Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during today’s markup of several public health bills.
Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery is as follows:
"Thank you, Chair Sanders. Today, the Committee considers reauthorizing multiple expiring public health programs that help doctors, states, and communities understand and address Americans’ health care needs."
"It is our responsibility to fully evaluate and improve programs so they work properly for those they serve and effectively use tax dollars. While Congress can continue to fund expired programs, failure to reauthorize misses an opportunity to improve. If programs do not work or meet full potential, we must address."
"These reauthorizations have been achieved in a bipartisan manner. I appreciate my colleagues’ work in getting them done. I look forward to future bipartisan markups."
The Committee examined several pieces of legislation during the session:
- Senators Young and Kaine’s Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act aims to reauthorize a program that assists healthcare workers with mental health and substance use services.
- Senators Budd and Casey’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends grant programs aiding emergency medical services for children.
- The Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Senators Tuberville, Murray, Romney, and Lujan, supports poison control hotlines and prevention efforts.
- The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends programs improving education and detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Senators Collins and Baldwin’s Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2024 continues support for respite care programs for family caregivers.
- Senators Durbin and Young’s Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends initiatives related to congenital heart disease research and care.
In addition to reauthorizing existing programs, new legislation was also considered:
"The East Palestine [“pal-uh-STEEN"] Health Impact Monitoring Act of 2024," led by Senators Vance and Brown, directs HHS to examine potential health effects from the train derailment in East Palestine [“pal-uh-STEEN"], Ohio.
"I thank Chair Sanders for today’s markup and all my colleagues and their staffs for a successful collaboration."
For further updates from HELP Republicans visit their website or follow on Twitter at @GOPHELP.
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