News

House Plans Votes on China Legislation

September 4, 2024

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House Plans Votes on China Legislation-House Republican leadership informed GOP members last week to expect a series of votes early this month on legislation relating to China, including the BIOESECURE Act (H.R.8333). 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. A similar measure, the Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act (S.3558) has strong bipartisan support in the Senate, but Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has stated that he would block fast-track passage of either bill. The No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (H.R.1425) has also been slated for consideration by the House. The bill would subject any World Health Assembly agreement on pandemics to a Senate vote.

 

Congress is scheduled to reconvene from August recess on September 9. Lawmakers are expected to spend the weeks leading up to the end of the fiscal year on September 30 negotiating a continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding at current levels and avoid a government shutdown. The GOP is still working to resolve intraparty disagreements over both the length of the CR as well as whether the stopgap spending bill should include additional policy riders. Democrats are united in support of a short-term CR that extends into the post-election lame duck session.

 

Comer Asks PBM Executives to Correct Testimony-House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has written to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) executives accusing them of providing false testimony before the committee during a July hearing. Comer argues that statements made by CVS Health Corp., UnitedHealth Group Inc, and Cigna Group contradict findings by the committee and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The PBMs repeatedly asserted that they do not steer patients to their own pharmacies or pay affiliated pharmacies more favorable rates. Comer asks the three executives to “correct the record” by September 11.

 

Eli Lilly to Offer Lower Cost Weight Loss Drug Direct to Consumer-Eli Lilly & Co. announced that it will begin selling vials of its weight-loss drug Zepbound to patients for as low as $399 a month-about half of the cost to receive the drug via an auto-injector pen. The decision is a part of the company’s effort to increase the supply of Zepbound amid shortages of the drug. The vials will only be available through Lilly’s direct-to-consumer platform LillyDirect for patients who will pay for the treatment out-of-pocket. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) characterized the announcement as a “modest step forward” while noting that the weight loss treatments still remain unaffordable for many Americans. The CEO of Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of obesity medication Wegovy, is scheduled to testify at a hearing before the HELP Committee on September 24.

 

 

Rep. Caraveo Shares Struggle with Depression-Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) announced last week that she has sought treatment for depression at Walter Reed Medical Center. “I’m sharing this today because I believe we need to de-stigmatize mental illness-in Colorado and across our country. It is my hope that the millions of people who struggle with anxiety or any other mental health issues seek help,” she stated. Caraveo is a pediatrician who is serving her first term in the House of Representatives.

 

 

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 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 V’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

 

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.R.9394-To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform health provisions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Moore, Blake D. [Rep.-R-UT-1]; Committees: House-Ways and Means

 

H.R.9399-To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Ciscomani, Juan [Rep.-R-AZ-6]; Committees: House-Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.9402-To support National Science Foundation education and professional development relating to artificial intelligence, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Fong, Vince [Rep.-R-CA-20]; Committees: House-Science, Space, and Technology

 

H.R.9403-To support a broad and diverse interdisciplinary research community for the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-powered innovation through partnerships and capacity building at certain institutions of higher education and other institutions to expand AI capacity in populations historically underrepresented in STEM, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Foushee, Valerie P. [Rep.-D-NC-4]; Committees: House-Science, Space, and Technology

 

H.Res.1416-Expressing support for the designation of the week of August 25, 2024, through August 31, 2024, as “Black Breastfeeding Week”; Sponsor: Adams, Alma S. [Rep.-D-NC-12]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9412-To enhance the cybersecurity of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector; Sponsor: Crow, Jason [Rep.-D-CO-6]; Committees: House-Homeland Security; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9416-To recognize the right to assisted reproductive technology and to limit liability for certain actions committed during the course of providing assisted reproductive technology; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.9417-To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to provide no-cost coverage for annual screening mammography beginning at 30 years of age; Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.9422-To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to add a new State plan amendment option to provide medical assistance for certain individuals who are patients in certain institutions for mental diseases; Sponsor: Pettersen, Brittany [Rep.-D-CO-7]; Committees: House-Energy and Commerce