WASHINGTON, DC - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today announced its hearing schedule for the week of April 18.
On Monday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will convene for opening statements only for a markup. The following bills will be considered:
* H.R. 2031, Anti-Swatting Act of 2015 - Authored by committee member Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the bill would create enhanced penalties for those known as “swatters" who use false or misleading caller ID information to trigger a response by law enforcement agencies.
* H.R. 3998, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act - Authored by Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), the bill would create requirements for mobile service providers during emergencies to ensure that consumers have access to networks during disasters, and requires the FCC and GAO to examine the resiliency of networks during these events. In addition, it amends the Stafford Act to ensure all categories of communications service providers may access disaster sites to restore service.
* H.R. 4111, Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 - Authored by committee member Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), the bill would allow skilled nursing facilities to apply for Universal Service funding for communications services used to provide health care in rural communities.
* H.R. 4167, Kari’s Law Act of 2015 - Authored by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), the bill would require that any multi-line telephone system connects directly to 911 when dialed, even in instances where the phone requires the user to dial “9" to get an outside line.
* H.R. 4190, Spectrum Challenge Prize of 2015 - Authored by committee member Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), the bill would create a prize program through NTIA to award up to $5 million to participants who develop groundbreaking solutions to maximize spectrum efficiency.
* H.R. 4884, the CURB Lifeline Act - Authored by Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), the bill would reform the FCC’s Lifeline subsidy program by capping the fund at $1.5 billion, prohibiting the use of the subsidy for devices, and phasing out the subsidy for voice only service for mobile.
* H.R. 4889, the Kelsey Smith Act - Authored by Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), the bill would require telecommunications carriers to share location data if law enforcement believes that someone is in danger of death or serious harm.
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 Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will reconvene its markup.
Also on Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing to examine industry and law enforcement perspectives on the issue of encryption. Both Apple, Inc. and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will be among the witnesses providing testimony. Witness testimony will be posted at the same link as it becomes available.
Also on Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing examining physician efforts to prepare for Medicare payment reforms. The hearing will be the sequel to a March 10, 2016, hearing on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, which focused on the work being done by CMS.as they are posted.
On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a joint hearing to examine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s FY 2017 budget proposal. Members will hear testimony from NRC commissioners and discuss long-term staffing and budgetary needs to ensure the safety and efficiency of the agency.as they are posted.
Also on Wednesday, the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives will hold a hearing on fetal tissue pricing to examine whether businesses and abortion clinics were profiting from the sale of tissue in violation of federal law.as they are posted.
Also on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will convene a hearing to assess the safety of U.S. bioresearch laboratories, and how they conduct oversight of high-containment laboratories.as they are posted.
On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing to examine the status of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program and discuss areas of improvement to further protect both the environment and local economies.as they are posted.
Hearing Details
Monday, April 18, 2016
5 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Markup of H.R. 4889, H.R. 4167, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4111, H.R. 4190, H.R. 3998, and H.R. 2031 (Opening statements only)
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “Deciphering the Debate Over Encryption: Industry and Law Enforcement Perspectives"
10:15 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015: Examining Physician Efforts to Prepare for Medicare Payment Reforms"
2 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Reconvene Markup of H.R. 4889, H.R. 4167, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4111, H.R. 4190, H.R. 3998, and H.R. 2031
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittees on Energy and Power, Environment and the Economy
Hearing on “Fiscal Year 2017 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Budget"
10 AM
HVC-210
Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives
Hearing on “The Pricing of Fetal Tissue"
10:15 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “How Secure are U.S. Bioresearch Labs? Preventing the Next Safety Lapse"
Thursday, April 21, 2016
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
Hearing on “EPA’s Brownfields Program: Empowering Cleanup and Encouraging Economic Redevelopment"
