Dec 6, 2016
the jurisdictional grab serves only to shield catfish farmers against competition at the expense of U.S. consumers.
Joe Pitts
The Public Record
Joseph R. Pitts is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district from 1997 to 2017. During his tenure, Pitts was known for his focus on healthcare, energy, and family issues, often advocating for conservative policies. He played a significant role in various legislative efforts, including those related to the Affordable Care Act and energy independence. Pitts was also involved with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, reflecting his commitment to family values and social issues.
★ Featured Quote
December 6, 2016
The catfish inspection program is critical to public health.
— Joe Pitts
Most widely reported
by number of sources- I rise today out of concern over the serious internal terrorist attacks occurring in Indonesia. A terrorist extremist group, Laskar Jihad, led by a man by the name of Jafar Umar Thalib, has caused tremendous destruction, death, and internal displacement of the Indonesian people. In Poso, Central Sulawesi, villagers are presently fleeing in terror as Laskar Jihad attacks and burns their homes and kills innocent people. Credible reports in the news media have revealed links because the Laskar Jihad and the al Qaeda organization. During the attacks in Poso, foreigners from countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan have been seen among the terrorists. There is not only a strong ideological link, but also an important financial link between al Qaeda and Laskar Jihad. Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we work proactively with the Indonesian Government as their officials seek to appropriately respond to terrorism and as they continue to establish democracy and stability in their Nation. This is another front in the international war on terrorism that should be addressed.3 sources2001govinfo.gov
- it has been several months since I called on the President to resign from office for the good of the country and the honor of the Presidency2 sources1997congress.gov
- I am very pleased that the House is considering today H.R. 3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act. This legislation would address two important issues affecting the quality and security of America's drug supply. First, the bill would protect traditional pharmacies and clarify laws related to human drug compounding in response to last year's nationwide meningitis outbreak--one of the largest public health crises in recent memory. Second, the bill would strengthen the prescription drug supply chain in order to protect American families against counterfeit drugs. As we all remember, in the summer and fall of 2012, a Massachusetts company, the New England Compounding Center, the NECC, shipped over 17,000 vials of an injectable steroid solution from three contaminated lots to health care facilities across the country. After receiving injections of NECC's contaminated steroid, over 64 people died from complications associated with fungal meningitis, and 750 others were stricken with meningitis or other persistent fungal infections. Title I of H.R. 3204 is based off of Representative Morgan Griffith's Compounding Clarity Act and is the culmination of a nearly yearlong House Energy and Commerce Committee investigation. It clarifies FDA's authority over the practice of compounding drugs, and it requires FDA to engage in dialogue with State regulators to prevent against another tragedy like NECC's while protecting the role of traditional pharmacies in compounding.…2 sources2013govinfo.gov
- the family is the fundamental building block of society. Our Tax Code for too long has punished Americans for getting married. This year, 28 million American couples will be penalized an average of $1,400, simply for committing their lives to each other. It is past time to repeal the marriage tax penalty. In America, our tax policy should encourage family formation, not discourage it. Mr. Speaker, we need to eliminate the marriage tax penalty for all married couples, not just some. If the marriage tax penalty is bad policy, it is bad policy for everyone. I urge this body to completely repeal the marriage tax penalty and honor all American marriages, not just some.2 sources2000govinfo.gov
- I rise today on behalf of persecuted religious believers in Burma also known as Myanmar. The Burmese Government engages in horrifying human rights violations against numerous religious and ethnic minorities. I met a few weeks ago with a group of Christians from Burma. Reports tell of one Karen family which fled Burma after the military forced the husband to help build a pipeline for the UNOCAL and TOTAL oil companies. The husband escaped the forced labor, but soldiers hunted him down, then tortured his wife and seriously burned their 2-month-old baby. The baby died, and the rest of the family fled to refugee camps in Thailand. This story is not unusual for the Karen and Chin peoples of Burma. Mr. Speaker, I have photographs which reflect the atrocities committed by the Burmese military forces. The photos show the murder of a Karen man and woman. They are too horrible to describe and show, but if any Member wishes to see them privately, they can come to my office. Human rights violations like this must not be allowed to continue. I urge the State Peace and Development Council to immediately cease these horrible human rights abuses.2 sources1998govinfo.gov
- a woman from my district came to Washington last month to tell Congress about how her daughter was taken to New Jersey for an abortion without her knowledge. This mom knew about her 14-year-old daughter's pregnancy. Her daughter had chosen to keep the baby and was attending prenatal classes. But the boyfriend's family, according to her testimony, ``planned, paid for, coerced, harassed, and threatened her into having an abortion. They left her alone during the abortion and went to eat lunch.'' About 80 percent of the public favors parental notification laws. Over 30 States have enacted such laws. As in the case of my constituent, these laws are often evaded by interstate transportation of minors, and it is often openly encouraged in advertising by abortion providers. This week, the House will consider legislation that merely says that in States that protect a parent's right to know, taking a young girl across State lines will not keep the parent in the dark. The bill would make it a Federal offense to transport a minor across State lines to circumvent that State's abortion parental notification laws. In addition, the bill requires that in a State without parental notification, abortion providers are required to notify a parent. I urge support of the bill. ____________________2 sources2005govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Dec 6, 2016
Both the FDA and the General Accountability Office agree that there is no food safety justification for this regulatory divide.
Dec 6, 2016
The time of 10 o'clock having arrived, I will call this subcommittee meeting to order.
Dec 6, 2016
It seems illogical that the USDA would be given the exclusive authority to oversee and regulate catfish only while the FDA regulates all other seafood.
Dec 6, 2016
Explicitly creating a program exclusively for catfish seems to be unnecessary, and it directs resources away from high-risk foods.
Dec 1, 2016
I thank the gentleman. As a member of the select investigative panel, I rise in support of H. Res. 933. Madam Speaker, after the release of the undercover videos of Planned Parenthood, one little known tissue procurement company became a…
Nov 29, 2016
Today's hearing will be taking a close look at the United States Preventive Services Task Force, created in 1984 as an independent, volunteer panel of 16 national experts in prevention, primary care, and evidence-based medicine and tasked…
Nov 14, 2016
I am very pleased to congratulate and welcome my good friend, Dwight Evans, to the floor of the House. Before I served here in Congress for the last 20 years, I served in the statehouse of Pennsylvania for 24 years. In the last 8 years of…
Sep 13, 2016
It is unfortunate that we have a Congress of the United States, the majority parties that want to just tear down this law.
Sep 13, 2016
Administrator Slavitt, CMS announced that APTC and CSR subsidies would be ended for 2016 enrollees who received APTCs in 2014 but did not reconcile these payments on their federal taxes.
Sep 13, 2016
Today's hearing is especially timely as we learned startling news over the summer, confirming our worst fears, that the some of the most significant health insurers--UnitedHealth, Aetna, Humana--are opting out of Obamacare's health…
Sep 13, 2016
I for one in a portion of my life when I was a boy lived in a household where we didn't have access to health care.
Sep 13, 2016
Because of the Affordable Care Act, now over 20 million people in this country who were in that situation literally overnight are no longer in that situation.
Sep 13, 2016
if they expanded Medicaid 50,000 of my constituents would have Medicaid, if the state expanded it.
Sep 13, 2016
It is embarrassing that in the most capable country in the world, in the most powerful elected bodies in the world that we effectively have done almost nothing to improve the health care of Americans since this law has been passed.
Sep 8, 2016
In 2008, Congress passed a bill requiring most group health plans to provide more generous coverage for treatment of mental illnesses.
Sep 8, 2016
Parity means that insurers need to treat copayments, treatment limits, prior authorization for mental health, substance use disorder the same way they treat for physical health care.
Sep 8, 2016
Today's Health Subcommittee hearing will examine the Federal mental health parity laws and regulations.
Sep 7, 2016
H.R. 3119, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, sponsored by Rep. Engel (NY) increases the number of permanent faculty in palliative care.
Sep 7, 2016
H.R. 1717, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Reauthorization Act or the STOP Act, sponsored by Rep. Roybal-Allard (CA) provides for programs and activities to prevent underage drinking.
Sep 7, 2016
I thank my colleague, Rep. Pete Olson, for sponsoring this important legislation which will be welcome news for the over 100,000,000 people afflicted with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
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