WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s Full Committee Markup of 16 bills.
Chairman Guthrie’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:
“Good morning and thank you all for attending today’s markup of 16 bills, touching on issues across the Committee’s jurisdiction.
“Today’s markup includes the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, which establishes a pilot program at EPA to help build out recycling infrastructure in areas that currently lack household recycling. The bill also includes provisions to improve the collection of data regarding recycling rates and help identify areas for improvement.
“We have also worked across the aisle on our title of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization, and I want to commend the Members and staff across the whole Committee for their hard work to get us to where we are.
“This package modernizes the automotive industry and ensures that NHTSA has the tools it needs to ensure motor vehicle safety.
“The package also includes important priorities for many of our members ranging from modernizing tire regulations to strengthening flammability standards for automobiles.
“But having a thriving, American-based automotive supply chain is also a core national security interest, which is why we included a bipartisan ban on Chinese vehicles in this bill. The Chinese Communist Party has made clear that their government will use every tool at their disposal to surveil, influence, and manipulate Americans for their own gain.
“Our bipartisan mission today is to support a vibrant automotive industry, enhance safety, and repel the threats coming from our adversaries in Beijing. This package makes progress on all three of those goals, and I’m proud we were able to work together on this.
“Further, today’s markup builds upon the Health Subcommittee’s work last week to advance ten bills that increase flexibility to patients and providers, strengthen FDA's oversight of our supply chains, and ensure vital public health programs continue to serve Americans.
“A handful of the bills before us at the Committee today—including the EARLY Act, the AADAPT (ADAPT) Act, and the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act to name just a few—focus on reauthorizing critical public health programs supporting patients by meeting them where they’re at.
“Finally, we’ll also advance bills to modernize FDA’s review and enforcement authorities, and we will also support two important patient access bills—the Choices for Increased Mobility Act and the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act—which seek to reduce administrative burdens and increase flexibility for both patients and providers.
“I look forward to the productive discussion on these 16 bills and voting to report them to the Full House.”
