On the recordDecember 16, 2024
I thank Ms. Castor for yielding to me. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and, in particular, my dear friend, John Moolenaar. We have been a team on this from the moment that we heard about this. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support for H.R. 7188, the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act. I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill alongside my friend and colleague from Michigan, Mr. Moolenaar. {time} 1615 Last summer, I was contacted by the medical director of the Washtenaw County Tuberculosis Clinic, who was treating a patient, Shandra Eisenga, for a severe post-surgical tuberculosis infection. Shandra was Representative Moolenaar's constituent, but she was being treated at the University of Michigan, a medical facility in my district. After a month of battling a severe TB infection in the intensive care unit, she unfortunately died. Since Shandra's passing, it has been discovered that her death was, indeed, linked to contaminated bone graft material produced by Aziyo Biologics. She was 1 of 36 patients who received material from the contaminated lot. As of today, this latest outbreak is linked to the deaths of two patients, including Shandra. This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct public awareness campaigns to assist in preventing TB outbreaks caused by contaminated human cell and tissue product donations.…





