NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Committee Approves Breast Cancer Legislation and other Critical Public Health Bills

Washington, D.C. – Today the Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously approved eleven important public health bills. Each was approved by voice vote and will now be forwarded to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

“Today we moved forward on nearly a dozen critical public health bills and each one received unanimous support by this Committee. I commend members on both sides of the aisle for their hard work and cooperation,“ said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and one of the bill’s original cosponsors. “I’m especially pleased that, despite ten years of objections from the insurance industry, we are one step closer to passing legislation to ensure that breast cancer patients receive quality care and will not be forced to leave the hospital before it is medically safe to do so.”

H.R. 758, the “Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act,” which was originally introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) in the 105th Congress, would require health insurers to cover minimum lengths of stay for patients undergoing procedures to treat and diagnose breast cancer. Specifically, insurers would be required to pay for hospital stays of at least 48 hours in the case of mastectomies and lumpectomies and 24 hours in the case of lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer. The bill would also provide for secondary consultations and ensure that women have access to the most medically appropriate treatment.

The other bills approved by the Committee today include:

H.R. 6469, the “Organ Transplant Authorization Act of 2008,” sponsored by Reps. Diana DeGette (D–CO) and Jim Costa (D–CA), would increase authorization levels for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for the first time since 1984. An amendment offered by DeGette was approved by voice vote.

S.1760, the “Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007,” sponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D–OH) and Richard Burr (R–NC), would reauthorize funds for the Healthy Start Initiative, a program providing grants to reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health.

H.R. 1532, the “Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2007,” sponsored by Reps. Gene Green (D–TX) and Heather Wilson (R–NM), would reauthorize the Preventive Health Services Regarding Tuberculosis program and establishes a Federal Tuberculosis Task Force. An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Green was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 2994, the “National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007,” sponsored by Reps Lois Capps (D–CA) and Mike Rogers (R–MI), would direct Health and Human Services to establish a national pain care education outreach and awareness campaign. An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Capps was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 5265 the “Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008,” sponsored by Reps. Eliot Engel (D–NY) and Michael Burgess (R–TX), would provide for new research into the causes and treatments of various forms of Muscular Dystrophy. An amendment offered by Engel was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 6901, the “Meth Free Families and Communities Act,” sponsored by Reps. Darlene Hooley (D–OR) and Barbara Cubin (R–WY), would establish a drug-free workplace information clearinghouse and seeks to improve treatment for methamphetamine addiction.

H.R. 1014 the “Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act” (HEART for Women Act), sponsored by Reps. Lois Capps (D–CA) and Barbara Cubin (R–WY), would establish clinical reporting requirements and authorizes research and public health activities to reduce cardiovascular disease in women. An amendment offered by Capps was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 6353, the “Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008,” sponsored by Reps. Bart Stupak (D–MI) and Mary Bono Mack (R–CA), would prohibit the sale of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription and imposes new restrictions for online pharmacies. An amendment offered by Stupak was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 2583, the “Physician Workforce and Graduate Medical Education Enhancement Act of 2007,” sponsored by Reps. Michael Burgess (R–TX) and Jim Matheson (D–UT), would authorize a loan repayment program for hospitals to start a residency training program. An amendment offered by Burgess was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 6908, the “HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act,” sponsored by Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), would promote clarity in insurance coverage so individuals know the limitations in their health plans.

"Today we reported out of committee a number of important measures to help protect the public health and improve access to quality health coverage," Pallone said. "I am particularly proud of legislation that provides better protection to women who suffer from breast cancer by putting an end to drive-through mastectomies."

“I am so thrilled that the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act was approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee today,” said Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03). “The last thing any patient undergoing a mastectomy should have to deal with is fighting with her insurance company about a hospital stay. That is what this bill is all about – it says that when it comes to mastectomies and lumpectomies, adequate recovery time in the hospital should not be negotiable. And today, we are one step closer to a vote on this bill by the entire U.S. House of Representatives. I thank the Committee – Chairman John Dingell, Chairman Frank Pallone and Ranking Member Joe Barton – for their support of this bill.”

For additional information on these bills, including legislative text and amendments offered at today’s hearing, click here.