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Markups Updates


Mar 25, 2026
Markups

E&C Advances Two Bills to Reauthorize FirstNet and Modernize the Emergency Alert System

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led by Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), reported two bills to the full House of Representatives. “Many of us have seen natural disasters up close and personal in our districts, and our constituents deserve the best version of the infrastructure and alert systems we are considering today,”   said Chairman Guthrie.  “On so many issues, the Energy and Commerce Committee is the place where we are able to work in a bipartisan way and advance strong, commonsense legislation.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 7386 ,  The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 51 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7022 ,  Mystic Alerts Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 52 yeas – 0 nays. Watch the full markup  here . Below are key excerpts from today’s markup: Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09) on H.R. 7386, The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act:  “We heard directly from NTIA's public testimony that they rely on the board to provide crucial expertise and direction on the needs of public safety. This legislation preserves that existing relationship and goes even further to strengthen public safety's voice by requiring two additional seats on the board to be dedicated to public safety. I firmly believe this legislation will pave the way for a stronger and more resilient First Responder Network Authority.” Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) on H.R. 7386, The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act: “ FirstNet is not just a network. It is the backbone of public safety communications in this country. When Congress first established the First Responder Network, the objective was clear – build a preemptive network for first responders that they could rely on. These brave men and women, the ones who step forward while others step back, who risk their lives to protect our communities, deserve nothing less than a resilient communication system.” Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) on H.R. 7022, Mystic Alerts Act:  “Many of you know this is a personal issue for me. After the July 4th flooding that swept through central Texas, including the all-girls Camp Mystic, where two of my daughters were attending, I knew that Congress had to act and had to act quickly to improve the redundancy and the reliability in the wireless emergency alert system, to ensure that alerts reach families and first responders even in the most challenging circumstances. H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act is the result of these efforts, and this legislation ensures that during natural disasters wireless emergency alerts can still be delivered via satellite.”



Mar 25, 2026
Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Delivers Opening Statement at Full Committee Markup to Reauthorize FirstNet and Modernize the Emergency Alert System

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of two bills. Chairman Guthrie’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Thank you all for being here today as we prepare to consider two bills that would strengthen our ever-important public safety communications infrastructure. “Many of us have seen natural disasters up close and personal in our districts, and our constituents deserve the best version of the infrastructure and alert systems we are considering today. “In moments of crisis, every American must be able to trust that our networks are strong and reliable. FirstNet is a central part of that mission, and why I am looking forward to advancing the bipartisan First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act today. “That’s why it's so important that we remove the legislative ambiguity currently plaguing the program, while preserving the importance of the FirstNet Board and the voices of first responders. “Since our hearing and markup in the beginning of February, we have worked tirelessly with first responders and public safety officials to incorporate wide-ranging edits and technical assistance to make this bill as strong as possible. “We have run a very open process, and we truly appreciate their efforts to engage with us and find common ground wherever possible in this reauthorization. “I would also like to thank the sponsors of this bill, Representatives Dunn and McClellan, for their leadership and commitment to improving accountability, reliability, and transparency in the FirstNet program. “Our markup today also includes the Mystic Alert Act, led by Representative Pfluger, which will facilitate the use of satellite alerts to quickly convey information about potential threats in areas where traditional cell service may not be available. “We had multiple members of this Committee, including my friend from Texas Mr. Pfluger, who experienced first-hand the horrific events last summer. That’s why I’m glad we’ve been able to advance this bill today. “On so many issues, the Energy and Commerce Committee is the place where we are able to work in a bipartisan way and advance strong, commonsense legislation. So, I’ll close by thanking Ranking Member Pallone and his staff for working closely with us to advance these joint priorities.”



Mar 23, 2026
Markups

Chairman Guthrie Announces Full Committee Markup of Two Bills to Reauthorize FirstNet and Modernize Emergency Alert System

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Full Committee markup of two bills to reauthorize FirstNet and modernize the emergency alert system. WHAT : Full Committee markup of two bills. DATE: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 7386 , The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act (Reps. Dunn and McClellan) H.R. 7022 , Mystic Alerts Act (Reps. Pfluger and Fletcher) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matt VanHyfte at Matt.VanHyfte@mail.house.gov . ###



Mar 23, 2026
Press Release

Energy and Commerce Weekly Look Ahead: The Week of March 23rd, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding two Subcommittee Hearings and one Full Committee Markup. Read more below.  FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP: The Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a markup of two bills to reauthorize FirstNet and modernize the emergency alert system.  DATE:  Wednesday, March 25, 2026   TIME:  10:15 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is holding a hearing to review the 1996 Telecom Act.   DATE:  Thursday, March 26, 2026   TIME:  10:15 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is holding a hearing on how the Committee is cracking down on illicit drug threats in order to protect Americans families and keep communities safe.  DATE:  Thursday, March 26, 2026  TIME:  2:00 PM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  ###



Mar 5, 2026
Markups

Full Committee Markup Recap: E&C Advances Eight Bills to the Full House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led by Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), reported eight pieces of legislation to the full House of Representatives. “As people, as a Committee, and as a Congress, there are few things that are more essential than our responsibility to protect our nation’s children,” said Chairman Guthrie. “We are taking the meaningful steps forward to empower parents and protect children and teens online. We owe it to parents. We owe it to communities. And most importantly, we owe it to the kids who are counting on us to get this right.” “Empowering parents to better protect their children—especially amid the near-constant barrage of digital threats—remains one of our most solemn and important responsibilities,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Today, we took meaningful action to advance that mission by moving forward several key measures, including the Kids Online Safety Act, designed to strengthen safeguards and increase transparency in the online space. I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that children can safely navigate the digital world, while holding technology companies accountable for the platforms they operate. Protecting our kids must always come before protecting corporate profits.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 7757 , Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 24 nays. H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 36 yeas – 16 nays. H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act was reported to the full House as emended by a roll call vote of 26 yeas – 23 nays. H.R. 7258 , Energy Emergency Leadership Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 50 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7266 , Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 49 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7257 , Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 47 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7272 , Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 48 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7305 , Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 47 yeas – 0 nays. Watch the full markup here . Below are key excerpts from today’s markup: Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) on H.R. 2657, Sammy’s Law: “This is absolutely necessary because the harms that our children are confronting on social media are severe, and our children simply do not yet have the development skills to protect themselves alone. If this bill helps even one family avoid what happened to Sammy Chapman, then it will be worth it. As the proud grandfather of eight beautiful grandkids, I want to know that their parents and all other parents across the country have the best safety tools possible when protecting their innocent loved ones. What happened to Sammy is a travesty that no parent should experience, and we can prevent it today by passing this bill.” Congressman John James (MI-10) on H.R. 3149, the App Store Accountability Act:  “The App Store Accountability Act holds big tech companies to the same standard as local corner stores. It protects the next generation by empowering parents and making clear that when it comes to safeguarding children, no one gets a free pass. How many studies, how many congressional hearings do we need to know the status quo is broken? How many heartbreaking stories do we need to hear from parents? So many of us on this committee are parents ourselves. We see with our own eyes the threat that Big Tech poses to children every single day. Our nation's children deserve better, and we will act.” Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) on H.R. 6489, the SAFE BOTs Act: “We're in the middle of a chatbot revolution. Children are on the front lines. Kids today aren't just scrolling feeds, they're forming emotional bonds with AI companions that simulate empathy, mimic authority figures, and are available at any hour. And in too many cases, those kids don't even know they're talking to software. We saw a tragic illustration of this when a 14-year-old lost his life after months of conversations with a chatbot that validated his most troubling thoughts, rather than routing him to real help, that can't be the norm. The SAFE BOTs Act creates common sense, baseline guardrails. It prohibits AI from impersonating licensed professionals. It requires age-appropriate disclosure, so minors always know they're talking to an AI, not a human. It mandates that platforms provide a crisis hotline when a minor raises self-harm or suicide, it requires reasonable take-a-break prompts after extended interactions, and directs the NIH to study long-term mental health effects of chatbots on minors.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) on H.R. 7305, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026: “The Energy Threat Analysis Center plays an essential role in safeguarding critical infrastructure that ensures economic growth and national security. It brings together the Department of Energy, national labs, and private sector utilities, and provides early threat detection and coordinated analysis of threats to our energy generation and transmission networks. Colorado's own National Lab of the Rockies, hosts ITAC and is leading the way in this vital work, which protects our infrastructure's reliability, security, and ultimately, affordability. We know that terrorism and sophisticated cyber threats are on the rise, and this mission is not abstract, it's urgent. I'm especially proud this bill passed the subcommittee unanimously, which is a clear sign that protecting our nation's energy systems is a shared priority.”



Mar 5, 2026
Markups

Chairman Guthrie Delivers Opening Statement at Full Committee Markup to Protect Kids Online and Secure Our Energy Grid

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of nine bills. Chairman Guthrie’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “As people, as a Committee, and as a Congress, there are few things that are more essential than our responsibility to protect our nation’s children. Today, the harms kids face online are complex, immense, and constantly changing. “In August of 2025, the Ranking Member and I sat down and made a commitment to try to deliver a bipartisan package to empower parents and protect children and teens online. We both recognized the gravity of the issue. We both recognized that parents across this country are asking for action. “Since that time, bipartisan committee staff have spent more than 40 hours directly negotiating these bills and countless more working with members on this committee, stakeholders, and each other to build consensus. Dozens of hours of negotiation. Drafts. Redlines. Counterproposals. Serious engagement. Good-faith efforts. “I am disappointed that, despite that work, we were ultimately unable to reach a bipartisan agreement. This committee has a long history of working across the aisle on issues affecting children and families. In the past, we have shown that when the stakes are high enough, we can put politics aside and work together. “That is why it is unfortunate that the slate of bills before us today is not bipartisan. But at the end of the day, as Members of Congress, our responsibility is to our constituents, especially our children. “Across the country, children are being targeted, groomed, harassed, and exploited online. Algorithms amplify addictive, harmful content. Predators exploit anonymity. And parents are left trying to navigate a digital world that evolves faster than the safeguards they have at their disposal. “Every month we delay, more families experience the kind of devastation that no parent should ever endure. “We worked hard to try to make these bills bipartisan. We meant it when we said we wanted to get there. But the absence of bipartisan consensus cannot be an excuse for inaction. We hoped to do this with our Democrat colleagues. But if we cannot do it together, we still must take steps forward. “The time is now. “We are taking the meaningful steps forward to empower parents and protect children and teens online. We owe it to parents. We owe it to communities. And most importantly, we owe it to the kids who are counting on us to get this right. “Today, we also will mark up five bills from the Energy Subcommittee, which will help ensure the physical and cyber security of one of America’s greatest forms of infrastructure – our electric grid. “As more and more of our lives become digital, the physical and cyber security threats to our grid grow in frequency and impact, particularly from adverse nation states. “These bipartisan cybersecurity bills will help combat those threats by strengthening DOE’s leadership when it comes to securing the energy sector, providing targeted funding and technical assistance to rural and municipal utilities, and authorizing public-private partnerships on grid security that enhance information sharing. “I appreciate the willingness of Ranking Members Pallone and Castor to work with us on these important bills and look forward to moving them forward. “Thank you and I now yield to the Ranking Member of the Full Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey.” ###



Mar 4, 2026
Energy

Energy and Commerce Weekly Look Ahead: The Week of March 2nd, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding two Subcommittee Hearings and one Full Committee Markup. Read more below.  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing to discuss legislation to reauthorize the PHMSA pipeline safety program.  DATE:  Wednesday, March 4, 2026   TIME:  10:15 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing to examine legislative proposals supporting the remediation and redevelopment of America’s Brownfields Sites.   DATE:  Wednesday, March 4, 2026  TIME:  2:00 PM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP:  The Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a markup of nine bills.   DATE:  Thursday, March 5, 2026  TIME:  10:00 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building   ###



Mar 3, 2026
Markups

Chairman Guthrie Announces Full Committee Markup of Nine Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Full Committee markup of nine bills. WHAT : Full Committee Markup DATE: Thursday, March 5, 2026 TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 7757 , Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act (Rep. Guthrie)    H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter-GA)  H.R. 6291 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg and Lee-FL)  H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act (Rep. James)  H.R. 7258 , Energy Emergency Leadership Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Landsman)  H.R. 7266 , Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (Reps. Miller-Meeks and McClellan)  H.R. 7257 , Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act (Reps. Latta and Matsui)  H.R. 7272 , Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (Reps. Weber and Dingell)  H.R. 7305 , Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 (Reps. Castor and Evans) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at  energycommerce.house.gov .  If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Donlon with the Committee staff at Jessica.Donlon@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matt VanHyfte at Matt.VanHyfte@mail.house.gov .



Chairman Hudson Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Markup of a Bill to Reauthorize FirstNet

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of a bill to reauthorize FirstNet.

Subcommittee Chairman Hudson’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee markup on the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act. I’m excited about our progress and taking this next step towards reauthorizing this important program.

“Last week we heard from a great panel of witnesses who shared their expertise and experience with FirstNet and provided input on how this legislation would improve the network and ensure it operates in the best interest of public safety.

“We heard directly from NTIA that not only is the FirstNet Board protected in statute, but they have no intention of dismantling or casting aside the FirstNet Board. It’s actually quite the opposite. NTIA relies on the Board to provide crucial expertise and direction on the needs of public safety. This legislation not only keeps the Board, but strengthens public safety’s voice by requiring 2 additional seats on the Board be dedicated to public safety.

“I want to note this vote today does not signify we’re done working on this legislation. We are continuing to gather feedback from public safety groups and stakeholders about certain provisions in this legislation, and we have a lot of work in the coming weeks to ensure that this bill is the best possible version it can be before it reaches the House floor.

“Reliable communications are absolutely essential for our first responders in emergencies. While a lot has been done to stand up this first-of-its-kind public safety communications network, there is more work to do to ensure the promise of FirstNet is fulfilled. In my home state of North Carolina, first responders have shared their frustrations about FirstNet not working during Hurricane Helene. The reforms included in the legislation before us today are intended to ensure that FirstNet delivers a reliable, interoperable communications network to our first responders and the FirstNet Authority acts in the best interests of the public safety community it serves.

“I want to thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to this issue and for their work developing this proposal. I look forward to reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority.”