POLICY BRIEFINGS

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense meeting to receive a briefing on the Department of Defense Health Program; 10:00 a.m.; March 7

House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing “Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA);” 3:00 p.m.; March 7

House Intelligence Committee markup of H.R. 1376, COVID-19 Origins Act of 2023; 5:00 p.m.; March 7

House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing “Investigating the Origins of COVID-19;” 9:00 a.m.; March 8

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Member Day Hearing; 10:00 a.m.; March 8

Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing “Artificial Intelligence: Risks and Opportunities;” 10:00 a.m.; March 8

House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing “Intellectual Property and Strategic Competition with China: Part I;” 10:00 a.m.; March 8

House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation hearing “Advances in AI: Are We Ready for a Tech Revolution?” 2:00 p.m.; March 8

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine protecting public health and the environment in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio; 10:00 a.m.; March 9

Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing “Uplifting Families, Workers, and Older Adults: Supporting Communities of Care;” 10:30 a.m.; March 9

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing “Taxpayers Paid Billions for It: So Why Would Moderna Consider Quadrupling the Price of the COVID Vaccine?” 10:00 a.m.; March 22

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies public witness hearing; March 23

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

H.R.1191 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents for certain veterans who served in Guam; Sponsor: Moylan, James C. [Del.-R-GU-At Large]; Committees: House - Veterans’ Affairs

H.R.1182 — To amend the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a vacancy and recruitment database to facilitate the recruitment of certain members of the Armed Forces to satisfy the occupational needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish and implement a training and certification program for intermediate care technicians in that Department, and for other purposes; Sponsor: González-Colón, Jenniffer [Resident Commissioner-R-PR-At Large]; Committees: House - Veterans’ Affairs

H.R.1173 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding the patient medication information required to be included in the labeling of prescription drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [Rep.-R- GA-1]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1170 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify that expenses for blood storage qualify as expenses for medical care; Sponsor: Arrington, Jodey C. [Rep.-R-TX-19]; Committees: House - Ways and Means

H.R.1166 — To enhance authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to respond to the public health emergencies, to provide additional oversight of such authorities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Vargas, Juan [Rep.-D- CA-52]; Committees: House - Financial Services

H.R.1154 — To combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Christopher H. [Rep.-R-NJ-4]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Judiciary

S.Res.85 — A resolution designating March 1, 2023, as “National Assistive Technology Awareness Day”. Sponsor: Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res.84 — A resolution designating February 28, 2023, as “Rare Disease Day”. Sponsor: Brown, Sherrod [Sen.-D-OH]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res.81 — A resolution relating to the establishment of a means for the Senate to provide advice and consent regarding the form of an international agreement relating to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Sponsor: Risch, James E. [Sen.-R-ID]; Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

S.Res.79 — A resolution expressing support for the designation of February 26, 2023, to March 4, 2023, as “National Fentanyl Awareness Week” and raising awareness of the negative impacts of fentanyl in the United States; Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.570 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve coverage of dental and oral health services for adults under Medicaid, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Cardin, Benjamin L. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate - Finance

S.569 — A bill to amend title XXXIII of the Public Health Service Act with respect to flexibility and funding for the World Trade Center Health Program. Sponsor: Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [Sen.-D-NY]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.565 — A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to pregnancy-help organizations. Sponsor: Risch, James E. [Sen.-R-ID]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.543 — A bill to increase research, education, and treatment for cerebral cavernous malformations. Sponsor: Lujan, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

H.Res.186 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the People’s Republic of China should be held accountable for its handling of COVID-19. Sponsor: Mast, Brian J. [Rep.-R-FL-21]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs

H.Res.185 — Declaring racism a public health crisis. Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

H.Res.181 — Expressing support for the designation of February 28, 2023, as “Rare Disease Day”. Sponsor: Carson, Andre [Rep.-D-IN-7]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.Res.178 — Affirming the House of Representatives’ commitment to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Sponsor: Kildee, Daniel T. [Rep.-D-MI-8]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

H.Res.175 — Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world’s leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of this generation and supporting the recognition of February 2023 as “American Heart Month”; Sponsor: Smith, Christopher H. [Rep.-R-NJ-4]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.Res.172 — Expressing support for designation of March 3, 2023, as “National Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Day”; Sponsor: Morelle, Joseph D. [Rep.-D-NY-25]; Committees: House - Oversight and Accountability

H.Res.170 — Recognizing it is the congressional intent of the Affordable Care Act that enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage funds are to be directly shared with the counties in States with a Medicaid local share requirement; Sponsor: Molinaro, Marcus J. [Rep.-R-NY-19]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1199 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equitable payment for, and preserve Medicare beneficiary access to, diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals under the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system; Sponsor: Dunn, Neal P. [Rep.-R-FL-2]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.1201 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Napolitano, Grace F. [Rep.-D-CA-31]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1202 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program; Sponsor: Babin, Brian [Rep.-R-TX-36]; Committees: House - Education and the Workforce

H.R.1210 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to suspend the right to introduce certain persons or property into the United States in the interest of the public health; Sponsor: DesJarlais, Scott [Rep.-R-TN-4]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1215 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a refundable healthcare worker tax credit with semiannual advance payment; Sponsor: Magaziner, Seth [Rep.-D-RI-2]; Committees: House - Ways and Means

H.R.1224 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a national public awareness campaign to inform health care professionals and health care professional students on how to help patients navigate the legal landscape in the United States with respect to abortion and other reproductive health care services following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Trahan, Lori [Rep.-D-MA-3]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1264 — To streamline the employer reporting process and strengthen the eligibility verification process for the premium assistance tax credit and cost-sharing subsidy. Sponsor: Smith, Adrian [Rep.-R-NE-3]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

H.R.1256 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the appointment of the Under Secretary of Health and Assistant Under Secretaries of Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Mrvan, Frank J. [Rep.-D-IN-1]; Committees: House - Veterans’ Affairs

S.Res.90 — A resolution recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic disease for women and designating March 2023 as “Endometriosis Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Duckworth, Tammy [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.574 — A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent the use of patents, trade secrets, or other intellectual property to inhibit competition; Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.592 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the mileage rate offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through their Beneficiary Travel program for health related travel, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Stabenow, Debbie [Sen.-D-MI]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

S.600 — A bill to amend the Controlled Substance Act to list fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances; Sponsor: Johnson, Ron [Sen.-R-WI]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.603 — A bill to establish procedures regarding the approval of opioid drugs by the Food and Drug Administration; Sponsor: Manchin, Joe, III [Sen.-D-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.604 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to amend the mission statement of the Food and Drug Administration; Sponsor: Manchin, Joe, III [Sen.-D-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.606 — A bill to require the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the approval of one opioid pain medication for each new opioid medication approved; Sponsor: Manchin, Joe, III [Sen.-D-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.607 — A bill to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny approval of a new drug application for an opioid analgesic drug on the basis of such drug not being clinically superior to other commercially available drugs; Sponsor: Manchin, Joe, III [Sen.-D-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.614 — A bill to codify the temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances by adding fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

H.Res.193 — Expressing support for the goals and ideals of “World Hearing Day”; Sponsor: Thompson, Mike [Rep.-D- CA-4]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1276 — To protect children from medical malpractice in the form of gender transition procedures; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Rep.-R-IN-3]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; Education and the Workforce; Natural Resources; Ways and Means

H.R.1280 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of research related to cerebral palsy, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cohen, Steve [Rep.-D-TN-9]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1291 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act to list fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances; Sponsor: Fitzgerald, Scott [Rep.-R-WI-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

H.R.1294 — To amend title XXXIII of the Public Health Service Act with respect to flexibility and funding for the World Trade Center Health Program; Sponsor: Garbarino, Andrew R. [Rep.-R-NY-2]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1305 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to formulate a strategy for the Federal Government to secure support from foreign countries, multilateral organizations, and other appropriate entities to facilitate the development and commercialization of qualified pandemic or epidemic products, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Levin, Mike [Rep.-D-CA-49]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs

H.R.1315 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Prostate Cancer Coordinating Committee, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murphy, Gregory [Rep.-R-NC-3]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1316 — To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide for extended periods of continuous coverage under the Medicaid and CHIP programs for children, to provide a period of continuous eligibility under the Medicaid program for certain adults, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1326 — To modify the limitation on the deduction by individuals of certain State and local taxes and to provide coverage for hearing and vision care under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Porter, Katie [Rep.-D-CA-47]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

H.R.1328 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish nonvisual accessibility standards for certain devices with digital interfaces, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Schakowsky, Janice D. [Rep.-D-IL-9]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

S.624 — A bill to amend title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blackburn, Marsha [Sen.-R-TN]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.626 — A bill to recommend that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation test the effect of a dementia care management model, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Stabenow, Debbie [Sen.-D-MI]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.628 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of direct primary care service arrangements as medical care, to provide that such arrangements do not disqualify deductible health savings account contributions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.631 — A bill to protect the privacy of personally-identifiable health and location data, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation

S.635 — A bill to protect children from medical malpractice in the form of gender transition procedures; Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.641 — A bill to terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.642 — A bill to facilitate the development of treatments for cancers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.644 — A bill to expand the take-home prescribing of methadone through pharmacies; Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.- D-MA]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.652 — A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murkowski, Lisa [Sen.-R-AK]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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