of time trying to get verification through prescription programs and other programs moving forward. There is so much to do and so much we need to do through treatment and through other methods, but this is an important tool that will help our pharmacists realize when people are going around trying to get different prescriptions. I strongly support this bill and thank my friends for working on this: Representatives Davis, Bilirakis, and Wagner. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2364, the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances, have been the primary drivers of the rise in overdose deaths that we have seen over the past year and beyond. H.R. 2364 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a public education campaign related to synthetic opioids. Additionally, the Secretary is required to publish a training guidance and webinar for first responders and other individuals to better understand synthetic opioid exposure prevention. This campaign will promote awareness around the dangers of synthetic opioids and provide information about available services to address synthetic opioid abuse. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3743, Supporting the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration Act, led by my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues, Representative Hudson and Representative Eshoo. Empowering biomedical innovation in the United States is critical to protecting our global competitiveness. We saw how important it was to invest in creating new treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we need to carry that momentum into the future. H.R. 3743 authorizes increased transfer authorities from the FDA and the NIH to both the Reagan-Udall Foundation and the Foundation for the NIH, respectively. Allowing FDA and NIH to provide increased funding to these public- private partnerships will give the Reagan-Udall Foundation and the Foundation for the NIH more flexibility to meet the growing research demands and to ultimately accelerate future medical innovations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

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

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3894, the CARING for Social Determinants Act of 2021, a bill led by Representatives Blunt Rochester and Bilirakis. Research shows that socioeconomic conditions, such as job loss, lack of transportation, inadequate housing, among others, can contribute to poor health outcomes. The Trump administration took a key step at the beginning of this year by releasing guidance to States on how to better utilize Medicaid to support social determinants of health. It provided real-world examples that States are taking to improve outcomes for beneficiaries. For example, Medicaid managed care plans in my home State of Kentucky are leading the way by using care coordinators to connect vulnerable beneficiaries to social support services like food pantries and daycare services. The CARING for Social Determinants Act would require HHS to update this guidance every 3 years in order to drive future innovation in State Medicaid programs. I am proud of the important steps this bill takes to improve health outcomes for some of our most vulnerable populations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.