News

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Bill Johnson (R-OH) today announced the witnesses for a subcommittee hearing to address the environmental response to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The hearing is titled “Government Response to East Palestine: Ensuring Safety and Transparency for the Community.”  Rodgers and Johnson released the following statement:  “The people living in East Palestine and its surrounding areas deserve transparency regarding the recent train derailment that’s upended so many lives. It’s critical that they hear from the government officials charged with responding to the incident in order to ensure the health and safety of that community. We look forward to beginning those conversations at our Energy and Commerce hearing next week. This is the first step in the committee’s ongoing efforts to bring transparency to these communities so they can trust that the air, water, and soil surrounding their homes is not a threat to their health.”  Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials hearing titled: “Government Response to East Palestine: Ensuring Safety and Transparency for the Community”   WHAT: Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee hearing on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the response efforts to date.  DATE: Tuesday, March 28, 2023       TIME: 10:00 AM ET     LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building      WITNESSES:   Debra Shore , Regional Administrator, Region 5, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  Anne M. Vogel , Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency  Wesley Vins , Health Commissioner, Columbiana County General Health District  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing 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 Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov . 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today announced a subcommittee legislative hearing to discuss the reauthorization of Food and Drug Administration animal drug and animal generic drug use free programs.  “From pet owners, to farmers and poultry producers, Americans rely on pharmaceuticals and generic drugs to keep our animals healthy and happy. It’s crucial that we continue to modernize the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine review process, so sponsors can continue to review bring safe and effective animal drugs to the market. We look forward to the work ahead on reauthorizing these critical user fee programs—as we’ve done in the past—before their September 30 expiration date.”  Subcommittee on Health hearing titled “Reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Programs.” WHAT : A legislative hearing to discuss reauthorization of the FDA’s animal drug and animal generic drug user fee programs.  DATE : Thursday, March 30, 2023  TIME : 9:00 AM ET  LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  WITNESSES : Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only.  LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION : H.R. 1418, the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023, and H.R. 1683, the Generic Animal Drug Advancement Act.  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing 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 Jolie Brochin with the Committee staff at Jolie.Brochin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov . 

Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Chew to expose the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security. Americans deserve to know how much their privacy is jeopardized, and their data is manipulated by ByteDance-owned TikTok’s relationship with China. As Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said this morning:  “Banning your platform will address the immediate threats. Make no mistake, this Committee is looking to the future too. America needs to be prepared to stop the next technological tool or weapon China will use for its own strategic gain.   “We must prevent any app, website, and platform like TikTok from ever spying on Americans again, and we must provide the strongest protections possible for our children. That is why this Committee is leading on a national privacy and data security standard.”  Don’t miss these top moments: CLICK HERE to watch the full hearing.   CLICK HERE for more tweets from Energy and Commerce Republicans. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s full committee hearing titled “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms.” Excerpts and highlights below: TIKTOK'S SURVEILLANCE STATE “Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security. “TikTok collects nearly every data point imaginable, from people’s location, to what they type and copy, who they talk to, biometric data, and more. “Even if they’ve never been on TikTok, your trackers are embedded in sites across the web. “TikTok surveils us all and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole.” TIKTOK DOESN’T SHARE AMERICA’S VALUES “We do not trust TikTok will ever embrace American values—values for freedom, human rights, and innovation. “TikTok has repeatedly chosen the path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation. “Your platform should be banned. “I expect today you’ll say anything to avoid this outcome. “Like that you are 100 percent responsible for what TikTok does, that you suddenly endorse a national data privacy standard, that Project Texas is more than just a marketing scheme, that TikTok doesn’t harm our innocent children, or that your ties to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance is just a myth. “We aren’t buying it. “In fact, when you celebrate the 150 million American users on TikTok it emphasizes the urgency for Congress to act. “That is 150 million Americans that CCP can collect sensitive information on and control what we ultimately see, hear, and believe.” TIKTOK’S PRIVACY RECORD “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in the lie that it does not answer to the CCP through ByteDance. “Today, the CCP’s laws require Chinese companies like ByteDance to spy on their behalf. “That means any Chinese company must grant the CCP access and manipulation capabilities as a design feature. “Right now, ByteDance is under investigation by the DOJ for surveilling American journalists—both digital activity and physical movements through TikTok. “We also know that many of your employees still report directly to Beijing. “Internal recordings reveal there is a backdoor for China to access user data across the platform. “Your employees said quote, ‘everything is seen in China.’ “A gateway to spy is not the only way TikTok and ByteDance can do the bidding of the CCP. “TikTok has helped erase events and people China wants the world to forget. “It has even censored an American teenager, who exposed the CCP’s genocide and torture of Uyghur Muslims. “The facts show that ByteDance is beholden to the CCP and ByteDance and TiKTok are one in the same.” PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN “TikTok also targets our children. “The ‘For You’ algorithm is a tool for TikTok to own their attention and prey on their innocence. “Within minutes of creating an account, your algorithm can promote suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders to children. “It encourages challenges for them to put their lives in danger and allows adults to prey on our beautiful, beloved daughters. “It’s also a portal for drug dealers to sell illicit fentanyl that China has banned, yet, is helping Mexican cartels produce, send across our border, and poison our children. “In China, the CCP proactively prohibits this type of TikTok content that promotes death and despair to kids.” STOPPING CHINESE SPYING ON AMERICANS “From the data it collects to the content it controls, TikTok is a grave threat of foreign influence in American life. “It's been said it is like allowing the Soviet Union the power to produce Saturday morning cartoons during the Cold War but much more powerful and much more dangerous. “Banning your platform will address the immediate threats. “Make no mistake, this Committee is also looking to the future too. “America needs to be prepared to stop the next technological tool or weapon China will use for its own strategic gain. “We must prevent any app, website, and platform like TikTok from ever spying on Americans again and we must provide the strongest protections possible for our children. “That is why this Committee is leading on a national privacy and data security standard. “It restricts sensitive American data from reaching our adversaries to begin with and what Big Tech and data brokers collect, process, store, and sell. “It makes it illegal for any platform to track and target children under 17.” THE WORLD IS WATCHING “Mr. Chew, the Committee has requested that TikTok appear before us for a long time. “For those we serve, we are glad this day has finally come. “Today, the world is watching. “ByteDance is watching. “The Chinese Communist Party is watching. “But the answers you owe are to the American people, a free people who cherish their God-given unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. “They deserve the truth. “Complete honesty and the law is the standard you are being held to before this Committee as we seek to get answers and a full understanding of what happens at TikTok under your watch.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Full Committee markup of 19 bills. Excerpts and highlights below: UPDATING SATELLITE LAWS AND BOLSTERING CYBERSECURITY “From the Communications and Technology Subcommittee we are considering 13 bills that will update our laws governing the satellite industry and promote the cybersecurity of our communications networks. “We must make sure our laws keep pace with advancements in technology and allow innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish. “The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act, and our other satellite legislation, will give regulators the tools they need to ensure our rules don’t hold back American ingenuity. “We must also make sure the United States and our allies enhance their participation in international standards setting bodies to lead on the development of new international standards, rather than have them dictated by the Chinese Communist Party. “As technologies advance, so too do the attempts by bad actors seeking to hack our networks. “Improving cybersecurity literacy will help protect our data and make our networks more secure. “Overall, I’m grateful for and applaud all the bipartisan work on these Communications and Technology solutions as Energy and Commerce leads the way to improve our nation’s connectivity, network security, and maintain U.S. leadership in wireless technology.” ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS “From the Health Subcommittee, we are taking action to address the illicit fentanyl crisis, protect the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline, and stop discrimination against people with disabilities. “More people than ever are dying of illicit fentanyl poisonings. “As many parents have appealed to us, this requires urgent action. “Moms like Molly Cain deserve justice. “We must secure the border and make sure law enforcement has the tools they need to seize fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. “That is why we are advancing Representative Griffith and Latta’s HALT Fentanyl Act and Representative Lesko and Miller-Meeks's bill, the Securing the Border for Public Health Act. “The DEA testified just last month that permanently scheduling fentanyl related substances in Schedule I is their number-one legislative priority and in our field hearing in McAllen, we all heard and saw why. “The Securing the Border for Public Health Act would expand current Title 42 authority to be used to stop the import of certain controlled substances, including fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. “I want to be very clear: President Biden cannot let the emergency scheduling expire and it should not lift Title 42. “I also want to recognize Representative Harshbarger for leading on the Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act. “The opioid epidemic was fueled, in part, by suspiciously large shipments of controlled substances being delivered across the country—particularly in the Appalachian region. “This bill would help stop this practice and save lives by requiring drug manufacturers and distributors that discover a suspicious package to stop the order and report the information to the DEA.” PROTECTING THE 9-8-8 LIFELINE “Additionally, the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline suffered a cyberattack and was shut down for several hours late last year. “This lifeline is a critical tool that provides support and hope to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. “Thank you, Representative Obernolte, for your work on the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act. “It requires coordination and reporting to improve cybersecurity protections for the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.” BANNING DESCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES “We are also taking action today to ban the use of Quality Adjusted Life Years—or QALYs—and other similar measures by state and federal government health care programs. “More than 70 disability and patient organizations agree that QALYs are discriminatory and have no place in our decision making. “The federal government can evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and cures without devaluing the lives of seniors and people with disabilities. “We’ve worked tirelessly with the minority and with CMS to get this bill right. “We’ve resolved every outstanding comment from the agency and worked to address the concerns by the minority. “I hope we will come together with a strong vote to affirm the dignity of every person to receive lifesaving and quality care.” HOMEOWNER ENERGY FREEDOM ACT “Finally, we’ll consider H.R. 1603, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act which will repeal harmful policies from the IRA intended to incentivize states to impose natural gas bans through building codes. “It will stop the administration’s forced electrification agenda that will mean fewer choices and higher energy costs for all Americans. “As you can see, we have a robust agenda this afternoon. Thank you to all my colleagues for their work. “It proves that E&C is plowing the hardground to deliver results.”

Watchdogs from Commerce Dept, EPA, DOE, and GAO to Testify Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today announced a subcommittee hearing to examine the Biden administration’s massive spending spree through the “ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” the “CHIPS and Science Act,” and the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act.” The subcommittee will hear from the Inspectors General of the Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Energy, as well as an official from the Government Accountability Office. These “watchdogs” are tasked with ensuring federal government agencies are accountable to the American people and comply with the law—as it was by written by Congress. "President Biden’s massive spending has led to record levels of inflation, which is hitting Americans hard at the pump, in the grocery store, and almost everywhere they turn. Worse, this administration is prioritizing projects that weaken our energy security, increase our dependency on foreign adversaries, and recklessly reward their political allies to the detriment of the American people’s interests. As part of our oversight efforts to eliminate government waste, fraud, and abuse, this hearing will give our committee a chance to hold the administration accountable.”  NOTE : Earlier this month, the Committee requested a full accounting of spending from the Biden administration, including Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing is titled “Follow the Money: Oversight of President Biden's Massive Spending Spree.” WHAT : A subcommittee hearing to conduct oversight of President Biden’s massive spending spree. DATE : Wednesday, March 29, 2023 TIME : 2:00 PM or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Subcommittee Health hearing, whichever is later. LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building WITNESSES : Peggy Gustafson , Inspector General, Department of Commerce Sean O’Donnell , Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency Teri Donaldson , Inspector General, Department of Energy Mark Gaffigan , Managing Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing 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 Lauren Eriksen with the Committee staff at Lauren.Eriksen@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov .

TikTok CEO Shou Chew will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee tomorrow to testify about TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platform’s impact on kids, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) jointly spoke with Fox News’ Bret Baier about the national privacy standard they are leading on together to prevent any app, website, and platform like TikTok from ever spying on Americans again. THE IMPORTANCE OF TOMORROW’S HEARING “This hearing has been long overdue. This will be the first time the CEO of TikTok, Mr. Chew, has been before any congressional committee. “It's very important that he answer for some of the repeated lies that we know about TikTok and their association with ByteDance and ultimately the Chinese Communist Party. “[We have] growing concerns about the threat that this platform, this app poses in the United States of America but also it highlights the concerns around other technological tools or weapons that China may use for their own strategic future and that's why we are joining together. “We believe it's very important that we hold TikTok accountable but also make sure that any app or platform is ultimately protecting individual Americans’ privacy and making sure that Americans are protected from harm and our children are protected from harm.” TIKTOK’s CONNECTION WITH BYTEDANCE AND THE CCP “It is clear that TikTok will say anything to ensure that it is not banned in the United States of America.” “They have said that they're not surveilling on Americans or spying on Americans and yet now we know that they were used. ByteDance used TikTok to spy on American journalists. “We know that they continue to say that their data is not going back to China and that this walled off from the Chinese Communist Party and yet we now have recordings of employees at TikTok that say that everything is seen by China.” A NATIONAL DATA PRIVACY STANDARD “There is a lot of common ground and I think the fact that Mr. Chew is going directly to the TikTok users in America, that 150 million Americans [use it], now only underscores the importance of us taking action, because Americans’ data privacy is not protected. “This platform can also be used to manipulate what people see or hear or think. “It all points to the importance of us passing a larger national privacy standard, as Mr. Pallone is joining me to [achieve], because we believe this is a clarion call as to the need for a national data privacy standard to minimize the amount of data that TikTok, Big Tech, or other data brokers are collecting to begin with, to make sure that Americans are alerted when their data is being used or stored or transferred over to countries like China and to protect our kids for those under 17. “The legislation that we propose would make it illegal to track our kids online and to make sure that private conversations are actually private, that apps and devices would be prohibited from listening to our private conversations when we haven't given them permission. “This is all really important and we need to ban TikTok and we need to pass a national data privacy law.” CLICK HERE to watch Thursday’s hearing.

Washington, D.C. —  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced a Full Committee markup on 19 pieces of legislation. “The Energy and Commerce Committee is leading on solutions to keep America at the forefront of next-generation communications technology, protect the health and wellbeing of our citizens, and unleash domestic energy production to its full potential. On Thursday, our committee will consider legislation that bring our satellite laws and regulations into the 21st century, combat the fentanyl crisis, ban discrimination against individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and repeal parts of President Joe Biden’s agenda to control how Americans power their homes.”  WHAT:  A   Full Committee markup of 19 pieces of legislation. DATE:  Thursday, March 23, 2023       TIME:  3:00 PM ET or 30 minutes after the  Full Committee hearing  titled “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms,” whichever is later. LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chair. 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 markup, please contact Jolie Brochin at  Jolie.Brochin@mail.house.gov . For press related quotes regarding the Subcommittee on Health legislation, please contact Christopher Krepich at  Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov . For press related questions regarding the subcommittees on Communications & Technology and Energy, Climate Change, and Grid Security, please contact Sean Kelly at  Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .  Legislation to be considered:  H.R. 1338 , the “Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act”  H.R. 675 ,  the “Secure Space Act”  H.R. 1339 ,  the “Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act”  H.R. 682 ,  the “Launch Communications Act”  H.R. 1353 ,  the “Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act”  H.R. 1345 ,  the “NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act”  H.R. 1354 ,  the “Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act”  H.R. 1370 ,  the “Communications Security Act”  H.R. 1360 ,  the “American Cybersecurity Literacy Act”  H.R. 1340 ,  the “Open RAN Outreach Act”  H.R. 1343 ,  the “ITS Codification Act”  H.R. 1377 ,  the “Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act”  H.R. 1341 ,  the “Spectrum Coordination Act”  H.R. 501 , the “Block, Report, and Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act”  H.R. 498 , the “9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act”  H.R. 485 , the “Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023”  H.R. 467 , the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act”  H.R. 801 , the “Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023”  H.R. 1603 , the “Homeowner Energy Freedom Act” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) today announced a hearing titled “Preserving Free Speech and Reining in Big Tech Censorship.” “Big Tech is shutting down free speech. In many cases, this has included colluding with the Biden administration and corrupt government bureaucrats to silence voices who dare to question the Left's narrative—we have the receipts. Big Tech's authoritarian actions violate America's most fundamental rights to engage in the battle of ideas and hold the politically powerful accountable. House Energy and Commerce Republicans have repeatedly condemned these censorship actions. Next week, several people who’ve been silenced by Big Tech will have a voice before our subcommittee. We look forward to hearing from them and discussing how to protect the spirit of the First Amendment and the American people's right to free speech online.” Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled “Preserving Free Speech and Reining in Big Tech Censorship.” WHAT: Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on protecting Americans from Big Tech censorship. DATE: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 TIME: 10:30 AM ET LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing 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 Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at  Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .