Hearing of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Pallone, Markup of H.R. 767, H.R. 880, H.R. 931, and H.R. 2422

Hearing

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Before us today we have four important bills that will improve
public health and help to ensure providers and patients have the tools they need to respond
to critical health care issues.
H.R. 767, the SOAR to Health and Wellness Act, establishes a grant program to train
healthcare providers to better identify and care for victims of human trafficking. By teaching
providers how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to respond, we can
ensure that survivors receive the coordinated care they need. I commend Congressmen
Cohen Cardenas, Kinzinger and Wagner for their work on this bill.
H.R. 880, the MISSON ZERO Act, establishes a grant program to support trauma centers
that allow military trauma teams and personnel to provide care to their patients. Such
partnerships between trauma centers and the military can improve access to trauma care in
communities across the country, ensure our military trauma personnel remain combat ready,
and improve the sharing of knowledge between our civilian and military trauma systems. I
would like to thank Chairman Burgess, Ranking Member Green, Congresswoman Castor,
and Congressman Hudson for their leadership on this issue.
H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, requires the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention to develop and maintain a voluntary cancer registry for firefighters. This registry
will help us better understand the cancer risk factors associated with being a firefighter. The
registry will also inform interventions to reduce such risks so we can make sure we are
protecting firefighters who risk their lives every day to protect us. I want to thank
Congressmen Pascrell and Collins for their leadership on this issue.
And finally, H.R. 2422, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2017 would make grants available
at both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources
and Service Administration (HRSA) for initiatives to improve oral health for underservedpopulations. Far too many Americans lack access to affordable dental care. Unfortunately
these individuals often end up foregoing care or delaying care to the point where they find
themselves in the emergency room. Oral health plays a vital role in an individual's overall
health and happiness and I'm pleased to support initiatives to increase access to care for
those who need it. I commend Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Simpson for their
work in introducing this important legislation.
All of these bills are bipartisan and will provide vital resources to address ongoing public
health concerns.
I yield back.

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