Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 21st Century Cures Act legislation and the important investment that it will make in medical research across America.
This legislation supports an additional $4.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health, specifically for President Obama's Precision Medicine Initiative and the BRAIN Initiative so we can tackle the challenge of Alzheimer's. It supports Vice President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative. Hopefully, it will keep the young scientists on the job at institutions like the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida's Alzheimer's Research Institute back home in Tampa.
While additional support for NIH is vital and this is a move in the right direction, I would have much preferred that we put this in the mandatory category as we voted on in H.R. 6 earlier in the year. I know many of you agree with that, that medical research in America today shouldn't be subject to the whims of congressional budget battles or political fights. I will continue to advocate for mandatory funding for NIH so that we can remain on the cutting edge of medical innovation and boost higher wage jobs back home. These initiatives save lives and provide investments that we need to make sure that we are developing the cures of tomorrow.
I am very pleased that legislation I introduced with my colleague Representative Herrera Beutler was included in this package. The Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act ensures that expectant mothers and doctors have accurate information about medications used during pregnancy and when nursing to facilitate the best health outcomes. Representative Herrera Beutler has been a champion for families, and I am grateful to her for leading this effort to improve the quality of data and information on medication used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
I also applaud the inclusion of language to improve our mental health system, the $1 billion to address the opioid epidemic. This is very positive. I would like to thank Chairman Fred Upton for his devotion to the issue, to Congresswoman DeGette, and to all of my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. This is the way legislation is supposed to be developed: in a bipartisan way, through studies, through asking, reaching out, and working with experts all across the country, because all of the answers do not emanate from a congressional committee in Washington. It is very important that we tap the expertise all across the country to get something done.
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