In response to reports of disclosure of non-public information, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Greg Walden (R-OR) raised concerns about the independence of the Federal Communications Commission Inspector General (IG). An FCC IG report found the FCC Chairman Tom Read more…
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) recently highlighted a new report that provides insight into efforts to combat algae blooms and protect Great Lakes drinking water. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that five Read more…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final physician payments rule on Friday that includes alterations requested by House Republicans to meet the needs of independent practices. CMS released a final physician payment rule implementing the Medicare Read more…
President Barack Obama signed bipartisan legislation into law last week that U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) led to update and modernize leasing programs of the National Guard and Air Force Remote Pilot Aircraft (RPA). The bill, which was introduced in Read more…
Legislative leaders reacted on Monday to a report that found that approximately one-quarter of Obama administration appointee conversions to career federal service positions didn’t meet procedures designed to curb favoritism. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed data on 69 political Read more…
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) led legislation that would address the nation’s transportation and water resources needs to approval on Wednesday in the House of Representatives. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303, is part of a multi-year effort Read more…
House committee leaders recently called on the FCC to release the full text of the agency’s proposal to make set-top boxes for cable, as well as the accompanying rental fees, optional for consumers. The FCC proposal would require pay-TV providers Read more…
A key House subcommittee advanced legislation on Tuesday that U.S. Rep. David Young (R-IA) introduced to improve rural call quality and reliability in rural areas. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology advanced Young’s Rural Call Quality Read more…
Legislative leaders voiced concerns on Monday about fraudulent Medicare spending despite recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) efforts to crackdown on improper payments before they are made. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), House Ways and Read more…
The House of Representatives approved legislation on Monday that U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced to make it easier for amateur radio operators to communicate with each other. The Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, would direct the Federal Communications Read more…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Thursday that it would heed requests from U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Michael Burgess (R-TX) for MACRA flexibility. Upton and Burgess were at the forefront of calls for CMS Read more…
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Pat Tiberi (R-OH) recently stressed the importance of flexibility in implementing the bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), H.R. 2. Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Read more…
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Michael Burgess (R-TX) led a call on Monday for the EPA to extend the public comment period on its proposed light-duty vehicle emissions draft report. Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Read more…
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) led congressional efforts on Monday to glean answers about the FDA’s regulatory process for approving generic drugs. Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led the efforts following revelations that the cost Read more…
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voiced concerns on Thursday amid reports that the cost of life-saving EpiPens has increased more than 400 percent since 2008. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the committee, led efforts Read more…
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) touted a nonpartisan analysis on Thursday that found that House Republicans’ “A Better Way” policy agenda would improve the nation’s healthcare system. A Center for Health and the Economy (H&E) analysis found that “A Better Read more…
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) led a legislative call on Thursday for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide information pertaining to the capabilities of its Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Upton, the chairman of the House Energy Read more…
Congressional leaders reacted to a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on Wednesday that overturned an FCC decision to preempt state restrictions on municipal broadband networks. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) led a letter in December that raised concerns about FCC Read more…
Citing concerns about the increasing costs of hard rock mining regulations, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rob Bishop (R-UT) requested information on Tuesday about the EPA’s financial assurance regulatory program. Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Read more…
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) highlighted a report on Monday that found misalignment in federal support to hospitals for uncompensated medical costs for uninsured and other low-income individuals. More needs to be done to Read more…
Four bills recently approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to reform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) aim to promote transparency and stronger consumer protection measures. The FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act, H.R. 5510, would address liability issues, Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved legislation on Thursday led by U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) to help individuals with disabilities gain financial stability. The Special Needs Trusts Fairness Act, H.R. 670, would eliminate legal barriers that Read more…
The Senate adopted the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), S. 524, conference report with bipartisan support on Wednesday, which marks the first time Congress has supported long-term addiction recovery. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama to be Read more…
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) convened a hearing on Tuesday to probe waste, fraud and abuse within the FCC’s Universal Service Lifeline program. Walden, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, said in announcing Read more…
Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to revamp federal efforts to curb opioid and heroin addiction and promote recovery advanced on Wednesday following an agreement that was reached by a House and Senate conference committee. The House approved Read more…
The House of Representatives approved legislation on Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) authored to bring the most significant reforms to the nation’s mental health care network in 50 years. The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. Read more…
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) released a report on Thursday that found that Obama administration officials circumvented appropriations laws in funding the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) program. The report was the culmination Read more…
Republican congressional leaders called for bipartisan solutions on Thursday following the release the latest Medicare and Social Security trustees report that concluded that the programs would be insolvent within 20 years. Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will run dry by Read more…
The fifth plank of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) “A Better Way” policy agenda was released on Wednesday, focusing on health care reform. The GOP Health Care Task Force released its plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Read more…
President Barack Obama signed chemical safety reform legislation into law on Wednesday that was led by U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Fred Upton (R-MI). The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2576, reforms the Read more…
The Treasury Department has obstructed congressional oversight of the Affordable Care Act’s cost sharing reduction (CSR) program, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) warned in a letter last week to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. Upton, the chairman Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved legislation by a vote of 53-0 on Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced to reform the nation’s mental health care system. The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. Read more…
Congressional leaders reacted on Tuesday to a federal court’s decision to uphold the FCC’s legal authority to impose its net neutrality policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the legal authority of the FCC’s Open Read more…
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced the third plank of the “A Better Way” policy agenda put forth by House Republicans on Tuesday, which targets economic growth. The plan is comprised of 101 ideas that focus on making fewer and Read more…
The Senate approved bipartisan legislation on Monday that was championed by U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Steve Daines (R-MT) to help ensure the safety of America’s pipeline network. Fischer and Daines introduced the Securing America’s Future Energy: Protecting Our Read more…
Congressional leaders applauded the Senate’s passage of legislation on Tuesday that would reform and modernize the nation’s chemical safety laws. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, S. 697, which would amend the Toxic Control Substances Read more…
The House of Representatives approved measures on Wednesday that were led by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) to improve and protect the nation’s pipeline infrastructure. The House approved provisions of Denham’s Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Read more…
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) reintroduced legislation on Saturday that aims to break down federal barriers to mental health care, clarify privacy standards and reform outdated programs. The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 2646, which was introduced Read more…
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voiced concerns on Wednesday with an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking for data breach notification requirements for broadband and Internet service providers (ISP). U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the Read more…
U.S. Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Fred Upton (R-MI) continued their yearlong quest for information related to appropriations for the Affordable Care Act’s Basic Health Program on Tuesday. Brady, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Upton, Read more…
The House of Representatives approved sweeping changes to chemical safety laws on Tuesday that were championed by U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Fred Upton (R-MI). The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21 Century Act, H.R. 2576, was Read more…
Lawmakers voiced concerns on Wednesday with the EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2017, which specify levels of renewable fuels that must be added to gasoline and diesel fuel. Under the EPA’s proposed rule, 18.8 billion gallons of renewable Read more…
A U.S. District Court ruled on Thursday that the Obama administration broke the law by sending billions to insurance companies to subsidize the Affordable Care Act without a congressional appropriation. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the House Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report on Tuesday that found that acting Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Administrator Andy Slavitt delivered misleading testimony at a congressional hearing. The report found that Slavitt offered “misleading” or Read more…
U.S. Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) led a bipartisan call on Tuesday for an update on nuclear smuggling deterrence programs from the Department of Energy (DOE). Murphy, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Read more…
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued a subpoena on Wednesday for documents related to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) handling of the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) program. Upton, the chairman of the House Energy Read more…
U.S. Reps. Tom Price (R-GA), John Shimkus (R-IL) and Charles Boustany (R-LA) led a congressional call on Monday for the withdrawal of the Obama administration’s proposed Medicare Part B payment model. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed Read more…
The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation on Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) introduced to ensure the ecological and economic well-being of the Great Lakes basin. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), H.R. 223, would ensure safe drinking Read more…
House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders requested a timeline on Monday for a draft report on the EPA’s mid-term evaluation of fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles. The EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are expected to Read more…
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) shepherded the last of 19 bipartisan bills to committee approval on Wednesday to complete a companion legislative package to the House-approved 21st Century Cures Act. Alexander, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Read more…