Rep. John Joyce

R

Pennsylvania – District 13
representative

Leadership

Chairman Oversight and Investigations

119th Congress

News & Announcements

Aug 18, 2025
Oversight & Investigations

House Committee on Energy and Commerce is Continuing to Investigate Concerning Practices Within Our Nation’s Organ Procurement and Transplant System

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing diving deeper into concerning practices within our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system that were identified by a recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) investigation. During the two-panel hearing titled “Ensuring Patient Safety: Oversight of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant System,” Committee Members heard from the Chief of the Organ Transplant Branch of HRSA regarding the agency’s recently released investigative report outlining shocking revelations about the system’s procedures that put patient safety at risk. The investigation examined an “index case” (KYDA-001) where the organ procurement organization (OPO) that services Kentucky was contacted shortly after the arrival of a patient who was experiencing cardiovascular collapse after an unintentional overdose. After it was determined that further treatment would be futile, the patient’s family made the decision to end life-sustaining treatment and move forward with organ donation via a process known as donation after cardiac (or circulatory) death (DCD). However, despite OPO and hospital staff noting signs of the patient’s improved neurologic function, discomfort, and even expression of fear at multiple points over the multi-day period between when the OPO was first contacted and the patient was brought to the operating room (OR), the decision to pursue organ recovery was not reversed until the physician in the OR became uncomfortable and refused to continue with the process. In addition to the index case, HRSA analyzed 351 unique cases of authorized, not recovered (ANR) patients. This means that the patients were considered for DCD recovery, but no organs were transplanted. The report shows that 103 of these cases, which is nearly 30 percent, “had concerning features.”  HRSA’s Organ Transplant Branch Chief, Dr. Raymond Lynch, testified about KYDA’s (Network for Hope) patterns that were identified in the report, which include: A failure to recognize neurologic function inconsistent or unfavorable for DCD organ recovery on initial patient assessment or subsequent follow up; A failure to work collaboratively with patients’ primary medical teams, including instances of potential violation of separation of roles in patient care; A failure to respect family wishes and appropriately safeguard the decision-making authority of legal next of kin; and A failure to follow professional best practices as well as policies and guidelines for collection of patients’ medical data. The second panel included witnesses from “Network for Hope,” the OPO involved in all of the cases that HRSA reviewed; the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS); and the current and recent past President of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board of Directors.  Chairman Joyce probed Network for Hope CEO, Mr. Barry Massa, for using the word “unique” to describe the index case, the same case where “...hospital staff [felt] extremely uncomfortable with the amount of reflexes patient is exhibiting,” during the procurement process. Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06) questioned witnesses about an open letter that was issued after the Subcommittee’s September 2024 hearing and signed by the organ donation and transplant industry and community members, including individuals at UNOS and OPTN Board Members. The open letter, per HRSA’s report, “characterized the ongoing effort to improve patient safety through enhanced oversight as a ‘misinformation campaign,’” noting that “[i]t is time for it to stop.” Specifically, the letter portrayed the previous oversight efforts by this Committee as “[s]preading misinformation based on conspiracy theories and hearsay.” UNOS’s CEO, Dr. Maureen McBride, admitted to signing the letter.  The Committee has serious concerns about the message this letter sends both to those conducting oversight of the organ procurement and transplant system and to those who wish to speak up when they wish to report concerns or potential wrongdoing. Oversight of this issue is far from over, and the Committee remains committed to protecting patient safety and maintaining trust in the system to ensure transparency and accountability. As Chairman Guthrie said when recalling his personal experience with our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system, “The conclusion [of this process] is going to come when we have confidence in the system.” ###

Aug 12, 2025
Press Release

ICYMI: Fox News Feature: Committee on Energy and Commerce Demands Documents Amid California Ignoring Congress' EV Rule Rollbacks

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, Fox News recently published an article featuring a letter from Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, requesting information on California’s decision to continue imposing a de-facto EV mandate. In Case You Missed It: “In a sharp rebuke, a Kentucky congressman is pressing California’s top environmental agency for answers after learning the state may be ignoring Congress’ reversal of three key electric vehicle standards. “The House Committee on Energy and Commerce wrote to Sacramento that it is ‘concerned about reports that California, and other jurisdictions who have adopted California standards for which waivers of preemption have been granted, are enforcing preempted vehicle emission regulations in violation of the Clean Air Act.’ “Earlier this year, Congress used the Congressional Review Act to nullify Biden-era waivers granted by the Biden EPA to California, allowing them to implement stricter standards than the federal government. “Several states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, along with the District of Columbia, have adopted California’s low-emissions standards as well. “The Committee has been made aware that CARB staff is denying auto manufacturers approval to bring vehicles to market unless the manufacturers agree to comply with the preempted regulations,’ the committee continued. “Rep. Brett Guthrie, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a Republican, told Fox News Digital that the law is clear that the Golden State must end its ‘de-facto EV mandate.’ “Enforcing a ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles would have dire consequences for American families and businesses,’ Guthrie said. “Forcing Americans to buy these vehicles would strain our electric grid, raise costs, and increase our reliance on China. Our investigation will look into whether California is continuing to enforce an EV mandate in violation of federal law.’ Joining Guthrie on the letter were Reps. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., and John Joyce, R-Pa., chairmen of the environment and oversight subcommittees, respectively. “The committee acknowledged a lawsuit against the recissions from California Attorney General Robert Bonta remains ongoing, but that the intermission does not allow the state to continue enforcing mandates under the nixed waivers. In a June statement announcing the lawsuit, Bonta called the situation ‘reckless, politically motivated and illegal.’ “The letter, addressed to Dr. Steven Cliff, executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, said the committee had been purportedly made aware of CARB staff denying auto manufacturers’ approval to bring vehicles to market in the state ‘unless the manufacturers agree to comply with the preempted regulations.’ “These efforts include CARB staff indicating that the agency would deny California Executive Orders (EO) for model year 2026 vehicles that meet all of CARB’s enforceable regulatory requirements and which California allowed for sale in model year 2025, on the basis that these vehicles do not meet the additional requirements in one set of the preempted regulations: ACC-II.’ “The committee further alleges that CARB’s online ‘repository’ spreadsheet of model year 2026 vehicles showed the board has ‘exclusively approved’ vehicles that would certify under the ACC-II green regulations. “They closed by demanding documents showing whether CARB is continuing to enforce the car, truck or omnibus regulations Congress undid, and all records from the first of the year onward germane to the regulations and Biden-era waivers. “Fox News Digital reached out to CARB and Gov. Gavin Newsom for comment on accusations that the board is discriminating against certain vehicles.”

Aug 11, 2025
Environment

Chairmen Guthrie, Palmer, and Joyce Investigate California’s Unlawful Implementation of an EV Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board, requesting information on California’s decision to continue imposing a de-facto EV mandate. “The law is clear California must put an end to its de-facto EV mandate. Enforcing a ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles would have dire consequences for American families and businesses,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Forcing Americans to buy these vehicles would strain our electric grid, raise costs, and increase our reliance on China. Our investigation will look into whether California is continuing to enforce an EV mandate in violation of federal law.” Read more about the letter from Fox News here . Key excerpts from the letter: “The Committee is concerned about reports that California, and other jurisdictions who have adopted California standards for which waivers of preemption have been granted, are enforcing preempted vehicle emission regulations in violation of the Clean Air Act.” “The Committee has been made aware that CARB staff is denying auto manufacturers approval to bring vehicles to market unless the manufacturers agree to comply with the preempted regulations.” Background: On June 12, 2025, President 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 waiver of preemption allowing the state to impose emission standards that effectively ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. The CRA’s passed Congress with bipartisan support. The Clean Air Act clearly bans states from issuing their own emission standards unless EPA grants a waiver of federal preemption. Because the EPA’s waivers have been disapproved under the CRA, the California EV mandates are not allowed under the Clean Air Act. Despite three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions being signed into law this year that block California from implementing vehicle standards that ban the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks through its Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II regulations, Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations, and Omnibus Low NOx programs (the Omnibus) regulations, Committee staff have learned that California and other states are continuing to implement the preempted rules. Specifically, following formal disapproval of previously granted waivers due to the CRAs, California is reportedly refusing to certify automobiles that don’t meet the now-preempted standards, contrary to federal law, i.e., the Clean Air Act. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Letters

Oct 7, 2024
Letter

Chair Rodgers Leads House GOP in Demanding Answers Over FCC Fast-Tracking Democrat Mega-Donor’s Media Takeover Weeks Before Election

Soros-linked fund to acquire more than 200 local radio stations weeks before election Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) led 40 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding her recent decision to fast-track a media deal allowing the Fund for Policy Reform, a group aligned with Democratic mega-donor George Soros, to buy over 200 radio stations just weeks before the 2024 election. With a party line vote of 3-2, the decision at the Commission level by the Democratic members of the FCC to temporarily waive the required national security review and allow excessive foreign ownership of American radio stations is deeply disturbing. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “It is highly concerning that the FCC did not follow regular order for a transaction of this magnitude. Licensees and investors need certainty that the FCC will follow its rules and procedures when approving transactions so that the broadcast industry can have the resources it needs to continue serving the public.”  BACKGROUND: Audacy, Inc., a radio broadcasting group, which owns more than 200 radio-station licenses, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  Audacy’s filings revealed that a George Soros-backed group known as the Fund for Policy Reform had acquired at least 40 percent of Audacy’s debt.   Audacy estimated that, upon emerging from bankruptcy, 25 percent or more of its stock would be indirectly foreign owned, which triggers FCC review.   This review process requires national security agencies to review the transaction and offer any policy or national security concerns.   On September 30, 2024, the FCC released an Order granting a temporary waiver of this review process, delaying a national security review until after the bankruptcy process is complete and allowing foreign control of a significant number of radio stations across the entire United States, weeks before a national election. CLICK HERE to read Breitbart's exclusive coverage. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

May 14, 2024
Letter

E&C Republican Leaders Press Biden EPA for Answers About Grants Awarded to Political Allies

Washington, D.C. — In a new letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Reagan, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA), on behalf of the Oversight and Environment Subcommittee Republicans, are pressing for answers about the recently-awarded Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grants.  KEY LETTER EXCERPTS :  “As you know, the Committee has questioned how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planned to distribute the $20 billion available to selected recipients under the new GGRF program, including the $14 billion for the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF). Specifically, the Committee cited warnings that the EPA could use these large awards to subsidize favored organizations. At a January 30, 2024, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers highlighted examples of former Biden administration officials and Democratic campaign staff in leadership roles of organizations vying for NCIF funding. Predictably, the EPA’s April 4, 2024, announcement of NCIF recipients confirmed our fears that this program would funnel taxpayer dollars to political allies.” [...] “Other individuals with ties to Democratic politics also lead organizations partnering with these recipients. While the EPA insists it had ethics rules and a fair competition policy in place, doling out billions of dollars to organizations led by politically connected individuals undermines public trust in the legitimacy of the federal financial awards process. It also furthers the concern that this program was created as an excuse to hand out funding to political allies.” The Chairs cited more than a dozen examples of politically connected leaders of organizations to which EPA plans to distribute billions of taxpayer dollars, and have requested a list of all of the nearly two dozen stakeholder meetings the EPA held in designing the program, including the dates, names of the individuals and organizations participating as well as any related minutes or memoranda by May 28, 2024. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 

Apr 30, 2024
Press Release

E&C Republicans Press NIH to Confirm Agency Isn’t Funding Russian Research

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce 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), on behalf of the Health and Oversight Subcommittee Republicans, wrote to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli. In the letter, the Chairs ask the NIH to confirm by May 14, 2024, whether the agency has complied with White House guidance to stop funding projects led by researchers and entities in Russia.  BACKGROUND :  On June 11, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued guidance stating such projects and programs that commenced and/or were funded prior to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 may be concluded, but new projects in affected subject areas will not be initiated.   The OSTP advised applicable departments and agencies to curtail interaction with the leadership of Russian government-affiliated universities and research institutions, as well as those who have publicly expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine.  In a statement in an April 9, 2023, article in The Washington Times , the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research claimed that “NIH currently does not fund any research in Russia.”  However, the Data Abyss tracker for the OSTP Russia guidance on federal funding agencies indicates that, as of April 5, 2024, the NIH has potentially 240 instances of problematic research collaborations since June 2022 that do not comply with the guidance. CLICK HERE to read the letter.