Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced nine important health care bills last night, including the HEALTHY KIDS Act that will extend funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  

“Last night, the Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance important pieces of health care legislation that will extend vital, bipartisan safety net programs for the nation’s most vulnerable populations. These programs, including SCHIP, Community Health Center Funding, the National Health Service Corps, and the Special Diabetes Program are important programs that have proven incredibly effective at connecting individuals in medically underserved areas to care, and I am appreciative of the work that we all have put into the Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act (HEALTHY KIDS) and the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act (CHAMPION), which allow for us to continue these programs.

“Additionally, I am pleased to see the advancement of the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act. As a physician, I understand the vital role of communication between medical professionals and patients and their caregivers. This commonsense legislation would make coverage of speech generating devices under ‘routinely purchased durable medical equipment’ permanent under the Medicare program, helping aid ease of communication for people with degenerative diseases.”

Additional information about the markup is available from the Energy and Commerce Committee here.