POLICY BRIEFINGS

Fetterman, Feinstein Expected to Return Following April Recess

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) plans to return to the Senate the week of April 17, according to sources close to the lawmaker. Fetterman announced in mid-February that he had checked himself into inpatient treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center and was seeking treatment for clinical depression on the recommendation of Congress’ attending physician. According to the American Stroke Association, depression is common among stroke survivors. Fetterman suffered a stroke on the campaign trail last year. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has also been absent from the chamber since being hospitalized following a shingles diagnosis over the February recess. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) stated that he expects her to return to the Senate in the days following the upcoming two-week congressional recess as well.

WHO Revises COVID Vaccine Recommendations

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in response to the current phase of the disease and global immunity levels. WHO suggests that high-risk populations – older adults and people with significant risk factors – receive an additional dose of the vaccine either six or 12 months after their latest dose, based on factors like age and any immunocompromising conditions. The global health agency advises that countries consider factors like disease burden before recommending the vaccination of healthy children and adolescents.

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

H.R.1800 — To prohibit Federal spending on funding research in China, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Williams, Brandon [Rep.-R-NY-22]; Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology

H.R.1795 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow qualified distributions from health savings accounts for certain home care expenses; Sponsor: Smith, Adrian [Rep.-R-NE-3]; Committee: House - Ways and Means

H.R.1790 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to evaluate the extent to which the substitution of interchangeable biological products is impacted by differences between the system for determining a biological product to be interchangeable and the system for assigning therapeutic equivalence ratings to drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [Rep.-R-IA-1]; Committee: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1781 — To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the designation of general surgery shortage areas, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bucshon, Larry [Rep.-R-IN-8]; Committee: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1780 — To facilitate the development of treatments for cancer, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bilirakis, Gus M. [Rep.-R-FL-12]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.1776 —End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023— To prevent, treat, and cure tuberculosis globally; Sponsor: Bera, Ami [Rep.-D-CA-6]; Committee: House - Foreign Affairs

H.R.1774 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to reimburse veterans for the cost of emergency medical transportation to a Federal facility, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Alford, Mark [Rep.-R-MO-4]; Committees: House - Veterans’ Affairs

S.983 — A bill to permit the Attorney General to award grants for accurate date on opioid-related overdoses, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.986 — A bill to increase the criminal penalty for mail fraud involving misrepresentation of the country of origin, to terminate the authority to exclude countries from the requirement to transmit advance electronic information for 100 percent of mail shipments under the STOP Act of 2018, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Finance

H.Res.259 — Promoting youth mental health and well-being in a changing climate; Sponsor: Thompson, Mike [Rep.-D- CA-4]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1805 — To mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on incentives under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic for the development of orphan drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

S.993 — A bill to prohibit certain uses of xylazine, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cortez Masto, Catherine [Sen.-D-NV]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

S.996 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration project to improve outpatient clinical care for individuals with sickle cell disease; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.1000 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of market-based Medicare payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory services, to reduce administrative burdens in the collection of data, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Brown, Sherrod [Sen.-D-OH]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.1001 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the exemption for telehealth services from certain high deductible health plan rules; Sponsor: Daines, Steve [Sen.-R-MT]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.1002 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

H.R.1825 — To clarify that the Federal Right to Try law applies to schedule I substances for which a phase I clinical trial has been completed and to provide access for eligible patients to such substances pursuant to the Federal Right to Try law; Sponsor: Blumenauer, Earl [Rep.-D-OR-3]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

H.R.1826 — To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for prostate cancer screenings without the imposition of cost-sharing requirements, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bucshon, Larry [Rep.-R-IN-8]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1827 — To prohibit the National Institutes of Health from conducting or supporting certain gain-of-function research, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [Rep.-R-GA-1]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.1835 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of market-based Medicare payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory services, to reduce administrative burdens in the collection of data, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hudson, Richard [Rep.-R-NC-9]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.1839 — To prohibit certain uses of xylazine, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Panetta, Jimmy [Rep.-D-CA-19]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

H.R.1843 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the exemption for telehealth services from certain high deductible health plan rules; Sponsor: Steel, Michelle [Rep.-R-CA-45]; Committees: House - Ways and Means

S.1024 — A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement a comprehensive program to promote student access to defibrillation in public elementary schools and secondary schools; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.1026 — A bill to authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention; Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.1028 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Tester, Jon [Sen.-D-MT]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

S.1031 — A bill to ensure affordable abortion coverage and care for every person, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Duckworth, Tammy [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.1037 — A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from carrying out certain activities under the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program until certification of system stability improvements; Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.- R-KS]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

S.1038 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve transparency and prevent the use of abusive spread pricing and related practices in the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Welch, Peter [Sen.-D-VT]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.1040 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate - Veterans’ Affairs

S.1057 — A bill to require responsiveness testing of Defense Logistics Agency pharmaceutical contracts; Sponsor: Rubio, Marco [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate - Armed Services

S.1063 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to implement a minimum work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in State Medicaid programs; Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

S.1064 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national project to prevent and cure Parkinson’s, to be known as the National Parkinson’s Project, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Capito, Shelley Moore [Sen.- R-WV]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.1067 — A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to citizen petitions; Sponsor: Shaheen, Jeanne [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

H.R.2392 — To require a seven-day waiting period before the receipt of a firearm; Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House - Judiciary

H.R.2391 — To amend title 18, United States Code, to temporarily prohibit the transfer of a firearm to, or the possession of a firearm by, a person convicted of a misdemeanor in which a firearm was used, carried, or possessed; Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House - Judiciary

H.R.2390 — To authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention; Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2389 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sewell, Terri A. [Rep.-D-AL-7]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

H.R.2377 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of market-based Medicare payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory services, to reduce administrative burdens in the collection of data, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hudson, Richard [Rep.-R-NC-9]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.2376 — To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and title 5 of the United States Code to facilitate participation in Federal benefits programs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Grijalva, Raúl M. [Rep.-D-AZ-7]; Committees: House - Oversight and Accountability; Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce

H.R.2370 — To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement a comprehensive program to promote student access to defibrillation in public elementary schools and secondary schools; Sponsor: Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [Rep.-D-FL-20]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce

H.R.2369 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to in vitro clinical tests, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bucshon, Larry [Rep.-R-IN-8]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

H.R.2365 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national project to prevent and cure Parkinson’s, to be known as the National Parkinson’s Project, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bilirakis, Gus M. [Rep.-R- FL-12]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2335 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Bilateral Economic Assistance, Global Health Programs, HIV/AIDS for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs

H.R.2334 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Bilateral Economic Assistance, Global Health Programs for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Foreign Affairs

H.R.2297 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Related Agency and Food and Drug Administration, FDA Innovation Account, Cures Act for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2296 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Related Agency and Food and Drug Administration, Buildings and Facilities for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2295 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Related Agency and Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2104 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for District of Columbia, Federal Payment for Testing and Treatment of HIV/AIDS for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Oversight and Accountability

H.R.2021 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2020 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5] Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2019 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Education and the Workforce; Ways and Means

H.R.2018 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

H.R.2017 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

H.R.2016 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, General Departmental Maintenance for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Education and the Workforce; Ways and Means

H.R.2015 — To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Aging and Disability Services Programs for fiscal year 2024; Sponsor: Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]; Committees: House - Education and the Workforce; Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; House Administration

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