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Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee legislative hearing titled “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio." ACCESS TO AM RADIO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS   “Every one of us here, both the witnesses and Members on this dais, should agree there is a distinct importance of having a robust and widely accessible communications infrastructure to alert Americans and ensure public safety in the event of emergencies and natural disasters.  “Our citizens should have quick access to critical information, which helps them make timely and potentially lifesaving decisions to evacuate, stay in place, seek shelter, or contact first responders.  “The Emergency Alert System plays a crucial role in this infrastructure, as it can be used across our nation to disseminate this important emergency information.  “I’ve long been a champion for improving these public alerts to ensure they reach everyone, as I was the sponsor of the Integrated Public Alert Warning System Modernization Act, which was enacted into law and authorized an update to these systems to incorporate multiple communications technologies both presently and in the future. “The system’s requirements also meant alerts needed to go to the largest portion of affected population feasible, including those with access and functional needs, individuals with disabilities, and those in rural and remote areas. States like Florida rely on this system during hurricanes to alert people to dangers related to such powerful storms. RELIABLE WAY TO ACCESS DIVERSE VOICES “I believe this is where AM Radio can become so important and will continue to be into the future. “According to Nielsen Media Research, radio broadcasting still has the highest reach of any medium, capable of reaching 91% of American adults, with most of the listening taking place outside of the home. “We know that AM radio signals can cover a larger geographic area, especially when other networks fail. “Furthermore, people in my district and elsewhere in the most diverse of settings enjoy the differing viewpoints and local perspectives that AM Radio offers. “I know in my district in Citrus and Hernando Counties in Florida, I hear from constituents on a regular basis how much they enjoy listening to local news on AM Radio, as well as particularly the conservative and Christian radio stations that are in the Tampa Bay area. “So, when we heard that reports that certain automobile manufacturers were exploring the idea of getting rid of this option for American consumers, many here in Congress (including myself) expressed concerns – I believe we should maintain as many available options for Americans as possible. PRESERVING AM RADIO FOR AMERICANS “This is why we are here to discuss the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. “This legislation will require the Department of Transportation to work with the FCC to issue a nationwide standard to ensure that new vehicles have access to AM Radio stations. Now, generally speaking, I do have concerns about broad government mandates, and I hope we can have a robust and constructive discussion from each of our witnesses to ensure that we get this right, and that we are not inadvertently hampering innovation both now and in the future. “We must also ensure we don’t cause undue cost burdens onto our constituents. “Nevertheless, Americans deserve to have the highest number of options for how they receive information in their homes and in their cars.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee hearing titled “Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity.”  “Today, we will hear from Dr. Daniel Tsai, the Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, about some of the most pressing challenges facing the Medicaid program.   “Over 75 million Americans are covered by Medicaid, a number that approached nearly 100 million during the pandemic.  “According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal spending on Medicaid is expected to increase from around $550 billion in fiscal year 2023 to almost $800 billion in fiscal year 2033.  “And that does not include state spending. Continued unchecked growth in the program will inevitably lead to decreased spending on other important priorities such as education or increases in taxes at the state and federal level.”  HHS OIG EVEN ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A COMPELLING NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST MEDICAID IMPROPER PAYMENTS   “During an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing two weeks ago, we heard about the increase in improper payments and the risks they pose to the program, which totaled more than $50 billion last fiscal year.  “In the hearing, we heard from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General, who stated that there is a 'compelling need to prioritize program integrity to protect against improper payments.'  “As a former state legislator, I know the work it takes to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries maintain access to high-quality health care services while maintaining vigilance over the program. “Part of that work is engaging with CMS to approve State Plan Amendments and 1115 waivers in a timely manner, so that States can administer the program. “However, according to the National Association of Medicaid Directors in a recent Health Affairs article, CMS is taking more than 15 months to approve new waivers, which is a breach in the state and federal relationship in running this program. “Yet instead of addressing these backlogs and working to ensure that the program is better managed, CMS has chosen to impose new, sweeping regulations on States that will lead to increased spending and a decrease in services to beneficiaries.” THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S HARMFUL ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL MANDATES WILL THREATEN PATIENT ACCESS TO CARE “I am extremely concerned about two of these Rules in particular — the nursing home Minimum Staffing Rule and the Medicaid Access Rule — both of which threaten access to long-term care services for Medicaid beneficiaries by setting arbitrary staffing and pay standards.  “While I agree that we need to do more to ensure our frontline caregivers and clinical care providers are compensated commensurately with the care they’re providing and offer a better quality of life for our most vulnerable, this approach simply won’t work.  “These rules come at a time where we have seen more than 500 nursing home facilities close since the start of the pandemic and where we have 150,000 fewer long-term care workers than we did before 2020.  “That is further evidenced by a collection of red and blue states suggesting in their comment letter to CMS that the rule ‘threatens to make these critical programs so expensive that States will need to seriously consider controlling costs by serving fewer people, growing more slowly, providing fewer services, or cutting back on other aspects of the Medicaid program.'  “This echoes concerns I have raised these concerns alongside my Energy and Commerce Republican colleagues in a letter to CMS in September opposing the Access Rule.”  BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGES IN MEDICAID   “Today, we’re preparing to act by considering Representative Pence’s bill, H.R. 7513, which would block the Minimum Staffing Rule and Representative Cammack’s legislation, H.R. 8114, to block the Access Rule’s 80 percent pass through policy.  “I’ll note that Representative Pence’s bill already advanced out of the Ways and Means Committee with a bipartisan vote, and I hope we’ll see similar bipartisanship on these issues here. “Of course, the subcommittee is not just reacting to the Administration’s flurry of bad regulations, but we are also being proactive in finding constructive solutions.  “Today’s hearing includes a number of bipartisan bills to support long-term care and reduce program integrity for the Medicaid program.  “In particular, I would ask that my colleagues work with me on passing my bill, H.R. 468, the Building America’s Healthcare Workforce Act. “This legislation would permit temporary nurse aides to work and support while nursing home residents while they work to become certified nurse assistants, filling a critical shortage in the workforce. “This is a balanced approach that won’t put new burdens on nursing home facilities, like the Minimum Staffing Rule, while also protecting our nation’s seniors.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio."  SAVE AM RADIO “I appreciate the witnesses being here to provide their perspectives on the important legislation being discussed to preserve the American people’s access to AM radio. “This committee is at the forefront of advancing legislation that will strengthen American leadership in cutting-edge technologies. “At the same time, as we make the transition to these new technologies, it is vital that we’re mindful of unintended consequences and how these kinds of transitions can impact our communities. “Communities across the country are now beginning to feel the impact of some automakers deciding to permanently remove AM radio from new vehicle models. “At a hearing last year, this Committee discussed how important access to AM radio continues to be for many of our constituents. “For the people of Eastern Washington, it's how they hear the news in their communities, listen to sports, and receive critical information during emergencies. “In some parts of my district, people have limited access to FM radio and broadband, so AM radio is the only source of information. “Eastern Washington is far from unique when it comes to our reliance on AM radio. “Many members of this committee have constituents who find themselves in similar situations. “That’s why it’s concerning that some auto manufacturers have taken steps to remove AM radios from new vehicle models while disregarding for the impact. “This decision would affect tens of millions of Americans—some estimates show that more than 45 million Americans tune into AM radio each month.” PRESERVING OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL AND INDEPENDENT BROADCASTERS “AM radio is unique—not only is it free to consumers but, in comparison to alternatives, it can be transmitted over long distances with relatively low power. “It also provides an existence for small broadcasters, especially religious and minority broadcasters, that are highly valued by many Americans, myself included. Removing AM radios from vehicles puts their future at risk. “I know some people are quick to dismiss this issue by saying there are plenty of outlets for such content. “But while people in some parts of the country have been able to take advantage of alternative options in vehicles for accessing AM radio, like streaming services or satellite radio, these options are still unavailable in many places.” VITAL IN EMERGENCIES “We also know from our hearing last year that AM is especially resilient and dependable in emergencies. “It is a core piece of our National Public Warning System—a system used by national, state, and local authorities to communicate life-saving information. “Members up and down the dais, across both sides of the aisle, have had first-hand experiences dealing with natural disasters in their states, including wildfires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, even earthquakes. “And while other forms of communication have failed during these incidents, AM radio has often remained resilient, operational and has been a calming voice in the storm when on the go. “Just this week, it was reported that, when tornadoes swept across the Midwest, many people were receiving critical emergency updates via AM radio in their cars.” TIME TO MOVE FORWARD “We're at a moment where we as the representatives of the people are being forced to intervene on behalf of them, because their concerns continue to be ignored by corporations making consumer vehicles. “I do not consider a mandate on manufacturers to continue including AM radio in vehicles lightly. “But the reality is that automakers have been aware of these bipartisan, bicameral concerns for a long time, and have yet to adequately address them with any private sector solutions. “It’s disappointing, and ultimately, it’s why we’re here today having this discussion. “Whether they’re tuning in for local news, agricultural and weather reports, information during an emergency, or to listen to their favorite talk radio personality, AM radio continues to be a trusted way for Americans to stay connected. “AM radio fosters a sense of local identity, connecting people through regional programming that reflects the unique perspectives and traditions of their communities. “It’s closer to the people, telling the stories and sharing the perspectives that the national news doesn’t cover and sometimes ignores, and it plays a crucial role in ensuring local government accountability. “I look forward to moving past this issue and getting back to working in a bipartisan manner on other key issues for the future of vehicles in this country, like Autonomous vehicle legislation, so that America remains the leader in automotive innovation, not China. “I look forward to a productive discussion today. “As we discuss how to navigate our increasingly digital world, let us not forget the enduring and necessary role AM radio continues to play for people across the country.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled “Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity.”  “Many in this Committee are familiar with my son Cole and his story.   “For those unfamiliar, Cole was born with Down syndrome. Just yesterday, we celebrated his 17th birthday. “Over the past seventeen years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting countless families with kids just like Cole, and they all want the same thing: for their kids to have every chance in the world to succeed and live up to their God-given potential. “I’ve dedicated much of my career here in Congress to being an advocate for people with disabilities.  “That’s why I’m grateful for today’s hearing where we will discuss solutions to support access to long-term care for people with disabilities.” MEDICAID AND LONG-TERM CARE “The Medicaid program was designed as an important safety net for those who truly need assistance and otherwise might not get the vital care that they deserve. “Unfortunately, Medicaid doesn’t always live up to this mission. “States have waitlists for home and community-based services, key long-term care services to empower people with disabilities to live independently in their communities, allowing them to reach their full potential. “I’ve met too many people over the years who have struggled to get off these waitlists or who have been afraid to pursue jobs out of state and risk being moved to the back of a new state’s waitlists. “So, I’m pleased that we’re discussing potential solutions to start making sure Medicaid is best serving those who need it most. “For example, my bipartisan legislation with Ranking Member Pallone will increase flexibility for states to offer more care by reducing these waitlists and making sure each state is tracking and reporting waitlists statistics uniformly. “We’ll also discuss bipartisan legislation from Representatives Kiggans and Kaptur that would ensure coverage of home and community-based services for Medicaid-eligible dependents of active-duty military families. “As co-chair of the Military Families Caucus, I’m proud to support this legislation which would mean individuals won’t lose coverage when their families move for a new assignment.” OTHER MEDICAID PROPOSALS “There are over a dozen other important pieces of legislation that will be discussed today.   “We’ve worked closely with the Ranking Member and his team on these bills—the majority of which are bipartisan.  “I recognize that not all of them are perfect in their current form.  “For example, I have concerns with H.R. 8115 and how it would upend the shared state-federal partnership of the Medicaid program.  “It’s important though that we discuss and debate the merits of each bill today, through regular order, and continue to work in a bipartisan manner to find solutions that we can all agree on.  “Today, we get the chance to change that.”  MEDICAID RULES   “Unfortunately, while we work to develop bipartisan legislative solutions, the Biden administration is making it more difficult for people with disabilities to access care.  “By setting unattainable staffing requirements, I fear that the Minimum Staffing Rule will force nursing homes to close or reduce the number of seniors served, and the Medicaid Access Rule’s so-called ‘80/20’ policy will lead to home care agencies reducing the amount of care that they can provide.  “Lastly, the recently finalized Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Rule is estimated by CMS’s own actuary to increase federal spending by tens of billions of dollars over the next five years, all without Congress taking a single vote on any of the policies and in the face of widespread opposition from disability advocates and states.   “In contrast, today we will begin reasserting Congress’s Article I authority by taking back control of the policymaking process.   “We’ll consider legislation from Mr. Pence and Ms. Cammack that repeal these rules and, hopefully, avoid the negative consequences I previously mentioned. “This hearing is a great example of the Energy and Commerce Committee plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate with bipartisan proposals to make sure the Medicaid program is working as intended. “I look forward to today’s hearing and to continuing to work together to advance these solutions.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule regarding the regulation of lab-developed tests (LDT): “The Biden administration’s final rule is the latest example of executive branch overreach that will have devastating impacts on patients and families across the country," said Chair Rodgers. "While the final rule is a slight improvement to the proposed rule, it will still increase costs and decrease access to diagnostics and medical tests that provide information crucial for doctors to treat their patients effectively. At a recent hearing, we heard testimony about the harmful impact the rule will have on diagnosing and caring for patients. Moreover, finalizing this rule is inconsistent with President Biden’s goal of reducing cancer deaths. The FDA should abandon the rule, as it lacks the clear statutory authority to implement it.”  NOTE : The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on March 21, 2024, to discuss various approaches to LDT regulation.

How It Happened The days of our foreign adversaries using applications to target, surveil, and manipulate the American people are numbered. Yesterday, thanks to the bipartisan efforts of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, as well as many other Members of the House, H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , was signed into law. TikTok now has a clear choice: Separate from its parent company ByteDance—which is beholden to the CCP—and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. TikTok is on the clock. As Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said last month, “Foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, pose the greatest national security threat of our time. TikTok’s access to 177 million American users makes it a valuable propaganda tool for the CCP to exploit.” She also said, “Companies controlled by a foreign adversary, like the CCP, will NEVER embrace American values like freedom of speech, human rights, the rule of law, and a free press. If given the choice, they will always choose the path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation.” With this bill, the United States has sent a clear message to the Chinese Communist Party that we will no longer tolerate our adversaries weaponizing our freedoms against us. Here’s how we got here: MARCH 23, 2023 Chair Rodgers called TikTok CEO Shou Chew to appear before the committee to testify on TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. This was Chew’s first appearance before a congressional committee. At our hearing, it was clear that TikTok was beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and could not be trusted to safeguard American data. APRIL 14, 2023 Chair Rodgers, Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter to the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce imploring him to speak out against TikTok at the annual Global Ethics Summit. In the letter the leaders said, “You have an ethical responsibility to tell the audience of this summit and the American people of TikTok’s threats to our national security and privacy, and to further expose how Mr. Chew failed to be completely transparent to Congress.” MARCH 5, 2024 After nearly a year of bipartisan efforts, H.R. 7521 was formally introduced in the House with 20 cosponsors. Upon introduction of the bill, the Energy and Commerce Committee officially noticed a bipartisan Committee hearing, as well as a markup. MARCH 7, 2024 The Committee’s classified hearing with members of the intelligence community, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence made clear the dangers posed by applications that are controlled by foreign adversaries and the need to take action. Later that day, the Energy and Commerce Committee marked up and unanimously passed H.R. 7521 to stop foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating Americans. MARCH 13, 2024: The House of Representatives then passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 352-65. April 20, 2024 This past weekend, the House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, which included H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act . April 23, 2024 Tuesday evening, just three days after the House of Representatives , the Senate passed the legislation as well, “delivering a historic rebuke of the video-sharing platform’s Chinese ownership after years of failed attempts to tackle the app’s alleged national security risks.” April 24, 2024 The bill was signed into law by President Biden on April 24, 2024, starting the clock on TikTok’s requirement to divest from CCP-controlled ByteDance.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) released a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of several new rules impacting the power sector that will have devastating consequences for U.S. energy reliability. “The EPA’s rush to dismantle our nation’s baseload electricity generation will harm people’s lives and well-being. These policies undermine American energy security by forcing states to fundamentally change how they generate electricity. At a time when more than half the nation is at elevated risk of forced blackouts, the administration’s unrelenting rush-to-green agenda is shutting down the types of generation needed to keep the lights on and raising costs across the board. We should be strengthening and expanding reliable power generation to build on America’s legacy of energy security and leadership, rather than dismantling it.” BACKGROUND The Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings on June 6, 2023 and November 14, 2023 to discuss the harmful impact of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 (CPP2.0) on America’s energy security and grid reliability.   On June 6, 2023, Chair Rodgers led a letter to EPA from all Energy and Commerce Republicans on the agency’s CPP2.0.  On July 31, 2023, Chair Rodgers and former Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Chair Bill Johnson (R-OH) sent a letter calling on the EPA to extend the comment period for their new CPP2.0 proposal.  On November 7, 2023, Chair Rodgers, Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and former Subcommittee Chair Johnson sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on how new EPA regulations, including CPP2.0, would be detrimental to the U.S. electric grid.  On November 14, 2023, Chair Rodgers, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and former Subcommittee Chair Johnson sent a letter calling on EPA Administrator Michael Regan to withdraw the overreaching and unworkable CPP2.0 proposal. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) condemned the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to reclassify broadband under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, essentially reclassifying broadband as a public utility. “These efforts by President Biden’s FCC are just the latest attempt by Democrats to assert more federal government control over people’s lives. The last time we had this debate following the repeal of the FCC’s heavy-handed regulations in 2017, Democrats claimed that the Internet as we knew it would end and that we would get the Internet one-word-at-a-time. These outrageous claims proved false, and because we chose to ignore them then, the U.S. has benefited from more investment in broadband networks, faster internet speeds, and lower prices for millions of Americans. Energy and Commerce Republicans will take steps to hold the FCC accountable—including with the introduction of a CRA—as we work to stop the agency’s efforts to reimpose regulations that will hinder our ability to close the digital divide and lead the world in next-generation wireless technology.” ICYMI: On Wednesday, Chair Rodgers and Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) led a bicameral coalition of members in sending a letter in calling on the FCC to reverse course and abandon its so-called “net neutrality” draft order. CLICK HERE to read the recent letter to FCC Chair Rosenworcel, which was signed by every Republican on the Committee. CLICK HERE to read the statements from Chairs Rodgers and Latta urging the FCC to reconsider the agency’s revival of the net neutrality debate.

Letter argues agency lacks legal authority to reinstate burdensome rules that will hurt consumers Washington, D.C. – U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) led a bicameral coalition of their committee colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reverse course and abandon its so-called “net neutrality” draft order—an illegal power grab that would expose the broadband industry to an oppressive regulatory regime under Title II of the Communications Act. The FCC is set to vote on the draft order on Thursday. The members argue that the FCC’s draft order ignores the text of the Communications Act of 1934, which explicitly precludes the FCC from treating broadband as a public utility. Moreover, the Supreme Court’s recent jurisprudence on the major questions doctrine confirms that the only body that can authorize public utility regulation of broadband is Congress. Resurrecting this failed Obama-era policy, which will inevitably be struck down by the courts, is a waste of time and re sources and will punish American consumers by choking off investment, innovation, and competition. In a letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the members write: “Congress’s decision to treat broadband Internet access as an information service, rather than a telecommunications service, was a deliberate policy choice. Congress recognized that ‘[t]he Internet and other interactive computer services have flourished, to the benefit of all Americans, with a minimum of government regulation,’ and accordingly decreed that it ‘is the policy of the United States... to promote the continued development of the internet and other interactive computer services... [and] to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet and other interactive computer services, unfettered by Federal or State regulation.’   “Your proposal to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service does the exact opposite. It would give the Commission largely unfettered power to impose (and allow states to impose) rate regulation, tariffing requirements, unbundling obligations, entry and exit regulation, and taxation of broadband—the antithesis of leaving broadband ‘unfettered’ by regulation as the law requires. Congress has had many opportunities to give the FCC such power, yet it has never done so in any of its ample legislative enactments regarding broadband over the past two decades. Rather, legislators have repeatedly considered but ultimately rejected efforts to replace the longstanding light-touch framework with common carrier regulation. And for good reason: Title II will inflict significant damage on consumers by chilling investment and innovation.   “Finally, recent jurisprudence from the Supreme Court confirms that the Commission has no power to impose Title II on the broadband industry. As the Commission’s record demonstrates, the question of whether broadband should be subject to public utility regulation is an issue of ‘vast economic and political significance,’ such that the Commission must identify ‘clear authorization from Congress’ to justify such a decision. Our review of the relevant statutory provisions leaves no doubt that, far from possessing the type of ‘clear’ statutory authority required under Supreme Court precedent, the Commission lacks any authority to subject broadband services to common-carrier regulation.” The full list of Senators joining Chair Rodgers and Ranking Member Cruz in sending the letter include: Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (Re-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). Also signing the letter were Reps. Bob Latta (OH-5), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Brett Guthrie (KY-2), Morgan Griffith (VA-9), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Larry Bucshon (IN-8), Richard Hudson (NC-9), Tim Walberg (MI-5), Buddy Carter (GA-1), Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Gary Palmer (AL-6), Neal Dunn (FL-2), John Curtis (UT-3), Debbie Lesko (AZ-8), Greg Pence (IN-6), Dan Crenshaw (TX-2), John Joyce (PA-13), Kelly Armstrong (ND-At-large), Randy Weber (TX-14), Rick Allen (GA-12), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Russ Fulcher (ID-1), August Pfluger (TX-11), Diana Harshbarger (TN-1), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-1), Kat Cammack (FL-3), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), and John James (MI-10). The full text of the letter is available HERE .