House Committee on Energy and Commerce

All Updates

Jun 18, 2026

Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Latta, and Rep. Evans on the Introduction of the Ratepayer Protection Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act by Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-02) and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14), which aims to ensure American families are not left footing the bill for the grid upgrades and electricity demand that building out AI infrastructure requires.

“Winning the race to AI dominance is essential to securing America’s future global leadership, and that means expeditiously building the power infrastructure needed to support new technologies, while doing so in a responsible way,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Families and small businesses across the country shouldn’t be left to foot the bill for this new development, though the benefits of these innovations will be felt by all of society. The Ratepayer Protection Act is a bipartisan effort which would ensure that the costs of grid upgrades are appropriately paid for according to demand. Thank you to Congressman Evans for his leadership on this commonsense bill.”

“As the Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, I am supportive of the Ratepayer Protection Act,” said Chairman Latta. “This legislation would create a baseline standard so that Americans are protected from large rate increases due to data centers and other large load operations. I thank my colleague, Rep. Gabe Evans, for leading this timely legislation.”

“As America races to lead the world in AI, we must build the energy infrastructure needed to support this innovation, and stay ahead of competitors like Communist China,” said Rep. Evans. “However, Colorado families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to cover the costs of new power generation driven by these developments. I’m proud to introduce the Ratepayer Protection Act, which is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that protects everyday Americans and ensures our nation can continue to win the AI race.”

BACKGROUND:

Codifies the principles underpinning the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, a commitment by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI to cover their own data center energy costs.
When a major new customer like a data center comes onto the grid, new power generation, transmission lines, and local upgrades are often required to meet its energy demands. The companies that require these new upgrades should be the ones to pay for them, not families and small businesses in local communities.
The bipartisan legislation amends Section 111 (d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require state regulatory authorities to consider creating a large-load standard, which would ensure that any company looking to build a data center would be required to pay for the related costs of building new power generation, transmission lines, and other upgrades, in effect preserving local decision making while modernizing electricity policy to meet the demands of innovation.

CLICK HERE to read the legislation.

Jun 18, 2026

Hearings

Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce Announce Oversight and Investigations Hearing on the Fraud Risks of State Medicaid Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, announced a hearing titled State Medicaid Program Integrity: Examining Fraud Risks and Oversight Deficiencies.

“Fraud puts the Medicaid program at risk, harming beneficiaries and reducing access to quality health care for the most vulnerable Americans. States have a duty to be responsible stewards of public resources, but a lack of stringent guardrails at the state level has left Medicaid programs highly susceptible to fraud,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce. “The Committee is conducting meaningful oversight to address fraud and moving forward with the next phase of our oversight work to eradicate systemic fraud and fortify Medicaid program integrity nationwide.”

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled State Medicaid Program Integrity: Examining Fraud Risks and Oversight Deficiencies

WHAT: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing to continue the Committee’s oversight work in rooting out systemic fraud in Medicaid and strengthening program integrity across the nation.

DATE: Thursday, June 25, 2026

TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Claire Richey with the Committee staff at Claire.Richey@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov.

Jun 17, 2026

Environment

Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer Announce Legislative Hearing to Examine Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled Trash to Treasure: Examining Legislation to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling.

“Critical minerals are at the foundation of American energy, manufacturing, and national security. As we continue to onshore jobs and grow our domestic supply chains to build the technologies that power modern life, it's essential that we address outdated and unworkable regulations that are standing in the way of strengthening our competition with China.” said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer. “The EPA brings real technical expertise to this challenge, and next week's hearing will help provide a framework to strengthen our critical mineral infrastructure, invest in materials recycling, and support the cleanup of contaminated sites, while also recovering critical minerals from previously untapped domestic sources.”

Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled Trash to Treasure: Examining Legislation to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling

WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment hearing to discuss legislation that would support critical mineral recovery and recycling in order to strengthen our national security.

DATE: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Items to be considered:

H.R. ____, [Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act]
H.R. ____, [Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act]
H.R. ____, [Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Authorization Act of 2026]
H.R. 3059, Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act (Rep. Carter (GA))
H.R. 3713, Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 (Reps. Crane and Stanton)
H.R. 4370, Securing America’s Mineral Supply (SAMS) Act (Rep. Palmer)
H.R. 7523, Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act (Rep. Balderson)

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.

Jun 16, 2026

E&C Leaders Request Details from NIH About Two Laboratory Researchers Who Allegedly Transported Biological Materials into the U.S. Illegally

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, wrote to the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, about concerns arising from two NIH researchers who, based on allegations in a recent federal criminal complaint, improperly transported biological materials into the U.S. To help inform the Committee’s oversight, the E&C leaders seek to better understand the circumstances surrounding the alleged importation of biological materials, the research activities involving those materials, the adequacy of existing oversight mechanisms, and any corrective actions undertaken by NIH.

“The announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan that two NIH researchers have been charged with conspiring to smuggle mpox and other biological material into the country is deeply concerning,” said Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Griffith. “And what’s even worse is how a leading scientist allegedly misled CBP officers given the risks of improperly transporting such materials into our country. For these reasons and more, the Committee has questions about the incident, what actions are being taken in response to the incident, and what is being done to safeguard our country.”

The Committee has requested that a written response and all responsive materials be provided to staff no later than June 30, 2026.

BACKGROUND:

On January 25, 2026, two NIH scientists, Dr. Vincent Munster and Dr. Claude Kwe, arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport after traveling to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. They were subjected to further inspection at the airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents after exhibiting nervous behavior while possessing a large, suspicious plastic case.
According to the complaint, when asked about the case, the individuals claimed that the case only contained “diagnostic and testing equipment,” but did not disclose biological materials.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) subsequent investigation revealed the large plastic case contained biological materials, some of which an FBI laboratory test confirmed were deactivated mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus material, which Dr. Munster and Dr. Kwe would have needed specific documentation to transport via commercial flight and which would have required declaration to customs authorities upon arrival into the U.S.
As of June 2, 2026, the FBI had only tested 20 of the vials. Seventeen of them contained deactivated mpox virus, one contained the chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA.
On June 2, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan charged both scientists with conspiring to smuggle mpox and other biological samples into the U.S. and lying to law enforcement.
NIH has stated that the individuals’ access to NIH facilities were terminated, the individuals acted on their own accord, and that NIH has continued to take this incident seriously and is working with the FBI.

Read the full letter HERE.

Read the full criminal complaint HERE.

Jun 15, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Announces Stakeholder Engagement and Member Services Staff Updates

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced that Chris Sarley has been named Senior Director of Policy & Stakeholder Engagement. Additionally, Chairman Guthrie has named Ryan P. Murphy the Director of Member Services.

Chris Sarley—Senior Director of Policy & Stakeholder Engagement

Having served as the Committee’s Senior Advisor and Director of Member Services & Stakeholder Engagement since the beginning of this Congress, Chris Sarley will now serve as the Senior Director of Policy & Stakeholder Engagement of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Chris has played a critical role in executing the Committee’s outreach efforts and has enhanced the communication and collaboration among not only Committee Members but also stakeholders on and off Capitol Hill. In his new role, he will continue to oversee those functions while assuming expanded responsibility for coordinating the policy and legislative agenda across the subcommittees, helping guide the development of Committee priorities. Chris is a Capitol Hill veteran, with more than 17 years of experience in the House of Representatives, working for the Energy and Commerce Committee and for senior members of the Committee. He also brings private-sector experience from Cornerstone Government Affairs, where he advised a diverse portfolio of clients on federal policy and legislative matters.

Ryan P. Murphy—Director of Member Services

Ryan P. Murphy joins the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as Director of Member Services, where he will facilitate engagement and communication with Members, both on and off Committee. He comes to E&C from the House Committee on Small Business, where he served as Deputy Staff Director. Ryan is a graduate of Marquette University, the University of Oklahoma, and The George Washington University, a U.S. Army veteran, and a former commissioned officer with 13 years of service.

Jun 10, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Hearing to Examine Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency for Patients and Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today’s hearing will examine ways we can work to improve health care price transparency.

“Health care affordability has long been a priority for this Committee and Congressional Republicans.

“Building on the foundation established by President Trump’s transparency initiatives, we have focused on policies that increase competition, expand consumer choice, reduce regulatory burdens, and strengthen transparency throughout the health care system.

“While there is no single solution to addressing rising health care costs, empowering Americans with better information and transparency data remains a critical step toward a more efficient, accountable, and affordable health care landscape.

“For too long, patients, families, and employers have faced a health system where the cost of care is often unclear—sometimes even unclear after care is delivered.

“As we have seen throughout our Affordability Series, health care pricing, medical bills, and coverage information can be complex and opaque.

“But it does not have to be that way.

“Greater transparency is essential to creating a more consumer-driven marketplace, where patients have the tools needed to make more-informed care decisions.

“When patients have a better understanding of the costs associated with medical treatments, procedures, and services, they are better positioned to compare options, seek high-value care, and avoid unexpected medical bills.

“Increased transparency is also critical to bringing health care disruptors into the market and promoting competition amongst insurers and providers, where we continue to see consolidation that contributes to higher health care costs.

“It is important that we strive to foster a health system that not only delivers high-quality care at a more affordable cost but also increases accountability across the sector.

“This Administration, both in President Trump’s first term and in this current term, has prioritized bringing more transparency to health care.

“Some of the proposals today build off the transparency work that President Trump has implemented through regulatory pathways, meaning a different administration can come in and change or reverse course on them.

“That’s why codification is important, as it aims to allow for a more standardized format and implementation of rules for hospitals and insurers to follow.

“For instance, many hospitals have invested millions of dollars into creating transparency within their system and shifting regulations by different administrations only adds to that cost.

“During this hearing, we will explore a range of legislative proposals aimed at strengthening transparency requirements and providing patients with upfront, clear information about health care prices.

“One of the bills we will consider is an updated version of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which was led by former Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and passed on the House floor back in 2023.

“The bill aims to increase price transparency throughout the health care system, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and clinical labs and imaging testing.

“Additionally, some of the proposals today look at ways we can empower the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, with the tools they need to improve price transparency data and accountability.

“Further, we look at ways participants can be more fully informed, as one of the discussion drafts requires Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans to publicly post their prior authorization data so that individuals can view the plans’ approval and denial rates for health claims.

“Another bill we will discuss is H.R. 5582, the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, championed by Representative John James from Michigan. This bill takes a slightly different approach compared to the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act, but shares the same goal of bringing more transparency into the market.

“I am proud of this Subcommittee’s commitment toward working to lower health care costs for all Americans, and I am eager to examine these proposals so we can continue to look for ways to make health care more affordable and transparent.

“I thank the witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to the discussion.”

Jun 10, 2026

Press Release

Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing to Examine Policies Increasing Price Transparency for Patients and Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

“For too long, patients, families, and employers have faced a health system where the cost of care is often unclear—sometimes even until after care is delivered,” said Chairman Griffith. “Building on the foundation established by President Trump’s transparency initiatives, we have focused on policies that increase competition, expand consumer choice, reduce regulatory burdens, and strengthen transparency throughout the health care system.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-01) on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026: “One of the bills we’re considering is the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, which this Committee has previously passed. While patients are often encouraged to shop for care and make informed decisions, too many still lack access to clear, timely, and usable information about the cost of services. [...] As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand—my arch nemesis—the challenges prior authorizations can create throughout our insurance companies, be they private or public. And today, we’re considering discussion drafts that would require commercial health plans to provide greater transparency into prior authorization and claim denial rates, which, we know, about 90 percent of those are approved after the first review. So, as well as the plans’ overhead cost, how would this additional data benefit the employers you represent?” Mr. Gremminger: “So first, I’ll just say we very much support the discussion draft. I think the employer perspective on prior authorization [and] utilization management is a nuanced one, right? We have seen too often where physicians may inadvertently or potentially intentionally prescribe drugs that are higher priced than what’s otherwise necessary or try to do services that are unnecessary and may actually be harmful to patients. That’s a rarity. But we think it’s important that there is actually an opportunity to say, ‘Time out; let’s look at something else.’ That being said, we do believe that the significant use of prior auth is often simply to just delay care, create float for the insurance plan and then, ultimately, they’re going to 90 percent of the time say yes. Understanding how often prior auth is being used—not just by the carriers that we may be contracted with, but by other carriers—will then provide more information for employers to say, ‘I don’t like the way that we’re doing it internally. We found there’s this other carrier over here. We have their data. We want to shift to them because we think that they’re doing this better.’”

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Congressman John James (MI-10) on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act: “The idea behind this legislation is simple: it will make it easier for patients to price-compare when getting medical treatment so they can pick the lowest cost option—just like they do in every other aspect of their lives. People drive out of their way to fill up on cheaper gas. They check different websites for the best price before making an online purchase. They price-compare before buying a flight. They get an estimate before making house repairs... so why can’t the people price-compare before getting a medical procedure? Because it’s too hard. The people are forced to blindly pay whatever it costs, because hospital prices are confusing and hard to find. The system is too complicated by design; it’s a ‘Confusopoly’. As a result, patients end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars more for the exact same services and the same level of care with the same billing codes. Patients Deserve Price Tags was part of a bipartisan, Lower Costs, More Transparency legislation the House approved last term.”

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Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) on the Clear Healthcare Expense Cost Knowledge (CHECK) Act: “The CHECK Act is designed to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding health care costs, giving patients clearer information, bringing hidden costs out into the open, and creating better accountability throughout the system. In every other part of our economy, consumers can see prices before making a purchase. When you go to a restaurant, you get a menu. There are prices on it. When you walk through a grocery store, there are prices on every shelf. Health care should be no different. There should not be a surprise when you get a letter in the mail a month later.”

Jun 9, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Hearing on Nuclear Energy Licensing Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing to discuss efficient nuclear licensing reform.

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today’s hearing will consider legislative proposals to improve the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing process among other reforms, which will help maintain momentum for U.S. nuclear development.

“A robust and growing American nuclear industry is vital for our economy, energy and national security.

“We need firm, reliable energy, and a lot more of it.

“We also need a robust nuclear sector for our national security: we must increase nuclear commerce with our allies and provide a more cost-effective industrial base.

“This subcommittee has already taken significant steps that will optimize the regulatory system and related policies to assist nuclear deployment and the economic and security benefits for the nation.

“Our bipartisan work two years ago led to the ADVANCE Act. This law directed the NRC to align its mission for enabling benefits of nuclear technology and to focus on efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing predictability in the permitting process.

“Our work also laid the foundation for a revitalized domestic nuclear fuel sector. The Nuclear Fuel Security Act and Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, which many of us on this dias helped develop and sponsor, provided federal support and market incentives to grow our nuclear fuel industry and eliminate Russia’s strategic chokehold over global fuel supplies.

“As these important laws have been implemented, it has become clear that additional updates may be helpful to achieve their goals.

“The bills under consideration this morning provide additional, practical reforms, so the permitting process can be more efficient, while safety is protected and transparency for the public is assured.

“We will consider the bipartisan H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, sponsored by my colleagues from Virginia’s ninth, Washington’s eighth, and Texas’s thirty-third congressional districts. This would save time and resources by eliminating an outdated requirement that NRC hold a final public hearing on a license, even if no one requests the hearing.

“H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, which I led along with my colleague from California’s fiftieth district would clarify certain recycling facilities may be licensed under the same regulatory framework as other fuel cycle facilities.

“Several of us recently visited a fuel recycling facility in northern France to have a better sense of the potential for this technology in the United States. This legislation will result in efficient permitting changes to extract additional energy out of used fuel.

“H.R. 9084, the Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act, introduced last week by the Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee, would require DOE to announce and post licensing decisions for facilities it permits, similar to what NRC already does.

“We will also review several discussion drafts that should attract bipartisan support.

“We will consider the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, which directs this important advisory committee to focus on issues that are new and safety significant, to reduce unnecessary time on routine licensing by the NRC.

“This is in keeping with the bipartisan goals of the ADVANCE act to be risk-informed, and efficient when reviewing licenses.

“The American Enrichment Deployment Act brings the licensing process for enrichment facilities in line with the permitting process for other fuel cycle facilities. It is a critical step to assure efficient licensing as we work to build out critical fuel supply infrastructure.

“Finally, the NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act would update the Atomic Energy Act to align the pay authority applicable to certain career SES employees with the pay authorities Congress provided in the ADVANCE Act. Maintaining experienced and competent leadership at NRC is essential for assuring it carries out its mission.

“Our witnesses this morning, all of whom have provided their expert views to the Committee in the past, will provide helpful perspective to these legislative proposals.

“We welcome back Maria Korsnick, a former chief nuclear officer and plant operator, who heads the Nuclear Energy Institute, and Jeff Merrifield, a former NRC Commissioner, who is speaking on behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council.

“Also, Katy Huff, a professor at the University of Illinois, who was an Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at DOE in the last Administration, and Jeremy Harrell, who heads ClearPath Action, a leading energy policy advocacy organization, that has helped inform bipartisan reforms.

“I look forward to the testimony and discussion and yield back.”

Jun 9, 2026

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Energy Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Nuclear Energy Licensing Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled Nuclear Permitting Reform: Legislation to Advance Efficient Licensing.

“This vital hearing provided an opportunity to examine legislative proposals to improve the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing process, which will help maintain momentum for U.S. nuclear development,” said Chairman Latta. “A robust and growing American nuclear industry is vital for our economy, energy and national security. We need firm, reliable energy, and a lot more of it.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14): “Ms. Korsnick, I'm going to come to you. You state that the primary challenge facing large-scale deployment is not technology development, but rather issues such as cost, schedule, risk, supply chains, and workforce challenges. Will today's legislation provide some regulatory predictability — if there is such a thing — that at least mitigates permitting and schedule risk?”
Ms. Korsnick: “Thank you. Absolutely. I think the bills that we have in front of us are a good step forward to help bring that regulatory predictability. And again, I want to say that a strong industry needs a strong regulator. So we're very supportive of having a strong and very capable regulator, and I think the bills before us do a good job at managing that while bringing efficiency into the equation.”

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01): “I'd like to turn to the discussion draft relating to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. Ms. Korsnick, Mr. Merrifield — you each have direct experience with this. Mr. Merrifield, you've seen both sides, as an attorney in the licensing process and as an NRC commissioner. Ms. Korsnick, you're not only at the helm of NEI, you served as chief nuclear officer for the largest fleet of nuclear reactors in the nation, which is pretty stellar. So, based on your experience: does NRC staff routinely evaluate highly technical safety and risk-significant issues as part of the agency's licensing and regulatory responsibilities?”
Ms. Korsnick: “Oh, absolutely. The NRC staff is technically very competent, very strong, and absolutely works through many technical issues. The conversation that played out earlier on the ACRS — again, it's a needed body. And I do think focusing it on new and novel issues can be accomplished while still keeping their curiosity and engagement on new processes. I think it can be done well.”
Mr. Merrifield: “And I don't think anybody on this side of the table — nor anyone in the legislation proposed — wants to get rid of the ACRS. I found the ACRS to be very valuable in many cases where the commission was struggling with a technical issue. We wanted a second opinion, we asked the ACRS to weigh in, and they provided a valuable role. So I'm not criticizing the existence of the body. I do think — having done a study where we interviewed over 35 people who were former commissioners and other senior staff — that there are efficiencies that could be put into that program to make them useful in a way that allows the agency to maintain its safety mission and not erode that independence. And I think the legislation as proposed would achieve that goal.”

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “The current increased rates that people are experiencing right now are due to four years of deterrence of energy generation and energy subtraction from the Biden Administration. So let me also say that Iowans and Americans are very appreciative of this hearing. The United States is entering a new era of nuclear deployment, and the institutions responsible for licensing and oversight must be ready to meet it. Advanced reactors are moving from concept to construction. Retired plants are seeking to restart — such as the one in Iowa — and domestic fuel infrastructure is being rebuilt from the ground up after decades of atrophy. Congress has a narrow window to remove the remaining friction: to clear the procedural backlog that slows restart applications, align enrichment licensing with the rest of the fuel cycle, and make sure the NRC has the staff to handle what is coming. The opportunity is real, but it's not going to wait indefinitely.”