    [House Hearing, 119 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                   MEMBER DAY

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                        COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                               DECEMBER 12, 2025

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 119-46

                     [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

         Published for the use of the Committee on Energy and Commerce

                       govinfo.gov/committee/house-energy
                            energycommerce.house.gov

                                   ______

                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    62-596 PDF                WASHINGTON : 2026

                        COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

                            BRETT GUTHRIE, Kentucky

                                   Chairman

    ROBERT E. LATTA, Ohio                FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
    H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia           Ranking Member
    GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida            DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado
    RICHARD HUDSON, North Carolina       JAN SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois
    EARL L. ``BUDDY'' CARTER, Georgia    DORIS O. MATSUI, California
    GARY J. PALMER, Alabama              KATHY CASTOR, Florida
    NEAL P. DUNN, Florida, Vice          PAUL TONKO, New York
        Chairman                         YVETTE D. CLARKE, New York
    DAN CRENSHAW, Texas                  RAUL RUIZ, California
    JOHN JOYCE, Pennsylvania             SCOTT H. PETERS, California
    RANDY K. WEBER, Sr., Texas           DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan
    RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia               MARC A. VEASEY, Texas
    TROY BALDERSON, Ohio                 ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    RUSS FULCHER, Idaho                  NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN, California
    AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas                DARREN SOTO, Florida
    DIANA HARSHBARGER, Tennessee         KIM SCHRIER, Washington
    MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa       LORI TRAHAN, Massachusetts
    KAT CAMMACK, Florida                 LIZZIE FLETCHER, Texas
    JAY OBERNOLTE, California            ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, New York
    JOHN JAMES, Michigan                 JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, Massachusetts
    CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon                  TROY A. CARTER, Louisiana
    ERIN HOUCHIN, Indiana                ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
    RUSSELL FRY, South Carolina          KEVIN MULLIN, California
    LAUREL M. LEE, Florida               GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio
    NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY, New York     JENNIFER L. McCLELLAN, Virginia
    THOMAS H. KEAN, Jr., New Jersey
    MICHAEL A. RULLI, Ohio
    GABE EVANS, Colorado
    CRAIG A. GOLDMAN, Texas
    JULIE FEDORCHAK, North Dakota

                                     ------

                               Professional Staff

                         MEGAN JACKSON, Staff Director
                    SOPHIE KHANAHMADI, Deputy Staff Director
                   TIFFANY GUARASCIO, Minority Staff Director

                                 C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page
    Hon. Brett Guthrie, a Representative in Congress from the
      Commonwealth of Kentucky, opening statement....................     1
        Prepared statement...........................................     3
    Hon. Lizzie Fletcher, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Texas, opening statement....................................     5
        Prepared statement...........................................     7

                                   Witnesses

    Hon. Jim Costa, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      California.....................................................     9
        Prepared statement...........................................    11
    Hon. Jill N. Tokuda, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Hawaii......................................................    14
        Prepared statement...........................................    16
    Hon. Melanie A. Stansbury, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of New Mexico............................................    19
        Prepared statement...........................................    21
    Hon. Andrea Salinas, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Oregon......................................................    25
        Prepared statement...........................................    27
    Hon. Robert F. Onder, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the
      State of Missouri..............................................    29
        Prepared statement...........................................    31
    Hon. Luz M. Rivas, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      California.....................................................    34
        Prepared statement...........................................    36
    Hon. Juan Ciscomani, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Arizona.....................................................    41
        Prepared statement...........................................    42
    Hon. Donald G. Davis, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of North Carolina..............................................    44
        Prepared statement...........................................    46
    Hon. Emanuel Cleaver, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Missouri....................................................    51
        Prepared statement...........................................    53
    Hon. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Florida...........................................    56
        Prepared statement...........................................    58
    Hon. Tom Barrett, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Michigan.......................................................    64
        Prepared statement...........................................    66
    Hon. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Washington........................................    69
        Prepared statement...........................................    71
    Hon. Eric Sorensen, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Illinois....................................................    73
        Prepared statement...........................................    75
    Hon. Gabe Vasquez, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      New Mexico.....................................................    78
        Prepared statement...........................................    80
    Hon. John W. Mannion, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Nevada......................................................    83
        Prepared statement...........................................    85
    Hon. Gabe Amo, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Rhode Island...................................................    87
        Prepared statement...........................................    90
    Hon. Janelle S. Bynum, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of Oregon................................................    93
        Prepared statement...........................................    95
    Hon. Pablo Jose Hernandez, a Resident Commissioner in Congress
      from the Territory of Puero Rico...............................    97
        Prepared statement...........................................    98
    Hon. Emily Randall, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Washington..................................................    99
        Prepared statement...........................................   101
    Hon. Rudy Yakym III, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Indiana.....................................................   106
        Prepared statement...........................................   108
    Hon. Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of Oregon................................................   110
        Prepared statement...........................................   112
    Hon. Harriet M. Hageman, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of West Virginia.........................................   115
        Prepared statement...........................................   117
    Hon. David J. Taylor, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Ohio........................................................   120
        Prepared statement...........................................   122
    Hon. Bryan Steil, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Wisconsin......................................................   126
        Prepared statement...........................................   128
    Hon. Aaron Bean, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Florida........................................................   130
        Prepared statement...........................................   132
    Hon. Kelly Morrison, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Minnesota...................................................   135
        Prepared statement...........................................   137
    Hon. Glenn Grothman, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Wisconsin...................................................   143
        Prepared statement...........................................   145
    Hon. Richard McCormick, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of Georgia...............................................   150
        Prepared statement...........................................   152
    Hon. Maxine Dexter, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Oregon......................................................   154
        Prepared statement...........................................   156
    Hon. Warren Davidson, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Ohio........................................................   161
        Prepared statement...........................................   162
    Hon. Jennifer A. Kiggans, a Representative in Congress from the
      Commonwealth of Virginia.......................................   165
        Prepared statement...........................................   167
    Hon. David Valadao, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of California..................................................   171
        Prepared statement...........................................   172

                               Submitted Material

    Inclusion of the following was approved by unanimous consent.
    List of documents submitted for the record.......................   176
    Letter of December 9, 2025, from Representative Ben Cline, et
      al., to Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary, Department of Health and
      Human Services, and Jay Bhattacharya, Director, National
      Institutes of Health...........................................   177
    Letter of February 25, 2025, from the International Dairy Foods
      Association to Members of Congress.............................   179
    Letter of February 21, 2025, from the Prevent Cancer Foundation
      to Representative Jodey C. Arrington, et al....................   180
    Statement of Hon. Steve Cohen, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Indiana...........................................   197
    Statement of Hon. Andrew R. Garbarino, a Representative in
      Congress from the State of New York............................   200
    Statement of Hon. Brittany Petterson, a Representative in
      Congress from the State of Colorado............................   203
    Statement of Hon. Joe Neguse, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Colorado..........................................   206
    Statement of Hon. Rashida Tlaib, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Michigan.....................................   208
    Statement of Hon. Stephen F. Lynch, a Representative in Congress
      from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.........................   210
    Statement of Hon. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Representative in
      Congress from the State of Michigan............................   212
    Statement of Hon. Tim Moore, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of North Carolina....................................   213
    Statement of Hon. Mark Pocan, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Wisconsin.........................................   216
    Statement of Hon. Daniel Webster, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Florida......................................   217
    Statement of Hon. Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of California........................................   219
    Statement of Hon. James P. McGovern, a Representative in Congress
      from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.........................   221
    Statement of Hon. April McClain Delaney, a Representative in
      Congress from the State of Maryland............................   223
    Statement of Hon. Susie Lee, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Nevada............................................   228
    Statement of Hon. Addison P. McDowell, a Representative in
      Congress from the State of North Carolina......................   231
    Statement of Hon. Lauren Underwood, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Illinois.....................................   235
    Statement of Hon. Tom Cole, a Representative in Congress from the
      State of Oklahoma..............................................   239
    Statement of Hon. Terri A. Sewell, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Alabama......................................   241

                                   MEMBER DAY

                                   ----------

                           FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025

                      House of Representatives,
                      Committee on Energy and Commerce,
                                                Washington, DC.
        The committee met, pursuant to call, at 9:01 a.m., in the
    John D. Dingell Room 2123, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon.
    Brett Guthrie (chairman of the committee) presiding.
        Members present: Representatives Guthrie, Palmer, Dunn,
    Obernolte, Langworthy, Pallone (committee ranking member),
    Barragan, and Fletcher.
        Staff present: Byron Brown, Chief Counsel; Christian
    Calvert, Press Assistant; Jessica Donlon, General Counsel;
    Sydney Greene, Director of Finance and Logistics; Annabelle
    Huffman, Clerk, Health; Megan Jackson, Staff Director; AT
    Johnson, Special Advisor; Daniel Kelly, Press Secretary; Alex
    Khlopin, Policy Analyst, Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade;
    Brayden Lacefield, Special Assistant; Sarah Meier, Counsel and
    Parliamentarian; Joel Miller, Chief Counsel; Lillian Noland,
    Staff Assistant; Jake Riith, Staff Assistant; Chris Sarley,
    Member Services/Stakeholder Director; Timothy Trimble, Staff
    Assistant; Katie West, Press Secretary; Keegan Cardman,
    Minority Staff Assistant; Giancarlo Ceja, Minority Staff
    Assistant; Waverly Gordon, Minority Deputy Staff Director and
    General Counsel; Tiffany Guarascio, Minority Staff Director;
    Jackson Hall, Minority Intern; Perry Hamilton, Minority Deputy
    Director, Member Services and Outreach; and Shae Reinberg,
    Minority Intern.
        Mr. Guthrie. Good morning. The committee will come to
    order, and the Chair recognizes himself for 5 minutes for an
    opening statement.

     OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BRETT GUTHRIE, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
               CONGRESS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

        And good morning to everyone. Welcome to the Committee on
    Energy and Commerce. Our hearing today is the committee's
    Member Day hearing, and it is an opportunity to hear from our
    friends and our colleagues across the House of Representatives
    who have legislative priorities that fall within our
    committee's broad jurisdiction.
        The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest
    authorizing committee in Congress. Last Monday marked the 230th
    year of the committee and another opportunity to reflect and
    celebrate its rich legislative history. In just the last year
    alone, we have had 53 bills pass out of the House and 10 bills
    signed into law by the President.
        Much of our committee's work is done in a bipartisan
    manner. In fact, we held an important subcommittee markup
    yesterday discussing bills to keep our children safe online. I
    want to thank Ranking Member Pallone and his Members for
    working with us on that important legislation.
        But also, despite some of our disagreements, Ranking Member
    Pallone and I found several ways to work together on committee
    priorities to deliver solutions for the American people, and
    this is bipartisan. It is a deep tradition of our committee.
        I want to thank my colleagues before us today for coming
    before the committee to share your ideas and your perspectives
    and your legislative ideas. We know the matters you are
    presenting to the committee are not only important to you but
    also to the hundreds of thousands of people you represent. The
    committee looks forward to listening and learning from you
    today as we all work together. On behalf of the American
    people, I thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Guthrie follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        And I will recognize vice member of the full committee
    Representative Fletcher for 5 minutes for an opening statement.

    OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. LIZZIE FLETCHER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                    CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS

        Mrs. Fletcher. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        And welcome to all the Members who are joining us this
    morning here in the Energy and Commerce Committee.
        This committee, as the chairman said, has a long history of
    working together to address the issues that matter most to the
    American people and will make a meaningful difference in their
    lives. It is what this committee does at its best, and it is
    why it is so important that we hear from our colleagues today
    that represent communities across the country, to learn more
    about what they are hearing and what the people that they
    represent need from us.
        I know when I go back home what I hear most from people in
    my district are deep concerns about the cost of living, the
    cost of healthcare, and the cost of energy and electricity. In
    short, we are in a national affordability crisis, and people
    need our help.
        Addressing rising costs shouldn't be a partisan issue. In
    fact, on the campaign trail President Trump promised over and
    over and over again that he was going to lower costs. But
    nearly a year into this administration, costs are higher than
    ever.
        Now, President Trump, as I think we all know, recently
    dismissed affordability as a Democratic hoax. But from what I
    am hearing from my constituents at home, it is not, and it is
    fear--fear that they won't be able to afford their electric
    bill, fear that they are not going to be able to keep their
    health insurance, fear that they are not going to be able to
    see a doctor when they need to, fear that they are not going to
    be able to afford groceries this Christmas or presents for
    their families for the holidays, fear that they are not going
    to be able to do the things that they need to do.
        This is fear. This is not a hoax. It is people's lives, and
    they need our help.
        Unfortunately, much of this Congress has been spent making
    things worse for hard-working American families rather than
    helping them. We have spent the vast majority of this year
    addressing budget issues that have made things worse, not
    better, for families across the country and have taken away
    healthcare from nearly 15 million people, leaving millions more
    with premiums and costs that they cannot afford.
        People need to come together and they need Congress to come
    together to lower costs with commonsense proposals like
    extending the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which
    would help lower premiums for millions of families. Instead,
    this Congress is choosing to spend its time taking healthcare
    away and making it more expensive for those who manage their
    care to keep their coverage.
        Today we have an opportunity to listen to our colleagues
    about rising costs and how they are a real threat to American
    families, and I hope that we will work together--the majority
    and the minority--to work together to address those concerns
    and that no one in Congress will dismiss them as a hoax. So I
    look forward to hearing from the Members who are joining us
    today, and I thank you all for taking the time to be here.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Fletcher follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you.
        We now conclude with opening statements. And the Chair
    would like to remind Members that, pursuant to the committee
    rules, all Members' opening statements will be made part of the
    record.
        We want to thank our fellow Members for taking time to
    testify before the committee. You will have the opportunity to
    give a 5-minute statement.
        And I would say from the beautiful part of the country, but
    all of you are from beautiful parts of the country, so I will
    just say that for everybody. And I really mean that, because I
    think I have been to every part of your--in this year, as a
    matter of fact, in your districts, so--not your districts, but
    your States, probably.
        So, Representative Costa, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

    STATEMENT OF HON. JIM COSTA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
                        THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

        Mr. Costa. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman Guthrie
    and Ranking Member Fletcher, for your comments.
        And to follow on that opening, three pieces of legislation
    I will speak to you on are bipartisan pieces of legislation,
    and I think they deal with America's safety net and
    affordability, because every American feels near and dear to
    ensure that they have adequate and cost-effective healthcare
    that is accessible to them and their families. I mean, as my
    mother used to say, ``Jim, if you don't have health, you don't
    have anything.''
        The first piece of legislation is a touching one for me and
    my staff, H.R. 5355, Ian Kalvinskas' legislation. It deals with
    Pediatric Liver Cancer and Early Detection and Screening Act,
    and expanding the Medical Education Act is the second piece of
    legislation, and the third piece of legislation is the National
    Plan for Epilepsy. This follows in the effort of preventative
    healthcare.
        For Ian's piece of legislation, it is personal. He came
    into our office as an intern from UCLA with all sorts of
    aspirations and optimism. But as an earlier child, he was
    diagnosed with liver cancer as a young teenager. He survived
    thanks to a lifesaving liver transplant. Unfortunately, the
    cancer returned a few years later, but Ian cared deeply about
    getting back. And while he was sick, he took an opportunity to
    be an intern in our office here at Capitol Hill. He said, ``I
    want to make a difference now,'' and he used his time here to
    advocate for early diagnosis and treatment for children with
    liver diseases. Sadly, Ian passed away during his time as an
    intern in my office this last summer at the tender age of 20
    years.
        This bipartisan bill, which I lead with Congresswoman Van
    Duyne, honors his courage and advances the reforms he fought
    for. It would direct Health Resources and Services
    Administration, HRSA, with input from Centers for Disease
    Control and Prevention, CDC, to lead a national public
    education effort to recognize early warning signs and
    understand the options, like living liver donations, which are
    critical.
        It also would require Government Accountability Office to
    review the pediatric liver wait list outcomes and value the
    adding of liver screening to the state of newborn screening
    panels. This would use existing resources at the Department of
    Health and Human Services. That is the first piece of
    legislation named appropriately after this young intern, who
    had so much inspiration and hope.
        The second piece of legislation, H.R. 2106, expands the
    Medical Education Act. The Medical Education Act responds to
    physician shortages that we have throughout our country in
    underserved areas. All the members, I suspect, of this
    committee have challenges in their own constituencies with a
    shortage of physicians, especially in our rural and underserved
    areas.
        The San Joaquin Valley, one of those areas, has the lowest
    supply of doctors in California, where we have 47 doctors per
    100,000 residents. That is way below the national average. This
    bill would provide grants through Health Resources and Services
    Administration, HRSA, to help establish and expand medical
    schools in underserved communities and areas where there is no
    medical school and a minority serving institutions so we can
    train more doctors where we need them and where they are more
    likely to stay. We are in that process of establishing a new
    medical school in the San Joaquin Valley for that very reason.
        The last measure, H.R. 1189, the National Plan for Epilepsy
    Act, is another bipartisan piece of legislation, a plan for
    epilepsy, which I lead with Congress Member Greg Murphy--who he
    and his family have had their own experiences with epilepsy, as
    many of us know family and friends. This responds to a
    condition that affects 3.4 million Americans. For too many
    patients, current treatments do not work, and the Federal
    response is fragmented. This would attempt to correct that.
        The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human
    Services to create and maintain a coordinated national plan for
    epilepsy guided by a national epilepsy advisory council that
    brings together Federal agencies, clinicians, researchers,
    advocates, and people living with epilepsy to set goals, track
    progress, and get the most out of every Federal dollar, which I
    think we all share in common for preventive healthcare
    maintenance, which is really what these three pieces of
    legislation are all about.
        Let me close by saying the three efforts have a common
    purpose: To give every family a fair shot, whether that is
    living with cancer detection, being able to see a doctor close
    to home, or living with epilepsy in hopes of having better
    care.
        Mr. Chairman, I also submitted separate written testimony
    to support H.R. 1395, the CURD Act, with the attached IDFA
    letter of support. I would respectfully ask that it be included
    in the record with unanimous consent as a part of today's
    proceedings.
        That is my presentation, Mr. Chairman. Members of the
    committee, thank you for your good work, and certainly would
    appreciate your support on all these pieces of legislation.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Costa follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Without objection, so ordered for
    the inclusion.
        [The information appears at the conclusion of the hearing.]
        Mr. Guthrie. And, Representative Tokuda, I said I have been
    to all States. You were my 50th State. And I went to the 49th,
    Representative Salinas, and you were my 50th, so beautiful
    places.
        So, Representative Tokuda, you are recognized for--Tokuda,
    I am sorry--5 minutes for opening statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. JILL N. TOKUDA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                        FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII

        Ms. Tokuda. Thank you. Aloha, Mr. Chair, Mrs. Fletcher,
    members of the committee. Thank you for hosting this Member Day
    hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
        As the colead of the bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, my
    colead Diana Harshbarger serves on this committee. I saw her a
    little bit. I can tell you that rural America is at a breaking
    point. From Hawaii's neighbor islands to small towns across the
    country, families are driving hours for basic care, clinics are
    shuttering, and providers are stretched past their limits.
        When a rural hospital closes, as we know, it isn't just a
    healthcare loss. It literally guts an entire local economy,
    drives families away, and threatens the future of their
    communities. Rural healthcare for us is not an option, it is
    absolutely essential. It is the infrastructure that keeps rural
    America alive, and our communities, quite frankly, cannot wait
    any longer. We need action that reflects the urgency and scale
    of the crisis before us. That starts with the people, to me, on
    the front lines that show up for everyday Americans in rural
    America.
        This week, I introduced the bipartisan CARE for First
    Responders Act to expand access to specialized support for
    EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement officers, 9-1-1
    dispatchers, and others who are often the only responders
    available in rural America and across the country during
    emergencies. In rural communities, they are on the front lines
    and sometimes they are the only lines of help. If we fail to
    take care of those who take care of us, rural healthcare
    collapses before the patient even gets to a hospital.
        We also need to give rural providers the flexibility to
    actually serve their communities. The rural health clinic
    burden reduction package, which I co-introduced with Tracey
    Mann of Kansas, removes outdated restrictions, modernizes
    supervision rules to reflect today's scope-of-practice
    standards, and empowers clinics to offer the full range of
    primary and behavioral health services. These reforms mean
    faster care, broader access, and fewer families forced to leave
    home just to see a provider.
        You know, in Hawaii, distance is a barrier in itself, where
    a routine appointment can sometimes mean taking an airplane to
    get to where you need to go.
        My PATCH Act corrects chronic Medicare underpayments, so
    providers are compensated fairly. And my Ensuring Outpatient
    Quality for Rural States Act, co-led by Nick Begich, gives CMS
    the authority to account for the higher cost of care in remote
    States like Hawaii and Alaska. If we don't fix the formula, we
    will continue losing providers faster than we can recruit them.
        We must also protect the programs that are holding rural
    healthcare together today. Many of the HHS extenders advanced
    by this committee are set to expire next month. Letting them
    lapse would be absolutely devastating, an avoidable blow that
    would accelerate clinic closures and deepen shortages. That is
    why I colead with Carol Miller of West Virginia the bipartisan
    reauthorization of the Rural Residency Planning and Development
    Act, the single most effective tool we have to train, recruit,
    and retain rural providers.
        And none of this works, to me, without telehealth. Rural
    patients cannot afford uncertainty about virtual or audio-only
    care. I colead the HEALTH Act with G.T. Thompson to make these
    authorities permanent for FQHCs and rural health clinics so
    that distance never determines whether a patient can be
    treated. Whether they live on a remote island, up a mountain
    road, or hours from the nearest doctors, they deserve care.
        Now, I know these bills won't solve every challenge that we
    face, but together they move us toward a system where every
    American, no matter their ZIP code, can get the care they need
    when they need it. If we want rural communities to survive, let
    alone thrive, we must fight for the hospitals, for the clinics
    and providers that literally keep them alive. We must invest in
    local care, strengthen the workforce rooted in these
    communities, fix payment and equities, and ensure no family is
    forced to choose between groceries, rent, or lifesaving
    treatment.
        Rural healthcare is in a state of national emergency, and
    with your partnership, with your effort, your work, and your
    commitment, we can finally bring stability, dignity, and that
    long-needed access to the Americans who have waited too long.
        Mahalo for this opportunity to speak with you today. I look
    forward to working with all of you to pass this much-needed
    legislation. And, again, at any time, please come to Hawaii. It
    is great for your health.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Tokuda follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. It is stunningly beautiful.
        And I have cousins in Albuquerque. My uncle had asthma, and
    they had to move west in the late 1960s, and so Jim and Dave.
    Jim, he is in the racing scene there. He raced in----
        Ms. Stansbury. Oh, amazing.
        Mr. Guthrie [continuing]. A few Indy 500s. So,
    Representative Stansbury, you are recognized for 5 minutes. And
    I learned to appreciate Christmas chiles there.
        Ms. Stansbury. Oh, wonderful. We will get you some chile.
        Mr. Guthrie. OK. Good. You are recognized for 5 minutes.

      STATEMENT OF HON. MELANIE A. STANSBURY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

        Ms. Stansbury. Thank you so much, Chairman, Ranking Member,
    and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I am really
    honored to be able to appear today to talk about the priorities
    for New Mexico and for the communities that I represent. And I
    also want to say thank you for your commitment to
    bipartisanship and to advancing the issues that are important
    to the American people.
        I am going to outline three broad areas that we have a
    number of bipartisan bills that we are working to try to get
    passed through this committee, and the priorities that are very
    important to New Mexico. The first is ensuring high-quality
    healthcare and behavioral health to our communities; the second
    is around energy and affordability, and to ensure that every
    person has access to affordable energy and that their homes are
    warm and safe; and the third is around cleaning up
    environmental issues, especially in our Tribal communities.
        So healthcare, of course, is the big one. I want to thank
    this committee for your work to expand access to healthcare. We
    have a whole slew of bipartisan legislation before this
    committee to address healthcare. But let me be clear, like
    others have been in their opening statements, that we know
    healthcare is in crisis, particularly in New Mexico, where many
    of our communities struggle to access care.
        In the short term, we believe that that means extending the
    Affordable Care Act to ensure that our communities do not face
    a fiscal crisis. As we know, on January 1, their health
    insurance will skyrocket.
        In the medium term, it means fixing a broken system;
    investing in healthcare providers and the pipeline for
    practitioners, especially in rural and Tribal areas; lowering
    costs of prescription drugs; bolstering the Indian Health
    Service; and addressing the fentanyl and addiction crisis that
    is ravaging our communities.
        And over the long term, I believe it means moving towards a
    universal care system, because I believe healthcare is a human
    right.
        Let me talk about some of the bills that we have before the
    committee that we believe will help to advance these.
        The first is a Public Health Nursing Act that would
    dramatically increase the number of nurses working in the
    public health workforce by funding recruitment, training, and
    support for public health nurses.
        The second is an Indian Health Service Provider Expansion
    Act. This is legislation to create a pipeline for individuals
    who are interested in serving in Tribal communities to end up
    in the Indian Health Service.
        Under the rubric of health costs, obviously, we need to
    lower drug costs, and so I am proud to cosponsor legislation by
    Ranking Member Pallone to do that.
        Also, similar to my colleague to my right, addressing
    connectivity and rural health through telehealth is vital, and
    so I am proud to carry H.R. 6070, which is the Community
    Connect Grant Program.
        And also, in New Mexico, because we have a high number of
    individuals who are on Medicaid and Medicare, addressing the
    reimbursement rates of our practitioners is vital. I am
    currently carrying a bipartisan bill that I worked on with Mr.
    Burgess to expand the reimbursement rates for Medicare, and we
    would like to work with the committee to address Medicaid
    reimbursement rates as well.
        Under the rubric of behavioral health, I have bipartisan
    legislation and am a member of the bipartisan Fentanyl Caucus
    to try to stop the influx of fentanyl into our communities by
    regulating the manufacturing of fentanyl bills to make--pills--
    excuse me, I have a head cold right now--coming into our
    communities, and we ask for your support.
        I also have a large body of legislation around energy and
    ask for the committee's consideration of a number of bills that
    are ultimately designed to lower the costs for our communities.
        I am in support of Representative Castor's bill to revoke
    the Executive orders that the President has put forward that
    are advancing soon-to-be outdated forms of energy at the
    expense of cheaper and cleaner energy sources, as well as
    Representative Tonko's Weatherization Act, which is vital for
    New Mexico because so many of our low-income families rely on
    extra support to heat their homes and to upgrade their
    appliances.
        Finally, we have a crisis across our communities of
    contamination at Superfund sites across Tribal communities, and
    in many cases this is the result of Federal activities,
    including Federal supported mining activities like uranium
    mining, as well as the dropping of munitions. We are working
    across all agencies' jurisdictions to address these issues and
    would love to work with this committee to address them through
    CERCLA.
        So with that, Mr. Chairman, I know it is a lot and a
    mouthful, but I appreciate your support, and thank you for the
    opportunity.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Stansbury follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for being here.
        Representative Salinas, you are recognized for 5 minutes
    for your opening statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. ANDREA SALINAS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                        FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

        Ms. Salinas. Well, thank you, Chair Guthrie and members of
    the committee, for holding this Member Day. I am here to
    present my bipartisan bill H.R. 5557, the Mental Health
    Services for Students Act.
        Our children and young people are really struggling today.
    The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis,
    and our youth are really bearing the brunt of this. Last year,
    over 20 percent of children age 12 to 17 reported at least one
    major depressive episode in the preceding year. And 15 percent
    of youth who experienced a major depressive episode reported
    that their ability to function at work, school, and home was
    impacted. In 2023, more than 20 percent of high school students
    seriously considered attempting suicide. That is one in five.
    That is not OK, and I know that is not OK to every single
    member of this committee.
        As cochair of the bipartisan Congressional Mental Health
    Caucus, I have spent a lot of time engaging with families,
    children, and providers to understand exactly what it is that
    our children need to thrive. This past May, the Mental Health
    Caucus hosted a roundtable with children and young people from
    across the country to hear their frustrations with mental
    health services that don't truly meet their needs. And they
    were very articulate. They knew the ins and outs of our
    systems.
        There is no great mystery about what it takes to help these
    children. It is quite simple: They need resources, and they
    need those resources to meet them where they are, in their
    schools. Currently, over half of our public schools nationwide
    report struggling to provide adequate mental health services to
    their students, and things will likely only get worse. The next
    decade will bring half a trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts, as
    well as cuts to the Department of Education and Substance Abuse
    and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA. We are going
    in the wrong direction toward meeting the needs of our students
    and children.
        The Mental Health Services for Students Act helps move us
    in the right direction. It will help get providers into schools
    proactively, help students build resiliency, and equip them
    with the tools they need to thrive throughout their life, put
    us on the right path to meet this mental health crisis head on,
    and hopefully actually reduce the next generation of substance
    abuse and mental health crises.
        More specifically, my legislation expands SAMHSA's Project
    AWARE program. Project AWARE, or Advancing Wellness and
    Resiliency in Education program, develops sustainable
    infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and
    services.
        Project AWARE focuses on three tiers of mental health
    funding.
        First, the program prioritizes universal prevention and
    mental health promotion to keep kids healthy and give them the
    tools to manage life's ups and downs. This is no different than
    how we promote healthy eating and exercise to mitigate chronic
    disease, so for those who are already well.
        Second, Project AWARE devotes funding to intervention
    services through school-based screenings to identify those who
    are at risk and provide services to youth experiencing
    distress, trauma, bereavement, or other issues.
        And, finally, the program focuses on children who are
    already exhibiting mental health and substance use disorders.
    So it ensures that they have the right supports to get on the
    path of recovery.
        And we know that Project AWARE is effective. In fact, my
    friend Representative Grace Napolitano advocated for
    nationalizing and expanding Project AWARE during her time here
    in Congress, because this program has been working in Los
    Angeles and in her district since 2001. The youth suicide
    prevention program serves 35 schools in the L.A. area and has
    proved tremendously successful in helping students overcome
    mental health issues.
        In Oregon, we have invested $5.4 million into the community
    care development project, and we have seen similar success. It
    is time to expand on the success of programs so students can
    benefit and families can too. Investing in our children is the
    healthy and fiscally right choice. That is why, so far, this
    bill has garnered over 60 bipartisan cosponsors and counting.
    In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Napolitano introduced this
    legislation with 130 bipartisan cosponsors. In the 117th
    Congress, this bill actually passed the House floor twice, once
    as a standalone bill and once as part of the Restoring Hope for
    Mental Well-Being Act. This bill also enjoys support from
    countless mental health and education associations.
        It is clear that healthy children who have the tools to
    care for their mental and physical health become high-
    functioning, independent adults and lead the next generation in
    similar behaviors. This bill gives them the tools, which is why
    I ask this committee to work with me to advance this bill.
        Thank you so much for your time.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Salinas follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Appreciate your testimony.
        Representative Onder, you are recognized for 5 minutes for
    your statement.

      STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT F. ONDER, Jr., A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                  CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI

        Mr. Onder. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, Vice Ranking Member
    Fletcher, for the opportunity to testify today on two
    commonsense measures that I believe would meaningfully reduce
    costs and improve peace of mind for American families.
        As a physician, I have witnessed firsthand the financial
    strain that surprise medical bills place on patients. The No
    Surprises Act, which was enacted during President Trump's first
    term, banned the practice of surprise medical billing, which is
    when patients unknowingly receive out-of-network care and are
    left with unexpected medical bills. While the law established
    penalties for providers who improperly balance bill patients,
    it did not establish parallel penalties for insurers. And over
    the past few years, insurers have abused this imbalance.
        Bloomberg reported earlier this year that after the
    arbitration process set up by the No Surprises Act, some
    insurers are sending an updated medical bill to patients to
    make up the difference. We have even seen insurers refuse to
    cover out-of-network services altogether, including childbirth
    anesthesia and neonatal resuscitation, even though under the
    law patients should only pay what they would owe if the
    provider were in network.
        Insurers that violate the No Surprises Act should face
    analogous penalties to those faced by providers. That is why my
    friend Greg Murphy filed this bill, H.R. 9710, and I am proud
    to be a colead. The No Surprises Enforcement Act applies the
    same penalties currently applying to providers to insurers who
    break the law, and I am excited to close this critical loophole
    and protect patients.
        The committee also has before it several proposals that
    would make healthcare more affordable, and I am happy to say
    H.R. 4710 is one of them, and I urge its passage.
        Another issue of significant concern to families and
    businesses in my district is access to affordable and reliable
    energy. That is why I strongly support H.R. 3699, the Energy
    Choice Act. The bill is simple: It prevents State and local
    governments from restricting or banning energy services based
    on the type of energy being used. It stops heavyhanded mandates
    that would eliminate affordable energy options for working
    families. It ensures that Americans, not bureaucrats, decide
    how to heat their homes, cook their meals, and power their
    small businesses.
        Missouri's Third Congressional District, which I represent,
    is home to one of the most diverse and reliable energy
    portfolios in the country, including the State's only nuclear
    power plant, strong hydropower resources, abundant natural gas,
    and affordable coal power. This balanced mix has created
    something that is increasingly rare: energy costs that are 30
    percent below the national average while still ensuring
    excellent reliability. This affordable and dependable energy
    supply is a key reason why manufacturing continues to grow in
    our region and why national companies continue to invest in our
    communities.
        But all of this is at risk when government tries to ban
    traditional energy sources or enforce a one-size-fits-all
    electrification mandate. These top-down policies might be
    popular in some cities, but they don't make sense for rural and
    suburban America, which I represent. In Missouri, these
    mandates would raise costs, strain our grid, and penalize hard-
    working families. An electric-only requirement doesn't make a
    home more modern, it makes it more expensive.
        As Congress works to strengthen American energy
    independence, H.R. 3699 should be part of that effort. It
    supports consumers, safeguards local businesses, and makes sure
    that communities like mine can keep building on our strong,
    diverse energy foundation. Missouri's Third District is ready
    to lead in energy production, manufacturing, and economic
    growth, but we can only succeed if families and employers have
    access to affordable energy.
        Thank you once again for the opportunity to appear before
    your committee. I look forward to working with the committee on
    these issues that matter deeply to the families I represent.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Onder follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for your opening
    statement. Are there any questions?
        Do you have any questions?
        Mrs. Fletcher. No.
        Mr. Guthrie. Any questions on this side?
        Seeing no questions, thank you so much for taking the time
    to present to our committee. We appreciate it very much.
        And we will call up the next panel. We have Representative
    Rivas, Ciscomani, Representative Davis, Cleaver, and Wasserman
    Schultz.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you all for being here today. We would
    like to thank you for being here, and we will give--each one
    will have 5 minutes for their statement.
        We will begin with Representative Rivas. You are recognized
    for 5 minutes. Thank you for being before our committee today.

     STATEMENT OF HON. LUZ M. RIVAS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

        Ms. Rivas. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member
    Pallone and committee members, for hosting today's Member Day
    hearing. My name is Luz Rivas. I am an electrical engineer,
    STEM educator, and nonprofit leader, but, of course, my most
    meaningful job is representing the district I was born in and
    grew up in, California's 29th Congressional District, the
    district once represented by former Energy and Commerce Member
    Tony Cardenas, and the one we both call home is in the San
    Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. It is home to hospitals, a
    pipeline of a young, diverse technological workforce, and
    energy facilities.
        However, for too long communities like mine have been
    forgotten. We have been forced to store the debris and waste
    from polluters. We have been forced to witness firsthand how
    polluters put corporate profits over people. This has impacted
    my neighborhood's access to clean air and safe drinking water.
    It has led to many of my constituents living with generational
    health problems at disproportionately higher rates than the
    surrounding areas, including higher rates of asthma and other
    respiratory diseases.
        This administration wants to empower polluters to continue
    using our backyards as their playgrounds with no consequences.
    I refuse to let that happen. I am here in Congress because
    communities like mine deserve a voice and someone who will
    fight for them against this administration's polluter-first
    agenda.
        Next week, I will be introducing legislation to ensure that
    we have the data and tools needed to identify
    disproportionately burdened communities and prioritize
    resources accordingly. My Environmental Justice Screening Tool
    Act will be an important resource in helping communities
    impacted by environmental, climate change, human health, and
    economic factors. This legislation will help make sure that the
    Federal Government can properly and equitably prioritize
    funding to environmental justice communities like mine.
        I hope to continue working with the committee on the key
    issues that are impacting environmental justice like those in
    the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.
        I also hope to continue working with this committee on
    another issue that has been increasingly important not just in
    the San Fernando Valley but across the country, and that is
    artificial intelligence. Through my experience as an engineer,
    I have seen how STEM and technology evolves at an unprecedented
    speed, and this includes AI. AI is here, and it is quickly
    reshaping how we work, how we learn, and how we communicate. At
    the rate at which AI and other emerging technologies evolve, we
    cannot afford to wait before any action is taken.
        That is why I was particularly concerned around the
    continued efforts by the majority and the Trump administration
    on enacting an AI moratorium that would limit States' ability
    to regulate AI. These attempts would have prevented States from
    writing or enacting their own AI laws for 10 years. House
    Republicans' 10-year AI moratorium provision would leave us
    unprepared to tackle these challenges as they arise.
        I am proud to have worked with this committee to lead
    efforts on the House side to remove the AI moratorium here from
    H.R. 1 and continued partnership with committee Democratic
    leaders on recent efforts.
        As someone with a STEM background in Congress, and
    alongside Rep. Neal Dunn, I also serve as cochair of the STEM
    Education Caucus. As technology continues to grow, I hope to
    work with the committee to ensure that all communities have
    access to this technology but also the ability to learn how to
    effectively use it starting at a young age.
        We have a prime opportunity to make sure our future
    workforce is prepared to work with AI and other emerging
    technologies. We have a duty to empower communities across the
    country with the tools that they need to work with AI in a
    safe, responsible, and ethical way. By understanding how AI has
    evolved and is expected to evolve, we can be better prepared to
    embrace the opportunities that AI presents and address the
    challenges that can and will arise in the future.
        We need to make sure that the United States remains a
    leader in innovation for generations to come. Thank you, and I
    look forward to working with Members of the Energy and Commerce
    Committee this Congress to increase access to technology and
    improve the environment and well-being of our constituents.
        Thank you, and I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Rivas follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you, Representative Rivas.
        Representative Ciscomani, you are recognized for 5 minutes
    for your statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. JUAN CISCOMANI, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA

        Mr. Ciscomani. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I come here to
    briefly testify in support of two different bills and will
    begin with my own.
        First, I want to take this opportunity to highlight my
    bipartisan bill, H.R. 1598, the Ensuring Access to Medicaid
    Buy-in Programs Act. Since coming to Congress, I have made it a
    priority to advance policies that benefit individuals who have
    disabilities. No working adult with a disability or other such
    barrier to employment should ever have to choose between
    earning a paycheck and keeping the essential healthcare
    benefits they rely on.
        By lifting the age limit for Medicaid buy-in programs, we
    can ensure that individuals with disabilities over the age of
    65, who depend on these programs, can continue to work, if they
    choose, while also maintaining the vital Medicaid benefits that
    they need. This legislation closes the gap in benefits and will
    allow these individuals to stay in the workforce, contribute to
    and also engage with their own communities, and receive a
    paycheck while receiving the benefits that they also deserve.
        Last Congress, this bill passed unanimously, and I look
    forward to working with you to do that again this Congress.
    Thank you.
        Now, the second bill I want to come and voice here is in
    support of H.R. 2902, the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform, or
    SOAR, Act. In beautiful and sunny Arizona, we have people from
    all over the country who choose to live, work, and retire,
    especially due to the weather and air quality necessary for the
    nearly 60,000 patients in Arizona who have cardiac or lung
    conditions.
        Currently, too many of these individuals do not have access
    to the types of supplemental oxygen they need to sustain an
    adequate quality of life. They have to plan each day around
    outdated oxygen systems that often keep them homebound and out
    of their community. This bill will help continue to provide
    access to supplemental oxygen for these individuals by ensuring
    Medicare takes a patientcentric approach that they receive
    support from respiratory therapists while also reforming
    coverage to ensuring access to products and services like
    liquid oxygen.
        I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, thankful also for
    my colleague Representative David Valadao for leading this
    effort.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Ciscomani follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
        Representative Davis, you are recognized for 5 minutes for
    your opening statement--or statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. DONALD G. DAVIS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                    FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

        Mr. Davis. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, Chairman Guthrie,
    also to the Ranking Member Pallone and to the Vice Ranking
    Member Fletcher, for allowing me to speak on the issues that
    are important to eastern North Carolina.
        Healthcare has been one of my highest priorities. While
    H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, included some
    provisions I personally supported, it also included $1 trillion
    of cuts in Medicaid over the next decade. North Carolina,
    especially our rural communities, where one hospital has closed
    since the last time I testified before you, will bear the brunt
    of all of this.
        Passing my top healthcare priority is H.R. 4277, the Rural
    Emergency Hospital Financial Stability Act, and this is vital.
    Congress passed legislation authorizing the REH model to stem
    the tide of hospital closures. Still, adoption has been slow
    because regulatory agencies are preventing Medicaid from paying
    for services in the way that Congress intended. Without proper
    Medicaid reimbursement, the REH model is simply ineffective.
        Your committee can help by passing our bipartisan bill,
    H.R. 4277, the Rural Emergency Hospital Financial Stability
    Act, which would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for
    REHs to the outpatient hospital level from the health clinic
    level.
        Beyond championing the cause of rural hospitals, we must
    also bring down drug prices for patients as rising costs
    persist. H.R. 1244, the Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act,
    ensures coinsurance rates are tied to the net price of a drug
    rather than its list price, creating parity and lower out-of-
    pocket expenses for Medicare recipients.
        We must also preserve access to drugs covered by Medicare
    for future generations. Part of the effort to do so includes
    H.R. 1492, the EPIC Act, and H.R. 1672, the Maintaining
    Investments in New Innovations Act. While the RA included many
    important policies that lower patient costs, it unfairly
    penalized small-molecule therapies, which often come in the
    form of capsule or tablets. Patients prefer pills and tablets,
    which are easier than injections. By removing artificial
    government disincentives against small-molecule therapies
    developed with genetically targeted technology, the MINI Act
    keeps cutting-edge treatments available for those who need them
    most at low cost.
        I would urge the committee to take up H.R. 2707, the
    Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax
    Act, legislation to preserve a national stockpile of anthrax
    countermeasures. Anthrax remains the single most dangerous
    biological threat to the American people, and our adversaries
    are working overtime to manufacture it, so we must act to
    prevent the worst-case scenario.
        Next, North Carolina's First Congressional District would
    benefit significantly from commonsense, bipartisan permitting
    reform. As broadband and energy demands increase, we need to
    change from the status quo. Since I entered Congress, one of my
    top priorities has been expanding broadband and improving
    affordability. Much of eastern North Carolina is rural and has
    significant infrastructure needs. Broadband will significantly
    improve the lives of families and businesses across eastern
    North Carolina.
        For energy, our communities care about reliability and
    affordability. Any reduction in reliability only puts seniors
    and children at risk of blackouts, leaving them to face
    grueling heat waves or frigid cold spells. We will not meet the
    growing energy demand in eastern North Carolina across the
    State or across this country without permitting reform. We need
    more energy generation sources online and connected to the
    grid.
        The committee must pursue an all-around energy approach. A
    combination of traditional and renewable energy sources paired
    with timely permits is necessary. We must deliver energy
    independence, reduce energy costs, and increase reliability. To
    achieve these goals, we must ensure broadband and energy
    projects are completed by bringing rural communities online and
    reduce their utility cost.
        To that end, I urge the committee to pursue true
    commonsense policies across healthcare and permitting reform
    that can improve the lives of eastern North Carolinians and the
    American people.
        Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Davis follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for your statement.
        And, Representative Cleaver, you are recognized for 5
    minutes for your statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI

        Mr. Cleaver. Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, and
    Ranking Member Pallone in absentia, and Mrs. Fletcher here in
    person. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today about a
    major priority for my congressional district. And to be sure,
    it should be a priority for the entire Nation.
        In 2022, when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act,
    one of the most exciting provisions for myself and the members
    of my community was the $7 billion investment to expand the
    deployment of solar energy for working families. My excitement
    was high, because with those dollars we could respond to the
    fact that energy prices, particularly electricity, are
    increasing significantly across the U.S. due to natural gas
    costs, grid upgrades, inflation, and extreme weather.
        This program, known as Solar for All, would have lowered
    electricity bills, created thousands of good-paying jobs,
    bolstered American manufacturing, and strengthened our electric
    grid. The EPA projected that it would bring solar energy to
    900,000 households and save Americans an estimated $350 million
    every year on energy costs at a time when families are
    struggling to keep up with rising utility bills, including
    electric prices that have climbed more than twice as fast as
    inflation.
        This investment in residential solar would have provided
    meaningful relief to my constituents and families across the
    country. And that is why I was so offended that, without
    communicating with Congress, the administration captured all of
    those funds that were approved by the Article I institution and
    signed into law by the President. And the impact would have
    been felt most by low-income and disadvantaged households, who
    have been most affected by soaring energy costs and are often
    the first to face consequences of environmental degradation.
        In my community, back in Missouri, people don't see
    investments like this as a Republican issue or a Democratic
    issue. The people that I talk to in western Missouri see
    investments in their communities and don't think about
    politics. I have not once heard a Kansas Cityian or someone
    from Independence say, ``Well, that is a Democratic bridge'' or
    ``That is a Republican road.'' To my constituents, whom I have
    also served 8 years as mayor, infrastructure is above politics.
        A newly paved road is simply a safer way to get to work. A
    repaired bridge is a lifeline to small businesses in
    communities like Marshall, Missouri. And a solar farm means
    lower electricity cost for all of us. I would expect any
    lawmaker in my seat to try to bring money back home to invest
    in our communities regardless of partisan label.
        And to be clear, these investments were supporting families
    and workers in States like Missouri and Mississippi just as
    much as they were in States like New York or New Jersey, which
    is why I am imploring this committee to remove the partisanship
    from this system so that we can do policymaking. And that is
    why I am also encouraging this committee to revive the Solar
    for All program that will bring tremendous benefits to all our
    communities.
        When Missouri was designated to receive $156 million to
    deliver residential solar energy across our great State, my
    district quickly jumped into gear to figure out how to best
    take advantage of the Federal investment we expected and
    planned. Investments like this excited our labor community, the
    business community, and everybody in between because they bring
    benefits to families, workers, small businesses, and all of the
    above. They lower costs, boost wages, generate economic
    activity, and make our communities healthier by combating
    pollution.
        When the news broke that these promised investments were
    being revoked, we were all deeply disappointed, but I refuse to
    give up on these communities and the benefits they were set to
    receive. As this committee continues to organize the priorities
    that will consume your attention in the coming year, I
    encourage you, please, to reauthorize and restore the Solar for
    All program as well as the investments that were taken from
    communities like mine.
        Comedian George Carlin said that electricity was no more
    than organized lightning, but lightning has become extremely
    expensive.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Cleaver follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. What did George Carlin say 67 percent of all
    statistics are made up? He did say that. Whatever number you
    want to use there, right.
        Well, thank you for your testimony. I don't hear many
    people quote George Carlin, so that is good.
        Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, you are recognized
    for 5 minutes for your statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA

        Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the
    ranking member, Congresswoman Fletcher, for this chance to
    present two critical bills that will continue to keep young
    people safer from two major public health threats: Breast
    cancer and drowning.
        First is H.R. 4541, the bipartisan EARLY Act, co-led by
    Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, because the timing is urgent. Right
    now, securing quality, affordable healthcare may soon be priced
    out of reach for millions of Americans, and for women that
    access is vital, especially because breast cancer more than any
    other form of this deadly disease always lurks as a threat in
    our lives. One in eight of us will get it, and 42,000 will
    likely lose their lives from it this year.
        But the earlier it is caught, the more women will survive.
    I and millions of other women have heard those devastating
    words that no one wants to hear: ``You have breast cancer.'' My
    journey to survivorship inspired me to write a more hopeful
    chapter for the millions of us who will hear those chilling
    words, and we know what works.
        In 2010, the EARLY Act became law and has helped thousands
    of young women since to pay attention to their breast health
    and to catch breast cancer early. We know that early detection
    and treatment saves lives, and that starts with education and
    awareness. This is especially true for younger women in ethnic
    and racial populations, who more often face aggressive forms of
    breast cancer or are more likely to catch it later.
        For instance, Black women are 40 percent more likely to die
    from breast cancer than White women. But breast cancer has a 99
    percent survival rate if it is caught in its early, localized
    stages. Yet that number dips to 31 percent when the cancer
    spreads to our lung, liver, or bones. And this is where the
    EARLY Act played such a critical role.
        My own journey speaks to this early detection urgency. I
    was diagnosed with breast cancer and the BRCA 2 genetic
    mutation at age 41. After 15 months of surgeries, I have been
    cancer free for 18 years now, and finding--thank you--and
    finding it early saved--I can't say that without a smile--and
    finding it early saved my life. Discovering our family's BRCA 2
    mutation may also prove to be lifesaving for my daughters as
    well.
        But millions of young women need those early detection and
    awareness tools, and reauthorizing the breast cancer Education
    and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or the EARLY Act,
    delivers that. It has consistently been reauthorized since it
    became law, and it is central to a larger strategy to save
    lives. One is to ensure that all of us can access quality,
    affordable care, but we also need to ensure that all women know
    the threats, warning signs, and available resources that they
    have to battle breast cancer.
        That is what the EARLY Act does. It centers around vital
    programs handled by the Centers for Disease Control, or the
    CDC. One component is the Bring Your Brave campaign, which
    amplifies stories that raise awareness of breast cancer in
    young women between the ages of 18 and 44 and encourages them
    to understand their risk and the signs and symptoms, which are
    different for younger women very often.
        The EARLY Act also funds the Young Breast Cancer Survivors
    Program, which provides grants to nonprofits aimed at
    delivering supportive services and resources to increase
    patient survival and improve their quality of life.
        So I would love this committee's support to reauthorize the
    EARLY Act to help ensure these resources continue, because
    breast cancer in young women has been rising, and this law is
    needed now more than ever.
        Next, I would appreciate the committee's help on H.R. 4751,
    my bipartisan Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety
    Reauthorization Act. This law has also been consistently
    reauthorized, and I am joined by Miller-Meeks and Judge Carter
    as my lead cosponsors.
        Drownings and near-drownings in pools and spas pose a
    significant public health risk, and they remain the leading
    cause of unintentional death for children age 1 to 4. In my
    home State of Florida, we are on pace to set a tragic record
    for drownings in 2025, but with increased education and the
    added layers of protection in the VGB law, we can reverse that
    and keep more innocent children safe.
        This law does that by helping to decrease drowning through
    sensible outreach, education, and prudent precautions, and it
    is done through three principle elements carried out by the
    Consumer Product Safety Commission.
        First, it requires every public pool to install safe drain
    covers that prevent suction entrapment. Since VGB became law in
    2007, there has not been a single suction drain entrapment
    death anywhere in the U.S.
        Second, it includes a grant program to incentivize States,
    municipalities, and Indian Tribes to adopt their own pool and
    spa safety laws and education efforts.
        Third, it includes pool safety, a national education
    campaign to raise awareness about drowning prevention.
        Working together, all of these efforts prevent families
    from ever suffering one of the worst tragedies imaginable, and
    that is what both bills do. They add layers of education and
    prevention to keep all of our families safer and cancer free. I
    hope you will join me, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, in
    making that possible.
        Thank you again for the committee's time and consideration.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Wasserman Schultz follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you.
        Now we have time for questions, and I will just start. I am
    not going to do 5 minutes. I just want to comment, thanks for
    your courage and what you have done to--I know you often talk
    to me on the floor of the House about these issues. I know it
    is passionate. And my guess is when you showed up to Congress
    you didn't think this was going to be your number-one issue,
    but life changes things and making it where it is going to help
    others, and we are interested in your legislation that--all of
    your legislation we have talked about. I know we specifically
    talked about yours, and we are very interested.
        Does anybody else have any comments or questions?
        Representative Barragan, and then I will go--since I went
    first, I will go Democrat and then Republican.
        Representative Barragan.
        Ms. Barragan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I just want to thank our witnesses for being here today,
    and to do it on a fly-out day at that. I wish it wasn't on a
    fly-out day so we could have the most participation, but I just
    wanted to comment on a couple of areas, things that I heard.
        I want to start with Luz Rivas. Ms. Rivas, thank you for
    your work on AI, on STEM. We need more voices on STEM and those
    in your background, so thanks for your work on that.
        Mr. Davis, you said something that resonated with me. I am
    somebody who I see needles and I am afraid instantly, and I
    run. So when you say patients prefer pills over injections, I
    couldn't agree with you more on that.
        And, Mr. Cleaver, Solar for All is something that is near
    and dear to me. My district is a majority district where you
    have air pollution, where electricity prices are skyrocketing.
    They continue to do so under this administration. This is a way
    to lower cost for consumers directly in their pockets. It is
    making sure they have access to programs like Solar for All to
    bring electricity prices down. So thank you for your continued
    advocacy. Know that I will continue to do that too as this
    administration undoes programming that has been funded and
    approved by this Congress.
        And, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, for your ongoing commitment to
    breast cancer awareness and fighting and early detection. We
    all know it is a bipartisan effort, of course. It is done every
    year, in the Congressional Softball Game as well. We should
    follow through and making sure we are supporting that effort
    with legislation.
        So thank you all for your time and for being here and for
    this opportunity.
        With that, I yield back.
        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you for yielding back. I will point out,
    my friend is also a good baseball player too. She does both.
    She does both.
        So the gentleman from Alabama is recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Palmer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Representative Wasserman Schultz, I really appreciate you
    being here. I just wanted to point out something that was in
    the Working Families Tax Cut bill: It is $50 billion for rural
    healthcare. And while the frequency for breast cancer is lower
    in rural areas, the mortality rate is considerably higher.
        One of the things that I hope each of you will do when you
    go back to your States is encourage your States to really focus
    on early-detection mobile units for breast cancer detection and
    other diagnostics, because it is absolutely critical for a lot
    of women, particularly older women in rural areas. And, again,
    I appreciate what you have done in this area. It is really
    encouraging.
        I yield back.
        Mr. Guthrie. The gentleman yields back.
        And no one else seeking recognition, so thank you to our
    panel for being here.
        I will let the committee members know, 10 minutes,
    hopefully, to the second or close to the second from the time
    the last vote is gaveled. So the call of the last vote, it
    gives you 5 minutes to vote and get back here in 5 minutes. So
    we will start 10 minutes after the last vote is called.
        So we will recess until after votes.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. Guthrie. The committee will come to order.
        I would like to thank all of our fellow Members for being
    here today, all our colleagues for being here. And I will--so 5
    minutes, everyone has 5 minutes to give their opening
    statements.
        So, Mr. Barrett, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

      STATEMENT OF HON. TOM BARRETT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

        Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for
    allowing me the opportunity to testify in front of your
    committee today.
        As we continue to work through this open enrollment period
    for healthcare plans that so many Americans are facing,
    millions are faced and being told again that their health
    insurance premium costs are going to spike again next year.
    Rising healthcare costs and our convoluted healthcare system
    continue to put a real strain on hard-working families and
    small businesses in Michigan, especially in the communities
    that I represent here in Congress.
        The bottom line is that Obamacare has failed Americans.
    Excessive regulations, mandates, and other just inefficiencies
    ignore the needs of patients and drive up costs.
        The solution by some has been to throw more money at the
    problem, most recently by subsidizing insurance companies with
    oversized so-called tax credits that are checks under the guise
    of the COVID-19 pandemic relief.I will remind your committee,
    sir, that, you know, the COVID-19 pandemic was almost 6 years
    ago now.
        Despite its name, these are not real tax credits. They
    don't go to patients but instead flow directly to the big
    health insurance companies.
        COVID is long over, thankfully, and a blanket extension of
    these subsidies is not the answer, especially since rampant
    waste, fraud, and abuse has been continued to be uncovered.
        Right now, high-income households earning more than a half
    a million dollars a year are eligible to benefit from COVID-era
    tax subsidies going to insurance companies. And perhaps most
    troubling of all, the Government Accountability Office, our own
    internal auditing arm of the Federal Government, set up fake
    health insurance accounts to test fraud prevention in this
    program. All but two of those fake accounts received taxpayer
    subsidized coverage through the premium tax credits, showing
    just how bad this problem is.
        It explains how 12 million Obamacare enrollees have never
    filed a claim against their insurance plans just last year
    alone. This means 12 million healthcare plans were never used,
    yet the health insurance companies pocketed more than $35
    billion in subsidies anyway, and those costs continue to rise.
        Premiums for Obamacare coverage have also risen by 75
    percent just since 2020. It is clear that insurance companies
    have no incentive whatsoever to keep Obamacare costs low, prove
    claims, mitigate fraud, or anything else when taxpayer
    subsidies mean higher revenues for them, all while denying more
    claims for ordinary ratepayers.
        If things stay the way they are, coverage plans will
    continue to offer poor care, patients will face higher copays
    and narrower networks, and taxpayers will still be funding the
    bill.
        Obamacare, along with the COVID-era tax credits, represents
    a deeply and fundamentally flawed approach to healthcare
    policy. We are spending more on coverage than we are on actual
    healthcare.
        There is an urgent need for real reform and accountability
    in our healthcare system. We must make significant reforms
    along the way as we deliver healthcare in this country, and it
    starts with both sides coming together with some honest
    conversations about the problems we face. And we must explore
    every avenue to restoring affordability in healthcare and not
    just doing the same thing we have always done.
        That means correcting the Obamacare medical loss ratios
    that directly benefit the insurers but don't actually lower
    premium costs. It means taking significant steps to mitigate
    fraud in our healthcare system so those that are ineligible or
    over income are not receiving taxpayer-funded benefits.
        And it also means expanding access to accounts like FSAs
    and HSAs, allowing those to be used to pay for premium costs
    and empowering individuals to make the best decisions for
    themselves and for their families. There are ways that we can
    empower individuals to make decisions that are the appropriate
    decision for them to make without the Government telling them
    how to manage their own healthcare.
        Time for action is now. We can't afford to wait any longer.
    We can'tperpetuate the status quo that is a broken system, and
    we can't continue down this unsustainable path.
        Thank you, again, Mr. Chairman. And with that, I yield
    back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Barrett follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. The gentleman yields back. Thank
    you for your statement.
        Representative Gluesenkamp Perez, you are recognized for 5
    minutes.

    STATEMENT OF HON. MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

        Ms. Perez. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, thank you Ranking
    Member Pallone, for having me.
        And I want to talk a little bit today about a subject that
    will not surprise you: right to repair. It is one of the
    primary reasons that I ran for office. And, you know, I ran an
    auto repair machine shop with my husband before coming here,
    and, you know, a lot of us feel in this country that we are
    being turned into a class of permanent renters without the
    agency to fix our own stuff, to be actual stewards of the
    things that we rely on. And it is why I support the REPAIR Act,
    that we own--and tort law going back to the 1400s affirms that,
    when you buy something, you have the right to fix it and to
    have the tools and the access.
        And, you know, you often have, like, staff kind of help
    prepare remarks and they kind of talk about how there are so
    many mechanics willing and waiting, and that is true, but I
    also want to urge that this is--there is a long tail effect
    here. If we do not affirm that you are able to have your car
    fixed or fix your car yourself or your tractor or your washing
    machine, any of these things, you will see a slow and, you
    know, hollowing out of the industry. You will see mechanics
    choose--you know, younger mechanics choosing not to go into
    this field because they have been so winnowed out of the
    authorized dealership repair track.
        And, you know, if you are a young mechanic and you are
    thinking about how you are going to start a business, you are
    going to--you are going to think about a neighborhood. You are
    going to think about the rigs that are in a neighborhood or in
    a community. You are not just going to try and make a living
    serving Toyotas or Fords or whatever it is from the last 5
    years. Those are always going to go to the dealership. And you
    will see a real loss of agency in the trades.
        The reason that so many young people today are seeing the
    trades as a viable career path for, you know, having agency in
    their lives is because they are able to work across many
    manufacturers. And as we see this march towards, you know,
    monopolies, duopolies, whatever it is, you are going to see
    people choose to stay out of this, and that is why we need
    action now. We cannot wait for this.
        Which brings me a little bit into sort of a tangential
    issue, which is, you know, we saw such a crisis with chips and
    a real demand to have more chips, but we didn't ask ourselves
    why--why the demand for chips has gone up so much.
        Did anyone ask for a washing machine that plays
    Tchaikovsky? They did not. My washing machine is from 1997.
    Think about how much wealth that has created. The average
    appliance today, I think the data is, like, life expectancy of
    3 years.
        And so do not turn the American country into a Nation of
    beggars petitioning for their right to fix their own stuff.
    Affirm that we are a Nation of people who make things, who are
    skilled and believe in agency. Affirm the rights that we have
    always had, because time is running out on this issue.
        And I would also like to point out that when you only have
    the manufacturer-approved dealerships and shops working on
    these cars, there is no independent check on the material
    quality. And I have seen, everyone who has touched a car can
    tell you that, like, the gauge of wire on a wire harnessing is
    shrinking and shrinking, and you are seeing more failures. And
    without having independent shops having access to those
    materials, to those vehicles, there is no outside check on
    material quality and saying, ``Hey, look, I wouldn't buy that
    car. I wouldn't keep going with this manufacturer because they
    are shortchanging you on the actual physical material quality
    of the car.''
        And just to, you know--one thing that I think a lot of
    Americans have affirmed is that headlights are too damn bright.
    This is a serious problem. When you look at the old halogen
    lights, like, they max out at around I think it is 600K lumens.
    The new LEDs, it is like--they can go up to like 12,000 lumens.
    They are blinding.
        And not only that, but when I used to do--I used to be able
    to do headlights for like--literally my cost for a light bulb
    was 6 bucks, 4 bucks. Now these new--like, these new headlight
    assemblies are like $1,200 repair, and it is nickel-and-diming
    the middle class out of existence.
        So not only do we need to affirm the right to repair, to
    actually work on these and not just have--you know, be a part
    swapper, but actually be able to repair.
        And this is a serious environmental impact when we are not
    able to actually get in. It is a serious risk to life and
    safety when we are not able to see after another car has passed
    us. You know, all these little clips are just failing and you
    can't properly adjust them or they don't stay adjusted.
        And for headlights, the standards have not changed since
    before I was born. They have not changed since 1985. And it is
    something that we all see. And I think part of the way that you
    depolarize the Nation is by saying, actually, ``We are living
    in the same water as you. We are going to address the issues
    and prove our utility.''
        So thank you for your time, thank you for your attention,
    sincerely.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Perez follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Dunn [presiding]. And we thank you for your time too.
    Representative Gluesenkamp Perez, I intend to address the panel
    with you about your remarks after--in a very positive way, so
    thank you.
        Mr. Sorensen, you are recognized.

     STATEMENT OF HON. ERIC SORENSEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

        Mr. Sorensen. Thank you very much to Chair Guthrie and
    Ranking Member Pallone. It is an honor to testify before you
    here today.
        I am here today to speak on several commonsense bills that
    I have introduced before the committee, legislation that lowers
    costs, protects consumers, and improves the well-being of
    families in my district and around the Nation.
        In central and northwestern Illinois, there is one issue
    that I hear about the most, and I actually learned about it
    before I was in Congress by having a conversation with my
    pharmacist. It is prescription drugs.
        The pharmacist at my Jewel-Osco in Moline, Illinois, told
    me many years ago that the worst part of her job is when a
    senior citizen pushes back an orange pill bottle back to her
    because they are too expensive. And it happens because of the
    games that Big Pharma plays to keep generics out of the hands
    of the people we serve.
        My bill, the STOP GAMES Act, addresses that tactic. STOP
    GAMES cracks down on citizen petitions that are filed not to
    improve safety but just to delay competition. Often filed at
    the last minute, these duplicative and unsupported petitions
    stall the generic approval process for years, all the while,
    keeping the prices high for those seniors at the Osco pharmacy,
    but keeping, also, the profits high for the corporations.
        STOP GAMES gives the FDA clear authority to quickly reject
    petitions whose primary purpose is to delay. And my bill will
    help put lower costs, life-saving medicines into patients'
    hands at the pharmacy counter.
        Affordability challenges extend well beyond healthcare.
    Many families face impossible choices each month: to pay their
    utility bill or to put food on the table. No one should have to
    sacrifice their health or their stability just to keep their
    tap water running. Access to clean, safe, and affordable water
    is not a luxury, and it shouldn't be in this country. It is a
    basic necessity for every household, every family in every
    community.
        My bipartisan Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program
    Establishment Act, which we call LIHWAP, is a practical and
    compassionate solution to ensure that essential water services
    remain within reach to lower-income households.
        Now, LIHWAP is modeled after the highly successful Low-
    Income Household Energy Assistance Program, called LIHEAP,
    which provides block grants to States to ensure low-income and
    vulnerable populations never lose access to heating and cooling
    services. And I will tell you, the weather back home: high
    temperature of 5 degrees both days this weekend.
        After its creation, LIHWAP in 2021 helped more than a
    million households across the country, including 80,000
    families in the Land of Lincoln. But LIHWAP was created as a
    temporary program. Its funding expired in 2023. And so it ended
    critical assistance even as families continue to struggle
    today.
        By helping families stay current on their bills, we reduce
    the shutoffs, we prevent costly emergency interventions, and
    support utilities in maintaining the infrastructure that we all
    rely on.
        And, of course, lowering costs isn't just about healthcare
    and utilities. It is about protecting people from new threats
    that drain their wallets.
        Just a couple of weeks ago, the Stephenson County,
    Illinois, sheriff told me that scam robocallers and robotexts
    are getting even more sophisticated. With artificial
    intelligence, scammers have no limit to what they do to trick
    seniors out of their savings.
        I want to thank Ranking Member Pallone for your partnership
    and your leadership on this issue. My bipartisan QUIET Act
    would double the fines for AI-driven scams and require
    disclosure when AI is used in a phone call.
        Robocalls hit a 6-year high in 2025, so the time to act is
    right now. I urge this committee to support the QUIET Act and
    help protect families across Illinois and this great country.
        The three bills that I discussed today--STOP GAMES, LIHWAP,
    and QUIET--all reflect my commitment to lowering costs,
    protecting consumers, and improving the lives of everyday
    Americans. And we should be able to come together in this
    committee from both sides of the aisle on all three of these
    issues.
        So thank you. I look forward to working with the committee
    to advance these important solutions.
        And I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Sorensen follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Dunn. Thank you very much for your comments, Mr.
    Sorensen.
        The Chair now recognizes Representative Vasquez for 5
    minutes for his comments.

     STATEMENT OF HON. GABE VASQUEZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

        Mr. Vasquez. Thank you, Chairman, thank you, Ranking Member
    Pallone, for the opportunity to be before your committee today.
        Today I want to talk about an issue that is incredibly
    important to this country but also to many New Mexicans, and
    that is patient debt. That is the ability to go to a doctor or
    go to a hospital when you need to. When you are in your car,
    when you are at home and you start to feel something that
    doesn't feel right and you are scared to go to the doctor
    because you know that the last time that you did that, bill
    collectors were harassing you, perhaps you had a lien on your
    home, or perhaps you left something untreated. That is a
    reality for many, many New Mexicans and many Americans.
        That shouldn't be it. Having healthcare in this country
    shouldn't be a luxury. Nearly 23 million Americans have
    crushing medical debt. More than 40 percent of adults in the
    country are struggling with medical bills. The data is not just
    figures on a stat sheet. It represents the pain and the stress
    for millions of Americans that wake up every single day
    wondering if they can afford to go to the doctor.
        And so the burden of medical debt falls especially hard on
    people with chronic illnesses, blue-collar workers, our rural
    communities, our Native American communities, and families
    already struggling to make ends meet.
        Now, in New Mexico, medical debt is crushing us. At least
    18 percent of our population currently faces medical debt,
    averaging more than $2,000. Now, behind each of these numbers
    is a human story. Mounting medical bills don't just drain a
    household budget, they reshape the way that we live our lives.
    Patients delay treatment because they fear another bill that
    they can't pay.
        Let me talk to you about this. When your credit score is
    destroyed in this country, it limits your opportunity to buy a
    house, to buy a new car, to do just about anything. And so when
    you are forced to go through medical bankruptcy or have your
    credit score ruined just because you chose to go to the doctor,
    I don't believe that, as the wealthiest country in the world,
    those are the situations that we have to face today.
        So when this financial stress compounds with worsening
    health in your daily life, you get trapped in a cycle. It
    deepens inequity in this country, it erodes the stability of
    entire communities. And you know what, this is when people turn
    to more unhealthy ways as they cope with this stress. And so
    too often these hardships persist when people do everything
    right.
        Even with insurance, the coverage is often too little. A
    single hospital visit, an unexpected diagnosis, or ongoing
    treatment for a chronic condition, can leave even insured
    patients with the same debt as those without coverage. I know
    this because the people in my family have gone through this:
    deductibles, surprise bills, opaque pricing pushes from
    hospitals that push families into crises.
        This is why our current patchwork of protections falls
    short. States like New Mexico have taken important steps, but
    those protections can't reach everyone and enforcement is
    uneven. Hospitals and debt collectors continue to pursue
    patients who should be eligible for financial assistance.
    Families continue to fall through the loopholes that leave them
    vulnerable to aggressive and predatory billing practices.
        And so despite the State's best efforts to protect
    patients, including legislation at the State level to curb
    aggressive collection practices, New Mexicans are targeted by
    lawsuits, wage garnishment, long-lasting financial harm. They
    lose their homes, sometimes they lose their families and their
    friends. We need action.
        This is why I put forward the Patient Debt Relief Act. This
    bill would create a Federal grant program that gets--get this,
    it allows nonprofits to purchase and forgive outstanding
    medical debt, because our insurance company and our current
    hospital billing practices are forcing nonprofits to raise
    money for folks out there.
        Now, you have seen those GoFundMe accounts when somebody
    gets sick that reach up to a million dollars because somebody
    has a great story. Is that the way we should behandling
    healthcare in this country? I don't think so. However, when
    nonprofits can step up and be able to pay for those outstanding
    bills, that is a step forward.
        So that is what the Patient Debt Relief Act does. It
    tackles medical debt crisis at its roots. It pairs both strict
    patient protections with the new Federal debt relief program.
    Because old medical debt is sold on the market, as we know, for
    pennies on the dollar--so every $1 in grant funding can raise
    up to $100 of debt--a $100 million investment can wipe out
    billions in burdensome medical bills for families that are
    already struggling to get by.
        And we know, for those of us who have gone through this,
    that sometimes after you get that $800 or $8,000 medical bill
    and you can't pay it, eventually the collector says, ``You know
    what? We will let you pay it for $100. We will let you pay it
    for $400.'' How is that possible?
        With these funds, a nonprofit partner could identify
    individuals whose medical debt exceeds 5 percent of their
    income or whose earnings fall below $62,000.
        So I urge this committee to take this really important bill
    and this very important issue, which, mind you, is a temporary
    fix but is one that New Mexicans and Americans desperately need
    so that they can pay for their medical bills. Again, that is
    the Patient Debt Relief Act.
        I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Vasquez follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. Thank you very much for your comments, Mr.
    Vasquez.
        Now we turn to Representative Mannion. You have 5 minutes
    for your comments.

    STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN W. MANNION, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

        Mr. Mannion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member,
    members of the full committee. I appreciate the opportunity to
    testify today.
        Today I want to share what I have been hearing from my
    constituents in New York 22 regarding the healthcare crisis and
    energy affordability. Across central New York and the Mohawk
    Valley, people are afraid of what these rising healthcare costs
    mean for them and their loved ones.
        If Congress doesn't act quickly, and in a bipartisan way,
    seniors and working families will soon have to choose between
    the medications they need or paying their bills and putting
    food on the table. Small business owners who want to do right
    by their employees are afraid they will no longer be able to
    keep the lights on.
        It is a shame that, over the past year, the House majority
    has been laser-focused on passing the largest cuts to
    healthcare in our country's history. And now it seems that they
    are poised to let the subsidies that help millions of Americans
    make ends meet and afford their health coverage will expire at
    the end of this year.
        The cuts will impact all of us. When essential services are
    gutted, health centers face insurmountable shortfalls, people
    are forced to drop their coverage, and everything gets more
    expensive. We all end up paying more for less.
        Before Congress adjourns for the holidays, let's extend the
    enhanced premium tax credits to prevent premiums from spiking
    and give individuals and small businesses some certainty so we
    can avoid the healthcare crisis the President and the majority
    party here in Congress have inflicted unnecessarily upon the
    American people.
        I would also like to speak today about the need to address
    rising energy costs and urge the committee to work on creative
    Federal solutions to expand access to more affordable energy
    for consumers.
        On average, New York State residents have experienced a
    $190 annual increase in electricity spending over the past
    year. In my congressional district, NY 22, utility bills have
    recently increased by more than 10 percent, and it is expected
    that the average household will see a $600 annual increase over
    the next 3 years.
        I would like to share with you some of my concerns that
    have come to our office from my constituents and they have
    shared with me recently.
        Michelle from Cortland wrote to me that, ``My husband and I
    are paying the equivalent of a mortgage to keep heating our
    home. Our friends and neighbors are also paying somewhere
    between $700 and $1,000 per month in electricity even with
    similar or decreased usage.''
        Owen from Cazenovia wrote, over the last year, ``My
    electricity costs have surged, despite making every attempt to
    minimize use and leverage smart technology, such as connected
    thermostats, installation of heat pumps, switching to LED
    bulbs, and more. Despite incurring the expense associated with
    these upgrades, we have also seen our bills rise, with no end
    in sight.''
        Kelly from Waterville has seen her bill go up by $115 in
    September to $713 in November.
        As more data centers and energy-intensive projects get
    added to the grid, we cannot let consumers get stuck with the
    tab. I urge this committee to keep consumers and their rising
    energy costs in mind as it considers legislation or provides
    feedback to the administration on regulatory action. Americans
    need more affordable energy options, and I urge this committee
    to work with Members on creative solutions that will both
    support U.S. energy dominance and independence but also lower
    costs for consumers.
        Americans deserve clean, affordable, consistent, reliable
    energy systems, and they need to be innovative. We should
    continue to invest so that we can meet the challenge across the
    global markets as it relates to energy generation and
    transmission.
        And with that, I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Mannion follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. Thank you. The gentleman yields back, and I want
    to thank you for your comments.
        I would like to thank all of our fellow Members again for
    being here today. And we are just going to take a few minutes
    to reset the table for the next panel of Members.
        In the meantime, I am going to recognize myself for just a
    few minutes, 5 minutes, to make a comment on the last panel.
        Especially close to my heart--and I know that
    Representative Pallone knows this--is the Right to Repair Act.
    We have been working on that for a number of years.
    Representative Gluesenkamp Perez did a very eloquent job of
    presenting the case for the Right to Repair, not just for
    vehicles but across all manufacturing sectors. And she is
    right, it is a very insidious problem, and we are losing
    ownership of our manufactured goods. And I think we really need
    to pay attention to that, and I thank her for bringing that
    perspective to the committee today.
        We are resetting the table now, and we will have the next
    panel in just a moment.
        [Pause.]
        Mr. Dunn. All right. We are back in order.
        And I want to, once again, thank the Members for coming to
    present their ideas to the Energy and Commerce Committee today.
    It is important that we communicate with each other.
        Let me start by recognizing Representative Amo for 5
    minutes on his comments.

     STATEMENT OF HON. GABE AMO, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
                       THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

        Mr. Amo. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you, Mr. Ranking
    Member, and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you
    for the opportunity to testify today.
        It is a great honor to work together to protect consumers,
    strengthen healthcare, and improve the lives of all Rhode
    Islanders and all Americans.
        First, I want to speak to the persistent crisis of
    healthcare affordability. I hear from constituents that
    healthcare cost is skyrocketing. We all do. It is one of the
    most urgent challenges facing families.
        Republicans slashed over $1 trillion from our healthcare
    system and ripped away health insurance from more than 39,000
    Rhode Islanders in their Big Ugly Law. It will have devastating
    consequences. These cuts hurt everyone. When people lose
    coverage and providers are forced to do more with less, the
    stability of our entire healthcare system is at risk, and
    everyone--everyone--pays more.
        I look forward to working with this committee to ensure our
    constituents have access to reliable, affordable healthcare.
        Second, we must defend robust sustained investment in
    scientific and medical research through the National Institutes
    of Health. Last year alone, researchers in Rhode Island
    received more than $256 million in NIH support for work on
    Alzheimer's disease, dementia, heart disease, diabetes
    prevention, and many other conditions, along with over $21
    million dedicated to student training. This research and
    training will save lives.
        The NIH Director named training future biomedical
    scientists as a top priority. Yet President Trump's NIH funded
    896 fewer early-career grants this year, supporting the lowest
    number of researchers in nearly 10 years. The United States
    leads the world in biomedical research because of consistent
    NIH investment. When Trump underfunds the NIH, we delay cures,
    stall promising treatment pipelines, and risk losing an entire
    generation of researchers.
        That is why I led a letter with Representatives DeGette,
    Sanchez, Fletcher and Houlahan, joined by a majority of House
    Democratic Members, opposing Trump's illegal slashing of the
    reimbursement rates for cutting-edge research. I urge this
    committee to defend robust NIH funding and reject proposals
    that put lifesaving research at risk.
        Third, I want to highlight my bipartisan Having Overdose
    Protection Equipment Act, the HOPE Act. New England has been
    struck hard by the opioid crisis. While harm reduction tools
    like naloxone have helped reduce fatal overdoses in Rhode
    Island by 36 percent in recent years, there is still more work
    to do.
        That is why Iintroduced the HOPE Act. Just like putting
    AEDs in schools and libraries to save countless Americans from
    cardiac arrest, putting naloxone in public places--more public
    places--will save lives and restore hope.
        This bill would make it easier for States to make naloxone
    available in public spaces so bystanders can step up and use
    this lifesaving intervention if they see someone experiencing
    an overdose.
        I look forward to continuing to work with this committee,
    including Congressman Tonko, a cosponsor of the bill, to
    advance this bipartisan legislation.
        Finally, I want to address the growing threat of scams
    targeting the American people. Scams have become a nationwide
    crisis, increasingly sophisticated, tech-driven, and
    devastating for families, seniors, and small businesses in
    every community, including Rhode Island.
        The impact of scams is deeply personal. When people are
    scammed, they don't just lose money, hard-earned savings, they
    lose confidence, and independence is taken away from them.
    Seniors are often hit the hardest, with money stolen from older
    Americans soaring from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in
    2024.
        That is why I helped launch the bipartisan Stop Scams
    Caucus with my fellow cochairs, Congressmen Shreve, Raskin, and
    Nunn, to strengthen enforcement, expand public education, and
    ensure Americans have the tools and resources to stay safe.
        I also introduced a bipartisan, bicameral National Strategy
    for Combating Scams Act to bring together over a dozen Federal
    agencies and the private sector to create a national strategy
    for combating scams and standardize definitions and reporting
    standards.
        I urge the committee to support moving this bipartisan bill
    so that we can crack down on scams and protect consumers.
        In closing, I look forward to continuing our work together
    to lower healthcare costs, champion scientific research, combat
    the opioid epidemic through the HOPE Act, and protect Americans
    from scams.
        I appreciate your great partnership in delivering on these
    priorities for my constituents in Rhode Island and those across
    the country.
        And with that, I yield back. Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Amo follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. The gentleman yields back. We thank him for his
    comments.
        We now turn our attention to the gentlewoman from Oregon,
    Representative Bynum. You are recognized for 5 minutes for your
    comments.

        STATEMENT OF HON. JANELLE S. BYNUM, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

        Ms. Bynum. Good morning. Chairman Guthrie and Ranking
    Member Pallone, thank you so much for holding this hearing and
    giving an opportunity for off-committee Members to share our
    priorities in your committee's jurisdiction.
        So I am here today to talk with you about H.R. 4486, the
    Microplastics Safety Act. So when I started working on this
    issue, my staff told me a pretty shocking fact, that most of us
    have a spoon's worth of microplastics in our brains. And what
    was even more shocking to me was how those plastics are
    potentially getting into our system. And the answer is it is
    because microplastics are everywhere.
        So some of us, you know, may think of it coming from
    polluted water or something like that, but in fact it is, when
    you are heating up food in the microwave, microplastics from
    the servingware could be entering your system. If you are doing
    laundry, the air you are breathing is full of plastic particles
    due to synthetics in the fabric. And even something as simple
    as brushing your teeth. I learned from my daughter's dental
    school class, microplastics are in the toothbrush that you
    should be using multiple times a day.
        So bottom line is that they are everywhere, and the
    evidence is growing that they are posing a serious threat to
    our health and our safety.
        Now, I am also an engineer, and I know that we can innovate
    our way out of any problem, but what I also know is that we
    can't do that without data. So there is simply not enough data
    out there right now to begin solving the problems of
    microplastics, and that is where my bill comes in.
        My Microplastics Safety Act would require the FDA to
    conduct its first-ever study on the human health of
    microplastics in food, water, and other products. And by
    requiring the FDA to report back to Congress on how exposure is
    affecting human health, we will have the data we need to start
    putting forth some solutions to help keep Americans safe and
    healthy. And I am proud to say that my bill has very strong
    bipartisan and bicameral support.
        I want to thank my Republican partner, Representative Greg
    Steube, and our Senate leads, Senators Jeff Merkley and Rick
    Scott.
        This bill also has 12 bipartisan House cosponsors,
    including Energy and Commerce Committee Members Congresswoman
    Debbie Dingell and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
    Subcommittee Chairman Gus Bilirakis.
        And, in fact, a September 2025 report released by HHS and
    the Trump administration lists microplastics as one of the
    chemicals of highest concern for children and calls on our
    health agencies to evaluate the risks from human exposure to
    microplastics.
        So here is what we know so far. Studies have shown a 50
    percent--that is 50 percent--increase in the levels of plastic
    in human brain samples when compared to 2016. And in a sample
    of 30 rivers in my home State of Oregon, microplastics were
    found in 100 percent of them.
        So what is so concerning about that is that studies have
    also linked plastic exposure to things like cancer, endocrine
    disruption, and chronic illness.
        So I believe we can't take a wait-and-see approach here. It
    is time to be proactive. And I don't want to be looking back 20
    years from now with cancer rates skyrocketing wishing we had
    done something sooner. So that is why I have come here today to
    urge this committee to take up my Microplastics Safety Act,
    H.R. 4486. Let's make some progress for the sake of our
    children, our families, and all Americans' health.
        Thank you, and I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Bynum follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. The gentlelady yields back. Thank you for your
    comments.
        We now turn our attention to the gentleman from Puerto
    Rico, Representative Hernandez. You are recognized for 5
    minutes for your comments.

    STATEMENT OF HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ, A RESIDENT COMMISSIONER
             IN CONGRESS FROM THE TERRITORY OF PUERTO RICO

        Mr. Hernandez. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member
    Pallone, esteemed colleagues.
        I come here with a simple, single, straightforward,
    bipartisan ask: Medicaid parity for Puerto Rico. This is
    something that my predecessor and current Republican Governor
    of the island, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, has long advocated
    for, and it is a fight that I am continuing on behalf of my
    people.
        Puerto Rico has 3.2 million residents, and approximately
    1.5 million, almost half of the island's population, benefits
    from Medicaid. Yet while States receive an annually adjusted
    FMAP that reflects their per capita income and economic
    conditions, Puerto Rico's FMAP is written into statute. And
    during the past few years, starting in 2023, Congress
    established a statutory FMAP of 76 percent, but that expires in
    fiscal year 2027. And if it goes back to pre-2023 levels, down
    to 55 percent, it would entail a reduction of billions of
    dollars for our healthcare funding. The island would fall into
    catastrophic healthcare--into a catastrophic healthcare crisis,
    into acatastrophic fiscal crisis.
        Now, this is inherently unfair because Puerto Rico has 3.2
    million American citizens that deserve fair and equal treatment
    in Federal programs. We fight in U.S. wars, we have a
    significant amount of veterans residing in our island, and we
    contribute to the Nation as a whole.
        Other territories have a permanent FMAP written into law,
    but Puerto Rico remains the only jurisdiction without a durable
    long-term solution.
        Now, every extension buys time, but only parity buys
    stability. So I urge you, once again, to save Puerto Rico from
    a healthcare and fiscal catastrophe and to enact a permanent
    solution to Puerto Rico's Medicaid funding challenges. It is a
    matter of simple fairness, it is a matter of justice, and it is
    a matter of economic opportunity.
        So I thank you all for your interest on this matter. I look
    forward to working together to solve this problem, and I will
    be back with the Governor fighting for the people of Puerto
    Rico in a matter that goes beyond political partisan
    affiliations.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Hernandez follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie [presiding]. Thank you. And I just want to
    apologize for the confusion of us switching chairs while you
    were talking. I apologize. You have two artillery men, so we--
    it is hard for us not to be quiet when we talk to each other.
        Mr. Hernandez. You can make it up with parity for Puerto
    Rico's Medicaid program. Thank you.
        Mr. Guthrie. Well, I know we have time to discuss after,
    but we are well aware and worked, both of us, in the fix that
    is currently in place. So, yes, we are well aware. So thank
    you, sir. I understand the priority.
        So, Representative Randall, you are now recognized for 5
    minutes for your statement.

     STATEMENT OF HON. EMILY RANDALL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

        Ms. Randall. Thank you so much, Chairman Guthrie and
    Ranking Member Pallone, for the opportunity to testify before
    Energy and Commerce today.
        I would like to start by sharing with you what drives my
    personal interest and passion in building an equitable
    healthcare system. My sister, Olivia, was born with
    microcephaly, a condition where her brain could not fully
    develop, leading to a lifelong health challenge: complications,
    disabilities, expensive medical care.
        My dad worked a civilian job at the Department of Defense,
    and even with his good government insurance, the care Olivia
    needed to grow and live for 19 years would not have been
    possible without one thing: Medicaid--specifically, the
    Washington State Legislature's decision to expand Medicaid the
    very year Olivia was born, in 1993.
        Olivia's journey taught me something important: When
    government recognizes what people need, it has the power to
    help them.
        Olivia's life fueled my career in public service, fighting
    to ensure families like mine can access the care and support
    that every person deserves. And I want to make one thing clear:
    To me, to so many of my constituents, healthcare is a human
    right. No person in the richest country in the world should be
    denied care because of their income, their ZIP Code, or their
    immigration status.
        In the State legislature I worked every day to protect and
    expand healthcare access, including leading Washington's effort
    to expand postpartum Medicaid. Our law, like the many States
    that followed, ensures individuals can access Medicaid services
    for the full 12 months after their pregnancy ends, giving
    families stability during a critical period.
        This law is a perfect example of why I am passionate about
    healthcare policy. When we meet people where they are, we can
    ensure that they have the tools that they need to keep
    themselves, their families, and their communities healthy and
    thriving. That is why I am a strong supporter of Medicaid
    expansion.
        Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, States can choose to
    expand Medicaid, like Washington did, providing millions of
    low-income Americans access and coverage. In States that
    expanded Medicaid, the numbers of uninsured dropped
    dramatically, giving families peace of mind and access to
    preventative care.
        In my State, the average monthly enrollment pre-ACA was
    1,117,576. Because of Medicaid expansion, total monthly
    enrollment reached an all-time high of more than 2 million
    individuals in 2022, a 94 percent increase, nearly double the
    number of people who could count on healthcare.
        Medicaid expansion doesn't just help individual families.
    It keeps entire communities afloat. Across the country,
    Medicaid is the single largest payer for rural hospitals,
    including in my district. When States expand Medicaid,
    hospitals stay open. When States don't, hospitals close. It is
    that simple.
        But the cuts to Medicaid in the Big Ugly Law, in addition
    to tariffs on medical equipment and the unwillingness to extend
    Affordable Care Act tax credits for those who rely on them,
    will severely impact rural hospitals by threatening vital
    services and limiting access to care.
        Of my district's five rural hospitals, all are facing tough
    decisions about what services they can continue to provide when
    Republican policy makes their jobs nearly impossible. They may
    not be closing their doors, but they have to decide, will they
    cut labor and delivery so someone has to drive 2 hours to give
    birth? Will they cut cancer care, neuro services?
        I spoke with James in Aberdeen, Washington, who shared the
    impacts of H.R. 1 on his family. He is the primary caregiver
    for his wife, who is battling late-stage Parkinson's and who
    relies on regular hospital visits and specialized care through
    Medicaid. These cuts will make it nearly impossible for him to
    secure what his wife needs, leaving their family facing
    devastating uncertainty and hardship.
        I don't think any of us on either side would say that the
    system that we have is perfect or working exactly as it was
    intended to. I do, however, have real concerns about saying
    that, because it is not perfect, we should cut Medicaid or not
    reinstate these Affordable Care Act tax credits, actions that
    will result in millions more Americans losing their healthcare
    and leaving the system even more broken.
        What we need is fundamental reform. We need universal
    healthcare. We need to remove layers of profit and bureaucracy.
    We need a system where every person can go to the doctor,
    receive the care they need, and leave without worrying if they
    can afford it.
        The West Coast has banded together to study and design such
    a system, efforts I supported by creating Washington State's
    Universal Healthcare Commission. These efforts show that
    practical, achievable steps towards universal coverage are
    possible, but only if we work together and commit to the work
    ahead.
        I am eager to work with the members of Energy and Commerce,
    including you, Ranking Member, and you, Mr. Chair.
        And thank you so much for the time and opportunity to
    testify.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Randall follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for your statement.
        Representative Yakym, you are recognized for 5 minutes for
    your statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. RUDY YAKYM III, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                       FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA

        Mr. Yakym. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member
    Pallone, for holding today's Member hearing and allowing me to
    testify.
        As a father of three beautiful children, I think that most
    parents would certainly agree that, when you bring that first
    child home, those initial days can be terrifying. Whether it is
    having to deal with the fact that there are no nurses there to
    help--sometimes you may have a little bit of family in town
    but, ultimately, it is now on you to keep this child that God
    has entrusted you with alive. And you are also doing a lot of
    learning on the job.
        Of course, there are sleepless nights, not just because of
    feedings or a child who is up in the middle of the night
    crying, but also because of the threat of sudden infant death
    syndrome, or SIDS. It always lurks in the back of your mind.
        SIDS is the unexplained death of a healthy baby under 1
    year old that typically occurs during sleep. According to the
    Cleveland Clinic, about 2,500 infants die from SIDS annually.
    That is 2,500 families that have to endure the unbelievable
    heartbreak of losing a child.
        The causes for SIDS are largely unknown, and prevention
    options are often limited to sleep practice--safe sleep
    practices. However, over the past decade there have been
    advancements in in-home infant cardiorespiratory monitors.
    These devices are typically worn on an infant's foot and track
    the infant's heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other vitals,
    and can notify parents or caregivers if vitals drop. I wish we
    had some of these new technologies when my kids were newborns.
        While this technology is promising, there are limited
    studies on its effectiveness and, thus, limited insurance
    coverage. That is why I am proud to lead H.R. 2168, the Baby
    Observation Act, or BO's Bill. This bill directs the Secretary
    of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and submit a
    report to Congress on home cardiorespiratory monitors for
    infants. This report would include evidence on effectiveness,
    performance, and accuracy of such devices.
        Additionally, it would include criteria and recommendations
    for public and private health insurance coverage of such
    devices if they are proven effective.
        BO's Act is named after Bo Newton from Lakeville. And that
    is in my district. And it is a family, and definitely a child
    who has certainly greatly benefited from this technology. His
    parents have become strong advocates for helping other families
    access this technology.
        This technology can be lifesaving. It is important that we
    fully study its capabilities and expand access as necessary. No
    parent should have to endure the immense pain of losing a
    child, and these types of devices can make all the difference.
        Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone, I would like
    to work with you and your staff to advance this important bill
    through committee and across the House floor.
        Thank you for your time and consideration, and I yield
    back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Yakym follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. The gentleman yields back.
        Is there anybody seeking recognition for questions? Mr.
    Pallone?
        Thank you. I appreciate you being here, and thank you for
    your statement.
        And now we will call up the next panel.
        [Pause.]
        Mr. Guthrie. All right. Now we have the new panel
    impounded, and so, Representative Bonamici, who has been my
    great colleague on the Ed and Workforce Committee and worked on
    a lot of bills together.
        Ms. Bonamici. We did.
        Mr. Guthrie. So thanks for being before Energy and Commerce
    today, and you are recognized for 5 minutes.

        STATEMENT OF HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

        Ms. Bonamici. Well, thank you very much, Chairman Guthrie,
    Ranking Member Pallone. Thank you for the opportunity to be
    here and to share our thoughts about priority legislation for
    the committee.
        I am here today to advocate for a bill this committee
    should once again make a priority, the bipartisan Alan
    Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now bill, which is House Resolution
    5373.
        It is dangerous and unacceptable that the United States
    still allows the importation, manufacturing, and distribution
    of asbestos. It is a known carcinogen that has claimed too many
    lives in our country and around the world.
        We know that asbestos exposure continues to cause
    devastating health effects, particularly for those working in
    conditions where this deadly material is or was present. Tens
    of thousands of Americans die from occupational asbestos
    exposure each year, and thousands of people are diagnosed with
    mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer.
        Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos that has
    been used in insulation and fireproofing material in homes, in
    commercial buildings, and common products such as paint and
    construction materials. And mesothelioma also
    disproportionately affects first responders, with firefighters
    at much higher risk of developing this deadly cancer compared
    with the general population.
        The bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which
    is named for a husband and father who lost his life at the age
    of 66 after a 4-year battle with this deadly disease, would ban
    the commercial use of all six recognized asbestos fiber types.
        We have worked hard to focus this bill on addressing the
    use of asbestos in commercial products. The scope of the bill
    applies only to the manufacturer, processing, use, and
    distribution in commerce, including importation of commercial
    asbestos.
        In the rare instances where asbestos may be used in a
    commercial product for national security purposes, this bill
    has an exception that allows the President to grant an
    exemption from the ban.
        And the bill also guarantees that the ban does not
    inadvertently create liability for natural impurities that
    occur in commercial activities for other substances. We worked
    very hard on this.
        The bill states explicitly that it has no effect on
    regulating cosmetics under the Federal Food and Drug Cosmetics
    Act, as you all know.
        Finally, the bill provides the chlorine industry, which is
    the top importer of asbestos in the United States, until
    January 2030 to phase out their use of asbestos in
    manufacturing.
        So back in the 116th Congress, this committee did advance
    the bill through committee with a vote of 47 to 1. And as a
    reminder, both you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman Guthrie and
    Ranking Member Pallone, supported it. Didn't get through the
    Senate, but we came very, very close in that Congress.
        Since then, we have worked very hard to improve the bill
    and update it. We continue to have bipartisan support. We also
    worked with stakeholders to address concerns, and we now have
    support from a broad coalition of stakeholders in public health
    as well as industry.
        Key supporters of this legislation include the American
    Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the International
    Association of Firefighters, the National Stone, Sand, and
    Gravel Association, Olen Corporation, the American Federation
    of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the American Public
    Health Association, and the Asbestos Disease Awareness
    Organization.
        So now is the time for Congress to finally address this
    issue and permanently ban asbestos. And I tell you, Mr.
    Chairman and Ranking Member, when I speak with people,
    colleagues about this, the first response when I am telling
    them about the bill is, Do you mean it is still legal in the
    United States? It is, unfortunately.
        And although administrations have attempted to address this
    issue through regulation, a bill signed into law would be the
    strongest action to protect public health and bring closure and
    justice to all of the victims of this horrible carcinogen and
    their families.
        So, Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, thank you for
    your time today. Thank you for your past support of this
    bipartisan legislation. I look forward to continuing to work
    with you both to advance this important, lifesaving bill.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Bonamici follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thanks for your statement.
        And we also are going to have every Wyoming to testify
    before us today. So my good friend from Wyoming, you are
    recognized for 5 minutes.

       STATEMENT OF HON. HARRIET M. HAGEMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WYOMING

        Ms. Hageman. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member
    Pallone. Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify
    today. I appreciate your leadership on this committee.
        As an off-committee Member, I also enjoyed working with you
    on the work related to the One Big Beautiful Bill this summer.
        Today I want to discuss two priorities within your
    jurisdiction: combating fentanyl counterfeiting and
    prioritizing oversight reform of Section 230 of the
    Communications Decency Act.
        I have introduced alongside Representative Stansbury the
    Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act, and Senators Cornyn and Coons
    are our bipartisan Senate partners in this fight.
        As our Nation addresses the fentanyl crisis, we hear tragic
    overdose stories where Americans are unknowingly exposed to
    lethal doses of fentanyl. Contributing to this issue is the
    cartels illicitly using pill press machines that are also used
    by pharmaceutical companies so that they can disguise fentanyl
    as prescription and other drugs to facilitate their entrance
    into our country.
        This bill would add a serialization requirement for pill
    presses and punches, and it would prohibit the removal or
    alteration of these serial numbers or the distribution of
    machines with tampered serial numbers.
        The DEA and other Federal law enforcement agencies believe
    that serializing pill presses will better help solve crimes and
    specifically help investigators identify crucial links in the
    chain to trace the pill presses back to the cartels.
        Turning to Section 230, I have two primary concerns: first,
    it lacks a sunset to require reauthorization; and, second, the
    broad grant of immunity for the removal of content that the
    tech companies define as otherwise objectionable.
        Technological advancement is a defining characteristic of
    America, but we have the unique challenge of legislating in the
    internet age, where the pace of technological advancement moves
    much faster than ever before, and certainly faster than the
    Federal Government.
        Baked into the House rules are general oversight
    responsibilities to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of
    Federal law. Section 230's civil liability shield is an area
    where we have not adequately exercised such oversight
    effectively, which I contribute to the lack of sunset in these
    authorities.
        I have long been a proponent for including sunsets in
    almost all bills granting government authority and believe we
    commit legislative malpractice when we don't do so. This
    principle is especially true when Federal law covers
    technology, which will always evolve more quickly than
    government and the drafters of a bill at a certain point in
    time can predict.
        I can point to no better example of this issue than Section
    230's immunity for the removal of content that is allegedly
    otherwise objectionable. ``Otherwise objectionable'' is an
    undefined standard in the statute. The social media giants,
    companies that the authors of Section 230 could have never
    anticipated at the time of its drafting, have instead defined
    that standard for us.
        Basing immunity for content removal on the standard of what
    is objectionable is not an appropriate standard because it is
    not shared among our citizens. What is objectionable to me may
    not be for others. And today what is considered objectionable
    is an ever-moving target defined by Big Tech, and one in which
    the 118th Congress' oversight work was defined with a liberal
    Silicon Valley bias that collaborated with the Federal
    Government for the largest stretch to our First Amendment
    rights in U.S. history.
        Therefore, I believe we must add a sunset provision to
    Section 230, not for the purpose of allowing it to lapse
    entirely but to force this chamber to consider its purpose,
    application, and role in the future of our Nation.
        If and when we get to the reconsideration of Section 230,
    we must also reconsider the ``otherwise objectionable''
    standard. On the internet, on social media, and with artificial
    intelligence we have seen the dangers the online world can
    pose, especially to our children. Social media companies can
    play a major role in protecting our children if they are
    allowed to remove this harmful content, and that is why I
    believe this liability shield must shift from objectionable
    content to unlawful content.
        To propose legislative solutions to address these issues, I
    will soon introduce a bill to sunset Section 230 within the
    119th Congress. And I am also a proud cosponsor of
    Representative Gosar's Stop the Censorship Act, which would
    implement this ``unlawful'' standard in place of the
    ``otherwise objectionable'' standard.
        As this committee builds its agenda for the second session,
    I strongly urge that Section 230 be on the list of priorities.
        Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today, and I
    yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Hageman follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you for being here. I appreciate that.
        The gentleman from Ohio, 5 minutes for your statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. DAVID J. TAYLOR, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                         FROM THE STATE OF OHIO

        Mr. Taylor. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member
    Pallone, for giving me this opportunity to speak today. And
    thank you for all the hard work this committee does.
        I represent a very rural Appalachian district of southern
    Ohio, and I am here today to talk about two issues that are
    vitally important to the people who call southern Ohio home:
    broadband coverage and prescription drug prices.
        From the beginning, my top priority as a Member of Congress
    has been expanding rural broadband. The district I represent is
    not only one of the most disconnected in the country in terms
    of broadband but also one of the most impoverished. I believe
    those two stats are unquestionably linked. Those who have
    broadband access inherently have an advantage in the modern
    economy over those who don't.
        That is why it has been my top mission in Congress to try
    to get folks connected to broadband now, not 10 or 20 years
    from now.
        I come before the committee to highlight one of the bills
    that I think could help achieve that goal for those who need it
    most. I was proud to lead the Bridging the Broadband Gap Act,
    which I introduced earlier this year. This bill would simply
    add a provision within the $42.5 billion BEAD Program to allow
    States to offer discounted prices for low-income individuals
    for both the equipment and the monthly cost to get connected to
    satellite broadband, or fix wireless.
        I believe fiber is the gold standard of broadband, but the
    people of southern Ohio cannot afford to wait for it to get to
    them. The cost of getting connected is oftentimes a major
    impediment, and this bill would help get people connected now
    while fiber is being built out.
        And as we continue to discuss affordability, allowing
    States to offer a discounted price would drastically lower
    costs in rural America. Several States will also have a
    significant amount of money left over after their initial
    planning, and this could be a great use of those dollars.
        I also want to flag that we have heard from our experts in
    Ohio of the need for a skilled workforce to deploy all of this
    broadband funding, so I am happy to work with the committee to
    figure out the best path forward on that.
        I applaud the States already offering discounted prices
    under the BEAD program, and I hope that by passing my bill we
    could get all States to offer a program to make broadband more
    affordable while truly bridging the gap between now and when
    fiber gets to the homes. I am happy to work with this committee
    and the administration to make this a reality, and I appreciate
    your consideration.
        And now moving onto another important topic: price
    transparency in healthcare. It is no secret that prescription
    drug costs are through the roof. We have all seen drug
    commercials on TV, probably lots of them by now. You see
    everything in those commercials from people flying kites to
    people running on the beach. The one thing you never really
    see, though, is the price of the drug.
        Because of a lack of price transparency, patients often
    don't know how much their prescription drug could cost them
    until they are rung up at the pharmacy counter. When drugs can
    cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, that is important
    information for a family to know.
        During the first Trump administration, HHS recognized this
    issue needed to be addressed. To promote price transparency,
    they drafted a rule that would have required pharmaceutical
    companies to include the list price of the drug in their
    advertisements. Unfortunately, a Federal court blocked the
    rule, stating HHS did not have the authority to institute that
    requirement and Congress would need to act.
        I believe we need to give them that authority, and that is
    why I introduced the Drug Price Transparency for Consumers Act.
    This bill will do exactly what the first Trump administration
    was trying to do: require direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical
    advertisements to include the list price of the drug. Polling
    shows that 88 percent of Americans support this policy.
    Presumably, the other 12 percent is made up of people who
    didn't understand the question and pharmaceutical executives.
        The policy is widely supported by both Republicans and
    Democrats, patients and providers, young and old. The price of
    healthcare shouldn't be a secret. Obviously, there is a lot of
    partisan divide right now on healthcare issues, and I get it.
    Healthcare is a very important issue. It is an issue that
    Congress needs to get right. But I think requiring price
    transparency in drug advertisements is an issue we have wide
    agreement on in this country. I hope we have an opportunity to
    make good on people's wishes in this Congress.
        I thank Congresswoman Schakowsky for cosponsoring the bill
    with me.
        And I would love to work with you, Mr. Chairman, to bring
    about price transparency with this bill.
        Thank you again, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, for
    giving me this opportunity to speak here today. I am looking
    forward to me and my staff working with you on all these
    important issues, and I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Taylor follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you for your testimony. Your
    predecessor, President Johnson of Youngstown State, we had a
    hearing--my friend conducted a hearing remotely on this same
    issue about broadband connectivity. I don't know if you
    remember this, but I couldn't help but comment. I said, ``You
    are driving around''--he was in his car. ``You are driving
    around your district talking about how your district is not
    connected.'' I know, certain areas aren't, most areas are, but
    I thought that was kind of a funny thing that he was talking
    about not getting connectivity while he is driving in his
    district. I like to pick on him sometimes. So thank you for
    your testimony.
        Mr. Steil, the gentleman from Wisconsin, you are recognized
    for 5 minutes.

      STATEMENT OF HON. BRYAN STEIL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

        Mr. Steil. Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, thanks
    for having me in to talk about two important topics to the
    State of Wisconsin. The State of Wisconsin is the Dairy State,
    so if you were guessing that the first topic I wanted to talk
    about involved cheese, you would be righ: the CURD Act, H.R.
    1394, Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act.
        Wisconsin is America's dairy land. We have 1,200 licensed
    cheesemakers. We produce 25 percent of the Nation's cheese and
    have more than 600 different styles. And in my opinion,
    Wisconsin cheese is the best cheese in the world, but that is
    not relevant to the CURD Act per se. The CURD Act would amend
    the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to codify a clear definition
    of natural cheese based on long-established U.S. cheesemaking
    standards.
        The definition would help consumers and industry clearly
    distinguish natural cheese from processed cheese. Processed
    cheese is already defined, as you may know, under Federal
    regulation, but natural cheese still appears without a clear
    definition. Providing this clarity ensures customers know
    exactly what they are buying and gives cheesemakers consistent,
    predictable labeling standards.
        The CURD Act was first considered in Congress in 2017, when
    it advanced in the Senate with unanimous consent. In the House,
    we passed this nonpartisan bill, but it has been pending before
    the Energy and Commerce Committee since 2019. And during that
    time, it has received two legislative hearings without
    significant objection and has undergone four rounds of FDA
    technical assistance.
        The bill is strongly supported by State and National Dairy
    Association. Given its record of bipartisan support and
    extensive vetting, I would appreciate the committee's attention
    to this legislation and encourage you to include the CURD Act
    during the next appropriate hearing opportunity and move it
    forward as soon as possible.
        The second issue I want to talk to you that is important in
    my home State of Wisconsin is about targeted fixes to the Clean
    Air Act. Right now, as you may know, communities and
    manufacturers in Wisconsin are being punished for pollution
    that is originating from outside the State of Wisconsin in
    places like Chicago. That would be like holding folks in
    Bowling Green accountable to pollution that is generated in
    Memphis or holding folks in Middlesex County responsible for
    pollution that is occurring in Philadelphia. It is not right,
    it is counterproductive, and if we are serious about
    strengthening American manufacturing and competing with China,
    we need to reform this bill.
        Instead of focusing on the real source of the problem,
    current law piles costly compliance requirements on communities
    that are already doing the right thing. Under the Clean Air
    Act, when an ozone nonattainment area misses its attainment
    deadline, it automatically bumps up to a higher nonattainment
    classification. That reclassification triggers stricter
    permitting requirements and additional regulatory burdens even
    when local sources are not the primary driver of the concern.
        So in Wisconsin, that is when we see this coming from maybe
    Chicago or outside of our State. It is placing the burden on
    residents in the State of Wisconsin. The same challenge is
    often faced in both of your respective States, to my
    understanding.
        The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has tried to
    work with the EPA to address this from an administrative
    standpoint. However, our feedback from the EPA has emphasized
    that these automatic reclassifications are set by statute and
    that a durable solution will require legislative action. In its
    current form, the Clean Air Act's reclassification process does
    not adequately account for interstate ozone transport.
        I believe that we can rightsize this regulation while
    continuing to reduce emissions and keeping our air clean. This
    can be achieved, in my opinion, by making targeted reforms to
    the Clean Air Act to fully account for ozone transport.
        I look forward to working with the committee, with you, Mr.
    Chairman, with you, Ranking Member, to develop a practical,
    targeted solution that supports our workers, American
    manufacturing, while still maintaining the clean air standards
    we all want.
        I thank you both for having us in today. I hope you take
    into consideration both of these two important topics, and I
    yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Steil follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. I appreciate you being here. I
    liked your--I don't know if you were punning or not, but the
    styles of cheese. That was good.
        So, Representative Bean, you are now recognized for 5
    minutes for your opening statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. AARON BEAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
                          THE STATE OF FLORIDA

        Mr. Bean. Chairman Guthrie, what an honor it is to be here.
    Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone,
    thank you so much for the honor to come before this committee.
        This committee room--let's be honest--much bigger than it
    looks like on C-SPAN, so it is an honor to be here live. I want
    to talk about what everybody is talking about, and that is
    healthcare. It is a topic that people are talking about around
    their dinner table and whatnot.
        Let's go back and look at history. Fifteen years ago, when
    the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, we were told it
    was going to bend the price curve downward. You could keep your
    doctor. Turns out, neither one of those things are true. Costs
    then: $14,000 for premiums. Today, 15 years later, those same
    premiums are $25,000, 78 percent increase in just 15 years,
    much higher than the traditional rate of inflation.
        History also teaches us, Chairman, anytime government dumps
    large sums of money into any program, that is the root cause of
    inflation. It happened in the 1970s when we started
    guaranteeing student loans, and we saw that same massive
    inflation take place during COVID, where we put a lot of money
    into the Inflation Reduction Act, ironically, which really
    caused inflation to skyrocket. So the answer can't be--of
    healthcare--let's just dump more money into it. That is the
    wrong answer, I think.
        What I believe is a bill that I am happy to sponsor with
    Mr. Pfluger of Texas is to give more choice and invite more
    competition. Rather than give these monies directly to the
    insurance companies, let's give it to individuals through an
    HSA savings account. Let them make the best decision of where
    to go individually.
        I also believe that we need to enhance more competition.
    Let's erase the State lines that are traditionally set up where
    companies can only sell in their State. What if--what if we
    could have Florida Blue compete with Kentucky Blues or the
    Blues in Kentucky or all across America where you could go to a
    robust marketplace.
        Now, we will need transparency. That is also part of the
    Make Affordable Coverage Act part of that whole pie, so I look
    forward to working with you and with Mr. Pfluger.
        We also have seen that, during the Affordable Care Act,
    when you have zero-pay premiums, what happens? People and the
    fraudsters are out to steal our money. We had millions of
    people in this program get signed up without their knowledge,
    never made a claim. Let's fix that.
        Bean has a bill. It is skin-in-the-game bill where
    everybody should have to pay something, maybe even $5, a $5
    bill which acknowledges I am signed up, I signed myself up, and
    I am participating in this program rather than the taxpayers
    waste this money and pay the premiums without the individual
    knowledge.
        Here is another problem that we have to address, and it is
    third-party payers. Do you have a constituent--or maybe it
    happened to your family: ``Hey, I just got sent 10 boxes of
    COVID tests. I didn't order them, but we know the taxpayer is
    paying the bill.'' Bean has what is called the PROMPT Act,
    which says, ``Hey, can we at least give out bills for your
    account of what did you order, or reconcile?'' I know you are
    not paying for it, but Americans need to know what is on their
    tab and call it out. If you didn't order the COVID test--which
    you didn't, but you are still paying for it--then we need to
    track that down and make sure that every dollar, every dollar
    that goes in healthcare--every tax dollar is a precious dollar
    and needs to go further and continue out.
        And by the way, Americans are sick and tired of fraudsters,
    people stealing our money. So I sat on a Small Business
    Committee, and we saw the fraudsters come out with the PPP
    loans and the other types of recovery loans. There was at one
    time, the previous administration: ``Well, there is so much
    fraud, let's just let it go.`` I say no. I know everybody here
    says no. So we have introduced multiple We Want Our Money Back
    Acts, which says let's not let it go. Let's continue to hunt
    down these fraudsters that stole our money. Let's get it back,
    and let's put it in there.
        As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I look forward
    to working with this committee on solving healthcare and so
    many of our problems. It is an honor to be--I shouldn't say
    problems. Let's say challenges. Let's say opportunities,
    because this crossroads that we find ourselves in right now
    gives us an opportunity to realign and power individuals to do
    what is best for themselves.
        With that, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Pallone, Bean
    yields back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Bean follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Bean yields back.
        Do you have any questions?
        Mr. Pallone. No, I don't.
        Mr. Guthrie. Seeing none, thank you all for presenting
    today. We really appreciate you being here.
        We will go to the next panel.
        [Pause.]
        All right, Glenn.
        I said earlier, we have had every Ore--I said ``Oregander''
    before, but it is Oregonians. So I have been corrected today,
    so, yeah. I think we have had all of you guys, except for
    Cliff. But Cliff is on the committee. So, yeah, exactly.
        Do we have everybody situated?
        OK. So thank you all for being here today. This is our
    fourth panel, I think, third or fourth panel. But we appreciate
    you being here before Energy and Commerce, a lovely day we get
    to have our good colleagues come and talk to us.
        And so we will start, and everybody has got 5 minutes for
    their statement.
        And so, Ms. Morrison, or Representative Morrison, I
    apologize, is recognized for 5 minutes.

    STATEMENT OF HON. KELLY MORRISON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

        Ms. Morrison. Thank you very much, Chair Guthrie and
    Ranking Member Pallone. I appreciate the opportunity to testify
    before you today.
        I would like to begin by thanking the committee for
    advancing my bill, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives
    Reauthorization Act of 2025, out of Health Subcommittee. This
    bipartisan legislation would renew and strengthen vital Federal
    support for newborn screening programs, helping ensure lab
    quality, inform parents, and expand screening.
        Newborn screening has been an essential public health
    initiative that allows for lifesaving early diagnosis and
    treatment. Each year, approximately 4 million newborns are
    screened in the U.S., and about 12,000 infants are identified
    as having a condition and benefit from these critical early
    diagnoses.
        The long history of bipartisan collaboration and support
    for the newborn screening program has been instrumental in
    helping improve diagnostic tools, expand screening access
    across States, and even support the development of rare-disease
    treatments and therapies.
        This week, I had the privilege of meeting with the father
    of one of the many families personally impacted by a rare
    disease newborn screenings could help identify and treat.
    Despite the tragic loss of their daughter Darcee in 1995 to
    MLD, metachromatic leukodystrophy, and their devoted caregiving
    to their daughter Lindy, also battling MLD, Dean Suhr and his
    wife, Teryn, have been dedicated to making sure other families
    don't suffer through the isolation and pain they faced during
    their nearly 7-years-long search for an accurate diagnosis for
    their daughter.
        Thanks to the dedicated work of fierce champions like the
    Suhrs, along with other rare-disease advocates, researchers,
    and physicians, we have seen incredible advances in the field
    of newborn screening.
        I am honored to represent Minnesota's Third Congressional
    District, and in Minnesota we are proud to be a hub for
    pioneering research and a leader in studying rare-disease
    diagnoses and interventions. Recent developments and advances
    in cell and gene therapies show how investing in these programs
    can transform long-term health outcomes. When we invest in
    newborn screening, we are protecting the most vulnerable among
    us, giving babies the best chance at a healthy start, and
    helping spare families the pain and exhaustion of searching for
    a diagnosis.
        After having cared for patients as an OB-GYN myself for
    over two decades, I can't emphasize enough how transformative
    and consequential it is to identify and when possible treat
    conditions at the earliest possible moment. Parents already
    face so many challenges when they welcome a new baby into their
    family. The peace of mind and clarity that lifesaving newborn
    screening can deliver is priceless.
        I have been so inspired by the courage and resilience of
    the families I have cared for as a doctor and met with as a
    legislator. They persist regardless of the at times all-
    consuming caregiving responsibilities they have and despite the
    heartbreaking losses some endure. They push past barriers,
    unwaveringly committed to getting every baby in America the
    access to the timely diagnosis and treatment they need.
        The Energy and Commerce Committee has the opportunity to
    continue the progress we have made over the last 22 years, to
    help transform their dream of a world where every child has
    access to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment into a
    reality, to honor the dedication and sacrifices of these
    families and the memories of their loved ones. I implore the
    committee to take the critical step of advancing this bill to
    full committee consideration.
        In the spirit of recognizing devoted advocates, I would
    also like to request the committee's consideration of the ADINA
    Act. While at sleep-away camp in 2022, a constituent of mine,
    Adina Togal, was rushed to the hospital following a severe
    allergic reaction to a prescribed medication. Since the
    incident, Adina and her family have been fighting to make sure
    no other family has the same frightening experience.
        The ADINA Act would require pharmaceutical companies to
    clearly label major allergens and gluten present in their
    medications, bringing greater transparency, protecting patient
    safety, and delivering peace of mind to families like Adina's
    and so many others. With an estimated 3.4 million Americans
    presenting to the emergency room annually for a food allergy
    reaction, this bill could help families avoid costly medical
    bills and alleviate emergency room caseload.
        I look forward to continuing to work with the committee to
    advance policies that protect our children's health and safety.
    And with that, I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Morrison follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you for your statement.
        My friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin, is recognized for
    5 minutes for his statement.

    STATEMENT OF HON. GLENN GROTHMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

        Mr. Grothman. Thank you. I knew Chairman Guthrie when he
    was just a--back in the back row with the rest of us.
        Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, and distinguished
    members of the committee, thank you for an opportunity to
    testify on some issues important to Wisconsin's economy and to
    the Nation's broader goals of regulatory certainty, scientific
    integrity, and public safety.
        I will focus on two key issues before the committee: first,
    the urgent need to address the ozone nonattainment challenges
    in southeast Wisconsin along Lake Michigan; and second, the
    importance of advancing my own legislation, the No IRIS Act.
        First of all, let's look at ozone. Due to certain
    scientific reasons, ozone collects along a body of water when
    the sun is out, and ozone can also be affected by pollutants
    coming from other areas. We have a double whammy in Wisconsin
    in that Milwaukee and the counties north and south of it have
    occasionally--very occasionally--higher than average ozone, in
    part because of all the pollutants coming up from Chicago.
    There is nothing we can do to prevent that.
        While Wisconsin continues to work towards meeting the 2015
    national ambient air quality standard for ozone, our region's
    ability to achieve compliance is uniquely hampered by the
    factors outside of Wisconsin's control. Much of the ozone in
    Wisconsin comes from pollution transported from Illinois and
    Indiana as well as from mobile sources.
        And by the way, when I was growing up at a county along
    Lake Michigan, the amount of ozone was much more than now. We
    never cared, but that is just another matter.
        Under the current regulatory framework, local actions alone
    cannot bring Wisconsin to attainment. And by the way, Wisconsin
    is the number-one manufacturing State in the country on a per
    capita basis. People don't know that. But the current situation
    is why the Clean Air Act includes a good neighbor provision,
    which requires upwind States to take responsibility for
    emissions that significantly contribute to downwind attainment.
        Unfortunately, the current implementation of this provision
    does not adequately address the real-world impact of
    transported pollution on Wisconsin's air quality. As a result,
    Wisconsin communities continue to face stricter regulatory
    burdens for pollution they didn't even create, which, of
    course, transfers to them having to spend a lot more money,
    which makes southeastern Wisconsin to a degree not as
    competitive when it comes to our manufacturers.
        This reclassification would significantly lower permitting
    thresholds and impose new requirements on manufacturers and
    employers who are already working to comply. These strict
    standards that the EPA is trying to impose would create new
    costs, restrict businesses' expansion, and jeopardize economic
    development in my State.
        Fortunately, on September 5, the 7th Circuit Court of
    Appeals--yay--issued a stay of the EPA's action preventing
    these requirements from taking effect. While litigation
    proceeds, this situation approach, one that recognizes
    transported pollution and ensures States like ours underscores
    the need for a more workable Federal Wisconsin are not
    penalized for emissions they did not generate.
        I appreciate your continued attention to ozone transport
    issues and encourage bipartisan collaboration to strengthen the
    regulatory framework and get us out from this mess.
        The other thing--really quickly--in addition to addressing
    nonattainment, I have legislation, H.R. 1415, called the No
    IRIS Act. For decades, the EPA's issue has relied on the
    Integrated Risk Information System to develop chemical hazard
    assessments, even though the provision was never even
    authorized by Congress. IRIS has faced longstanding criticism
    for its lack of transparency, inadequate reliance on peer-
    reviewed science, and flawed methodologies. Recent regulatory
    actions have relied on IRIS-derived values that many experts
    consider scientifically unsound.
        If we are going to make America great again, we can't push
    our chemical industries to places like India and China because
    of foolish behavior out of the IRIS. One example is the EPA's
    assessment of ethylene oxide, which set exposed thresholds tens
    of thousands of times lower than the ones naturally occurring
    in levels present in the human body. In other words, they are
    asking my poor companies to make things cleaner than our own
    body.
        The No IRIS Act simply assures the EPA cannot use IRIS
    assessments to propose, finalize, or implement regulatory
    actions unless Congress authorizes the program. The bill
    currently has 20 cosponsors, including five members of your own
    Environmental Subcommittee.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Grothman follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thanks. I think we are getting low on time
    here.
        Mr. Grothman. OK. That is fine.
        Mr. Guthrie. We are doing questions at the end, but you
    didn't bring up any concerns with your neighbor to the due
    west. I know wind blows west to east. You didn't bring anything
    up about--I am kidding.
        Mr. Grothman. We don't have a problem with the wind from
    the west.
        Mr. Guthrie. I know.
        Mr. Grothman. We have got a problem coming up from the
    south.
        Mr. Guthrie. I was just kind of being sarcastic with your
    friend sitting next to you.
        Mr. Grothman. I can't blame her. I can't blame her.
        Mr. Guthrie. I thought you were just playing nice with a
    Viking fan.
        Ms. Morrison. We are friendly neighbors.
        Mr. Guthrie. The gentleman yields back. Thank you for your
    statement.
        The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5 minutes.

       STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD McCORMICK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA

        Mr. McCormick. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is an honor to be
    here today before you.
        I want to take special privilege just to point out that at
    two seats to my left there will be some contentious moments
    from the next couple days I want to address right now just by
    saying, ``Go Navy. Beat Army.''
        Mr. Guthrie. The gentleman's time has expired.
        Mr. McCormick. On a serious note, I appreciate this time to
    come before you guys. The FDA approval process is something
    that can be very reasonable at times and at other times can be
    inhibitive of growth and reasonability when it comes to drug
    approvals. And at this time, I wanted to kind of talk about
    highlighting an urgent issue that could affect about 1.5
    million people's lives here in America.
        On August 6, 2025, the FDA sent notification to the
    industry with the intention to remove animal-derived desiccated
    thyroid extract--I will call it DTE--products from the market
    by August of 2026. This announcement and subsequent statements
    have created significant confusion and uncertainty for
    healthcare providers, patients, and domestic pharmaceutical
    manufacturers. This action would hurt patients who depend on
    DTE as a treatment option for hypothyroidism and threatens jobs
    in my district.
        As a physician, I can tell you, this is a natural substance
    that is created through animals that is then derived that we
    can use, just like we do with insulin--as opposed to a
    synthetically produced thyroid substitute--that helps people
    with their health and their maintenance of health, which is
    very important to people.
        For some reason or another, though, they said they were
    going to disapprove it and take it off the market without
    giving good justification, in my opinion. There are at least
    two current DTE manufacturers diligently working on FDA
    approval currently and their projects as biologics. And if this
    goes through, they can't even get that approval, obviously, for
    continued usage by the American public, which flies in the face
    of capitalism, fair competition, and choice in medical
    treatments.
        It is essential of the FDA to issue followup guidance that
    provides a clear and constructive path forward that continues
    to enforce discretion through approval for DTE manufacturers
    who are doing the right thing--not the right thing, the wrong
    thing, but actually going through the approval process just the
    way any other product would be. But that would be taken off the
    market. It wouldn't even be an option, which is unfair both to
    the patients who are being treated as well as the manufacturers
    who put a lot of time and effort into this.
        Such guidance is needed to protect patients' access,
    preserve domestic investments and operations, and help achieve
    FDA's goal of first-ever approved DTE product. DTE medications
    should remain on the market until FDA-approved production is
    available to all these patients. I encourage the committee to
    direct the FDA to ensure relevant stakeholders are being
    engaged as it prepares on followup guidance. I am ready to
    assist in coordinating those conversations to ensure patients
    have access to these lifesaving medications.
        With my remaining time, I just wanted to also point out
    that one of my colleagues, Ms. Greene, is going to be bringing
    something to the floor next week on transgender policy and not
    treating youth with basically surgeries that mutilate them or
    hormones that affect them for the rest of their lives. This is
    going to be a very contentious issue. I think it is important
    that we come to a good conclusion medically, that we morally
    approach this, that it makes sense to the American people.
        We don't want people to get tattoos or smoke cigarettes or
    buy alcohol at a certain age. Certainly, anything that is
    transforming children should be looked at very seriously with
    an eye towards not allowing a decision to be made that will
    affect you for the rest of your life. When you are in your
    adolescence, your brain hasn't even developed. You haven't even
    decided if you are going to be a cowboy or an Indian. I mean,
    these are harrowing times.
        But I think her bill is greatly flawed. We have
    alternatives out there.
        My PROTECTS Act, which is H.R. 742, is one of those. It is
    not going to put doctors in jail, but it is going to do the
    right thing.
        You also have one by Dr. Onder, two physicians that want to
    approach this from a commonsense standpoint of looking after
    children and doing the right thing for the healthcare
    prevention. Let's not get carried away because of a promise
    made for a vote, and vote for the wrong bill.
        We have two really good options out there. Let's do the
    right thing when it comes to putting the right bills in the
    right places to succeed and do the right thing for American
    people and its youth.
        With that, I yield.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. McCormick follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thanks. Since you yield and you can't respond:
    Beat Navy.
        Another Oregonian is with us again. Representative Dexter,
    you are recognized for 5 minutes for your statement.

     STATEMENT OF HON. MAXINE DEXTER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                        FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

        Ms. Dexter. Thank you, Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member
    Pallone, and members of the committee for this opportunity to
    participate in Member Day.
        My name is Maxine Dexter. I am a mother, a physician, and
    the proud representative of Oregon's Third Congressional
    District. Before coming to Congress, I spent 20 years caring
    for patients who struggled every single day just to breathe. I
    have seen firsthand how smoke, dust, and pollution ravage our
    lungs and steal years of healthy life.
        In the exam room, my patients were never Democrats or
    Republicans, they were parents, workers, children, neighbors,
    and above all, people who deserved a real chance to live a
    healthy life. Our Federal Government has not lived up to its
    responsibility to protect them, to give them this chance. This
    committee, this institution, can change that.
        Outdoor air quality is worsening with increasing wildfires,
    deregulation of tailpipes and industry, and is leading to real,
    measurable harm to our health and our economy. It is egregious
    that this administration is stepping back from protecting our
    air, both outdoors and, equally importantly, indoors.
        Since arriving in Congress, I have been working on
    solutions to address these challenges. Drawing on the stories
    of my patients who were harmed by wildfire smoke and in
    collaboration with wonderful staff from this committee, I am
    developing a bill to establish a grant program to ensure public
    health authorities have the resources they need to respond
    during smoke events.
        Our physicians, nurses, and frontline health workers
    deserve stronger support, and our communities deserve timely
    and effective public health protection. This policy is grounded
    in recommendations from the bipartisan Wildland Fire Mitigation
    and Management Commission report. Protecting the health of our
    communities should never be a partisan issue.
        But addressing wildfire smoke and outdoor pollution are
    only part of the challenge. The next frontier in this space is
    indoor air quality. This year, I had the privilege of attending
    an event at the U.N. General Assembly on healthy indoor air,
    and the message was clear: When we prioritize the air in the
    places where we live, work, and learn, everyone benefits.
        We already have broad agreement around policies that would
    help better ventilation standards, stronger air quality
    monitoring, and clear guidance for schools and workplaces on
    how to keep our people safe. As we look ahead, we have real
    opportunity to build on the strong foundation set by the Clean
    Air Act.
        The Clean Air Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan
    support because Members on both sides of the aisle understood
    that clean air is essential to health and life. We should be
    thinking about how we strengthen and modernize these
    protections that saved so many lives, and I hope to be your
    partner in that work.
        As the only pulmonologist in Congress, I have unique
    perspective to offer on air quality issues, and as a physician
    I also know that our larger healthcare system is at a crisis
    point that cannot go unaddressed. The U.S. spends more on
    healthcare than peer countries, but our life expectancy is
    below that of our peer nations. This is due in large part to
    our failure to incentivize keeping people healthy in our
    system.
        Right now, the way we pay for care rewards volume: how many
    procedures or tests we perform, not the actual value provided
    by our healthcare professionals. We need a system that pays
    physicians for quality and outcomes. It is about putting
    doctors back in the driver's seat and paying them to keep
    people healthy, not just to treat them when they are sick. And
    it means stripping away the administrative burden that prevents
    them from delivering the care they know the patient in front of
    them needs.
        In this pursuit, we must focus on primary care and the
    essential preventative services it encompasses. These services
    are our first line of defense in keeping people healthy, yet
    they are chronically undervalued and, in some instances,
    unreimbursed entirely. I look forward to continued work with
    those on this committee to better support and improve pay for
    high-quality primary care.
        As a working class kid who is the only person in my family
    to graduate college and certainly medical school, I also know
    that we have to be investing in foundational programs like the
    National Health Service Corps that make medical school a
    possibility for kids like me while bringing critically needed
    primary care providers to our most underserved communities.
        I look forward to continued collaboration with this
    committee to secure increased multiyear funding for this
    program while giving it the tools it needs to be truly
    competitive with other options. Overlaying all of this is the
    need to address the most pressing question in front of us
    today: how to make healthcare affordable for Americans.
        I am proud to support Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's
    efforts to extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits and
    ensure that working families in Oregon and across the country
    are not forced to make the impossible choice between keeping
    their health insurance or putting food on the table.
        I believe we have the opportunity to boldly reimagine how
    healthcare works. I look forward to working with each of you on
    long-term, durable policy change that ensures every American
    gets access to the healthcare that they deserve.
        I am grateful for your time today, and I yield back. Thank
    you, Mr. Chair.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Dexter follows:]

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        Mr. Guthrie. Thank you. Thank you for being here today.
        And to my colleague and fellow Army--go Army--Mr. Davidson,
    you are recognized for 5 minutes.

    STATEMENT OF HON. WARREN DAVIDSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                         FROM THE STATE OF OHIO

        Mr. Davidson. Thank you, Chairman.
        Mr. Guthrie. I apologize. If you went to one of the service
    academies, Army/Navy Week is a big deal. So, anyway.
        Mr. Davidson. Thank you, Chairman. And definitely, there is
    no substitute for victory. Go Army. Beat Navy.
        This morning, I would like to speak briefly on the need to
    pass the bipartisan REPAIR Act. Freedom means owning what you
    buy, and in today's landscape automakers are locking our
    constituents out of tools, software, and know-how for repairing
    vehicles that they have purchased. The REPAIR Act requires
    manufacturers to share the tools, data, and information for an
    individual or their local mechanic to be able to fix their own
    vehicle. This gives our constituents the ability to choose when
    and where they get their cars repaired.
        Right now, over 60 percent of repair shops struggle with
    routine fixes because automakers withhold data, jacking up
    repair costs by over $3 billion annually. It is your car, and
    it should be your data, but right now automakers remain in
    control of the data. The REPAIR Act ensures transparency
    without compromising safety or intellectual property.
    Independent repair shops employ nearly 5 million Americans and
    are a vital resource in many of our communities.
        The National Federation of Independent Businesses says 90
    percent of its members support the right to repair. The REPAIR
    Act has 43 cosponsors from 23 States, rural and urban
    districts, Republicans and Democrats. Importantly, this bill
    will bring down repair costs for working families. I am proud
    to cosponsor this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, and I urge
    this committee to give us a vote. Let's get this thing to the
    floor.
        The second and related to that is--broad jurisdiction here
    in the committee, deals with privacy, and the data privacy in
    particular. Congress should establish a clear national
    standard.
        You know, we don't need Europe's privacy laws, but we don't
    need Somalia's either, which is no privacy laws. We are seeing
    data harvested, sold, data brokers selling virtually everything
    possible. And as we confront an era of AI, it is important that
    we get privacy right. Privacy is really the base layer for
    ethical artificial intelligence.
        So Congress must pass legislation that reflects the
    fundamental reality that you own your own data. This means that
    individuals control how their data is collected, accessed, and
    used. And with artificial intelligence coming, I think it is
    important that we have preemption. The President's Executive
    order gets that right, but we should have thoughtful
    legislation to address it.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Davidson follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn [presiding]. The gentleman yields back.
        I want to thank all the members of the committee for their
    comments.
        Do you have----
        Mr. Pallone. I just wanted to say that, you know, I
    appreciate this panel and the others as well. All of you that
    have come up are concerned about practical problems that affect
    the average American, and, you know, that is so important. I
    worry so much that oftentimes our committee focuses on, you
    know, kind of things in the cloud that are not necessarily
    impacting people in their daily lives, and I just appreciate
    the fact.
        And I heard what Representative Dexter said about worrying
    about pollution, whether it is wildfires, air quality, and how
    that directly impacts the health of Americans, which is what I
    hear all the time.
        And then the data privacy, the need for a national
    standard, Representative Davidson, is really so important. We
    have been struggling with this for years.
        But one of the things that I like about the Energy and
    Commerce Committee is that so many issues that impact people's
    lives directly every day come before us, and so it is really
    good to hear some possible solutions for those.
        Thank you. Thank you all so much.
        Mr. Dunn. The gentleman yields back. Thank you very much.
        We are going to take a moment of recess to reset the table
    for the next panel.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. Dunn. Representative Kiggans, thank you for coming. We
    are not sure if the rest of the panel is on the way or not. We
    are going to give them 1 minute. And with Ranking Member's
    permission, I think we just go ahead and--1 minute.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. Dunn. The committee will come to order. We will
    recognize the gentlelady from Virginia, Representative Kiggans,
    for 5 minutes for her comments.

      STATEMENT OF HON. JENNIFER A. KIGGANS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
               CONGRESS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

        Mrs. Kiggans. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is a privilege to be
    here today. Before I start, I just wanted to set the record
    straight about ``Go Navy, beat Army'' this weekend.
        And with that, Mr. Chair, Ranking Member, and distinguished
    members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to
    speak today. I am here to bring awareness to the committee
    about my bill, the Care for Military Kids Act. As the proud
    representative of Virginia's Second Congressional District,
    home to one of the largest active-duty military Navy
    populations in the United States, advocating for those who
    serve our country and their families is one of my top
    priorities.
        Along with my past life as a Navy helicopter pilot, I was
    also a board-certified nurse practitioner. I most enjoy when I
    get to work on policy that marries these two careers and
    passions, and the Care for Military Kids Act does just that.
        Unlike civilian families, military families often need to
    move every 2 to 3 years, not by choice but by obligation. When
    relocated to another State, servicemembers uproot their whole
    lives to answer the call to serve, and their families often
    sacrifice a great deal.
        For servicemembers who have dependents with disabilities,
    this sacrifice can greatly impact their livelihoods. Most
    servicemembers and their families get health insurance via
    TRICARE, but TRICARE does not cover long-term-care services.
    This means children with disabilities covered by TRICARE
    through their parents' military service cannot receive the care
    they need unless they sign up for Medicaid. People with
    disabilities often need long-term care services to help them
    with everyday activities such as eating, walking, and medical
    equipment management.
        Unfortunately, with every move, dependent children must
    reenter entirely new State health systems with new Medicaid
    rules, new waiver programs, new provider networks, and long
    wait lists. Servicemembers and their families already
    sacrificed a great deal to defend our country. They should not
    have to sacrifice the health and well-being of their families.
        The Care for Military Kids Act would amend the Social
    Security Act to ensure that any dependent of an active-duty
    servicemember currently receiving long-term-care services
    through a State-administered Medicaid plan will remain eligible
    should their family be stationed outside of that State,
    ensuring our servicemembers do not have to choose between
    serving their country, moving, and getting their children the
    critical care they need.
        I was grateful for the work with then-Chair McMorris
    Rodgers and this committee last Congress did to pass this
    legislation in the House on a bipartisan basis. I look forward
    to doing the same again this Congress.
        Thank you, and I welcome your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Kiggans follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. The gentlelady yields. We thank her for her
    comments.
        We would now like to turn our attention to the gentleman
    from California, Representative Valadao. You are recognized for
    5 minutes.

     STATEMENT OF HON. DAVID VALADAO, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
                      FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

        Mr. Valadao. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
    opportunity to be here today to discuss the Supplemental Oxygen
    Access Reform Act, or the SOAR Act, which I introduced this
    Congress.
        The SOAR Act eliminates barriers that over 1.5 million
    Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions face, including
    many of my constituents in the Central Valley, when trying to
    access lifesaving supplemental oxygen. This legislation makes
    critical reforms to ensure that patients, especially those
    living in rural and underserved communities, can receive
    reliable and lifesaving oxygen support.
        Since 2011, CMS has implemented a competitive bidding
    process for supplemental oxygen, causing payment rates for all
    types of oxygen to drop substantially. While the competitive
    bidding program has generated payment reductions and Medicare
    savings, these reductions too often come at the expense of
    access to essential oxygen equipment and respiratory care
    services.
        Given the inadequate reimbursement rates, many individuals
    who require supplemental oxygen do not receive the level or
    type of treatment their condition needs. Medicare also does not
    currently reimburse for the services of respiratory therapists,
    which are vital, especially when the patient is given a new
    oxygen prescription. If patients are unable to access equipment
    or respiratory support, their risk of emergency room visits
    increase and their chronic condition may worsen.
        I was also encouraged by CMS's announcement last month that
    supplemental oxygen will not be included in the next round of
    competitive bidding program. Locking in past savings is a
    meaningful first step, but more has to be done. That is why it
    is critical this Congress works to ensure long-term stability
    in the program, which SOAR Act provides.
        The SOAR Act is a comprehensive legislation that removes
    all oxygen and oxygen equipment, including stationary and
    portable devices, from the Medicare competitive bidding. It
    also gives CMS the authority to create a new payment rate for
    liquid oxygen to help address the loss of access to this
    modality nationwide.
        The legislation further strengthens program integrity by
    enhancing fraud and abuse protection, ensures respiratory
    therapists are reimbursed when medically required, and
    implements additional patient protections. I look forward to
    working with the chairman to advance the SOAR Act and to secure
    its inclusion in the next Medicare package.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Valadao follows:]

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        Mr. Dunn. The gentleman yields back. Thank you very much
    for your comments.
        That seems to bring the panel to a close. Does the ranking
    member have any comments?
        Mr. Pallone. No.
        Mr. Dunn. Well, in that case, I want to thank all of the
    Members who came and testified before the committee and all the
    Members who participated.
        I ask unanimous consent to insert in the record the
    documents included on the staff hearing list.
        And without objection, that is so ordered.
        [The information appears at the conclusion of the hearing.]
        Mr. Dunn. I would like to thank you all again for being
    here.
        Without objection, the committee is adjourned. Thank you
    very much.
        [Whereupon, at 12:27 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]
        [Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:]

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