Pitts’ childrens hospital legislation passes committee

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16) with Anna Lipsman (far left), her sister Leah, and mother Elaine.

WASHINGTON — The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved Rep. Joe Pitts’ (R-PA) bill, H.R. 1852 Thursday, reauthorizing the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program. This program helps train doctors in pediatrics and in pediatric subspecialties.

Rep. Pitts’ statement follows:

“After receiving the unanimous approval of the Health Subcommittee earlier this week, the full Energy and Commerce Committee approved my bill to help train pediatricians. This important program needs to be reauthorized before September 30 of this year. With 40 percent of all pediatricians being trained through this program, without my legislation we risk a shortage of doctors trained to treat children.

“This week, I had a strong reminder of why my bill is so important. Anna Lipsman, a ten-year old from West Chester, Pa. visited my office to tell me about the treatment she is receiving at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She was diagnosed with leukemia, and with the assistance of the pediatricians she is successfully fighting this disease.

“Unfortunately, President Obama eliminated the funding for this program in his fiscal year 2012 budget. Frankly, the funding for this program was not there because of the billions of dollars in new health programs created by last year’s new health care law. A proven program that is doing good things was cast aside in favor of wasteful and duplicative spending.

“My bill has strong bipartisan support, and I believe that we have the resources to make sure that CHGME keeps training doctors to treat young and vulnerable patients.”

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4 Comments

  1. Ray Farrell says:

    As Obama-care ruins the best healthcare system in the world and mandates lower pay for Doctors, I applaud Rep Pitts for encouraging (thru incentives) people to enter the health care profession.

    Hopefully this Bill will repair some of the damage that was done by Reid, Pelosi, and the obamocrats in 2009.

    Ray Farrell
    Pocopson, PA

  2. Ray Farrell says:

    Steve,

    What are you talking about?

    H.R.2219 “The Department of Defense Appropriations Act for 2012” passed overwhelmingly in the Republican controller house on July 8, 2011 by a vote of: 336 Ayes to 87 Nays.

    Rep Joe Pitts voted “Aye” as did 18 of our 19 Pennsylvania Reps. The only Pennsylvania Rep voting “Nay” (against) was Rep Michael Doyle (PA14)…a Democrat.

    This Act included the “Holt” amendment which passed in the Republican controlled house on July 6, 2011 by a “voice vote” approving the $20,000,000 for suicide prevention.

    I don’t know where you are getting your info from? You have said this twice now about Rep Pitts and it appears to be wrong.

    Please enlighten us.

    Ray Farrell
    Pocopson, PA

  3. steve says:

    Interesting, because Joe voted to slash Pell grants that would get those undergrads to med school, lol. He’s so inconsistent, and to put the blame on the new healthcare law is more of the same. he was , while in the state house, totally unhelpful toward any health reform for small businesses. Here’s a recent example of his inconsistency….he’s all for the military right?? except when they come home. this was on July 8, 2011, and Joe Pitts voted AGAINST adding the 20 million for this needed benefit for our combat veterans.

    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, a bill that reflects his actions to prevent military suicides and to protect the commissary at Fort Monmouth.

    Included in the bill is an amendment that Holt wrote to set aside $20 million to prevent suicide among U.S. soldiers and reservists. The funding will support programs comparable to those proposed in the Sgt. Coleman S. Bean Individual Ready Reserve Suicide Prevention Act, a bill that Holt introduced in honor of a New Jersey veteran who took his own life in 2008 after two tours of duty in Iraq.

    “Over the last two years, more U.S. soldiers have died by their own hands than in combat,” Holt said. “This funding will help to convey a critical message to America’s soldiers: You are not alone. If you have suffered such trauma in service to this country that you are considering suicide, America stands ready to help you.”

  4. Turk182 says:

    Great.

    Spending is bad. Unless its my spending. Then, hands off.

    As I recall, Mr. Pitts supported tons and tons of spending over the last decade, and tax cuts that lowered revenues….and now he’s trashing Obama over his spending cuts.

    Fiscal conservative, my foot. Just another pol pandering to the clueless, selfish Tea Party knuckleheads who seem bent wrecking our economy.

    Sadly, the Democrats lack the cojones and smarts to stand up to these school yard bullies.

    What happened to adults in government?

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