Brett Guthrie

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019. The Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019 includes legislation that I worked on, the EMPOWER Care Act, which will extend the vital Money Follows the Person program. The Money Follows the Person program allows certain Medicaid beneficiaries, such as the elderly or individuals with disabilities, to transition from healthcare facilities to receiving care in their own homes or communities, if they choose to do so. This program empowers patients to choose the care that makes the most sense for them while saving taxpayers money. Kentucky Transitions, which operates the Money Follows the Person in my home State, has helped hundreds of Kentuckians transition to receiving care in their homes or their communities. I thank Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for working so hard on this legislation and working together on this bipartisan piece of legislation. I thank the chairman's kind words as he was talking about this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019, which includes legislation to update the over-the-counter monograph system. Our healthcare system is innovating rapidly, and the Food and Drug Administration can't keep up. The FDA's approval system for over-the- counter medications has not been updated since the 1970s. By updating the monograph approval system, we make it easier for over-the-counter medicines to reach the market, providing an affordable way for Americans to access healthcare treatment. I was proud to work on over-the-counter monograph reform last Congress with a number of my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, with the efforts being led by Congressman Bob Latta, and it was bipartisan. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill on the floor today.

Mr. GUTHRIE

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, before us today is a bill to define the term ``natural cheese.'' The House sponsor is our Speaker from Wisconsin, obviously, from the cheese State and the dairy State. What we are debating is S. 2322, the CURD Act. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 2322, the CURD Act, which would define the term ``natural cheese'' within the Federal statute and, with passage, head to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2322) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term natural cheese.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 767) to establish the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training pilot program to address human trafficking in the health care system.

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 enjoyed working with my colleague from New Mexico in moving this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 767, the SOAR Act, will head to the President's desk after passage today. It is critical in ensuring adequate treatment of victims of human trafficking. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act. It has been great to work with my good friend from New York (Mr. Tonko). We came here together as classmates in the 2008 election. We worked together because we wanted to create a public health infrastructure to help those with Alzheimer's and other dementias receive the care they so desperately need. Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias, making it the most costly disease in America. In the Second District, I have met countless Kentuckians who have been affected by this disease in some way. I, too, have shared similar experiences with a great-uncle, when I was a child, having early onset Alzheimer's and seeing my family having to try to understand and deal with it. When I was a child, it wasn't understood as well as it is even now. I watched my wife's grandfather go through it and saw my mother-in- law being the primary caretaker and saw how it consumes the family. So what it does to the person with the disease, what it does to the family caring for the disease is of utmost importance in trying to move towards a cure. But, also, it is fiscally responsible what we are doing today because, by 2050, it is estimated it will cost the Federal Government over $1 trillion if we do not have some advances in caring for and delaying this onset. I used to say that is for my children and my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, but, actually, in 30 years, I will be in my eighties, so it will be affecting my children. So we need to move forward, and it is fiscally responsible to do so. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act would direct the CDC to establish a network to support the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's disease. In doing so, we hope to take care of those who have Alzheimer's and other dementias now and, hopefully, find a cure for these debilitating diseases in the near future. This important bill has passed the Senate. I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I look forward to seeing the President sign this bill into law. Before I close, I do want to thank all the staff for their hard work. This legislation wouldn't be done without them. Sophie Trainor in my office has worked tirelessly on this and other bills at the end of this session, and I appreciate her assistance and help.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the EMPOWER Care Act, which is included in H.R. 7217. It will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries can receive the best long-term care possible in their communities or in their own homes. The EMPOWER Care Act will extend the Medicaid Money Follows the Person program, which allows certain Medicaid beneficiaries, such as the elderly or individuals with disabilities, to transition from a healthcare facility to receiving care in their own homes. It does not force patients to leave a facility if they don't want to. My home State of Kentucky is currently working to transition 50 individuals from healthcare facilities back into their own communities, empowering these individuals who have chosen to receive care in their community. I thank my friend, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, for working with me on this bipartisan bill. I look forward to working with her to make the Money Follows the Person program permanent in the future.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Helena Chase Birdwell of Barren County, Kentucky, who is moving on from my congressional office after almost seven years serving Kentucky's Second District. Helena has spent her entire career serving others. After graduating from Glasgow High School and Eastern Kentucky University, she worked for the Barren River Area Development District, where she helped people find training and work opportunities. In 2012, she joined my office as a Constituent Services Representative. In this role, she has helped countless Second District residents navigate the bureaucracy of the federal government. Whether it's someone who needs a last-minute passport or someone trying to get Social Security benefits, Helena will make it happen. She will be missed not only by the many people she has helped, but also by the people at the federal agencies who love to work with her. I want to congratulate Helena as she embarks on her new role as Barren County Clerk. I wish her the best of luck in this new endeavor.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. One of the main things I hear back home is how our Nation's ongoing opioid crisis has affected either themselves, their loved ones, or their community. Mothers, fathers, children, bankers, dentists, bus drivers, or high school athletes, anyone can fall victim to opioid use disorder. That is why I am proud to work with my colleagues in support of the act so that we can help these people who are suffering from this terrible epidemic. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation so that we can deliver relief to those communities.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent Jill Tanner, an ovarian cancer survivor from Owensboro, Kentucky. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer accounts for 2.5 percent of cancers in women, and sadly, the American Cancer Society estimates that this year, about 22,240 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States. Jill has taken her experience fighting ovarian cancer and has become a fierce advocate for funding and research to fight this disease. I have met with Jill on a number of occasions to discuss what more Congress can do to help those with ovarian cancer, and I want to thank her for her advocacy.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3354) to amend the Missing Children's Assistance Act, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the chairman not on just this but his entire chairmanship, for getting big things done. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak on the underlying bill, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act. Currently, healthcare providers are licensed by their State. If a healthcare provider travels with a team-- professional, college, high school--out of State to take care of the players that they are responsible for, they could be practicing out of the scope of their license since they are out of State. For example, this April, when our Kentucky Wildcats go to Minneapolis for the Final Four, the physicians and healthcare people who travel with them need to be practicing within their licenses. It is clearly within the Commerce Clause for us to clarify this. It is important to do. I encourage the passage of this bill, this provision, and the overall bill.

Mr. GUTHRIE

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment, but I do not intend to oppose it.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here. We all support veterans. Under this bill, every veteran receives the same enhanced counseling provided to all borrowers. Looking at the study and before we determine the right elements of a new study to ensure we are providing the best service, we should pause and, I suggest, work with our Veterans' Affairs Committee to make sure we address the totality of the issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge the underlying bill's support. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit and support the final bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Chair, this proposal will make sure students are warned about third-party debt relief companies that prey on borrowers. They frequently provide inaccurate or misleading information and often charge excessive fees for services that can be received without cost through federally contracted student loan servicers. As my friend said, Federal student loan servicers employ dedicated professionals equipped to help borrowers navigate the loan repayment process and provide the assistance they need free of charge. This amendment will ensure borrowers are armed with the information they need to better protect their finances and help make wise decisions as they begin to repay their Federal student loans. I thank my friend from Washington for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it and the underlying bill. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Chair, I rise to claim the time in opposition to this amendment, but I do not intend to oppose it.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will help students see an estimated monthly student loan payment broken down by all income-driven repayment plans for which the student is eligible. I support this amendment because students need to see the full range of possibilities available to them so they can make informed choices about what they borrow and how they will repay the funds. I thank my colleague for offering the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it and the underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1635.

Mr. GUTHRIE

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