Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care, PATCH Act. This legislation would boost our continued efforts to support our Nation's healthcare safety net for kids across America.

The PATCH Act would provide $6 billion over 10 years to increase pediatric healthcare capacity and improve dedicated children's hospitals and pediatric preparedness response. These funds will prioritize increased critical care capacity and telehealth technology, as well as address attentive care workforce shortages, particularly for high Medicaid providers who serve child populations with the greatest health disparities. Matching requirements supporting contributions from the private sector would double the impact of this Federal investment, greatly increasing pediatric healthcare capacity for all children across the country.

Children represent over 20 percent of the Nation's population and have unique health needs. As a result, pediatric hospital facilities, which are at the frontline of care for children, require separate investments to provide appropriate treatment and care and have not kept up with the level of need.

I would like to thank Congressman Cardenas for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Act as soon as possible. ______

By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. King):

S. 4251. A bill to establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

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