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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 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 Environment, announced the first hearing of the 119th Congress for the Subcommittee on Environment titled “A Decade Later: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act .” “The domestic production of chemicals is critical to the growth of our economy and vital to the success of American manufacturers. Nearly ten years after the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented the law’s requirements in a manner that runs counter to congressional intent. During this hearing, the Subcommittee on Environment will get to the root of those policies that have inhibited American innovation and our ability to compete in the global market,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith . “The new administration offers a chance to address these issues and ensure American leadership in safely producing the chemicals vital to manufacturing in the years ahead.” Subcommittee on Environment Hearing titled “A Decade Later: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.” WHAT : Subcommittee on Environment Hearing Notice DATE : Wednesday, January 22, 2025 TIME : 10:30 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 https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .  ###

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 the first hearing of the 119th Congress for the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Wireless Technology.”   “Next generation wireless technology is a critical component of technological innovation and necessary to ensure all Americans can fully participate in the 21st century economy. The United States needs a strategic spectrum policy that empowers our innovators to fully compete on the global stage,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “We look forward to hearing from stakeholders about how we can launch a new era of American leadership.”   Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Hearing titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Wireless Technology.” WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Hearing Notice.  DATE: Thursday, January 23, 2025 TIME: 10:00 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact 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, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Full Committee Organizational Meeting: “Good morning, and welcome to the first meeting of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 119th Congress.  “The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee. “With this expansive authority and distinguished history comes a significant responsibility. What happens in the People’s House impacts Americans in their homes, and the American people are counting on us to tackle the most pressing issues, delivering results that improve their lives.” SECURING AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE “Together, this Committee will hit the ground running, playing a pivotal role in restoring the American Dream by unleashing American energy, lowering the cost of health care, and ensuring that America remains the world leader in technological innovation. “As we look ahead to the new Congress, maintaining affordable and reliable energy will be key to America’s success, supporting both our economic and national security. “Unfortunately, over the past four years, the Biden-Harris administration has saddled the American people with higher energy prices, but I am excited about changes we can make with a new administration. “We must also take steps to protect our critical energy infrastructure. It’s time to fortify our national security by strengthening the reliability of our electric grid. “The past four years saw the implementation of a rulemaking agenda that has put energy production in jeopardy while raising prices for American families. “Energy and Commerce Republicans will offer solutions to address these issues and strengthen our grid by preserving existing baseload power including natural gas, nuclear, coal, and hydropower.” ENABLING TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP “American leadership must extend into the development and deployment of emerging technologies. By removing burdensome regulations and encouraging innovation, we will make sure that our economy can outcompete the Chinese Communist Party. “Our leadership in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and wireless technologies will create jobs and unlock a generation of growth and prosperity. “And we need to make sure that every American has access to that success. “Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris Administration failed on its promise to connect all Americans by bogging down the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program with unnecessary red tape that prevented even a single American from being connected despite a $42 billion price tag. “We’re prepared to put the country on a new course where we close the digital divide and make sure everyone can enjoy the exciting technological developments that have only just begun.” CREATING A HEALTHIER AMERICA “With broad health jurisdiction, this Committee will continue focusing on driving down the cost of care, providing price transparency to consumers and businesses, supporting innovation, and most importantly, working to help restore public trust in public health. “We’ll closely examine the Medicare & Medicaid programs to ensure they are working efficiently and better serving the individuals they were originally designed to assist. “Finally, we’ll work to address the opioid epidemic, advancing policies to help individuals avoid fentanyl poisoning while also giving hope to families and individuals struggling with substance use disorder. “While the task before us is significant, the Committee will champion a bold vision to deliver the change demanded by the American people. “From healthcare and energy to telecommunications and consumer protection policy, I look forward to working together to ensure we successfully advance solutions to our nation’s greatest challenges. “It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and I am confident that, through our collective efforts, we will lead the way to restoring the American Dream.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “Holding the Biden-Harris EPA Accountable for Radical Rush-to-Green Spending."  “I am pleased to welcome our sole witness today, the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency, Sean O’Donnell.  “Mr. O’Donnell has held the position of Inspector General since early 2020 and is here to testify before this Subcommittee on the spending and activities of the Agency, especially those connected to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA and the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA.”  MASSIVE INCREASE IN EPA BUDGET   “For context, the Environmental Protection Agency’s entire non-IIJA, non-IRA annual budget for fiscal year 2024 is $10.136 billion. This amount reflects an increase of 10.4 percent over EPA’s Fiscal Year 2021 funding level of $9.085 billion.  “The IIJA, alone, provided EPA $60 billion over five fiscal years or $12 million dollars in annual appropriations to EPA. Not only was it the single largest appropriation ever provided to EPA, but it also more than doubled annual spending at the Agency during the Biden-Harris administration.  “The IRA later came along and gave EPA another $41.5 billion dollars in new and expanded programs at EPA.  “That’s two bills, an additional $101.5 billion, and roughly ten times the amount of money normally dropped off at EPA to spend.  “This is a massive infusion of funding and outrageous level of spending and pressure on our national debt, particularly for many of my Republicans colleagues who represent almost two-thirds of congressional districts in America where the average median income is below the national average and whose children will be asked to pay for this spending.”  RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT PROTECTS AGAINST WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE   “Regardless of if you voted for these bills, though, I hope you will agree with me that it is imperative that Congress conducts robust oversight of all this money given to EPA and the other agencies—it is the right thing to do.  “That said, I realize that there may be some limits to how much information the Inspector General has for us today and may be able to get for us in the future.  “Congress clearly directed his office to oversee IIJA funding and gave his office $53 million a year to do it. Unfortunately, IRA provided the IG no requirement to police that spending and Congress has approved no funding to do it.  “Regardless, fulfilling these directives—or lack thereof—are dependent upon the willingness of EPA to allow real oversight to occur.  “The Committee has had uneven results in its own investigating of these programs.  Sometimes we have had success, sometimes we have met resistance, and usually we’ve been made to wait a long time to find out which it is.  “When Administrator Regan testified earlier this year, he assured us that he talks with the IG all the time when we asked him if he was fully cooperating on the oversight. I look forward to finding out if the Inspector General’s experience has been different than the Committee’s.  “If his experience is less than satisfactory, I would like to know what legal constraints he faces and what he needs from EPA to be successful.”  LEARNING FROM THE PAST   “I also think it is important to find out if EPA implemented any lessons that it should have learned from its spending experiences with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  “And, if EPA made any changes based on this experience, what difference, if any, it made.  “We should know more about how much of the allocated IRA funding has already been spent, what type of quality control EPA and its grantees are placing on this on the disbursement and use of this funding—including by third-party vendors on the use of the money, and what objective measurements are being used to measure the results.  “Finally, I hope we are able to explore some of EPA’s interactions with the States, which also have a significant burden with these funds.  “This is especially important in light of the aggressive regulatory push by this Administration and it’s non-governmental, ideological allies.  “I look forward to an insightful discussion with our witness.” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee hearing titled “Holding the Biden-Harris EPA Accountable for Radical Rush-to-Green Spending.”  “American families are struggling to make ends meet.  “The Biden-Harris administration’s radical rush-to-green energy policies have fueled out-of-control inflation, which has driven up prices by more than 20 percent and destroyed the economic stability American families deserve.  “While American families are increasingly worried about unaffordable costs, the Biden-Harris administration is working relentlessly to expand its radical energy agenda.  “Today we’ll examine the Biden-Harris EPA—the most radical EPA to date—and its rush-to-green spending spree, as well as how we can hold them accountable for the American people.”  MASSIVE NEW EPA BUDGET   “In November of 2021, the Biden-Harris administration signed into law the so-called ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,’ authorizing $1.2 trillion in spending.  “$60 billion dollars of this taxpayer funding was provided to the EPA—the single largest grant of funding EVER at one time to the agency—doubling their overall budget for five straight years.  “Not even one year later, in August of 2022, the Biden-Harris administration provided another $41.5 billion to the EPA in the so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act.’  “As Republicans warned, the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ did not lower inflation. It made already surging inflation worse.  “Recently, President Biden admitted that the goal of the bill was to fund his radical rush-to-green agenda, calling it ‘the most significant climate change law ever.’”  LEARNING FROM THE PAST   “Spending at this pace and scale for any agency should raise concerns, but especially for an agency like the EPA with a known track record of waste, fraud, and abuse.  “Fifteen years ago, the Obama administration doled out $787 billion in taxpayer money to pay for a slew of left-wing programs and pet projects.  “The EPA was given roughly $7.2 billion—nearly doubling its annual budget at the time.  “Even at that level, the EPA was not able to responsibly manage the spending.  “The Inspector General at the time found funding that violated various federal requirements, poor guidance from the agency to states and recipients of the money, and problems with managing, monitoring and verifying where the money was being spent.  “That is why it is incredibly alarming that since President Biden took office, the EPA has been given $109 billion in additional funding and grown its workforce to over 15,000 employees.  “The amount of funding and the scope of these laws demand consistent and rigorous oversight by Congress and independent bodies like the Inspector General, especially considering the failures of the past.  “Anything less is a disservice to taxpayers.”  EPA’S RADICAL TAX AND SPEND AGENDA   “The EPA cannot continue to fund the most radical parts of a rush-to-green agenda—one that puts America on a dangerous path—threatens our economic and national security and enriches our adversaries, like China.  “Take, for example, the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is just a $27-billion slush fund of taxpayer money that is vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.  “At an Oversight Subcommittee hearing we held earlier this year the EPA could not confirm whether or not the Chinese Communist Party could receive money from this fund.  “Additionally, the EPA has issued stringent and burdensome regulations on coal and natural gas-fired power plants, while also dragging their feet in processing carbon capture permits, which are needed to comply with these power plant regulations.  “The EPA is imposing harsh government mandates, and then making it even harder for plants to adjust to the new rules.  “There are countless examples of EPA’s radical rush-to-green spending and regulatory policies like these. “It is troubling that the Democrat-led Inflation Reduction Act did not provide the Office of Inspector General—the office that ensures accountability and integrity at the EPA—funding to conduct necessary oversight. “In addition to greater accountability and transparency, the EPA must also return to its core statutory functions, which do not include undermining the economic prosperity of the United States or driving costs up across the board for Americans. “Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and I look forward to shining more light on what is happening at the EPA during today’s hearing.”

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “Federal Trade Commission Practices: A Discussion on Past Versus Present.”    CURRENT FTC IS BREAKING HISTORIC NORMS “A couple months ago, our subcommittee welcomed the five Commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine the current state of the agency.  “The specific focus of that hearing being to examine how Chair Khan is using the budget that Congress has afforded the Commission to carry out its mission. “During that hearing, I spoke about the bipartisan concern of Chair Khan’s priorities, intended or not, which have torn down the historic norms, practices, and reputation of the FTC as a consumer protection agency. “The precedent now being set matters—and we should discuss what this means for the future of the FTC’s trust with both consumers and business.”  DETERIORATING FTC CULTURE “Over the last few years, we’ve seen staff morale plummet. Despite being an independent agency, career staff no longer have the independence they used to have, particularly in educating consumers about avoiding scams. “Staff hours and resources that could have been spent protecting seniors in my state and others from scams were shifted to press releases and expansive rulemakings and competition issues.   Meanwhile, our constituents continue to be defrauded on a daily basis. “It just sends the wrong message when for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, career experts were able to work with their economist counterparts to assess the cost and benefit of a proposal. “Instead, sadly that once commonplace approach was upended and powers consolidated under the Chair’s general counsel office. “This kind of approach isolates the commissioners from their value and expertise within the agency and further ups the ante on partisanship, rather than faithfully executing the law. “The whole process gets corrupted this way, as too often left out of FTC proposals is important economic analysis and thorough stakeholder collaboration and—of course—what impact may be had on the backbone of our economy otherwise known as legitimate businesses. “This shift of actively seeking civil penalties and sending warning letters to have the judicial standing to seek them is inappropriate and predatory and must be abandoned. “The FTC should seek to encourage compliance of their policies, not bank on enforcement. “We cannot allow this FTC to continue to ruin its prior reputation as the premier consumer protection agency for the country.” RETURNING FTC TO THEIR MISSION “Their task to protect consumers from fraud and scams is too important to dedicate resources on legal theories and gotcha schemes. “My words may be harsh, and I may be upsetting some of my colleagues, but every day my constituents are plagued by scams: examples such as bad actors stealing seniors’ hard-earned money by pretending to be a loved one in search of help or claiming they’re a government agency warning of impending legal trouble that only a 500-dollar gift card could solve. “And in this economy, according to reports, Florida ranked third in most scams reported by residents: 1,393 per 100,000 residents. “This hearing serves to take a fresh eye to older reform proposals, to start thinking about new ones, and get the FTC back to its tried-and-true approaches and its essential consumer protection role. “Americans every day are getting ripped off. “I know each of us want the FTC to have the tools they need to go after these bad actors, and we must be responsible when legislating to prevent history from repeating itself from when much earlier iterations of the FTC tried to enact expansive rulemakings. “Let’s use this discussion today to learn what we can be doing to reform the FTC and turn it back into an agency each of us, on both sides of the aisle, would be willing to go to bat for.” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled “Federal Trade Commission Practices: A Discussion on Past Versus Present.”  “Thank you to our distinguished witnesses who are here today to discuss the current state of an agency we all want to be there for us if we’ve been defrauded or deceived.  “The FTC’s core mission is to be at the forefront of protecting Americans, making it critical that they earn and keep the public’s trust and respect.”  DECADES OF BIPARTISANSHIP AND FOCUS   “I have been clear from the start of this Congress about my concern that the current FTC is heading in the wrong direction.  “Prior to the Biden-Harris administration, the FTC always worked to build consensus and champion bipartisanship.  “Certainly, there were differences of opinion—not every decision ended in a five to zero vote.  “However, at that time, commissioners and staff embraced a culture where they could freely exchange ideas and feel heard.  “Those open and honest discussions allowed the FTC to act in the American people’s best interest and garner the public’s trust.  “Disappointingly, this 40-year tradition and culture has been lost.  “The FTC has long acted as a ‘cop-on-the beat,’ not as a sector specific regulator in the way the Food and Drug Administration is, for instance.  “Unfortunately, the Commission has assumed more power and become a heavy-handed economy-wide regulator.  “This change in direction has led to many contentious and expensive court battles.  “I worry that the time spent in courtrooms—defending departures from past practices—is undermining the FTC’s core mission and overall success.  “I’m not alone in this view. The Supreme Court has concluded in unanimous decisions that the FTC’s historically commonly used tools have been expanded to become controversial and exceed their statutory authority.”  FTC NORMS AND PRACTICES   “Most notably, we have seen a breakdown in norms and practices that were considered commonplace in previous Democratic and Republican administrations.  “By removing ‘without unduly burdening legitimate business activity’ from its mission statement, the Commission has sent a clear message that it wants to be feared, instead of being a good-faith regulator.  “Job creators across the country now live in fear of receiving a letter out of blue threatening them on behavior they may not even be engaged in.  “Additionally, FTC Commissioners' rights have steadily eroded and access to important FTC business has been more shielded than ever.  “The Commission must take simple steps to start correcting course.  “For example, a cost benefit analysis should be done for all rules, 6B reports, and enforcement actions and commissioners and staff should have direct access to the economists working on it.”  DANGEROURS BRIAN DRAIN   “I’m hopeful that with a full set of commissioners, such access to the Econ Bureau and its specialists will again be the norm.  “Sadly, many career staff have chosen to leave or retire due to the decline of the agency's culture and disregard for its true mission.  “Respected surveys have shown employee morale and confidence in senior Commission leadership has steeply declined.  “Prior to Chair Khan’s appointment to the FTC, 87 percent of surveyed FTC employees agreed that senior agency officials maintained high standards of honesty and integrity.  “That number quickly dropped to 53 percent after just one year, then down to 47 percent a year later.  “It is also alarming that full time positions that Congress authorized for the FTC’s fraud prevention mission have been re-tasked to other areas.  “This is wrong and a clear attempt to bypass Congress and utilize the EU to impose more influence over U.S. companies since the Biden-Harris administration couldn’t find consensus here at home.  “Congress needs to reassert its Article I authority and act to stop this ongoing erosion of norms and longstanding Commission practices and restore the once strong processes of the FTC.  “While we have proposed legislation in the past, some of it has quickly become dated. I look forward to hearing from the experts here today on what Congress can do to put the FTC back on track and set the Commission up for success. “I know we share these goals, and I hope we can work together to achieve them.” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the House passed 14 bipartisan health bills:  “These commonsense solutions will help reform and extend programs that support the health and wellbeing of the American people. I commend the Members who led these bipartisan initiatives for their hard work as well as my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work to shepherd them through the committee process and across the House floor,” said Chair Rodgers .  BACKGROUND ON THE BILLS : H.R. 8111 , the Medicaid Program Improvement Act :   Led by Rep. Miller-Meeks (R-IA). Would require States to regularly obtain beneficiary address information from reliable sources, including (where applicable) Medicaid managed care plans, to promote the State’s ability to contact the beneficiary, and to confirm a Medicaid beneficiary’s residence is within the state.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024.  H.R. 8112 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to further require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program :  Led by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY). Would require States to regularly check the Data Exchange System (DEX) to determine as part of a provider’s enrollment (or reenrollment or revalidation of enrollment) in the Medicaid program that the provider is not prohibited from participating in the Medicare program.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024.  H.R. 8089 , the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act of 2024 :  Led by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA). Would require States to check the Death Master File upon enrollment (or reenrollment or revalidation or enrollment), and on at least a quarterly basis, in order to identify deceased providers. Existing federal laws, regulations, and guidance dictate the steps states must take in the event the state identifies that the provider is deceased.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2023.  H.R. 8084 , the LIVE Beneficiaries Act :  Led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). Would require States to screen the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File (DMF) to identify currently enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries who are deceased and remove identified deceased beneficiaries from enrollment in Medicaid.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024.  H.R. 6160 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program :  Led by Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY). Reauthorizes for five years the lifespan respite care program administered by the Administration of Community Living (ACL) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support state respite care systems.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.  S. 4351 , the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024 :   Led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). Reauthorizes certain poison control programs, including the national toll-free phone number, support for poison control center utilization, and resources to local poison control centers.  Passed the House unanimously. The bill’s companion legislation (H.R. 7251), led by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024. H.R. 7406 , the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 :  Led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Authorizes the INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project at the NIH, which is currently funded, and is designed to promote the scientific understanding of Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions and improve the quality of life of every American, not just individuals with Down syndrome and their families.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024. H.R. 7218 , the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024 :  Led by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY). Reauthorizes programs to support states, local public health departments, and other entities in their efforts to educate and support early detection and diagnosis; reduce associated risks; support patients and caregivers; and promote public health knowledge and awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, among other activities, at currently appropriated levels for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024. H.R. 6033 , the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act of 2024: Led by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA). Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to, in consultation with stakeholders, issue and disseminate best practices for delivering quality care via telehealth to beneficiaries with limited English language proficiency.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024. H.R. 7858 , the Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024 : Led by Rep. John James (R-MI). Improves process by which Medicare tracks claims for services provided by telehealth.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024. S. 265 , the SIREN Reauthorization Act:   Led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Reauthorizes and modifies the rural emergency medical services (EMS) training program through 2028.  Passed the House unanimously. The bill’s companion legislation (H.R. 4646), led by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.  H.R. 7208 , the Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2024:   Led by the late Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). Reauthorizes Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which allocate resources for TBI prevention, improving access to TBI rehabilitation, and support TBI patient advocacy systems. The bill reauthorizes the program for five fiscal years from 2025 through 2029.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024. H.R. 4758 , the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act :  Led by Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA). Streamlines Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) out-of-state pediatric provider enrollment requirements to promote timely access to care for children needing to travel out-of-state for care.  Passed the House unanimously. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024. H.R. 7213 , the Autism CARES Act of 2024: Led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). Reauthorizes and makes improvements to certain programs related to autism spectrum disorder, including the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program; Autism education, early detection, and intervention; and the Interagency Autism Coordination Committee at currently appropriated levels for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.  Passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 402-13. Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) today announced a hearing titled “Holding the Biden-Harris EPA Accountable for Radical Rush-to-Green Spending.”  “The Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the most extreme EPA to date. Since President Biden took office, the EPA has been given $109 billion in additional funding and grown its workforce to over 15,000 employees. The Biden-Harris EPA’s spending and regulatory policies—created by the so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ and ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’—continue to put America on a dangerous path that threatens our economic and national security, while enriching our adversaries, like China,” said Chairs Rodgers and Carter. “The EPA must return to its core statutory functions—which do not include undermining the economic prosperity of the United States or driving costs up across the board for Americans.”  Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials titled “Holding the Biden-Harris EPA Accountable for Radical Rush-to-Green Spending.”   WHAT: A subcommittee hearing to hold the Biden-Harris EPA accountable for its radical rush-to-green spending and regulatory policies.  DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024  TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Kate Roberts at Kate.Arey@mail.house.gov .