Political Quotes

“I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for this important piece of legislation, H.R. 304, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act. This is a bipartisan bill. It was introduced by two of our colleagues from North Carolina, Representatives Hudson and Butterfield. It previously passed the House by voice vote, no objection, back in November; but, unfortunately, it was not taken up by the Senate before the last Congress adjourned, meaning we have to be here today to restart this process. This, along with three other Energy and Commerce bills that we are considering today, shows that the Energy and Commerce Committee is picking right up where we left off, in a bipartisan way, to produce quality legislation that will improve the public health. Now, H.R. 304 is really an important bill because it enables our Nation's emergency medical services professionals to continue to provide quality emergency care by recognizing the unique nature of their practice. Specifically, as you may have heard, the bill clarifies that paramedics and other EMS professionals can administer certain pain and antiseizure medications in emergency situations pursuant to standing or verbal orders. In other words, the doctor has said to the EMS person, you can do these things in emergencies. Now, think about this. You are in a car wreck. The EMT shows up in the ambulance.…”