Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support this bill, the legacy of Carol Barr, which will go to the President once it is adopted today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5502) to require online marketplaces to verify certain information regarding high-volume third party sellers of consumer products on such online marketplaces and to disclose to consumers certain contact and other information regarding such high-volume third party sellers, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. 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 on H.R. 5502.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. 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 on H.R. 3630.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3630) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items under the Medicare program, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge passage of this bill, another bipartisan bill where we all worked together from the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3630, the Lymphedema Treatment Act. This bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Schakowsky will help Medicare beneficiaries suffering from lymphedema access needed compression garments. Lymphedema is a condition caused by a chronic failure of the lymphatic system that results in the accumulation of lymph fluid and swelling in various parts of the body. Lymphedema can sometimes be a congenital condition but is more often a secondary complication of common health issues like burns or cancer. Altogether, an estimated 3 to 5 million Americans are affected by this chronic condition, and if left untreated, individuals have a higher risk of hospitalization, disability, and even death. While there is no known cure for lymphedema, it can be effectively treated and managed. Compression therapy is a critical component of treatment. While Medicare covers some lymphedema treatments like compression pumps, Medicare does not cover the compression garments needed for ongoing lymphedema management because it lacks the legislative authority to cover these items. The Lymphedema Treatment Act will close the unintended gap in coverage that prevents Medicare beneficiaries from accessing medically necessary, prescribed compression garments. I thank Representative Schakowsky for her longtime advocacy on this issue and the more than 350 bipartisan Members who signed on in support of this legislation. This bill passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee in July by a unanimous vote, and it will help ensure that patients with lymphedema have access to the full range of treatment they need. Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the sponsor of this legislation and the chairwoman of the subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4275) to provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4275, the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022. Congress has long recognized the critical importance of ensuring that everyone in this country can access basic communication tools. Indeed, this body wisely included as a cornerstone of the Communications Act the directive that rapid, efficient, and nationwide communications service must be available to ``all people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.'' The Communications Act also said that all Americans must have access to adequate facilities and reasonable charges. There are two programs, the Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program, that play a critical role in helping us advance these long- held, universal service goals. They move us closer to closing the digital divide by allowing millions of American families across the country to fit high-speed broadband internet access into their budgets. Both programs are effectively targeted to families that need the help most, including those who are eligible for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, and the Veterans and Survivors Pension benefit. As we all know too well, a broadband connection is necessary to participate in our modern economy and society. Families without broadband are left without equal educational, career, healthcare, and economic opportunities compared to those with this essential service. Continuing to strengthen these programs and make them more efficient and accessible not only benefits those who sign up but all Americans. That is why I support this bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Luria and Katko. It provides us with more transparency into these programs and can help us better identify opportunities to maximize their support. I commend Ranking Member Rodgers and Representative Latta for working with me to advance this legislation on a bipartisan basis. It advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in July by a vote of 48-0. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to likewise support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. 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 on H.R. 4275.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5441) to amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. 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 on H.R. 5441.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), the chair of the Animal Protection Caucus.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 5441, the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2021. This important bill will protect horses from cruel and inhumane practices. It is necessary because today there are gaps in our animal welfare laws that have left these innocent animals vulnerable to abuse. Despite a national ban, the abusive and barbaric practice of soring continues. Soring is a process of applying an irritating or blistering agent to the limb of a horse to accentuate the horse's gait, which may cause a horse to move with exaggerated high steps. In the 1950s and 1960s, some exhibitors used soring to improve the performance of show horses. To end this abuse, Congress passed the Horse Protection Act in 1970 to prohibit soring at horse shows, horse sales, and other horse exhibitions. Unfortunately, despite this prohibition, soring continues today. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General found that the USDA's program for inspecting horses for soring does not adequately prevent abuse. According to the Inspector General, the program faces significant limitations. There are inadequate inspections and enforcement as the USDA relies on industry inspectors with inherent conflicts of interest. The Inspector General also found that there is insufficient information sharing and distribution, which has made it more difficult to punish violators and enforce suspensions. The PAST Act will help end this intolerable abuse of horses by strengthening the protections and penalties for soring. This legislation requires the USDA to prescribe regulations for the licensing, training, assignment, and oversight of people responsible for detecting and diagnosing a sore horse. It also increases penalties to imprisonment up to 3 years and fines up to $5,000 per violation. The legislation mandates that the USDA publish on a website information on violations to improve the enforcement of suspensions. I thank Representative Cohen for his leadership on this legislation, which passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce with strong bipartisan support in September. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill to help us bring an end to this cruel treatment of horses, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), the sponsor of this legislation.

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge support on a bipartisan basis for this important bill to protect horses, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6290) to provide for the establishment of a section of the website of the Department of Commerce that shall serve as the primary hub for information relating to Federal manufacturing programs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. 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 on H.R. 6290.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 6290, the Manufacturing.gov Act. America's competitiveness helped build the largest, most dynamic economy in the world. But America's competitiveness is facing unprecedented challenges. Once the envy of the world, our manufacturing base has faced steady headwinds for decades now. Between 2002 and 2020, our Nation's share of global manufacturing activity declined from 28 percent to just over 17 percent. Five million manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2000. Investment in America's small and medium manufacturers, the bedrock of our industrial might, has also declined over the last 20 years by over $200 billion. To support economic growth and opportunity, we must ensure that the United States has a vibrant, thriving industrial base. It must be capable of developing the technologies and manufacturing the products essential for economic development and prosperity in the 21st century. Fortunately, there are dozens of programs across the Federal Government that provide support for American manufacturing, but today, there is no centralized repository of information about these programs. Manufacturing programs cannot have their intended effect if not used, and programs cannot be used if potential beneficiaries are not aware that they exist. The Manufacturing.gov Act requires the Department of Commerce to ensure that the Manufacturing.gov website serves as the primary hub for information relating to Federal manufacturing programs. This critical web page will arm beneficiaries with the information they need to tap into these vital manufacturing programs. The Manufacturing.gov Act was unanimously reported out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce by a vote of 54-0 in July. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), the sponsor of this bill and chair of our Subcommittee on the Environment and Climate Change.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this on a bipartisan basis. It is certainly a goal of this Congress to bring back manufacturing and do whatever we can to encourage domestic manufacturing. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.