WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee announced its hearing schedule for the week of July 16. With far too many Americans still out of work, the committee will hold six hearings focused on a range of issues with economic implications, including additional scrutiny of the Obama administration’s job-destroying regulations, a continuation of the committee’s review of alternative fuels and vehicles programs, and a look at new legislation aimed at regulatory relief that will benefit farmers and asthma patients. The committee will also explore alternatives to the outdated Medicare physician payment system and oversight of America’s most sensitive nuclear facilities.
On Monday, July 16, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a field hearing in Abingdon, Virginia with a focus on EPA’s proposed Greenhouse Gas New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for utilities and the impact this proposed regulation will have on jobs. The subcommittee will hear local perspectives on EPA’s new standards for power plants and the potential consequences for jobs and energy production in Southwest Virginia. This field hearing follows two hearings held by the subcommittee last month, June 19, 2012 and June 29, 2012, on the topic of EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations. A Majority Memorandum and witness list are posted here. Witness testimony will be available at the same link as soon as it becomes available.
On Tuesday, July 17, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing on “The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on Federal Government Perspectives Regarding Alternative Fuels and Vehicles." This portion of the hearing continues the subcommittee’s look into alternative fuels and vehicles. The subcommittee heard from private sector witnesses last week on the same topic, and next week’s testimony will provide members the opportunity to hear from government representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Energy Information Administration. A Majority Memorandum and witness list are posted here. Witness testimony will be available at the same link as soon as it becomes available.
On Wednesday, July 18, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on “Using Innovation to Reform Medicare Physician Payment." The president’s health care law failed to reform the outdated Sustainable Growth Rate formula used to determine Medicare physician payments. Wednesday’s hearing will focus on innovative payment and delivery models that are being developed in the private sector, and whether they can be used to prevent the 27 percent cuts to provider fees that will occur in 2013. A Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.
Also on Wednesday, July 18, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a legislative hearing on drafts of the “U.S. Agricultural Sector Relief Act of 2012," and the “Asthma Inhalers Relief Act of 2012." Discussion drafts can be viewed here. A Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony will be posted at the same link as soon as they become available.
On Friday, July 20, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing on “Where the Jobs Are: Moving the Economy with Mobile Apps." This will be the subcommittee’s fourth hearing in its “Where the Jobs Are" series to examine employment obstacles and opportunities America faces. With 41 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent, the mobile apps marketplace is one of the few sectors of the economy where jobs are being created. This hearing will focus on the thriving market for these apps and the developers who are driving this innovative and growing sector of our economy. A Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.
Also on Friday, July 20, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on “DOE’s Nuclear Weapons Complex: Challenges to Safety, Security, and Taxpayer Stewardship." This hearing will continue the committee’s oversight of Department of Energy management of our nation’s most sensitive nuclear facilities. The committee has a long history of investigating and identifying safety, security, and management issues in the Nuclear Weapons Complex. Continuing the long-standing bipartisan approach to these critical national issues, committee leaders recently wrote to the Government Accountability Office requesting assistance in evaluating oversight of nuclear weapons complex contractors’ self-assessment programs. They also requested GAO conduct a study of the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s efforts to upgrade radioactive waste management capabilities, critical to maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. This oversight follows other recent actions by the committee on DOE safety and security reforms.
A Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.
Hearing Details:
Monday, July 16, 2012
9:00 a.m.
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Field Hearing on a continuation of the American Energy Initiative, with a focus on EPA’s proposed Greenhouse Gas New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for utilities and the impact this regulation will have on jobs
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
3:00 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Hearing on the American Energy Initiative focusing on federal government perspectives regarding alternative fuels and vehicles
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
10:00 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Using Innovation to Reform Medicare Physician Payment"
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
10:15 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Legislative hearing on “U.S. Agricultural Sector Relief Act of 2012," and the “Asthma Inhalers Relief Act of 2012"
Friday, July 20, 2012
9:00 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Hearing on “Where the Jobs Are: Moving the Economy with Mobile Apps"
Friday, July 20, 2012
9:30 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “DOE’s Nuclear Weapons Complex: Challenges to Safety, Security, and Taxpayer Stewardship"
