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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, the New York Post recently published an article highlighting Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issuing a subpoena to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Lauren Sanchez after the agency failed to comply with the Committee’s requests for documents related to California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate and its continued implementation of regulations nullified by Congress.

In Case You Missed It:

“A powerful House panel took the extraordinary step of subpoenaing a California official, claiming her agency had refused to hand over relevant records during a seven-month investigation into the state’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate, according to a letter obtained by The Post.

“The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued the subpoena to California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez on Monday, demanding communications and documents regarding regulations that Golden State officials said would transition away from gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

“‘Forcing Americans to buy unreliable, and costly, EVs would eliminate consumer choice, strain our electric grid, raise costs, and increase our reliance on entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party,’ House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) told The Post.

“‘We will continue to follow the facts and demand accountability from California. I urge California to comply with this subpoena speedily and in good faith.’

“A CARB spokesperson responded that the agency in the past ‘has provided information and documents,’ including on ‘California’s longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act and the actions CARB has taken to protect public health and welfare in the state.’

“‘CARB’s goal is to support the Committee’s legislative inquiry through a transparent, cooperative exchange of information,’ the rep added.

“The Biden administration had signed off on waivers for California to impose the regulations — but President Trump nullified the waivers last June in response to three resolutions that passed on a bipartisan basis in the House and Senate.

“At a White House bill-signing event, Trump boasted that the three Congressional Review Act resolutions would ‘kill the California mandates forever.’

“But Guthrie wrote in a letter accompanying the subpoena that California has still been ‘denying auto manufacturers approval to bring vehicles to market unless the manufacturers agreed to comply with the regulations that had already been nullified through these CRA resolutions.’

“‘After months of negotiations, CARB’s lack of cooperation with this investigation requires the issuance of compulsory process,’ Guthrie told Sanchez in the missive.

“The CRA resolutions targeted waivers that had allowed the state to impose higher vehicle pollution standards than are in effect at the federal level under provisions of the Clean Air Act.

“Those standards — such as the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus Law-NOx regulations — were championed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and later became a template for more than a dozen other states.

“Section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act prohibits states from implementing emissions standards on new cars or engines that differ from those imposed by the federal government, unless they obtain a waiver.

“Newsom, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Air Resources Board shortly after joined with a group of 10 other state AGs to sue the Trump administration for disapproving of the waivers for EV regulations in June.

“That’s led to a lengthy federal court battle, which is currently being heard by the San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Newsom also signed an executive order in June 2025 following the revocation of California’s waivers asking CARB to submit another proposal that would help the state transition from fossil fuels.

“In March, the Department of Justice fired back with a suit against California over a fuel economy regulation that the Trump administration has also seen as effectively an EV mandate.

“The House committee, which began its probe in August, noted in its letter that it was specifically seeking ‘communications between CARB and the California Governor’s Office and the California Attorney General’s office.’

“‘Reviewing these documents and communications is vital to understanding what actions, including actions related to enforcement and implementation of the aforementioned laws and regulations, the state of California has taken thus far with respect to its new vehicle and new motor emission reduction plans following the CRA resolutions signed into law last year,’ Guthrie said.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a subpoena to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Lauren Sanchez for documents and communications related to CARB’s implementation of vehicle emissions regulations that were nullified by Congress. This marks Chairman Guthrie’s first subpoena as Chairman of the Committee.

Despite three bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions being signed into law last year preventing California from implementing vehicle standards that would ban the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks through its Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II, and Omnibus Low NOx (Omnibus) regulations, Committee staff received reports that California has been denying auto manufacturers approval to bring vehicles to market unless manufacturers agree to comply with the nullified regulations.

After CARB failed to cooperate with multiple requests from the Committee, despite repeated accommodations, Chairman Guthrie issued the subpoena to compel the production of documents regarding CARB’s implementation of the ACT, ACC II, and Omnibus regulations, including communications between CARB and Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, as well as CARB and the California Attorney General’s Office.

Chairman Guthrie issued the following statement following the subpoena:

“The Committee began its investigation after reports that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had been denying approvals to bring new vehicles to market unless auto manufacturers agreed to comply with California’s burdensome EV mandate, despite the fact it had been nullified by CRA resolutions signed into law last June. California’s refusal to cooperate with our investigation has left the Committee no choice but to issue a subpoena in order to receive the documents it requested from CARB,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Forcing Americans to buy unreliable, and costly, EVs would eliminate consumer choice, strain our electric grid, raise costs, and increase our reliance on entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party. We will continue to follow the facts and demand accountability from California. I urge California to comply with this subpoena speedily and in good faith.”

BACKGROUND:

• Section 209(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) prohibits states from adopting or attempting to enforce emissions standards for new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines. Under Section 209(b), California may request a waiver of federal preemption from the EPA.

• The EPA had approved waivers under prior administrations that allowed California to implement vehicle regulations, including bans on gas, diesel, and hybrid vehicles and mandates for 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035.

• On June 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed three resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act—H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, and H.J. Res. 89—which collectively disapproved California’s waivers of preemption that allowed the state to impose vehicle emissions standards that effectively banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. The CRA resolutions passed Congress with bipartisan support.

• California and several other states have challenged the CRA resolutions in court; the case is currently pending, and no injunction has been issued.

• EV adoption rates remain below the targets outlined in those waivers. For example, ACC II would have required New York to reach 35% EV sales in model year 2026, while current EV market share is substantially lower. California, which leads the nation in EV adoption, had a market share of almost 26% as of December 2024.

• The production of EV batteries relies on critical minerals sourced largely from supply chains controlled by foreign entities. Mining and processing of these minerals, particularly in China, is highly emissions-intensive compared with U.S. production.

CLICK HERE to read the New York Post’s exclusive coverage of the ongoing investigation.

CLICK HERE to read the cover letter of the subpoena.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared in the Washington Post   today.  “The most popular social media platforms are constantly changing and reinventing themselves, but one challenge has remained consistent over three decades: Kids are at risk when they go online.   “Anxiety, depression, loneliness and self-harm rates are sky-high among teens and children, demonstrating the dangerous effects of social media.   “So, who is responsible for protecting America’s youth? Every adult should consider themselves on the hook for that, but those of us in Congress have a special obligation to hold tech companies accountable for the products they design.   “That is why congressional Republicans are advancing meaningful legislation to protect kids, empower parents and guardians, and address the harms children and teens face online.   “We can no longer stand by and wait for others to act.   “We know progress can be made because we have already enacted a major piece of online safety legislation this Congress. Working alongside first lady Melania Trump, we passed — and President Donald Trump signed — the Take It Down Act, which targets the spread of sexually exploitative, nonconsensual AI-generated images.   “While that is a good first step, it is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. As the internet continues to evolve, we know that no single action can address every challenge. What’s needed is a comprehensive approach that puts kids’ well-being and parental empowerment at the center of the digital world.   “Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, a legislative package that will protect children and teens from online harms, empower parents and hold Big Tech accountable.   “For starters, the Kids Act represents an improved version of the previously proposed Kids Online Safety Act, preserving the bill’s best ideas while addressing concerns about its constitutionality. After pairing the original proposal with additional measures to strengthen privacy, transparency and accountability across the online ecosystem, this version of the bill is stronger and more capable of surviving court challenges.   “Second, the Kids Act limits access to online pornography for minors. For too long, online websites with adult content have relied on an honor system where every user is assumed to be an adult. We know that isn’t true. Children should not be accessing pornographic content. The Kids Act requires all websites that contain adult content to uphold this basic standard through age-verification measures — just as a brick-and-mortar storefront would.   “Additionally, the act targets new internet threats, like artificial intelligence chatbots or predators using video game chat functions, head-on. Republicans are working to give parents the power to limit those communications as they see fit and to impose strict disclosure requirements on AI chatbots to prevent deceptive messaging.   “Acknowledging that government alone cannot solve this problem, the Kids Act facilitates the development of partnerships among parents, experts and industry to address these challenges and others sure to develop. New educational efforts will help empower a generation of parents to diagnose and respond to digital threats.   “Nevertheless, the Kids Act is not the end of our work.   “The committee also advanced the App Store Accountability Act this week. Unfortunately, smartphones often operate as a hidden layer between children and parents, as kids download apps and buy digital goods without a parent’s permission. Instead of relying on another honor system, the App Store Accountability Act creates a simple, private and secure process to verify users’ ages and require kids to first obtain a parent’s permission. It leverages modern technology to put apps on notice that they are dealing with children and teens and, thus, have heightened safety obligations.   “Another bill we are working on, known as COPPA 2.0, would modernize kids’ privacy protections that are already on the books.   “Until now, 13 has been treated as the age of digital adulthood, a relic of the internet’s early days when Congress enacted the original Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in 1998. Back then, we never could have imagined how things would develop. Extended privacy protections for teens and a ban on targeted advertising to kids are long overdue.   “Collectively, these bills form a commonsense, comprehensive package designed to make the internet safer for kids. But this is not an academic exercise.   “This work is personal. Some of the loudest, most courageous advocates for reform are parents who have lost children due to online harms. Every member of our committee represents families who have endured unimaginable grief. They deserve more than gestures and idle promises. They deserve laws that work.   “We cannot rely on Big Tech companies that refuse to take responsibility for the products they put into the world. They’ve had years to self-regulate, and they have failed. Now it’s time for Congress to act.   “By advancing this package of bills, we are one step closer to putting American families back on solid footing to make the best decisions about their digital well-being.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, the  New York Post   recently published an article highlighting letters sent to ten states, authored by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, inquiring about the rampant waste in their state Medicaid systems and what measures are being taken to address it. In Case You Missed It: “A House committee has launched an investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud in 10 states — including New York and California — demanding records ‘to ensure program integrity in states nationwide,’ The Post can reveal. “The letters, sent March 3 by GOP leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asked for records and communications from the governors and leaders of state health agencies of New York, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington State. “Each of the missives drew attention to recent reports or prosecutions of fraudsters in the respective states. “In New York, for example, two individuals linked to adult day cares in Brooklyn and a home health care firm pleaded guilty in January to defrauding taxpayers out of $68 million in Medicaid funds. “Another scheme cited $120 million allegedly stolen from Medicaid and Medicare funds to the owners of Queens-based adult daycare centers and a pharmacy who were taking kickbacks. “The Empire State spent $115.6 billion on Medicaid for almost 7 million people in fiscal year 2025, but the program ‘has continued to grow at unsustainable levels,’ according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget plan for this fiscal year. “Other letters to California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska noted massive percentage increases in spending on Medicaid services in recent years. “‘Fraud shouldn’t be a partisan issue,’ Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said in a statement. ‘It’s our most vulnerable Americans who are most at risk from fraudsters diverting precious resources intended for critical, needed care.’ “‘We owe it to our fellow Americans to preserve the Medicaid program for those that need it most, and states have an important role to play in ensuring that Medicaid programs operate with integrity,’ he added. ‘The Committee will continue to combat rampant waste, fraud, and abuse across the entire country.’ “The letters all cited reports of fraudsters bilking taxpayer funds in Minnesota — as well as Trump administration probes that recently led to the withholding of more than $250 million in Medicaid funding. “That fraud was perpetrated through ‘overbilling, falsifying records, identity theft, and phantom claims in Medicaid social service and health programs for the elderly and disabled, children with autism, people struggling with substance use disorders, and homelessness,’ wrote Guthrie and two other GOP subcommittee chairmen, Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). “The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s probe comes after a hearing early in February that heard testimony from experts about kinds of fraud schemes — including those with ‘high rates’ of abuse such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), substance abuse treatment centers, home and community based services and more. “Certified fraud examiner Jessica Gay told the House committee that the vulnerable programs ‘should be on every state’s radar.’ “‘If a state isn’t monitoring ABA services closely, they are likely missing a considerable area where FWA is committed,’ Gay said. “‘Medicaid fraud robs both taxpayers and patients, and we will pursue it wherever it hides,’ Joyce said in a statement. “‘Republicans in Congress will continue to do the necessary legwork to investigate allegations of waste, fraud and abuse within our Medicaid system,’ added Griffith. “New York Gov. Kathy Hochul accused the House Energy and Commerce Committee of ‘playing partisan games,’ but vowed to continue to go after ‘bad actors in the Medicaid program.’ “‘Congressional Republicans should learn from Governor Hochul’s dogged efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse – including sweeping CDPAP reforms that shut down hundreds of wasteful Medicaid middlemen and saved over $2 billion for state and federal taxpayers while protecting home care for those who need it,’ a spokesperson for Hochul said in a statement. “A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom insisted the state has tackled Medicaid fraud for years. “‘California holds a strong commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and the integrity of public programs like Medi-Cal. The state has taken action against Medi-Cal fraud for years and utilizes robust oversight mechanisms to protect the integrity of Medi-Cal programs and preserve public confidence,’ the spokesperson said. “Colorado ‘takes oversight of our Medicaid programs very seriously, and prioritizes finding and rooting out fraud when it occurs, including referring to law enforcement,’ according to a statement from Gov. Jared Polis’ spokesperson. “Reps for the other seven governors’ offices and state health agencies in the states did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, are continuing their ongoing investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicaid programs by sending letters to ten additional states to request information and documents on the actions each state is taking to strengthen Medicaid program integrity. These requests come amidst reports and law enforcement actions that have demonstrated high levels of Medicaid fraud across numerous states. For example, in Massachusetts, a woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently billing MassHealth for $500,000 in Personal Care Attendant, home health, and adult foster care services after enrolling disabled, elderly, and homeless people in services without their knowledge or consent and billing Medicaid as their caretaker despite not providing these services. In Colorado, two individuals were charged in separate cases for defrauding Health First Colorado’s non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) program. The first defendant allegedly billed over $1 million in NEMT rides—$400,000 of which were billed for rides for herself and family members, and most of which were not associated with transportation to medical appointments. The second defendant billed Health First Colorado for $3.3 million in NEMT rides, including $283,000 for 64 rides for a single beneficiary, $165,000 of which occurred after the beneficiary had died. In Oregon, a woman was sentenced to federal prison for using stolen identities to submit fraudulent health care claims to Oregon’s Medicaid Program, totaling over $3 million and triggering $1.5 million in fraudulent Medicaid reimbursements. In New York, two individuals involved in a Brooklyn-based scheme involving adult day cares and home health  pleaded guilty   to $68 million in Medicaid fraud over a seven-year period. In addition, two men in Queens who owned adult daycare centers and a pharmacy  were recently charged  with $120 million in alleged Medicaid and Medicare fraud schemes. This included illegal kickbacks to Medicaid recipients to fill prescriptions at their pharmacies and enroll in their adult day care. It’s no secret that Medicaid fraud schemes have possibly cost the program billions of dollars annually across the country. These schemes contribute greatly to rising health care costs and strain our health care system, all at the expense of Medicaid beneficiaries and taxpayers. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our government health programs like Medicaid to ensure Americans who need them get the quality, affordable care they deserve. Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Griffith issued the following statements regarding the ongoing investigation: “Fraud shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It's our most vulnerable Americans who are most at risk from fraudsters diverting precious resources intended for critical, needed care , ” said Chairman Guthrie. “ We owe it to our fellow Americans to preserve the Medicaid program for those that need it most, and states have an important role to play in ensuring that Medicaid programs operate with integrity. The Committee will continue to combat rampant waste, fraud, and abuse across the entire country.” "Medicaid was established to ensure the most vulnerable Americans are never left behind. That is why fraud and abuse within Medicaid will not be tolerated. Medicaid fraud robs both taxpayers and patients, and we will pursue it wherever it hides," said Rep. John Joyce, M.D. "Expanding this investigation is part of our responsibility in Congress to ensure that the government upholds the standards it was created to serve. Our Committee will work diligently to strengthen the integrity of the Medicaid system and to ensure that those who engage in fraudulent misuse or abuse are held fully accountable." “Americans support federal health care programs that serve American communities, not fraudsters! Led by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, this latest series of letters is the next step in our investigations to protect our social safety net programs and secure them for the most vulnerable Americans,” said Rep. Griffith. “Republicans in Congress will continue to do the necessary legwork to investigate allegations of waste, fraud and abuse within our Medicaid system.” BACKGROUND: In January, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, wrote to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the Temporary Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Human Services, Shireen Gandhi, requesting communications, documents, and information to better understand the ongoing Medicaid fraud occurring in the state of Minnesota and actions the state is taking to strengthen program integrity. On February 3, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing titled Common Schemes, Real Harm: Examining Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid . During this hearing, expert witnesses testified on common examples of Medicaid fraud schemes and the potential scale of fraud in Medicaid programs nationwide. Now, as part of the Committee’s ongoing efforts to address Medicaid fraud, the Committee sent letters to CA , CO , MA , ME , NE , NY , OR , PA , VT , and WA . Each of these states displayed concerning cases of Medicaid fraud over the last several years. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the extent of fraud in state Medicaid programs and understand what states are doing to address the issue and protect the integrity of Medicaid for Americans. Read More About this Ongoing Investigation: CLICK HERE to read the New York Post's exclusive coverage of the letter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation’s 2025 Hatch Center Policy Review featured an essay by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, titled Dominance, Deployment, and Safeguards: The Path for American AI Leadership.

In the essay, Chairman Guthrie warns that America risks falling behind China in artificial intelligence and outlines a strategy to strengthen U.S. innovation, secure supply chains, and expand global leadership.

In Case You Missed It:

“One of the defining traits of the American experiment has been a commitment to exploring the unknown. From the early explorers who first landed in the Americas to the modern technology industry that has placed a powerful computer in the pocket of every American, we are a nation of trailblazers.

“What makes this moment unique is the pending threat to America’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) technology by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP)–backed companies, many of which have developed advanced technologies nearly at parity with that of American AI companies. Knowing that the AI revolution will define economic growth and global competitiveness for the next century, the United States must choose to innovate.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher. China already deploys next-generation technologies to advance many of the regime’s most sinister goals focused on enhancing the power of its Orwellian surveillance state utilizing advanced computing. Even more concerning to the American public is the threat of an adversary’s technology stack serving as the building blocks for future advancements or as a strategic chokehold. For example, we have unfortunately learned this lesson the hard way through Chinese bottlenecks related to telecommunications equipment and critical mineral mining and processing.

“Strengthening our supply chains is an area where Republicans and Democrats largely agree. Even the Biden Administration took dramatic action to address national security risks from autonomous and connected vehicles to prevent cars and trucks built by CCP-aligned manufacturers from operating in the United States.

“President Trump has also been crystal clear: American supply chains can no longer rely on our adversaries’ goodwill. China will use any economic and technological leverage over Americans and the products we use if given the opportunity. The ongoing threat of China doesn’t just call for an agenda that restricts the aggression of the PRC, but also an agenda that promotes American innovation at home and abroad.

“At the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, we have three pillars that guide our approach to AI: dominance, deployment, and safeguards.

“For the United States to be dominant in AI, we must be the ones to actually develop and deploy these new technologies at scale. When I talk with business leaders, they tell me we have the brainpower and the capital necessary to compete. However, we still need to increase our energy production to meet rising electricity demand, and we need to ensure our regulatory environment is structured to meet this moment.

“China has chosen the path of top-down government control to drive its AI industry. While this strategy affords the CCP some advantages, the American model of bottom-up, free-market capitalism has long been the engine of innovation for the world, and it is more efficient in the long run.

“Unfortunately, our allies across the Atlantic have taken the opposite approach and made the mistake of racing to heavily regulate technologies, slowing innovation as a result. Onerous, conflicting, and confusing regulations are suffocating European technology companies and effectively grounding the AI industry there before it can even get off the ground.

“And to those who recommend America follow that path, I would remind you: We are not in a race with Europe to regulate. We are in a race with China to innovate.

“A patchwork of state laws here at home would have the same effect, stalling AI development and deployment and providing our adversaries with opportunity to advance, excluding Americans from the benefits of a new technological revolution founded on fundamentally Western values. It is vitally important for American technology companies to be the ones setting global technology standards for the next generation of tools and systems.

“President Trump’s AI Action Plan includes a range of policies to put us back on track to export a full American stack of AI products and services to our allies. Prioritizing the export of American products and services helps embed American-driven technical standards in global markets, expand our economic influence, and strengthen our national security.

“But maintaining global leadership cannot occur without deploying energy and broadband infrastructure at scale. By consuming enormous amounts of electricity to power vast networks of computers, AI data centers effectively convert energy into intelligence, and at a scale we’ve never seen before.

“The U.S. is blessed with an abundant supply of natural resources that can be leveraged to generate the baseload, dispatchable electricity necessary to power data centers, broader electrification efforts, and advanced manufacturing. But we need the right approach at the federal level to seize this moment, and building the energy infrastructure to power the future is the first step.

“But we also need to look at the broad application of AI technologies and the promise of benefits for consumers that span our entire economy. This year the Committee has already held hearings across our wide jurisdiction demonstrating the ways AI can improve the everyday lives of Americans.

“For example, AI technologies can help to limit the frequency and duration of network blackouts, meaning better coverage in cases of emergencies or cyberattacks. After an expansive operation to cripple telecommunications in New York City was linked to China this fall, this could mean the difference between life and death.

“Autonomous vehicles are on track to have the same effect. The National Safety Council estimated that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the coming decades. Even setting aside the radical improvements in safety, AI-supported vehicles will offer elderly Americans and people with disabilities new options for independence.

“In health care, AI can expedite the repetitive, administrative processes that slow treatment and research, freeing providers to focus on their core skills treating patients. Supporting—not replacing—health care professionals has long been a critical priority for Congress, and artificial intelligence may represent a generational opportunity to advance those efforts.

“You may see a theme emerging: AI can make the world safer and workers more productive. But with that goal in mind, we also recognize the need for narrowly tailored protections to address new and unexpected harms. The TAKE IT DOWN Act—which was signed into law earlier this year—is a perfect example of Congress’s ability to provide guardrails where existing law does not suffice. Bipartisan majorities in Congress worked closely with the President and First Lady Melania Trump to target the spread of sexually exploitative, non-consensual AI images, filling gaps in the law related to emerging technologies.

“With AI advancements continuing to permeate the digital economy, American families deserve tools as sophisticated as the platforms their kids are using. Modern challenges require modern protections, which is why the Energy and Commerce Committee is also working to make the internet safer for kids as AI technologies increasingly shape online experiences.

“Similarly, Americans of all ages should be entitled to commonsense data privacy protections, especially in the era of large language models that use vast amounts of data to train AI algorithms. Passing one national, comprehensive data privacy bill—so your privacy protections do not change crossing state lines—would be a critical step toward restoring trust online, without unduly hurting American entrepreneurs.

“Artificial intelligence is already helping raise the tide so every American can benefit. Continuing that momentum requires commitments and intentional decisions by the leaders of industry, government, and civil society. Challenges will inevitably arise, but that has never stopped our nation from innovating, creating, and growing before.

“The rest of this century will either belong to the United States and its allies or China. If we cede the technological edge, we risk losing our ability to expand our influence abroad and will provide a platform for China to expand its authoritarian state and stifle human freedom.

“The strong U.S. economy and our workers are the greatest assets we have. As long as we choose to embrace those strengths instead of holding ourselves back, America will continue to succeed. Our leadership has undoubtedly made the world stronger and more prosperous in recent decades, and we don’t plan on stopping now.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, _ the Wall Street Journal _ recently highlighted that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is leading efforts to modernize America’s chemical safety law through proposed legislation that would streamline approvals for new chemicals and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.

In Case You Missed It:

“Republicans on Capitol Hill are set to propose legislation aimed at helping companies to more quickly get the government’s blessing to use and sell many more new chemicals, from those used in heavy manufacturing to household disinfectants.

“Draft legislation seen by WSJ Pro Sustainable Business would implement a series of changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act—a sprawling law covering the impact of thousands of chemicals on the environment and public health. The legislation, first enacted in the 1970s, tasks the Environmental Protection Agency with chemical safety reviews.

“The changes would make it easier for a swath of industries to get the green light to use new chemicals ranging from oil-and-gas additives to ingredients for cleaning products. It would also apply to new uses of already-approved chemicals.

“The House Committee on Energy and Commerce said it is going to hold a hearing on its plans on Jan. 22.

“The draft legislation would speed up approvals for chemicals already given the green light in certain other countries so that they can be manufactured in the U.S. It also would require the EPA in its review process to give priority to new chemicals ‘intended to address supply-chain risks for critical materials.’ The committee said those updates would help American businesses compete with China—which dominates the critical-minerals market.

“The EPA under the Trump administration has proposed a series of changes to its regulation under the TSCA, including a bid in November to reduce the scope of reporting under the law for PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Meanwhile, many states are trying to cut such chemicals out of products from clothing to cosmetics.

“Maria Doa, a doctor who testified at a hearing in January last year focused on the TSCA, and who previously led chemical safety reviews at the EPA, said a 2016 bipartisan update to the law that increased safety reviews and testing ‘transformed the law from largely ineffective to one that set clear direction to protect human health and the environment.’

“The House Committee on Energy and Commerce said it wants to require the EPA to focus safety reviews and regulations ‘on actual or intended uses and risks, not mere speculation.’

“At the hearing about the law last year, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D., Calif.), who has also worked as an emergency physician, said the TSCA is vital to protect people from chemicals such as asbestos and trichloroethylene that can cause cancers and heart and liver diseases.

“He said the old version of the law ‘failed to safeguard our communities, allowing people to be exposed to harmful chemicals in their homes and workplaces, and this failure disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations.’

“Groups including the Environmental Defense Fund have said changes to the TSCA could lead to weaker protections for workers and communities living near chemical plants.

“Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.), chairman of the committee, said the draft legislation Republicans are proposing ‘will help maintain America’s leadership in chemical innovation and strengthen domestic competitiveness in the global marketplace.’

“Chris Jahn, president of the American Chemistry Council, said ahead of the draft release that ‘Congress is leading by moving legislation to provide durable improvements to ensure that U.S. manufacturing remains competitive,’ adding that he thinks it is necessary for ‘the next generation of semiconductors, AI and advanced technologies’ to be made in the U.S.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, ** Breitbart ** recently reported that Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced upcoming hearings inviting five of the nation’s largest health insurance company CEOs to testify on rising health care costs and ways to make health care more affordable for all Americans.

In Case You Missed It:

“House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) told Breitbart News that Republicans have been forced to clean up Democrats’ healthcare ‘mess;’ they will invite health insurance executives later this month to testify on how to lower healthcare costs.

“‘House Republicans are once again left to clean up the mess of Democrats’ flawed policymaking. Instead of temporarily bailing out a failing program utilized by a fraction of the country, we have invited five of the top health insurance company CEOs to testify before our Committees to have a discussion and answer questions about rising costs, the current state of health care affordability, and the role played by large health insurers,’ Guthrie and Smith said in a written statement.

“On January 22, health insurance executives will testify before two hearings, with the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing taking part in the morning, and the Ways and Means Committee hearing taking place that afternoon.

“Executives that have been invited to the hearings include:

- Stephen Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group
- David Joyner, President and CEO, CVS Health Group
- David Cordani, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, Cigna Health Group
- Gail Boudreaux, President and CEO, Elevance Health
- Paul Markovich, President and CEO, Ascendiun

“‘This hearing is the first in a series to examine the root causes driving higher health care prices and discuss policies that will lower the cost of care for all Americans,’ they continued.

“The hearings will take place as the House will as soon as Thursday vote on a bill that would extend the expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which has become a focal point of the nation’s healthcare debate.

“Democrats have honed in on these expiring Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs), or enhanced Obamacare credits, that aim to lower the cost of health insurance. However, as Breitbart News has detailed, these enhanced subsidies that were meant to serve as a temporary relief from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are rife with abuse.

“The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that there was rampant waste, fraud, and abuse coming from these premium tax credits. Further, a report from the Paragon Health Institute has explained how the expiring Obamacare premiums minimally impacted total 2026 premiums, which counters a Democrat narrative that the expiration of these credits are responsible for the recent rise in health insurance premiums.

“Democrats first enhanced these subsidies through the pandemic-era stimulus plan, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. The Democrat majority in Congress then extended the credits through the so-called Inflation Reduction Act through the end of 2025, setting the stage for Congress’s current healthcare fight.

“In contrast to the Democrats, Republicans in the House passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All American Act, a bill that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said would lower premiums by 11 percent and save $35.6 billion.

“‘Republicans are committed to making health care more affordable by driving solutions that increase patient choice and competition, root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and put patients back at the center of our health care system,’ the healthcare leaders concluded in their statement.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, Breitbart recently published an article highlighting a GAO report requested by Chairman Brett Guthrie and other House Republican leaders, which exposed significant waste, fraud, and abuse in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans. In Case You Missed It: “House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said a GAO report has revealed the staggering level of fraud that occurs thanks to Obamacare subsidies. “The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the massive levels of fraud that comes with the Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), an Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, subsidy to health insurers to lower the monthly health insurance premiums. “Democrats shut down the government for weeks over the looming end-of-year expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC), a more generous version of the APTC that the left-leaning party boosted through the Biden-era, coronavirus stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan. Democrats continued the subsidies through the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which will expire at the end of 2025. “The GAO, as part of its analysis, conducted covert operations, which included fictitious identities that flood insurers with unjustified subsides. It found that 100 percent of the fake applicants were approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as recently as 2024, with 90 percent of the fraudulent applicants continuing to receive coverage in 2025. “Chairman Guthrie, Jordan, and Smith requested the GAO investigation; they said the GAO study reifies Republicans’ concerns about these Obamacare subsidies. “‘Republicans have consistently prioritized protecting patients and taxpayers by ridding our federal health programs of the waste, fraud, and abuse that ultimately drive up costs for patients,’ Chairman Guthrie in written statement. “He continued, ‘Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today. The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.’ “‘For years, we were told we could keep our plan, keep our doctor, and premiums would go down. None of it happened. This new report confirms what we already knew: under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their healthcare choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. Obamacare was built on lies and broken promises that hurt families and drove up costs,’ Jordan said in a statement to Breitbart News. “‘While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans,’ Smith explained. “Prior research from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and other outside organizations have found that millions may be enrolled in Obamacare improperly, resulting in as much as $27 billion in improper payments. “The GAO report found :   58,000 Social Security numbers that received the APTC matched Social Security Administration death data 7,000 people who had Social Security were dead before coverage began, meaning the applications used Social Security numbers of dead people $94 million in APTC was sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people “GAO noted in its report its had frequently warned that Obamacare subsidies are and have been at risk of fraud. Republicans have been sounding the alarm about Obamacare subsidy fraud. “‘While Obamacare fraud is being confirmed by GAO, CMS, CBO and other outside reports, patients are suffering. They face higher health care costs and denied claims or delayed care when their providers struggle to verify which insurance is valid due to these fraud schemes. Rather than simply rubber stamp more bad spending and failed policies, we must take action to prevent further harm.’ “Meanwhile, Republicans have worked to restore integrity in the American healthcare system. The Big Beautiful Bill stipulates full income and eligibility verification before subsidies are issued, ends ‘anytime’ enrollment abuse that would fuel fraudulent enrollment, and closing loopholes that would allow illegal aliens and other ineligible groups of people to access taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. “Instead of using Obamacare subsidies that fuel health insurers’ profits, President Donald Trump has called to send federal healthcare dollars straight to the American people so they can use their money according to their healthcare needs. “House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) said in a statement: “‘It was Democrats who created this shoddy subsidy program with no financial controls, no income cap, and no guardrails against the most blatant fraud, including the approval of subsidies for thousands of dead people. ... “‘There is absolutely no justification for perpetuating these subsidies or the failed government-controlled Obamacare system Democrats are artificially propping up. Instead, Republicans should continue to implement reforms that lower costs, expand affordable options, and protect American taxpayers.’ “The president wrote : “‘I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over.’ “‘In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare,’ the president added.” ###