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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The following op-ed by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) appeared in the GoSanAngelo this week. “Republicans in Congress, alongside President Trump, delivered a transformative piece of legislation on America’s 249th anniversary. I refer, of course, to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the largest Working Families Tax Cut package in American history. “ I am of the camp that Americans deserve lower taxes and less government in their lives, and at the heart of the Working Families Tax Cut are critical tax reforms that deliver on that belief. This bill is a massive win for hardworking Texans and will help foster an economy that is pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family, pro-business and pro-energy. “ Arguably, the most impactful victory of this bill is the permanent extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. Without this, over 475,000 taxpayers in Texas’ 11th Congressional District would have faced a devastating 26% tax increase — the largest in American history. This alone protects middle-class families, small businesses and workers from a crushing financial blow, but it doesn’t stop there. “ Seniors in Texas, 88% of whom receive Social Security benefits, will now pay zero taxes on those benefits. Hourly workers will also keep more of what they earn, with overtime pay, tips and even interest on car loans for new American-made vehicles being exempt from taxation up to generous limits. This will put thousands of dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Texans. “ Families will see additional support through an expanded Child Tax Credit of up to $2,200 per child, which will help offset today’s rising costs of raising a family. For Texans looking to grow their family through adoption, this bill improves the Adoption Tax Credit by making up to $5,000 of it refundable — easing the financial burden that can unfortunately prevent families from adopting. “ To help parents plan ahead and start saving early for their children’s future, this bill also establishes Trump Savings Accounts. These accounts will allow parents, family members or employers to contribute up to $5,000 annually. These funds can later be used for educational opportunities, home ownership and other essential life investments. “ This legislation also supports school choice by encouraging donations to scholarship funds, which will expand educational opportunities for every child in Texas, regardless of their ZIP code. “ Rural communities also stand to gain. A higher death tax exemption ensures that the more than 2 million family farms nationwide are protected from the crippling double taxation that far too often forces families to sell the land when passed from one generation to the next. “ Texas businesses and energy producers win big, too. This bill makes the 199A small business deduction permanent at 20%, which is a vital lifeline for Texas entrepreneurs to feasibly launch a business. It also broadens tax breaks for research and equipment purchases, encouraging Made-in-America investments and creating thousands of jobs across several industries. “ Additionally, the Biden Administration’s ‘ Green New Scam ’ tax credits totaling $500 billion will be repealed. These misguided subsidies hindered America’s energy sector and threw taxpayer dollars down the drain. This legislation also eliminates the natural gas tax — delivering certainty to American energy producers, preserving energy jobs and incentivizing domestic production that will ultimately lead to lower costs for American consumers. “ With all the misinformation circulating, it is imperative to separate fact from fiction. The Working Families Tax Cut is a clear response to what the American people demanded in November: rein in wasteful spending, grow the economy and make life genuinely affordable again. “ Nothing is perfect, but this legislation delivers historic, tangible wins for Texans. I am excited about this bill, and all of Texas District 11 should be, too. ”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies. Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:  “Today’s hearing gives us the opportunity to continue the Energy and Commerce Committee’s leadership on artificial intelligence by examining current applications of AI across the health care sector. “Last Congress, this subcommittee held a similar hearing on AI and machine learning. “It is critical that we continue these types of educational hearings to understand the evolving health AI landscape and ensure that Congress keeps up with the many advancements in the space. “Applications of AI and machine learning have increased across the health care sector in recent years and will only play a more pronounced role in the daily lives of all Americans moving forward. “In the health care space today, AI is being deployed by innovators to empower patients along their personal health care journey, support health care providers, and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. I look forward to learning more about these real-world applications from our panel of experts today. “I also believe as AI applications advance, it is critical that Congress continues to examine this landscape to ensure proper safety and oversight. These AI applications can be hugely beneficial to patients and providers, but they are to assist – and not replace – the clinical workforce today. “I want to briefly highlight a few examples of how AI is being used to improve patient experiences and outcomes in the market today. “Pharmaceutical companies are using AI to help improve core scientific research functions and develop lifesaving treatments and cures, as well as using AI to expedite clinical trials to bring safe and effective medicines to market quicker.  “Insurance companies are using AI to process claims in order to get care to patients quicker. “Physicians and hospitals who have been dealing with documentation burdens are using AI to assist in writing up and consolidating post-visit records, which has helped reduce documentation time by roughly one-third in some cases and allowed for doctors to spend more time with their patients. “Companies who develop medical devices are using machine learning to better understand certain diseases and help advance innovations to deliver more clinically appropriate and effective care interventions. “The Trump Administration has also been forward leaning on advancing AI in the health space and streamlining regulations to increase its application. “I applaud the work of the current administration to incorporate AI in a responsible manner that can help improve care. “To date, the CMS Innovation Center is working to utilize AI and machine learning to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health care systems to root out improper taxpayer spending.  “The FDA has incorporated the use of AI to drastically shorten the time needed to complete certain tasks in their review process. “Researchers at NIH have developed an AI algorithm that modernizes the process of matching potential clinical trial volunteers to suitable trials, cutting down administrative time by 40 percent while maintaining the same level of placement accuracy. “These are only a few examples of the many ways the administration is integrating AI and streamlining the way our American health care system operates. “With all these innovative advancements being leveraged across the American health care ecosystem, it is paramount that we ensure proper oversight is being applied, because the application of AI and machine learning will only increase. “We must ensure that these tools continue to empower – and not replace – the providers that serve our communities across the nation. “These tools should help improve the patient experience and ultimately access to care – particularly in rural areas like the communities I represent in Virginia’s ninth district. “I hope we have a constructive conversation today about the opportunities and the risks that comes with AI and how our Committee should be thinking about the role we can play in helping shape the future of AI in health care. “I am looking forward to hearing more from our witnesses and the members on this subcommittee on the application of AI in health care.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies. “In the health care space today, AI is being deployed by innovators to empower patients along their personal health care journey, support health care providers, and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens,” said Chairman Griffith . “Applications of AI and machine learning have increased across the health care sector in recent years and will only play a more pronounced role in the daily lives of all Americans moving forward.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01): “Mr. Toy, you mentioned that as far as utilizing your community provider (and your pharmacists) in rural areas, what do you think about [using technology and automation as a platform to expand and reinvigorate the practice of community pharmacy]? ” Mr. Toy : “I think that—and you probably see this in your own practice—there’s not a lot of coordination right now between the actual pharmacist and the physician. Oftentimes, a physician uses their mind, they think about things, they write a script, and then they’re like, ‘Okay, where would you like that filled,’ right? That’s the question they asked the patient. What we want to make sure is that there’s coordination there and make it very easy for the pharmacist to have the same information that was available. The thing that AI can do also is take that same information and customize it—not just to the patient, but customize it to the clinician in question.” Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23): “You know, we’ve been telling people for years how AI is going to aid in drug discovery, how it’s going to aid in diagnosis—predictive diagnoses where there’s pattern recognition and talking about risks you didn’t even know existed—tailored drug therapies that are tailored to your genome... all of these things are what we’ve been promising people that AI is going to do, and we’re coming now to them with ‘It’s going to reduce your administrative costs, and that’s what we’re doing with it right now.’ Should people be disappointed about that, or is this just the first of many things to come?” Mr. Parker: “[...] I’m optimistic that those new experiences will help people be healthier, help them save money. It’s why our implementations are so pragmatic, right? I think everyone’s always talked about how you can’t get a price for anything in health care, so solving that [by] using AI is a very useful utility for the consumer. Similar with the care plans, enabling consumers to be able to manage their health [and] understand what they should be doing as next steps is, to me, what gets me up in the morning—is helping patients realize the value of AI in their everyday life. It’s not to diminish the value that will be created on the administrative side. I think that’s low hanging fruit.” Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23): “AI is no longer a theory about the future. It’s already transforming the way we deliver care, how we diagnose disease, and how we use data to improve outcomes. In my district, in Western New York and in the rural Southern Tier, families are counting on a health care system that’s more efficient, more affordable, and more responsive. AI-driven innovation and technology can help us meet those expectations by reducing administrative burdens, strengthening clinical decision-making, and unlocking discoveries that once took years in a matter of months.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced a hearing titled Public Safety Communications in the United States . "One of the primary functions of a nation is to ensure the safety of its people. Our public safety community requires reliable communications to respond adequately during an emergency,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “We look forward to considering ways to strengthen our public safety communications to better serve Americans in their moments of crisis.” Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled Public Safety Communications in the United States . WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on FirstNet and public safety communications. DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov .

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled Building the American Dream: Examining Affordability, Choice, and Security in Appliance and Buildings Policies. “During the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Energy imposed energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings that are inefficient, ineffective, and harmful to consumers,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta . “These standards have initiated cascading effects, leading to rising prices for families, builders, and manufacturers across the country. Heavy-handed, burdensome regulations have contributed to rising housing prices that continue to climb out of reach for would-be buyers, limiting consumer choice and exacerbating housing issues. This hearing will offer our Committee a chance to examine the impact of onerous building and appliance policies on housing affordability, energy costs, and, ultimately, grid reliability for American families.” Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Building the American Dream: Examining Affordability, Choice, and Security in Appliance and Buildings Policies WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss the impact of appliance and building regulations on affordability, consumer choice, and grid reliability. DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 TIME: 2:00 PM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. This hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions about this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .    ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding one Subcommittee Hearing. Read more below. SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is holding a hearing on the positive impact that artificial intelligence plays in the transformation of America’s health care systems. DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 2025  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirms that Democrats conducted a years-long, massive cover-up to defraud American taxpayers in order to subsidize waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health programs, including using loopholes to provide free health care to illegal immigrants. Republicans put an end to these generous unjustified subsidies and instead lowered premiums for those properly enrolled in the program and provided a massive tax cut to the middle class in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4th. Lawmakers requested CBO provide critical context behind their topline coverage estimates resulting from the health reforms in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. CBO’s latest analysis makes clear that the One, Big, Beautiful Bill is not taking coverage away from hardworking Americans but is ending billions in subsidies for illegal immigrants, cracking down on fraud, and restoring integrity to health care programs. CBO estimates that the policies in the new law dealing with health insurance marketplace premium tax credit eligibility would reduce those who should not be getting taxpayer subsidies by 2.1 million in 2034. Additionally, CBO confirms Republicans’ concerns with massive improper enrollment in Obamacare. The agency not only finds that Democrat policies have led to at least 2.3 million fraudulent enrollees in Obamacare, but also that common sense Republican program integrity reforms in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill will lower premiums for those truly eligible for the program while putting an end to these abuses. The request was made by the chairmen of the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Budget: Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08), and Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19). Chairmen Guthrie, Smith, and Arrington Issued the Following Joint Statement: “CBO found Democrats’ policies to be responsible for massive waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health programs, even forcing taxpayers to pay for the health care of illegal immigrants, including some of the worst criminal offenders. Thanks to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, Republicans are protecting taxpayers and delivering pro-growth tax cuts for Americans. In fact, CBO confirmed that because of our reforms, premiums will go down for Obamacare enrollees. It’s no surprise Democrats failed to hold government bureaucrats accountable and continue to side with illegal immigrants.” Key Details: The only populations impacted by Republican safeguards in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill are ineligible groups including: 1.2 million illegal immigrants or non-citizens made eligible for taxpayer-funded subsidies via Democrat-created loopholes, who will no longer receive Obamacare subsidies after years of Biden-Harris abuse of “lawful presence” definitions. 700,000 individuals who refuse to comply with common-sense income and other verification requirements designed to stop waste, fraud, and abuse. 400,000 individuals abusing a Biden-era special enrollment period that CBO itself confirms encouraged fraud and improper enrollment. CBO Confirms Widespread Fraud and Abuse: CBO analysis finds massive Obamacare fraud and confirms Republican-led reforms will protect federal health programs from waste, fraud, and abuse and will ensure that these resources are protected for the most vulnerable. 2.3 million Obamacare enrollees in 2025 improperly claimed premium tax credits, often by misreporting income to qualify for subsidies for which they were not eligible. CBO analysis confirms that expanded credits under Biden-Harris fueled this abuse at American taxpayers’ expense. $185 billion in savings to taxpayers due to Republican reforms in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill that reverse Obamacare fraud and protect those truly eligible, according to CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation . CBO projects premiums will go down by 0.6 percent, thanks to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill – proof that program integrity and accountability put downward pressure on costs. Additionally, the new program integrity rules by the Trump Administration will block improper enrollments and prevent as many as 500,000 fraudulent subsidies in a single year, according to CBO. The Bottom Line: Democrats’ expansion of Obamacare subsidies prioritized illegal immigrants and fraudulent enrollees over hardworking Americans. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill ends these taxpayer-funded handouts and restores fairness, accountability, and the rule of law in our health care system. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a hearing titled Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies. “The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has led the charge in exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged across industries,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. “AI technologies present unique opportunities in health care to enhance care delivery, strengthen provider-patient relationships, reduce administrative burdens for clinicians, and empower patients to better navigate the health care system and get the care they need. This hearing will continue the Committee’s examination of how real-world applications of AI can drive innovation and improve the lives of the American people.” Subcommittee on Health hearing titled Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies WHAT: Subcommittee on Health hearing on the positive impact that artificial intelligence plays in the transformation of America’s health care systems.  DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Annabelle Huffman at Annabelle.Huffman@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, Fox Business recently published an article featuring a letter sent to the Secretary of Commerce from Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, urging the Department of Commerce to investigate Spain's recent wiretap deal with the Chinese-owned Huwai and warning of the national security threats posed by the deal. In Case You Missed It: “ Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are calling on the Department of Commerce to investigate Spain’s controversial decision to contract with Huawei — a company with bridging links to the Chinese Communist Party — to store judicial wiretap data.  “ They warn the agreement poses a serious threat to U.S. digital trade and national security. “ In a letter this week to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Subcommittee Chairs Reps. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., warned that Spain’s contracts with Huawei to manage and store sensitive data related to the country’s wiretapping services were ‘ deeply troubling. ’ “ They noted that ‘ Huawei and other Chinese firms maintain documented CCP ties, posing profound risks to national and economic security. ’ “ The lawmakers further warned that the decision ‘ underscores a regrettable trend in the European Union (EU): governments tacitly embrace Chinese technology and hold American digital trade exports to double standards, ’ resulting in ‘ significant uncertainty for American companies in every sector that engages in transatlantic commerce. ’   “ They urged Commerce to ‘ investigate the Spanish government’s decision, and similar actions by EU governments, that negatively impact U.S. digital trade, data security, and telecommunications interests, as well as the interests of American workers. ’ “ Last month, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior quietly awarded a €12.3 million contract to Huawei to manage and store judicially authorized wiretaps using its OceanStor6800 V5 enterprise-grade servers. “ The move prompted top lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to call on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to review intelligence sharing with Spain to ensure that Beijing was not intercepting secrets. “ House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford called Spain’s deal ‘ almost unimaginable ’ in a statement last month.  “ The European Commission issued a formal warning, stating that ‘ Huawei represents materially higher risks ’ and urged member states to exclude high-risk vendors from critical infrastructure.  “ Sources within the Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard told Spanish news outlet The Objective they were uneasy with the partnership.  “ We are being asked to secure sensitive operations using systems that are not trusted by most of our allies, ’ one law enforcement source reportedly said.  “ The People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Intelligence Law of 2017 requires PRC individuals and entities to support PRC intelligence services. “ Chinese hackers breached U.S. court wiretap systems last year, according to a Wall Street Journal report. “ According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, China ‘ remains the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks ’ and has targeted communications infrastructure specifically, recently through the hacking operation Salt Typhoon. ”