Legislative Activity Gottlieb Confirmation Hearing Set for April 5 On Wednesday, April 5, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will hold a confirmation hearing for Dr. Scott Gottlieb, President Trump’s nominee for Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Gottlieb held a number of senior positions at the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity The Repeal and Replace Effort Moves to the House Budget Committee After two marathon markups, the Republican repeal and replace effort is expected to continue on to the House Committee on the Budget. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Ways and Means endured partisan markups due to … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Verma Visits Senate Finance With Secretary Price now in place at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it is Seema Verma’s turn to experience the Senate confirmation process as the nominee for Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). On Thursday, February 16, Verma will appear before the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Final 21st Century Cures Bill Released Over the weekend, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released the final version of the 21st Century Cures Act. The bipartisan innovation package is the result of over two … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Republicans Seek to Attack the Affordable Care Act This week House Republicans are putting the Affordable Care Act’s summer headlines front and center. Both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will hold … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Republicans to Release ACA Alternative House Republicans announced they will release their long-awaited Affordable Care Act (ACA) Alternative this week. The Speaker’s Task Force on Health Care Reform was announced in January and is one of six committee-led task forces charged with developing “a bold, pro-growth agenda.” Members of the Health Care … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Opioid Bills Slated for House Floor Consideration This week, the House of Representatives will consider 11 bills focused on combatting the opioid crisis. The legislation being considered will act as House companion legislation to S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which passed the Senate in March. The bills being considered … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Defense Budget Last week, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sent a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee in which he “strongly” opposed the $52 billion sequester cuts to the Defense Department’s FY 2014 Budget. He particularly cited risks to U.S. military readiness and technological superiority. Secretary Hagel noted the adverse effects … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Farm Bill Timeline Today at 2:00 pm is the deadline the House Rules Committee has set for members to file amendments to the Farm Bill (H.R. 1947). The House Rules Committee will then meet at 5:00 pm to consider rules for floor debate on the bill. The Farm Bill is scheduled for floor … Continue Reading
