Brett Guthrie

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), my friend.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chair of the committee, the ranking member, and the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster) all working together to solve this problem which every American family is facing or knows of someone or has some relation to someone who is. This touches everybody far and wide, urban and rural, suburbs and small towns. Particularly in my home State, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we have really had families just devastated by this. We have to close the border. We have to get a handle on what is coming across the border. We have to make sure that we have things in place to prevent people from bringing these to our young people and adults. We are here today, though, to make sure those who have this substance use disorder have access to proper care, the opportunity to not just recover, but to have full and productive lives. We believe that on both sides of the aisle, and we have worked together for this. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my good friend.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4531, the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. Over the past 2 years, we have lost over 200,000 Americans to drug overdoses and poisonings. This is a step in the wrong direction, as the United States saw decreases in year-over-year drug overdoses between 2018 and 2019. Tragically, our best efforts to drive down these overdose rates were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which left millions of Americans isolated and shuttered from support systems that helped those struggling with substance use disorder stay on track. These statistics show the policies and programs we enacted in 2018 were working prior to the pandemic. However, since 2018 we have seen the horrors that illicit fentanyl and other illicit substances, like xylazine, have caused our local communities. In the past 3 years, over 70 percent of all drug overdoses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been the direct result of poisonings from fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances. Earlier this year, I convened an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee field hearing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we heard firsthand accounts from law enforcement and treatment providers about the harsh realities of the crisis. We heard the heart-wrenching testimony from Michael Straley, who lost daughter, Leah, a few years ago to fentanyl poisoning, underscoring the daily stresses of families with loved ones battling substance use disorder. That work has helped inform the bill before us today. We are reauthorizing important programs such as State-level prescription drug monitoring programs, residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, and other prevention, treatment, and recovery services. We are also placing xylazine into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, while maintaining access for veterinarians and ranchers to use in animals. Xylazine is an emerging lethal street drug that is a unique threat as it is not an opioid, and so it does not respond to FDA-approved opioid reversal medications. That said, H.R. 4531 provides even greater access for treatment providers to use Federal funds to purchase over-the-counter opioid overdose reversal medications, which we know have helped reduce opioid overdose rates in communities across the country. We are also building on important steps we took in 2018 to help those who rely on the Medicaid program access care. We are permanently requiring Medicaid programs to provide lifesaving medication-assisted treatment. We are permanently codifying the flexibility for States to waive outdated policies that prevent vulnerable individuals from seeking comprehensive wraparound and substance use disorder care. We are also assisting foster care youth by ensuring they do not lose their Medicaid services if they are receiving the behavioral care they need at qualified residential treatment programs. Finally, the legislation before us today promotes access to long-term recovery and support services like workforce training for individuals in recovery. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I thank my Democratic colleague, Representative Ann Kuster, for her help on this important legislation and historical leadership on addressing the opioid crisis. I also thank all of my colleagues for working with us to ensure the policies of H.R. 4531 are fully offset, which was essential to ensuring this legislation could get to this point. Again, I thank my colleague from New Hampshire for working with me on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4531, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), my good friend.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), who is the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3226) to reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act, as amended.

Mr. GUTHRIE. 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 in the Record on the bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today firmly committed to the principle that every life is worth living. That starts with giving babies born prematurely a fighting chance at growing up and living their lives to the fullest. In 2021, the preterm birth rate increased to 10.5 percent, which was the highest recorded rate since 2007. Last year, 1 in 10 babies were born prematurely. Premature babies have a higher risk of infant mortality, developmental delays, and chronic health conditions. This is why I rise today in support of H.R. 3226, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023, led by Energy and Commerce Committee members Dr. Burgess and Dr. Miller-Meeks, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Eshoo, and Representative Robin Kelly. The legislation would reauthorize programs that are critical to Federal research, education, and intervention activities to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality. The bill would also authorize a study to identify best practices to help detect and prevent preterm births as well as better understand the factors that lead to such births. This critical legislation will help to reduce preterm births and ensure that babies have effective treatments to give them the best start in life. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I think Ms. Eshoo just stepped off the floor, Mr. Speaker, but my good friend from California announced she is not running for reelection. She is the primary sponsor of this bill in the House, and it is an important bill. All life is important. It is important that we move forward and give everybody an equal chance to live a full, productive, and happy life. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill. I appreciate my friend from California, Mr. Speaker, for all of her hard work. We will miss her, but we have another year to continue to work on good things like this. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. Over the past several years, I have heard from countless Kentuckians about the challenges they face and the pain they are feeling due to rising healthcare costs. This bipartisan, landmark legislation marks the first step in driving transformational change across our healthcare system. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act incorporates transparency requirements in nearly every aspect of the healthcare system. We are building on the Trump-era price transparency rules for hospitals and insurance plans. We are requiring pharmacy benefit managers to disclose prices and fees to lower costs for patients and employers. We are even requiring transparency for clinical labs. We have countless testimonials and data to show that transparency lowers costs. Recently, a multinational equipment manufacturer fired their PBM and started managing their own prescription drug benefits for its employees because they finally understood what they were being charged. The most important part about this bill is that, for once, it is not a top-down, Washington-knows-best approach to the cost of healthcare. The American people have given Congress this mandate, with over 95 percent of surveyed voters supporting healthcare price transparency to reduce healthcare costs, according to a 2022 KFF poll. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act directly lowers costs that seniors are paying out of pocket for certain drugs like cancer drugs and other medicines administered in doctors' offices that are owned by hospitals. Seniors receiving Medicare should not be paying more for a drug based solely off the location of where they receive the drug. We are fixing this. I should note that we are able to get major policy changes in this legislation while making sure the bill saves the American people money, an estimated $700 million. This is an objective that Congress very rarely prioritizes. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Rodgers for her vision and steadfast leadership on this bill. I will proudly be casting a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5378, and I urge my House colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to honor Bobette Franklin upon her retirement from a 29-year career in the United States Congress assisting Kentuckians with the federal government processes. I first had the pleasure of meeting Bobette, a Bowling Green native, over 30 years ago. As a staff member for my predecessor, she developed a passion for advocating for Kentuckians who had challenges with federal agencies and quickly gained the respect of many in Kentucky's Second District, especially among veterans and their families. When I was sworn in, I knew it was critical to keep her enthusiasm, knowledge, and earned constituent trust on my team. Two years later, Bobette departed my office to become Director of Constituent Services for Senator Rand Paul, which allowed her to share her passion for public service across the Commonwealth. In November, Bobette will be retiring after nearly three decades of service to Kentuckians. I offer my deepest gratitude to Bobette for her service and wish her happiness as she spends her retirement with her husband, Steven, and her son Noah.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of Steve Blackburn from Glasgow, Kentucky after 43 years of service with the T. Marzetti Company. Steve began his career as a temporary employee in the processing department in their first manufacturing plant on Indianola Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. He has proven to be an important team member at the T. Marzetti Company, being instrumental in the greenfield startup in Horse Cave, Kentucky in 2006 and Sister Schubert's in 2007. Nearly a half century later, Steve will retire as the Senior Director of Operations. A loving father of 4 and grandfather of 6, Steve plans on enjoying retirement with his wife of nearly 14 years, Angela. Congratulations to Steve on his hard-earned retirement.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My friend from New Jersey did say that this law expires at the end of the year. That is why we are here today to make scheduling illicit fentanyl permanent. We have to understand what the status quo is. The status quo currently is horrific. Before these illicit fentanyls were scheduled, although we couldn't get them permanently scheduled, there were all kinds of analogues throughout America. That is why the DEA and others recommended that we schedule these, because once you change the fentanyl molecule, unless these are scheduled, then it becomes no longer illegal. These all appeared in our country, and that is why we are reacting to it. They are scheduled now, and what we are moving to do is to make it permanent. What has happened since they were scheduled? They came to me, and they talked about mass incarceration. We have heard that today. There have been eight people in prison under this law, four dealing with cartels, which I would say absolutely should be in prison. I asked some of my law enforcement people when I was looking into this bill: If you have only arrested eight people, why does it matter? That is what they are saying on the other side of the aisle. What they said was the only reason we have only arrested eight people is because when this was put into place, the analogues--not fentanyl, but the analogues, which can be more dangerous--had disappeared from the marketplace. They are bringing in fentanyl that is already scheduled. The problem is, if we treat fentanyl analogues differently than fentanyl, they are going to reappear again. That is why we have to put them in the same category. If you have fentanyl subject to mandatory minimums, but not these analogues, then they are going to reappear. We have to pass this bill, we have to move forward, and I recommend support of this bill. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. D'Esposito). The gentleman from Kentucky has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from New Jersey has 8 minutes remaining.