Video of Bill Mark-up and Passage Through Energy and Commerce Committee. View HERE.

SUMMARY OF VIDEO

By Lucy Barnes

Into the video:

(Timing in minutes is a bit off due to movement to you-tube from the Congressional site.)

Approximately 2:30 minutes- Upton (R-MI) called it (HR-4701) a "critical" bill. Called it the "Tick Borne" bill, unlike Pallone below- referring it to as the "Vector Borne" bill. Complains some bills were considered with no hearings and or subcommittee work-ups.

Approximately 6 minutes- Waxman (D-CA)- Explains bill briefly and comments he liked bill that was passed (the wrong bill) through the health subcommittee. But, today we are presented with a new draft. Wants to be sure the bill does not politicize federal activities on Lyme disease. Said the federal agencies need to be sure scientific studies take command in these groups (my words). In other words, IDSA position brought forth and solidified.

Approximately 10 minutes- Pitts (R-PA) summarizes the bill again. Bill summarizes current federal activities. Understanding of tick borne diseases. Report will inform Secretary of Health. To improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, etc. Called it Tick Borne.

Approximately 11:30 minutes- "Frank-I hate Lyme patients-Pallone" (D-NJ) starts his crying routine [please pass the box of kleenex]. Regular order is important, not being followed. Subcommittee had no input. Doesn't feel the right procedures were followed for several bills and the minority views weren't heard, blah blah blah. Why must we by-pass procedures? He says he just doesn't understand.

Approximately 15 minutes- Pallone still speaking/crying- now on the Lyme bill. He seems to not appreciate the fact the bill is on the calendar since committee still does not have a consensus on it. [In other words, it is not what he or IDSA wants.] But, staff continues to work through the differences. The minority (democrats) had 0% input and Pallone doesn't know why. Crying about Democrat/ Republican issues, not Lyme issues. Then says he hopes changes he made can be used so he can support at least one of these bills before them today. Called the bill "Vector Borne", not "Tick Borne". [Does he ever actually read a bill or know what is going on?]

Approximately 20:09 minutes- Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)- Supports efforts to promote Lyme disease research- BUT- concerns about changes, in other words wanted the bad bill slipped through the committee earlier. She "supports scientific" approach (IDSA views) but is concerned about new bill (?) and the non-consensus in sub-committee and has problems with changes made to bill in subcommittee. Crying in Pallone fashion this bill wasn't brought up by the rules. Hopes things can be worked out before going to floor.

Approximately 25:20 minutes- Gene Green (D-TX)- 25:31 Called it LYME'S disease. He is "concerned" about provisions new amended bill and committee must be based on best available "science" views. Lesson's learned about vaccines should not be forgotten. [Sounds like vaccines were mentioned in a letter to Congress members from IDSA and how patient advocates ruined LymeRix's chances with their non-scientitic views; the same old stuff.] Another IDSA puppet and/or just an uniformed democrat unhappy he is in the minority.

Approximately 28 minutes- Pete Olsen (R-TX)- Sponsor of 5214 (new therapies for patient care). Spoke mostly on his bill and was trying to defend it.

Approximately 30 minutes- Morgan Griffith (R-VA)- Uses Tick Borne in describing the bill. Says he is there to speak specifically on HR-4701. Mentioned Wolf and his efforts and praised him as the "champion" of the bill and past efforts. Says bill creates new federal working group and he supports that, BUT- says it offers opportunities to reestablish connections - and it should allow Congress to control appointments.

May seem to be small he said- but we need to step out of wilderness for legislative branch that we in Congress have willingly wandered into. Process does matter. This bill creates new federal working group, but these groups offer us a chance to reestablish just a little bit of the influence of the legislative branch. For too long Congress has yielded too much power over appointments to the executive branch.

Said they need to change the culture in Congress by allowing Congress to control some of the non-governmental appointments. He would argue that it should be majority, but that "may be for another day". Wants to defend advisory boards. Served for 17 years, never wanted to be a Governor, etc.

He wants to defend the prerogatives of branch "majority" to select people on the working group. Preserving powers, etc.

Approximately 32:30 minutes- Continuing, Griffith from Virginia is going to ask his staff- QUOTE- "to draft possible amendments for this bill to have even more legislative appointments because we must begin the process of standing up for the institution of the US Congress as the people's House by reasserting our legislative powers over the executive branch and NOT having unelected appointed officials selecting all these folks who are going to serve on these boards."

[NatCap Lyme from Virginia has a long history of working behind the scenes to push their own agenda. Could, as in other cases, they have worked behind the scenes once again to encourage a Virginia legislator to draft an amendment to the bill that would allow more and/or a different way of selecting members for the working group should the bill pass?

The NatCap group was fully advised of all developments as the bill progressed and they were against the bill until the last minute when the LDA reported they suddenly jumped on board, which is about the same time the Virginia legislator was drafting the amendment.]

Link Here:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/markup/markup-hr-4067-hr-hr-3522-hr-4701-hr-3670-hr-5161-hr-1575

E & C Subcommittee on Health Members

Chairman: Joe Pitts (PA-16)

Members