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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing diving deeper into concerning practices within our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system that were identified by a recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) investigation. During the two-panel hearing titled “Ensuring Patient Safety: Oversight of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant System,” Committee Members heard from the Chief of the Organ Transplant Branch of HRSA regarding the agency’s recently released investigative report outlining shocking revelations about the system’s procedures that put patient safety at risk. The investigation examined an “index case” (KYDA-001) where the organ procurement organization (OPO) that services Kentucky was contacted shortly after the arrival of a patient who was experiencing cardiovascular collapse after an unintentional overdose. After it was determined that further treatment would be futile, the patient’s family made the decision to end life-sustaining treatment and move forward with organ donation via a process known as donation after cardiac (or circulatory) death (DCD). However, despite OPO and hospital staff noting signs of the patient’s improved neurologic function, discomfort, and even expression of fear at multiple points over the multi-day period between when the OPO was first contacted and the patient was brought to the operating room (OR), the decision to pursue organ recovery was not reversed until the physician in the OR became uncomfortable and refused to continue with the process. In addition to the index case, HRSA analyzed 351 unique cases of authorized, not recovered (ANR) patients. This means that the patients were considered for DCD recovery, but no organs were transplanted. The report shows that 103 of these cases, which is nearly 30 percent, “had concerning features.”  HRSA’s Organ Transplant Branch Chief, Dr. Raymond Lynch, testified about KYDA’s (Network for Hope) patterns that were identified in the report, which include: A failure to recognize neurologic function inconsistent or unfavorable for DCD organ recovery on initial patient assessment or subsequent follow up; A failure to work collaboratively with patients’ primary medical teams, including instances of potential violation of separation of roles in patient care; A failure to respect family wishes and appropriately safeguard the decision-making authority of legal next of kin; and A failure to follow professional best practices as well as policies and guidelines for collection of patients’ medical data. The second panel included witnesses from “Network for Hope,” the OPO involved in all of the cases that HRSA reviewed; the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS); and the current and recent past President of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board of Directors.  Chairman Joyce probed Network for Hope CEO, Mr. Barry Massa, for using the word “unique” to describe the index case, the same case where “...hospital staff [felt] extremely uncomfortable with the amount of reflexes patient is exhibiting,” during the procurement process. Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06) questioned witnesses about an open letter that was issued after the Subcommittee’s September 2024 hearing and signed by the organ donation and transplant industry and community members, including individuals at UNOS and OPTN Board Members. The open letter, per HRSA’s report, “characterized the ongoing effort to improve patient safety through enhanced oversight as a ‘misinformation campaign,’” noting that “[i]t is time for it to stop.” Specifically, the letter portrayed the previous oversight efforts by this Committee as “[s]preading misinformation based on conspiracy theories and hearsay.” UNOS’s CEO, Dr. Maureen McBride, admitted to signing the letter.  The Committee has serious concerns about the message this letter sends both to those conducting oversight of the organ procurement and transplant system and to those who wish to speak up when they wish to report concerns or potential wrongdoing. Oversight of this issue is far from over, and the Committee remains committed to protecting patient safety and maintaining trust in the system to ensure transparency and accountability. As Chairman Guthrie said when recalling his personal experience with our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system, “The conclusion [of this process] is going to come when we have confidence in the system.” ###

Biden Administration’s New Rules Will Compromise Our Reliable Electric Grid Last week, Energy and Commerce Committee Member Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) led more than 138 members of the House, including every single E&C Republican member, in introducing a joint resolution of disapproval to halt President Biden’s recent regulatory attack on U.S. power plants. The President’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 will shut down critical baseload energy generation across the country which will lead to higher energy costs, compromise our grid, and jeopardize thousands of American jobs.   Innovation, entrepreneurship, and free market competition have driven America’s energy and environmental leadership. The President should be working with Congress to expand the nation’s reliable, affordable baseload energy rather than undermining our energy security with his radical rush-to-green agenda. Read what E&C Republicans and other top voices had to say: The American Iron and Steel Institute: “We applaud Senator Capito and Congressman Balderson for their leadership in supporting American steel producers, who depend heavily on affordable and reliable electricity. The American steel industry leads the world in terms of clean steel production and serves as the critical component in all clean energy technologies. Unfortunately, this EPA rule threatens the premature closure of a significant number of baseload power plants on which our sector relies —as EPA’s own analysis forecasts. We appreciate the nearly 200 members of Congress who agree and have cosponsored this resolution to overturn the regulation,” said American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) President and CEO Kevin Dempsey.   The American Chemistry Council: “ACC applauds Rep. Balderson and Senator Capito for leading this CRA resolution. US manufacturing needs access to affordable, reliable electricity to compete, innovate & create jobs. We urge Congress to support this important effort.   National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: “EPA’s power plant rule is unlawful, unreasonable and unachievable. Under the rule, EPA illegally attempts to transform the U.S. energy economy by forcing a shift in electricity generation to the agency’s favored sources. EPA exceeded its authority and Congress must overturn its action. We urge Congress to pass this resolution and are grateful for Sen. Capito and Rep. Balderson’s leadership to reverse this harmful rule,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.   American Petroleum Institute:   “At a time of rapid energy demand growth, we need policies that harness all of America’s resources, including natural gas, to power our future economy and help ensure energy is affordable for families and businesses. Instead, EPA’s final rule does nothing but add barriers to building the new generation capacity needed to power the future grid. We thank Rep. Balderson for prioritizing reliable energy and will continue to work with policymakers to keep the lights on for the American people,” said Rob Jennings, Vice President of Natural Gas Markets for the American Petroleum Institute (API).   The National Mining Association:   “Even prior to the introduction of the CPP 2.0, we were teetering on the edge of power supply shortfalls – with razor thin capacity margins colliding with new, soaring demand. The EPA’s response to documented grid problems has been an irresponsible disregard for our electricity reality that cannot be allowed to stand. We appreciate the leadership shown by Senator Capito and Congressman Balderson in pursuing CRAs against the CPP 2.0 rule and calling for its reversal,” said Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association (NMA).    Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions: “‘America needs more energy generation, not less,’ said Heather Reams, President of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES). ‘The Biden Administration's latest iteration of the Clean Power Plan threatens U.S. energy reliability—endangering our ability to keep the lights on and threatening our status as a leader in global emissions reduction. Thank you, Sen. Capito and Rep. Balderson, for leading the effort to reverse these misguided regulations. CRES looks forward to continuing our work with Republicans to promote clean, affordable and reliable American-made energy.’”   Western Energy Alliance:   “‘Increased use of natural gas to generate electricity is the primary reason the United States has reduced more greenhouse gas emissions than any other country. Despite the huge environmental benefits natural gas provides, the Biden EPA seeks to discourage new gas power plants by requiring 90% carbon capture and storage by the completely unrealistic year of 2032 for a technology that currently is operational in exactly zero power plants. Rather than subject the power sector to a long legal struggle to overturn a rule that is so obviously unlawful, Congress can circumvent a huge source of wasted effort with the CRA resolution and let the power sector get back to meeting the vast new demand for electricity to support AI, data centers, electric vehicles, and basic daily life. Western Energy Alliance is very grateful to Senator Capito and Congressman Balderson for putting forward this commonsense bill,’ said Kathleen Sgamma, President of Western Energy Alliance.”   Heritage Action:   “‘The EPA’s so-called Clean Power Rule would be a disaster for America’s energy independence and economic competitiveness. The regulation hits middle class families the hardest, mandating expensive and unreliable energy sources while putting thousands of Americans out of work and enriching our foreign adversaries like China. Once again, President Biden is ignoring the Supreme Court and the needs of hardworking families to push through an overreaching, job-killing regulation. Heritage Action applauds Rep. Balderson for fighting back,’ said Ryan Walker, Executive Vice President of Heritage Action.”   CLICK HERE to read Rep. Balderson’s press release announcing the resolution. CLICK HERE for information from Energy and Commerce's November 2023 hearing on the Clean Power Plan 2.0.

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. 

This week, the House passed H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, to reverse President Biden’s U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) export ban. Unleashing American LNG will lower energy costs, advance U.S. energy security and the security of our allies, as well as reduce emissions. The bill, led by Energy and Commerce Member Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 224 to 200. As Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said , “President Biden’s decision to impose a ban on issuing permits to export natural gas is just the latest example of his administration caving to environmental activists and putting politics over the American people. This ban will harm the American economy, jeopardize good paying jobs, weaken our energy security, and threaten the security of our friends and allies.” Rep. Pfluger added , “President Biden’s ban on LNG is radically short-sighted when it comes to the environmental risk. Clean natural gas is a major reason why the U.S. has reduced emissions more than any other nation.” Don't miss this from Fox Business:

Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) is leading the fight against drug overdose deaths with his bipartisan legislation, H.R.4531 , the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act of 2023 . The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 386 to 37, awaits action in the Senate. In this Washington Examiner op-ed , Subcommittee Chair Guthrie makes the case for why this critical legislation needs to become law.  “In 2018, Congress took the important step of passing the landmark SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, comprehensive legislation aimed at reversing high rates of drug overdose deaths. At the same time, the Trump administration acted aggressively to cut off the supply of illicit fentanyl in our communities by temporarily scheduling fentanyl analogues as a Schedule I controlled substances. “By all measures, this all-the-above approach was working. Between January 2018 and 2019, drug overdose rates declined, and we only experienced a small increase in drug overdose rates between January 2019 and 2020. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and lockdowns suddenly left millions of Americans trapped inside their homes and without the critical support systems needed to help people cope with substance use disorder.  “Making matters worse was President Joe Biden’s decision to undue former President Trump’s border policies, including Remain in Mexico and Title 42. Due to the Biden administration’s open border policies, every state has become a border state with illicit drugs flowing into our communities at unprecedented rates.”  […]  “In June, I led a health subcommittee field hearing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to hear testimony from law enforcement, the medical community, and the heart-wrenching account of a father who tragically lost his daughter to an overdose.   “I vividly recount him saying, 'We have turned misery into a mission. Calamity into a cause. We want to live our life with a purpose and to honor our beloved Leah Renee Stanley.' I’m committed to his mission of ending this epidemic that left so many families with an empty chair this past holiday season. I’m fighting for these families and for those suffering, which is why I led the reauthorization of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.   “This legislation takes a three-pronged approach to curbing the overdose crisis: prevention strategies, providing access to life-saving treatment services, and making investments in long-term recovery support services. We do this by permanently placing Xylazine on the controlled substances list, providing access to comprehensive behavioral and substance use disorder treatment services for Medicaid patients, and promoting access to career training for those working to overcome their substance use disorder.  “This isn’t a silver bullet, and Congress will need to be agile as we work to end the drug overdose epidemic, especially as the crisis at the southern border rages on. But this is an important step to addressing the many challenges we face as we work to put an end to the overdose epidemic.”  CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed.

Energy and Commerce Republicans are exposing how the Chinese Communist Party withheld critical information from the world in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Committee’s investigation revealed that China had a SARS-CoV-2 sequence for weeks before sharing with the global community.  WASHINGTON — Chinese researchers isolated and mapped the virus that causes Covid-19 in late December 2019, at least two weeks before Beijing revealed details of the deadly virus to the world, congressional investigators said, raising questions anew about what China knew in the pandemic’s crucial early days.  When Beijing shared the SARS-CoV-2 sequence with the World Health Organization on January 11, 2020, two full weeks had elapsed since the virus was sequenced by a researcher at the Institute of Pathogen Biology in Beijing, an arm of the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Liberation Army.  The documents, obtained from the US Department of Health and Human Services by House Republicans and first reported by the Wall Street Journal, show virologist Dr. Lili Ren uploaded nearly the entire sequence of COVID-19’s structure to a US government-run database on Dec. 28, 2019.  Her work was nearly identical to what Beijing eventually presented to the World Health Organization on January 11, 2020, when the virus had already spread across the world, according to the documents obtained by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  The committee noted that Ren is a subgrantee of the EcoHealth Alliance nonprofit, the organization that previously awarded NIH grants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and came under scrutiny during the pandemic.  The earlier posting doesn't change the virus' origin story - whether it was sparked by a live animal market or leaked from a scientific laboratory. But it does renew questions about how much China knew about the virus and when. It suggests that vaccine development could have started sooner. And it raises new questions about how much the U.S. government knew or should have known about the virus in those early days. Public health experts who reviewed the documents said the episode illustrated a missed opportunity to learn more about the virus at the beginning of the global health emergency. The failure to publish the genetic sequence submitted by Ren is "retroactively painful," said Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Bloom noted that researchers were depending on genetic sequences to begin developing medical interventions to combat the coronavirus and argued that earlier access to the information would have expedited new test and vaccines. "That two weeks would have made a tangible difference in quite a few people's lives," Bloom said. China has been widely criticized for its initial response to the emergence of COVID in Wuhan in late 2019. Western officials have also called on Beijing to be more cooperative in the search for the virus's origins. It "underscores how cautious we have to be about the accuracy of the information that the Chinese government has released," Jesse Bloom, a virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center who has seen the documents and the gene sequence, told the WSJ. "It's important to keep in mind how little we know." HHS withheld the sequencing information from the committee for seven months, only releasing the documents after threats of subpoena. The Energy and Commerce Committee press release said that the process for "monitoring GenBank submissions is insufficient as the United States had an early SARS-CoV-2 sequence in our possession and apparently had no idea. Don’t Miss :  "This significant discovery further underscores why we cannot trust any of the so-called ‘facts’ or data provided by the CCP and calls into serious question the legitimacy of any scientific theories based on such information. The American people deserve to know the truth about the origins of SARS-CoV-2, and our investigation has uncovered numerous causes for concern, including how taxpayers’ dollars are spent, how our government’s public health agencies operate, and the need for more oversight into research grants to foreign scientists. In addition to equipping us to better prepare for the next pandemic, this investigation’s findings will help us as policymakers as we work to strengthen America’s biosafety practices and bolster oversight of research grants,” said Chairs Rodgers, Guthrie, and Griffith.   READ MORE: E&C Investigation Uncovers Earliest Known SARS-CoV-2 Sequence Released Outside of China  

House Republicans are fulfilling our Commitment to America as we lead on health care solutions to improve people’s lives. These policies will increase price transparency throughout the health care system, lower the cost of prescription drugs, bolster treatment and prevention programs for substance use disorders, and take care of mothers and infants. Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) hosted a roundtable with community leaders about substance use disorders in our communities and how the SUPPORT Act will help fight against the drug overdose epidemic, which continues to tragically claim hundreds of thousands of lives. Earlier this year, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a field hearing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to examine reauthorizing the SUPPORT Act programs. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) penned an op-ed for the Washington Examiner about how the PREEMIE Act , which passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee in July, will improve the health of preemie babies. Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) met with ALS patients who spoke about their continued support for federal research for new treatments for ALS. All lives are worth living, which is why the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023 to the Full House to eliminate the use of ‘quality-adjusted life years’ (QALYs) as a measurement to discriminate against people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, like cystic fibrosis, ALS, or Down syndrome. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) received an award from Valley Professionals Community Health Center in Clinton, Indiana, for his leadership on legislation that ensures the 340B program can continue to serve low-income and vulnerable patients. Earlier this year, the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced solutions to the Full House that will bring transparency and accountability to the 340B drug discount program.  Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) toured Sturgis Hospital in Michigan to hear about the challenges rural hospitals face and share how the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act will help improve price transparency throughout the system, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and support hospitals and healthcare workers. Solutions in the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act—like increasing price transparency and lowering the cost of prescription drugs—are supported by the vast majority of Americans. Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) visited Rush Memorial Hospital in Indiana to discuss rural health care and solutions the Energy and Commerce Committee is leading on to increase access to care. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act helps fund Community Health Centers, which are crucial for patients in rural and underserved areas, and supports training programs to address ongoing doctor shortages.  Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) met with school and law enforcement leaders to discuss combating the illicit fentanyl crisis and keeping communities safe. Energy and Commerce Republicans are leading the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently give law enforcement the tools they need to keep these extremely lethal and dangerous drugs off our streets. HALT Fentanyl passed the House earlier this year with bipartisan support. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) spoke with health care professionals from across her district about how Energy and Commerce Republicans are working to improve health care access and options for Americans through solutions like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act , PREEMIE Act , Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 , and SUPPORT Act .  Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) visited Washington County Hospital in Iowa to talk about solutions to address rising health care costs and increasing access to telehealth services for rural commu nities. Energy and Commerce Republicans recently passed the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 out of the Full Committee, which will increase access to telehealth options to part-time and seasonal employees. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) met with his Health Care Advisory Committee to share solutions for price transparency, doctor shortages, and people’s access to care. Energy and Commerce Republicans are addressing these challenges with solutions like drug shortage legislation , the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act , and the SUPPORT Act . The Energy and Commerce Committee is also leading on solutions to support research for childhood cancer and increased access to care for patients with rare diseases . Chair Rodgers is also calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover Alzheimer’s treatments. 

Washington, D.C. — In a Full Committee markup today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced solutions that will strengthen America's public health preparedness and resilience. Members discussed bills to bolster treatment and prevention programs for substance use disorders, prepare for the next public health security threat, take care of mothers and infants, and fund the Children’s Hospital program to train the next generation of world-class pediatricians. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said : “We’re doing the hard work necessary to review and reauthorize programs and deliver results to the American people. “We are making sure moms and their babies get the support they need in all phases of their lives. “In addition, we are reauthorizing key authorities to help protect Americans from chemical, radiological, biological, nuclear, and cyber-attacks. “We are moving Mr. Hudson’s legislation today to make sure America is equipped to respond to public health threats. “I hope Democrats will work with me on our comprehensive approach to address the root causes of drug shortages , including looking at FDA authorities and how Medicare and Medicaid pay for medicines. “Today’s SUPPORT Act reauthorization includes a number of key bipartisan wins , including agreements on lifting the IMD Exclusion, helping people in our criminal justice system, and caring for foster youth in need. “I’m proud of the work on this, and I’m looking forward to advancing it today .” Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie said on the SUPPORT Act: “Among these reauthorizations, H.R. 4531 includes a reauthorization of CORCs, the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers program, which I led in establishing when we first passed the SUPPORT Act. It would also reauthorize targeted workforce training grants for individuals in recovery. “I am also proud to report that we were able to reach compromises on key issues for members of the committee and ensure these policies are fully offset. “This includes, permanently lifting the IMD Exclusion for substance use disorder and permitting Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) to bill Medicaid for health care services provided outside the walls of these facilities, giving vulnerable children access to more comprehensive health care services.” […] “ I remain optimistic that our continued bipartisan efforts will help us turn the tide and change lives. “I thank my colleagues for joining me and I look forward to advancing this legislation to the full House today.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 824 , the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023, led by Rep. Tim Walberg, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 29 to 20. H.R. 3226 , the  Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 48 to 0.  H.R. 3838 , the  Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Michael Burgess, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 50 to 0.  H.R. 3843 , the  Action for Dental Health Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Robin Kelly, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 50 to 0.  H.R. 3884 ,   the  Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Michael Burgess, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 50 to 0.  H.R. 3821 , the  Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Bill Pascrell, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 51 to 0.  H.R. 3391 , the  Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0,  led by Rep. Jennifer Wexton, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 50 to 0.  H.R. 3836 ,   the  Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act,  led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 51 to 0.  HR 4531 , the  Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act,  led by Rep. Brett Guthrie, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 49-0.  H.R. 4529 , the Public Health Guidance Transparency and Accountability Act of 2023, led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 25 to 21.  H.R. 4381 , the  Public Health Emergency Congressional Review Act,  led by Rep. Greg Murphy, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 28 to 21.  H.R. 3813 ,  the  CDC Leadership Accountability Act of 2023,  led by Rep. Brett Guthrie, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 27 to 20.  H.R. 4421 , the  Preparing for All Hazards and Pathogens Reauthorization Act,  led by Rep. Richard Hudson, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 28 to 23.  H.R. 4420 , the  Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act  led by Rep. Richard Hudson, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 27 to 22.  H.R. 3887 , the  Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023  led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full House by a roll call vote of 27 to 17. 

Washington, D.C. – In a subcommittee markup today, the Subcommittee on Health advanced solutions for the American people that will provide crucial support for individuals who need help recovering from substance use disorder, combat the fentanyl crisis, ensure our nation is better prepared against all forms of hazards and public health security threats, and bolster health care for vulnerable populations.  Excerpts from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s (R-WA) remarks:   “Not only are we ensuring federal programs are accountable to those we serve, we are helping to improve people’s lives.  “For example, we are making sure moms and their babies get the support they need in all phases of their lives.  “We’re reauthorizing important programs to rescue people from despair and recover from substance use disorders.  “We’re building on our work to stop fentanyl poisonings.  “We’re making sure hospitals can train the next generation of pediatricians and we’re also bringing accountability to the CDC.  “In addition to all this, we are making progress today on reauthorizing key authorities to help protect Americans from chemical, radiological, biological, nuclear, and cyber-attacks.  “For months, we’ve been working to bring everyone to the table for this to be a bipartisan bill.  “These programs to ensure America is ready to respond to all hazards has expired before, and I made clear my top priority was doing all I can do get these programs reauthorized on time.”  Excerpts from Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie's (R-KY) remarks:    “First, we will be marking up legislation that I am leading alongside Representative Kuster to reauthorize key provisions from the 2018 Support for Patients and Communities Act before their expiration on September 30.  “This bill, H.R. 4531, the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2023, would provide access to life-saving treatment and recovery support services, prevention programming, and long-term recovery services for individuals seeking help overcoming their substance use disorder.  “This bill includes the scheduling of Xylazine.  “Xylazine, also known as Tranq, is an animal tranquilizer that is increasingly found in illicit opioids and other drugs.  “It does not respond to overdose reversal medications, like naloxone, which can make overdoses more fatal.  “This bill places Xylazine in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which will help our law enforcement keep this substance off our streets while maintaining access for veterinarians and ranchers to use on animals.  “The bill would also lift unnecessary barriers to treatment for vulnerable populations, by promoting sustained access to medication assisted treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries and access to long-term recovery services for individuals.”  Legislative Vote Summary:   H.R. 824 ,  the  Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Tim Walberg, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote for 16-11. H.R. 3226 ,  the  Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.    H.R. 3838 , the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Michael Burgess, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 28-0. H.R. 3843 ,  the  Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Robin Kelly, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 27-0. H.R. 3884 , the  Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Michael Burgess, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 28-0. H.R. 3821 , the  Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Bill Pascrell, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 28-0. H.R. 2365 , the  National Plan to End Parkinson’s Ac t , was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by voice vote. H.R. 3391 , the  Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 , led by Rep. Jennifer Wexton, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 27-0. H.R. 4421 , the  Preparing for All Hazards and Pathogens Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. Richard Hudson, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 17-11. H.R. 4420 , the  Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. Richard Hudson, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 16-12. H.R. 4529 , the  Public Health Guidance Transparency and Accountability Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 14-11. HR 4381 , the  Public Health Emergency Congressional Review Act , led by Rep. Greg Murphy, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 14-12. HR 3813 ,  the  CDC Leadership Accountability Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Brett Guthrie, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 14-12. H.R. 3836 ,  the  Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act , led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 28-0. HR 4531 , the  Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act , led by Rep. Brett Guthrie, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by voice vote. H.R. 4056 , the  Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Foster Care Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 17-9. H.R. 3887 , the  Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023 , led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 15-12.