They now must walk the walk. Im incredibly proud to have brought forward this Bipartisan Legislation tonight. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from illinois reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. But first, lets have some order in the house, please. Take your conversations off the floor. Those of you in the back of the room. Thank you. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Burgess thank you, madam speaker. At this time im pleased to recognize the gentleman from georgia, mr. Carter, pharmacist by profession, very valuable member of the Health Subcommittee and the energy and Commerce Committee, for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Carter i thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam speaker, i rise to speak in support of h. R. 2115, the Public Disclosure of drug discounts act. Im very glad to see this bill that was part of the metric act representative schakowsky and i passed out of energy and commerce be moved through the house floor. This is important legislation that brings desperately needed transparency to our drug supply chain. So much of the debate around how we can lower drug prices in this country has been focused on drug manufacturers. This bill highlights the need for reforms throughout our entire drug system, our drug supply system. Specifically, this bill shines a spotlight on the middleman in our drug supply chain, the pharmaceutical benefits manager. Or p. B. M. s. For context, three p. B. M. s control almost 80 of the marketplace. And while originally designed to primarily process claims data, these companies are now some of the largest corporations in the country. For the year 2019, the major p. B. M. Companies had a higher projected revenue than facebook, amazon, apple, netflix and google combined. Again, for this year, 2019, the major p. B. M. Companies had a higher projected revenue than facebook, amazon, apple, netflix and google combined. In a time where patients are facing higher and higher drug costs, its clear that more transparency of these middlemen is desperately needed, at the very least. This bill, h. R. 2115, will require p. B. M. s to report information on all of the rebates, fees and discounts they extract before a drug ever reaches patients. P. B. M. s argue that it is actually better for patients, that the p. B. M. s extract all of these increasingly high rebates and fees because they pass those discounts on to the insurance plans, to lower premiums. While i completely disagree with that premise, this bill will finally allow all of us to see for ourselves how exactly how much of a cut these middlemen are taking out of the system. Transparency is absolutely critical if we are going to lower drug prices for patients and this bill is a big step in the right direction. I applaud representatives spanberger, arrington and bowl for their leadership on this bill, as well as congresswoman schakowsky. I urge my fellow members to support h. R. 2115, and i yield back. Mr. Burgess i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from illinois is recognized. Ms. Schakowsky im prepared to close now. Just by saying, the cost of Prescription Drugs is an issue on the minds of all of our constituents, in a bipartisan way, all across the country. And this bill will provide muchneeded transparency around the activity of pharmacy benefit managers or p. B. M. s. You heard very eloquent statements from our colleagues on this issue, and i will at that point oh, ok. Im going to close now and just say that i hope all of our colleagues will vote for this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Burgess thank you, madam speaker. At this time im pleased to recognize the gentleman from texas, a coauthor of this legislation, jodey arrington, for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Arrington thank you. I want to thank my friend and fellow texan, dr. Burgess, for yielding me time to speak. Madam speaker, i rise today in support of h. R. 2115, legislation i was proud to help lead and support alongside congresswoman spanberger, which will provide Greater Transparency to the discounts negotiated between Insurance Companies and drug manufacturers through what are known as pharmaceutical benefit managers or p. B. M. s. One of the reasons why drug costs have spirals out of control is because discounts negotiated by p. B. M. s are shrouded in secrecy. Americans are left in the dark about the rebates and we have no idea where the value of those rebates go, but we know this, we dont know that theyre going to our seniors, we know theyre not going to them at the point of sale. This has created a system that is confusing and overly complicated, particularly for our seniors. My greatest concern is that the value, again, of these rebates are being passed to our seniors who need the relief desperately. The answer to this drug affordability crisis is not to impose more government control, which would only further distort the market, further confuse our seniors, and increase costs on all americans. Instead, we need to activate the forces of competition and provide patients with more transparency in this process, so that they are empowered to know exactly what their options are and what theyre paying for each time they visit the pharmacy. This legislation will help ensure that rebates go towards reducing the cost of drugs for our seniors, as well as the cost to the american taxpayer. Additionally, im thankful this legislation includes text of my bill, the shop r. X. Act. This provision, which i carried in committee with the support of both republicans and democrats, require drug plans for seniors to offer realtime information regarding the various options of drugs and their associated cost. By providing seniors with access to the readily available and relevant information they need in order to be real consumers, we will empower them with the knowledge to choose the options that best fit their needs and their budget. Once consumers have more information, they will have more choices and insurers will have to compete for their business. Which will ultimately bring down the cost of drugs. Madam speaker, i believe this legislation will help transform a system from one in which patients are often powerless victims to one in which they have true Bargaining Power and real control over their health care needs. Im proud to support it. I encourage my colleagues to do the same. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Burgess thank you, madam speaker. At this time im pleased to recognize the gentleman from montana, a value member of the Health Subcommittee, for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Gianforte i thank the gentleman for yielding. Far too many montanans cant afford the Prescription Drugs they need. They shouldnt have to leave the pharmacy counter emptyhanded because costs are too high. Montanans need access to affordable medications, which is why reducing drug prices is one of my top priorities. To lower costs, the need for more transparency in our health care system. We need to shine a light into the opaque drug pricing process. Our commonsense, bipartisan bill before the house today will shine that muchneeded light. The Payment Commission data act gives congress nonpartisan think tanks greater access to drug pricing data. Armed with this data, they can better advise congress about whos being a bad actor in the drug supply chain. It will help congress address Prescription Drug prices more effectively. We all want to ensure the American People can buy more affordable Prescription Drugs. I believe the bipartisan approach we have here should be a working model for how to move forward. Not simply ramming through partisan bills. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this commonsense reform, to lower drug prices. I thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Burgess thank you, madam speaker. I urge passage of this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, h. R. 2115, as amended. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative ms. Schakowsky madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from illinois. Ms. Schakowsky yes. I demand the yeas and nays on this legislation. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. Proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed. Votes will be taken in the following order. The motion to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2440 and the motion to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2115. The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15minute vote. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, remaining electronic votes will be conducted as fiveminute votes. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from oregon, mr. Defazio, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2440, as amended. On which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title. The clerk h. R. 2440, a bill to provide for the use of funds in the Harbor Maintenance trust fund for the purposes for which the funds were collected. And to ensure that funds credited to the Harbor Maintenance trust fund are used to support navigation and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the wules and rules and pass the bill, as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 296, the nays are 109, 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended and the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the the ntlewoman from illinois, ms. Schakowsky to suspend the rules h. R. 2115 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title. The clerk a bill toll amend title 11 of the Social Security act to provide Greater Transparency of discounts provided by drug manufacturers. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 403, the nays are 0. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Without objection, the title amended. The title is amended. For what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Madam speaker, i send to the desk two privileged reports from the committee on rules for filing under the rule. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the titles. The clerk report to acompmy House Resolution 655, resolution providing for consideration of House Resolution 296, affirming the United States record on the armenian genocide. Report to accompany House Resolution 656. Resolution providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 823, to provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, anconner is vation areas in the state of colorado and for other purpose, providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 13773, protect for current and future generations the watershed ecosystem and Cultural Heritage of the grand canyon region in the state of arizona and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 2181, to provide for the withdrawal and protection of certain federal land in the state of new mexico and providing for proceedings during the period from november 1, 019, through november 11, 2019. The speaker pro tempore referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to remove my name as cosponsor for h. R. 3495. The speaker pro tempore without objection. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as cosponsor of h. R. 3495. The speaker pro tempore without objection. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to remove my name as cosponsor of h. R. 3495. The speaker pro tempore without objection. He house will be in order. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 647 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will read the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 6347, bill to amend the Public Health service act to increase the number of permanent faculty in Palliative Care at al pathic and osteopathic medical schools, Nursing Schools and other schools, including physician assistant program, promote education and research in Palliative Care and hospice and support academic careers in palliative medicine. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. Schakowsky, and the gentleman from illinois, mr. Burgess, each will control 20 minutes. He house will be in order. The house will be in order. Please take your conversations off the floor. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from illinois. Ms. Schakowsky thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks around include extraneous materials on h. R. 647. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Schakowsky mr. Speaker, im going to begin by yielding to the author of this important engel, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Engel i thank my colleague for yielding to me. Im proud to sponsor h. R. 647, the Palliative Care and hospice education and training act. Which has 296 bipartisan cosponsors and endorsements from 54 National Organizations including the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of hospice and palliative medicine. The goal of Palliative Care is to provide patients relief from the symptoms of a serious illness. This form of medical care and accompanying treatments and cures. Often an Interdisciplinary Team of Health Care Providers consisting of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains provide Palliative Care. In this capacity, these professionals often help patients with medical Decision Making and care coordination. Palliative and hossties pair hospice care has been shown to improve Health Outcomes for patient bus not many people are aware of benefits. Furthermore our nation has a shortage of call did qualified palliative anjos pis care professionals. Palliative care and hospice education and training act will help remedy these issues. This bill will create programs to train the next generation of providers in palliative and hospice care. It will also better educate patients, family, and Health Professionals about Palliative Care benefits and encourages the National Institutes of health to expand research in this field. Nearly every one of us has felt the pain and stress of a serious illness, either personally or standing beside a loved one. By passing this bill, well take an important step forward in bring regular leaf to patients suffering from serious illnesses. I want to thank chairman pallone and Ranking Member walden for their leadership on this issue and congressman reid and congressman carter who coauthored this bill with me. I would like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter of support from 54 National Organizations and 35 state organizations. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Engel i urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the jerusalem from illinois reserves. The gentleman from texas is reco