Subcommittees

National Energy Policy, energy infrastructure and security, energy related Agencies and Commissions, all laws, programs, and government activities affecting energy matters. National Energy Policy focuses on fossil energy; renewable energy; nuclear energy; energy conservation, utility issues, including but not limited to interstate energy compacts; energy generation, marketing, reliability, transmission, siting, exploration, production, efficiency, cybersecurity, and ratemaking for all generated power. Energy infrastructure and security focuses on pipelines, the strategic petroleum reserve, nuclear facilities, and cybersecurity for our nation’s grid. Our jurisdiction also includes all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security. Agencies and Commissions in our jurisdiction include: The US Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; data security; motor vehicle safety; regulation of commercial practices (the Federal Trade Commission), including sports-related matters; consumer product safety (the Consumer Product Safety Commission); product liability; and regulation of travel, tourism, and time. The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction can be directly traced to Congress’ constitutional authority “to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”

Communications & Technology

4 Updates

Electronic communications, both Interstate and foreign, including voice, video, audio and data, whether transmitted by wire or wirelessly, and whether transmitted by telecommunications, commercial or private mobile service, broadcast, cable, satellite, microwave, or other mode; technology generally; emergency and public safety communications; cybersecurity, privacy, and data security; the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Office of Emergency Communications in the Department of Homeland Security; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.

Environment

12 Updates

All matters related to soil, air, noise and water contamination; emergency environmental response, both physical and cybersecurity. In particular, the subcommittee has jurisdiction over The Nuclear Waste Policy Act, The Clean Air Act, The Safe Drinking Water Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act – including Superfund and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, The Solid Waste Disposal Act, The Toxic Substance Control Act and The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program. Under the Clean Air Act, this subcommittee deals with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants; National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Standards; New Source Performance Standards (NSPS); Mobile Source Standards for vehicles, aircraft, fuels and fuel additives, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The subcommittee focuses on the regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal combustion waste.

Health

11 Updates

The health sector broadly, including private and public health insurance (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP); biomedical research and development; hospital construction; mental health; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; the 340B drug discount program; the regulation of food, drugs, and cosmetics; drug abuse; the Department of Health and Human Services; the National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control; Indian Health Service; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.

Oversight & Investigations

4 Updates

Responsible for conducting oversight and investigations of any matter related to the jurisdiction of the full committee.

Subcommittees News & Announcements

May 20, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Touts House Passage of Lulu’s Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a statement following the House passage of S. 1003, Lulu’s Law.

“In moments of crisis, strong public safety communications save lives. In honor of Lulu Gribbin of Alabama, the House passed Lulu’s Law to clarify the FCC’s ability to facilitate emergency alerts in the event of a shark attack, so that all families can be better protected,” said Chairman Guthrie. “I am especially grateful for the work of Representative Palmer for his work to honor Lulu’s efforts and enhance public safety.”

BACKGROUND:

S. 1003/H.R. 2076, Lulu’s Law, requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue an order providing that a shark attack is an event for which a wireless emergency alert may be transmitted, and for other purposes.

May 20, 2026

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Health Subcommittee Hearing to Examine Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today’s hearing will examine reforms that could be made to Medicare physician payment and policies enacted in the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, commonly known as MACRA, to incentivize value-based care.

“Physicians, nurses, and other health care providers are critical to our health care system, and their work remains essential to ensuring patients have access to timely, high-quality care in every community.

“Our discussion today builds on the Affordability Series that we have been working on throughout the year and will give us the opportunity to better understand how provider payment challenges can impact health care affordability.

“MACRA, was enacted into law in 2015 with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“This Committee and Subcommittee, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Burgess, worked diligently on furthering that policy.

“MACRA marked a significant shift in Medicare physician payment, aiming to modernize the program and improve its long-term sustainability.

“It was intended to move physician reimbursement away from a traditional fee-for-service structure, which often rewards volume of services provided, toward a model that incentivizes high-quality, value-based patient care.

“MACRA permanently repealed the Sustainable Growth Rate, or SGR, that had been used to calculate provider reimbursement under the physician fee schedule. This was intended to bring better stability to physician payment updates.

“The other core component of MACRA was the Quality Payment Program, which established the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, or MIPS, and incentivized participation in Alternative Payment Models, or APMs.

“Under MIPS, providers participate in a performance-based payment system where reimbursement is tied to their performance based on certain quality reporting measures.

“On the other hand, APMs enable physicians to participate in risk-based care models that reward providers through financial incentives, such as bonus payments, for meeting specific quality and cost benchmarks.

“It is important we look for ways to make improvements and strengthen this landmark legislation, as we have heard from various health systems and providers that the current structure presents several reporting challenges under MIPS.

“Shifting quality measures, administrative burdens, and uncertainty around scoring has not only slowed adoption of MACRA’s quality payment programs, but it has also led to additional levels of complexity and increased costs that are especially concerning for smaller, independent, and rural providers.

“We hear too often about the costs and infrastructure needed to comply with reporting requirements.

“This often makes meaningful participation in the payment models unrealistic and financially unviable in many cases, as many of these smaller practices do not have the administrative staff, technical resources, or financial ability needed to meet the reporting demands.

“At the same time, we have also heard concerns regarding the underlying Medicare physician fee schedule and long-term payment stability.

“Many physicians have expressed concerns that annual payment updates are not keeping up with inflation, leading to rising practice costs, longer patient wait times, and overall strain on the provider workforce.

“Relatedly, these physicians have also noted that the fee schedule’s budget neutrality requirement has placed additional pressure on reimbursement for certain procedures and often pits specialties against one another.

“It is critical that we continue to work to balance fair and adequate compensation for physicians and other health care providers to maintain access to high quality care and promote patient choice.

“This is also critical to the viability of independent physician practices, as further consolidation risks increased costs for patients, the federal government, and also disincentivizes individuals from entering the physician workforce.

“Congress has provided temporary patches to physician payments with another payment bump expiring at the end of the year.

“We need to look for opportunities that address these long-standing issues and level the playing field while we continue work to move patients into innovative care delivery models.

“Maintaining a stable and sustainable physician payment system is important not only for supporting providers, but also for preserving competition, affordability, and access to care for patients.

“I am excited to have our witnesses before us this afternoon, and I look forward to the discussion.”

May 20, 2026

Health

Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing Examining Medicare Physician Payment Issues and Reforms Enacted in MACRA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

“Our discussion today built on the Affordability Series that we have been working on throughout the year and allowed us to better understand how provider payment challenges can impact health care affordability,” said Chairman Griffith. “Physicians, nurses, and other health care providers are critical to our health care system, and their work remains essential to ensuring patients have access to timely, high-quality care in every community. Maintaining a stable and sustainable physician payment system is important not only for supporting providers, but also for preserving competition, affordability, and access to care for patients.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congressman Gus Bilirakis, (FL-12): “How does the current Medicare reimbursement structure affect the ability of independent practices to staff appropriately, invest in technology, and continue offering quality services to patients?” Dr. Snyder: “It’s making it very challenging to maintain an office or staff. Frequently, our staff are looking—it’s always greener on the other side—our staff are going to other hospital-employed models because they can offer more because of reimbursement [because] there is more. And it’s having a significant impact on our ability to see as many patients in the office as we as we would like to.” Congressman Bilirakis: “If these reimbursement challenges remain unresolved, what would that mean for patient choice, access to community-based care, and overall health care costs? The bottom line.” Dr. Snyder: “If these go unabated, we are experiencing what I like to affectionately call the “Our-physicians-are-entering-the-physician-transfer-portal,” and going to a hospital employment. And frequently, their patients will follow them, but we see they come back. Because, “Yes, I wanted to follow Dr. Jones, I've known him for a long time. We have a very good relationship. But when I went to go get my annual test, my annual echocardiogram or guideline indicated stress test, it is two to three times the cost.” And they're on the hook for that, and they will come back frequently.” Congressman Bilirakis: “So, there’s no patient choice in a lot of cases.”

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Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “Dr. Fox, you stated specifically, in your area in Virginia, that you have seen independent primary care practices being bought up by hospital systems. Do you feel that when that occurs, the ensuing vertical integration leads to less personalized care, less access for the seniors who, as I said, paid into this Medicare system for their entire working lives?” Dr Fox: “I do, Dr. Joyce. I’m seeing vertical integration occurring all around me, and I have for the last several decades, as practices in my community are being sold to private equity or being acquired by the health care system.” Congressman Joyce: “Delve into that a little bit more. Once we're sold to a private equity firm, do you find the physicians have less time to spend with their patients?” Dr. Fox: “Well, we know from studies that vertical integration leads generally to higher costs.” Congressman Joyce: “Do you feel that it affects the ability of the physician—you, the physician sitting across the table from this patient, to refer them to the best specialists, the best hospital facility, the best laboratory, the best radiologic facility? Does that impact on that?” Dr Fox: “My colleagues share with me that there are enormous pressures placed upon them when they are in large health systems or in private equity, that there are pressures to be more productive.”

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “As someone who’s dedicated their professional life to the practice of medicine, the issue of payment reform is, in my opinion, the most critical issue for physician stability and the long-term viability of our health care workforce, and especially, as in my state, rural health care. The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule was intended to create stability and predictability. Instead, physicians have faced years of uncertainty, repeated payment cuts—actually, on an annual basis—and growing administrative burdens. At the same time, the cost of delivering care continues to rise. If we continue on this current path, we are not just cutting payments, we are cutting patients access to local care they know and trust.”

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Subcommittees News & Announcements

Chairman Guthrie Touts House Passage of Lulu’s Law

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Health Subcommittee Hearing to Examine Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA

Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing Examining Medicare Physician Payment Issues and Reforms Enacted in MACRA