Frank Pallone

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. 3743, the Supporting the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration Act. The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA is an independent nonprofit organization established by Congress in 2007 to advance the mission of the FDA to modernize medical product development, accelerate innovation, and enhance safety. Likewise, the Foundation for the NIH is an independent nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1990 to develop private-public partnerships that advance biomedical research, domestically and globally. Both organizations work to advance the missions of the NIH and the FDA and have played important roles in our Nation's fight against COVID-19. For example, the Foundation for the NIH has worked to coordinate the ACTIV program that is strategizing our research and prioritizing and speeding development of the most promising COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. Likewise, the Reagan-Udall Foundation's COVID- 19 Diagnostics Evidence Accelerator has brought stakeholders together to collect and evaluate real-world data in a way that is scientifically useful and meets the FDA standards so we can understand the efficacy of COVID-19 diagnostics in the real world. Mr. Speaker, the FDA and the NIH are currently authorized to transfer funding to their respective foundations within a statutory limit that has not been increased since 2007. H.R. 3743 would increase the transfer authority for both foundations from up to $1.25 million to up to $5 million. This legislation will allow the agencies to increase their support consistent with the increasing costs of medical product research and development. This bipartisan bill received unanimous support in the Energy and Commerce Committee. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representative Hudson and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Eshoo, for their outstanding leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3743, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no Members who wish to speak at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for 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. 3894) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue and disseminate guidance to States to clarify strategies to address social determinants of health under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, 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. 3894.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, environmental factors can have a tremendous effect on an individual's health. Where a person lives, their level of education, their food security, and many other aspects of a person's life, can affect their health and well-being. These are often called the social determinants of health. Healthcare providers and insurance plans are looking more and more at addressing some of these social determinants in order to improve individual health. State Medicaid programs have been especially engaged on this front. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult for States and insurance plans to understand the various authorities available in Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. Likewise, it can also be difficult to see how other States are using those authorities in creative new ways. H.R. 3894, the Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act, will give States a valuable new resource to ensure that they are able to use Medicaid to the fullest extent possible. H.R. 3894 will ensure that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regularly updates its guidance to States on how they can use Medicaid to address the social determinants of health. It will also require CMS to provide examples of how other States are using Medicaid to address the social and environmental factors that can affect people's health. I want to thank Representatives Blunt Rochester and Burgess for their work on this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no Members who wish to speak, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, 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. 4026) to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report on actions taken by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address social determinants of health.

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. 4026.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, social determinants, or social drivers, of health affect every single person in our communities. They are aspects of our daily living, such as the conditions in the places where we live, learn, work, and play, which can positively or negatively affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. Through our healthcare system, social determinants of health are being examined as part of a holistic view of a person's healthcare. A noted example was highlighted by The New England Journal of Medicine linking the loop that determinants can play throughout a person's life. Poor health or lack of education can impact employment opportunities which, in turn, constrains income. Low incomes reduce access to healthcare and nutritious food and overall increase hardship. Hardship causes stress which, in turn, promotes unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse and poor nutrition choices. And poor nutrition increases risk factors for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. When not given an equal opportunity to thrive, these social factors can compound and snowball to negatively impact a person and their community. Fortunately, States are becoming innovative in addressing social needs in the communities to improve health and decrease costs. Today, we are taking another step in the right direction by considering H.R. 4026, the Social Determinants of Health Data Analysis Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation requires a report on programs undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services to address social determinants of health. The report would include recommendations to foster private-public partnerships and include an analysis of privacy measures as part of social determinants of health data collection. The report and research, Mr. Speaker, will help inform our future work on social determinants, and, therefore, it is important that we pass this bill. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Build Back Better Act. This legislation builds on our efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Americans, including millions unfairly caught in the Medicaid coverage gap. It also makes prescription drugs more affordable by finally giving Medicare the ability to negotiate lower drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies. Seniors will also pay no more than $2,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs for their drugs, and the legislation penalizes Big Pharma companies that unfairly raise prices. The Build Back Better Act also aggressively tackles the worsening climate crisis. The new greenhouse gas reduction fund will accelerate innovation in low- and zero-emission technologies. Rebates for homeowners to electrify and make their houses more efficient will save them money and reduce emissions. The new methane emissions reduction program will drive down pollution from the oil and gas industry. Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot wait any longer to combat the climate crisis. Bold action is needed now. The Build Back Better Act invests in the American people and our future and deserves strong support today.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Build Back Better Act. The Build Back Better Act builds on our efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Americans. It extends premium subsidies that make healthcare more affordable for millions of Americans, and, finally, expands access to uninsured Americans who are unfairly caught in the Medicaid coverage gap. The legislation also provides critical relief at the pharmacy counter by finally giving Medicare the ability to negotiate lower drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies. It also caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors at $2,000 a year, lowers insulin prices for Americans with diabetes to $35 per month; and penalizes Big Pharma companies that unfairly raise prices. It permanently reauthorizes the Children's Health Insurance Program, dedicates long overdue resources to provide maternal healthcare; and provides, for the first time, comprehensive hearing benefits under Medicare part B. The legislation also includes $150 billion in funding for home and community-based care so seniors and people with disabilities can get the care that they need in their homes. The Build Back Better Act also aggressively tackles the climate crisis with historic investments, moving us toward a clean energy economy while also producing millions of good-paying American jobs. The new $29 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will accelerate innovation in low- and zero-emission technologies, while also prioritizing the needs of environmental justice communities. Rebates for homeowners to electrify and make their houses more efficient will save them money and reduce emissions. Investments in a 21st century electric grid will get more renewable energy online. A new Methane Emissions Reduction Program will drive down pollution from the oil and gas industry. There is no time, Madam Speaker, to delay. Bold climate action is needed now, and the Build Back Better Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in the American people and our future. It deserves strong support today.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Borough of Sayreville, New Jersey as it formally celebrates its centennial this year, after marking its 100th anniversary in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my honor to join with borough officials and residents in commemorating this significant milestone. Although established as a township in 1876 after breaking away from South Amboy, Sayreville was incorporated as a borough in 1920. Following Sayre and Fisher Company's establishment of a post office in 1860, the name Sayreville became the commonly used term to reference the area. With its rich clay deposits and shoreline proximity to New York City, pottery and brick manufacturing was the backbone of the area's early industrialization. The Sayre and Fisher Brick Company, operating from 1850 to 1969, was one of the state's largest employers and supported the rapid growth of the community, from less than 2,000 residents in 1876, to over 32,500 by the end of the 1960s. Materials made in Sayreville not only helped construct buildings throughout town, they were also used in the construction of the Empire State Building and Holland Tunnel. In 1968, Sayreville elected Peggy Kerr as Mayor, who proudly served as the first woman to hold the position in Sayreville's history. In its centennial, the borough is governed by Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick, Council President Kevin Dalina, and council members Vincent Conti, Damon Enriquez, Michele Maher, Mary Novak and Donna Roberts. Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in marking the 100th anniversary of the Borough of Sayreville and celebrating its rich history.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize State Theatre New Jersey on its 100th anniversary and join its leadership, staff, and Board of Trustees in celebrating its reopening ribbon cutting and marquee lighting. Opened in 1921 by Walter Reade, State Theatre New Jersey, then known as Reade's State Theatre, continues to bring exceptional arts- programming, culture, and vitality to the greater New Brunswick community. State Theatre New Jersey is a premier regional venue, providing an outstanding educational and entertainment resource for Central Jersey and beyond, attracting visitors as far as Canada and England. Its efforts to introduce the theatrical arts to the general public, including underserved populations, enriches the lives of the diverse local community and provides a valuable impact on cultural and economic landscape of the area. Begun as a silent film and vaudeville theater, the theater was a popular entertainment destination for residents of central New Jersey throughout the 1920s. As films with sound evolved, Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) took over operation of the facility and transformed the theater to accommodate and enhance the movie experience, including soundproofing and measures to darken the interior. For about 30 years, RKO State Theatre remained well-attended by residents until many began migrating into the suburbs and television became mainstream. Efforts by Johnson & Johnson, the New Brunswick Development Corporation and the New Brunswick Cultural Center revitalized the theater in the 1980s and in 1988 it reopened as State Theatre New Jersey. Under the direction of its current President and CEO, Sarah Chaplin, State Theatre New Jersey continues to honor and preserve its history while improving safety, accessibility, and efficiency to bring the theater into the next century. Once again, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating State Theatre New Jersey on its 100th anniversary. State Theatre New Jersey's commitment to promoting the arts has contributed to the thriving cultural landscape of the community and is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4369) to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam 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. 4369.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working on legislation to invest in and support American pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce our dependence on items produced abroad, such as active ingredients and raw materials. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing is critical to our Nation's public health and global economic competitiveness. The bill before us now, H.R. 4369, would leverage the expertise and ingenuity of academic institutions in the United States to help support and develop advanced manufacturing technologies right here at home. The legislation will improve the quality of our pharmaceuticals, reduce drug shortages, and help to produce more nimble and efficient manufacturing processes that could be replicated throughout the Nation. Specifically, H.R. 4369 would direct the Food and Drug Administration to designate a number of American academic institutions as national centers of excellence. It then provides funding to these centers to develop advanced and continuous manufacturing. Now, continuous manufacturing is an emerging technology whereby a finished product is produced in a continuous stream, making it more efficient than the current so-called batch model that can be slow and may be subject to the risk of defects or errors during the manufacturing process. The centers would be required to work closely with the FDA and industry to support regulatory guidance and expertise, catalyze research and development in advanced and continuous manufacturing technologies, and cultivate an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing workforce here in the United States. The legislation requires that the majority of the $100 million in funding be awarded directly to the designated centers of excellence, while also providing resources for FDA technical assistance, guidance, or training. H.R. 4369 sets us on the right track for advanced manufacturing here at home. This legislation passed the House last Congress but was not taken up in the Senate. If we are to meet the goal and demand for uninterrupted access and supply of critical drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients, the time to act is now. I want to thank our Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Guthrie for working with me on this legislation, as well as full committee Ranking Member Rodgers and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna Eshoo. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4369, and I hope the Senate will follow suit so that we can finally expand advanced and continuous manufacturing technology here in the United States. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 654) to provide the Administrator of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program the authority to waive the Federal fund limitation for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague that what this bill does is basically take the lessons that we learned from the pandemic about what can be done to improve the Strategic National Stockpile for the future. Madam Speaker, I ask everyone to support the bill on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3919) to ensure that the Federal Communications Commission does not approve radio frequency devices that pose a national security risk, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4032) to provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding the benefits of Open RAN networks, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4067) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a council to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks, and for other purposes, as amended.