WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today announced its hearing schedule for the week of February 23. The committee will hear testimony from the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Human Services on their 2016 budgets. Members will also discuss the future of the Internet, abusive patent demand letters, and drinking water systems in small communities.
On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a joint hearing on the fiscal year 2016 EPA budget. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will testify.as they are posted
Also on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will discuss the implications of President Obama’s plan to regulate the Internet and what it means for the future of online innovation.as they are posted.
On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Health will hear from HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on the HHS budget, the second open enrollment period for the president’s health care law, the status of the backend of the exchanges, and the administration’s planning for the upcoming Supreme Court decision in the case of King v. Burwell.as they are posted.
Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hear from stakeholders and experts regarding patent demand letter abuses and solutions. Abusive patent demand letters and poor practices have been a costly problem, especially for small businesses around the nation. The committee is working to draft legislation to protect consumers and legitimate patent holders from abuse.as they are posted.
On Friday, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will examine Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) issues related to small and rural drinking water utilities. Many smaller and rural communities face significant challenges in replacing, maintaining, or upgrading aging and obsolete drinking water infrastructure. For example, as regulations become more stringent, these communities may need to upgrade basic drinking water systems with more sophisticated or expensive equipment to achieve regulatory compliance. Representatives from small and rural drinking water utilities will testify about the challenges they face and the added costs and burdens of meeting new SDWA requirements.as they are posted.
Hearing Details:
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
10AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Energy and Power and Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
Hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2016 EPA Budget"
10:30AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “The Uncertain Future of the Internet"
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015
10AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Examining the FY 2016 HHS Budget"
10:15AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Hearing on “Update: Patent Demand Letter Practices and Solutions"
Friday, Feb. 27, 2015
10AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
Hearing on “The Needs of Drinking Water Systems in Rural and Smaller Communities"
