Brett Guthrie

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, as with all the other bills before us today, it is so important to reach out to our youth and to prevent suicide and violence as a result of mental health disorders. We all know, as young as we can reach them, the better. I support this bill and ask my colleagues to do so. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2877, the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021 introduced by Representatives Ferguson, Burgess, Peters, and Panetta. This important bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop best practices for establishing and using behavioral intervention teams in elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. Behavioral intervention teams are multidisciplinary teams that support students' mental health and wellness by identifying students experiencing stress, anxiety, or other behavioral disturbances, and conducting intervention and outreach to these students to help manage risk. These teams are already active in some educational settings, such as Texas Tech and the University of California, Los Angeles. By acting in a proactive manner to assist students and connect them with needed resources, behavioral intervention teams help schools create a safe environment for their students and improve mental health outcomes in young people. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Ferguson).

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, what we have talked about is that this creates a safe environment for students. I think all Americans want a safer environment for all of our students and to improve the mental health outcomes of young people. Madam Speaker, that is what this bill focuses on, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1260, the Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2021 introduced by Representative Ruppersberger and fellow Energy and Commerce Committee member Kinzinger. This important legislation would provide Federal grants to hospitals and trauma centers for intervention services to victims of violent crime. Violence in America disproportionately impacts urban and underserved communities, where poor social determinants of health can contribute to structural violence. Hospital-based intervention programs help reduce violence because they reach high-risk individuals recently admitted to a hospital for treatment of a serious violent injury. Hospitalization presents an opportunity when an individual may be open to help to break the cycle of violence by immediate intervention following the violent incident. By supporting hospital-based violence intervention programs, this bill will connect at-risk individuals with local resources that address underlying risk factors for violence. I thank Representatives Ruppersberger and Kinzinger for tackling this challenging issue and for putting forward a meaningful solution to help address violence in our communities. Madam Speaker, it is important to break the cycle of violence. Having someone in a hospital setting who has just been a victim of violence is a great time to address that. I think this is the right policy at the right time, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1205, Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2021, sponsored by Representative Ruiz. This bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to emergency departments for the purpose of supporting follow-up services to patients that present in the emergency department in mental health crisis. According to SAMHSA's National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care, there is a disconnect in the provision of follow-up services regarding what comes next for patients experiencing a mental health crisis in the emergency department. If a patient comes in with appendicitis, the emergency room physician can call a surgeon. If the patient has a rash, the emergency department has a roster of dermatologists in clinics; and, in many cases, the physician can even make an appointment for the patient. These partnerships don't always exist for mental health illness. By authorizing grants to support programs that help those treated at emergency departments expeditiously transition to follow-on care, this bill will remove barriers to care for those experiencing an acute mental health crisis, reduce stigma, and ultimately save lives. Madam Speaker, one of the great things I have learned being a Member of the House of Representatives is that we have 435 people from all walks of life and they bring all their life experiences to us and create some important legislation. Dr. Ruiz is an emergency room physician. He knows this firsthand. We are colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. I know he is passionate about it because it does save lives if we get people the assistance they need. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1324, the Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2021, introduced by Representatives Bilirakis, Soto, and Burgess. This legislation will authorize the grant program to improve the identification, screening, assessment, and treatment of patients in emergency departments who are at risk for suicide. Consideration of this bill could not come at a more pressing time. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have impacted the mental health of many Americans. Due to the pandemic, tens of thousands of additional Americans have died from suicide or substance misuse. Emergency departments are key locations to intervene and assist those who may be contemplating suicide. Past research has identified one in every eight emergency department visits in the United States were related to a mental health or substance use disorder. By creating grants for emergency departments to develop policies for screening those at risk of suicide, and enhancing their post-discharge care coordination, this bill will improve our frontline providers' ability to intervene when someone is in crisis, ultimately reducing deaths from despair during this difficult time. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my friend.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today very concerned about the deadly threat of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Last week, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on this exact issue. Here are the facts: More than 88,000 overdose deaths were reported by the CDC in a 12-month period ending in August of 2020. This is a record for the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a year. In 2018, synthetic opioids, which includes these dangerous fentanyl analogues, were involved in 744 deaths in just Kentucky. I learned from a substance use healthcare provider in my district that almost all their patients have some sort of fentanyl in their system. Many of the patients are not aware of it themselves. Just last month a 2-year-old in Kentucky died from exposure to fentanyl; therefore, I support a permanent solution of scheduling fentanyl analogues. Last week, some of my colleagues--and we had witnesses--tried to argue that a long-term solution for banning fentanyl is a social justice issue. In fact, one witness shared, ``it is being argued that fentanyl class scheduling is suddenly unnecessary because of the low number of prosecutions to date--eight. However, eight mandatory minimum sentences in 3 years, four of them being members of a cartel, proves that prosecutors are not going after low-level users. The witness also argued that this scheduling of fentanyl analogues-- the decrease of new fentanyl analogues coming to this country was 90 percent. If someone is being unjustly prosecuted for fentanyl analogues, then that should be addressed. However, not scheduling fentanyl analogues, when we had a witness testify it drops 90 percent being imported, would be deadly for Americans since fentanyl and its analogues are responsible for thousands of deaths each year.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, sadly, Kerry McDaniel passed away in February at just 65 years of age from COVID-19 complications. Kerry was described as ``can't be replaced,'' ``top-notch in every regard,'' and ``an exemplary model of generosity and selflessness.'' Kerry loved serving his community and did so in various positions throughout the years. For almost three decades, Kerry worked for the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, and most recently, he was the Hart County Emergency Management Director and Solid Waste Coordinator. As a frontline responder, he worked hard to obtain personal protective equipment and protect Hart County from COVID-19. Throughout the county, Kerry was known for his service and generosity to others. Kerry is survived by his dear wife, Vicki; his son, Curtis; his daughter-in-law, Tara; his grandson, Briar Allen, and many other family members he loved so dearly. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have known Kerry; he was an exemplary citizen. Kerry was a great friend, and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brad Richardson for his 10 years of service as the President and CEO of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce. Since 2011, he has worked in his leadership role to promote economic development, advance businesses, and grow the local economy in Hardin County. Brad played a fundamental role in establishing the Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA), and in 2017, he was given the Ft. Knox Gold Neighbor Award for his work in bringing together Fort Knox and nearby communities. He also invested in the next generation of local talent through the Youth Leadership Hardin County and Leadership Hardin County programs. I want to thank Brad for his work in the Hardin County community.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today due to my strong concerns with the Democrats' COVID-19 bill. With a very small percentage of this massive package specifically directed at combating COVID-19, the $1.9 trillion COVID bill is more of a Democratic wish list. I have tried to add relief for healthcare providers, with funds specifically for rural and Medicaid providers, but Democrats voted this down. It is amazing how it is okay to have the Silicon Valley subway, the Seaway bridge in New York, and a bailout of multiemployer pension plans from problems prior to COVID-19, but my amendment to help healthcare providers was not included. I was proud to support the last five COVID-19 relief packages to help Kentuckians. I think we can all agree that we need to boost vaccine distribution, safely return all students back to in-person learning, and help people return to work. Much of the funds in this partisan bill will not be used until next year or later. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, this week, we had a hero lie in honor in the dome of the United States Capitol. United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick gave his life to protect the U.S. Capitol, one of our greatest symbols of democracy. I had the opportunity to pay my respects to Officer Sicknick in the Capitol rotunda, which is safe and secure because of his sacrifice and also the bravery of his fellow Capitol Police officers and other law enforcement. I am devastated by the loss of Officer Sicknick, and I want to provide my deepest condolences to Officer Sicknick's family and fellow officers. I want each and every Capitol Police officer to know that I am grateful and appreciative of their work here that they do each and every day to protect democracy and all who work here, and they protect all of our constituents who visit.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding. All of us just still are speechless about what happened last Wednesday. It is just amazing that it happened here, and I condemn it in the utmost words as a violent act against the Capitol Building. We must find those who did it, and we must prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Every time I travel to Washington, the first thing I look for, as I did today, is if I could see it from my airplane window or if I could see it driving across the Potomac, the dome. I always feel pride that the people of the Second District of Kentucky, Mr. Speaker, allow me to serve under the dome. When I got here today, it is still here. It is still standing. It is still the beacon throughout the world. It is bruised, but it is there. It is something that we all hold dear. The protection of this building, that dome, this building, the office buildings but, most importantly, the people who work here, not those of us who are just elected to be here but those of us who work here and in service, I have faces I have talked to tonight on the floor that--I was not on the floor when it happened, but I knew the faces of the people who were, not just my colleagues, but those standing at the doors here tonight, Mr. Speaker, who have been through so much. We can't let this happen again. If we defeat the PQ, the amendment my friend from Oklahoma has is a bipartisan commission to examine the circumstances and the attack, as well as its aftermath. It will be modeled after 9/11 Commission to reduce duplication and increase communication and info-sharing between relevant government entities and law enforcement. The goal is to investigate, find the facts, and deliver reports so this can never happen again, and so we can better protect the Capitol complex and, most importantly, the employees that work here, serving our great country. We will protect them moving forward. We all want answers, and this is the most prudent step at this time. We will follow wherever the facts lead us and take appropriate actions in response. I urge the defeat of the PQ and the adoption of the amendment.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 250.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of my bill (H.R. 5758), the Ceiling Fan Improvement Act. In January 2017, the Department of Energy finalized energy conservation standards for ceiling fans that, unfortunately, did not account for the different airflow dynamics of large ceiling fans. Under the current regulations, some of the most efficient large- diameter fans would have to be taken off the market in the U.S. The Ceiling Fan Improvement Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that will ensure large-diameter fans are properly regulated. Technical innovation and new products will be key to improving energy efficiency and protecting our environment for generations to come, and the Ceiling Fan Improvement Act seeks to ensure that high-performing, large- diameter ceiling fans can remain on the market and help achieve real energy savings. I thank Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for working with me on this bill. I appreciate all the efforts she made to work with me and work together. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, while on the floor, I want to make some comments about some of our colleagues who are leaving. Mr. Speaker, first, we are hallway roommates in the Rayburn Office Building. I will miss seeing you. Congratulations on where you are going. You are retiring. It has been a pleasure. Your staff is fantastic. Every time I walk by and pop my head in and say hello to them, they are always very gracious. So we are going to miss you guys. Elected with me in 2008--Pete Olson was just recognized on the floor; farewell to him--when we first got elected to Congress, we were together in a new Member orientation. We were chatting with each other, and I think he said that he was born in Fort Lewis, Washington. We know he is Texas through and through, but he also had a sojourn in Alabama. We were talking, and I said: I was born in Alabama. And he said: Well, I used to live in Alabama. I said: I was born in Florence, Alabama. Some of you may know Muscle Shoals is where some of the world's greatest music is from. That is where I was from. He said: Well, I lived in Florence for a year. I said: I lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood. He said: I lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood. Did you ever know a Mr. McCugh? I said: He was the kind of dad who was involved in everybody's lives. Yes, he was my Little League coach. He said: He was my Little League coach. I looked at him, and I said: You are little Petey Olson? So Pete Olson and I come together to Congress in 2008 and found out we knew each other when we were kids. His dad worked for Champion, a big paper mill that went on to Houston. I would also like to say that the Houston Oilers now play 1 hour from my home in Nashville. So we are proud to have them. I hope he still cheers for them in Nashville. But what was interesting is we just said he is a year older, and I have never said this on the floor, but I would like to say this now: He is a year older than I, as his birthday is today. We had the same second grade teacher. He said: Did you have Mrs. LeCates? I said: I had Mrs. LeCates. The story about Mrs. LeCates is that from the time summer was out that Pete Olson left and before school commenced that I went into second grade with Mrs. LeCates, something momentous that summer happened in her life. Her son, Second Lieutenant Robert LeCates, was killed in Vietnam. It is really the only name I personally know on the wall when I go. You have heard of people and you have different names you know and you hear stories about, but he is the only person I had a personal connection to. So every time I go to the wall, I have told him that. I said: Every time I go to the wall, I look at Robert LeCates, and I look at his name. It reminds me to this day that there are people who sacrifice their lives for us to be here and for us to do what we are doing, and we need to conduct ourselves worthy of people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for that. So that was our story. But I just want to close with talking about our former chairman and ranking member, Greg Walden, and wish him well in his retirement. He is outstanding to work with, just outstanding to work with. No matter what the subcommittee, he knew the policy, he knew what was going on, and he had his handle on it. But he also let us go out and do our work and then bring issues to him and move forward with him as well, particularly on the SUPPORT Act. That is the opioid epidemic bill, trying to address that. It has been a plague on my State like it has been on so many others. He really gave people freedom to bring the best ideas and put all the best ideas together with both sides. He could always compromise without compromising his values and his principles. He said: If there is a way for both sides to win, let's find a way for both sides to win. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman has yielded me as much time as I may consume. If I consumed everything to say what is good about you and the value you are to this institution, I would be here all afternoon because you have really made an impact on this institution. You have made an impact upon our conference. I think people on both sides of the aisle have said your service here has made a difference, not for Congress, but through your service in Congress and for the country, and I thank you for that. We are going to miss you, and I wish you Godspeed as you move forward.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give my sincere thanks to Lauren Gaydos, who recently ended her four-year tenure with my office. While it is a loss for our staff, I am grateful for her time serving the constituents of my district and wish her all the best in her next chapter. Lauren began her Washington, D.C. career as an intern in the House of Representatives and was quickly promoted to a full-time staff position during her senior year of college at the Catholic University of America. Being a dedicated public servant, she continued her Capitol Hill career by working for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. In 2016, she began working in my office as the communications director. Lauren has been devoted to the Second District of Kentucky since her first day, and, her commitment to serving Kentuckians will be missed.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. I appreciate working with the chairman and with everyone involved in this piece of legislation. I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 5668, the MODERN Labeling Act of 2020. This important bill will ensure that certain drug labels are updated and accurate, which will result in better care for many Americans who are suffering. This bill grants FDA the authority to work with generic drug companies to update their product label when there are strong, scientific bases for another indication or use of the drug. Innovation in America is constantly evolving, and we must ensure drug labels are updated and not frozen in time just because the brand-name drug is off the market and preventing the generic drug from updating its label. I would like to thank Representative Matsui, Chairman Pallone, and the majority and minority Energy and Commerce Committee staff who worked with me to make this legislation possible. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 6624, the USA Telecommunications Act. It is clear that China poses a significant threat to the security of the United States. Technology produced by Chinese companies threatens our supply chains and our telecommunications networks and those of our allies. In March, President Trump signed into law legislation that was reported out of this committee to protect our communications networks against threats from foreign companies like Huawei and ZTE. It is clear that America must have a competitive 5G marketplace. The solution isn't using government control like China, but using markets to our advantage so domestic and trusted foreign competitors to Huawei can thrive. The USA Telecommunications Act would authorize up to $750 million for a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, in consultation with the FCC and other Federal agencies, to promote and accelerate the deployment and use of open-interfaced, standards-based, and interoperable 5G networks throughout the United States. Furthermore, 5G is going to be key to unlocking new opportunities for all Americans. With more people working and studying from home than ever before, promoting equipment and technology development like Open RAN technology can help to diversify our supply chains and keep our networks secure, especially as we expand 5G. I was proud to introduce this piece of legislation with Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Walden, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, and I thank them for working with me to help protect our networks. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Gerald Allen ``Gerry'' Lynn of Brandenburg, Kentucky. Gerry passed away on September 6, 2020, and I will miss him deeply. Gerry was a passionate servant of his community. He always tried to bring people together. I first met him when he served in the Kentucky State House of Representatives. He then went on to serve as the Meade County Judge Executive, a role in which he worked tirelessly to better Meade County and the region. I always enjoyed spending time with him because he was interested in everything--and he could do anything. Whether it was paragliding, wiring his own home, or working hard to help Meade County, he accomplished anything he put his mind to. In addition to serving his community, Gerry also served our Nation in the Army. Of all of Gerry's accomplishments, he was proudest of his family. My prayers are with his wife Nancye, his children, and his grandchildren. Gerry was an honorable man and a pillar in our community who will be missed by all.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8128, the AI for Consumer Product Safety Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Representatives McNerney and Burgess. Emerging technologies can be a useful tool to help prevent fraud and to protect consumers. This bipartisan package of bills will help us learn more about AI technology to better protect Americans. I want to thank Representatives McNerney and Burgess for including my legislation, the Blockchain Innovation Act, which I introduced with Representative Soto and Representative Matsui. This legislation will help us harness blockchain technology for the betterment of our consumers and our economy. I urge my colleagues to support the AI for Consumer Product Safety Act.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8132, the American COMPETE Act. This bipartisan package includes two of my bills, the Advancing Blockchain Act, which would continue our important work in blockchain, and the Countering Online Harms Act, to protect Americans from misinformation and dangerous content. Along with my legislation, the COMPETE Act includes several bipartisan bills from my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues, all aimed at maintaining American dominance in emerging technology. The United States has always been a leader in technology, and we need to keep it that way. I thank Representative McMorris Rodgers and Representative Rush for their leadership on this important issue. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan package.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, l rise today to recognize the service of Robert S. Crouch of Willisburg, Kentucky. Following the attacks on our nation in Pearl Harbor, Bob answered the call to serve and arrived at his local recruiting depot on December 8, 1941, with the intention of signing up for the U.S. Army, though he saw the Marines in their dress blue uniforms and decided to sign up for the Marines instead. Bob was eventually deployed to the Pacific theatre. He earned a Purple Heart for his valiant efforts in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, Campaign Ribbons, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunner Sergeant in 1984. In addition to his service in the Marines, Bob has served as a volunteer firefighter and serves as a deacon at his church. I want to thank Bob for his service to our great Nation.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding. I am here tonight to honor Mr. Shimkus. I call him Mr. Shimkus because that is how a junior West Point cadet refers to a senior West Point cadet. One of the most insulting things I get here in Washington, people ask me often: ``Were you at West Point with John Shimkus?'' I always say: ``Do I look like I could have been at West Point when John Shimkus was there?'' We are not that far apart, the Class of '80 and the Class '87. But he is passionate about his country. I serve on the NATO committee with him. I am going to tell one quick story. It is really more about passion for his family. One year, we were visiting our allies. We were visiting in Holland, and John went on a mission to find some kind of horn. I forget the name of the horn, but it is a Dutch horn. He went to a village. He went to somebody's home. This thing wasn't easy to find, but he said: I have to find it because my wife wants it. My wife always wants a unique musical instrument from some country that I visit. It wasn't like, ``I have to get this for my wife.'' He was passionate about getting it. This thing was as big as half of this table, and he had to carry it back. When he started telling people why he was doing it, you could just see the passion in his face. He goes: My wife--who is here with us tonight--my wife, she teaches music, and when she teaches this kind of music, this history, she gets these instruments out that I collect. She goes through them, and she teaches the history of the country where this music is from. So it is combined. You could see John's passion for history, his wife's passion for music, and his passion for his family. Then, finally, he may not remember this, but I was standing with him one of the preopening nights of the Bible Museum, and I remember being with him when he saw Martin Luther's Bible that is there. He just looked at it. I could see him just speechless because of, the great Lutheran that he is, his love of the Word of God and the love of his God. It shows a common theme tonight. John is passionate about his country, through West Point and his service to the Army and the NATO committee, and passionate about his family. It is just unmistakable. It is just there. It is in his face. His face shows everything he is thinking. When he talks about his wife, you can certainly see it. When I was standing there with him, he was passionate about his God. Duty, honor, country is learned at West Point, but country, family, and God, that is so important. Thank you, John, for your service. We are going to miss you.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of T. Jack Eversole, founder of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) in my district. Jack passed away peacefully last month, and he will be sorely missed. A World War II Marine Corps veteran who served in the South Pacific, Jack graduated from the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University and was passionate about serving his community. Before founding BRADD, Jack worked in journalism and communications in Glasgow and Bowling Green, was on the Bowling Green-Warren County Planning Commission, and served as a Warren County Magistrate. He established BRADD in 1968 and led the organization for 32 years, growing it from a three-person team with a $50,000 budget to a thriving agency with a budget of $7.6 million when he retired in 2000. Jack was innovative, and he always wanted to help solve problems. He directed many projects that have been instrumental to the Commonwealth and to the region. His hard work continues to benefit Kentuckians, and I am grateful for all that he did during his time with BRADD and serving our country. I join the entire south-central Kentucky community in mourning the loss of Jack Eversole who was a faithful servant to our state and country. My prayers are with his family and friends as he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4866, the National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Act, a bill I introduced with my colleague, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone. In 2016, I was proud to work with my fellow committee members on the 21st Century Cures Act, which included legislation to issue grants for institutions of higher education to study the process of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. H.R. 4866, which we are considering today, builds on this partnership established in the Cures Act. Continuous manufacturing for pharmaceuticals is a new technology that allows for drugs to be produced in a continuous stream, helping drugs get into the market faster. This is something that has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to ensure that our drug supply chain does not depend too heavily on other countries, such as China. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4866.