WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 17, 2019) – Today, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) ushered three bills she helped introduce through the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Cathy and Rep. Raul Ruiz’s (D-CA) legislation to extend the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (included in the REACH Act (H.R. 2328)), her and Rep. Jim Langevin’s (D-RI) Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019, and her and Rep. Bobby Rush’s (D-IL) Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act (included in the EMPOWER for Health Act (H.R. 2781)).  

“From bringing more doctors to Eastern Washington to ensuring respite care is accessible for those who need it to promoting diversity in allied health fields, these three bills will make improvements in our health care system that will benefit people here in our community,” said Cathy. “These are bipartisan solutions, and I’m thankful for their passage today and will continue to work with my Democratic colleagues to get these bills signed into law.”

NOTE: Last year, Cathy led in extending the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program for two years with doubled funding. The bipartisan legislation that passed committee today will further extend the program for four more years, providing certainty to the many Teaching Health Centers across the country, like the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic in Spokane. More info here. 

Cathy and Rep. Langevin’s Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2019 will authorize $200 million in funding over the next five years to continue building coordinated respite services for families caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling conditions. More info here. 

In July, Cathy and Rep. Rush introduced the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act to provide funding for colleges and universities to make physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology programs more accessible to underrepresented communities, including those who are racial or ethnic minorities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. More info here. 

Cathy also voted in support of the No Surprises Act (H.R. 3630) today, bipartisan legislation to prevent surprise medical billing — a topic that Cathy has been outspoken about this year. 

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