September 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E871 COMMENDING THE WORK OF JOHN dress the dire need of diapers within the Kan- portunities for medical professionals to provide MOLIERE AND STANDARD COM- sas City area as I believe this will ultimately care in rural community-based settings. I urge MUNICATIONS lead to improved health for families within our my colleagues to support this bill. communities. f Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join HON. DENVER RIGGLEMAN PERSONAL EXPLANATION OF VIRGINIA me in recognizing HappyBottoms for their ef- fort in collecting, packaging and distributing IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES diapers to low income families across the Kan- HON. MARTHA ROBY Tuesday, September 22, 2020 sas City metro area. I am honored to rep- OF ALABAMA Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise resent this wonderful organization in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES today to recognize the work being done by 5th United States Congress. Tuesday, September 22, 2020 District residents to combat the COVID–19 f pandemic. The employees of Standard Com- Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, I was unable MATERNAL HEALTH QUALITY munications, Inc. have worked diligently with to vote on Thursday, September 17. Had I IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020 the Department of Veterans affairs to install been present I would have voted as follows: NAY on Roll Call No. 193; YEA on Roll Call medical IT solutions. This work has included a SPEECH OF new device to aid in the decontamination of No. 194; and YEA on Roll Call No. 195. medical equipment using ultraviolet light. HON. ANNA G. ESHOO f OF CALIFORNIA As we continue to face the COVID–19 pan- IN RECOGNITION OF AUSTIN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES demic, we have had to adapt and change the HICKLE SELFLESS EFFORTS TO way we practice medicine in America. As the Monday, September 21, 2020 DEFEAT COVID–19 Congressman for Virginia’s 5th District, I have Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in sup- been meeting with doctors, nurses, and other port of H.R. 4995, the Maternal Health Quality frontline healthcare workers to address our HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS Improvement Act of 2019. I’m proud to have OF TEXAS medical needs. One thing has become clear: advanced this bipartisan bill through my IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Increasing our telehealth capabilities is critical Health Subcommittee and I’m pleased to sup- Tuesday, September 22, 2020 to treating patients during the ongoing pan- port it on the Floor. demic. In rural communities, we have seen a My thanks to Reps. ENGEL, KELLY, Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise drop-off in patients seeking medical treatment BUCSHON, TORRES SMALL, LATTA, ADAMS, and today to express appreciation for Southern for non-coronavirus related illnesses and inju- STIVERS for introducing the Maternal Health Methodist University Student Body Vice Presi- ries. This can create serious long-term issues Quality Improvement Act of 2019, a bipartisan dent Austin Hickle of Lubbock, Texas. in our healthcare system, where veterans can bill to address the maternal health crisis. During this pandemic Austin has dem- be vulnerable. ‘‘The U.S. is the most the dangerous place onstrated true leadership. He used his position The work done by Standard Communica- in the developed world to deliver a baby.’’ This as SMU Student Body Vice President to es- tions and their founder John Moliere is helping quote was the conclusion of a major investiga- tablish the College Health Alliance of Texas to alleviate some of these issues. During the tion by USA Today. and recruited other student body presidents COVID–19 pandemic we must strive to find in- Each year, 700 American women die and from colleges and universities across Texas to novative solutions to the medical needs of our 50,000 women are severely injured due to become a unified voice. Together, this alliance community. Telehealth is now helping connect complications related to childbirth. If you’re a would be able to amplify the urgency of public patients with healthcare providers in a way we Black woman in the U.S., the risks are great- health compliance and coordinating greater had not considered before the outbreak. By in- er. Black women are three times more likely to student engagement in all necessary meas- creasing the number of doctor visits that can die from childbirth than white women in the ures to decrease the risk of outbreaks among be done without face-to-face meetings we can U.S., a startling statistic. students. By creating this alliance, Austin continue to slow the spread of the virus and This is unacceptable and it’s preventable. eliminated a leadership vacuum in the flatten the curve. I am grateful for the work of The CDC estimates as much as 60 percent of COVID–19 response due to the absence of a John Moliere and Standard Communications. these deaths could be prevented. strong student voice encouraging students to f This bill would prevent these deaths by ex- do their part and maintain best safety prac- panding programs that improve the practice of tices on campus. The message of these cam- HAPPYBOTTOMS DURING DIAPER maternal care across the country by devel- pus leaders was carried throughout the state NEED AWARENESS WEEK oping and disseminating best practices. in various media outlets. It encouraged stu- For example, the bill authorizes and funds dents to step up to keep their campuses and HON. SAM GRAVES the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health communities safe. OF MISSOURI or AIM, which includes provider, public health, For leadership that advanced the cause of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and consumer groups working at the state public safety during a global pandemic, I Tuesday, September 22, 2020 level to implement evidence-based ‘‘maternal would like to thank Austin Hickle for his self- safety bundles.’’ less efforts on behalf of the State of Texas. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, AIM works. States who implement AIM safe- f I proudly pause to recognize HappyBottoms. ty bundles have reduced their maternal mor- HappyBottoms is a very important organization bidity rate as much as 22 percent. This data- HONORING RAY PETHTEL, JR. as they help bridge the gap for the almost driven approach was spearheaded in my Con- 22,000 children that do not have enough dia- gressional District. Stanford’s California Mater- HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH pers and bring awareness to the need during nal Quality Care Collaborative has reduced OF VIRGINIA Diaper Need Awareness Week, which is cele- severe health problems from pregnancy-re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES brated the week of September 21 through 27, lated hemorrhages by 21 percent and has Tuesday, September 22, 2020 in Missouri. contributed to reducing the maternal mortality HappyBottoms is Kansas City’s only diaper rate in California by 55 percent. Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I offer bank and they have been instrumental in alle- H.R. 4995 also addresses the maternal mor- these remarks in honor of Ray Pethtel, Jr. of viating the need of diapers for families in the tality crisis in rural areas. Rural mothers are Christiansburg, Virginia, who passed away on Kansas City area since its creation. Created in 60 percent more likely to die during or after September 12, 2020 at the age of 83. Ray 2011, HappyBottoms has provided over 13 having a child than mothers in American cities, was a longtime public servant who was com- million diapers for low income families in col- and it’s even more dangerous for rural minor- mitted to accountability and high performance laboration with 41 partner agencies at 54 dis- ity women, including Native American women. in Virginia state government. tribution sites across 6 counties. In addition to Fewer than half of rural women live within a Ray was born in Gallipolis, Ohio and grad- their work within the community, 30-minute drive to a hospital with perinatal uated from high school in New Kensington, HappyBottoms is also active within 5 area services, and over 10 percent have to drive Pennsylvania. After service in the United hospitals providing diapers to eligible mothers 100 miles or more. States Air Force, he returned to Pennsylvania of newborns under their ‘‘Bundle of Joys’’ pro- This bill will close those gaps by expanding and earned a bachelor’s and a master’s de- gram. I strongly support these efforts to ad- telehealth grants and increasing training op- gree from the Pennsylvania State University. VerDate Sep 11 2014 11:05 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A22SE8.016 E22SEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with REMARKS E872 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 22, 2020 He held multiple positions in New York state ship Award, American Society of Highway En- authorities deem to be signs of ‘‘religious ex- government, interrupted by a stint in Wash- gineers Robert E. Person P.E. Person of the tremism.’’ ington, D.C., as Director of Administration for Year Award, the Rotary Foundation Inter- Alarmingly, there is a widespread forced the American Society for Public Administra- national Paul Harris Fellow, the Virginia Tech labor system that exists inside the mass in- tion. University Transportation Fellow, the Penn ternment camps as confirmed by the testi- The Virginia General Assembly established State Alumni Fellow, and the Roanoke- mony of camp survivors, satellite imagery, and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Com- Blacksburg Technology Hall of Fame. leaked official documents from the Chinese mission (JLARC) in 1973, and Ray was hired Ray is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, his government. In its 2019 Annual Report, the as the first director. JLARC was created to as- three daughters, Jennifer, Leslie and Judy, his Congressional-Executive Commission on sist the General Assembly in its oversight re- grandchildren, Austin, Stephanie and Kath- China found that goods produced with forced sponsibilities by auditing state government leen, and his sons-in-law, Tom, Ken and labor included textiles, electronics, food prod- agencies and analyzing their effectiveness.