News

Members Provide Notice of Record Preservation Amid NIH’s Stonewalling 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) today sent a letter to Lawrence Tabak, the senior official performing the duties of director at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), regarding details about a supercharged monkeypox experiment planned by an NIH researcher.  The letter follows up on an October 31, 2022, letter , which the NIH has not provided a formal response. It also contains a formal notice to preserve all existing and future records and materials related to the topic.  The project in question involves transferring genes from “clade 1” or Congo Basin clade monkeypox virus (a rare version of monkeypox virus that is 1,000 times more lethal in mice than the version currently circulating in humans) into “clade 2” or West African clade monkeypox virus (the version currently circulating in humans). The clade 1 version of the monkeypox virus is so dangerous that it is classified as a Federal Select Agent. Information about the specific experiments became known when the researcher discussed his plans in a September 2022 Science article on National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) work on monkeypox.  KEY EXCERPT:   “Based on the available information, it appears the project is reasonably anticipated to yield a lab-generated monkeypox virus that is 1,000 times more lethal in mice than the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans and that transmits as efficiently as the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans. The risk-benefit ratio indicates potentially serious risks without clear civilian practical applications. Accordingly, this experiment would seem to involve risks reasonably anticipated to create, transfer, or use PPPs resulting from the enhancement of a pathogen’s transmissibility or virulence in humans. Thus, under the circumstances, we are interested in learning whether this experiment was reviewed under the HHS P3CO framework used to review research proposals posing significant biosafety or biosecurity risks.  “Further, human disease associated with clade 2 or West African monkeypox virus infection is less severe and is associated with less than one percent mortality, whereas clade 1 or Congo Basin monkeypox infection has a 10 percent case fatality rate in unvaccinated persons. Because of its significantly greater lethality, clade 1 or Congo Basin clade monkeypox viruses are regulated as select agents by the Federal Select Agents Program. Entities that possess, use, or transfer this agent must comply with the HHS Select Agent and Toxin Regulations unless there is an applicable exemption or exclusion. Thus, under these regulations, it would appear the clade 1 monkeypox virus experiment is a restricted experiment that must be reviewed by the Federal Select Agent Program, and may be further reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s (CDC’s) Intragovernmental Select Agents and Toxins Technical Advisory Committee (ISATTAC).”  In light of these concerns over the adequacy of NIH’s oversight of research posing a significant risk of biosafety and biosecurity risks, and involving a federal select agent, the Chairs requested a formal response by April 13, 2023.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, upholding Republicans' Commitment to America and to an economy that’s strong.   "Republicans are prioritizing the American people over the Democrat’s radical climate agenda. On his first day in office, President Biden started the war on American energy. He has revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, imposed a moratorium on oil production on federal lands, directed agencies across the Federal government to impose punitive and burdensome regulations, and made us more reliant on China. Predictably, gas prices skyrocketed to the highest levels in American history. People are counting on us to improve their quality of life. H.R. 1 delivers on that promise and will ensure America continues to lead the world at reducing emissions. I commend the passing of this package, which will boost energy production, lift regulatory burdens for the construction of more energy infrastructure, cut China out of our critical materials supply chains, and lower costs across the board. H.R. 1 is how we build a better and more secure future for all Americans." – House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) "In House Republicans’ Commitment to America, we promised the American people that we would work to reduce energy costs and make it easier and more affordable to build in the U.S. I’m proud to say that H.R. 1, the Lower Costs and Energy Act, will deliver on that promise by increasing energy production and instituting comprehensive permitting reform to speed the construction of critical infrastructure in our country. As our nation continues to recover from the highest inflation in generations, this bill will help stimulate our economy and bolster our national security while making us more competitive on the world stage against Russia and China. I am grateful for the leadership of Leader Scalise, Chairman Westerman, Chairwoman Rodgers, and Chairman Graves who all played a crucial role in getting H.R. 1 across the finish line. The need for permitting reform is something that Republicans and Democrats alike can get behind, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to do right by the American people and swiftly take up this bill." – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)   "From the day he took office, President Biden has waged a war on American energy, and hardworking families are the ones paying the price: since President Biden took office, energy costs have hit record highs with gas prices up 51 percent and household electricity prices up 24 percent, while real wages are down 4 percent. And yet, President Biden continues to drive inflation sky-high by blocking American energy production with red tape while begging hostile foreign countries like Russia for oil. America can and should be energy independent – we have the technology to produce our own energy cleaner and more efficiently than anywhere else in the world, while lowering costs for hardworking families. The Lower Energy Costs Act will increase American energy production, reform our broken permitting process, reverse the Biden Administration’s radical anti-energy policies, streamline our energy exports and imports, and boost the mining of critical minerals. Voters awarded House Republicans with the majority in Congress to fight President Biden’s radical energy policies and lower costs for American families, and today, we are working to make that a reality. With this bill, Republicans have made energy security and lower costs our number one priority this Congress, standing up for hardworking Americans against Biden’s radical energy agenda. By passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, House Republicans are following through on our promise to unleash American energy and restore our nation’s energy independence. I want to thank Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves for all of their hard work in getting this bill over the finish line. Now, it’s time for the Senate and President Biden to do their jobs and work with us to lower energy costs for American workers and families, instead of continuing their anti-American energy crusade." – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)   "The Lower Energy Costs Act is a massive win for the American people and a much-needed boost for our economy. House Republicans know that when we produce energy here at home, we do it cleaner, safer, and more efficiently than anywhere else in the world. This legislation will provide a framework for streamlining the federal regulations holding back domestic energy producers and will usher in a new era of American energy independence and mineral security. Thanks to Speaker McCarthy and Leader Scalise, hardworking Americans can rest easy knowing we’re putting the U.S. back in the driver’s seat on global energy production and keeping the lights on across the nation." – House Committee on Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR)   "The Lower Energy Costs Act is critical for so many reasons — from increasing domestic energy production, to encouraging the production of critical minerals, to modernizing the NEPA process to ensure energy and other infrastructure projects can move forward. This bill does exactly what the bill title says. It will lower energy costs for American families, farmers, and businesses by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to critical energy projects and by increasing our energy independence, all while continuing to protect our environment.  Key contributions from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Members will prevent federal water regulations from being abused to block needed energy projects and will apply One Federal Decision streamlining reforms to pipeline projects.  Energy costs remain unbearably high for too many Americans, and this bill will make a real difference." – House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R-MO)   Background   The Lower Energy Costs Act will restore American energy independence by:  Increasing domestic energy production  Reforming the permitting process for all industries  Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden administration  Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports  Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals  CLICK HERE for an overview of the bill.   CLICK HERE for a section-by-section summary of the bill.   CLICK HERE for a summary of the Energy and Commerce Committee components of the bill.

Washington, D.C. —  Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled “ Reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Programs .” Excerpts and highlights below: ANIMAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT T O H UMAN HEALTH “Today we take the first step to reauthorizing the Animal Drug User Fee Agreements through 2028. “These must pass agreements play important roles in keeping our pets and our farm animals healthy and happy. “This process gives Congress the unique ability to help ensure brand name animal drugs and their generic equivalents are able to reach the market as quickly and as safely as possible. “Animal health is also important to human health. “For example, there’s currently a severe bird flu outbreak going on around the world. “One way to prevent that virus from potentially mutating and becoming potentially infectious in humans is to prevent or cure the disease in animals.” THE HISTORY OF ADUFA AND ITS FUTURE “Originally established in 2004, the first animal drug user fee agreement transformed the drug review process for these drugs. “Before the establishment of these agreements, it took roughly seven to ten years to get new animal drugs approved. “This backlog made it more difficult for veterinarians to treat house pets for treatable and non-life threatening conditions. “Food was also delayed getting to grocery store shelves because of delays in determining that antibiotics given to food producing animals did not jeopardize the safety of that food for human consumption. “The first ADUFA agreement eliminated the backlog of applications sitting with the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine and decreased the review times for New Animal Drug Applications from over 600 days to 180 days.” THE ADUFA AGREEMENT TODAY “The ADUFA agreement we are considering today will allow the agency to collect $174 million in fees from industry from 2024 to 2028 and make critical program enhancements to streamline the review process for both the regulators and industry. “These include more stringent reporting requirements for the FDA on review times and outcomes of Investigational New Animal Drug applications. “The agreement also includes a third-party review process of these applications to increase oversight and help identify ways this process can be more predictable for drug sponsors. “Today we are also considering the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Agreements (AGDUFA). “Since Congress passed AGDUFA in 2009, these agreements have been instrumental in reducing long wait times for drug reviews and getting more lower cost generic drugs onto the market. “The AGDUFA agreement we are examining would permit the FDA to collect up to $130 million in user fees through 2028 on the review of generic animal drugs. “This also includes improved transparency requirements for FDA that will help sponsors more effectively work with regulators to address outstanding issues with the file for which sponsors use to share information about an abbreviated new animal drug application. “It also includes a commitment from the FDA to take action on 90% of these requests within 100 days of submission. “Overall, both of these agreements will significantly enhance our ability to keep household pets and farming animals healthy, while continuing to promote human health in the process. “I would also like to thank my subcommittee colleagues Representatives Pence and Schrier for their work in introducing the legislation before us today that would reauthorize these programs. “As subcommittee chair, I want to ensure we are taking care of business by getting this legislation to the President’s desk well before its September 30 deadline.”

Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans, led by Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), spoke on the House Floor today in support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. Don’t miss Energy and Commerce Republicans share how H.R. 1 will make life affordable again in America.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined House Republican Leadership in a press conference on H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act , which passed the House today with bipartisan support:  Excerpts and highlights from her remarks:  “I’m proud to stand with this entire team in support of our leadership on H.R. 1, but I’m most proud to be here with those who are wearing the hard hats that say, ‘proud American energy workers.’  “This legislation is about unleashing American energy. It is about making sure America is producing more domestic energy, and we appreciate everything that you’re doing every day to make sure we have reliable, affordable energy.”  […]  “Energy is foundational to everything. It has lifted people out of poverty and raised the standard of living... it is the driver of American leadership.”  […]  “We do it better. We do it cleaner. We do it more efficient than any other place in the world. So, when we are increasing domestic production in the U.S., we’re also lowering carbon emissions.”  CLICK HERE to read more about how President Biden’s war on American energy has made life unaffordable for people like David Hickman, a fifth-generation farm owner and operation from Horntown, Virginia.   CLICK HERE to read more about how unleashing American energy will improve lives across the country, including in Mayor Lori Blong’s town of Midland, Texas, who discussed in an E&C field hearing the benefits that her community is experiencing as a result of the local energy industry.

Washington, D.C. —  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled: “ Reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Programs .” Excerpts and highlights below: WHY ADUFA IS IMPORTANT “Whether or not you know it, almost everyone in this room relies on the animal drugs approved by the FDA. “Whether you have a pet, drink milk, or eat meat, the FDA plays a very important role in making sure the drugs we give animals work and are safe. “This is particularly important to make sure food is safe for humans to eat. “The Center for Veterinary Medicine at FDA is responsible for regulating animal drugs and is funded in part by Congressional appropriations and in part by user fees paid by industry. “If we don’t reauthorize this legislation on time, FDA can no longer collect fees and the drugs that farmers and pet owners rely on may not come to market. “It is important we get this done on time and work in a bipartisan way to keep any controversial policies from slowing this down. “We’re off to good start. “I am glad that industry and FDA submitted recommendations for this reauthorization ahead of the January 15th deadline, and that today we will be considering legislation that the reauthorizes the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments. “The agreements before us reflect nearly two years of negotiations between FDA and industry and we appreciate the hard work from those involved in those discussions.” PROPOSED ADUFA AGREEMENTS “This will be the fifth ADUFA reauthorization and the fourth reauthorization of AGDUFA and in the twenty years since these authorities were established, we’ve seen significant improvements to review times for new animal drug applications and continued progress towards getting safe and cost-effective products to the market faster. “Over the course of the negotiation process, we have heard from industry and stakeholders on current challenges within the animal health market, including rising costs of veterinary care and limited options available for treatment. “We are also hearing how the significant growth in new drug application fees are limiting participation in the animal drug user fee programs. This ultimately leaves us with fewer and less affordable options to treat our country’s animals. “It is clear that we need more innovative and affordable medicines on the market and I look forward to discussing FDA’s plans to better utilize existing processes to expedite the review and approval of animal drugs. “The agreements contain proposed enhancements that address supply chain issues by providing funding for pre-approval foreign inspections capabilities and commitments to exploring additional UK and EU Good Manufacturing mutual recognition agreements. “FDA will also commit to a third-party evaluation of CVM’s utilization of review processes for animal drug applications. “Independent assessments such as these are critical as this Committee conducts oversight over the Agency’s mission in fulfilling its regulatory and public health responsibilities. “We look forward to reviewing the findings from this assessment.” PROPOSED GENERIC DRUG USER FEE PROGRAM AGREEMENT “The proposed agreement for the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Program should help get more lower cost animal drugs to farmers and pet owners. “FDA has committed to providing increased engagement with generic drug sponsors through new meeting processes. “These meetings will provide additional opportunities for sponsors to engage with the Agency’s scientific staff to better understand what data is needed to support their new animal drug applications. “I also look forward to discussing CVM’s plans to transition staff and resources back to in-person operations as we turn the corner on three years since the beginning of the pandemic and as the COVID-19 public health emergency is set to end on May 11. “In addition to the user fee agreements, we are also considering legislation introduced by Representative Nancy Mace, the ‘Generic Animal Drug Availability Act.’ “This bill would improve pathways for generic animal drugs seeking approval for single species and as combination products. “I look forward to today’s discussion. I believe there is a bipartisan commitment to reauthorizing these agreements on time.”

Washington, D.C. —  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled: “ Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Health and Human Services Budget .” Excerpts and highlights below: PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FAILED BUDGET “Today’s hearing on the President’s budget for the Department of Health and Human Services comes at a time when we need to return hope and optimism to America again so people can live fuller, happier, and healthier lives. “We need to come together to stop the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “We need to rein in out-of-control government spending to reverse the President Biden’s inflation crisis so people can afford health care. “We need to help build and support strong communities, so people are less lonely, less anxious, and restore a sense of purpose and belonging for our children. “There must be accountability from the administration, too, for all the ways it has made these crises worse, especially with authoritarian COVID-19 policies. “Secretary Becerra, the President’s budget should reflect the solutions we need to make people’s lives better. “Unfortunately, that is not what we are seeing.” FIGHTING THE FENTANYL CRISIS “Regarding fentanyl, as Mr. Guthrie said, the President’s budget only mentions this two times. “It is unacceptable given more people than ever are dying from fentanyl poisoning in America. “This committee has heard from several parents, such as Molly Cain, who emphasize that their children were not suffering from substance use disorder, but that their teenager purchased a pill off Snapchat, or bought cocaine, not knowing it was laced with fentanyl, and died. “Your budget request for increased funding for medication assisted treatment, while important, doesn’t seem like it would have prevented these individuals from dying of fentanyl poisoning. “This is perhaps the greatest threat facing our communities but your budget does not reflect all aspects of the terrifying reality of this crisis.” IMPROVING PRICE TRANSPARENCY “Regarding health care costs, this committee came together just yesterday in a bipartisan way to explore ways to lower health care costs with more price transparency and more competition. “This is a top priority for those we serve yet, your budget says nothing regarding bipartisan efforts to implement and enforce the transparency efforts brought forth during the Trump administration.” REBUILDING TRUST IN PUBLIC HEALTH “In addition to lowering costs, the administration needs to take restoring trust in our public health agencies more seriously. “The buck stops with you. “You oversee our public health and preparedness policies under the CDC and NIH. “As I’ve said, these agencies need to do the hard work of restoring trust with the American people and comply with our oversight before they ask for more money and more authority. “The NIH, in many cases, has failed to be a steward of American taxpayer dollars or ensure lab safety. “It has stonewalled this committee’s requests for information that we’re constitutionally entitled to and it refuses to answer questions about what sort of risky gain-of-function research it may fund or what role the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity is playing to keep Americans safe. “Similarly, the CDC has created a crisis in confidence so much so that CDC Director Walensky has undertaken a full-scale reevaluation and reorganization of the agency. “This is because its guidance was used to justify mandates that have more parents questioning routine vaccination. “Its guidance, influenced by the teachers' unions, kept schools closed, to justify mask mandates on kids. “We know these weren’t decisions based on the best science and data. “Now, our children are paying the price academically, physically, emotionally.” AMERICANS EXPECT BETTER “Like NIH, the CDC does not need more authority. It needs robust oversight. “Secretary Becerra, let me be clear: We expect better. “The American people are eager for a brighter future. “We expect a high degree of cooperation from you on policies that will help improve their health and their quality of life. “I hope you leave today with a greater since of the urgency, the urgency that I feel and that every member of this committee feels, to address these problems and do that in a bipartisan fashion. “We are committed to bringing the Republicans and Democrats together to address fentanyl, together to address the need for trust in our public health agencies like the CDC and NIH, and together as we did yesterday on price transparency that would really help restore the patient-doctor relationship and bring down the cost of health care. “That’s our goal. We’re committed to doing it together.”

Washington, D.C. —  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled “ Taking the Buzzer Beater to the Bank: Protecting College Athletes’ NIL Dealmaking Rights .” Excerpts and highlights below: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Thank you for your dedication to the issue of ‘Name Image Likeness’ (NIL). I know it’s close to your heart to ensure college athletes have every chance to succeed professionally and academically. “We’re fortunate to have a few former college athletes on this committee and I know it is an issue close to their hearts as well. “I’d also like to thank Pat Chun, the Athletic Director of Washington State University for testifying before us today—Go Cougs! “At every level, from his work at WSU to his various roles with the NCAA, Pat has taken a leadership role on NIL.” THE STATE OF PLAY “The Supreme Court blew the whistle on the NCAA in 2021 as it unanimously ruled it could no longer prohibit college athletes from receiving compensation for their NIL. “The ruling could not have been clearer. The NCAA was overly restrictive in its prohibition of athletes profiting from their NIL. “Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s ruling did not offer clear rules of the road. “Instead, we have seen a roller coaster of state activity as states compete to have the most advantageous laws for their respective schools. “For example, Alabama enacted an NIL law to provide guardrails then quickly had to repeal it within a year over concerns more restrictive rules could put them at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting versus other states. “Not unlike other challenging issues before this committee, the patchwork of state laws is confusing for athletes, schools, and conferences alike. “It is unreasonable to expect student athletes to balance their studies with navigating a maze of complex and conflicting laws. “They are put in a potentially devastating position of running afoul of rules they would need a law firm to provide counsel on. “Without a clear and consistent set of rules in place, the entire ecosystem is disrupted, and important elements of the educational experience are decimated. “Non-revenue generating sports that help athletes get into and through a college degree program are being hurt. “Advances thanks to Title IX will be reversed if there aren’t consistent rules to benefit women’s sports. “As Chairman Bilirakis shared, small schools’ athletic programs will be eliminated as they are unable to compete in such a complex system of rules and incentives. “While some sports at the highest level are profitable, most student athletes compete in sports that would not have a good ‘return on investment.’ “We cannot allow an outcome here where thousands of college athletes lose the opportunity to compete in the sports they love.” CLEAR PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED “The current NIL chaos means student athletes are left to fend for themselves and those at the top of their game must figure out how to maneuver through a multitude of agents, collectives, and high dollar contract offers—all while maintaining their academic and athletic commitments. “The pressure placed on these college athletes is immense and raises important questions on them being able to receive counseling for financial planning and mental well-being. “Clear protections and education can prevent many unfortunate examples of college athletes being exploited. “In resolving these challenges, we must not ruin what makes college athletics so special. “NIL is a long-overdue means of supplemental income for student athletes across our country. “The recent changes in NCAA NIL policy recognize what has always been true: these collegiate athletes are more than just athletes—they are small business owners, podcasters, and entrepreneurs. “We must give them clear guidelines for how they explore and nurture these talents. “We must also establish clear, national rules so that amateur athletes have every chance to succeed in life and in sports. “Every one of us takes great pride in the universities and colleges in our home states. We all want our student athletes to be successful, both on and off the field. “Again, thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us today, as your input will help guide us in legislating a set of rules that works for everyone.”

Washington, D.C. —  Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled “ Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Health and Human Services Budget .” Excerpts and highlights below: PRESIDENT BIDEN’S UNSERIOUS BUDGET “Today we are here to discuss the fiscal year 2024 budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “First, I want to say I have great concerns about the budget. After driving up inflation and federal spending, the president put forth an almost $7 trillion budget. “In the HHS budget specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gets a significant increase in funding. “Why should taxpayers give over even higher levels of spending to the CDC? “Public trust in the CDC has been eroded due political response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The CDC is in need of serious reforms to restore public trust and needs to get back to its core mission. “The HHS budget also has unfunded mandates on state Medicaid programs. “The President also touts his budget increases Medicare solvency for another 25 years. This would be done through increases in taxes on American households and more price controls to forcibly set the prices for pharmaceutical drugs. “These efforts will ultimately backfire and lead to even fewer life-saving cures for our seniors.” ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS “On fentanyl, the President recently stated that ‘MAGA House Republican proposals would slash funding for border security—a move that could allow nearly 900 pounds of fentanyl in our country.’ “Clearly, the President and his team failed to check the Customs and Border Patrol’s website before releasing his budget proposal. “Under the President’s watch, Customs and Border Patrol has seized over 11,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl at our Southwest Border. “That’s just in the first six months of this fiscal year and represents nearly the total amount seized in all of fiscal year 2022. “Those are just fentanyl seizures, not what is trafficked without being seized by Customs and Border Patrol. “At the same time, drug overdoses eclipsed 107,000 in 2021, the highest ever in the United States. “More than 70,000 of these deaths were from synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. “President Biden’s budget uses the word ‘fentanyl’ twice compared to the 42 times it mentions ‘climate change.’ “This is unfair to the thousands of families across the country who have lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning. “I call on the administration to join us in supporting a class-wide ban on fentanyl-related substances. “The HALT Fentanyl Act would do that. This bill was passed out of this committee less than a week ago with bipartisan support. “It is long past time we permanently scheduled all fentanyl-related substances in schedule I.” HARMING AMERICA’S SENIORS “The administration has also claimed to be working to increase access to care and promote health equity. “However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently declined to cover an entire class of FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments for Medicare patients. “This significantly reduced access to care for minority and rural patient populations with no other options to treat this treacherous disease. “The Biden administration also proposed cutting health care benefits for millions of Americans who receive health insurance through the ACA exchanges. “Most recently, the Biden administration proposed slashing Medicare payments for drugs approved through the Accelerated Approval pathway. “I was hoping that this budget might offer a focus on policies that we can work together on. “This committee held a bipartisan hearing yesterday on the issue of health care affordability, most namely highlighting ways in which we can empower patients through greater price transparency. “Failure to mention price transparency in the HHS budget is a real missed opportunity, considering all of the bipartisan support for greater transparency across the health care system. “I invite the Secretary to work with this committee on this issue. “In closing, I do thank the Secretary for being here today and know that, although we disagree on how to achieve our goals, we do share similar goals. “To that end, I believe we can work on each of these pressing issues in a bipartisan fashion.”