I regret that I cannot support the bill before us today because it fails to include critical components mandating quality in our health care technology systems. Furthermore, I echo the concerns of my colleagues regarding the need for patient privacy standards and important consumer protections.

This is a missed opportunity for our nation’s health care system. The goal of moving health care from pen and paper to the digital age has enjoyed bipartisan support. I am troubled that the bill presented to the House of Representatives today fails to meet the standards of the bipartisan coalition spearheaded by my colleague, Patrick Kennedy.

In recent years, I have been proud to see the health care community in Rhode Island come together to accelerate the use of health information technology in our state. One project in particular – and this is just one of many - called EHR-RI, has brought together physicians, hospital administrators and insurance company representatives to focus on the goals of getting this technology into physicians' offices and aiding in the often-complicated transition to new systems. The health care community recognizes the need to compromise and work in collaboration to achieve the goals of using technology to help patients and their families.

Because the efficient use of technology is central to our efforts to control costs and increase quality in health care, I urge my colleagues in Congress to follow their lead. Support stronger legislation that would truly advance the electronic health information exchange in our nation’s health care system.