Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee legislative hearing to discuss bipartisan policy proposals that support patients and caregivers. 

“First, just let me say thank you to all of you, to the Chair, to the Ranking Member, to my colleagues, and to the extraordinary staff—given my announcement last week.

“I am blessed.

“It has been a tremendous blessing to lead this Committee.

“I can testify that being the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee—the best committee on Capitol Hill—is the best position in the House, and it has been a privilege and an honor for me to lead. 

“And I’ll just say, we’re going to finish strong. We have a whole year ahead of us and we have a lot of work to do.

“I look forward to working with all of you on important issues, including the issues that are before us today.

“As I’ve said many times before, this Committee has a rich history of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate, and that means coming together to get things done and to get results.

“I’m proud of our efforts so far this Congress—like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act—which are fundamental to driving down the cost of care and fixing our broken health care system.

“Today, we’re focusing 19 bipartisan bills that support patients, caregivers, and health care providers.” 

IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH

“Specifically, we will examine proposals to help improve our understanding of various diseases, disabilities, chronic conditions, and stillbirths.

“We’ll look at legislation to continue support for emergency medical services and health care providers, to reauthorize respite care resources for family caregivers, and to prevent organ transplant candidates from being denied a transplant based solely on having a disability.

“I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about the importance of these programs.”

INCLUDE ACT

“I’m particularly excited that we are moving forward with the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 that I’ve introduced with Representatives Diana DeGette, Tom Cole, Rosa DeLauro, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.

“You all know that my mission here has been to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

“That’s why I’m proud to champion this bill that would provide important Congressional oversight and direction for the INCLUDE Project at the National Institutes of Health.

“Established by a Congressional directive in 2018, INCLUDE, also known as the Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down Syndrome Project, conducts research on critical health and quality-of-life needs for individuals with Down syndrome throughout their lives.  

“At the time INCLUDE was established, Down Syndrome was among one of the least studied and funded genetic conditions at the NIH, despite it being one of the most common chromosome abnormalities.

“I just want to underscore how important it was that Congress took action to make studying Down syndrome a priority at the NIH.

“Individuals with Down syndrome are affected by many of the same diseases and conditions that are the focus of the programs we are examining today.

“However, those diseases may affect those with Down syndrome differently, require different strategies to treat, or may appear more often in those with Down syndrome than in the general population, as is the case with Alzheimer’s disease.

“For a neurological disease like Alzheimer’s, it may take new tools and strategies to know if a treatment is working.

“Individuals with Down syndrome are living longer than ever, and the NIH needs to help push forward meaningful research that will benefit those with Down syndrome and their families in all stages of their lives.

“It is important that we also acknowledge this research could benefit the millions of people who battle conditions—like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart conditions—that are common among, but hardly limited to people with Down syndrome.

“Our bipartisan legislation directing the NIH to continue this important work will help us take Down syndrome research to new heights and usher in a new era of innovation to help everyone with Down syndrome—and their families—live their lives to their fullest potential.

“We still have a lot of work ahead, including these important bipartisan bills before us today, and I am looking forward to continuing our work over the rest of this Congress to improve the lives of the American people.”