WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of Nov. 18, 2013. The committee will convene five hearings, including an examination into the security of HealthCare.gov and continued oversight of the FirstNet program. The committee will also examine a package of important public health bills aimed at helping families and communities and vote to advance a critical component of the architecture of abundance.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on “Examining Federal Regulation of Mobile Medical Apps and Other Health Software." The hearing will examine a final guidance by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate mobile medical applications and certain health-related software. As technology rapidly evolves affecting patients’ access to care, the committee will review FDA’s guidance and seek to understand how it will move forward with the rule. The subcommittee will examine a proposal sponsored by full committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the Sensible Oversight for Technology which Advances Regulatory Efficiency (SOFTWARE) Act, (H.R. 3303) to improve the agency’s approach on mobile medical application regulation. The hearing follows up on the committee’s three-day hearing series last spring in which the committee worked to provide much-needed certainty for patients, providers, and innovators. At the time, the FDA pledged not to regulate and tax consumers’ smartphones and tablets. A Majority Memorandum and witness list are posted here, and witness testimony will be available at the same link as they are posted.
Also on Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on the “Security of HealthCare.gov." House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders recently sent letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and four government contractors involved with implementation of the exchanges regarding rising security concerns surrounding the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. In addition to HHS, the committee requested documents and information from Creative Computing Solutions, Inc., Foreground Security Inc., MITRE Corporation, and Verizon Terremark.as they are posted.
Finally on Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will convene for opening statements to consider H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, legislation authored by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) to create a more modern, efficient, and transparent cross-border approval process for oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electric transmission lines that traverse the borders of the United States. The subcommittee will reconvene on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to vote on the legislation. A background memo, legislative text, amendments, and votes will be posted here as they become available.
Also on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on “Examining Public Health Legislation to Help Local Communities." The hearing will showcase public health bills including those for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, newborn health screening, prevention and treatment of tick-borne illness, and preventing sudden infant death. The hearing will also examine a proposal by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) to reauthorize the Poison Control Centers and a proposal by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) to reauthorize the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) program.as they are posted.
On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing on “H.R. 2012, a bill to improve the integrity and safety of interstate horseracing, and for other purposes." A Majority Memorandum, a witness list, and witness testimony will be available here as they are posted.
Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on “Oversight of FirstNet and the Advancement of Public Safety Wireless Communications." The subcommittee will continue its oversight of the build out of FirstNet, a taxpayer funded, $7 billion interoperable public safety network, created by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, and other emergency communications networks.as they are posted.
Hearing and Markup Details:
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013
10 a.m. 2322
Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Heath
Hearing on “Examining Federal Regulation of Mobile Medical Apps and Other Health Software"
10:15 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “Security of HealthCare.gov"
5:00 p.m. (Opening Statement Only)
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Markup on H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013
9:30 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Reconvening of subcommittee markup
2 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Examining Public Health Legislation to Help Local Communities"
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013
10 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Hearing on “H.R. 2012, a bill to improve the integrity and safety of interstate horseracing, and for other purposes"
10:30 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “Oversight of FirstNet and the Advancement of Public Safety Wireless Communications"
