WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of July 29, 2013. Beginning on Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday, the full committee has scheduled a markup of the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act and the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act. Also on Wednesday, Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will testify before the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy on DOE’s strategy for nuclear waste management and disposal. Finally, on Thursday, the full committee will hold a hearing with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief Marilyn Tavenner to answer questions regarding the details and status of the implementation of the president’s health care law.
On Tuesday, July 30, the full committee will convene for opening statements to consider two pieces of legislation: the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act and the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act. NOTE: The markup will convene for opening statements only on Tuesday and reconvene on Wednesday to vote on the legislation.
H.R. 2810, the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), is the result of a careful, bipartisan effort to replace the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) system with a fair, stable, and streamlined system of payments. The new system encourages physicians to deliver the highest quality of care to America’s seniors and removes the threat of uncertainty, allowing them to focus solely on delivering quality care. The bipartisan proposal was agreed to in the Health Subcommittee by a voice vote.
H.R. 2844, The FCC Consolidated Reporting Act, authored by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), will reduce the burden on the FCC to produce multiple reports and instead require the production of one comprehensive and informative review of the marketplace. The Communications and Technology Subcommittee approved the measure by voice vote. Electronic copies of the legislation as well as a background memo can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. Amendments and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
On Wednesday, July 31, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing entitled “Oversight of DOE’s Strategy for the Management for Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal." The hearing will provide members an opportunity to hear directly from Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on the DOE’s new strategy for nuclear waste management and disposal. Following the Obama administration’s effort to terminate the Yucca Mountain repository, DOE has proposed a different direction for the nation’s nuclear waste. The proposal is a product of the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, on which Moniz served. The commission’s recommendations included interim storage until a new geologic repository can be built which DOE now estimates opening in 2048. A witness list is posted here. The Majority Memorandum and witness testimony will be posted at the same link as they become available.
Finally, on Thursday, Aug. 1, the full committee will hold a hearing entitled “PPACA Pulse Check," with testimony from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. Recent unilateral action to delay the employer mandate and to waive the verification process for individuals applying for subsidies on the exchanges has raised new concerns regarding the administration’s ability to implement this law on the current schedule. On July 18, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing in an effort to gain insight from the Treasury Department regarding the July 2 decision to delay the employer mandate. Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy Mark Iwry failed to provide adequate details regarding the decision, making additional oversight necessary. Just two months before the deadline for health care exchanges to be operational, committee members will ask questions regarding the status and details of implementation. A witness list is posted here. The Majority Memorandum and witness testimony will be posted at the same link as they become available.
Hearing and Vote Details:
Tuesday, July 30
4 p.m. (Opening Statements Only)
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Full Committee
Markup on H.R. 2810, the Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act and H.R. 2844, the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act
Wednesday, July 31
10 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Full Committee
Reconvening of markup
2 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
Hearing on “Oversight of DOE’s Strategy for the Management for Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal"
Thursday, August 1
10 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Full Committee
Hearing on “PPACA Pulse Check"
