Rep. Gus Bilirakis

R

Florida – District 12
representative

Leadership

Republican Leader Consumer Protection and Commerce

117th Congress

Chairman Innovation, Data, and Commerce

118th Congress

News & Announcements

Apr 30, 2024
Press Release

Chair Bilirakis Opening Remarks at Legislative Hearing on AM Radio

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee legislative hearing titled “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio." ACCESS TO AM RADIO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS   “Every one of us here, both the witnesses and Members on this dais, should agree there is a distinct importance of having a robust and widely accessible communications infrastructure to alert Americans and ensure public safety in the event of emergencies and natural disasters.  “Our citizens should have quick access to critical information, which helps them make timely and potentially lifesaving decisions to evacuate, stay in place, seek shelter, or contact first responders.  “The Emergency Alert System plays a crucial role in this infrastructure, as it can be used across our nation to disseminate this important emergency information.  “I’ve long been a champion for improving these public alerts to ensure they reach everyone, as I was the sponsor of the Integrated Public Alert Warning System Modernization Act, which was enacted into law and authorized an update to these systems to incorporate multiple communications technologies both presently and in the future. “The system’s requirements also meant alerts needed to go to the largest portion of affected population feasible, including those with access and functional needs, individuals with disabilities, and those in rural and remote areas. States like Florida rely on this system during hurricanes to alert people to dangers related to such powerful storms. RELIABLE WAY TO ACCESS DIVERSE VOICES “I believe this is where AM Radio can become so important and will continue to be into the future. “According to Nielsen Media Research, radio broadcasting still has the highest reach of any medium, capable of reaching 91% of American adults, with most of the listening taking place outside of the home. “We know that AM radio signals can cover a larger geographic area, especially when other networks fail. “Furthermore, people in my district and elsewhere in the most diverse of settings enjoy the differing viewpoints and local perspectives that AM Radio offers. “I know in my district in Citrus and Hernando Counties in Florida, I hear from constituents on a regular basis how much they enjoy listening to local news on AM Radio, as well as particularly the conservative and Christian radio stations that are in the Tampa Bay area. “So, when we heard that reports that certain automobile manufacturers were exploring the idea of getting rid of this option for American consumers, many here in Congress (including myself) expressed concerns – I believe we should maintain as many available options for Americans as possible. PRESERVING AM RADIO FOR AMERICANS “This is why we are here to discuss the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. “This legislation will require the Department of Transportation to work with the FCC to issue a nationwide standard to ensure that new vehicles have access to AM Radio stations. Now, generally speaking, I do have concerns about broad government mandates, and I hope we can have a robust and constructive discussion from each of our witnesses to ensure that we get this right, and that we are not inadvertently hampering innovation both now and in the future. “We must also ensure we don’t cause undue cost burdens onto our constituents. “Nevertheless, Americans deserve to have the highest number of options for how they receive information in their homes and in their cars.” 

Apr 23, 2024
Press Release

Chairs Rodgers and Guthrie Announce Subcommittee Hearing on Legislation to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today announced a legislative hearing titled "Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity." “Medicaid is indispensable to millions of Americans, particularly those with disabilities who rely on long-term services and supports. It’s critical that we work to bolster access to those services while also improving the integrity of the program to ensure that states can continue to offer care for years to come,” said Chairs Rodgers and Guthrie. “We thank the Members who have led on these proposals—many of which are bipartisan—and look forward to hearing from Deputy Administrator Tsai on how we can strengthen Medicaid for those it was designed to assist.” Subcommittee on Health hearing titled "Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity.”  WHAT : A hearing to discuss legislative proposals that will strengthen the Medicaid program for individuals most in need.    DATE : Tuesday, April 30, 2024      TIME : 10:00 AM ET  LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building      WITNESS :   Daniel Tsai, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)   LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO BE DISCUSSED :  H.R. 124 , Byron Nash Renal Medullary Carcinoma Awareness of 2023 (Rep. Green)  H.R. 468 , Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act (Reps. Guthrie and Dean)  H.R. 670 , Think Differently Database Act (Reps. Molinaro and Sherrill)  H.R. 3227 , Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (Reps. Estes and Connolly)  H.R. 7513 , Protecting America’s Seniors Access to Care Act (Reps. Fischbach and Pence)  H.R. 7573 , Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act (Rep. Schakowsky)  H.R. 8084 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to verify certain eligibility criteria for individuals enrolled for medical assistance quarterly, and for other purposes (Reps. Bilirakis and Craig)  H.R. 8089 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (Reps. Garcia and Peters)  H.R. 8094 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to modify certain asset recovery rules (Rep. Kean)  H.R. 8106 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the requirement that an individual need an institutional level of care in order to qualify for home and community-based services under a Medicaid waiver (Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Pallone)  H.R. 8107 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove certain age restrictions on Medicaid eligibility for working adults with disabilities (Reps. Ciscomani and Gluesenkamp Perez)  H.R. 8108 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require medical assistance under the Medicaid program for certain home and community-based services for military families (Reps. Kiggans and Kaptur)  H.R. 8109 , To amend the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to make permanent the Money Follows the Person rebalancing demonstration (Reps. Dingell and Balderson)  H.R. 8110 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to make permanent the State option to extend protection against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services under Medicaid (Reps. Dingell and James)   H.R. 8111 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure the reliability of address information provided under the Medicaid program (Reps. Miller-Meeks and Cartwright)  H.R. 8112 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program (Rep. D’Esposito)  H.R. 8113 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require reporting on certain directed payments under the Medicaid program (Rep. Griffith)    H.R. 8114 , To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing a rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to place certain limitations on Medicaid payments for home and community-based services (Rep. Cammack)  H.R. 8115 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow for the deferral or disallowance of portions of payments for certain managed care violations under Medicaid (Rep. Sarbanes)  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Emma Schultheis with the Committee staff at Emma.Schultheis@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov . 

Apr 17, 2024
Press Release

Subcommittee Chair Bilirakis Opening Remarks on Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee  hearing  titled “Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights.” "First, I want to welcome our new Subcommittee members, Representatives Obernolte and James. With business acumen and technical expertise, these esteemed members will bring new ideas to the Subcommittee. I’m looking forward to working with you both. "During the 118th Congress, our Subcommittee held multiple hearings to examine the need for a federal data privacy and security law.   "Those hearings illustrated the need to provide certainty for Americans to know their rights online, and for businesses to know their obligations on a consistent basis throughout the country.  "It will also help cement America’s global leadership and ensure we remain competitive in this evolving landscape." HISTORIC LEGISLATION "This bipartisan work has culminated with this discussion draft, the American Privacy Rights Act, which is a comprehensive privacy and data security standard. "This bipartisan, bicameral bill gives Americans the right to control their personal information, including how and where itis being used, collected, and stored.  "This legislation establishes one national standard. It preempts the patchwork of state laws so when consumers and businesses cross state lines there are consistent rights, protections, and obligations.  "The discussion draft creates requirements for companies contributing to the data ecosystem while protecting small businesses trying to provide for their customers. "The bill also directs strong data security standards that minimize and protect against data being used by bad actors, and provides Americans notice if their data is being transferred to a foreign adversary, like China, and allows consumers the choice to opt-out." ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS "We are also discussing proposals that require age verification for certain websites and social media companies, streamline terms of service labeling, and allow third party software providers to make social networks safer.  "There are also two bills that received significant attention in the Senate: Rep. Walberg’s Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0, and my bill the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA. "I am proud to collaborate on these kids’ privacy and online safety measures with our Subcommittee Vice-Chair Rep. Walberg, and I thank him for his longstanding leadership in this space. "I’m also grateful to work with my fellow Floridian and colleague, Rep. Castor, on a bipartisan basis on these bills. I’m looking forward to continuing to work towards passage of these critical safety measures.  "We know that Big Tech has failed to prioritize the health and safety of our children online, resulting in a significant increase in mental health conditions, suicide, and drug overdose deaths. "It is time for Big Tech to be held accountable for facilitating this activity and manipulating our kids to keep them addicted to their screens for longer than ever before. "I am glad to have Ava Smithing from the Young People’s Alliance here to share her personal story about the harms she experienced as a young woman related to social media. Ava, thank you for being here.  "I’m also looking forward to hearing from Kara Frederick, who can share her experience as a team lead for Facebook. She understands how these companies operate and how to curtail the harms of their products.  "In closing, I want to thank the witnesses for their testimony, and I want to thank Chair Rodgers for her historic bipartisan proposal. Let’s get this done together for the sake of all Americans, and especially our kids."

Letters

Apr 9, 2024
Press Release

Rodgers, Capito, and Wicker Lead Amicus Brief Challenging EPA’s Overreaching So-Called ‘Good Neighbor’ Rule

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) led 26 of their colleagues in filing a bicameral amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit in support of state and industry challengers to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) so-called “Good Neighbor” air rule that targets American power production and burdens states with misguided air regulations. “Acting well beyond its delegated powers under the [Clean Air Act], EPA’s Rule proposes to remake the energy sector in the affected states toward the Agency’s preferred ends. The Rule is part of the broader joint EPA-White House Strategy that oversteps the Agency’s authority by concurrently developing regulations under three separate environmental statutes. It does so not to meet any of the statutes’ individual ends but to transform the power sector. "The group of regulations—including the Rule—are designed to hurriedly rid the U.S. power sector of fossil fuels by sharply increasing the operating costs for fossil fuel-fired power plant operators, forcing the plants’ premature retirement,” the brief reads in part. BACKGROUND: The so-called “Good Neighbor” rule imposes overreaching emissions requirements on power plants, natural gas pipeline assets, and industrial plants, like steel, cement, and paper production facilities in 23 states. Other federal courts have already frozen implementation of the rule in 12 states. Despite active Supreme Court proceedings that may halt implementation of the rule nationwide, the EPA has remained committed to the illegal rule and recently proposed to add five more states to the program.  In June 2023 , Capito joined Wicker in introducing a formal challenge to the rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.  In June 2023, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) also introduced H.J.Res. 69, a formal challenge to the rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.  In June 2022 , Ranking Member Capito sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan outlining serious concerns with the proposed “Good Neighbor Plan.”  Ranking Member Capito has criticized the EPA’s proposed “Good Neighbor Plan” during EPW hearings in March 2023 , July 2022 , and May 2022 , and in an op-ed .  In November 2023 , Chairs Rodgers, Duncan, and Johnson sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission expressing concerns with the impact of EPA’s suite of rules, including the “Good Neighbor” Rule (or Interstate Transport Rule), on the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. In addition to Capito and Wicker, senators who signed on to brief include, John Barrasso, (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and John Thune (R-SD). In addition to Rodgers, House members who signed on to the brief include, Rick Allen (R-GA), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Richard Hudson (R-NC), John James (R-MI), John Joyce (R-PA), Bob Latta (R-OH), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Greg Pence (R-IN), August Pfluger (R-TX), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Randy Weber (R-TX).  Full text of the brief is available here .

Feb 5, 2024
Letter

More than 150 House Republicans Demand Biden End His De Facto Ban on American LNG Exports

Washington, D.C. — More than 150 Republicans, led by Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), sent a letter to President Biden lambasting him for his de facto ban on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a decision that jeopardizes the stability and affordability of natural gas domestically, hurts the American economy and jobs, undercuts our allies, and strengthens our adversaries. AS FIRST REPORTED BY FOX NEWS: More than 150 House Republicans are calling for President Biden to reverse his moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects, an action they argued negatively impacts the energy security of the U.S. and its allies.   The Republican lawmakers — led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and joined by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. — penned a letter to Biden on Sunday evening, demanding his administration "expeditiously approve all pending applications to increase the global supply of natural gas."   KEY LETTER QUOTE: We write regarding the announcement that the Department of Energy (DOE) will stop issuing indefinitely permits to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) while your administration conducts an additional “public interest” review, including environmental, economic, and environmental justice criteria. This is economically and strategically dangerous and unnecessary. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, DOE has consistently found that U.S. LNG exports serve the “public interest” because they contribute positive economic benefits and strengthen energy security for the American people, and also have the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. BACKGROUND: On January 26, President Biden froze the approval process for new U.S. LNG export sites, prioritizing the wishes of radical activists over U.S. energy security and the security of our allies. Studies show that LNG exports could add upwards of $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, create upwards of 453,000 American jobs, and increase U.S. held purchasing power by $30 billion.   Over the past seven years, the U.S. has increased its LNG export capacity from zero to 11.6 billion cubic feet per day. During the same period, the spot price of U.S. natural gas has remained relatively stable and affordable.  These actions will weaken global energy security, halt investment in American energy, and jeopardize U.S. energy leadership.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter.  CLICK HERE to read more on how President Biden’s efforts jeopardize American jobs, energy prices, the economy, and the security of our allies. 

Jan 17, 2024
Press Release

E&C, China Select Committees Launch Inquiry into Taxpayer Funding Streams Funneled to CCP-Backed Researcher

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), E&C Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), E&C Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), E&C Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, launched an investigation into grants made to an AI scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  The Chairs made requests for documents to UCLA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).  BACKGROUND :  On November 1, 2023, a Newsweek investigation found that the federal government awarded at least $30 million in federal research grants led by Mr. Song-Chun Zhu, who is now “at the forefront of China's race to develop the most advanced artificial intelligence.”  The investigation further revealed the NSF and DOD continued funding Mr. Zhu even as he “set up a parallel institute near Wuhan, took a position at a Beijing university whose primary goal is to support Chinese military research, and joined a CCP ‘talent plan’ whose members are tasked with transferring knowledge and technology to China.”  In particular, Newsweek found that the project once led by Mr. Zhu received $1.2 million in two grants from the Office of Naval Research in 2021, the year following his departure to China.  KEY LETTER EXCERPT:   “Mr. Zhu has openly discussed how if China takes the lead in developing a ‘truly universal intelligence,’ then it will ‘become the winner of the international technology competition.’ He has also referred to the AI race as being equivalent in military importance to the race for the atomic bomb. In a period of intensifying geopolitical competition with the CCP, ceasing federal government support for Chinese AI development is a critical national security imperative.”  CLICK HERE to read the letter to UCLA Chancellor Gener Block.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.