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Hearing to evaluate safety measures implemented to protect athletes at all levels, from youth leagues to the Olympics and Paralympics Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today announced a subcommittee hearing titled "Timeout: Evaluating Safety Measures Implemented to Protect Athletes." “Congress created SafeSport to protect young athletes so predators like Larry Nassar will never harm children again. However, there have been hurdles to implementing the safety measures provided by the SafeSport program, including a lack of transparency to athletes who have submitted claims. This hearing will give Members an opportunity to hear from SafeSport, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, USA Softball, and the U.S. Soccer Federation as we examine how best to protect athletes from abuse and what challenges the SafeSport program faces to accomplish that goal. We must ensure athletes in our communities are healthy and safe from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse,” said Chairs Rodgers and Griffith.   Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled “Timeout: Evaluating Safety Measures Implemented to Protect Athletes.”   WHAT : A subcommittee hearing to discuss oversight of SafeSport’s ability to protect athletes, from youth sports to the Olympics.  DATE : Thursday, March 21, 2024   TIME : 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION : 2322 Rayburn House Office Building   WITNESSES :  Ms. Ju’Riese Colón, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Center for SafeSport  Ms. Nicole Deal , Senior Vice President for Security and Athlete Safety, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee   Mr. Craig Cress, Chief Executive Officer, USA Softball, Inc.  Ms. Mana Shim, Chair, U.S. Soccer Federation Participant Safety Task Force, U.S. Soccer Federation  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Lauren Eriksen with the Committee staff at Lauren.Eriksen@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov .  

“TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox News to discuss House passage of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. Highlights and excerpts from the interview: “We know that TikTok has repeatedly been caught in this lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, and yet we have internal recording from employees that have said ‘everything is seen by China.’  “We know that China surveils its own citizens. We know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted with American user data. “We cannot trust them to protect American values like freedom. That’s why the House voted overwhelmingly [today] […] 352 yes votes to force TikTok to break away from ByteDance.” […] “TikTok really has the choice to make. This is not a ban. This is TikTok deciding whether or not it remains with its current ownership structure, ByteDance, and ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or if divests. “If it breaks away from ByteDance, it will continue to operate in the United States of America. “That’s why the bill does—it’s a very narrow, specific legislation that we’ve working on for months to take into account the national security concerns.” […] “This is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, and we need to be taking action to protect American user data.” [...] “The legislation is focused on the national security threat. This is about data that would be controlled by foreign adversaries. We are not getting into content at all—I think that’s a very important note to make." […] “This bill is unique in that its targeting foreign adversaries. We’re working separately on legislation for privacy, data security, and believe that a national data privacy and security bill is very important for protecting Americans and protecting Americans—as well as our kids—online.” CLICK HERE to read Chair Rodgers’ statement on H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to for what top conservative voices are saying.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today announced a subcommittee hearing titled "Evaluating Approaches to Diagnostic Test Regulation and the Impact of the FDA’s Proposed Rule." “Patients and providers increasingly rely on the results of diagnostics to detect, guide treatment decisions, and monitor a host of medical conditions and illnesses. The FDA has proposed a rule that relies upon dubious and misguided legal, economic, and public health arguments and has provided limited opportunities for stakeholders to offer input. The proposed rule extends far beyond the scope of any legislative proposals and would threaten access to reliable tests for children and patients with rare diseases. Any paradigm-shifting changes to the current regulations must come from Congress—not the Executive Branch,” said Chair Rodgers and Guthrie.   Subcommittee on Health hearing titled "Evaluating Approaches to Diagnostic Test Regulation and the Impact of FDA’s Proposed Rule."   WHAT : A hearing to discuss the FDA’s proposed rule to regulate lab developed tests and alternative approaches to diagnostic regulation.  DATE : Thursday, March 21, 2024    TIME : 10:00 AM    LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building    WITNESSES :  Susan Van Meter , President, American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA)   Zach Rothstein, JD , Executive Director, AdvaMedDx   Donald S. Karcher, MD, FCAP , President of the College of American Pathologists (CAP)  Jeff Allen , PhD, President and CEO, Friends of Cancer Research    Dara L. Aisner, MD, PhD , Medical Director, Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory, Professor of Pathology, University of Colorado; Representative of the Academic Coalition for Effective Laboratory Developed Tests  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Emma Schultheis with the Committee staff at Emma.Schultheis@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov . 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act . The bipartisan legislation will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. “I rise today in support of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. “Foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, pose the greatest national security threat of our time. “TikTok’s access to 177 million American users makes it a valuable propaganda tool for the CCP to exploit. “Over the past week, we saw in real time how CCP-controlled TikTok used its influence and power to force users to contact their representatives if they wanted to continue using the app. “This is just a small taste of how the CCP weaponizes applications it controls to manipulate tens of millions of people to further its agenda. “Today’s legislation will end this abuse by preventing apps controlled by foreign adversaries from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people. “We have given TikTok a clear choice: Separate from your parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP, and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. “The choice is TikTok’s. “Companies controlled by a foreign adversary, like the CCP, will NEVER embrace American values like freedom of speech, human rights, the rule of law, and a free press. “If given the choice, they will always choose the path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation. “And in the case of TikTok, we wouldn’t even know. “Today we will send a clear message that we will not tolerate our adversaries weaponizing our freedoms against us.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a statement applauding H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , which passed out of the House today with a strong bipartisan vote of 352-65. “H.R. 7521 is the result of diligent and bipartisan efforts to protect Americans’ data and address the serious national security threat posed by our enemies. Applications controlled by foreign adversaries can be weaponized to target, manipulate, and surveil millions of Americans. This cannot continue. I commend Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) as well as our colleagues, Reps. Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi, for their leadership on this important legislation. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to act as swiftly as the House and advance this bill to the President’s desk.” 

“Break up with the Chinese Communist Party, or break up with the U.S.” The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board is out with a new piece on why Congress must pass H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which protects Americans from the national security threats posed by CCP-controlled TikTok . Check out excerpts and highlights below:  The House on Wednesday is expected to vote on a bill that would give popular social-media app TikTok an ultimatum: Break up with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or break up with the U.S. It didn’t need to come to this, but Beijing and TikTok’s Chinese-owner ByteDance left Washington with no choice. […] Donald Trump tried in 2020 to force ByteDance to divest TikTok, but his executive order was blocked in court, partly because the President lacked clear authority from Congress. Legislation by Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher and Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi aims to overcome the legal obstacles.   Their bill would ban TikTok from app stores and web-hosting services in the U.S. if the company doesn’t divest from ByteDance. It also establishes a process by which the President can prohibit other social-media apps that are “controlled by a foreign adversary.” The bill is narrowly tailored while giving the President tools to combat future threats.   Banning TikTok should be a last resort, but ByteDance and Beijing have demonstrated that they can’t be trusted. Reams of evidence show how the Chinese government can use the platform for cyber-espionage and political influence campaigns in the U.S.   […]   TikTok’s other major security risk is cyber-espionage. The app vacuums up sensitive American user information, including searches, browsing histories and locations. This data can and does flow back to China. “Everything is seen in China,” a TikTok official said in a leaked internal recording reported by Buzzfeed.   ByteDance employees tried to uncover internal leakers by spying on American journalists. After this surveillance was reported, ByteDance blamed “misconduct of certain individuals” who were no longer employed. But there’s nothing to stop CCP puppets in ByteDance back-offices from spying on Americans.   […]   Chinese law requires ByteDance to comply with Beijing’s surveillance demands. This is why there’s no way to mitigate TikTok’s security risks besides a forced divestment. U.S. investors have expressed interest in buying TikTok, though a Chinese government official last year said it would block a sale. If TikTok is banned, users can blame Beijing.   […]   In any case, the House bill doesn’t restrict First Amendment rights. It regulates national security. It also has ample precedent since U.S. law restricts foreign ownership of broadcast stations. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States forced the Chinese owners of Grindr, the gay dating app, to give up control of the company.   China has blocked U.S. social-media companies that don’t comply with its censorship regime, and the House bill would prevent Beijing from applying its political speech controls and surveillance in the U.S. Despite America’s political divisions, this ought to be a shared goal.   CLICK HERE to read the full piece from the WSJ Editorial Board.  CLICK HERE to learn more about H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to read what experts and top voices are saying.

Washington D.C. — The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals today to improve health for patients. In a Subcommittee markup , the Health Subcommittee forwarded to the Full Committee 19 pieces of legislation.  As Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said : “Many of the bills before us today reauthorize important programs that are due to expire September 30, and I am hopeful we can renew them in advance of that deadline, through regular order.   “This Committee has a rich history of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate, including our bipartisan work to ensure we are moving forward timely reauthorizations, as well as new efforts—like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.    “I look forward to seeing all of these important initiatives be signed into law.”  Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) also added : “The legislation before us today will help to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases and health conditions at earlier stages, improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families, help ensure Americans in rural communities have access to life-saving care, and provide additional resources to assist in the development of cutting-edge innovation.  Legislative vote summary:  H.R. 619 , the NAPA Reauthorization Act, led by Reps. Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 620 , the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act , led by Reps. C. Smith, Tonko, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 7218 , the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Guthrie, Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4581 , the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023 , led by Reps. Hinson and Adams, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4646 , the SIREN Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. D. Joyce and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6160 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program , led by Reps. Molinaro and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 6960 , the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Carter and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7153 , the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. Wild and Kiggans, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 7251 , the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Chavez-DeRemer, Joyce, Davis, and Cherfilus-McCormick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7224 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program, led by Reps. Cohen, Wagner, Cárdenas, and Carter, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6829 , the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2023, led by Reps. Pallone and A. Kim, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 7189 , the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Bilirakis, Soto, Carter, Schiff, Salazar, and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 3916 , the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2023, led by Reps. Morelle and Fitzpatrick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 5074 , the Kidney PATIENT Act, led by Reps. Carter and Kuster, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 16-10.  H.R. 5526 , Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2023, led by Reps. Harshbarger, Wasserman Schultz, and Davis, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 19-6.  H.R. 2706 , the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, led by Reps. Cammack and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 5012 , the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023, led by Reps. Y. Kim and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7208 , the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Pascrell and Bacon, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7406 , the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024, led by Reps. McMorris Rodgers, DeGette, Cole, and Holmes Norton, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote. 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee markup of 19 bills to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and caregivers.  “The legislation before us today will help to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases and health conditions at earlier stages, improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families, help ensure Americans in rural communities have access to life-saving care, and provide additional resources to assist in the development of cutting-edge innovation. “Last month, we heard from numerous public health experts about how these programs are functioning and whether there are any gaps that need to be addressed in these programs to improve research and health outcomes for patients across the country. The bills before us today will help ensure these critical programs continue.”  THE BOLD ACT   “To help better detect, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s Disease, I am proud we are marking up my bipartisan bill, H.R. 7218, the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024, or the ‘BOLD Act.’  “The BOLD Reauthorization also includes educational resources to help ease the challenges for those caring for loved ones with this vicious disease. These continued investments for caregivers are even more important now that we have treatments to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and will help to ensure patients and their families have more meaningful time together.  “I would like to thank Representative Tonko for leading this legislation with me, and I urge my committee colleagues to vote ‘yes’ on this legislation.”  THE INCLUDE PROJECT   “We are also considering the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, led by Chair Rodgers, which will allow current programs at the National Institutes of Health to continue cutting-edge research on Down syndrome.  “The INCUDE Project will continue to facilitate improved coordination across NIH and build upon research that will improve the quality of life for those individuals living with Down syndrome and can lead to medical knowledge that benefits all patients.”  STOPPING ORGAN TRANSPLANT DISCRIMINATION   “To support patients and caregivers, we’re marking up legislation led by Representative Cammack, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. The legislation will prohibit health care providers and other entities from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely on the basis of the individual's disability.  “Over a decade ago, Charlotte Woodward received a heart transplant and has committed her life’s work to breaking down unnecessary and discriminatory barriers for individuals with disabilities in need of an organ transplant. Thanks to Charlotte’s fierce advocacy, we’re one step closer to ensuring individuals and their families don’t have to go through what too many have faced when seeking this life-saving treatment.   “Other bills being considered today are designed to improve access to critical emergency services for children and for those living in rural communities.   “The SIREN Reauthorization Act, by Representative David Joyce, will continue providing resources for rural emergency health providers to ensure they can maintain their essential services. I know we are still working through some policy considerations, but I am confident we can come to a resolution before the program expires on September 30.   “Next is the bipartisan Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act. It’s often said that children are not just ‘little adults’—this bill will continue programming designed to ensure EMS providers have the proper training and equipment to care for children in emergency situations.   “Finally, we’re marking up two pieces of legislation that we heard about in the Fall, the Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act, led by Representative Harshbarger, and the Kidney PATIENT Act, led by Mr. Carter.  “The Seniors’ Access to Critical Medication Act would allow cancer patients to continue receiving the necessary care in the safest and most convenient way possible. I look forward to working with my committee colleagues to advance these two bills out of the subcommittee today and to addressing any additional outstanding issues before full committee.  “Thank you to all of my colleagues who worked hard to get the legislation before us today and for their leadership on these policies.”

Highlights from Interviews with Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax this morning to highlight the need to pass H.R. 7521, the  Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act . Applications controlled by foreign adversaries, like TikTok, are exploiting and weaponizing Americans’ data. These applications are a  national security threat  to the American people. H.R. 7521 is bipartisan legislation that will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. We have given TikTok a clear choice through this legislation: Divest from your parent company ByteDance—which is beholden to the CCP—and remain operational in the United States, OR side with the CCP and be prohibited in the U.S. The choice is TikTok’s. Here are highlights and top moments from Chair Rodgers’ interviews: Chair Rodgers on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo: , “ We had a very strong vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 50–0, a unanimous vote which only underscores how strong the bill is and how members believe this action needs to be taken.” […] “The bill is narrow. It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary.” Chair Rodgers on Scripps News’ Morning Rush: “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in a lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, its parent company, and we know that we cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party. They’re collecting a massive amount of data so they can target, manipulate, surveil, and, in essence, control what Americans see on TikTok.” […] “This is a national security threat. This is a destructive tool that is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. “This bill will force TikTok to make a choice. TikTok will either have to choose if it wants to maintain the current relationship it has with ByteDance and ultimately be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or […] divest, which means it would have to sell and break away from ByteDance in order to remain operating in the United States of America. It’s TikTok’s choice to make.” Chair Rodgers on Newsmax’s National Report: “[This bill] does not address content on the platform. This is in response to national security concerns raised by these apps being controlled by foreign adversaries.” […] “We have evidence that TikTok has spied on American journalists through its parent company ByteDance. Those cases are before the Justice Department now. We know that they are collecting data for purposes of targeting, surveilling, and manipulating 170 million users.”