The number of Americans without health insurance is a continuing concern to me. I take this problem very seriously, as it disproportionately affects Americans in rural congressional districts. In response to the increase in the uninsured population, policymakers at the state and federal levels of government have been searching for effective, affordable and responsible ways to expand access to health insurance coverage.

I have worked hard for years on responsible programs to improve the quality of and access to our nation’s health care system. And now we find ourselves looking for new solutions at a time of financial chaos that has forced millions of Americans to cut back. In the 110th Congress I supported several health care proposals, including a comprehensive multi-payer health care plan that will guarantee affordable , quality, private health insurance for all Americans.

I am committed to working with members of both parties in Congress to solve these problems and control skyrocketing health care costs. Recently, I attended the White House Health Care Summit which allowed me a voice to express the need for health care solutions and to deliver on solutions that make health care accessible, accountable and affordable both to private citizens and U.S. taxpayers. I look forward to the opportunity to introduce, examine and debate proposed health care solutions in the 111th Congress.


Introduced Legislation:

H.R. 573, To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the marketing of authorized generic drugs, Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit a holder of a new, approved drug application from commencing to manufacture, market, sell, or distribute a generic version of such drug from the time of the receipt of notice from the generic manufacturer that an abbreviated new drug application has been submitted for approval until the expiration or forfeiture of the exclusivity period granted to the generic manufacturer.


Cosponsored Bills:

H.CON.RES.14, Supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote 416 - 0 (Roll no. 99).

H.RES. 178, Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month.

H.R.362, Rural Hospital Assistance Act of 2009, Will provide an increase in FY 2009 Medicare assistance to Medicare dependent hospitals and sole community hospitals by directing the Secretary to increase Medicare reimbursements for low volume facilities.

H.R. 444, 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act of 2009, 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the drug discount program to allow participation as a covered entity by certain: (1) children's hospitals; (2) critical access hospitals; (3) entities providing maternal and child health services, community mental health services, or treatment services for substance abuse; (4) Medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals; (5) sole community hospitals; and (6) rural referral centers.

H.R. 574, Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009, Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs.

H.R. 616, To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an exemption of pharmacies and pharmacists from certain Medicare accreditation requirements in the same manner as such exemption applies to certain professionals.

H.R. 758, Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act, Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acting through the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for planning, establishing, and providing basic operating support for up to 20 national pediatric research consortia.

H.R. 988, Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act of 2009, Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) include physical therapy within the definition of "primary health services"; and (2) make physical therapists eligible for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (to assure an adequate supply of physical therapists among other health professionals.

H.R. 1032, Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act, Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act or the HEART for Women Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny a new drug application if the application fails to include required information on clinical investigations.

H.R. 1210, Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2009

H.R. 1230, Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act of 2009

H.R. 1246, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2009

H.R. 1256, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

H.R. 1298, Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2009

H.R. 1339, Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2009

H.R. 1362, National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act

H.R. 1427, Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act

H.R. 1441, Ryan Dant Health Care Opportunity Act of 2009

Helpful Links:

http://www.hhs.gov/

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

http://www.dhss.mo.gov/

http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/mchild.htm