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Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled "Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity In The Wake Of The Change Healthcare Attack."   “Thank you to everyone for being here today as we discuss cybersecurity in health care and the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack.   “While I am disappointed that UnitedHealth Group chose not to make anyone available to testify today, so the Committee and the American people could hear directly from them about how that specific cyberattack occurred, I will note UnitedHealth briefed E&C members recently on the matter and have committed to testifying at a future hearing.  “Health care cybersecurity was already a concern before the Change attack, and I look forward to today’s discussion about what the federal government, doctors, hospitals, and others have done right and where there is opportunity to improve the resiliency of the health care sector.”  CHANGE CYBERATTACK   “The Change Healthcare cyberattack is just the most recent case of ransomware targeting our health care system, and, due to Change’s integration with so many of the health care providers and payers, it is still impacting providers and health care organizations across the country.   “I have heard concerns from providers, rural hospitals, and many others, all worried about what this cyberattack means for them.   “And just this morning, the Change Health hackers were posting stolen data from the ransomware attack.  “There are still many unanswered questions and lessons to be learned from this attack.   “How did this attack gain entry to the Change system?   “How can hospitals, doctors, and others best protect themselves?   “What other third parties do our nation’s health care providers rely upon that, if taken offline, could have a similarly negative impact on the U.S. health care system?”  HEALTH SYSTEM CONTEXT FOR CHANGE   “Health care infrastructure is crucial for patients receiving the care they need, and, sadly, this will likely not be the last breach or ransomware attack that will happen.   “Patient data is valuable, and it is housed online.   “That is why we must continue to examine health care cybersecurity and make sure that patient data remains protected.   “HHS has overall responsibility for ensuring cybersecurity within health care across the U.S. federal government, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, has been designated as the ‘one-stop shop’ responsible for leading and coordinating the cybersecurity efforts—both within HHS and with external partners.  “However, there seems to be multiple offices and agencies that have some role in our cyber response.  “The Office of Civil Rights, the HHS Chief Information Officer, the Office of the National Coordinator, and, in this most recent response, CMS, all played a role.  “As our health care system becomes more consolidated, the impacts of cyberattacks—if successful—may be more widespread, pulling in even more agencies and offices within HHS.”  E&C CYBER WORK   “This Committee has led at examining cybersecurity across all sectors.   “In 2019, Congress made explicit that part of the responsibilities of ASPR is preparedness and response to cyber threats.   “In 2020, a bill led by Dr. Burgess, which passed through this Committee, encouraged health care organizations to adopt strong cybersecurity best-practices.   “Last Congress, this committee worked to give FDA more authority over cyber security of medical devices.  “And more recently, in the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act reported by this committee, we made it explicit that cybersecurity should be considered and prioritized as part of ASPR’s National Health Security Strategy, and the Energy and Commerce Committee will continue leading the way in examining this issue.   “I hope we can use this hearing today to learn more about the Change Healthcare cyberattack and the response.   “Is this a unique situation?   “What do providers and patients need to know and look out for?   “I don’t want this committee to be back here in five or 10 years, after more patients’ health care is disrupted by known criminal actors finding vulnerabilities in the cyber security of our health system.  “To prevent that, I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about:   “What can health care learn from other sectors?   “Are there more federal authorities HHS needs?   “What is the best balance to get better adoption of existing cybersecurity practices?  “I look forward to the discussion today and yield back.”

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-NJ), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Ranking Member Kathy Castor (D-FL) wrote to UnitedHealth Group, Inc., CEO Andrew Witty today seeking information about the cyberattack on Change Healthcare. Change Healthcare, which was acquired by UnitedHealth Group’s Optum subsidiary in 2022, is one of the nation’s largest providers of health care payment management systems. On February 21, UnitedHealth Group reported it had experienced a cyberattack on its platforms, and it had taken all Change Healthcare systems offline to contain the incident. As a result of the outage, critical services affecting patient care—including billing services, claims transmittals, and eligibility verifications—became inoperable. Though UnitedHealth first notified users that it expected the disruption to “last at least through the day,” several of the company’s products have now been inoperable for more than a month. “Change Healthcare is a central player in the country’s health care system, which has been upended by the recent breach,” t he bipartisan Committee leaders wrote to Mr. Witty. “We are interested in your efforts to secure Change Healthcare’s systems since it was acquired by your company and the efforts you are taking to restore system functionality and support patients and providers affected by the attack.” Change Healthcare’s platforms touch an estimated one in three U.S. patient records. Its systems process roughly 15 billion transactions annually, and are linked to approximately 900,000 physicians, 118,000 dentists, 33,000 pharmacies, and 5,500 hospitals nationwide. The breadth of Change Healthcare’s infrastructure all but ensures that the scope of the current disruption, and any disruption in Change Healthcare services, will be extensive. “The health care system is rapidly consolidating at virtually every level, creating fewer redundancies and more vulnerability to the entire system if an entity with significant market share at any level of the system is compromised,” the Committee leaders wrote. “In order to understand better the steps UnitedHealth has taken to address this situation, we request information about the impact of the cyberattack, the actions the company is taking to secure its systems, and the outreach to the health care community in the aftermath.” As a result of the system outage, providers reportedly struggled to make payroll while some patients have been forced to pay out of pocket for crucial medications including cancer therapy drugs and insulin because pharmacies are unable to verify coverage. The Committee leaders requested answers to a series of detailed questions by April 29, 2024. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) spoke with Fox News Digital about the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 . The bipartisan, bicameral draft legislation will establish a national data privacy and security standard and give people the right to control their personal information online. Highlights and excerpts from the article : “Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said it is her ‘biggest fear’ as a parent for her children’s sensitive data to be exploited online, and she is aiming to quell those fears for herself and millions of Americans with a new federal data privacy standard .  “ ‘ There’s very dangerous activity online, and data collection is foundationally how these algorithms are developed and then ultimately used to target children, but also people in general,' Rodgers told Fox News Digital in an interview.   “‘This is really my biggest fear as a parent, having three school-aged children, other friends who have had kids that have been targeted online. We know that these algorithms have been targeting children with dangerous content, targeted advertising that leads to dangerous life-threatening behaviors.’” [...] “The Washington Republican teamed up with Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., to unveil a bipartisan framework aimed at giving Americans more control over personal data they share online and empowering them to take action when that sensitive information falls prey to bad actors." […] “It also gives people the right to sue if a company [...] continues to harvest and sell their data without their permission, and if a data breach or hack caused ‘clear harm,’ Rodgers explained. “Rodgers told Fox News Digital to expect a hearing this week as the legislation begins to make its way through Congress. “The ambitious proposal would set the first-ever federal data privacy standard if passed. However, the issue of data privacy has been around for a long time – almost as long as the internet itself. “‘It is imperative that we move this bill. It's been decades that Congress has been grappling with a privacy data security law, and it is past time for us to put people in control of their data,’ she said.” CLICK HERE to read the full article. CLICK HERE to watch our legislative hearing on Wednesday to discuss the draft legislation and other solutions to protect people online.

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing to discuss the future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. “Last month, this Committee led a bill that passed out of the House with overwhelming support to protect Americans against national security threats posed by TikTok.    “The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is significant legislation that will protect Americans—and our children—from a CCP-controlled social media company that threatens America’s national security and fails to uphold our values. “That debate also reignited longstanding concerns about U.S. social media companies and how Congress can keep them transparent and accountable to Americans.  “Today, we will examine the law that provides the most significant protections for those social media companies: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.  “A lot has changed since then, from recent developments in Artificial Intelligence and its applications to the growth of Big Tech and other companies that have become increasingly integrated into our everyday lives.  “Needless to say, this law is long overdue for meaningful updates, and I look forward to discussing those today.” DEFENDING FREE SPEECH   “As written, this law was originally intended to protect Internet Service Providers from being held liable for content posted by a third-party user or from removing horrific or illegal content.   “The intent was to make the Internet a safe space for users to connect and find information.   “However, the Internet has changed dramatically since then.  “As a result, Section 230 is now being weaponized by Big Tech against Americans.   “Big Tech actively curates the content that appears on their platforms in order to control what we see and what we’re allowed to post.   “This level of moderation is similar to that of a traditional newspaper or publisher, who carefully curate the articles, opinions, and information they publish for their readers.   “Just as a newspaper editor chooses which stories make it to the front page and which ones are relegated to the inner sections, Big Tech companies make decisions about the visibility and accessibility of content on their platforms.  “As these companies increasingly evolve and act more like publishers, they have a responsibility to the American people to moderate their platforms in a fair way that upholds American values, like free speech.   “No other class of company in the United States has full immunity from liability like Big Tech.”  PROTECTING OUR KIDS   “The reality is that for years these companies have failed to be good stewards of their platforms, especially when it comes to how they’re harming our kids.  “We’ve seen numerous reports detailing how Big Tech encourages addictive behaviors in our children in order to keep them glued to their screens and fails to protect their users from malicious actors on their platforms.  “We’ve all heard countless heartbreaking stories of drug dealers targeting children with illegal drugs, including counterfeit drugs laced with fentanyl, which are killing hundreds of Americans every single day.   “We also see platforms failing to take action to address cyberbullying and harassing content, which is contributing to the rise in teen mental health issues.   “Parents and victims are unable to hold these platforms accountable for content they promote or amplify, due to the way laws like Section 230 are currently written.  “This legislative shield allows Big Tech to hide from expensive lawsuits, and no one is held responsible for the loss of innocent lives.   “I have said it before, and I will say it again: Big Tech remains my biggest fear as a parent, and they need to be held accountable for their actions.  “These issues are not new.   “Last Congress, we created the Big Tech Accountability Platform to examine these topics, and I led on a proposal to reform Section 230.   “Big Tech is abusing the power granted to them by Congress.   “They are censoring Americans, allowing and promoting illegal content, and turning a blind eye to how their platforms endanger our children.  “It is long past time to reevaluate this unchecked power, and I am hopeful that this hearing is the start of an opportunity to work in a bipartisan way to do just that.  “It’s vital that we identify solutions that restore people’s free speech online.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee hearing to discuss the future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. FOSTERING A DYNAMIC ONLINE ENVIRONMENT “In 1996, the early days of the Internet, Section 230 was enacted to provide online platforms immunity from liability for content posted by third-party users.   “This legal protection was instrumental in fostering the growth of these platforms and unleashed a vibrant online ecosystem that led to the creation of social media platforms that promoted user-generated content, social interaction, and innovation. “Section 230 has two main mechanisms: first, a provision that exempts platforms from being held liable for content that is posted on their website by a third-party user; and second, a provision that exempts platforms from being held liable for content that they remove or moderate in ‘good faith.’ “This dual liability protection is often referred to as the 'sword' and the 'shield.'   “The sword being the ability for platforms to remove content and the shield being the liability protection for content posted by users of the platform. “As the Internet has evolved and become deeply integrated into our daily lives, we have encountered new challenges and complexities that require a reevaluation of Section 230's role and impact.”  BIG TECH CENSORSHIP “One of the most pressing concerns is the power that Section 230 has given to social media platforms.   Big Tech is able to limit free speech and silence viewpoints, especially of those they do not agree with. “There are countless instances where individuals and groups with conservative viewpoints have faced censorship, deplatforming, and content moderation practices.   “In contrast, Big Tech continues to leave up highly concerning content.   “The prevalence of illegal activities such as illicit drug sales, human trafficking, and child exploitation on some platforms underscore the need for stronger mechanisms to hold platforms accountable for facilitating or enabling harmful behavior.” LEGAL CHALLENGES TO SECTION 230 “Big Tech’s authoritarian actions have led to several court cases challenging the scope of Section 230’s liability protection.   “Over the years, the courts have shaped the broad interpretation and application of the law.   “Some argue the courts have provided Big Tech with too much liability protection.    “Last year, two high profile cases related to terrorist activity on platforms were considered before the Supreme Court.   “In one case, the law was upheld. In the other case, which challenged Section 230’s application to content promoted by algorithms, the Court declined to rule.   “This year, two more cases are before the Supreme Court related to a State’s ability to regulate how social media platforms moderate content.” MODERNIZING SECTION 230   “It has become clear that Congress never contemplated the Internet as it exists today when Section 230 was enacted.   “While the Courts have too broadly interpreted the original intent of this law, numerous Supreme Court Justices declared last year that it’s up to Congress, not the courts, to reform Section 230. “It’s time for Congress to review the current legal framework that shields Big Tech from accountability for their decisions.   “We must determine how to strike a balance between protecting online speech and holding platforms accountable for their role in amplifying harmful and illegal content. “I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and working with my colleagues for thoughtful and targeted reforms to Section 230.” 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) today announced the following updates to Republican Members’ subcommittee assignments.  Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) will join the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials and leave the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.   Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) will serve as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.   Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) will join the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security and leave the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.  Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) will join the Subcommittee on Health and leave the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.  Rep. Marianette Miller Meeks (R-IA) will join the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.   Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) will join the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce and leave the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials.   Rep. John James (R-MI) will serve on the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce as well as the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials.  The new Subcommittee Rosters are as follows:   Subcommittee on Communications and Technology:   Chair Bob Latta (OH-05)  Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)   Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05)  Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01)   Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02)   Rep. John Curtis (UT-03)   Rep. John Joyce (PA-13)   Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14), Vice Chair  Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12)   Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01)   Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11)   Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)   Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)  Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)   Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23)   Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio   Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security:    Chair Jeff Duncan (SC-03)  Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)   Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05)   Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02)   Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09)   Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08)   Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05)   Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06)   Rep. John Curtis (UT-03), Vice Chair   Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08)   Rep. Greg Pence (IN-06)   Rep. Kelly Armstrong (ND-At-Large)   Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14)  Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12)  Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12)   Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11)   Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio    Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials:  Chair Buddy Carter (GA-01)   Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06)   Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)   Rep. John Joyce (PA-13), Vice Chair   Rep. Greg Pence (IN-06)  Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14)  Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12)   Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12)   Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01)   Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11)   Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)   Rep. John James (MI-10)  Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio   Subcommittee on Health:    Chair Brett Guthrie (KY-02)  Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)   Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05)   Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09)   Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)   Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Vice Chair   Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09)  Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01)   Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02)   Rep. Greg Pence (IN-06)   Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)   Rep. John Joyce (PA-13)   Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12)  Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)   Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)   Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23)   Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio   Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce:    Chair Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)  Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08)   Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05), Vice Chair   Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)   Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02)   Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08)   Rep. Kelly Armstrong (ND-At-Large)   Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01)   Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)   Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)   Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23)  Rep. John James (MI-10)  Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio   Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations:    Chair Morgan Griffith (VA-09)  Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)   Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02)   Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)   Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06)   Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Vice Chair   Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)   Rep. Kelly Armstrong (ND-At-Large)   Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)   Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ex Officio 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced an Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled "Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights." “It is time for Congress to come together on comprehensive data privacy and security standards that put Americans back in control of their information online,” Chair Rodgers and Ranking Member Pallone said. “We’re especially grateful to our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their years of hard work and input that have led us to this moment. Good policy takes time, and the Energy and Commerce Committee has a proven record of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate. We look forward to building on this rich history of bipartisan success as we work together to protect kids online and advance strong comprehensive data privacy protections for people of every age in every state.” Subcommittee on Innovation Data, and Commerce hearing titled "Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights." WHAT:  A hearing to discuss legislative solutions that will protect kids online and ensure Americans’ data privacy rights. DATE:  Wednesday, April 17, 2024 TIME:  10:00 AM ET LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building WITNESSES:  Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO BE DISCUSSED:    H.R. __ ,  the American Privacy Rights Act    H.R. 7891 ,  the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)  (Reps. Bilirakis, Castor, Houchin, Schrier)  H.R. 7890 ,   the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)  (Reps. Walberg and Castor)     H.R. 5628 ,  the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2023  (Rep. Clarke)  H.R. 4311 ,  the DELETE Act  (Rep. Trahan)  H.R. 4568 ,  the TLDR Act  (Rep. Trahan)     H.R. 5534 ,  the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act of 2023  (Rep. Eshoo)     H.R. 5778 ,  Sammy’s Law of 2023  (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter)  H.R. 6149 ,  the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act  (Reps. James and Ryan)   H.R. 6429 ,  the SCREEN Act  (Rep. Miller)  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 Jessica Herron at Jessica.Herron@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at  Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov .

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing on improving the management of spent nuclear fuel as we work to unleash American nuclear energy.  “Nuclear energy technologies are essential for our national security, and a cleaner and more secure energy future.    “It is exciting to see how the promise of innovative nuclear technologies can help support the energy demands of a growing economy, for industry, for manufacturing, and for the American people.   “This Congress, it’s been encouraging to see a renewed, bipartisan focus on restoring American technological leadership in nuclear energy.    “Energy and Commerce has a rich history of leading on these issues.”  LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP   “Our work this Congress has been no exception.   “We’ve advanced solutions to lay the foundation for a more robust and innovative nuclear industry with strong, bipartisan House votes that underscore the wide support for these policies.    “This includes legislation that will support the production of the innovative advanced fuels needed for new types of nuclear reactors currently under development.  “Our work has also included measures to make sure Russia will not be able to undermine our supply chain by seeking to bolster our domestic fuel manufacturing.  “That bill, H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, passed the House by a unanimous vote—and I’m hopeful we can get it signed into law soon.   “Our agenda has also included the Atomic Energy Advancement Act, led by Chair Duncan and Ranking Member DeGette, that will provide the most consequential reforms to nuclear regulation in decades, and, with continued partnership with the Senate, many of those policies should soon be on their way to enactment.   “Today we turn to examining spent nuclear fuel policy.”  CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS THE SPENT FUEL ISSUE   “By all accounts, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, which governs both spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste generally, is long overdue to be implemented to address the needs of today’s industry.    “The program has been stalled for over a decade, as a direct result of actions by opponents to the Yucca Mountain Project, the designated storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.    “These unfortunate actions have undermined the law and poisoned public trust in how we manage spent nuclear fuel for far too long and have jeopardized efforts to manage defense obligations for things like navy fuels and the cleanup of legacy Cold War sites, like the Hanford site just outside of my district in Eastern Washington.     “As we will hear in testimony this morning, this opposition is not safety-related or technical. It’s political.   “Opposition from states like Nevada in particular to this program has inhibited Congressional appropriations and driven the Executive branch to dismantle what had been an otherwise technically successful program. “This program, if allowed to move forward, would provide the public information that’s critical to earning people’s support and trust for nuclear energy.” BIPARTISAN, DURABLE REFORMS ARE POSSIBLE “This committee took steps in 2018 to get the licensing program for Yucca Mountain back on track with a reform package that culminated in a very strong bipartisan House vote.   “While those efforts ultimately failed in the Senate, they proved that it is possible to build bipartisan support for a durable spent fuel program, which is what brings us here today.   “To secure American nuclear leadership, we must continue the Committee’s work to update the law and build state support for a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain.”  INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES WILL HELP US LEAD   “Our conversation this morning will also highlight the prospects of a growing fleet of nuclear reactors and how, by utilizing innovative technologies, we can improve the management of spent nuclear fuel in the U.S.  “Innovative companies like Curio and Oklo are already developing innovative technologies that will enhance the use of energy from spent fuels.  “We should be building on this work to ensure America’s dominance for the next century.  “By embracing American technology and innovation, we can ensure nuclear energy benefits communities across the country and around the world.    “American leadership matters.   “Failure to lead will result in the international civilian nuclear markets being dominated by our adversaries, like China and Russia, which undermines our energy security and nuclear safety. “These goals should be bipartisan, and I look forward to discussing how this committee can help ensure the U.S. wins the future and restores our nuclear leadership.”

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing o n ensuring patients continue to have the choice whether to go to a doctor in person or use telehealth when appropriate and more convenient for them. “Over the last several years, telehealth has proven itself to be a vital way for patients to access care, particularly in rural communities. “One of the lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic is that telehealth should continue to be part of modernizing the health care ecosystem across the country.  “That’s why we are here today, working across the aisle to ensure this option for care remains available across the country moving forward.” TELEHEALTH SUPPORTS EASTERN WASHINGTON “I grew up in the small town of Kettle Falls, Washington, and I have lived through some of the challenges that people face in rural communities when it comes to accessing health care. “I frequently visit hospitals and health care facilities all throughout my district in Eastern Washington—many in rural areas. “These issues matter, which is why I’m proud to say that our conversations about expanding telehealth to address barriers to care—like transportation or doctor shortages—are no longer just aspirational goals, it’s happening today. “In response to COVID-19, Providence Health System—which has four hospitals in my district—scaled up their telehealth services from more than 7,000 visits in 2019 to more than 100,000 visits in 2020. “This is more than a 1,000 percent increase in volume. “And they didn’t stop there. Providence Health System and physicians across Washington state have continued to innovate with telehealth technologies to reach more patients, save lives, and improve care. “Using telehealth, Providence physicians have been able to diagnose appendicitis in a young patient, work with a pregnant woman to help find her baby’s fetal heartbeat and provide care for patients with mental health conditions. “I am glad Providence is here to today to talk about how their providers have continued to use technology to help patients.” WIN THE FUTURE OF TELEHEALTH “At the end of the last Congress, we worked together to make a bipartisan investment to continue the telehealth flexibilities patients benefited from during the pandemic. “But those flexibilities are now set to expire at the end of this year. “We want to make sure patients remain in control of their doctor visit decisions, and it is the patient deciding whether or not to utilize telehealth services. “Today, we’ll discuss legislation to do just that, such as Representative Carter’s Telehealth Modernization Act . “While we recognize continuing telehealth flexibilities for patients will require significant investment, we can’t afford to go backwards and lose the progress we’ve made in expanding access to care. “Additionally, we will also hear new ideas on where we should go from here beyond the telehealth policies established coming out of the pandemic. “These bills, such as the Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act , led by our committee’s newest Member, Representative James, offer us opportunities to further improve how we’re using telehealth to help patients. “I’ll close by noting that I'm optimistic about telehealth and its ability to improve the health and wellness of Americans, especially those in rural communities around the country. “It’s bringing doctors right into families’ living rooms, making it easier for patients to get the health care they need, and it is a great example of how innovation can improve and save people’s lives. “We must maintain our commitment to our nation’s seniors to provide a top-notch level of care in a way that does not increase their Medicare costs and makes sure Medicare is sustainable for the future. “This hearing today is a first step towards that process for telehealth and another important part of this committee’s mission to make the health care system work better for patients. “America can and should lead the way on the best use of telehealth for the benefit of every patient.”