Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act. This legislation was introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), a colleague and good friend, to address a very serious issue.

Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of infant mortality and is the most common birth defect found in young children. These children grow up facing a wealth of health issues that will have a tremendous impact on them for the rest of their lives. They often require specialized care, including cardiac care, and are subjected to a lifetime of risk for disability or premature death.

This legislation enhances research and surveillance at the CDC to ensure that our medical community and the research to support their efforts are the best available for treatment. It also establishes grants to further study congenital heart disease so that we can better combat this disease and the harm it causes in so many people's lives.

Mr. Speaker, this is a terrible disease that leaves people never knowing when it could strike. Like other diseases, we need to better understand how it develops and impacts people so that we have a better chance of fighting it and saving lives.

I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for getting this legislation passed through the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I support its passage.

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