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Mar 27, 2024
Press Release

After Uncovering Earliest-Known SARS-CoV-2 Sequence, E&C Republicans Press NIH for Possible Additional GenBank COVID Submissions

Washington, D.C. — This past January, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans revealed the earliest known SARS-CoV-2 sequence released outside of China, calling in to question China’s transparency . In a new letter , Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) have requested National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli provide the files of all SARS-CoV-2 submissions to GenBank prior to January 10, 2020. Any such data would better inform the Committee’s ongoing investigation into the origins of COVID-19. KEY LETTER EXCERPT :  “We were dismayed to learn that the NIH had received eight pages of genetic code and a nearly complete version of the genetic sequence for SARS-CoV-2, almost two weeks before the sequence was made public. However, the NIH apparently had no situational awareness in early January 2020 about this genetic code while high-level officials in our government were attempting to get the sequence, including directly from the Chinese government.  “The circumstances suggest the possibility that there may be other early versions of the SARS CoV-2 sequence that were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI’s) Genbank but were not posted. Since such potential submissions could provide clues about the timing of the pandemic and how SARS CoV-2 was evolving at the beginning of the pandemic, there is a strong public interest to conduct further due diligence to check GenBank for such submissions.”  BACKGROUND :  January 17, 2024 : E&C Investigation Uncovers Earliest Known SARS-CoV-2 Sequence Released Outside of China  September 28, 2023 : E&C Republicans Signal Intent to Issue Subpoenas as Biden Admin Stonewalls Crucial Investigations into Government Health Agency Actions  August 9, 2023 : E&C Presses Unresponsive NIH for Answers about COVID Origins and Risky Research Projects  May 3, 2023 : E&C Republicans Seek Data and Documents from NIH on Early COVID Cases



Mar 27, 2024
Letter

Chairs Rodgers and Duncan Condemn DOE’s New Building Codes That Will Worsen the Housing Affordability Crisis

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm regarding the Department’s recent announcements to push for the adoption of expensive new energy codes. Rather than improve people’s lives and the environment, this latest rush-to-green policy is being implemented by the Biden administration to appease its radical environmental allies and will only increase housing prices and utility bills for millions of American. BACKGROUND: On September 19, 2023, DOE announced a $400 million program to implement new building energy codes.  On December 18, 2023, DOE announced another new $530 million program to implement new building energy codes.  The Biden administration has repeatedly advanced efforts to impose burdensome energy efficiency standards that would raise costs for Americans.  “Zero energy” building codes, which the grants may support, would force buildings to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in favor of more expensive, but less reliable electric options. KEY EXCERPTS: “In the U.S., building codes are predominately and appropriately regulated by State and local jurisdictions – not the Federal government. In recent years, activist environmental groups have begun pressuring international organizations, Federal agencies, States, and local jurisdictions to develop and enforce 'model' building energy codes that mandate expensive, one-sized-fits-all construction requirements and restrict fuel choices, even when it is not technologically feasible or cost-effective for the homeowner or tenant.  “State and local governments should not be forced to adopt international energy codes that set efficiency requirements, ban the use of natural gas, or require expensive electrification retrofits for appliances and electric vehicle charging. We are concerned that the DOE’s building codes grant programs will exacerbate the current housing affordability crisis and limit energy choices for the American people by encouraging the adoption of such one-sized-fits-all building codes that are not appropriate or cost-effective for all income levels and regions of the country.” CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 



Mar 22, 2024
Press Release

E&C Leaders Seek Further Information in Investigation of Maui Wildfires

Washington, D.C. — The House Energy and Commerce Committee is continuing its oversight of the deadly Maui fires that happened in August 2023. In a new letter to Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) have asked for clarification on testimony and documents provided to the Committee. KEY LETTER EXCERPT : “We appreciate your testimony before the Committee on Energy and Commerce at our September 28, 2023, hearing titled, 'Investigating the Role of Electric Infrastructure in the Catastrophic Maui Wildfires' and for your cooperation in supplying additional information in response to our October 13, 2023, additional questions for the hearing record (QFRs). We continue to keep the people of Maui in our thoughts as recovery efforts continue.   “As we continue our investigation, questions persist both about the events on the days the wildfires occurred (August 7 and 8, 2023) and about Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries’ (collectively, HECO) 'Wildfire Mitigation Plan' (WMP). For example, in HECO’s October 27, 2023, response to the Committee’s QFRs, you described the weather updates that HECO received on the dates of the wildfires. However, you also stated that HECO 'did not learn until after the windstorm had passed that the winds had been higher than forecast.'  “Additionally, we continue to have questions about the WMP and the timeline of its creation and development. HECO stated that it began developing the WMP in 2019 and finalized it in 2023. However, the Hawaii Public Utility Commission revealed it had not seen the document prior to the fires and only learned of its existence when HECO referenced it in HECO’s September 19, 2023, response to the Committee’s August 30, 2023, letter requesting more information about HECO’s wildfire mitigation measures.  “As fires involving electrical equipment continue to threaten lives, property, and energy reliability, the Committee has a responsibility to understand how these disasters unfold and how they can be prevented, so we can utilize this knowledge and findings in developing and overseeing the implementation of our national energy infrastructure policies.”  The Chairs have requested a response to their additional questions by April 3, 2024.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter.  TIMELINE OF INVESTIGATION:   August 30, 2023 : E&C Republican Leaders Open Investigation into Hawaiian Electric Following Deadly Maui Fires  September 14, 2023 : Chair Rodgers and Griffith Announce Oversight Hearing on Maui Fires, Invite Utilities and State Energy Officials to Appear  September 28, 2023 : Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight Subcommittee Hosts Hearing on Maui Fires  October 18, 2023 : Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Griffith Presses Maui Officials for Additional Information Following Oversight Hearing on Catastrophic Fires 



Mar 22, 2024
In the News

Chair Rodgers Joins Newsmax to Discuss Forcing TikTok to Divest from the CCP

Today, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Wake Up America on Newsmax to discuss H.R. 7521, the  Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.   The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok.  Highlights and excerpts from the interview: On Why H.R 7521 Passed with Strong Bipartisan Support:   “This is important legislation to protect Americans from the Chinese Communist Party. “TikTok is a tool that is controlled by ByteDance, and ultimately, the Chinese Communist Party. “The legislation is a targeted approach to protect us from these applications that are controlled by foreign adversaries that are collecting massive amounts of data and can ultimately use that as a destructive tool to target American children.   “The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this bill that would force TikTok to make the choice as to whether or not it wants to remain controlled by ByteDance, and ultimately the Chinese Communist Party, or if there would be a sale of TikTok. “The legislation is based upon national security concerns and the House took action.” On the National Security Threats Posed by TikTok: “The day that the Energy and Commerce Committee voted [on the bill], that morning TikTok blocked its users […] from even getting onto the app until they called their Member of Congress. “We all were flooded by calls from individuals, some [from] kids who didn’t even know what Congress is, and they didn’t understand what was going on. “This is just a small taste of what TikTok is capable of doing. “TikTok is collecting massive amounts of data on Americans. [There are] 177 million users. They are collecting location data, your contacts, your search history. We know that this is how the CCP operates in China. They collect data and they surveil ultimately to control their citizens. “We cannot trust China to protect American user data or to uphold American values, like freedom. And that is why so many Members in the House, 352 Republicans and Democrats, believe that we must take action. “It really is critical that we take action to protect America, to protect American users, and our children from TikTok and other apps that are controlled by foreign adversaries.” On the Necessity for the Senate to Act: “I believe that the Senate needs to act. The overwhelming vote in the House sent a very strong message to the Senate. “I know that the Senate received a classified briefing and Senator Mark Warner and Senator Marco Rubio have come out in support of this legislation. Other Senators are also coming on board, believing that we must take action.”



Mar 22, 2024
On the House Floor

Chair Rodgers on the Floor: America’s Energy Legacy is Under Threat

Vote YES on H.R. 1023 to Repeal the EPA’s Green Slush Fund and the Harmful Natural Gas Tax Washington D.C. —   House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act . The bill, led by Energy and Commerce Republican Gary Palmer (R-AL), will repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) $27 billion green bank slush fund and stop it from imposing a tax on natural gas. Chair Rodgers prepared remarks: “I rise in support of H.R. 1023, the ‘Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act.’ “I want to thank the bill sponsor, Mr. Gary Palmer of Alabama, and the Members of the Energy and Commerce. “The U.S. has been blessed with tremendous natural resources, which we’ve been able to harness as a result of free market principles and an entrepreneurial spirit that’s uniquely American. “We’ve harnessed the power of nuclear energy, electrified millions of rural American’s homes with clean hydropower, and ushered in the Shale Revolution—which continues to create millions of new jobs, bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and revitalize communities across the country. “As a result, America is more energy secure today than ever before. “This legacy is under threat. Since day one, President Biden has been taking steps to shut down American energy. “On his first day in office he ended the Keystone XL Pipeline. “He’s actively taking steps to ban gas stoves and liquefied natural gas exports, tear down hydropower dams, force electric vehicle mandates on Americans, and impose a tax on natural gas. “His so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ provided the EPA with tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to launder to extreme, liberal special interest allies—who will ultimately make us more reliant on China by forcing Americans to rely on cheap Chinese batteries and solar panels manufactured with slave labor and the worst environmental standards on the planet. “H.R. 1023 is an important step towards ending the President’s radical rush to green agenda. “It repeals the EPA’s $27 billion-dollar Green Bank slush fund, and it’s recently proposed natural gas tax. “The EPA doesn’t want Congress or the American public to know how their taxpayer dollars are spent, so they give it to radical environmentalists to spend in secret. “This legislation will also repeal the EPA’s recent proposed natural gas tax. “This tax drives up costs on everything from our grocery bills to our energy bills. “It will force good-paying American jobs overseas and make us more dependent on foreign energy sources. “I strongly support H.R. 1023, the ‘Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act,’ which promotes American energy leadership and security—something that’s vital to building on our legacy of improving lives, helping to lift people out of poverty, and raising the standard of living across the country and the world. “I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in voting YES on this important bill.”



Mar 22, 2024

E&C Republicans Lead Passage of Bill to Repeal the EPA’s Green Slush Fund and Harmful Natural Gas Tax

Today the House passed H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act , to repeal the EPA’s green slush fund and harmful natural gas tax. The legislation, led by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), will reduce the budget deficit, protect against government corruption, and stop China from receiving American taxpayer dollars. The bill passed the House by a vote of 209 to 204.  As Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said , “I strongly support H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act, which promotes American energy leadership and security—something that’s vital to building on our legacy of improving lives, helping to lift people out of poverty, and raising the standard of living across the country and the world.”  Rep. Palmer added , “Energy security is national security. Sadly, the Biden administration’s attacks on American energy make us more dependent on Russia, China, and other foreign adversaries. Passing H.R. 1023 will be a major step toward undoing their misguided policies.” 



Mar 21, 2024
Press Release

E&C Launches Bipartisan Oversight Inquiry into Organ Transplant Contractor and Implementation of Bipartisan Reforms

Committee seeks to save lives and ensure proper implementation of new bipartisan law Washington, D.C. — Bipartisan leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee launched an investigation into United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the sole contractor responsible for operating the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). The Leaders are also seeking information from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regarding ongoing reforms. The effort seeks to examine issues with OPTN’s prior operation and ensure proper implementation of the bipartisan Securing the U.S. Procurement and Transplantation Network Act , which was passed unanimously by the Committee and by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on September 22, 2023. The inquiry is led by Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ); Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA); and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Ranking Member Kathy Castor (D-FL). The Committee Leaders wrote to HRSA requesting information on how its OPTN contract solicitation plan will support fair and competitive practices during the contracting process, promote data transparency and patient safety, and ensure system security and operability. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “ Errors and inefficiencies in OPTN management can have deadly consequences . A HRSA-funded study found that, while Americans die each day waiting for organ transplants, as few as one in five potential donor organs have been recovered. The Committee wants to ensure HRSA’s ability to manage the successful implementation of the OPTN Modernization Initiative to improve accountability and effectiveness of the system that does not currently meet the needs of patients .” The Committee leaders also sent questions to UNOS Chief Executive Officer Maureen McBride regarding UNOS’s system security and operability, issues with patient safety and equity, and conflict-of-interest concerns. KEY LETTER EXCERPT : “A 2021 report, by the United States Digital Service titled 'Lives Are at Stake' found myriad problems with UNOS technology, concluding that ‘[t]he OPTN contractor lacks sufficient technical capabilities to modernize their systems,’ ‘[t]he core systems are fragile,’ and the system uptime is ‘insufficient’ for a life-saving system that depends on consistent operation. “An August 2022 report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) OIG found multiple, basic cybersecurity failures by UNOS. The OIG report noted that UNOS’s policies and procedures for access controls, risk assessment, and system monitoring ‘were either in draft or did not exist.’ Given the highly sensitive nature of the personal patient data UNOS keeps, it is vital that strong and enforceable security measures are required and consistently met under any OPTN management contracts. “ UNOS has been the sole organization managing the OPTN, during which time concerning reports have emerged that the organ donation system has become unsafe , inequitable , self-dealing , and retaliatory . The Committee supports HRSA’s proposed reforms to make the contracting process truly competitive to help ensure patients are served by the best contractors for each function.” BACKGROUND : The OPTN is a unique public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system.  Since its inception, the OPTN contract has only been awarded to a single contractor—UNOS.  To address concerns with the donation and transplantation system, Congress passed legislation led by Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), which was signed into law in 2023, to modernize OPTN and allow HRSA to run a competitive process to choose the best contractors for different national OPTN functions.  Additionally, HRSA has also announced a Modernization Initiative to improve accountability and effectiveness of the system in order to better meet the needs of patients.  Alarm over ignored patient safety concerns suggests that both HRSA and UNOS systematically downplayed or ignored critical patient safety concerns, risking lives and undermining trust in the national organ transplantation system.



Mar 21, 2024
Press Release

Rodgers and Barrasso: International Energy Agency has Abandoned its Energy Security Mission

Washington D.C. — Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter to Dr. Fatih Birol, Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), urging him to return the agency to its core mission of promoting energy security. “[I]n recent years the IEA has been undermining energy security by discouraging sufficient investment in energy supplies... Moreover, its energy modeling no longer provides policymakers with balanced assessments of energy and climate proposals. Instead, it has become an ‘energy transition’ cheerleader,” the lawmakers wrote. “It should disturb you that biased parties are exploiting the IEA’s forecasts and other products to advocate for policies that undermine energy security. Last month, your former deputy at IEA, David Turk, now Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, justified President Biden’s decision to “pause” the permitting process for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the basis of IEA forecasts rather than the forecasts of the Department’s own Energy Information Administration (EIA). We find Deputy Secretary Turk’s decision to rely largely on IEA’s outlier forecasts—instead of EIA’s forecasts—when discussing world demand for natural gas to be deeply troubling. President Biden’s decision to stop approving LNG export permits could have devastating consequences on the future supply of U.S. LNG to developing countries who will experience decades of robust growth in natural gas demand. That is why people across the American political spectrum have condemned the President’s decision as reckless,” the lawmakers continue. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.



Mar 21, 2024
Hearings

Chair Rodgers Opening Remarks on the Regulation of Diagnostic Tests

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing on the FDA’s proposed rule that would threaten access to reliable diagnostic tests, especially for children and patients with rare diseases. FDA STIFLING INNOVATION “Today this committee will continue our work to ensure America remains the world leader in biomedical innovation. “We have previously heard testimony on many examples of regulatory and reimbursement challenges that are stifling innovation and delaying patient access to care. “Unfortunately, the FDA is doubling down on this troubling pattern by failing to account for the important role laboratory testing plays in this country. “Patients, doctors, and caretakers rely on diagnostic tests to detect, guide treatment decisions, and monitor a host of medical conditions and diseases. “Some of these tests are made in the form of kits by conventional manufacturers for use by other entities, such as laboratories, health care practitioners, or even patients. “Other tests, known as laboratory developed tests, or ‘LDTs,’ are designed, manufactured, and used within a single laboratory. “While conventional manufacturers certainly serve an important role, LDTs fill in the gaps for indications that have a smaller patient population—such as rare diseases, particularly cancers, and certain pediatric conditions—where large-scale commercial manufacturing and distribution do not make sense.” FDA’s BURDENSOME NEW RULE  “Instead of capitalizing on advancements in precision medicine and exciting genetic technologies to help patients, the FDA has proposed dramatically increasing the regulatory burden on a subset of diagnostic tests, specifically LDTs. “These regulations extend far beyond any of the legislative proposals that Congress has considered. “Under the proposed rule, laboratories will incur significant costs to come into compliance. “New administrative and clerical burdens, along with oppressive submission fees, will be a substantial drain on a lab’s limited resources.  “Take, for example, a lab that offers 1,000 laboratory developed tests. “By the FDA’s estimate, 50 percent of existing LDTs will require premarket submissions. “That alone translates to hundreds of millions of dollars—not even accounting for ongoing changes and maintenance. “Moreover, for a phaseout period over four years, this lab will need to submit 250 tests a year, or one per working day—something that’s likely impossible for the lab to do and for FDA to review in a timely manner. “According to a recent survey of over 500 clinical laboratory respondents, only 3 percent of labs believe that they will have the financial resources to pay user fees.   “For the overwhelming number of labs without the financial resources, they will have to stop performing tests, severely limiting access for some of our most vulnerable patient populations.    “In its Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis, the FDA estimates there are 80,000 LDTs currently on the market and nearly 8,000 new LDTs per year that would be affected by the rule. “By comparison, the agency approved a little over 3,000 premarket submissions in 2022.” FEWER DIAGNOSES, HIGHER COSTS “As currently written, the rule would take the FDA years to simply review the tests that already exist on the market. But what does this all really mean? “Given that the FDA is already struggling to keep up with innovation in what it currently regulates, this undertaking would mean fewer diagnoses, higher costs, and delays in care for patients who can’t afford to wait for the FDA to approve a test they need to finally figure out what is wrong and the path to getting well. “Their lives depend on it. “I know Members of this committee hold a variety of positions on the need for regulating LDTs and the manner in which Congress might do so. “I would hope that we all agree this rule is the wrong path forward.  “I look forward to hearing more from our witnesses about legislative alternatives to this stifling administrative action.”