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Mar 21, 2024
Blog

WSJ Editorial Board: Biden’s EV Mandate Blows its Cover

The EPA’s new tailpipe emissions rule is a plan to eliminate gas-powered cars The Biden administration is doubling down on its rush-to-green agenda that forces Americans to drive unaffordable, less reliable electric vehicles. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule for its tailpipe emissions standard—which mandates that two-thirds of all new vehicles be electric by 2032—only benefits the Chinese Communist Party. As Chairs Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) said , President Biden should abandon his radical agenda and let Americans choose what vehicle best suits their needs.  Check out these highlights from a new piece by the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board : Biden officials are stressing that the new auto greenhouse gas emissions standards they rolled out on Wednesday aren’t an electric-vehicle mandate. But the liberal press and climate lobby don’t buy it, and neither should Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency somewhat eased CO2 emissions requirements through 2030 from its proposal last spring while maintaining essentially the same end-point for 2032. That means gas-powered cars can make up no more than 30% of auto sales by 2032. Make no mistake: This is a coerced phase-out of gas-powered cars. […] EVs made up less than 8% of new auto sales last year, and more than half were Teslas. They accounted for less than 4% of General Motors and Ford sales. Foreign luxury auto makers such as BMW (12.5%), Mercedes (11.4%) and Porsche (10%) will have an easier time meeting the Biden mandates because their affluent customers can more easily afford EVs. The average price of a new EV is roughly $50,000, and only two cost less than $40,000 as of December: the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf. Some makers have slashed EV prices to boost sales, but they are also losing money. Ford ran an operating loss of $4.7 billion on its EV business in 2023, equivalent to $64,731 per EV sold.  The companies are heavily subsidizing EVs with profits from gas-powered cars. This means middle-class Americans in Fargo are paying more for gas-powered cars so the affluent in Napa Valley can buy cheaper EVs. This cost-shift won’t be financially sustainable as the Biden mandate ramps up, and it may not be politically sustainable either.   […] EPA claims the rule preserves “consumer choice” because hybrids and plug-in hybrids can help meet the standards in the early years. But auto makers will have no choice but to limit gas-powered, and increase EV, production to meet the mandates. The only “choice” Americans will have in the future is electric. CLICK HERE to read the full piece. NOTE: Energy and Commerce Republicans are leading to stop the Biden administration’s radical EV agenda , preserve people’s vehicle choice, and ensure America—not China—is leading. In May 2023, Chair Rodgers and more than 150 House Republicans sent a letter to the administration urging it to abandon its efforts to mandate EVs.   In December 2023, the House of Representatives passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act , led by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), to stop President Biden’s agenda to force Americans to drive electric vehicles by a bipartisan vote of 221-197.



Mar 20, 2024
Blog

Full Committee Markup Recap: E&C Advances 28 Bills to the Full House

The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced 28 bills to the Full House today to support patients, secure communications infrastructure from adversaries, and further American energy and environmental leadership. As Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said : “The breadth of solutions we’re considering is just the latest example of the Energy and Commerce Committee working together to deliver real results for the American people. I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their hard work on all of these bills.” Legislative Vote Summary: Communications and Technology Subcommittee: H.R. 2864 , the Countering CCP Drones Act , led by Rep. Stefanik,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 43 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 820 , the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, led by Rep. Stefanik,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 44 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 1513 , the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing (FUTURE) Networks Act , led by Rep. Matsui,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 44 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7589 , the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act , led by Rep. Latta, was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 43 Yeas to 0 Nays. Health Subcommittee: H.R. 619 ,  the NAPA Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. Tonko,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 43 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 620 ,  the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, led by Rep. C. Smith,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 43 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7218 ,  the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Guthrie,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 44 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 4581 ,  the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, led by Rep. Hinson,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 44 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 2706 , the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act , led by Rep. Cammack,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 46 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 4646 ,  the SIREN Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. D. Joyce,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 46 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 6160 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program, led by Rep. Molinaro, was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 46 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 6960 , the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Rep. Carter,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 48 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7153 ,  the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. Wild,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 48 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7251 ,  the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Rep. Chavez-DeRemer,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 47 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7224 , T o amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program , led by Rep. Cohen,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 45 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7208 ,  the Dennis John Beningo Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Rep. Pascrell,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 44 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 6829 ,  the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Pallone,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 42 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7189 ,  the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Bilirakis,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 43 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7406 ,  the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 , led by Rep. McMorris Rodgers,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 45 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 3916 ,  the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Morelle,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 46 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 5074 ,  the Kidney PATIENT Act, led by Rep. Carter, was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 36 Yeas to 10 Nays.  Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee: H.R. 7655 ,  the Pipeline Safety, Modernization, and Expansion Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Duncan,  was reported to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 27 Yeas to 18 Nays.  H.R. 7673 ,  the Liberty in Laundry Act , led by Rep. Ogles,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 22 Yeas to 19 Nays.  H.R. 7645 ,  the Clothes Dryers Reliability Act , led by Rep. Ezell,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 25 Yeas to 20 Nays.  H.R. 7637 ,  the Refrigerator Freedom Act , led by Rep. Miller-Meeks,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 25 Yeas to 21 Nays.  H.R. 7626 ,  the Affordable Air Conditioning Act , led by Rep. Crenshaw,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 24 Yeas to 21 Nays.  H.R. 7700 ,  the Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards (SUDS) Act , led by Rep. Langworthy,  was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 25 Yeas to 21 Nays.  Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittees: H.R. 7650 ,  the Air Quality Standards Implementation Act of 2024 , led by Rep. Carter, was reported to the Full House, without amendment, by a roll call vote of 26 Yeas to 21 Nays.



Mar 20, 2024
Blog

Eliminating the Slush Fund for Biden’s Radical Rush-to-Green Agenda

Congress Must Pass H.R. 1023 to Repeal EPA’s Green Bank President Biden’s so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with $27 billion—nearly three times more than the agency’s entire FY23 appropriated budget—to launder money to a limited number of extreme, liberal non-profits to promote green programs and technology. In reality, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a slush fund of taxpayer money that will be used by the Biden administration to fund its special interest friends to advance a radical rush-to-green agenda. The GGRF is ripe for waste, fraud, and abuse. This week, the House is considering H.R. 1023, the  Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act , led by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), which repeals and rescinds the EPA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Here’s why it’s important we take action: 1. China controls the components needed for renewable energy. By mandating technologies that are fully dependent on resources from China, the President is taking taxpayer dollars and using them to line the pockets of one of our greatest adversaries.  China controls the critical minerals supply chain, accounting for roughly 60% of the world’s production of rare earth minerals and materials.  Nearly half of the U.S. solar panel market share is controlled by China. 2. The EPA is not well-equipped to effectively and efficiently hand out $27-billion in taxpayer dollars. Under law, the EPA must obligate the funding by September 2024—an incredibly quick timeline that the EPA Inspector General has cautioned could lead to waste, fraud, and abuse. When asked during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing if the EPA could guarantee none of the funds from the green bank slush fund would go to China, an EPA official conceded, “it’s a little more complicated” than a yes or no. American taxpayer dollars will be wasted on risky investments through the GGRF. According to the EPA, the program will “leverage public investment with private capital” to finance clean energy projects, despite the agency having no experience administering such a funding vehicle, referring to it as “a first-of-its-kind” program. 3. The Biden administration faces possible conflicts of interest with fund recipients. Some think tanks have raised alarms that the EPA could use this program to subsidize favored special interest organizations. Others have noted that current EPA appointees have ties to potential recipients of these sizeable awards, raising ethical concerns. Bottomline: To reduce the budget deficit, protect against government corruption, and stop China from receiving American taxpayer dollars, Congress must pass H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act . CLICK HERE to learn more about the GGRF. CLICK HERE to read the letter E&C Republicans sent to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in October 2023 sounding the alarm on the GGRF.



Mar 18, 2024
Blog

Chair Rodgers Joins the Fox News Rundown

This weekend, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined the Fox News Rundown to discuss House passage of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. Highlights and excerpts from the interview: “The choice is TikTok’s. They can either choose to continue to operate under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, because they are owned by ByteDance, or they can choose to divest from ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party and continue to operate in the United States of America and businesses and individual users can continue to use the app the way that they always have.” “This bill only applies to applications that are subject to the control of specific adversaries that are listed in the bill. We list these foreign adversaries as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.” “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in this lie that it doesn’t answer to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance. We know that TikTok has been used to spy on American journalists. We know that TikTok has been used to surveil American user data.” “[China] has the potential to manipulate people for their own gain.” “Even internal TikTok employee recordings have revealed ‘everything is seen in China.’ We know that we cannot trust China to safeguard our data.” “We have grave concerns about TikTok being owned by a foreign adversary and having this access and what that means to our national security. We’ve been briefed by our national intelligence agencies, and they have impressed upon us that this is a very real threat.” “Immediately after the bill passed, the [leaders] of the [Senate] Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Marco Rubio issued a statement in support [of the bill]. There’s other Senators that are voicing support for the bill and for us taking action.”



Mar 15, 2024
Blog

In the News: E&C Members Lead on Protecting Americans’ Data and National Security

After a unanimous vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee, H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 352 – 65. Following the strong, bipartisan vote, Energy and Commerce Republicans touted the bill’s widespread support. Highlights and excerpt from the interviews: Rep. Latta on NewsNation: “This is something that the House has been working on for over a year. When Mr. Chew [CEO of TikTok] appeared before us in Committee, I asked him if anyone in Communist China could see this data from Americans users of the app. ‘Yes it could be,’ was his response. We’ve also had security briefings. That’s one of the other big concerns here is the national security of the United States and making sure we protect our citizens from the Communist Chinese accessing their information.” […] “TikTok is owned by ByteDance, and under Communist Chinese law, anything that the government wants, if you’re a Chinese company, you have to give it to the government. What we’re saying in the legislation is if ByteDance, which is the parent [company], divests themselves of TikTok, TikTok can still be used here in the United States.” Rep. Walberg on Scripps News: “We’re not attempting to ban TikTok. […] That’s what TikTok wants its users and subscribers to think we’re doing, but it's not true. We have said that TikTok can remain as long as it's not connected to an adversarial country—China, Russia, North Korea, Iran.” […] “For the purposes of national security, we don’t want something like TikTok, with 170 million users, to have access opportunity from the CCP. That’s a dangerous setting. So, we have said we’re not banning. It can continue on, but it cannot be owned by any company that is controlled by the CCP and that’s ByteDance. It is wholly responsible to the CCP and that’s a dangerous thing. Rep. Cammack on America’s Newsroom: “The thing that’s really concerning is that the CCP has come out and said they would rather see us ‘ban’ TikTok than divest. [ByteDance] stands to make billions of dollars through divestment, but instead the Chinese government is more concerned with having unfettered access [to U.S. data].” […] “Just this time last year, the CEO of TikTok told my Committee that they didn’t have access to geolocation data. But, it turns out, they tapped into the geolocation data of their users, and if you were in an Energy and Commerce Committee Member’s district, you couldn’t use the app until you actually called through the app. They say that they don’t [surveil Americans], but we know that they do.” Rep. Pfluger on Yahoo Finance: “The goal here is we want to make sure Americans are safe. We want to make sure that data is safe. We want to make sure that a foreign adversary is not taking advantage of an application and using Americans and our privacy to their advantage.” […] “This is not about content. It’s about conduct. In fact, we hope that the application can actually continue, but it needs to happen with a trusted purchase, and so far the Chinese Communist Party has a direct tie to ByteDance. It’s about the link to a foreign adversary that has control over it. […] It’s about divesting and putting that company and the application in the hands of trusted agents which are either American businesses or friendly countries.” Rep. Carter on The Claman Countdown: “The House of Representatives has spoken. They have said we’re not going to shun our responsibility of protecting our homeland and our citizens. Instead, we’re not going to let a Chinese Communist Party-owned app operate here in America. Now, if they want to divest themselves and sell their company, […] that’s fine.” […] “This is a decision TikTok’s got to make. If they will divest themselves, then TikTok continues on and people will continue to enjoy it and continue to watch it.” […] “[The vote] was overwhelming in the House— 352 votes. I think that sends a strong message to the Senate. […] The Senate needs to take up this bill and they need to pass this bill. The White House has already said that they would sign it.” Rep. Crenshaw on the Brian Kilmeade Show: "If you're a company in China, you have to do whatever [the CCP] tells you, and you have to spy on whoever [the CCP] tells you to spy on." [...] "[They] can weaponize that kind of tool, and the Chinese have already been shown to have weaponized it. I don't want a situation where we're in an adversarial relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, and they have the ability to manipulate the minds and opinions of tens of millions of Americans."



Mar 14, 2024
Blog

ICYMI: Chair Rodgers Discusses House Passage of H.R. 7521 on Fox News’s America Reports

“TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox News to discuss House passage of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. Highlights and excerpts from the interview: “We know that TikTok has repeatedly been caught in this lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, and yet we have internal recording from employees that have said ‘everything is seen by China.’  “We know that China surveils its own citizens. We know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted with American user data. “We cannot trust them to protect American values like freedom. That’s why the House voted overwhelmingly [today] […] 352 yes votes to force TikTok to break away from ByteDance.” […] “TikTok really has the choice to make. This is not a ban. This is TikTok deciding whether or not it remains with its current ownership structure, ByteDance, and ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or if divests. “If it breaks away from ByteDance, it will continue to operate in the United States of America. “That’s why the bill does—it’s a very narrow, specific legislation that we’ve working on for months to take into account the national security concerns.” […] “This is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, and we need to be taking action to protect American user data.” [...] “The legislation is focused on the national security threat. This is about data that would be controlled by foreign adversaries. We are not getting into content at all—I think that’s a very important note to make." […] “This bill is unique in that its targeting foreign adversaries. We’re working separately on legislation for privacy, data security, and believe that a national data privacy and security bill is very important for protecting Americans and protecting Americans—as well as our kids—online.” CLICK HERE to read Chair Rodgers’ statement on H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to for what top conservative voices are saying.



Mar 12, 2024
Big Tech

Fact Check: The Truth about H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

Ahead of the House’s expected consideration of H.R. 7521 tomorrow, here’s the truth about how the bill protects Americans from the national security threat posed by applications controlled by foreign adversaries:  Claim: H.R. 7521 bans TikTok in the United States.  Rating: FALSE.   As long as TikTok divests from its parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), TikTok can continue to operate in the United States without interruption. TikTok can choose to protect their American users, or they can side with the CCP. The choice to end Americans use of its platform is strictly TikTok’s.  Claim: H.R. 7521 is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does not regulate speech. It is focused entirely on the ownership of an application by a foreign adversary country—not the content of speech it hosts. The bill provides a clear path for TikTok to continue its operations as long as it resolves the national security risks posed by its ownership structure.  Claim: H.R. 7521 violates the Constitution’s Bill of Attainder Clause.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does not run afoul of the Constitution’s Bill of Attainder Clause. The case law here is clear. H.R. 7521 takes an appropriate step to protect America’s national security interests in a forward looking and ongoing way. Further, this bill does not apply solely to TikTok—it applies to other applications that are controlled by a foreign adversary of the United States, now and in the future. Claim: TikTok is not controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.   Rating: FALSE.   The People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Intelligence Law of 2017 requires PRC individuals and entities to support PRC intelligence services. Beijing Bytedance Technology is a Chinese internet technology company headquartered in Beijing. It is operating in the United States through a holding company, Bytedance Ltd, which is the parent company of TikTok. TikTok was used to spy on American journalists and surveil American user data. Internal TikTok recordings revealed, “everything is seen in China.” Former TikTok employees have attested ByteDance is closely involved in the company’s decision-making and product development.  Claim: TikTok is no different than any other social media app.  Rating: FALSE.   TikTok is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party through its parent company, ByteDance. A recent Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) report showed that the CCP was using TikTok to target political candidates and influence the 2022 election cycle. Internal TikTok recordings have revealed “everything is seen in China” and the CCP “maintained supreme access” to TikTok’s data. If nations that want to undermine America can access and manipulate Americans’ data through a specific app, that poses a unique threat and requires a narrow and targeted response. Claim: This will allow the President to prohibit any app for any reason.  Rating: FALSE.   This bill DOES NOT empower the Executive Branch to define “foreign adversary” and prohibit any apps owned by its own definition of “foreign adversary.” The bill defines a foreign adversary-controlled application as subject to the control of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. Only Congress can change the definition used in this bill. This is not a blank check for the Biden administration, or future administrations, to restrict whatever apps it wants.  Claim: TikTok is already separating itself from China through Project Texas.  Rating: FALSE.   TikTok’s “Project Texas” would continue to allow personnel in Beijing to access U.S. user data. After promising to wall off American users’ data, this data continues to be accessible from inside China. TikTok personnel have thrown cold water on the idea that U.S. users’ data will be adequately protected under any new arrangement. TikTok’s own Project Texas employees say ByteDance managers continue to request U.S. data. Many of the Project Texas data protections have devolved into what one employee called “a wink and a nod.”  Claim: This bill will hurt small businesses and content creators.  Rating: FALSE.   If TikTok is not divested from ByteDance, TikTok must allow its creators and users to extract all of their account data. This ensures that creators and users retain their content and can move to a different platform. Furthermore, if TikTok actually cared about small businesses and content creators on its platform like they claim, they would divest and remain operational in the United States.  Claim: H.R. 7521 applies to all social media companies or websites.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does NOT apply to all websites. It only applies to applications and websites controlled by a foreign adversary—China, Russia, Iran, North Korea—that pose a clear national security threat.



Mar 12, 2024
Blog

Chair Rodgers in the News: TikTok Must Separate From CCP-Control

Highlights from Interviews with Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax this morning to highlight the need to pass H.R. 7521, the  Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act . Applications controlled by foreign adversaries, like TikTok, are exploiting and weaponizing Americans’ data. These applications are a  national security threat  to the American people. H.R. 7521 is bipartisan legislation that will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. We have given TikTok a clear choice through this legislation: Divest from your parent company ByteDance—which is beholden to the CCP—and remain operational in the United States, OR side with the CCP and be prohibited in the U.S. The choice is TikTok’s. Here are highlights and top moments from Chair Rodgers’ interviews: Chair Rodgers on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo: “ We had a very strong vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 50–0, a unanimous vote which only underscores how strong the bill is and how members believe this action needs to be taken.” […] “The bill is narrow. It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary.” Chair Rodgers on Scripps News’ Morning Rush: “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in a lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, its parent company, and we know that we cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party. They’re collecting a massive amount of data so they can target, manipulate, surveil, and, in essence, control what Americans see on TikTok.” […] “This is a national security threat. This is a destructive tool that is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. “This bill will force TikTok to make a choice. TikTok will either have to choose if it wants to maintain the current relationship it has with ByteDance and ultimately be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or […] divest, which means it would have to sell and break away from ByteDance in order to remain operating in the United States of America. It’s TikTok’s choice to make.” Chair Rodgers on Newsmax’s National Report: “[This bill] does not address content on the platform. This is in response to national security concerns raised by these apps being controlled by foreign adversaries.” […] “We have evidence that TikTok has spied on American journalists through its parent company ByteDance. Those cases are before the Justice Department now. We know that they are collecting data for purposes of targeting, surveilling, and manipulating 170 million users.”



Mar 12, 2024
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Health Subcommittee Markup Recap: E&C Advances Bills to Improve Health for Patients

Washington D.C. — The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals today to improve health for patients. In a Subcommittee markup , the Health Subcommittee forwarded to the Full Committee 19 pieces of legislation.  As Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said : “Many of the bills before us today reauthorize important programs that are due to expire September 30, and I am hopeful we can renew them in advance of that deadline, through regular order.   “This Committee has a rich history of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate, including our bipartisan work to ensure we are moving forward timely reauthorizations, as well as new efforts—like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.    “I look forward to seeing all of these important initiatives be signed into law.”  Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) also added : “The legislation before us today will help to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases and health conditions at earlier stages, improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families, help ensure Americans in rural communities have access to life-saving care, and provide additional resources to assist in the development of cutting-edge innovation.  Legislative vote summary:  H.R. 619 , the NAPA Reauthorization Act, led by Reps. Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 620 , the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act , led by Reps. C. Smith, Tonko, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 7218 , the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Guthrie, Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4581 , the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023 , led by Reps. Hinson and Adams, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4646 , the SIREN Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. D. Joyce and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6160 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program , led by Reps. Molinaro and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 6960 , the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Carter and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7153 , the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. Wild and Kiggans, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 7251 , the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Chavez-DeRemer, Joyce, Davis, and Cherfilus-McCormick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7224 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program, led by Reps. Cohen, Wagner, Cárdenas, and Carter, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6829 , the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2023, led by Reps. Pallone and A. Kim, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 7189 , the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Bilirakis, Soto, Carter, Schiff, Salazar, and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 3916 , the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2023, led by Reps. Morelle and Fitzpatrick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 5074 , the Kidney PATIENT Act, led by Reps. Carter and Kuster, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 16-10.  H.R. 5526 , Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2023, led by Reps. Harshbarger, Wasserman Schultz, and Davis, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 19-6.  H.R. 2706 , the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, led by Reps. Cammack and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 5012 , the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023, led by Reps. Y. Kim and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7208 , the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Pascrell and Bacon, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7406 , the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024, led by Reps. McMorris Rodgers, DeGette, Cole, and Holmes Norton, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.