The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced 17 bills to the full House of Representatives on July 21, focusing on lowering energy costs, reducing regulatory barriers, addressing illicit drug threats, and expanding access to health care pricing data.
Chairman Brett Guthrie said, “Today’s markup made clear that the Committee on Energy and Commerce is standing up for families to keep electricity prices low in our communities. On top of that, our Committee is working to strengthen our grid for the long haul, keep our communities safe from illicit drugs, and support patients across the country. Achieving bipartisan support on critical pieces of legislation, like the Ratepayer Protection Act and the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, helps us achieve those goals, and I look forward to House passage of these bills to positively impact Americans across the country.”
Key measures forwarded include H.R. 9340 (the Ratepayer Protection Act), H.R. 6633 (High-Capacity Grid Act), H.R. 9335 (Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act), H.R. 9338 (Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026), H.R. 9332 (Load Forecasting Enhancement Act), as well as several acts targeting health care transparency and combating illicit drugs.
Congressman Gabe Evans said regarding H.R. 9340, “The Ratepayer Protection Act does exactly what the title suggests: protects everyday ratepayers from higher electric bills due to unprecedented energy demand from data centers… We must ensure we’re building AI infrastructure responsibly, and that we have policies in place to reassure hardworking families that this new development delivers benefits, not higher electric bills.” Congressman August Pfluger addressed supply chain vulnerabilities for critical materials during discussion of H.R. 9616, “Critical materials are essential… However, their supply chains are vulnerable… Unless we develop more domestic sources for critical materials, we will remain at the mercy of our enemies.” Chairman Guthrie also highlighted efforts behind H.R. 9393, “H.R. 9393 is accumulation of many months of work by this committee to assess health care affordability challenges… This bill improves price transparency across the health care system by codifying and building on the Trump Administration’s historic price transparency regulation… This package will also hold insurers accountable by requiring insurers to publish their overhead costs and claims payments… This bill will lower drug prices by cutting unnecessary red tape that has slowed consumer access to lower cost alternatives for biosimilars and over-the-counter medications.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee focuses on legislation concerning energy policy innovation; environmental protection; telecommunications; consumer issues; broadband deployment; pharmaceutical pricing; among other areas, according to its official website. The committee stands as one of the oldest standing committees in Congress with origins dating back to its formation as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures in 1795.
Further action now moves these bills forward for debate or vote before all members of the House.