WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of April 27. Members will take major steps toward advancing 21st Century Cures and building the Architecture of Abundance. Members will also discuss ways to make the FCC more transparent and will continue their review of opioid abuse. Finally, the committee will advance bills to protect consumers and businesses from higher electricity rates and patent trolls.
On Tuesday, the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold opening statements for a markup of the Ratepayer Protection Act and the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015 (TROL Act). The Ratepayer Protection Act will empower states to protect consumers and businesses from higher electricity prices, reduced reliability, and other harmful effects of EPA’s Clean Power Plan. The TROL Act is a balanced solution to stop abusive patent demand letters while preserving a strong patent system. The full committee will reconvene on Wednesday to vote on the bills.as they are posted.
On Thursday, one year to the day since launching 21st Century Cures, the Subcommittee on Health will take the next major step toward achieving #Cures2015. After a year of listening and engaging with patients, innovators, researchers, providers, and regulators, subcommittee members will discuss with the NIH and FDA a forthcoming bipartisan discussion draft of 21st Century Cures.as they are posted.
Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will continue its work to build the Architecture of Abundance with a hearing to review the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and energy efficiency sections. Members of the subcommittee will review discussion drafts, which seek to modernize the SPR and advance energy efficiency across the public and private sectors.as they are posted.
Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will take an important next step in the #CommActUpdate and continue its work to reform the FCC. Members will hear from FCC Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner O’Rielly and review three draft bills that will improve transparency at the FCC.as they are posted.
On Friday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold its third hearing to tackle the opioid epidemic that is facing our country. Members of the subcommittee have heard from the ‘boots on the ground,’ as well as experts and academics on how to best tackle this growing problem. Next week, members will have the opportunity to ask federal officials what they are doing to combat the epidemic and explore how federal policies can better support efforts to develop new and promising treatments.as they are posted.
Also on Friday, the Subcommittee on Health will discuss H.R. 1321, the Microbead-Free Waters Act, authored by Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ). The bill relates to the use of synthetic plastic microbeads in personal care products. Microbeads can slip through water treatment systems after they are washed down the drain and as a result, they often end up in local streams, rivers, and large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. Legislative text is available online here.as they are posted.
Hearing Details:
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
5 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Energy and Commerce Committee
Markup of H.R., __, The Ratepayer Protection Act, and H.R.__, the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015 (TROL Act) (Opening Statements only)
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Energy and Commerce Committee
Markup of H.R., __, The Ratepayer Protection Act, and H.R.__, the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015 (TROL Act)
Thursday, April 30, 2015
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Legislative Hearing on 21st Century Cures."
10:15 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Hearing on “Strategic Petroleum Reserve Discussion Draft and Title IV Energy Efficiency"
2:00 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “FCC Reauthorization: Improving Commission Transparency"
Friday, May 1, 2015
9 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “What is the Federal Government Doing to Combat the Opioid Abuse Epidemic?"
9:15 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Examining the Impact of Microbeads in Cosmetic Products
