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Dec 9, 2025
Press Release

Energy and Commerce Weekly Look Ahead: The Week of December 8th, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding one Full Committee Hearing and two Subcommittee Markups. Read more below. SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a markup of seven bills to reform permitting under the Clean Air Act.  DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025   TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online.  DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: The Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding a Member Day Hearing to allow all Members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to testify before the Committee. DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 TIME: 9:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building ###



Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson Announce Legislative Hearing on Public Safety Communications

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced a hearing titled Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in the United States . “Emergency communications are the backbone of police, fire, and emergency medical services,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “Modernizing and strengthening these operations are critical to improving public safety in both urban and rural American communities. We look forward to evaluating the ways we can better equip first responders to safely and effectively do their jobs.” Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled Legislative Improvements to Public Safety Communications in the United States . WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing to discuss public safety communications in the United States. DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This hearing will focus on the following bills: H.R. 6505 , Next Generation 9-1-1 Act (Reps. Hudson and Carter (LA)) H.R. 5200 , Emergency Reporting Act (Reps. Matsui and Bilirakis) H.R. 5201 , Kari’s Law Reporting Act (Reps. Matsui and Bilirakis) H.R. 2076 , LuLu’s Law (Rep. Palmer) H.R. 1094 , Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. ____ , Mystic Alert Act (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. 1519 , Public Safety Communications Act (Rep. Cammack) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Noah Jackson with the Committee staff at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov .



Dec 9, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Announce CMT Subcommittee Markup of Online Safety Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a subcommittee markup of 18 bills to protect children and teens online. WHAT : Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade markup of 18 bills. DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 6290 , Safe Social Media Act (Reps. Bentz and Schrier) H.R. 6259 , No Fentanyl on Social Media Act (Reps. Evans and Dingell) H.R. 6289 , Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Soto) H.R. 6437 , Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act (Reps. Fry and Landsman) H.R. 5360 , AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act (Reps. Houchin and Auchincloss) H.R. 6499 , Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act (Reps. Fulcher and Landsman) H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law (Reps. Wasserman Schultz and Carter-GA) H.R. 6265 , Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Network Games (GAMING) Act (Rep. Kean) H.R. 6273 , Stop Profiling Youth and (SPY) Kids Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks) H.R. 6253 , Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act (Rep. Cammack) H.R. 6489 , Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative (SAFE) Bots Act (Rep. Houchin) H.R. 1623 , Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act (Rep. Miller-IL) H.R. 6257 , Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025 (Rep. Dunn) H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act (Rep. James) H.R. 6333 , Parents Over Platforms Act (Reps. Auchincloss and Houchin) H.R. 6292 , Don’t Sell Kids’ Data Act of 2025 (Rep. Pallone) H.R. 6484 , Kids Online Safety Act (Rep. Bilirakis) H.R. 6291 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg and Lee-FL) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###



Dec 8, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer Announce Environment Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills to Reform Permitting on the Clean Air Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a subcommittee markup of seven bills. WHAT : Subcommittee on Environment markup of seven bills. DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Items to be considered: H.R. 6409 , Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) (Rep. Pfluger) H.R. 4218 , Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform (CLEAR) Act (Rep. Carter) H.R. 6387 , Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act (Rep. Evans) H.R. 4214 , Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act (Rep. Allen) H.R. 161 , New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act (Rep. Griffith) H.R. 6373 , Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act (Rep. Palmer) H.R. 6398 , Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act (Rep. Joyce) This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at  energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jackson Rudden with the Committee staff at  Jackson.Rudden@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at  Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .



Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Applaud FTC Workshop on Age Verification Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it will hold a workshop on age verification technology. “As the digital economy continues to evolve at a rapid pace, we must ensure that new and emerging technologies are put to work to empower parents and safeguard children and teens,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “Age verification and estimation practices hold great promise to build a safer online world for America’s young people. We thank President Trump, Chairman Ferguson, and Commissioner Meador for holding this timely workshop on age verification and estimation practices and look forward to advancing our shared goal of keeping the next generation safe.” CLICK HERE to read the FTC’s announcement. ###



Dec 8, 2025
Press Release

ICYMI: GAO Report Reveals Rampant Obamacare Subsidy Fraud

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In case you missed it, Breitbart recently published an article highlighting a GAO report requested by Chairman Brett Guthrie and other House Republican leaders, which exposed significant waste, fraud, and abuse in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans. In Case You Missed It: “House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said a GAO report has revealed the staggering level of fraud that occurs thanks to Obamacare subsidies. “The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the massive levels of fraud that comes with the Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), an Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, subsidy to health insurers to lower the monthly health insurance premiums. “Democrats shut down the government for weeks over the looming end-of-year expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC), a more generous version of the APTC that the left-leaning party boosted through the Biden-era, coronavirus stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan. Democrats continued the subsidies through the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which will expire at the end of 2025. “The GAO, as part of its analysis, conducted covert operations, which included fictitious identities that flood insurers with unjustified subsides. It found that 100 percent of the fake applicants were approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as recently as 2024, with 90 percent of the fraudulent applicants continuing to receive coverage in 2025. “Chairman Guthrie, Jordan, and Smith requested the GAO investigation; they said the GAO study reifies Republicans’ concerns about these Obamacare subsidies. “‘Republicans have consistently prioritized protecting patients and taxpayers by ridding our federal health programs of the waste, fraud, and abuse that ultimately drive up costs for patients,’ Chairman Guthrie in written statement. “He continued, ‘Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today. The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.’ “‘For years, we were told we could keep our plan, keep our doctor, and premiums would go down. None of it happened. This new report confirms what we already knew: under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their healthcare choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. Obamacare was built on lies and broken promises that hurt families and drove up costs,’ Jordan said in a statement to Breitbart News. “‘While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans,’ Smith explained. “Prior research from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and other outside organizations have found that millions may be enrolled in Obamacare improperly, resulting in as much as $27 billion in improper payments. “The GAO report found :   58,000 Social Security numbers that received the APTC matched Social Security Administration death data 7,000 people who had Social Security were dead before coverage began, meaning the applications used Social Security numbers of dead people $94 million in APTC was sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people “GAO noted in its report its had frequently warned that Obamacare subsidies are and have been at risk of fraud. Republicans have been sounding the alarm about Obamacare subsidy fraud. “‘While Obamacare fraud is being confirmed by GAO, CMS, CBO and other outside reports, patients are suffering. They face higher health care costs and denied claims or delayed care when their providers struggle to verify which insurance is valid due to these fraud schemes. Rather than simply rubber stamp more bad spending and failed policies, we must take action to prevent further harm.’ “Meanwhile, Republicans have worked to restore integrity in the American healthcare system. The Big Beautiful Bill stipulates full income and eligibility verification before subsidies are issued, ends ‘anytime’ enrollment abuse that would fuel fraudulent enrollment, and closing loopholes that would allow illegal aliens and other ineligible groups of people to access taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. “Instead of using Obamacare subsidies that fuel health insurers’ profits, President Donald Trump has called to send federal healthcare dollars straight to the American people so they can use their money according to their healthcare needs. “House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) said in a statement: “‘It was Democrats who created this shoddy subsidy program with no financial controls, no income cap, and no guardrails against the most blatant fraud, including the approval of subsidies for thousands of dead people. ... “‘There is absolutely no justification for perpetuating these subsidies or the failed government-controlled Obamacare system Democrats are artificially propping up. Instead, Republicans should continue to implement reforms that lower costs, expand affordable options, and protect American taxpayers.’ “The president wrote : “‘I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over.’ “‘In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare,’ the president added.” ###



Dec 5, 2025
Press Release

Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone Announce Member Day Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Member Day hearing. “The Energy and Commerce Committee leads on issues central to the lives of all Americans,” said Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone. “We welcome all Members to testify before the Committee on the priorities within our jurisdiction that matter most to their constituents. We look forward to their participation, and we welcome ideas from across the House for discussion.” WHAT: Full Committee Member Day hearing to allow all Members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to testify before the Committee. DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 TIME: 9:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup 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 Annabelle Huffman with the Committee staff at  Annabelle.Huffman@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matt VanHyfte at  Matt.Vanhyfte@mail.house.gov .  ###



Dec 5, 2025
Press Release

Energy and Commerce Members Introduce Bills to Reform Clean Air Act Permitting

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, applauded the introduction of four bills that provide commonsense reforms to rein in outdated and overburdensome Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations that have stifled American manufacturing and growth without delivering promised environmental protections. The Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act, led by Chairman Gary Palmer (AL-06), the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act, led by Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act, led by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), and the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, led by Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), address excessive regulatory red tape under the CAA that creates bottlenecks, delays investment, and slows our nation’s ability to compete with China. “Meaningful permitting reform cannot be accomplished without modernizing the Clean Air Act. Our Committee is working to end the suffocating regulatory state that the Biden-Harris Administration sought to entrench, ultimately halting manufacturing and driving investments overseas,” said Chairman Guthrie. “These bills will cut through the red tape that has hurt American businesses and workers, while still ensuring strong air quality protections. If we want to win the AI race against China, deepen our global leadership in advanced manufacturing, and continue onshoring more investment, we will need to be able to build the needed infrastructure, facilities, and power generation—these bills will help us to achieve these goals. Thank you to Chairman Palmer, Chairman Joyce, Congressman Pfluger, and Congressman Evans for leading the introduction of these important bills.” “Manufacturing and critical mineral facilities that are essential to our economic stability and national security are currently being delayed due to permitting gridlock caused by burdensome regulations,” said Chairman Palmer. “This amendment to the Clean Air Act is long overdue. It’s time we remove unnecessary roadblocks so that we can adequately support domestic production while also ensuring we are protecting future generations’ environment and quality of life.” “Simply stated, more efficient project approvals will create new Pennsylvania jobs,” said Congressman Joyce, M.D. “ I’m proud to introduce the RED Tape Act and offer a commonsense solution to eliminate redundant federal approvals that delay economic growth and job creation.” “American companies are being unfairly penalized for pollution originating outside the United States. We’ve seen how even the mention of a nonattainment designation, like when the Biden EPA threatened to redesignate the Permian Basin, can create significant uncertainty for businesses and communities,” said Congressman Pfluger. “These designations delay permits and hurt economic growth, while failing to address the very problem they are trying to solve. My bill restores commonsense by preventing the EPA from punishing states for pollution they didn’t cause – including foreign emissions, cross-state transport, wildfire smoke, and mobile-source emissions outside their control. I’m proud to lead this bill as another major step in modernizing and strengthening America’s broken permitting system.” “A leading reason for the affordability crisis facing Coloradans is red tape around air quality permitting. When the economy is strangled under the weight of costly, poorly designed ozone attainment standards, jobs are lost, prices spike, and financial stress increases negative health outcomes,” said Congressman Evans. “Clean air is important to everyone, but Colorado jobs should not be penalized for emissions outside of their control — whether it's Canadian wildfires or Chinese pollution. My bill, the FIRE Act, is a common-sense solution that will drive down costs for working families in Colorado by clarifying that Clean Air Act benchmarks should not be used to punish jobs and hamstring the economy for things like prescribed burns or out-of-state wildfire smoke.” Background: Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act The Clean Air Act requires pre-construction permits for major sources of emissions and pollution, but Section 173 of the Clean Air Act currently includes a provision allowing offset requirements to be waived for rocket engines or motors, which are essential for national security.   This bill expands that authority to include advanced manufacturing facilities and critical minerals facilities, which are vital to strengthening America’s supply chains and national defense.   Under the bill, the President may determine that an advanced manufacturing facility or a critical minerals facility is exempt from offset emissions credit requirements. An advanced manufacturing or critical mineral facility may also receive an exemption to the offset requirements if it can show offsets are not readily available and that the facility is working to maximize emissions reductions.   Importantly, these facilities would still be required to meet all other Clean Air Act permitting requirements, ensuring continued environmental protections. Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act   Under current law, the EPA conducts a second review and publicly comments on the environmental impacts of other federal agencies’ projects and regulations, even where the EPA has participated in the initial environmental review. This has created redundancy and adds a costly, duplicative, and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.  Agencies that prepare environmental impact statements already have the expertise to evaluate their own projects. Adding a full and secondary review creates duplication and delays in the system.    The RED Tape Act would eliminate the EPA’s burdensome requirement to provide duplicative feedback on other agencies’ environmental impact statements under NEPA. Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act   States across the country are being unfairly penalized for pollution that originates beyond U.S. borders, including from natural events like the Canadian wildfires. Under current law, states can adjust their air quality plans if foreign emissions affect their ability to meet federal air standards.   However, recent EPA guidance has limited permissible adjustments only to human-caused emissions, creating unnecessary hurdles for states and industries already working to comply with the Clean Air Act.  The FENCES Act clarifies that all foreign emissions, whether natural or human-caused, are excluded when determining whether a state meets national air quality standards or when reviewing new facility permits. The bill also allows states to account for foreign emissions earlier in the process, rather than waiting until all other requirements are complete. Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act   The FIRE Act ensures that states are not punished for smoke and emissions they cannot control, while still maintaining strong environmental protections. It provides clarity and predictability for air quality planning, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens on manufacturers and communities, and rewards proactive wildfire mitigation that protects public health and improves future air quality.   The legislation updates Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act to clarify how emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events are treated in federal air quality reviews. It strengthens states’ coordination with the EPA to ensure timely, transparent exceptional-event determinations. ###



Dec 3, 2025
Health

Non-Partisan Watchdog Finds Consumer Harm and Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars Wasted Due to Health Care Fraud in Affordable Care Act Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – In a new preliminary  report  published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), waste, fraud, and abuse have run rampant through Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, worsening health care plans for Americans, all while enriching big insurance companies. The new watchdog investigation finds large-scale systemic failures that allow fake identities, dead people, and massive improper use of Social Security numbers to receive Obamacare subsidies. As part of the analysis, GAO even conducted covert operations which even included creating fictitious identities that flooded health insurers with unjustified subsidies. In fact, 100 percent of fake applicants were approved by the ACA Marketplace as recently as late 2024, and 90 percent of fake applicants continue to receive coverage in 2025.  As the report notes, such practices can result in wasteful federal spending on subsidies for enrollees who are not eligible. Further, such practices can result in harm and unexpected costs for consumers. These can include loss of access to medical providers and medications, higher copayments and deductibles, or repayment of subsidies if income or other eligibility was misrepresented. The GAO investigation was  requested  by Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08), and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-04).  Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce:  “Republicans have consistently prioritized protecting patients and taxpayers by ridding our federal health programs of the waste, fraud, and abuse that ultimately drive up costs for patients,”  said Chairman Guthrie.  “Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today. The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.” Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means: “While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans,”  said Chairman Smith . “While Obamacare fraud is being confirmed by GAO, CMS, CBO and other outside reports, patients are suffering. They face higher health care costs and denied claims or delayed care when their providers struggle to verify which insurance is valid due to these fraud schemes. Rather than simply rubber stamp more bad spending and failed policies, we must take action to prevent further harm.”  Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04), Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary: “For years, we were told we could keep our plan, keep our doctor, and premiums would go down. None of it happened. This new report confirms what we already knew: under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their healthcare choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. Obamacare was built on lies and broken promises that hurt families and drove up costs,”  said Chairman Jordan. GAO investigated the scope of improper payments and weakened program integrity within the ACA marketplace. Estimates based on analysis by both the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and independent external research organizations indicate millions of enrollees in the ACA marketplaces may be enrolled improperly, costing taxpayers as much as $27 billion a year in improper payments and imposing a great deal of harm and distress on families and victims of alleged fraud. BACKGROUND: Investigators Created Fake Identities – and CMS Provided Taxpayer Subsidies GAO created fictitious identities with fake or never issued SSNs and still got subsidized ACA coverage, meaning criminals and fraudsters can too.  100 percent of fake applicants were approved in late 2024. 18 out of 20 fake applicants are still receiving subsidized coverage for 2025. CMS approved coverage even when no documents were requested or fake documents were submitted. This includes fake citizenship eligibility documents  confirming fraud concerns for illegal immigrants . Brokers were able to bypass verification by calling the call center and submitting applications without the applicant present. Monthly subsidies paid to health insurers on behalf of GAO’s fake identities exceeded  $12,300 per month . Shocking Misuse of Social Security Numbers Including a Single Social Security Number Used for Over 125 Policies for the Equivalent of 71 Years One Social Security Number (SSN) was used for “71 years” of subsidized coverage.  In 2023, one single SSN was used on applications for over  125 insurance policies  totaling over 26,000 days of coverage, the equivalent of 71 years. 66,000 SSNs in 2024 had more than a years’ worth of subsidized coverage. CMS does not block new applications using the same SSN and relies on a broken document-request process that often never works.  $21 billion in subsidies paid out with no evidence of tax reconciliation in 2023. That is 32 percent of all advanced premium tax credits (APTC) paid to identifiable SSN holders .  No reconciliation means no accountability, no verification, and likely billions in improper payments. Big Insurers Still Collecting Subsidies for Deceased Individuals 58,000 SSNs receiving APTC matched Social Security death data.  At least 7,000 were dead before coverage even began, meaning the applications used SSNs of deceased individuals.  $94 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies were sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased individuals. Explosive Growth in Unauthorized Plan Switches that Harm Consumers Bad actors engaged in mass unauthorized enrollment activity to chase commissions, resulting in: 160,000 likely unauthorized changes by three or more brokers in 2024. CMS itself received 275,000 complaints in just eight months (Jan–Aug 2024) from Americans who were enrolled in or switched into plans without their consent. Repeated Warnings Have Gone Unheeded by Democrats GAO has repeatedly warned that Obamacare subsidies are and have been at risk of fraud structurally.  For 2015 enrollment, GAO found that federal and state marketplaces approved coverage for fictitious applicants, and nearly all of those fake identities stayed enrolled—even after submitting fictitious documents or no documents at all. For 2016 enrollment, GAO again reported that CMS had failed to design basic eligibility safeguards, including controls to stop duplicate or overlapping subsidized coverage. These weaknesses were supercharged after Democrats enacted and repeatedly extended Biden’s COVID-era subsidy expansions, which facilitated millions of fully subsidized fraudulent enrollments, and without corresponding fraud controls, created the perfect environment for criminals, identity thieves, and unscrupulous brokers. With Stronger Integrity for Taxpayers, Republicans Have Taken Steps to Lower Premiums Republicans are focused on restoring accountability and fairness to the health care marketplace through program integrity reforms that save taxpayers billions of dollars and drive down costs for everyone: Full income and eligibility verification before subsidies are issued, ensuring assistance goes only to those who qualify. Ending “anytime” enrollment abuse that fueled fraudulent sign-ups and drove premiums higher for everyone. Closing loopholes that allowed illegal immigrants and other ineligible groups to access taxpayer-funded health benefits. Even the Congressional Budget Office has found that these measures have already produced $185 billion in savings for taxpayers and  reduced premiums by 0.6 percent . That’s real savings for working families. ###