Without a doubt, professional boxers are the most exploited athletes in our Nation.

Millions of Americans every year depend upon medical imaging exams to diagnose disease and detect injury, and thousands more rely on radiation therapy to treat and cure their cancers.

Most of us take it for granted that the person performing our radiologic procedures is a competent professional. But the fact is, poorly trained individuals examine and treat thousands of patients in this country every day.

The public airwaves provide a chance to affirm we want to be a good, decent people; a good, decent nation.

The current lack of a national standard for operators of medical imaging and radiation therapy equipment poses a hazard to American patients and jeopardizes quality health care.

In addition to fines, violators of decency standards could be required to air public service announcements serving educational and informational needs of children.

The real problem today is the ineffective and inconsistent oversight of professional boxing, which has led to continuing scandals, controversies, unethical practices, and unnecessary injuries and deaths in the sport.

If a catastrophic event wipes out a large portion of House members, America needs to know this body, elected by the people, will be quickly and legally reconstituted and will continue to function.

A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.

Our legislation addresses broadcasts over the public airwaves, but I hope the cable and satellite industries see the importance of this issue and voluntarily create a family tier of programming and offer culturally responsible products.

In states where no regulation exists, anyone is permitted to perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures, sometimes after just a few weeks of on-the-job training.

But our country suffers from a shortage of vets trained in public health.

Twenty-first century medicine must not be confined to a twentieth-century bureaucracy.

You see, one of the best ways to assure quality radiologic procedures is to require a basic level of education and skill for the people responsible for performing these procedures.

The House is rooted in the principle of direct elections and is unique among all branches and bodies of the federal government as without exception, the people’s voice.

America does not want vulgarity and sexual exploitation to be our values and we do not want the world to think those are our standards. We want to be a better nation and a better people, with better standards.

Under the CARE bill, personnel performing radiologic procedures in every state would be required to meet minimum educational and credentialing standards. Each state would then be responsible for regulating radiologic technologists according to those standards.

Lawsuit abuse is a major contributor to the increased costs of healthcare, goods and services to consumers.

Today, many fans are saddened and upset by the lack of integrity they see in professional boxing that has significantly weakened the sport – the most deplorable problem of which is the treatment of the sport’s athletes.

The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act of 2005 is bipartisan legislation directing funding and promoting education and research toward the goal of preventing, treating and curing arthritis.

Every year, more than 300 million x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and other medical imaging exams are performed in the United States, and seven out of 10 people undergo some type of radiologic procedure.

In recent years, research into the prevention and treatment of arthritis has led to measures that successfully reduce pain and improve the quality of life for millions.

The CARE bill is an important piece of patient-care legislation. It will improve the quality of radiologic procedures performed throughout the United States as well as assist in reducing the cost incurred by the Federal government for these procedures.

Without a doubt, professional boxers are the most exploited athletes in our Nation.

Media corporations have a civic responsibility not only to prevent fraud and financial abuse, but also to not corrupt or degrade our culture.

But remember, any radiologic procedure is only as effective as the person performing it.