WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of July 22, 2013. Beginning on Monday and continuing Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a markup to consider an updated bipartisan draft legislative proposal for Medicare physician payment reform. On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will continue its ongoing efforts to boost innovation and create jobs through spectrum incentive auctions by holding a hearing to review the FCC’s progress in implementing the law. Also, beginning on Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) featuring testimony from stakeholders. On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will discuss objectives and priorities for the U.S.-E.U. trade agreement, and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will review Energy Secretary Moniz’s plans for improving the Department of Energy’s management and performance.
On Monday, July 22, the Subcommittee on Health will hold opening statements for a markup of draft legislation to reform the current Medicare physician payment system. The subcommittee will reconvene on Tuesday, July 23, to consider the legislation. Yesterday, committee leaders released an updated advanced legislative framework to replace the current Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) with a fair and stable system of physician payment in the Medicare program. The draft legislation is the result of a careful and bipartisan process that sought and considered feedback from both lawmakers and stakeholder organizations. This draft legislation is the latest step in the transparent process to reform the system and reward providers for delivering high-quality, efficient health care. The bipartisan draft legislation is authored by Health Subcommittee Vice Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Full Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). The bipartisan draft legislation and a Majority Memorandum are posted here. Amendments will be posted at the same link as they become available.
On Tuesday, July 23, and continuing into Wednesday, July 24, the Subcommittee on Energy Power will hold a hearing entitled “Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives." Next week’s hearing follows a June 26 subcommittee hearing that reviewed government implementation of the RFS and also comes on the heels of the committee’s release of a series of bipartisan white papers examining a range of emerging concerns with the current statute. Each of the five papers solicited input from interested parties and the committee has received an outpouring of responses. The two-day hearing will feature testimony from three panels of stakeholder witnesses including fuel users, developers, and representatives from the agricultural and environmental communities. A witness list and Majority Memorandum are posted here. Witness testimony will be available at the same link as posted.
Also on Tuesday, July 23, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on “Oversight of Incentive Auction Implementation." Continuing their efforts to increase innovation and support job creation, members will review the progress of implementing the spectrum incentive auctions the committee passed as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. A witness list and the Majority Memorandum are posted here. Witness testimony will be available at the same link as it is posted.
On Wednesday, July 24, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing entitled “The U.S.-E.U. Free Trade Agreement: Tipping Over the Regulatory Barriers." Next week’s hearing will discuss the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), a trade agreement currently being negotiated between the United States and the European Union. T-TIP presents an opportunity to break down regulatory trade barriers between two of the world’s largest consumer markets, helping to promote economic growth and job creation both in the U.S. and in Europe. Top executives representing major U.S. stakeholders will discuss their objectives and priorities in negotiating this historic trade agreement.as they are posted.
Also on Wednesday, July 24, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing entitled “Department of Energy Oversight: What is Necessary to Improve Project Management and Mission Performance?" In testimony before the Energy and Power Subcommittee on June 13, 2013, newly sworn in Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz pledged, “Improving the management and performance of the Department is one of my top priorities as secretary." In light of the secretary’s proposals outlined in that testimony, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee next week will examine the secretary’s plans for improving the agency’s management and performance in more detail. The hearing is part of the committee’s ongoing oversight of DOE management and performance challenges, and will contribute to an oversight record necessary for members to monitor how the agency fulfills its diverse missions while protecting national security, public health and safety, and taxpayer resources.as they are posted.
Hearing and Vote Details:
Monday, July 22
5 p.m. (Opening Statements Only)
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health
Markup on Committee print to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform the sustainable growth rate and Medicare payment for physicians’ services, and for other purposes
Tuesday, July 23
9:45 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Hearing on “Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives" (Day 1)
10:30 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “Oversight of Incentive Auction Implementation"
1:30 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health
Reconvening of markup
Wednesday, July 24
9:45 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Hearing on “The U.S.-E.U. Free Trade Agreement: Tipping Over the Regulatory Barriers"
10 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “Department of Energy Oversight: What is Necessary to Improve Project Management and Mission Performance?"
1:30 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Reconvening of Hearing on “Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives" (Day 2)
