Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4052, the Early Hearing Detection and Invention Act, the companion legislation to H.R. 5561 sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee members, Representatives Guthrie and Matsui.

S. 4052 is very similar to the legislation that passed the House 410- 17, and I hope in the upcoming vote it will receive even more ``yes'' votes.

Hearing loss in children continues to be all too prevalent in the United States. According to recent CDC data, almost 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 experience either low- or high-frequency hearing loss in one or both ears.

The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, administered through the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Agency, has helped providers to quickly identify babies and young children who are born deaf or hard of hearing, which has led to improved health outcomes and brought hope to so many families.

S. 4052 reauthorizes Federal support for these important statewide programs that help early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children through 2027.

This bill will help redouble our efforts to truly open the world of communication to children who experiencing hearing loss.

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

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