Cosponsored H.R. 1560, the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2007. This legislation would increase federal commitment to Alzheimer's research by providing researchers with additional resources to make breakthroughs in diagnosis, prevention and intervention. It also creates a national summit on Alzheimer's to be held by the Department of Health and Human Services to examine new research, to prioritize federal Alzheimer's initiatives, and to review informational and educational programs for health care professionals and the public. The bill also provides assistance to caregivers through expanding the Alzheimer's Call Center to a 24-hour, seven-day a week service to provide care consultation and crisis intervention. More than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's Disease.

Cosponsored H.R. 1198, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2007. This legislation would allow for the continuation of the successful Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs for an additional five years. This legislation would provide assistance to ensure timely follow-up after an infant fails their newborn hearing test, and would also help to integrate recently developed state EHDI programs with existing public health systems.

Cosponsored H.R. 1343, the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007. This legislation would allow for continuation of the successful Health Centers program for an additional five years. Established more than 40 years ago, the Health Centers program provides access to quality preventive and primary health care in needy communities, including service to millions of Americans without health insurance. Health centers are a critical component of our nation's health care safety net, providing quality health care to 16 million underserved individuals nationwide.

Cosponsored H.R. 552, the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2007, which would create specific cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation benefit categories under Medicare. Currently, neither pulmonary nor cardiac rehabilitation services are specifically included in Medicare, causing coverage to be inconsistent, often resulting in limited access to necessary care for patients.

Joined the Cancer Care Working Group, which works to better understand how Congress can support quality cancer care. The group meets regularly to hear presentations and discuss legislative initiatives affecting cancer care and patient treatment options.

Cosponsored the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) Rural Representation Act, which would ensure that rural areas are represented on MedPAC. MedPAC is charged with analyzing issues affecting the Medicare program. Congress looks to MedPAC's recommendations on Medicare payment policies to shape legislation.

Cosponsored H.R. 1078, the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act of 2007, which makes changes to the Medicare system so it more appropriately pays for all of the services needed to provide patients with more thorough cancer care, including development of cancer care plans. H.R. 1078 would also create grant and research programs aimed at enhancing the quality of care for all cancer survivors.

Cosponsored the Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007. This legislation would alter a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation that requires rehabilitation hospitals have a certain percentage of their patients admitted for at least one specified condition, such as stroke, brain injury, etc. The percentage rule unfairly forces hospitals to turn away patients based on compliance with those percentages, rather than actual medical needs and physician determinations.

Cosponsored H.R. 1553, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. This legislation would strengthen the investment by the federal government in childhood cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and awareness. It would provide increased support for childhood cancer through biomedical research programs and the establishment a fellowship program for young researchers. H.R. 1553 would also establish a childhood cancer database to help researchers identify genetic causes of pediatric cancer and develop prevention strategies. In addition, it would authorize the development, construction, and operation of a comprehensive online information system to provide patients and their families with information on childhood cancer and cancer support services.

Cosponsored H.R. 1283, the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2007. This legislation would provide additional support to federal, state, and private efforts to prevent and manage arthritis. The bill includes programs to educate healthcare professionals and the public on successful strategies for individuals to control their arthritis pain, increased attention to children's arthritis research, and the establishment of education and career development award programs for health care professionals to promote the study of arthritis.

Cosponsored H.Res. 208, a resolution honoring the 25^th anniversary of Operation Smile. Dr. William Magee, Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, discovered an overwhelming need to help children overcome by facial deformities during a medical mission trip to the Philippines in 1982. They founded Operation Smile, a private, not-for-profit volunteer organization, whose mission is to provide reconstructive surgery and related health care to individuals throughout the world. Operation Smile has helped more than 100,000 children and young adults overcome their physical irregularities. More than 450 Operation Smile Student Associations operate around the world, building awareness, raising funds, and educating students about the values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism.

Cosponsored The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007, H.R. 119, which would allow a woman to make the decision whether to stay in the hospital to recuperate from a mastectomy, or whether she has enough support to get quality care at home after this surgery. Unfortunately, some insurance companies have refused to cover hospital stays after a woman has undergone a mastectomy, a difficult surgery both emotionally and physically.