Joe Pitts

It is important that we think carefully about this important program.

Like many of my colleagues, I believe we need to extend funding for this program in some fashion.

Moving forward, Congress should be thoughtful and data-driven in our approach.

I just want to point out to the committee that there were calls back about a month or two ago of distributing the vaccine widely in West Africa without a control group, had we done that, the downturn in Liberia now would have been…

The world is currently experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in history.

It is good to hear of the collaboration that is occurring between the public and private sectors.

I applaud you for organizing this hearing and commend all the leaders in this room for giving voice to the dire situation of antibiotic resistance.

Do you believe that we need to further incentivize new drug and diagnostic development if we are to appropriately address the issue of antibiotic resistance, and if so, what would you recommend?

There are too many lives at stake to give up. We can and must preserve antibiotics--the future of modern medicine depends upon it.

My legislation--the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act -would save eight critical classes of antibiotics for human use while still allowing the treatment of sick animals.

We must preserve those antibiotics critical to human health for use in treating disease--not for growth promotion or disease prevention.

GAIN didn't fully fix the problem and much more is needed if we are to incentivize the type of drug development needed.

The GAIN Act was an important first step in the fight against antibiotic resistance and a great example of how bipartisan collaboration on this committee can save lives.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly serious threat to global public health.

GAIN did not fully fix the problem, and much more is needed if we are to incentivize the type of drug development needed to combat this global threat.

If we do not confront the threat of antibiotic resistance, we could be "cast back into the dark ages of medicine where treatable infections and injuries will kill once again."

For all of the talk about growing income inequality, another great concern is a decrease in opportunities for Americans to have economic upward mobility

I urge all Members to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 3522. I yield back the balance of my time.

At this time, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

I am prepared to close, so I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

At this time I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers), another member of the Health Subcommittee.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) another member of the Health Subcommittee.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey, another valued member of the Health Subcommittee.

I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Bill Cassidy, a valued member of the Health Subcommittee and prime sponsor of the legislation.