Sheila Jackson Lee: “I cannot conclude my remarks without saying that just a few minutes ago, by video, I witnessed the flag of South…”

“I cannot conclude my remarks without saying that just a few minutes ago, by video, I witnessed the flag of South Carolina--the rebel flag--being taken down. I would only say that it is a unifying factor. This bill is a unifying factor, and it is going to help all of us. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. It is listed in the Rule as Jackson Lee #8. I wish to thank the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules for making the Jackson Lee Amendment in order. I thank Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone for their collaborative effort that resulted in this bipartisan legislation being reported favorably to the House by a vote of 51-0. I thank them all for this opportunity to explain the Jackson Lee Amendment, which makes a good bill even better by ensuring that the national goals of finding and bringing more cures and treatments to patients and strengthening the biomedical innovation ecosystem in the United States is aided by an expanding pool of diverse and talented medical researchers. Specifically, the Jackson Lee Amendment provides: The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Native American colleges, and rural colleges to ensure that health professionals from underrepresented populations are aware of research opportunities under this Act.…”