POLICY BRIEFINGS

CPC Urges President to Take Executive Action to Advance Priorities

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is calling on President Joe Biden to issue executive orders before the November midterm elections to address parts of their domestic agenda that remain stalled before Congress. The 98 Democratic members of the House of Representatives argue that executive authority could be used to address issues like climate change and prescription drug pricing. The group suggests that the White House use its contracting power and other authorities to lower the cost of medicines like insulin and epinephrine autoinjectors, to allow drug manufacturers in other countries to make their own COVID-19 vaccines, and to require that new treatments developed from government contracts for medical research be reasonably priced. The New Democrat Coalition, a centrist group of Democrats, also issued a statement in support of the administration using executive action to advance policies “that reflect the priorities of the American people, are developed in consultation with Congress, and have strong consensus among congressional Democrats.”

More Lawmakers Test Positive for COVID-19

More lawmakers have announced that they have tested positive for breakthrough cases of COVID-19, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Jared Golden (D-Maine). They each attributed their lack of severe symptoms to being vaccinated and boosted. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has also tested positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case of the virus. Vice President Kamala Harris continues to test negative but canceled an appearance last week out of an abundance of caution.

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing “Strengthening Federal Mental Health and Substance User Disorder Programs: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Issues;” 10:00 a.m.; March 23

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing “Developing Next Generation Technology for Innovation;” 10:00 a.m.; March 23

Senate Aging Committee hearing “An Economy That Cares: The Importance of Home-Based Services;” 10:00 a.m.; March 23

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing to examine improving the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;” 3:00 p.m.; March 23

House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing “Moving Beyond the Coronavirus Crisis: The Biden Administration’s Progress in Combating the Pandemic and Plan for the Next Phase;” 10:00 a.m.; March 30

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

H.R.7069 — To establish the Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Intelligence

H.R.7060 — To modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Agriculture

H.R.7057 — To revoke Transportation Security Administration directives to implement the Federal mask mandate in public transportation systems, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-26]; Committees: House - Homeland Security

H.R.7055 — To amend the Public Health Service Act with regard to research on asthma, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

S.3824 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program for screening, assessment, and treatment services for maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3828 — A bill to provide student loan forgiveness to health care workers who are on the front line in response to COVID-19; Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.3831 — A bill to require the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study relating to COVID-19 immunity resulting from a prior infection, vaccination, or both, and the COVID-19 pandemic; Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3832 — A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and any applicable agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, to make public information relating to the origin of COVID-19; Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3834 — A bill to strengthen medical device supply chains; Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3837 — A bill to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ensure the supply of certain medical materials essential to national defense, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]; Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

H.Res.984 — Recognizing the importance of sleep health and expressing support for the designation of the week of March 13 to March 19, 2022, as “Sleep Awareness Week”; Sponsor: Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7073 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program for screening, assessment, and treatment services for maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7076 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the pediatric mental health care access grant program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7084 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require, for purposes of ensuring cybersecurity, the inclusion in any premarket submission for a cyber device of information to demonstrate a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness throughout the lifecycle of the cyber device, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7089 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and medical services to veterans and dependents who were stationed at military installations at which the veterans and dependents were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to provide for a presumption of service connection for certain veterans who were stationed at military installations at which the veterans were exposed to such substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]; Committees: House - Veterans’ Affairs

H.R.7091 — To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Henrietta Lacks, in recognition of her immortal cells which have made invaluable contributions to global health, scientific research, our quality of life, and patients’ rights; Sponsor: Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]; Committees: House - Financial Services; House Administration

S.J.Res.41 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Ensuring Access to Equitable, Affordable, Client-Centered, Quality Family Planning Services”; Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3846 — A bill to reauthorize the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.3848 — A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to fund additional school-based mental health providers to help reduce psychological harm, and assist with the return to adaptive coping in schools following a violent or traumatic crisis, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3851 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and medical services to veterans and dependents who were stationed at military installations at which those veterans and dependents were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to provide for a presumption of service connection for certain veterans who were stationed at military installations at which those veterans were exposed to such substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

S.3854 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for home and community based services for veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

H.J.Res.76 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Ensuring Access to Equitable, Affordable, Client-Centered, Quality Family Planning Services”; Sponsor: Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7097 — To facilitate the provision of telehealth services through interstate recognition of health care professionals’ licenses, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison [R-NC-11]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.7107 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the use of retirement plan funds to obtain long-term care insurance, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Education and Labor

S.Res.550 — A resolution recognizing the value of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program in addressing hunger, malnutrition, food insecurity, and social or geographic isolation and improving the health and quality of life for millions of older individuals in the United States each year; Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.3864 — A bill to improve the pediatric mental health care access grant program; Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D- CT]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

H.R.7116 — To provide for improvements in the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Armed Services; Veterans’ Affairs; Oversight and Reform

H.R.7121 — To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain a list of the country of origin of all drugs marketed in the United States, to ban the use of Federal funds for the purchase of drugs manufactured in the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services

H.R.7127 — To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act to prohibit the Secretary from enforcing any drug or vaccine mandate, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]; Committees: House - Education and Labor

H.R.7138 — To establish procedures to include certain foreign persons that pose a threat to the security of supply chains of Internet of Things devices on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-8]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Oversight and Reform

H.R.7140 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase the ability of Medicare and Medicaid providers to access the National Practitioner Data Bank for the purpose of conducting employee background checks; Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

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