The Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a markup next week to consider seven bills to improve the public health, provide regulatory relief, and boost the economy. The committee will convene for opening statements only on Monday, July 14, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The committee will reconvene in the same room on Tuesday, July 15, at 10:00 a.m. to consider the legislation. Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) recently released a midyear report chronicling the committee’s accomplishments in the first half of 2014. The committee looks to build on that success as it considers the following legislation:
H.R. 594, the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY). H.R. 594 would update surveillance, research, and education activities to reflect scientific developments and continue the support of research and patient support initiatives across all forms of Muscular Dystrophy.
H.R. 669, the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). This bill provides for activities to help improve the understanding of stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in children.
H.R. 4290, the Wakefield Act, introduced by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). The Wakefield Act would reauthorize grant programs that support the expansion, improvement, and evaluation of emergency medical services for children.
H.R. 4771, the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ). This bill would classify certain anabolic steroids, substances often found in bodybuilding products and marketed as dietary supplements, as controlled substances. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a version of this bill in the Senate in February 2014.
H.R. 4250, the Sunscreen Innovation Act, introduced by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). This bill would streamline the FDA’s approval process for new sunscreen ingredients while maintaining strict safety standards. The FDA has not approved a new sunscreen ingredient in nearly two decades. This legislation would require that pending and new applications be completed in a more predictable and transparent manner. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jack Reed (D-RI) have introduced similar legislation in the Senate, S. 2141.
H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, authored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT). This bill would reauthorize funding for Brand USA and increase accountability and transparency of the program. The bill would allow Brand USA to continue to promote U.S. tourism and economic growth without any cost to U.S. taxpayers.
H.R. 5057, the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, introduced by Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY). This legislation exempts certain external power supply (EPS) service and spare parts from DOE efficiency standards. DOE maintains the authority to include limited reporting requirements and modifications to prevent potential misuse of the exemption.
Electronic copies of the bills can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. A background memo, amendments, and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
