Louise Slaughter: “But I rise in support of the rule and in support of H.R. 2506, the Health Research and Quality Act of 1999. This…”

“But I rise in support of the rule and in support of H.R. 2506, the Health Research and Quality Act of 1999. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and renames the agency as the Agency for Health Research and Quality, AHRQ, pronounced ``arc.'' This agency promotes health care quality through research, synthesizing and consolidating medical information, and disseminating scientific evidence. Building on its current initiatives, the agency will play a key role in partnering with the private sector to improve the quality of health care in the United States. As a longtime supporter of health care research, I believe this piece of legislation will benefit patients, care-givers and insurance providers with vital information and statistics on how to improve the Nation's health care system. The agency's research and information consolidation will play a key role in extending quality care and improving health service delivery throughout the country.”