WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of November 16.
On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing entitled, “Examining the Regulation of Diagnostic Tests and Laboratory Operations." The subcommittee seeks to build upon the thoughtful dialogue achieved throughout the 21st Century Cures process, especially the feedback received in response to the committee’s white paper on A Modernized Framework for Innovative Diagnostic Tests. The hearing will provide members an opportunity to hear directly from officials at FDA and CMS about each agency’s respective responsibilities and areas of expertise in the regulation of diagnostic tests, as well as what their roles should entail going forward. The Majority Memorandum and witness list can be found online here. Witness testimony will be posted at the same link as it is available.
Also on Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission." All five FCC Commissioners are scheduled to appear as the subcommittee looks forward to an update on the commission’s work on the upcoming incentive auction, the open Internet order, video reforms, and the status of process reform efforts. Witness testimony will be posted at the same link as it is available.
Lastly on Tuesday, the Full Committee will convene for opening statements only for a markup. The following bills will be considered:
* 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.
* H.R. 2017, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 - Authored by committee member and Republican Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), this legislation will provide clarity and flexibility for small businesses from some of the health care law’s most costly and burdensome regulations regarding menu-labeling requirements.
* H.R. 3014, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act - Authored by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), this legislation would amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow registered physicians to transport and administer controlled substances to patients at other practice settings and disaster areas if the physician enters into an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Agency.
* H.R. 3537, Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2015 - Authored by Reps. Charlie Dent (R-PA), James Himes (D-CT), David Jolly (R-FL), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the legislation would help stop the sale of deadly synthetic drugs by scheduling certain designer drugs (phenylalkylamines) in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
* H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Terminated Providers Are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act - Authored by Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), this legislation addresses issues raised in a recent report from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General that found health care providers terminated from Medicaid in one state were still participating in Medicaid and CHIP programs in other states.
* H.R. 3821, the Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act - Authored by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), this legislation would require state Medicaid programs that operate fee-for-service and/or primary care case management programs include a directory of physicians who served Medicaid patients in the prior 12 months on the Medicaid program’s website.
* S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act - Companion legislation to H.R. 2853, a bill introduced by Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Vice Chairman Gregg Harper (R-MS), would help alleviate the financial burden EPA’s drinking water regulations have placed on small and rural drinking water supply systems.
Electronic copies of the legislation and a background memo can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. Amendment text and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
On Wednesday, the Full Committee will reconvene its markup.
On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Oversight will continue working to determine how the public health sector can better prepare for and respond to the flu more effectively. In February 2015, the subcommittee explored whether there were other potential actions that could have been taken to mitigate the negative impacts of last year’s mismatched flu vaccine. In March, bipartisan committee leaders also followed up with five top agency officials to determine how the U.S. public health response could be improved. Next week’s hearing continues the subcommittee’s efforts.as they are posted.
Also on Thursday, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will continue its Disrupter Series to better understand the way new technologies are disrupting the status quo. Following up on their review of the Internet of Things and the Sharing Economy, members will review the use of drones and the impacts they have for consumers and job creators.as they are posted.
Hearing Details
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015
10 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Examining the Regulation of Diagnostic Tests and Laboratory Operations"
10:15 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission"
4 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Full Committee
Markup of H.R. 1321, H.R. 2017, H.R. 3014, H.R. 3537, H.R. 3716, H.R. 3821, H.J. Res. 71, H.J. Res. 72, and S. 611 (Opening statements only)
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Full Committee
Reconvene Markup of H.R. 1321, H.R. 2017, H.R. 3014, H.R. 3537, H.R. 3716, H.R. 3821, H.J. Res. 71, H.J. Res. 72, and S. 611
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015
10:00 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “U.S. Public Health Preparedness for Seasonal Influenza: Has the Response Improved?"
10:15 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Hearing on “The Disrupter Series: The Fast-Evolving Uses and Economic Impacts of Drones"
