Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This is clearly a bipartisan collaboration. I am proud to be the main sponsor of H.R. 1676, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. The goal of palliative care is to alleviate suffering for patients and their loved ones, accompanying efforts to treat or cure illness. So while the illness is being treated, there is support being given to the person who is sick and for their loved ones as well. It entails support from a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, physician assistants, clergy persons, and other specialists who provide an extra layer of assistance, including help with medical decisionmaking and coordination of care across multiple settings. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. Palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, but too many people simply don't know about these benefits. On top of that, there is a shortage of educated providers who can offer quality palliative and hospice care. That is where this bill comes in. The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act addresses these issues by expanding opportunities for training in palliative and hospice care.…”