News

House Republicans Release CR

September 9, 2024

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• Administration
• Capitol Hill

House Republicans Release CR-Only 13 legislative days remain before lawmakers are scheduled to recess and return to the campaign trail until after election day. During that short time, Congress must pass a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown, with lawmakers also hoping to tackle the defense authorization, farm bill, and a slate of China-focused legislation. On Friday, House Republicans released the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025 which would provide funding at fiscal year 2024 levels through March 28, 2025. The CR also includes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R.8281) requiring voters to show documentation of U.S. citizenship. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday afternoon to consider the rule for the legislation which is planned to be considered by the full House later this week. Democrats are united in support of a clean, short-term CR that extends into the post-election lame duck session.

 

 

Biden Administration Sends Funding Requests for CR-The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has sent Congress the President’s list of requested changes-or anomalies-for any CR that will otherwise extend government funding at current levels beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30. The White House’s request includes the provision of an additional $50 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) respiratory virus preparedness and response efforts, $20 million for the CDC’s wastewater surveillance program, and $13 million to support the restructuring of the nation’s organ transplant system. The administration also requests $12 billion in mandatory funding for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund at the Department of Veterans Affairs to address a budgetary shortfall.

 

House to Vote on China Bills This Week-The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on the BIOSECURE Act (H.R.8333) under suspension of the rules. The legislation would prohibit Chinese biotechnology companies of concern, or companies that use equipment or services from biotechnology companies of concern, from receiving federal contracts, grants, or loans and is aimed at blocking foreign governments from accessing Americans’ health and genomic data. BIOSECURE, which was advanced by the House Oversight Committee in a 40-1 vote, would initially impact BGI Group, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Biologics.

 

Consideration of BIOSECURE is part of a large series of votes by the chamber on legislation relating to China. The House is also scheduled to vote of the-No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (H.R.1425) this week. The bill would deem the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pending agreement on pandemic preparedness as a treaty and subject it to a Senate vote prior to implementation in the U.S. Republicans have raised concerns relating to the nation’s financial obligations and U.S. sovereignty in opposing WHO’s global pandemic response efforts.

 

 

Steward CEO to Defy HELP Subpoena-The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will move forward with a hearing on the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care and the subsequent impact on patient care despite Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre’s refusal to comply with a bipartisan subpoena compelling his testimony. De la Torre has asked for a postponement of the hearing until after legal proceedings related to Steward’s bankruptcy are resolved. “Dr. de la Torre will be held accountable for his greed and the damage he has caused the American people and our nation’s health care system,” HELP Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement. “With or without him, this hearing is going forward. We will expose his fraud, and put his greed on display. I look forward to hearing from patients, medical professionals, and community members whose lives have been upended by Dr. de la Torre and his private equity cronies.” The hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday; the witness list has yet to be announced.

 

 

Congressional Retirements and Resignations-A running list of members of Congress who are retiring or seeking other office can be found below.

 

SENATE
Stabenow (D), MI	Braun (R), IN
Cardin (D), MD	Romney (R), UT
Carper (D), DE
Butler (D), CA
Manchin (D), WV
Sinema (I), AZ
Menendez (D), NJ (effective Aug. 20, 2024)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Porter (D), CA	Mooney (R), WV
Lee (D), CA	Banks (R), IN
Gallego (D), AZ	Bishop (R), NC
Schiff (D), CA	Lesko (R), AZ
Slotkin (D), MI	Granger (R), TX
Allred (D), TX	Burgess, MD (R), TX
Trone (D), MD	Wenstrup, DPM (R), OH
Blunt Rochester (D), DE	McHenry (R), NC
Napolitano (D), CA	Ferguson, IV, DMD, PC (R), GA
Wexton (D), VA	Curtis (R), UT
Kim, Andy (D), NJ	Luetkemeyer (R), MO
Jackson, Jeff (D), NC	Lamborn (R), CO
Sarbanes (D), MD	Bucshon, MD (R), IN
Blumenauer (D), OR	Pence (R), IN
Kilmer (D), WA	Duncan (R), SC
Spanberger (D), VA	Armstrong (R), ND
Kildee (D), MI	McMorris Rodgers (R), WA
Phillips (D), MN	Gallagher (R), WI (effective April 19, 2024)
Cardenas (D), CA	Rosendale (R), MT
Eshoo (D), CA	Carl (R), AL
Manning (D), NC	LaTurner (R), KS
Nickel (D), NC	Posey (R), FL
Sablan (D), MP	González-Colón (R), PR
Ruppersberger (D), MD	Graves (R), LA
Kuster (D), NH	Good (R), VA
Bowman (D), NY
Bush (D), MO
Payne (D), NJ (died April 24, 2024)
Jackson Lee (D), TX (died July 19, 2024)
Pascrell (D), NJ (died Aug. 21, 2024)

 

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health legislative hearing “Evaluating FDA Human Foods and Tobacco Programs;” 10:00 a.m.; September 10

 

House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions hearing “ERISA’s 50^th Anniversary: The Value of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits;” 10:15 a.m.; September 10

 

House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; 2:00 p.m.; September 10

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing “Mission Transition: Evaluating Mental Health Support Programs for Separating Servicemembers;” 3:00 p.m.; September 10

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health legislative hearing including a DRAFT bill to include a representative of the National Association of State Veterans Homes on the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); DRAFT, Veterans’ Mental Health Access Act; DRAFT, To amend title 38, U.S.C., to require that non-citizen appointees to positions in the Veterans Health Administration are subjected to background investigations prior to employment; DRAFT, Enhancing Faith-Based Support for Veterans Act of 2024; DRAFT, No Wrong Door for Veterans Act; H.R.9324, Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act; DRAFT, Safeguarding VA’s Healthcare Workforce Act; DRAFT, The Veterans Supporting Prosthetics Opportunities and Recreational Therapy Act; DRAFT, Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act; H.R.9146, Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act; H.R.7504, Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act; H.R.6330, Veterans Sentinel Act; H.R.8562, Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act; H.R.6291, Have You Served Act; H.R.9301, To direct the Secretary of VA to include two counties in New Mexico in a certain Veterans Integrated Service Network; DRAFT, Conflict of Interest Waiver for VA Researchers; 10:00 a.m.; September 11

 

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing “A Year Removed: Oversight of Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act Implementation;” 10:30 a.m.; September 11

 

House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust hearing “The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers;” 2:00 p.m.; September 11

 

Senate HELP Committee hearing to examine the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, focusing on how management decisions have impacted patient care; 10:00 a.m.; September 12

 

Senate HELP Committee hearing “Why Is Novo Nordisk Charging Americans with Diabetes and Obesity Outrageously High Prices for Ozempic and Wegovy?” 10:00 a.m.; September 24

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

H.Res.1418-Supporting the designation of March 2024 as Endometriosis Awareness Month; Sponsor: Scott, David [Rep.-D-GA-13]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.Res.1419-Supporting the goals of Overdose Awareness Day and strengthening efforts to combat the opioid crisis in the United States; Sponsor: Trahan, Lori [Rep.-D-MA-3]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9425-To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize tobacco user fee assessments for all regulated tobacco products, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McClellan, Jennifer L. [Rep.-D-VA-4]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9426-To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may fill vacant shifts at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs with non-Department health care providers; Sponsor: Bost, Mike [Rep.-R-IL-12]; Committees: House-Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.9427-To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide grants to outpatient mental health facilities for the provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care for veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bost, Mike [Rep.-R-IL-12]; Committees: House-Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.9436-To establish a National Science Foundation grant program to provide and strengthen opportunities for peer-led research regarding autism spectrum disorder and its characteristics in women, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Khanna, Ro [Rep.-D-CA-17]; Committees: House-Science, Space, and Technology Latest

 

H.R.9438-To amend and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [Rep.-R-IA-1]; Committees: House-Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.9439-To authorize proceeds from any sale or any moneys forfeited under the Controlled Substances Act to be used for the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Molinaro, Marcus J. [Rep.-R-NY-19]; Committees: House-Judiciary; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9443-To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to share food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and Territorial authorities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ross, Deborah K. [Rep.-D-NC-2]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9445-To direct the Secretary of Defense to replace certain syringes of the Department of Defense; Sponsor: Sherrill, Mikie [Rep.-D-NJ-11]; Committees: House-Armed Services

 

H.Res.1421-Supporting the goals of “Blood Cancer Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Fong, Vince [Rep.-R-CA-20]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9446-To provide payment for patient navigator services under title XIX of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes; Sponsor: DeSaulnier, Mark [Rep.-D-CA-10]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9449-To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a list of covered providers that complete annual training on the prevention of suicide among veterans and to make such list available to veterans; Sponsor: Huizenga, Bill [Rep.-R-MI-4]; Committees: House-Veterans’ Affairs