Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5561) to reauthorize a program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5561
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM FOR EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT REGARDING DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING NEWBORNS, INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Section 399M(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-1(f)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$17,818,000 for fiscal year 2018, $18,173,800 for fiscal year 2019, $18,628,145 for fiscal year 2020, $19,056,592 for fiscal year 2021, and $19,522,758 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting ``$17,818,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$10,800,000 for fiscal year 2018, $11,026,800 for fiscal year 2019, $11,302,470 for fiscal year 2020, $11,562,427 for fiscal year 2021, and $11,851,488 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting ``$16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026''; and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fiscal years 2011 through 2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2022 through 2026''. SEC. 3. GAO STUDY ON STATE EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study reviewing State early hearing detection and intervention (in this section referred to as ``EHDI'') programs. Such study shall--
(1) analyze how information collected through such programs informs what is known about EHDI activities to ensure that newborns, infants, and young children have access to timely hearing screenings and early interventions, including information on any disparities in such access;
(2) analyze what is known about how parents use State EHDI websites to seek health and programmatic guidance related to their child's hearing loss diagnosis; and
(3) identify efforts and any promising practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and State EHDI programs--
(A) to address disparities in outreach for, or access to, timely hearing screenings and early interventions; and
(B) to ensure that EHDI follow-up services are communicated and made available to medically underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities.
(b) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall--
(1) complete the study under subsection (a) and submit a report on the results of the study to--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
(2) make such report publicly available.
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Mr. PALLONE. 5561.
Over the last 20 years, we have been very successful in addressing one of the most common birth defects affecting America's children, congenital hearing loss. Children with this condition are born with hearing loss and are at risk for delays in speech, language, social, and emotional development. Fortunately, early detection and intervention is highly effective in preventing these adverse effects.
Since the year 2000, Congress has passed and subsequently reauthorized Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs, also known as EHDI programs; and these programs support State and territory programs and systems of care to identify and support children who are deaf or hard of hearing. As a result of these EHDI programs, early hearing loss screening, diagnosis, and treatment services have greatly increased over the last 20 years.
Consider that before 1993, only 1 in 10 newborns were screened for hearing loss. Recent data indicates that today, 97 percent of all infants are screened within the first month of their lives; 77 percent of infants receive audiological evaluations and diagnosis by 3 months of age; and 70 percent of infants were enrolled in early intervention services before 6 months of age. These are remarkable achievements that help ensure all children with hearing loss have the same opportunities as children who can hear.
So today, we are considering a bill that will help us build on these achievements. H.R. 5561, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021, would extend funding for the EHDI programs for 5 years through fiscal year 2026. This legislation will ensure that these services continue to be available for children that are deaf or hard of hearing.
I want to commend our Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Guthrie for his leadership on this bill. I urge all my colleagues to support it.
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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