After leading successful efforts to suspend a federal contract awarded to Equifax in the wake of a data breach, leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee pressed the General Services Administration (GSA) for information about data security and vetting Read more…
A bipartisan group of more than 50 House members took the opportunity to share stories about the impact the opioid epidemic has had on the districts they represent and to advocate for solutions at a “Member Day” hearing on Wednesday. Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed 10 health care bills that included funding for important public health programs, measures championed by U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Fred Upton (R-MI). Legislation that would reauthorize Read more…
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration program that provides access to investigational drugs for patients that don’t qualify for clinical trials or unapproved therapies was the subject of a hearing convened on Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX). Burgess, Read more…
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) led a House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing to examine funding for federal public health workforce programs that help address a looming physician shortage. U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) Read more…
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) led a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday to examine how best to modernize the regulation of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that provide relief to millions of patients. The Health subcommittee is reviewing Read more…
Americans would no longer be required to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate or face a penalty under legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Tuesday. Tiberi, the chairman of Read more…
Months of bipartisan work spearheaded by congressional members that included GOP leaders from the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee paid off when President Donald Trump on Aug. 18 signed the FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) of 2017 into law. Specifically, Read more…
Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee cheered the bipartisan approval of the country’s first legal and regulatory framework for self-driving cars last week, forging a path for autonomous vehicles to enter U.S. consumer markets. Committee leaders U.S. Reps. Read more…
Legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Tom Reed (R-NY) to strengthen Medicare beneficiaries’ access to diabetes supplies was the subject of a subcommittee hearing convened by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Thursday. Burgess, the chairman of Read more…
A demonstration program that enables Medicare beneficiaries with numerous chronic conditions to receive home-based primary care would be extended under legislation recently reintroduced by U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Michael Burgess (R-TX). The Independence at Home (IAH) Medical Practice Read more…
House Republicans on both the powerful Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee renewed their call to implement much-needed reforms to the Medicare and Social Security programs in the aftermath of reports that showed programs continue to head Read more…
U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Greg Walden (R-OR), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sought information last week on federal efforts to curb “patient brokering,” the practice of intermediaries profiting off drug treatment. In Read more…
In an effort to improve patient outcomes, medical providers would see less stringent reporting requirements on the use of electronic health record systems (EHR) under legislation recently introduced by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Pat Tiberi (R-OH). The bill, Read more…
Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Friday would analyze the cost-saving benefits of preventative health initiatives beyond the traditional 10-year scoring window. The Congressional Budget Office would be directed to use available scientific medical data to project Read more…
Legislation to reauthorize U.S. Food and Drug Administration user fee programs aiding in the delivery of new drugs, treatments and devices was advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday after a full committee markup. The FDA Reauthorization Read more…
Bipartisan legislation co-authored by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Greg Walden (R-OR) to reauthorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s user fee program cleared a key subcommittee vote on Thursday. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health’s approval Read more…
In an effort to hold the federal government accountable for runaway spending, legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on Wednesday would curb spending on government programs that was not authorized by Congress. The Unauthorized Spending Accountability (USA) Read more…
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee applauded the first round of grants being awarded to help states combat the opioid crisis through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR), the chairman of Read more…
Strong bipartisan support exists for boosting funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), who expressed confidence Congress would fight to restore sharp cuts to the agency’s spending under the Trump administration’s proposed 2018 Read more…
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee applauded executive action taken by President Donald Trump to establish a commission to review federal policies to combat the nation’s opioid addiction epidemic. Trump noted the public health crisis has caused families Read more…
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) said America is facing an opioid crisis during a hearing that he led this week that explored the impact of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. Murphy, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Read more…
A bipartisan group of health committee leaders from the House and Senate highlighted the importance of immunizations this week, writing that “vaccines save lives” in a letter to other members of Congress. U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the chairman of Read more…
Bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) would help the Department of Defense assign trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers that are currently facing gaps in care. The MISSION Zero Act, H.R. 880, would establish grant programs to Read more…
The House recently approved four measures that the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced to better coordinate health care and improve access to treatments and medications. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Read more…
The House approved legislation spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) this week to advance videoconferencing continuing medical education to make quality health care more available in remote areas. The House approved the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, Read more…
House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders praised President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) said Price cares deeply about Read more…
A hearing that will be convened by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Nov. 15 will explore the potential for autonomous vehicles and technology to improve safety, mobility and efficiency of transportation systems. Burgess, chairman of the House Subcommittee on 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…
Bipartisan legislation introduced on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (IL) would assign Department of Defense (DOD) trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers and support additional training for military surgeons. The Mission Zero Act, 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) 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. Michael Burgess (R-TX) said on Tuesday that he was pleased with the release of performance data on the second year of Medicare’s Independence at Home (IAH) demonstration program. The IAH demonstration program provides chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries access 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…
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) led a congressional call on Monday for President Barack Obama to issue travel warnings for countries where the Zika virus is widespread. Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, made the Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced on Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) would use transparency surrounding the costs of health care services for patients to help rein in spending. The Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act, introduced by Burgess and U.S. Read more…
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Tuesday would promote an innovative telehealth model to improve patient access to specialty care. The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, H.R. 5395, which was introduced by Burgess and 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…
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. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and John Ratcliffe (R-TX) convened a field hearing on Thursday in Sherman, Texas, to better understand how local and state officials handle cyber incidents. During the field hearing, Burgess and Ratcliffe learned how local and Read more…
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) filed an amicus brief on Wednesday to support a lawsuit that seeks to protect property owners’ rights against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit against the BLM Read more…
U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) convened a hearing on Wednesday that explored how tax reform can help create jobs, increase paychecks and expand opportunities. The hearing was the first in a series that Boustany, the chairman of the House Ways Read more…
Fifty-nine members of the House of Representatives sent a letter dated Monday to Secretary of State John Kerry questioning the Obama administration’s $1.7 billion payment to the Iranian regime. Iran is currently designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by Read more…
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) co-sponsored a bipartisan bill, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2016, H.R. 4616, introduced on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to extend new protections to living organ donors. U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Read more…
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) said on Wednesday that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) should consider innovation in addition to consumer protections during an oversight hearing. Burgess, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing Read more…
A hearing entitled “Industry Perspectives on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)” will be held on Jan. 26 by the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, chaired by U.S. Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-TX). The hearing is Read more…
Friday’s announcement of a collaboration between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and leading automakers to increase safety was lauded by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), heard testimony late last week on draft legislation aimed at improving vehicle safety on U.S. roads. The draft bill aims to improve Read more…
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade released several draft proposals recently as part of the committee’s goal of creating legislation to improve road and highway safety. To review and discuss these drafts, the subcommittee will Read more…
The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade released several draft proposals on Wednesday as part of an effort to create legislation to improve safety for families on U.S. roads and highways. The Energy and Commerce subcommittee will hold a Read more…