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Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified the Committee that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has been debarred for ten years.   “This news is long overdue and should have happened years ago. The federal government has no business sending Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars to such a dangerous institution. The Wuhan Institute of Virology—under pressure by the Chinese Communist Party—was part of a group that stifled a global investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a continued loss of human life.  “The Biden administration is finally doing what the evidence and facts have demanded. It is outrageous that it took them so long. HHS must now consider a similar debarment for EcoHealth Alliance.  “The American people deserve every assurance that they will not be forced to fund risky research, especially in unsafe conditions within adversarial nations.”  READ:    July 2023 : E&C Republicans Statement on Suspension of Funding and Proposed Debarment of WIV  July 2023 : E&C Investigation Reveals Key NIH Officials—Including Dr. Fauci—Likely Served Unlawfully   January 2023 : Chair Rodgers: HHS’s OIG Report Confirms our Concerns with NIH’s Funding of EcoHealth Alliance   October 2022 : E&C Republicans to NIH: Why Resume Taxpayer-Supported Grant Funding to EcoHealth?   February 2022 : E&C Republican Leaders Push NIH for Stronger Enforcement of Grants Policies and Compliance Information Regarding EcoHealth Alliance   August 2021 : E&C Republican Leaders Request Further Info From NIH & NIAID Following Concerns of Wuhan Lab Biosafety Procedures   June 2021 : E&C Republicans Send Second Letter to NIH Director Regarding Grants Issued to EcoHealth Alliance 

Washington D.C. – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed H.R. 2544 , the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, into law.  “This new bipartisan law will give hope to patients in need of an organ transplant. It will also help grieving families find comfort and peace in knowing their loved ones’ remarkable gift has a better chance of saving someone’s life. We thank Representatives Larry Bucshon and Robin Kelly for leading this effort, as well as President Biden for signing this bill into law.”  NOTE: Led by Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), H.R. 2544 was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 49-0 on May 24, 2023, and unanimously out of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 25, 2023. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) blasted President Biden today following the administration’s decision to direct federal agencies to use "social cost of greenhouse gas emissions" ( SC-GHG) metrics more broadly. With this mandate, agencies will have the green light to apply these flawed metrics to decisions, including the purchase of goods and services, conducting environmental reviews, and penalizing American companies.  “President Biden’s relentless efforts to force an energy transition on American families is driving up costs across the board, threatening the security of people’s jobs and the reliability of their electricity, and making us more reliant on China. This announcement is not about reducing emissions—it's about asserting total control over people’s lives and livelihoods with deeply flawed metrics that benefit the administration’s political allies. The SC-GHG will enable the administration to disguise the true costs of its rush-to-green agenda on the American people. Vilifying American energy will not reduce emissions or make life more affordable for the hardworking people of this country.”  In Case You Missed It: In March 2022 , Chair Rodgers sent a letter, along with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), to EPA Administrator Michael Regan requesting transparency and information on EPA’s use of SC-GHG.  

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled: “Connecting Every American: The Future of Rural Broadband Funding.” E&C IS LEADING TO CONNECT ALL AMERICANS “Broadband connectivity has become essential for Americans. “People need it to pay their bills, continue their education, open a new business, and so much more. “Yet there are still many communities, particularly in rural areas, who lack a reliable connection. “That includes many in my district in Eastern Washington.” “Energy and Commerce is committed to supporting policies that lead to better and faster internet access. “Today, there are more than 130 federal broadband programs, and Congress has dedicated an unprecedented amount of taxpayer dollars towards funding these programs in recent years. “That includes the $65 billion for broadband deployment, affordability, and adoption in the IIJA, as well as existing programs like the Universal Service Fund, or USF. “As resources are made available and new funding programs are considered, we must ensure taxpayer dollars aren't being wasted or duplicated.” ENHANCING EFFECTIVENESS OF BROADBAND PROGRAMS “The USF, for instance, has helped internet service providers connect rural homes and health centers, schools, libraries, and low-income Americans across the country for more than 25 years. “Now, with so many other programs working to achieve the same or similar goals, it is important that we evaluate the necessity of the USF and consider what it should support to ensure federal resources are achieving their intended purpose and that efforts aren’t being duplicated. “Once we address those questions, we can turn to how we fund the USF. “Today, the USF is funded by contributions from providers based on a revenue source that is declining, causing the contribution factor to increase. “In fact, next quarter, the contribution factor will hit a new record. “This cost ultimately increases the cost of services. “This means that Americans will soon see the highest ever USF fee on their phone bills. “This is not sustainable. “As we consider the future of the USF, it is important that we develop a stable funding mechanism that meets the needs of the program without raising costs for hardworking Americans.” AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM “The Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, is also important in the context of today’s discussion. “This COVID-era program was supposed to be a temporary band-aid to help families economically impacted by the pandemic stay connected to broadband. Then, Congress made it permanent and has given it over $17 billion. “That money will soon run out and we must consider the program’s future. “This program is in addition to the Lifeline program, a federal subsidy program under USF designed to ensure that low-income Americans can afford broadband and telephone service. “Congress has a responsibility to ensure that these programs are run effectively, and I do have questions about which program is most effective, how efforts can be consolidated or streamlined, and what a federal subsidy program for low-income Americans should look like going forward. “Ultimately, minimizing duplicative spending, waste, and fraud will ensure resources are being used efficiently and serving as many people as possible. “Otherwise, without careful evaluation, rural Americans will continue to watch from a distance as technologies advance. “Kids will continue to grow up without access to online educational resources and businesses in rural America will continue to be left behind as the digital economy booms in urban centers and across the globe.” “Today’s hearing is an important step as we look to the future of rural broadband funding. All of us here today share the same goal—ensuring connectivity for every American. This will improve lives, strengthen the economy, and ensure that America wins the future.”

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered the following remarks at today’s hearing titled “Connecting Every American: The Future of Rural Broadband Funding.” “Americans rely on internet connectivity for work, education, health care, and staying connected with loved ones. Yet, despite years of effort and billions of dollars, many Americans are still without a reliable broadband connection. “Closing this digital divide is a bipartisan priority and significant federal resources have been dedicated to this effort. “Unfortunately, a problem that requires a dedicated and efficient response spurred an overwhelming and scattered federal funding response. As Ronald Reagan rightly said, the 'government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.'” ONGOING BROADBAND PROGRAMS “In May 2022, the Government Accountability Office found that there are over 130 broadband programs across 15 federal government agencies. The largest of these programs—the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, program, created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—commits $42.45 billion to broadband deployment. “One of this Committee’s top priorities is making sure these programs are administered effectively so that money dedicated to closing the digital divide achieves its goal. I remain concerned about whether that will happen. Some of these programs, including BEAD, were created outside of regular order. “There was no discussion of whether $42 billion is the right number or debate on how this program should be administered. “Very little of this money, if any, will support rural wireless carriers that provide critical services. I am also concerned that rising costs for labor and equipment will create supply chain shortages, taking both additional money and time required for deployment. Given this uncertainty, I worry that the federal government will waste this opportunity to connect all Americans.” FUTURE OF BROADBAND FUNDING “Oversight of these existing programs is crucial for their success, but we also need to look towards the future to consider what federal funding for broadband should look like once programs like BEAD conclude. “For example, the Universal Service Fund, or USF, was created in 1997 and distributes approximately $8 billion per year. It supports four broadband programs targeting high-cost areas, schools and libraries, low-income households, and rural health care facilities. Many small, rural providers are dependent on the USF to support their deployment in unserved areas. “Over the past few years, however, Congress has also spent billions of dollars funding these same efforts through BEAD, the Emergency Connectivity Fund, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and COVID-19 Telehealth Program. “Given this duplication, Congress needs to address whether we still need the USF and, if so, what it should look like. This includes addressing what programs the USF should fund, how the USF should be funded, and what reforms are needed to ensure the programs are run effectively and without waste, fraud, or abuse. “These are important questions for Congress to consider. Answering them will require serious bipartisan, bicameral discussions. “That is why I am pleased to announce today that Ranking Member of this subcommittee and I are joining the bipartisan Universal Service Fund Working Group, led by Senators Thune and Lujan. I look forward to hearing from stakeholders and working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Capitol to find a solution that will ensure sustainable universal service for years to come. “Today’s hearing is a start of looking towards the future of federal broadband programs. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses. And I also thank you again for appearing before us today.”

Washington, D.C. — Due to changes in the House Floor schedule requiring Members be present to vote, the Energy and Commerce Committee has postponed its Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee field hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, titled “Life After the Train Derailment: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability for the People of East Palestine.”  WHAT: A field hearing to assess the cleanup progress and community needs following the February train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.  STATUS: This hearing has been postponed due to changes in the House Floor schedule.  If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson with the Committee staff at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov . For media inquiries, please reach out to Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .  

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) announced a subcommittee hearing titled “Powering America's Economy, Security, and our Way of Life: Examining the State of Grid Reliability.”   “America's electric grid is essential to every part of our lives. A well-managed, balanced, and secure electric grid is vital for a strong economy and our way of life. Grid operators play a critical role in delivering reliable, affordable energy across the country. We look forward to hearing from these operators about how federal regulations, state policies, and subsidies affect Americans’ utility bills. We’ll also be discussing how to enhance electric generation, improve siting and planning of electric infrastructure, and what Congress can do to improve the reliability and management of our grid.”  Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, & Grid Security hearing titled “Powering America's Economy, Security, and our Way of Life: Examining the State of Grid Reliability.”  WHAT: Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing with electric grid operators. DATE: Thursday. September 28, 2023 TIME: 10:30 A.M. 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 livestreamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov.

Washington, D.C. — Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s legislative hearing titled “American Hydropower: Unleashing Reliable, Clean Power Across the U.S.” UNLEASING MORE HYDROPOWER   “Our goal on the Energy and Commerce Committee is to enact policy that delivers affordable, reliable, and clean energy to all Americans and hydropower is essential to this mission.   “Hydropower and pumped storage provide clean power and storage. They are also flexible and can generate power to the grid immediately, which provides essential backup power in times of major outages or disruptions.”  “ Unfortunately, hydropower relicensing is among the most complicated and bureaucratic permitting processes in the U.S.    “The primary reasons for these delays are due to the number of federal statutes involved as well as the number of federal agencies. There are 11 federal agencies involved in the hydropower licensing process.   “I am glad we have some of these stakeholders in front of us today to give us their perspectives on the process.   “It is no question that in order to ensure hydropower remains a critical part of our energy matrix, the licensing and re-licensing processes must be reformed and streamlined.   “Nearly half of the nonfederal U.S. hydropower fleet will be up for relicensing in 2035. The current process creates uncertainty and confusion, and ends up costing millions of dollars.    “On average, relicensing a hydropower facility can take between seven to ten years, and can cost over 3 and a half million dollars. This doesn’t even consider the potential costs of fish passage, new turbines, and dam safety investments.   “The long and expensive relicensing process causes many hydropower owners to surrender their licenses instead and decommission their plants. That leaves America with less emissions-free, reliable electricity generation at a time when our electric grid desperately needs this type of generation.  “And it’s not just relicensing that requires projects to go through federal approvals.   “In my district, Buzzard’s Roost, a hydro dam in Greenwood County, South Carolina, is currently redesigning a fuse plug that requires FERC approval. This process faced countless delays, and the county feels as if FERC has given them the runaround on numerous occasions.  “Almost 20 years and $3 million later, not a single shovel has broken ground at Buzzard’s Roost to begin the project. This is a prime example of why FERC needs to focus on streamlining their approval processes, providing more certainty to applicants, and enabling projects to begin in a timely manner.”  HYDROPOWER CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE ACT “To address these licensing challenges, Chair Rodgers has introduced the “Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act.”    “Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy, and this legislation will ensure that this clean energy stays online, preserving the existing fleeting and paving the way to bring more power online.    “This of course, is important for Chair Rodgers and her home state of Washington where hydropower accounts for nearly 70 percent of electricity generation; but it’s also critical for states and counties all over the country. For example, this bill will help my home state of South Carolina.   “In my district, the third district of South Carolina, Duke Energy has the Bad Creek Hydro Project, which is a hydro storage facility, is able to provide enough energy to power nearly 1 million homes.   “Last summer I was able to host members of this Committee on a tour of the facility and its approximately 1,600 - megawatt battery that stores mainly renewable solar energy as well as excess nuclear baseload power that would otherwise be curtailed because it was generated during periods of low demand.   “Recently, Duke Energy filed to relicense the existing Bad Creek Facility and also expressed a desire to build a second powerhouse that would offer an additional 1,600 megawatts of storage capacity that would help to integrate carbon free generation across the Carolinas.    “I am hopeful both the relicensing, as well as the possible expansion, are successful as this would help increase reliability and affordability for customers in my home state and the Southeast.   “So, I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today on how we can improve hydropower relicensing and licensing in order to unleash this critical source of reliable, affordable, and clean energy in the U.S.” 

Washington, D.C. — Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered opening re marks at today’s Subcommittee legislative hearing titled " Mapping America’s Supply Chains: Solutions to Unleash Innovation, Boost Economic Resilience, and Beat China ."  Prepared remarks below:  BOLSTERING AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP  "Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today’s hearing on legislation that will help bolster America’s global leadership and secure our nation’s economic and national security.  "Since this committee was created in 1795, it has had a clear purpose on how to promote interstate commerce domestically and conduct business abroad. Learning how our supply chains work and ensuring their integrity is an integral part of that work and historically has not been a partisan issue.  "More recently, this was on display in several emerging technology supply chain bills that formed Chair Rodger’s bipartisan American COMPETE Act legislation that became law in 2020."  NEED TO STRENGTHEN SUPPLE CHAINS AFTER PANDEMIC  "As we learned from the crippling effects of the pandemic on America’s supply chains in 2021, further efforts began in our Committee to examine how we can better map and monitor supply chains to ensure resiliency in the future.  "What started as a positive bipartisan process unfortunately went down a different path. To be clear, I don’t blame my Democratic colleagues on this Committee, as I know this was a top-down decision dictated by Speaker Pelosi. Instead of consensus legislating, the process led to multibillion-dollar spending programs that skipped regular order, which ironically the now minority party insists we preserve.  "The conclusion to that effort was failure, as even the Senate was unable to agree with the enormous price tag and government interventions into the private sector.  "I say this not to re-litigate the past but more to help us get a fresh start."  SOLUTIONS   "Today we have legislation from Dr. Bucshon that takes us back to our earlier consensus, identifying the special role that emerging technologies will have in our future economy. It is best to promote and deploy these technologies now with our values driving the process, rather than to spend billions to figure out how to reclaim them later if they are deployed and developed with an adversary’s values.  "I believe both sides of the aisle can appreciate this legislation on the docket in draft form to continue a dialogue that results in a bipartisan consensus.  "We have all been legislating long enough to know that America cannot simply throw taxpayer dollars at an issue to rectify concerns.  "The multibillion-dollar semiconductor program enacted last Congress has been hamstrung by issues we flagged during its consideration for not considering regulatory burdens like permitting.  BEATING CHINA  "The way we retain and grow our leadership is not to outspend China, but instead provide a stable regulatory framework that rewards innovators and entrepreneurs with results.  "To secure our future, we need to address problems our nation faces at the root cause.   That means mapping and monitoring supply chains and understanding why we are so reliant on adversaries like China for many critical minerals and components, essential for products our constituents use. We should understand how we can source in America or with allied nations.  "It means promoting the deployment of emerging technologies like blockchains to have greater transparency into a chain of custody, or autonomous vehicles to help deliver goods where we see voids.  "It means removing barriers that small businesses and startups face in their effort to enter markets and developing a plan to promote their growth and their workforce.  And specifically on that note, I also want to thank Representatives Bill Johnson and Dean Phillips for their continued leadership on H.R. 5398, the Advancing Tech Startups Act, and to Representatives Miller-Meeks, Bucshon, Johnson, Kuster, Schrier, and Spanberger for H.R. 5390, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act.  "I look forward to the discussion today and welcome any constructive and specific language we can review to get these bills passed and ultimately succeed in getting them to the Presidents’ desk.  "Thank you to our panelists for your testimony today, and I yield back."