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Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee hearing titled “Examining the Change Healthcare Cyberattack.”  LASTING EFFECTS OF THE CYBERATTACK   “Today’s hearing is about what likely is the most consequential cyberattack in health care history.  “How could something like this happen? How did consolidation in the health insurance industry reach such a state that a single ransomware attack on one company can cripple the flow of claims and payments for months? “Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth subsidiary acquired in 2022, was subject to the cybersecurity attack. It operates the largest Electronic Data Interchange clearinghouse in the nation. “Roughly 50 percent of U.S. medical claims pass through or touch Change’s clearinghouse, making it an essential link between providers and insurers.  “A single company having this much of the medical claims processing market share makes them a large target for bad actors.   “It is even more astounding when you consider that the attack itself reportedly occurred using 'compromised credentials', without multifactor authentication. This authentication is a pretty standard defense to prevent cyberattacks.  “I am concerned about the patients who have been affected.   “Many patients were left having to pay large amounts of money out of pocket for their medications because the pharmacy couldn’t process their claims or their copay coupons. “The Marion Family Pharmacy in Marion, Virginia, in my district, said the biggest effect has been patients not being able to afford their medication without copay assistance cards. “The owner of the pharmacy even said, and I quote, 'We’ve got people walking away from diabetes medicines, antipsychotics, and ADHD medications.'  “One specific example was a patient having to pay $1,100 for medication since the pharmacy was not able to process her copay assistance card due to the cyberattack.   “United is contractually obligated to pay for these medications, yet patients are still paying premiums and forced to either walk away, pay large sums of money for their medications and even have to borrow money from friends, family, or interest-bearing cash advances on their credit cards.”  PROVIDERS STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT   “Providers were also deeply affected by this cyberattack.    “In the initial phase, providers were left in the dark as to why United stopped processing claims.  “There was deep uncertainty about how to get their claims to flow uninterrupted, the loan program was minimal and restrictive, while bringing on many unrecognized expenses such as switching clearinghouses and managing prior authorization.   “It's particularly troublesome because doctors are worried about keeping their practices open, United, by shutting down its clearinghouse and effectively stopping all payments on claims, making it more difficult to continue providing services.   “One suburban Philadelphia physician who runs a $6 million-a-year practice was offered only $3,300 by UnitedHealth’s emergency loan program. She might have to sell her practice.  “How many millions of dollars of interest alone has United made from holding on to money that it would otherwise have had to pay to providers and for patients?  “How many millions of surgeries, treatments, and prescriptions were delayed, or worse, cancelled?”  UNDERSTANDING THE FULL IMPACT   “I understand the substantial task United is facing while dealing with the fallout from the cyberattack, but I look for an explanation on how they did not have a backup plan. “If they did have one, it obviously failed—resulting in the federal government having to step in.  “Additionally, we do not know how many patients had their health information breached.  “Last week, United conceded that the personal healthcare information and data of a 'substantial proportion' of Americans has been stolen.   “At this hearing, I hope we can get an understanding of just how many Americans fall within United’s definition of 'substantial proportion.’  “Even though United paid the ransom, we now have reports that cyber criminals are releasing patient information, billing records, and other personal health data held by UnitedHealth Group onto the dark web anyway.  “I am hopeful this hearing will shed light on these issues so we can understand the full picture.   “I can assure you that this subcommittee will be watching closely. I am always willing to hold follow-up hearings if needed.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Energy Budget.”  “The Department of Energy has immense national security responsibilities to protect America’s energy security and to oversee the nation’s nuclear weapons program.    “DOE also conducts and oversees taxpayer-funded research and development and provides loans and grants to help commercialize energy-related technologies.     “These hearings are essential to ensure that the Department is sticking to its core mission and acts as responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.   “Members will also have an opportunity to examine DOE’s expanding budget request.  “This year, DOE is requesting $51.4 billion dollars. Since FY 2021, DOE’s budget has increased by about $12 billion dollars, about 30 percent.”  PRESIDENT BIDEN’S WAR ON AMERICAN ENERGY   “After three years of President Biden’s war on American energy, the American people are suffering.  “The administration’s blind obsession to 'transition’ everyone away from fossil fuels is straining household budgets and putting the American dream further out of reach for many struggling families.      “Inflation is out of control. Sky-high energy prices and persistent supply-chain shortages are impacting our economy and our safety.  “From groceries to electric bills—everything costs more under President Biden’s energy policies.”  “Americans expect that when we flip the switch or turn the key—that the power comes on immediately.  “In America, if you want to build a home or expand a business—we expect that the infrastructure can be built quickly and predictably.  “Regrettably, under President Biden, supply chain shortages and price spikes have crippled our economic growth and made it more difficult to build new infrastructure.”  ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY    “The Department of Energy has played a role in the energy price spikes and persistent supply chain shortages.   “DOE has mismanaged our Strategic Petroleum Reserves—draining the stockpile to the lowest level in the nation’s history, with no credible plan to replenish it and no plan to increase domestic energy production.    “DOE has turned a blind eye to punitive EPA regulations that have forced the premature retirement of our most affordable and reliable coal, gas, and nuclear power plants and threatened the reliability and stability of our electric grid.   “DOE has pursued a radical climate agenda to impose new Federal regulations for household appliances, electrical equipment, building construction, and natural gas usage.   “DOE also recently imposed a ban on the issuance of new LNG export permits—a political reward for the 'keep-it-in-the-ground' climate activists in an election year.   “As the Committee learned during a field hearing in Port Arthur, Texas, the LNG export ban has created hardships and pain for thousands of workers and their families along the Gulf Coast.”  CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO REIN IN THE DOE   The Democrat’s radical transition plans, and the Department of Energy’s refusal to accept and address the threats facing our energy systems, has required Congress to act.  “Under the Republican majority, the House has passed bipartisan legislation to rein in the Department of Energy and the Biden administration.  “At the beginning of this Congress, we passed H.R. 1 to unleash American energy and modernize our energy infrastructure. In the months that followed, we passed bills to reverse punitive regulations and policy decisions that the Secretary of Energy signed off on.  “We passed legislation to reverse the ban on gas stoves, to prevent DOE from draining our strategic petroleum stockpile and selling it to China, and to reverse DOE’s moratorium on new LNG export permits.”        “Today’s hearing will allow the Secretary of Energy to answer for the Biden administration’s war on American energy.   “We stand at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, and the decisions that are made today will impact our kids and grandkids for generations.      “We have a simple choice: We can embrace America’s energy abundance and cement our position as the world’s number one energy superpower, or we can follow the Biden administration’s plan to rely on China for batteries, electric cars, and solar panels made with slave labor and environmental abuses.  “As it has been said in this Committee before, I believe we need an American energy expansion, not an energy transition to China.  “A critical part of this energy expansion is nuclear energy. I am pleased with this administration’s dedication to expanding nuclear energy and I look forward to continuing to work with both my colleagues here in Congress and the Biden administration on advancing this goal.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Energy Budget.”  “This committee plays a critical role in ensuring U.S. energy security and leadership.  “For decades, America has led the way. “We’ve harnessed the power of nuclear energy, electrified millions of rural American’s homes with clean hydropower, and ushered in the Shale Revolution, creating millions of new jobs and powering economic prosperity.  “America was able to achieve this through free market principles, entrepreneurship, and giving people the opportunity to choose which energy sources best suit their needs.  “Energy and Commerce Republicans have been working to protect and expand this legacy for generations to come.”  FORCING A RADICAL AGENDA   “The Biden administration, on the other hand, is working to dismantle that legacy.  “This administration’s policies continue to put America on a dangerous path that harms our security and gives our adversaries, like China, control over our energy supply chains.  “This administration has consistently sought to prevent or slow development of American oil and gas resources, which are critical to our own energy security as well as the security of our allies.  “DOE has been complicit in this with actions like the effective ban on new LNG exports.  “American LNG has been a lifeline, especially to our European allies, since Russia invaded Ukraine.  “In the aftermath of the invasion, American LNG helped them reduce their natural gas prices by over 83 percent and reduce their dependence on Russia.  “This ban sends a signal to our allies that we’re no longer a dependable energy partner.  “We find this unacceptable.  “Another example is the recent decision to limit energy development in more than half the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.  “Doubling down on policies to restrict oil and gas, to retire baseload power generation, and to promote widespread, unaffordable and unreliable electrification is not how we secure our energy future.”  UNAFFORDABLE FOR AMERICANS   “Unfortunately, Americans are feeling the impacts of this radical rush-to-green agenda.  “Since President Biden took office, electricity prices have risen some 30 percent.  “That's almost 50 percent more than overall inflation.  “Unilateral actions like those taken by the administration continue to drive out affordable, reliable baseload generation needed to keep prices low and keep the lights on.  “Grid operators and others have been sounding the alarm for years, warning that the U.S. is on a dangerous and unsustainable path.  “Continuing down this path will mean higher energy prices and more catastrophic blackouts across the country, like what’s already happening in places like California.”  DOE COMPLICIT IN ECONOMIC HARM   “As the head of DOE, it is the Secretary’s responsibility to ensure American energy security and leadership. “Yet this department continues to stand by and watch as EPA imposes requirements that harm our ability to generate reliable power. “Is the Department ceding its energy and grid expertise to the EPA? “EPA policies like their new particulate matter standards will make permitting new manufacturing and industry almost impossible in large regions of the country. “I’d like to understand why DOE thinks we can succeed under these anti-manufacturing, and really anti-American policies which are undermining the very manufacturing programs DOE supports to help restore American leadership in critical energy materials and to reduce reliance on China. “Instead of undermining American energy and economic success, let’s work together to build on our remarkable legacy, which has transformed the human condition, lifted people out of poverty, and raised the standard of living more than any other country in the world. “The best way to do this is with a strong energy mix that takes advantage of the resources we have here at home, lowers costs for Americans, and prevents us from becoming reliant on China. “This administration’s forced transition will leave our economy dangerously dependent on supply chains controlled by China and make energy less affordable and less reliable for Americans. “I believe the Department of Energy serves a critical role in assuring sound energy polices, while also providing the support necessary for innovation to flourish. “That’s the goal today. “I look forward to the Department of Energy stepping up so that we can accomplish that goal.” 

At the direction of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Energy and Commerce Republicans are launching an investigation of allegations of rampant bias at NPR, which is funded by U.S. taxpayers. Check out this exclusive coverage in Fox News:  FIRST ON FOX : The House Energy & Commerce Committee is summoning the head of NPR before Congress to answer accusations the outlet has a left-wing bias despite receiving federal funds. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., directed House Republican leaders to open the probe, he told Fox News Digital. "The Committee has concerns about the direction in which NPR may be headed under past and present leadership. As a taxpayer funded, public radio organization, NPR should focus on fair and objective news reporting that both considers and reflects the views of the larger U.S. population and not just a niche audience," Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., wrote to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. She led Morgan Griffith, R-Va., chair of the subcommittee on oversight, and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, chair of the subcommittee on communications and technology, in asking Maher to publicly testify before Griffith’s panel next week.  [...]  Johnson told Fox News Digital of the probe, "In light of the recent, disturbing revelations about National Public Radio (NPR) and its leadership, I’ve directed Chair McMorris Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct an investigation of NPR and determine what actions should be taken to hold the organization accountable for its ideological bias and contempt for facts. The American people support the free press but will not be made to fund a left-leaning political agenda with taxpayer funds."  Conservatives have long accused NPR of reporting with a left-wing bias while some of its funding is provided through federal grants and other government-backed dollars.  Those concerns were recently magnified when former NPR editor Uri Berliner asserted in an op-ed that the outlet mishandled critical stories that stemmed from Hunter Biden’s laptop hard drive and COVID-19 lab leak theories, among others, and that registered Democrats were vastly overrepresented in the newsroom, 87-0. "We also find it disconcerting that NPR’s coverage of major news in recent years has been so polarized as to preclude any need to uncover the truth. These have included news stories on matters of national security and importance, such as the Mueller report, the Hunter Biden laptop, and the COVID-19 origins investigation. On each of these issues, NPR has been accused of approaching its news reporting with an extreme left-leaning lens," the lawmakers wrote. They also took issue with Maher’s own past statements, including a 2021 TED Talk in which she said, according to the letter, "Our reverence for the truth might be a distraction that’s getting in the way of finding common ground and getting things done." "You yourself have stated that you view the First Amendment as ‘the number one challenge’ because speech protections make it ‘tricky’ to suppress ‘bad information’ and the ‘influence peddlers who have made a real market economy around it.’’ Ironically, both you and NPR have used the same First Amendment to protect your own views and statements," they wrote. CLICK HERE to read the full story on Foxnews.com. CLICK HERE to read the letter to Ms. Maher.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) wrote to NPR CEO Katherine Maher regarding reports of political and ideological bias at the taxpayer-funded public radio organization. In addition to requesting answers to questions, the letter requests Ms. Maher appear before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for a hearing on May 8, 2024. "The Committee has concerns about the direction in which NPR may be headed under past and present leadership. As a taxpayer funded, public radio organization, NPR should focus on fair and objective news reporting that both considers and reflects the views of the larger U.S. population and not just a niche audience," the Chairs wrote.   They continued , "We also find it disconcerting that NPR’s coverage of major news in recent years has been so polarized as to preclude any need to uncover the truth. These have included news stories on matters of national security and importance, such as the Mueller report, the Hunter Biden laptop, and the COVID-19 origins investigation. On each of these issues, NPR has been accused of approaching its news reporting with an extreme left-leaning lens." “In light of the recent, disturbing revelations about National Public Radio (NPR) and its leadership, I’ve directed Chair McMorris Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct an investigation of NPR and determine what actions should be taken to hold the organization accountable for its ideological bias and contempt for facts. The American people support the free press but will not be made to fund a left-leaning political agenda with taxpayer funds.” said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) regarding the effort. CLICK HERE to read the letter.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to talk about today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Highlights and excerpts from the interview below:  On What to Expect at This Afternoon’s Hearing:   “This is an important Oversight Subcommittee hearing for the Energy and Commerce Committee. We expect to get a comprehensive report from Mr. Witty from UnitedHealth as to what happened, why Americans have had their personal health information made available on the dark web, what they're doing to fix this problem, and then also what we and what UnitedHealth must do to ensure that this never happens again.  “UnitedHealth is very large, and millions of families and taxpayers pay billions of dollars to UnitedHealth in premiums, and we need to make sure that their personal health information is protected from these kinds of cyberattacks.”  On Attempts to Catch the Cyber Criminals:   “UnitedHealth decided to pay the ransom. We're going to ask questions as to why they decided to pay the ransom, in this case, because we know that when you pay the ransom, that only incentivizes more of the harmful behavior by those that are perpetrating these kinds of cyber attacks.   “We have been spending a lot of time and had numerous hearings around cybersecurity. Just two weeks ago, we had a hearing on cybersecurity as it relates to health care, on what steps we need to be taking to protect personal, sensitive health information that has been made available on the dark web, in this case, which is very harmful to millions of Americans.  “This is a very serious issue, and that's part of the purpose of the hearing today.”   On the Role of Congress Intervening to Protect Patients’ Data:   “This hearing is part of us getting answers. We need to better understand what happened, why it happened, and then we will look at what steps we need to be taking. Certainly cybersecurity, whether it's in healthcare or other sectors, is top of mind for Americans as we see more and more of our information online. “The Committee is working on protecting American privacy rights online. We've also worked on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act to give Americans more ownership over their data, but also to understand what the prices are.   “In this case, United has become very large, and the individual, unfortunately doesn't always have a lot of power and control in this, so I believe it's very important that we get legislation that's going to help patients understand what the prices are. We have United as a very large health insurance company that maybe doesn't want to pay the prices, only the doctors that are providing the care and that can be problematic.”  [...]  “We have looked at the consolidation, and we passed legislation with overwhelming support— the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act —to address this consolidation to provide more competition in the marketplace, which ultimately brings down costs and gives consumers more choices.   “We're working with the Senate to get them to take action on this, because we're overall concerned about these larger and larger health care systems.”

Washington, D.C. — Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) delivered the following opening statement at the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing titled “A Hearing with the President of EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Peter Daszak.” Given ongoing coordinated efforts, Committee Leaders from the House Energy and Commerce Committee were permitted to participate in the hearing.  Prepared remarks below:  “I want to thank Chairmans Comer and Wenstrup, Ranking Members Raskin and Ruiz for having this hearing today and inviting relevant E&C Chairs and Ranking Members to it.  “For over a year now, we have been working together, to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the role that National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), headed by Dr. Fauci, and EcoHealth, headed by Dr. Daszak, may have played in it by funding research and facilitating the transfer of technologies to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, henceforth known as ‘Wuhan.’  “It is critical that we understand what went wrong at NIAID and EcoHealth’s relationship with Wuhan.  “Frankly, it’s been alarming to discover that NIAID’s approval and oversight of risky experiments involving potential pandemic pathogens is so lax.  “My hope is that, when we are finished, we have a package of legislative proposals and other recommendations on biosafety and biosecurity.  “I increasingly think that means taking final approval authority for these experiments away from NIAID and other funding in favor of an independent entity.  “With so many lives lost and disrupted by what I believe was a research related accident. We need transparent, effective oversight and tight regulation of gain-of-function research of concern.  “We certainly do not have that now.  “I participated in Dr. Daszak’s transcribed interview.  “It’s clear to me that neither NIAID nor EcoHealth have a complete picture of what Wuhan was up to with its coronavirus collection, or with their gain-of-function research trajectory.  “But what we do know from EcoHealth’s NIAID grant, the DEFUSE proposal, and the private musing of virologists who collaborated with Wuhan is not comforting.  “We don’t have this critical information in large part because NIAID’s review and oversight was a farce.  “NIAID and EcoHealth were completely asleep at switch.  “In my opinion, they were grossly negligent.  “I find it incomprehensible that NIAID continues to fund EcoHealth’s collaboration with Wuhan to this very day.  “EcoHealth’s grant was reinstated so that they could process virus samples and sequences that had been previously collected.  “It turns out many of those viruses and sequences are held by Wuhan.   “NIAID didn’t even think to ask them where the samples were stored before restarting funding.  “Even after COVID-19, it’s just business as usual. It's absurd and it’s got to change, or we risk having—perhaps—yet another high consequence accident.  “We have to put some adults in place to independently review proposed gain of function research of concern that NIAID and other agencies want to fund.  “Thank you, again, Mr. Chairman.  “I look forward to continuing to work together and I yield back.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled “Examining the Change Healthcare Cyberattack.”  CHANGE HEALTHCARE MUST PROTECT ITS USERS “Thank you, Mr. Witty, for agreeing to testify before us today. “Like Chair Griffith, I was disappointed your organization declined our original invitation to testify on the cyberattack on Change Healthcare—one of your subsidiary companies—before our health subcommittee but appreciate your cooperation in being here today. “Most Americans have likely never heard of Change Healthcare, despite how crucial its functioning is to ensuring their access to care. “Change acts as a clearing house for 15 billion medical claims each year—that means more than roughly 50 percent of all claims pass through Change. “15 billion patient interactions with the health care system. “That covers everything from routine checkups with primary care physicians to lifesaving cancer treatments with specialists: things we, until recent weeks, probably took for granted. “In 2022, your company acquired Change Healthcare as part of a growing creep into every corner of our health care system. “Under the United Health Group umbrella, resides an insurance company with more than 40 million covered lives across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial markets; a PBM that managed 159 billion dollars in drug spending last year; a provider group that owns roughly one in every twelve doctors in the United States; and a bank that makes payday loans to providers to name just a few of the ventures under your purview.  “I say this to emphasize the massive responsibility that comes with your position, Mr. Witty. “When a family of four that is being crushed by inflation forks over more than twenty thousand dollars per year for their health insurance, when a senior citizen sees the AARP brand on your Medicare product, when the taxpayer funnels tens of billions in subsidies to your company, there is a reasonable expectation that they will get a baseline level of value for their hard-earned money. “But I'll set the bar higher: You have a responsibility to protect the data of the people who have put their trust in you. “And I'll put it bluntly. In this case, you failed.” CONSEQUENCES OF THE CYBERATTACK “On February 21 of this year, Change Healthcare announced it was hit with a cyberattack, severely disrupting the health care ecosystem for providers, payers, and patients. “It has been more than two months since this cyberattack, and, according to your company’s own website, Change has yet to fully restore its services, and many negative impacts for the health care system persist. “As your written testimony lays out, criminal hackers gained access to Change Healthcare through 'compromised credentials’, remotely accessing the company’s portal nine days before your company publicly announced the ransomware attack. “This portal did not have multi-factor authentication enabled—a relatively basic protection against cyberattacks—which allowed the cyber criminals to unlock the door and break into your systems. “Multi-factor authentication would be a basic expectation for a company handling the breadth of sensitive information that Change Healthcare does. “It has now been reported your company paid a ransom to the cyber criminals. “While I have grave concerns with the precedent you created by rewarding the criminals, I understand that it would be a difficult decision to weigh that against protecting Americans’ data. “But here’s the problem: it did not stop the data leak. “Americans personal and private health information is on the dark web. “This is private health data you were responsible for protecting. “Mr. Witty, I suspect that decision will be a case study in crisis mismanagement for decades to come.” THE FALLOUT IS STILL AFFECTING PROVIDERS “I would be remiss if I didn’t note that providers—especially smaller providers and solo practitioners—continue to provide uncompensated care as submitted claims cannot be processed through payers. “It’s been reported that some providers have contemplated closing, and others have been forced to rely on volunteers to care for patients. “Others have had to furlough staff so their employees can apply for unemployment benefits. “I look forward to hearing how this is going to be fixed as soon as possible. “I’ll note in closing that we’re here today to learn more about what happened in the lead up and during the attack, and what you, Mr. Witty, are doing to fix it and prevent it from happening again. “The American people—particularly the millions who rely upon Change’s services and those whose information was leaked—deserve answers.” 

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.”