Providing for Consideration of H.R. Big Cat Public Safety Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Advancing Telehealth Beyond Covid-19 Act of and for Other Purposes
Floor Speech
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1256 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 1256
Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 263) to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their respective designees; (2) the further amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, if offered by the Member designated in the report, which shall be in order without intervention of any point of order, shall be considered as read, shall be separately debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question; and (3) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 4040) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 117-59, modified by the amendment printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 3. House Resolution 517 is hereby adopted.
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1256, providing for consideration of H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, under a structured rule.
It provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources, makes in order one amendment, and provides one motion to recommit.
The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 4040, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, under a closed rule.
The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Pallone, provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and provides one motion to recommit.
Finally, the rule deems as passed H. Res. 517.
First, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, led by Representative Cheney, and I am a proud cosponsor, will extend critical telehealth policies implemented during the pandemic while making it easier for seniors to access telehealth services.
We know that because of the pandemic, healthcare visits to the doctor drastically changed, and these health services have become critical to patients in accessing care. The pandemic made access to healthcare difficult, but telehealth turned this negative into a positive.
To avoid exposure, many patients, including high-risk, vulnerable people, choose to visit their doctor by video or telephone to receive care. In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, we in Congress authorized bipartisan legislation expanding telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries in March 2020. This was especially important for our seniors and underserved areas, where it is already significantly more challenging to access in-person care.
Telehealth is a very popular program among populations living in both remote and rural areas and in highly populated areas. According to a recent study, nearly a quarter of U.S. adults over 65 had a video doctor's visit during the pandemic.
In November 2021, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it would extend some telehealth coverage through 2023. However, certain telehealth services are scheduled to end when the declared public health emergency expires.
Why should we end something, a program, that is helping vulnerable people access medical care?
Telehealth is no longer an innovative option for accessing healthcare services. For many, these services are a lifeline.
H.R. 4040 would extend critical telehealth policies under Medicare that were initially authorized at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through 2024. Specifically, H.R. 4040 would provide patients with better access to telehealth regardless of where they are by removing geographic barriers.
It would expand the availability of telehealth services for patients by increasing the number of health clinics' eligibility, including federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
It will allow flexibility for Medicare beneficiaries to access mental health telehealth and ensure audio-only telehealth services under Medicare continue to be covered.
These provisions will help increase access to care and allow Medicare to adapt to innovations in medical technology, all while reducing healthcare costs and significantly reducing wait times for patient care.
H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, will improve public safety and protect wild animals by prohibiting the private possession of lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, or any hybrid of these species.
In short, this bill prevents people from keeping big cats as pets and helps ensure that these animals are not kept in inhumane conditions. Many law enforcement and first responder groups are supportive of this legislation and are asking Congress to pass this bipartisan bill to protect themselves and the general public.
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, today Democrats are talking about expanding access to healthcare and helping our constituents live healthy lives. That is what Democrats are bringing to the floor today in a bipartisan way.
But yet here we are with some Republican colleagues across the aisle continuing to insert divisive politics into a debate about healthcare, about being able to see your doctor, and about being able to live a healthy life. Perhaps it is because there are billions to be made in gun sales or oil sales. But Democrats will continue to try to find Republicans on the other side to save American lives.
I absolutely agree that we can do more than one thing at a time. But unfortunately, today should be a day that we are working together in a bipartisan way, again, to expand access to healthcare for fragile Americans that want to have an opportunity and deserve to have an opportunity to see their doctor.
So, while my colleagues continue to talk about the millions and billions of dollars that gun manufacturers and oil folks are making, we want to talk about expanding healthcare.
But let me remind my colleagues, too, that it is easy to come to the floor and rant and rave when you have no real ideas to offer or solutions.
But let's take a look at the facts. The current drop in gas prices is one of the fastest declines in over a decade. Gas prices have declined by an average of 50 cents per gallon over the past 34 days. The most common price at gas stations across the country is now $3.99, with around 20,000 gas stations across over 30 States.
But, you see, it is not just about gasoline. We are also increasing availability and options for Americans to drive electric vehicles. So we can do more than one thing.
But I urge my colleagues across the aisle, if they truly care about telehealth, if they truly care about improving healthcare options for Americans, that we focus on the two bills, the rule that we have in front of us.
Working together means meeting each other in the middle when we agree or disagree on an issue, finding middle ground. That is what this bill does because some Republicans and Democrats agree that the healthcare of the American people is worth so much more than nonsense political headlines.
So today, once again, we come together, some of us, to help continue to save lives by passing this bill.
It is unfortunate that we fail--some of us on this floor--to recognize that the lead author of this bill is a Republican member of their caucus. Unfortunately, it is a Republican member of their caucus that they no longer find conveniently friendly to their agenda of hate and division.
Today, we stand together, and I urge my Republican colleagues to support this bill, to, again, help Americans find the doctor and the healthcare that they need in order to live a better life.
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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
The two bills before us for consideration, H.R. 263 and H.R. 4040, will increase access to critical healthcare services and improve public safety. I am proud of Representative Liz Cheney.
And while my colleagues continue to argue and work against the healthcare of the American people, we will stand together with those Republicans that have the courage to stand up for healthcare and healthcare options.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.
The material previously referred to by Mrs. Fischbach is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution 1256
At the end of the resolution, add the following:
Sec. 4. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 8488) to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from sending petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy & Commerce; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 5. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 8488.
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