Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I believe the gentlewoman has some additional speakers. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Again, I would say we can see this is a very important piece of legislation dealing with autism spectrum disorder, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8089, the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, sponsored by Representatives Mike Garcia and Peters. H.R. 8089 would clarify that State Medicaid agencies must check that a healthcare provider has not passed away as part of a provider's enrollment and revalidation of enrollment in the Medicaid program. States must perform this check using the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. This is the same system that H.R. 8084, the LIVE Beneficiaries Act, would require States to use in order to ensure deceased Medicaid enrollees do not remain enrolled in the program. We will also be discussing that bill today. Ensuring that States check this file helps to identify and prevent waste and, in the case of providers, fraudulent activity of individuals who may attempt to use the identity of a deceased healthcare provider. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill. It is obviously very important to prevent any kind of fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8084, the LIVE Beneficiaries Act, sponsored by Representatives Craig and Bilirakis. This bipartisan bill would require State Medicaid agencies to use the database managed by the Social Security Administration to identify people who have passed away yet remain enrolled in the Medicaid program. In recent years, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General has identified payments made by States to Medicaid-managed care plans for people who had already passed away. H.R. 8084 would help to prevent this wasteful spending by requiring States to check the Social Security Administration's Death Master File on a quarterly basis at a minimum and to disenroll anyone who is deceased before any additional payments can be made inadvertently on their behalf. Importantly, though, H.R. 8084 includes protections to ensure that in the rare circumstance an individual is falsely identified as deceased, the State must reinstate the person's coverage retroactive to the date that the person was improperly disenrolled. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting ``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, again, this is a bill that addresses wasteful spending, and I think it is important for us to make sure we support it on a bipartisan basis. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6160, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program led by Representatives Molinaro and Cardenas. There are more than 53 million family caregivers in the United States. For many, caregiving is a 24/7 job. While it can be very rewarding, it can also be emotionally and physically challenging. Respite care, the opportunity to temporarily entrust the care of loved ones to someone else, is one of the most frequently reported unmet needs of caregivers. Respite care can be provided in a variety of settings, including the home, adult daycare centers, or residential care facilities. By providing temporary relief for caregivers, respite care helps to reduce the mental stress and physical health issues that caregivers might experience. In doing so, respite care also decreases the need for professional long-term care and allows people who require care to remain at home. This bill reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program operated by the Administration for Community Living. This program empowers State systems to provide accessible community-based respite care services which can contribute to the health and well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. This important program provides much-needed relief to caregivers and helps to improve the availability of respite services to families across the age and disability spectrums. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6160, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that respite care is obviously very important, and this bill goes a long way toward dealing with that. I would ask all my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4351, the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act. Each year, there are over 2 million cases of people being exposed to poison in the United States. There are many substances implicated in poison exposures, from pain medications to cleaning substances to cosmetics and personal care products. The incidence of poison exposure is highest in children under the age of 6, but poisoning affects all age groups, from infants to seniors. This is why Congress funds poison control centers to serve all 50 States and U.S. territories, as well as the National Poison Help Line that connects callers with the poison control center serving their area. These centers help with poison emergencies and provide information to prevent poisonings. They serve as critical lifelines that provide all Americans with expert advice 24/7, 365 days a year, at no cost. Over 70 percent of callers to poison control centers get the help they need over the phone and do not need to go to a hospital. Even healthcare professionals utilize poison control centers in emergencies. The Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act will reauthorize poison control programs, including the National Poison Hotline, programs to raise awareness of poison control centers, and direct funding for those centers. These important programs are essential to getting people the help they need in poison emergencies. I thank Representatives Chavez-DeRemer, Davis, Joyce, and Cherfilus- McCormick for their work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 4351, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, obviously, it is important for us to reauthorize these poison control programs and the centers. I urge my colleagues to support this on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 7406, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, sponsored by Chair Rodgers and Representatives DeGette, Cole, Holmes Norton, and others. This bill would reauthorize for 5 years funding for the INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE. It is known as the INCLUDE Project at the National Institutes of Health. This bill is named in honor of DeOndra Dixon, a lifelong advocate for the Down syndrome community. DeOndra was born with Down syndrome and was a tireless advocate for those with the disease. She was an awardee of the 2009 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award and a 2011 ambassador for the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. Sadly, DeOndra passed away in October 2020, but her memory lives on with her loved ones and the many people who she helped throughout her years of advocacy. H.R. 7406 honors her legacy by continuing to support and fund Down syndrome research through the NIH. Since its launch in 2018, the INCLUDE Project at NIH has been a key mechanism to fund Down syndrome research. In my district, Rutgers University received funding from the INCLUDE Project to study the predisposition people with Down syndrome have for Alzheimer's disease. Studies like these help the scientific community better understand the disease and ensure those diagnosed with Down syndrome can live life to their fullest potential. This legislation would reauthorize funding for the program for 5 years and ensure that we continue to make progress in Down syndrome research. I thank Chair Rodgers for her leadership on this issue. She has been a champion for people living with disabilities, and her advocacy for the INCLUDE program demonstrates that ongoing commitment. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to reauthorize this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is such an important bill that does research on not only Down syndrome but other conditions, and I urge my colleagues to support it on a bipartisan basis. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6033, the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, or SPEAK Act, sponsored by Representatives Steel and Gomez and cosponsored by Representative Cardenas. H.R. 6033 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to improve access to healthcare for individuals with limited English proficiency. Specifically, the bill requires the HHS Secretary to consult with healthcare entities such as providers, health insurers, and consumer advocacy groups to identify best practices for improving access to telehealth services for patients with limited English proficiency. The expansion of telehealth flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency and subsequently in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has allowed millions of patients to receive access to necessary care. Since then, further expansion of telehealth services has helped provide critical services to hard-to-reach populations and helped beneficiaries in areas that are already underserved. However, individuals and families with limited English proficiency can face significant barriers to accessing telehealth services and other healthcare information technology. H.R. 6033 will help identify and address barriers to accessing virtual health services for millions of patients with limited English proficiency. This bill is supported by the National Immigration Law Center, the American Medical Association, America's Essential Hospitals, Justice in Aging, the National Health Law Program, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among many others. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would urge support for this bipartisan bill because it is so important for improving access for telehealth services for persons with limited English proficiency, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of S. 265, the Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Reauthorization Act, or the SIREN Reauthorization Act. First created in 2018, the SIREN Act created a grant program for public and nonprofit emergency medical services, agencies, and fire departments in rural areas to support the recruitment, retention, education, and equipping of EMS personnel. Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, this grant program has become a key partner to rural communities to ensure their EMS systems have funding for the most basic of operations. These grants go beyond brick-and-mortar assistance by helping rural EMS agencies better train and recruit staff, acquire new equipment, and develop new ways to educate EMS personnel. These grants have provided critical funding to assist acquiring medication, medical supplies, increasing basic and advanced life support, and even replacing older response vehicles with newer or safer models. In communities where the nearest hospital or trauma center is several towns away, the small-town or frontier EMS workers are often the lifeline for patients in critical and vulnerable States. It is imperative that they have the Federal support they need to carry out this very important mission without interruption. I thank Representatives Dingell and Joyce for their leadership in the House and their companion legislation, H.R. 4646, which passed the House in May. I also thank Chair Rodgers and subcommittee Chair Guthrie for their collaboration to ensure this program continues to receive the bipartisan support that it so well deserves. Mr. Speaker, I urge that we support this bill to help rural EMS services. It is so important in rural areas, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, now, we are dealing with another important telehealth bill for mental health services, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill, as well, on both sides of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7858, the Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act. This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a modifier on claims submitted to Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth. This modifier will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify when mental health services are being provided virtually by different types of providers and will help ensure beneficiaries receiving mental health support remotely can access care when they need it. We know that mental health care is healthcare. In the face of an ongoing mental health and substance use disorder epidemic, it is critical that Medicare beneficiaries are able to access behavioral and mental health services virtually. This bill will ensure Medicare beneficiaries enjoy continued access to high-quality telemental health services from a range of qualified providers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 7858, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1648, the Launch Communications Act. Over the last decade, we have seen the costs for exploring space drop dramatically. As a result, space launches in this country have increased dramatically. In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized eight launches. By 2023, just a decade later, the number was 117, and the number of space launches is only expected to increase in the years to come. Indeed, the FAA has already authorized over 100 launches this year. To ensure our Nation as a global leader in space and other cutting- edge technologies, we must continue to foster this growth, which, in turn, will enhance our national security capabilities. Transporting satellites to space cannot happen without launch entities having reliable access to electromagnetic spectrum. While the FCC has made impressive strides in the last year to allocate more spectrum for space launches, additional spectrum resources are needed. Congress must build on the FCC's efforts by making more spectrum available for commercial space launches as well as the space reentries. This bill would help solve this challenge. Specifically, the Launch Communications Act directs the FCC to complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt rules so that commercial space launches and reentries have access to the spectrum bands identified in the bill. The bill also requires the FCC to streamline its process for licensing spectrum to commercial space launch providers. Taken together, these efforts will better support providers as they communicate with their space vehicles during flight and upon reentry. While this bill and its House companion are nearly identical, I will note that the differences between the two should not have a significant impact on the effect of the bill. For instance, the House bill included a savings clause to specify that nothing in the bill would change the current special temporary authority for launch spectrum. While the version we are debating today does not have the savings clause, nothing in this bill should impact the ability of the FCC to provide access to launch spectrum using its special temporary authority. I commend Representatives Soto and Dunn for their bipartisan work on the House version of the bill. S. 1648 will help secure America's leadership in the commercial space industry by strengthening our Nation's position as a prime destination for launching satellites into space. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill that basically provides commercial space launches access to spectrum and does other things to promote space launches and reentries. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1513, the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act, or FUTURE Networks Act. This bipartisan bill, sponsored by Representative Matsui, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, is an important step to protect Americans and our communications networks from threats posed by rapidly evolving next-generation technologies. It also ensures that the standards used to build technological advancements are designed from the start to be safe and secure. H.R. 1513 establishes a task force at the Federal Communications Commission to study sixth-generation, or 6G, technologies to identify potential supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The task force will include government, public interest advocates, academics, and industry. The United States leads the world in the innovation of secure and resilient next-generation technologies, a position congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration have fought to sustain. Last year, the Biden-Harris administration released the National Cybersecurity Strategy to tackle cybersecurity threats and created a safer and more secure digital ecosystem. The FCC also developed the Cyber Trust Mark program to make trustworthy products easily identifiable to consumers. The FUTURE Networks Act is yet another important step to support America's leadership in a secure and reliable future. By directing the FCC to engage in the exploration of 6G technology in the early stages of its development, this bill would enable American values to be embedded within the global framework for this technology and to ensure it will be available to all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I thank Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Matsui and Representative Walberg for their bipartisan work on this bill, which passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1513, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), the sponsor of the bill.