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WASHINGTON, D.C . – Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of seven bills. Subcommittee Chairman Palmer’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Welcome to today’s Environment subcommittee markup of seven (7) bills to improve the process for establishing and implementing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and to streamline environmental reviews and the New Source Review pre-construction permitting program under the Clean Air Act. “No one questions that the Clean Air Act has been important in helping to improve air quality since the law was first enacted more than half a century ago. However, the law has not been significantly amended since 1990 and has not kept pace to meet the economic and security risks facing this country. “The commonsense permitting reforms contained in these seven bills are needed to improve the Clean Air Act so the United States can continue to be the world leader in economic prosperity, technological innovation, and environmental quality. “At subcommittee hearings in June and September, we heard testimony from several witnesses that the air quality standards for fine particulate matter and ozone that were issued by the Biden-Harris administration will stifle economic growth and be nearly impossible for states and regulated industries to meet because they are so close to background levels and that decisions on whether a state is meeting the standards should not be impacted by pollution caused by wildfires and from international sources outside of the state’s control. “We also heard testimony from top state environmental regulators that several of the deadlines in the Clean Air Act are impossible for EPA and states to implement. For example, several witnesses said it would make sense to extend the timeframe for reviewing air quality standards from every five years, as it is in current law, to every 10 years.  “We also heard testimony from multiple witnesses that the current pre-construction permitting and environmental review provisions of the Clean Air Act can slow down or even block construction of high-tech manufacturing and energy projects that we need more of in this country to win the race for critical minerals and advanced semiconductors against China. “The seven bills that we will be marking up are: “H.R. 6409, Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) (Rep. Pfluger). This bill would clarify that foreign air pollution is not to be considered when deciding if a State or air district is meeting an air standard. “H.R. 4218, Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform (CLEAR) Act (Rep. Carter) This bill makes several improvements to the process for establishing and implementing the air quality standards program under the Clean Air Act. "H.R. 4214, Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act (Rep. Allen) This bill clarifies when a new air standard has to be factored into preconstruction permits under the Clean Air Act. “H.R. 161, New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act (Rep. Griffith) This bill clarifies what kind of construction or modifications of existing facilities would trigger permitting under the Clean Air Act. “H.R. 6373, Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act (Rep. Palmer) This bill would allow the President to waive the requirement that facilities that are critical to our national security – including critical mineral processing facilities -- offset emissions as part of the permitting process. “ H.R. 6398, Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act (Rep. Joyce) This bill would streamline the environmental review and permitting process. “The passage of these bills will go a long way toward improving our infrastructure and making permitting more predictable and cost-effective. Some of these bills include ideas that we have considered in previous years, but some of them offer creative solutions based on feedback we have received. “I urge all of my colleagues to support these pieces of legislation, and I yield back.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding one Full Committee Hearing and two Subcommittee Markups. Read more below. SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a markup of seven bills to reform permitting under the Clean Air Act.  DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025   TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online.  DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: The Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding a Member Day Hearing to allow all Members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to testify before the Committee. DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 TIME: 9:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced a hearing titled Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in the United States . “Emergency communications are the backbone of police, fire, and emergency medical services,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “Modernizing and strengthening these operations are critical to improving public safety in both urban and rural American communities. We look forward to evaluating the ways we can better equip first responders to safely and effectively do their jobs.” Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in the United States . WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing to discuss public safety communications in the United States. DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This hearing will focus on the following bills: H.R. 6505 , Next Generation 9-1-1 Act (Reps. Hudson and Carter (LA)) H.R. 5200 , Emergency Reporting Act (Reps. Matsui and Bilirakis) H.R. 5201 , Kari’s Law Reporting Act (Reps. Matsui and Bilirakis) H.R. 2076 , LuLu’s Law (Rep. Palmer) H.R. 1094 , Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. ____ , Mystic Alert Act (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. 1519 , Public Safety Communications Act (Rep. Cammack) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Noah Jackson with the Committee staff at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov .

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a subcommittee markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online. WHAT : Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade markup of 18 bills. DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 6290 , Safe Social Media Act (Reps. Bentz and Schrier) H.R. 6259 , No Fentanyl on Social Media Act (Reps. Evans and Dingell) H.R. 6289 , Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Soto) H.R. 6437 , Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act (Reps. Fry and Landsman) H.R. 5360 , AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act (Reps. Houchin and Auchincloss) H.R. 6499 , Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act (Reps. Fulcher and Landsman) H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter-GA) H.R. 6265 , Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games (GAMING) Act (Rep. Kean) H.R. 6273 , Stop Profiling Youth and (SPY) Kids Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks) H.R. 6253 , Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act (Rep. Cammack) H.R. 6489 , Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act (Rep. Houchin) H.R. 1623 , Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act (Rep. Miller-IL) H.R. 6257 , Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025 (Rep. Dunn) H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act (Rep. James) H.R. 6333 , Parents Over Platforms Act (Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin) H.R. 6292 , Don’t Sell Kids’ Data Act of 2025 (Rep. Pallone) H.R. 6484 , Kids Online Safety Act (Rep. Bilirakis) H.R. 6291 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg and Lee-FL) 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 Alex Khlopin at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###

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 subcommittee markup of seven bills. WHAT : Subcommittee on Environment markup of seven bills. DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 6409 , Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. 4218 , Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform (CLEAR) Act (Rep. Carter) H.R. 6387 , Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act (Rep. Evans) H.R. 4214 , Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act (Rep. Allen) H.R. 161 , New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act (Rep. Griffith) H.R. 6373 , Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act (Rep. Palmer) H.R. 6398 , Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act (Rep. Joyce) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at  energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jackson Rudden with the Committee staff at  Jackson.Rudden@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at  Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it will hold a workshop on age verification technology. “As the digital economy continues to evolve at a rapid pace, we must ensure that new and emerging technologies are put to work to empower parents and safeguard children and teens,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “Age verification and estimation practices hold great promise to build a safer online world for America’s young people. We thank President Trump, Chairman Ferguson, and Commissioner Meador for holding this timely workshop on age verification and estimation practices and look forward to advancing our shared goal of keeping the next generation safe.” CLICK HERE to read the FTC’s announcement. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, Breitbart recently published an article highlighting a GAO report requested by Chairman Brett Guthrie and other House Republican leaders, which exposed significant waste, fraud, and abuse in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans. In Case You Missed It: “House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said a GAO report has revealed the staggering level of fraud that occurs thanks to Obamacare subsidies. “The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the massive levels of fraud that comes with the Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), an Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, subsidy to health insurers to lower the monthly health insurance premiums. “Democrats shut down the government for weeks over the looming end-of-year expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC), a more generous version of the APTC that the left-leaning party boosted through the Biden-era, coronavirus stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan. Democrats continued the subsidies through the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which will expire at the end of 2025. “The GAO, as part of its analysis, conducted covert operations, which included fictitious identities that flood insurers with unjustified subsides. It found that 100 percent of the fake applicants were approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as recently as 2024, with 90 percent of the fraudulent applicants continuing to receive coverage in 2025. “Chairman Guthrie, Jordan, and Smith requested the GAO investigation; they said the GAO study reifies Republicans’ concerns about these Obamacare subsidies. “‘Republicans have consistently prioritized protecting patients and taxpayers by ridding our federal health programs of the waste, fraud, and abuse that ultimately drive up costs for patients,’ Chairman Guthrie in written statement. “He continued, ‘Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today. The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.’ “‘For years, we were told we could keep our plan, keep our doctor, and premiums would go down. None of it happened. This new report confirms what we already knew: under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their healthcare choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. Obamacare was built on lies and broken promises that hurt families and drove up costs,’ Jordan said in a statement to Breitbart News. “‘While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans,’ Smith explained. “Prior research from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and other outside organizations have found that millions may be enrolled in Obamacare improperly, resulting in as much as $27 billion in improper payments. “The GAO report found :   58,000 Social Security numbers that received the APTC matched Social Security Administration death data 7,000 people who had Social Security were dead before coverage began, meaning the applications used Social Security numbers of dead people $94 million in APTC was sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people “GAO noted in its report its had frequently warned that Obamacare subsidies are and have been at risk of fraud. Republicans have been sounding the alarm about Obamacare subsidy fraud. “‘While Obamacare fraud is being confirmed by GAO, CMS, CBO and other outside reports, patients are suffering. They face higher health care costs and denied claims or delayed care when their providers struggle to verify which insurance is valid due to these fraud schemes. Rather than simply rubber stamp more bad spending and failed policies, we must take action to prevent further harm.’ “Meanwhile, Republicans have worked to restore integrity in the American healthcare system. The Big Beautiful Bill stipulates full income and eligibility verification before subsidies are issued, ends ‘anytime’ enrollment abuse that would fuel fraudulent enrollment, and closing loopholes that would allow illegal aliens and other ineligible groups of people to access taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. “Instead of using Obamacare subsidies that fuel health insurers’ profits, President Donald Trump has called to send federal healthcare dollars straight to the American people so they can use their money according to their healthcare needs. “House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) said in a statement: “‘It was Democrats who created this shoddy subsidy program with no financial controls, no income cap, and no guardrails against the most blatant fraud, including the approval of subsidies for thousands of dead people. ... “‘There is absolutely no justification for perpetuating these subsidies or the failed government-controlled Obamacare system Democrats are artificially propping up. Instead, Republicans should continue to implement reforms that lower costs, expand affordable options, and protect American taxpayers.’ “The president wrote : “‘I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over.’ “‘In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare,’ the president added.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Member Day hearing. “The Energy and Commerce Committee leads on issues central to the lives of all Americans,” said Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone. “We welcome all Members to testify before the Committee on the priorities within our jurisdiction that matter most to their constituents. We look forward to their participation, and we welcome ideas from across the House for discussion.” WHAT: Full Committee Member Day hearing to allow all Members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to testify before the Committee. DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 TIME: 9:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at  https://energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Annabelle Huffman with the Committee staff at  Annabelle.Huffman@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matt VanHyfte at  Matt.Vanhyfte@mail.house.gov .  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, applauded the introduction of four bills that provide commonsense reforms to rein in outdated and overburdensome Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations that have stifled American manufacturing and growth without delivering promised environmental protections. The Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act, led by Chairman Gary Palmer (AL-06), the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act, led by Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act, led by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), and the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, led by Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), address excessive regulatory red tape under the CAA that creates bottlenecks, delays investment, and slows our nation’s ability to compete with China. “Meaningful permitting reform cannot be accomplished without modernizing the Clean Air Act. Our Committee is working to end the suffocating regulatory state that the Biden-Harris Administration sought to entrench, ultimately halting manufacturing and driving investments overseas,” said Chairman Guthrie. “These bills will cut through the red tape that has hurt American businesses and workers, while still ensuring strong air quality protections. If we want to win the AI race against China, deepen our global leadership in advanced manufacturing, and continue onshoring more investment, we will need to be able to build the needed infrastructure, facilities, and power generation—these bills will help us to achieve these goals. Thank you to Chairman Palmer, Chairman Joyce, Congressman Pfluger, and Congressman Evans for leading the introduction of these important bills.” “Manufacturing and critical mineral facilities that are essential to our economic stability and national security are currently being delayed due to permitting gridlock caused by burdensome regulations,” said Chairman Palmer. “This amendment to the Clean Air Act is long overdue. It’s time we remove unnecessary roadblocks so that we can adequately support domestic production while also ensuring we are protecting future generations’ environment and quality of life.” “Simply stated, more efficient project approvals will create new Pennsylvania jobs,” said Congressman Joyce, M.D. “ I’m proud to introduce the RED Tape Act and offer a commonsense solution to eliminate redundant federal approvals that delay economic growth and job creation.” “American companies are being unfairly penalized for pollution originating outside the United States. We’ve seen how even the mention of a nonattainment designation, like when the Biden EPA threatened to redesignate the Permian Basin, can create significant uncertainty for businesses and communities,” said Congressman Pfluger. “These designations delay permits and hurt economic growth, while failing to address the very problem they are trying to solve. My bill restores commonsense by preventing the EPA from punishing states for pollution they didn’t cause – including foreign emissions, cross-state transport, wildfire smoke, and mobile-source emissions outside their control. I’m proud to lead this bill as another major step in modernizing and strengthening America’s broken permitting system.” “A leading reason for the affordability crisis facing Coloradans is red tape around air quality permitting. When the economy is strangled under the weight of costly, poorly designed ozone attainment standards, jobs are lost, prices spike, and financial stress increases negative health outcomes,” said Congressman Evans. “Clean air is important to everyone, but Colorado jobs should not be penalized for emissions outside of their control — whether it's Canadian wildfires or Chinese pollution. My bill, the FIRE Act, is a common-sense solution that will drive down costs for working families in Colorado by clarifying that Clean Air Act benchmarks should not be used to punish jobs and hamstring the economy for things like prescribed burns or out-of-state wildfire smoke.” Background: Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act The Clean Air Act requires pre-construction permits for major sources of emissions and pollution, but Section 173 of the Clean Air Act currently includes a provision allowing offset requirements to be waived for rocket engines or motors, which are essential for national security.   This bill expands that authority to include advanced manufacturing facilities and critical minerals facilities, which are vital to strengthening America’s supply chains and national defense.   Under the bill, the President may determine that an advanced manufacturing facility or a critical minerals facility is exempt from offset emissions credit requirements. An advanced manufacturing or critical mineral facility may also receive an exemption to the offset requirements if it can show offsets are not readily available and that the facility is working to maximize emissions reductions.   Importantly, these facilities would still be required to meet all other Clean Air Act permitting requirements, ensuring continued environmental protections. Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act   Under current law, the EPA conducts a second review and publicly comments on the environmental impacts of other federal agencies’ projects and regulations, even where the EPA has participated in the initial environmental review. This has created redundancy and adds a costly, duplicative, and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.  Agencies that prepare environmental impact statements already have the expertise to evaluate their own projects. Adding a full and secondary review creates duplication and delays in the system.    The RED Tape Act would eliminate the EPA’s burdensome requirement to provide duplicative feedback on other agencies’ environmental impact statements under NEPA. Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act   States across the country are being unfairly penalized for pollution that originates beyond U.S. borders, including from natural events like the Canadian wildfires. Under current law, states can adjust their air quality plans if foreign emissions affect their ability to meet federal air standards.   However, recent EPA guidance has limited permissible adjustments only to human-caused emissions, creating unnecessary hurdles for states and industries already working to comply with the Clean Air Act.  The FENCES Act clarifies that all foreign emissions, whether natural or human-caused, are excluded when determining whether a state meets national air quality standards or when reviewing new facility permits. The bill also allows states to account for foreign emissions earlier in the process, rather than waiting until all other requirements are complete. Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act   The FIRE Act ensures that states are not punished for smoke and emissions they cannot control, while still maintaining strong environmental protections. It provides clarity and predictability for air quality planning, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens on manufacturers and communities, and rewards proactive wildfire mitigation that protects public health and improves future air quality.   The legislation updates Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act to clarify how emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events are treated in federal air quality reviews. It strengthens states’ coordination with the EPA to ensure timely, transparent exceptional-event determinations. ###