The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act

People need and want more affordable health care. The bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act will help people get access to the right care, at the right time, at a price they can afford. The bill is led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), and House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC).

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act:

  • Increases price transparency throughout the health care system
  • Addresses the cost of prescription drugs
  • Supports patients, health care workers, community health centers, and hospitals

Chair Rodgers: “More than 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. It means they are just one medical bill away from a financial emergency. One doctor visit away from not being able to pay their rent, for their groceries, or gas. 

“A recent poll of Americans with health insurance found more than half ranked ‘reducing health care costs’ as their top health care policy priority. For a more secure and healthier future, people need more certainty and stability.” 

CLICK HERE to see Chair Rodgers full statement on the House Floor upon the passage of this landmark bill.

The Latest
E&C, Ways & Means, Ed & the Workforce Leaders Celebrate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Lower Health Care Costs and Increase Transparency
Apr 2, 2026
Press Release
Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

The proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reversing the overreach created by standards issued by the Biden-Harris Administration and ensuring that families—not politicians—pick the car that best serves their needs.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered ‘dedicated automobiles,’ and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards.”

Key excerpt from the letter:

“In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration’s approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency’s authority. NHTSA’s new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.

“Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles. By contrast, your Department’s proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years. Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles.”

BACKGROUND:

  • The Biden Administration used the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to impose de-facto EV mandates, driving up prices and reducing options for American families.

  • When drivers aren’t incentivized with taxpayer subsidized handouts to purchase an EV, their sales have plummeted. According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs totaled nearly 12% of the U.S. market in September, a record high. In January, that share dropped to 6%.

  • By addressing fuel economy standards, President Trump and his administration are ensuring that Americans are not forced into purchasing costly EVs that they do not want to buy.

  • By reducing costs and making newer, safer vehicles more affordable, this proposal is projected to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
 

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The Latest
The House Passed a Long-Needed Health Care Price Transparency Measure
Apr 2, 2026
Press Release
Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

The proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reversing the overreach created by standards issued by the Biden-Harris Administration and ensuring that families—not politicians—pick the car that best serves their needs.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered ‘dedicated automobiles,’ and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards.”

Key excerpt from the letter:

“In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration’s approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency’s authority. NHTSA’s new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.

“Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles. By contrast, your Department’s proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years. Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles.”

BACKGROUND:

  • The Biden Administration used the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to impose de-facto EV mandates, driving up prices and reducing options for American families.

  • When drivers aren’t incentivized with taxpayer subsidized handouts to purchase an EV, their sales have plummeted. According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs totaled nearly 12% of the U.S. market in September, a record high. In January, that share dropped to 6%.

  • By addressing fuel economy standards, President Trump and his administration are ensuring that Americans are not forced into purchasing costly EVs that they do not want to buy.

  • By reducing costs and making newer, safer vehicles more affordable, this proposal is projected to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
 

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The Latest
Support for the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
Apr 2, 2026
Press Release
Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

The proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reversing the overreach created by standards issued by the Biden-Harris Administration and ensuring that families—not politicians—pick the car that best serves their needs.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered ‘dedicated automobiles,’ and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards.”

Key excerpt from the letter:

“In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration’s approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency’s authority. NHTSA’s new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.

“Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles. By contrast, your Department’s proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years. Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles.”

BACKGROUND:

  • The Biden Administration used the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to impose de-facto EV mandates, driving up prices and reducing options for American families.

  • When drivers aren’t incentivized with taxpayer subsidized handouts to purchase an EV, their sales have plummeted. According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs totaled nearly 12% of the U.S. market in September, a record high. In January, that share dropped to 6%.

  • By addressing fuel economy standards, President Trump and his administration are ensuring that Americans are not forced into purchasing costly EVs that they do not want to buy.

  • By reducing costs and making newer, safer vehicles more affordable, this proposal is projected to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
 

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Dive deeper on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act:

Increases Price Transparency Throughout the Health Care System for Patients

  • Empowers patients and employers to shop for health care and make informed health care decisions by providing timely and accurate information about the cost of care, treatment, and services
  • Makes health care price information public by ensuring hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly list the prices they charge patients, building upon the Trump administration price transparency rules
  • Lowers costs for patients and employers by requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose negotiated drug rebates and discounts, revealing the true costs of prescription drugs

Addresses the Cost of Prescription Drugs

  • Lowers out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medication at a hospital-owned outpatient facility or doctor’s office 
  • Expands access to more affordable generic drugs 
  • Equips employer health plans with the drug price information they need to get the best deal possible for their employees

Supports Patients, Health Care Workers, Community Health Centers, and Hospitals

  • Fully pays for expiring programs that strengthen the health care system by: 
  • Supporting Community Health Centers, which are crucial for patients in rural and underserved areas
  • Supporting training programs for new doctors in communities
  • Preserving Medicaid for hospitals that take care of uninsured and low-income patients
The Latest
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Increased Transparency in Health Care
Apr 2, 2026
Press Release
Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

The proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reversing the overreach created by standards issued by the Biden-Harris Administration and ensuring that families—not politicians—pick the car that best serves their needs.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered ‘dedicated automobiles,’ and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards.”

Key excerpt from the letter:

“In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration’s approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency’s authority. NHTSA’s new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.

“Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles. By contrast, your Department’s proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years. Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles.”

BACKGROUND:

  • The Biden Administration used the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to impose de-facto EV mandates, driving up prices and reducing options for American families.

  • When drivers aren’t incentivized with taxpayer subsidized handouts to purchase an EV, their sales have plummeted. According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs totaled nearly 12% of the U.S. market in September, a record high. In January, that share dropped to 6%.

  • By addressing fuel economy standards, President Trump and his administration are ensuring that Americans are not forced into purchasing costly EVs that they do not want to buy.

  • By reducing costs and making newer, safer vehicles more affordable, this proposal is projected to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
 

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