Welcome to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered remarks on the House floor regarding H.R. 3109, the Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act, to increase American refining capacity, unleash American energy, and lower prices for consumers. Chairman Guthrie’s remarks on H.R. 3109, the Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act, as prepared for delivery: “The American economy is fueled by petrochemical refineries, providing affordable diesel and gasoline to families, critical inputs for our manufacturers, and products imperative for the maintenance of our defense systems. “The national security component of a viable refining industry cannot be understated, and we must not forfeit these essential supply chains. “Under the previous administration, we saw the impact of an energy retreat: higher prices for families and businesses, emboldened adversaries, sluggish economies, and increasing reliance on other nations. “Unfortunately, that is still the case in states like California where a hostile regulatory environment has forced refineries to reduce operations. In fact, the Golden State is expected to lose 17 percent of its capacity in the next year. “This has led to average gasoline prices of nearly $5 dollars per gallon, increased fuel dependence on Asian producers, and jeopardized the fuel supply chain of military installations in the state. “We must not let this become the status quo across the country. “H.R. 3109 requires the National Petroleum Council to collect and examine information regarding the role of petrochemical refineries in the United States, and their contributions to affordability, security, and reliability. “The report will assess opportunities to expand capacity, as well as current risks to refineries. “H.R. 3109 will provide DOE and Congress the information we need to enact policies that deliver affordable, reliable, and clean energy to all Americans. “I thank Representative Latta, the Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, for his leadership on this issue. “I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3109. “According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global demand for liquid fuels is set to increase by about 20 million barrels per day by 2050. “To ensure prices remain low for consumers, high-value refined goods are available for our global partners, and inputs for our nation’s defense systems are available, we must recognize what it will take to fulfill that demand increase. “We are in an age of energy expansion, and we must implement policies that allow America to produce, refine, and export energy to global customers. “I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 3109, and I yield back.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled Daylight and Destinations: Examining Time, Travel, and Tourism. “Travel and tourism are vital engines for local communities across the country and for our national economy. During this week’s CMT hearing, we discussed the importance of programs such as Brand USA and how Congress can strengthen the travel and tourism industries,”  said Chairman Bilirakis. “We also examined a range of perspectives on Daylight Saving Time—a practice that touches nearly every American and merits careful evaluation. Our discussion focused on its real-world impacts and the factors Congress must consider as we assess potential reforms. It was a productive and insightful dialogue.” Watch the full hearing here. Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Tom Kean (NJ-07): “Miss Maietta, the state of New Jersey is pleased to host eight matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The hospitality industry is critical to hosting these important matches. Could you please share how the hospitality industry is preparing for these highly anticipated events?” Ms. Rosanna Maietta: “We are accustomed to holding and hosting big events all the time, but of course, bringing in so many people at the same time does present some unique challenges, but also opportunities. Right now, our industry is working very closely with law enforcement, city officials, and all stakeholders involved to ensure that we are prepared. I would encourage those lines of communication to stay open. Thank you for serving on the [2026 FIFA World Cup] Caucus. We commend the administration for setting up task forces around these events to ensure that they go off without a hitch.” Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “We have roughly 790,000 people that live in the district, but every year the Myrtle Beach area sees 18 million come to our area. If you take it proportionally, there are 20 visitors for every one resident. Tourism in the Grand Strand generates tens of billions of dollars in economic impact and supports tens of thousands of jobs. In the district, we talk about tourism, but we’re really talking about the livelihoods of the folks that I represent.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): “What happens at the local level when a hotel or some other sort of lodging venue closes? Can you speak on the impact that that has on a local economy?” Ms. Maietta: “Operating costs have risen four times faster than revenue in the last five years. What we are seeing is small businesses—our industry is primarily made up of small businesses—simply can’t afford to stay open. So, we’ve seen closures, and that impacts jobs and the local community that relies on the hotel to create more economic flow.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, to remove unnecessary export controls on LNG, strengthen the domestic economy, and increase the energy security of the United States and our allies. Chairman Guthrie’s remarks on H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, as prepared for delivery: “In February 2016, the first cargo of U.S. LNG set sail from the lower 48, making the United States a natural gas exporter for the first time since the 1960s. “Since then, exports have increased from 0.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2016 to nearly 12 billion cubic feet per day in 2024, making the U.S. the global leader in LNG in less than a decade. “U.S. LNG has played an undeniably important role in providing affordable, abundant, and clean energy to the world. “This could not have been more evident than in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, disrupting global commodity markets and leaving Europe without secure access to energy. “Immediately, US producers began sending cargoes of American gas to the continent to fuel their economies and heat their homes, helping some of our most important global allies. “However, in January 2024 the Biden-Harris Administration announced an illegal and indefinite ban on new export authorizations, all in the name of vaguely stated climate change goals. “Current law is clear, requiring a statutory presumption in favor of exports are in the public interest. “Plus, the vast majority of studies show that not only do LNG exports bolster our energy security, they also help maintain low domestic natural gas prices for Americans. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s action not only jeopardized our European allies, it threatened the faith and credibility of American companies’ contracts, emboldened Russia and other nefarious actors, and created uncertainty for domestic producers of natural gas. “H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, would ensure this catastrophic policy decision is never made again by removing DOE from the statutory authorization process. “This legislation maintains the President’s authority to impose sanctions on foreign governments, prohibiting imports or exports if justified. “Free trade, open markets, and competition have resulted in the U.S. emerging as a global energy superpower, and lifting these restrictions will help maintain this dominance at a time it is needed most. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1949. “The American people have made it clear that we cannot heed the calls of radical environmental activists putting politics over people. “The United States is blessed with enormous gas reserves, more than sufficient to meet rising global demand while also serving our domestic markets. “This bill will create American jobs, help our allies around the world, and maintain low-cost natural gas for American families and businesses. “I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting a briefing to better understand the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent actions and ongoing work to enhance safety within the organ procurement and transplantation system. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced major efforts to improve safety, transparency, and efficiency within the organ procurement and transplantation system, including the decertification of an organ procurement organization (OPO) for the first time in U.S. history. According to the announcement , the decision was made “after an investigation uncovered years of unsafe practices, poor training, chronic underperformance, understaffing, and paperwork errors.” The Committee has a history of ensuring patient safety remains the highest priority in our organ procurement and transplantation system, as evident from the Committee’s work last Congress on organ transplantation and donation issues as well as its oversight this Congress. As a part of its ongoing investigation, the Committee requests that CMS respond to questions, including those related to the decertification of the OPO in South Florida and the prevalence of incidents similar to those outlined in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) investigative report, to ensure patient safety remains a top priority. Read the full letter HERE . “While the Committee applauds efforts taken by CMS to uphold the highest standards of care to which all OPOs are expected to adhere, HHS’s announcement decertifying the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency illustrates the urgency of this moment and why the subcommittee is not finished with our oversight of the organ transplant system,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce. “It is our moral obligation as members of Congress to establish safeguards and prevent these harmful practices from persisting further, and we look forward to obtaining answers from the agency about the prevalence of these incidents, as well as how CMS plans to proceed with prioritizing patient safety first and foremost.” Background: During the 118th Congress, the Committee on Energy and Commerce led the passage of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act to both modernize the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and allow HRSA to institute a competitive contracting process to find the best contractors for various OPTN functions. This legislation was signed into law on September 22, 2023.  On March 20, 2024, the Committee launched an investigation into the organ procurement and transplantation system by sending a letter to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) requesting information related to concerns surrounding data security and operability, patient safety and equity, and conflicts of interest.   On March 20, 2024, the Committee also sent a letter to HRSA requesting information related to implementation of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act as well as other concerns related to effective oversight and management.  On September 11, 2024, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing that focused on the implementation of reforms at the OPTN, including the need for stronger oversight and accountability as well as ongoing patient safety concerns.  During the hearing, questions were raised related to allegations of mismanagement and patient safety concerns after patients began exhibiting signs of increased neurologic function after being previously deemed suitable as an organ donation candidate. Several of these allegations, particularly those related to patient safety, were later substantiated through the findings contained in HRSA’s March 2025 report.  On March 24, 2025, HRSA’s Division of Transplantation issued a report that summarized the findings of its investigation into KYDA, the OPO now known as Network for Hope, which serves Kentucky and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana.   HRSA’s investigation examined an “index case” and an additional 351 unique cases of authorized, not recovered (ANR) patients. This means that the patients were considered for donation after circulatory death recovery, but no organs were transplanted. The report showed that nearly 30 percent of the cases “had concerning features.” The concerning features included problems with patient-family interactions, medical assessments and team interactions, recognition of high neurologic function, and recognition and documentation of drugs in records.  On May 28, 2025, HRSA issued a corrective action plan to the OPTN, which directed the OTPN to take specific actions within a specified period of time, including developing a 12-month OPTN monitoring plan for KYDA to address concerns identified. The corrective action plan also requires the OPTN to propose policies for public comment to improve safeguards for potential donation after circulatory death (DCD) patients in the organ procurement process and increase information shared with patient families regarding DCD organ procurement.  On July 22, 2025, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing examining concerning practices within our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system that were identified by HRSA’s investigation.  On September 12, 2025, the Committee sent a bipartisan letter to HRSA requesting a briefing on its ongoing oversight of patient safety in our nation’s organ procurement and transplant system. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting an assessment of available or emerging technologies and materials that could be used to supplement critical minerals in semiconductors. “Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for technologies used in many sectors of the economy, including energy, transportation, national defense, health care, and consumer electronics,” said Chairmen Joyce and Palmer . “These minerals are vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions for several reasons, including U.S. reliance on foreign sources, as well as the rapid growth in demand for critical minerals in the U.S. and abroad.” CLICK HERE to read the full letter. The letter asks the GAO to examine: The status of domestic technologies and supplemental materials, such as critical minerals found in mine waste, tailings, or reclaimed from end-of-life batteries and electronic waste, that can serve as substitutes for foreign-sourced critical minerals from non-allied nations needed for semiconductors and energy grid or power electronics, including impacts on material and product performance. Key technological challenges to the development or adoption of these domestic supplemental and materials to advance the diversification of U.S. critical mineral sources. BACKGROUND: In May, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on ways to enhance our critical mineral supply chains. Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are committed to strengthening our critical mineral supply chains and finding solutions to reduce our reliance on foreign sources, particularly when it comes to foreign adversaries like China. The Trump Administration has also worked hard to bolster these supply chains. Critical minerals are essential to American technologies and industries, and finding innovative domestic solutions that can contribute to our independence from non-allied nations is essential as we work to onshore American innovation and strengthen our national security. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, sent a letter to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker following the recent announcement that student athletes and athletic department staff will be allowed to bet on professional sports. KEY EXCERPTS: “The Committee on Energy and Commerce is examining the NCAA’s recent policy change permitting student athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports.” [...] To assist the Committee in its oversight, we request a briefing by no later than November 13, 2025, that addresses the following: Why is the NCAA changing its policy allowing student athletes to bet on professional sports? Has the NCAA conducted any studies, analyses, or reviews of the impact of gambling on student athletes? If so, what are the results? What role did they play in the NCAA’s decision to allow student athletes to bet on professional sports? How does this change allow the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to better protect the integrity of college games and encourage healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities on professional sports? How is the NCAA engaging with athletic conferences, member institutions, and teams to address questions and concerns about this rule change? Amid recent allegations of illegal sports betting among student athletes and concerns expressed by member institutions, is NCAA reconsidering implementation of the policy? What guardrails are in place to prevent the type of illegal sports betting activity that is allegedly occurring in the NCAA and NBA, considering that some student athletes will go on to become professional athletes? Please provide details about any fraudulent, illegal, and alleged betting practices in connection with NCAA players, coaches, and officials, including the actions of NCAA players identified in recent infraction decisions; as well as prior instances, some of which are identified above. Please describe the NCAA’s “layered integrity monitoring program,” for maintaining competition integrity and pursuing sports betting violations. What gaps, if any, are in existing regulations that allow illegal betting schemes to occur in college sports? BACKGROUND: On October 24, 2025, the Committee on Energy and Commerce launched its investigation into sports fixing and illegal gambling after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) unsealed indictments of current and former NBA players and coaches. An initial announcement stated that, effective November 1, 2025, student athletes and athletic department staff in all three NCAA divisions would be permitted to bet on professional sports. A few days before the policy change was supposed to take effect, the Division I Board of Directors voted to delay implementation of the rule change across all three divisions to November 22, 2025. A recent NCAA press release stated that “enforcement staff has opened investigations into potential sports betting violations by approximately 30 current or former men's basketball student-athletes.” CLICK HERE to read the full letter.