·         PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Fought Against the Conference Agreement on HR 1 - Voted against the Conference Agreement on H.R. 1, the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2003, 11/21/03. – Passed by recorded vote: 220 to 215                                             

Fought for the Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act - Co-sponsored H.R. 2606, the Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003, a Blue Dog effort to provide meaningful federal prescription drug coverage, rural provider relief within fiscal constraints.         

Fought to Provide Relief for Rural Providers and Beneficiaries - Original co-sponsor of H.R. 3549, a Blue Dog endorsed bill to provide parity for rural Medicare providers, increase the annual physician fee schedule updates for FY2004 and FY2005 by 1.5 %, increase Medicare DSH payment caps to 12 %, and provide other relief for rural providers and beneficiaries.

Fought Against Forcing Medicare to Compete Against Private Plans - Fought against H.R. 1, the Republican sponsored Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2003, which would have forced Medicare to compete against private plans, forced seniors to rely on HMOs and PPOs, and eventually gutted Medicare as we know it. Passed in the House.

Supported the Democratic Substitute Medicare Bill - Supported H.R. 1199, Democratic substitute Medicare bill offered by Rep. Charles Rangel. Failed by recorded vote: 175-255.

Supported Bipartisan Senate Medicare Bill - Supported the Thompson motion to recommit, modeled on bipartisan Senate Medicare bill. Failed by recorded vote: 208-223.

Fought Against Harmful Provisions in the Republican Negotiated Medicare Legislation - Supported fourteen Democratic motions to instruct conferees providing alternatives to harmful provisions in the Republican- negotiated Medicare legislation. These motions attempted to eliminate premium support, improve coverage for low-income beneficiaries, guarantee a federal fall-back plan, eliminate coverage gaps, and improve payments to rural doctors and hospitals. Failed in the House, July-Nov 2003.

Fought Against Harmful Republican Motion - Fought against a Republican motion to instruct conferees that would have expanded means-testing to other provision in the Medicare bill. Failed in the House, 10/7/03.

Opposed Self-Dealing by Pharmacy Benefit Managers - Urged Medicare conferees to oppose self-dealing by Pharmacy Benefit managers.

WOMEN'S HEALTH

Fought for the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act – Co-sponsored H.R. 1886, Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, to require insurers to minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node dissections.

 Fought for the Annie Fox Act - Co-sponsored HR 1657, the Annie Fox Act, to provide NIH funding for research on breast cancer in younger women.

Fought for the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act – Co-sponsored H.R. 1746, Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2003, to authorize NIH to research environmental factors related to breast cancer.

Fought for the Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Act – Co-sponsored H.R. 1267, the Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment and Prevention Act of 2003, to provide research, training, treatment and coverage to prevent domestic violence and assist victims.

Fought for the Prevent Prematurity and Improve Child Health Act – Co-sponsored H.R. 3293, the Prevent Prematurity and Improve Child Health Act of 2003, to expand and add coverage for pregnant women under Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance Programs.

Fought for Funding of the Defense Department Breast Cancer Research Program - Fought for a $150 million appropriation for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP).

Fought for the Putting Prevention First Act - Cosponsored H.R. 4192, the Putting Prevention First Act, to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and increase women's access to essential reproductive health care services.

Fought for the Children's Dental Health Act of 2004 - Signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Children's Dental Health Act of 2004, to provide incentives for states and health care providers to improve access to dental services for children.

Fought for the Commpassionate Care of Children Act - Cosponsored H.R. 3127, the Compassionate Care for Children Act to improve America's palliative care system by ensuring that children with life threatening illnesses have access to the treatments and care that they need and deserve.            

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

Fought for an Increase in Funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs - Requested an increase of $217 million in FY2005 for AIDS drug assistance programs under the Ryan White CARE Act.  

Fought for the Defense Department Prostate Cancer Research Program - Requested a $150 million appropriation for the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (DOD PCRP).

Supported Policy Adjustments the Administration Could Make Regarding Medicare Substantial Growth - Recommended policy adjustments the Administration could make to effect more accurate calculations of both the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula target and spending that counts toward that target.

Fought for the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act - Cosponsored H.R. 3459, the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act, developed by the three minority health caucuses and seeking to eliminate disparities in minority health status and treatment.

Fought for Full Funding to Combat Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - Fought for full funding of a $3 billion appropriation to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Fought for the Access to Cancer Therapies Act - Cosponsored HR 1288, the Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2003, to provide coverage under Medicare of all oral anticancer drugs.

Fought for the Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act - Cosponsored H.R. 1910, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information.

Fought to Support the Needs of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities - Requested delayed implementation of a revised 75 % rule to support the needs of inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Supported Increased Funding for NIH - Supported increasing funding to the National Institutes of Health to maintain the current pace of discovery. 

Fought for Improved Funding for Title VII Health Professions Program - Requested improved funding for Title VII Health Professions Program (requested by Morehouse School of Medicine).

Fought for Impatient Rehabilitative Facilities and Patients - The local medical review policies (LMRPs) being developed in Georgia and five other states are too restrictive and will harm inpatient rehabilitative facilities and patients.

Fought for Optional Coverage for Young Adults Act - Cosponsored H.R. 3192, the Medicaid, SCHIP Optional Coverage for Young Adults Act to permit states to cover low-income youth up to age 23.

Fought for Homeless Citizens of Lowndes County, Georgia - Requested full and fair consideration to preserve the ability of Lowndes Associated Ministries to People in providing services to homeless citizens of Lowndes County, Georgia.              

Healthcare - Colquitt County - Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital - Hospital Construction - $75,000 

Healthcare - Muscogee County - Valley Healthcare System, Inc. - Cancer Research - $500,000