Frank Pallone

We must treat autism as a condition of urgent public health concern and raise awareness in education of the disorder.

Now, today we are also considering the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011.

The small class of hospitals that receive this funding... trains approximately 40 percent of all pediatricians.

I want to thank you for holding this hearing on two very important public health bills, and I welcome the bipartisan spirit that brings us together today.

I am proud of the bill that you and I introduced together, H.R. 1852, the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Support Reauthorization Act of 2011.

The only problem that I have though, now we have this FDA funding bill that the House Republicans just passed, and that guts the FDA's funding by $570 million.

I appreciate the need for the kinds of proposals listed under the heading of Advancing Regulatory Science and Innovation.

I think it is going to be very difficult to do any of these new innovations if we see a 21 percent cut.

This really shows that we are being bipartisan today.

I would like to close by commenting on the importance of the Drug Safety Enhancement Act.

We must not sacrifice safety and efficacy in exchange for innovation.

What is important to note, however, is that this committee worked through the issues in a bipartisan manner, and I am proud of the consensus that we reached.

I hope we can move in the same bipartisan spirit as we did in 2007.

America's competitiveness depends on our ability to innovate and keep America number one, and as such I continue to believe that the government must be responsible for facilitating an environment where Americans can continue to innovate.

I support efforts to get duals into better care relationships but we need to be careful not to take away Medicare protections for the lowest income Medicare beneficiaries.

In Medicare, we have always maintained the principle that enrollment in managed care plans is voluntary for all Medicare beneficiaries.

Obviously I would prefer that they not be in nursing homes.

Its mission is to gain some much-needed efficiency within the system for this group of beneficiaries.

I really welcome today's hearing on a critical issue: the coordinating and improving of health care of those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid programs.

We mustn't set a price tag on their care nor should we shape policy with the goal of only saving money.

In fact, in 2007, they comprised only 15 percent of enrollees but represented 39 percent of Medicaid spending.

In total, there are 9.2 million Americans who rely on both Medicare and Medicaid.

The reality is that dual eligibles are a vulnerable population. Their care is both costly and frequently uncoordinated.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina will be postponed. Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Weiner

Is it your understanding that the proposal like H.R. 371 would vacate the state of Arizona's decision and in essence overturn the Governor's decision?