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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety. Subcommittee Vice Chairman Fulcher's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for joining today’s educational hearing on motor vehicle safety and the state of the automotive industry. I look forward to a robust and informative discussion that will help Congress, and specifically, this subcommittee, gain a clearer understanding of motor vehicle safety issues and its regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA.  “Automobile safety has been a long-standing topic of this subcommittee, and we play a crucial role in ensuring that the vehicles on our roadways are safe for families, workers, and the traveling public. Automobiles are deeply woven into the fabric of American life. From commuting to work, to picking up kids at school, to taking a cross-country road trip, automobiles are both a cultural icon and a pillar of the American dream. “That’s why today’s hearing marks the beginning of a bipartisan, member-driven, and stakeholder-informed process to develop a motor vehicle safety title as part of Congress’s broader efforts to reauthorize our surface transportation programs. “As part of this, the subcommittee is spearheading a bipartisan process to solicit stakeholder input to inform a motor vehicle safety title. Further, myself and Chairman Bilirakis, will seek priorities from our committee members to ensure our product reflects the priorities of our diverse membership.  “Our primary objective will be to find solutions to address the tragic reality that nearly 40,000 Americans die annually from motor vehicle crashes, a staggering and tragic statistic. These crashes also lead to hundreds of billions in economic losses and cost taxpayers’ tens of billions of dollars. NHTSA plays a central role in addressing this pressing issue through its education campaigns, regulatory work, and enforcement efforts. Congress must ensure that the agency is equipped needed to fulfill its mission and save lives. “Second, we must continue to recognize the economic importance of the automotive sector. This industry is America’s largest manufacturing base, supporting tens of millions of jobs across the country and serving as a major driver of exports. As global competitors—especially China—seek to dominate the future of automotive innovation, Congress must examine how our regulatory structure can foster, rather than hinder, American leadership. This includes looking at ways to modernize and streamline regulations while maintaining our strong safety standards. “Third, we must embrace the future of mobility. The emergence of automated vehicle technology presents a generational opportunity to prevent crashes, restore independence to millions of elderly and disabled Americans, and bolster economic growth. Congress must use this opportunity to advance a robust regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle technology.  “To achieve these goals, I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with Chairman Bilirakis, Ranking Member Schakowsky, Chairman Guthrie, and Ranking Member Pallone. Together, we can craft smart, balanced policy solutions that save lives, strengthen American competitiveness, and shape the future of transportation for the better. “Thank you again to our witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to your testimony." ###

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash.    “The expert witnesses we heard from today made it clear that coal ash recycling is a win-win for our environment and for American manufacturing,” said Chairman Griffith . “This hearing offered our members a chance to learn more about the impact of the EPA’s coal ash regulations. It’s time to unleash American technology and innovation to use coal ash in practical and responsible ways both in construction, and as an avenue for the large-scale recovery of critical materials.”  Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “For years, coal-fired power generation facilities have worked in Pennsylvania and throughout the entire United States, and they have worked to properly manage coal combustion residuals or coal ash. This is long been done either through disposal and monitoring or through beneficial uses such as the making of concrete or construction applications, as in drywall production. With the EPA's finalized 2024 legacy CCR rule, electric utilities will be faced with burdensome costs for sites where coal ash has already been safely disposed of and environmental concerns mitigated and beneficial use programs will be subjected to harsh regulations despite the evidence that they posed little or absolutely no environmental or health or safety risks.”   Congresswoman Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “I understand the critical importance of striking the right balance between protecting our natural resources and promoting practical science-based solutions to manage industrial byproducts, coal ash being a prime example.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): “We have a massive footprint in our area dedicated to producing the raw materials that build Colorado to include a lot of concrete and cement production in the area. I know that our producers are working as hard as they can because we all want clean air, clean land, and clean water. We also have the technology these days to see where a lot of the pollution is coming from in my area, double digit percentages of pollution along the Colorado Front Range are coming from China and the fact is, if we don't produce things in the United States, it's not like we get suddenly clean air, clean land, clean water, that production is going to go other places, and we're still going to inherit that pollution.”   ### 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash. Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Today, this Subcommittee will examine coal ash management practices and innovative ways people are utilizing coal waste.  “Coal, historically, has played a major role in keeping our lights on and powering our large industries.  “Currently, there are over 200 coal-fired electric power plants in the United States and a fair amount of industrial boilers that use coal for fuel.  “Coal’s fuel storage attributes and its dispatchable power qualities continue to make it a crucial component of our domestic electric power mix.  “Today’s hearing will focus on one of the byproducts of coal use, coal combustion residuals, commonly referred to as CCR or “coal ash.”  “The Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, first began regulating coal combustion residuals from electric utilities in 2014, under its Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or ‘RCRA’, Subtitle D authority, to regulate solid waste.  “In 2016, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act amended RCRA to grant the EPA the authority to approve state CCR permit programs if a state chose to run its own program.  “However, nearly a decade later, only three state programs have been approved.  “Hopefully, today we will learn more about states’ permitting programs, and how EPA is using its CCR permitting approval authority.  “Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration pressed necessary coal ash regulations into its wider attempts to force a transition to renewable energy by imposing unreasonable and onerous regulations on disfavored traditional energy resources, like coal.  “This war on coal included a 2024 rule regulating INACTIVE coal combustion residuals storage sites, or legacy impoundments, as well as sites where coal ash had PREVIOUSLY been placed, known as coal combustion residuals management units.  “Utilities warned that this unworkable rule would impose needless and unplanned costs on ratepayers.  “Today, we will learn more about the problems with the current regulatory landscape and the costs it imposes on power generation and in-turn, ratepayers.  “Thankfully, in March of this year, the EPA announced that it is reviewing this rule and plans to propose amendments within the next year.  “Additionally, EPA has also announced it plans to prioritize working with states on their permit programs to hopefully facilitate more state management of coal ash disposal.  “I’m encouraged by the Trump administration’s apparent willingness to listen to the states and their utilities and hope the EPA can work with them, and not against them, as partners in protecting our environment.  “I also hope to learn more today on opportunities to improve the reuse of coal byproducts.  “In addition to this primary use, coal byproducts can be reused for many purposes, such as cement manufacturing, drywall manufacturing, road paving, and producing concrete.  “This recycling, known as “beneficial use,” can not only save costs but also result in lower emissions.  “Many may be surprised to hear that there is a thriving coal ash reuse industry in the United States. According to the American Coal Ash Association, 69 percent of all coal ash produced in 2023 was recycled.  “In addition to these established uses in construction, agriculture, waste management, and mining, new uses are emerging.  “For example, research from the University of Texas found that as much as 11 million tons of rare earth elements could be found in accessible coal ash in the United States.  “In fact, researchers from Virginia Tech, located in my district and where one of my children graduated, one is attending, and one hopes to attend, they are leading projects to analyze the presence of critical minerals and rare earth elements in coal byproducts.   “According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States currently relies on imports for 80 percent of its supply of rare earth elements, with 70 percent of those imports coming from China.  “Our regulatory policy for coal combustion residuals management must facilitate continued beneficial use.  “I look forward to today’s discussion of how we can address shortcomings of our current approach to coal combustion residuals management and innovation in how our country deals with waste.”  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a markup of 13 bills focused on securing our grid and unleashing American energy. “American families and businesses rely on the abundant and affordable power we produce here at home,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The legislation advanced today will help us meet our energy goals of securing our grid, bringing more baseload power online, and powering the data centers we need to win the race for AI. Thank you to Chairman Latta, and all the members who have worked on these bills that will help provide the energy we need.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 3616 , Reliable Power Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 23 nays.     H.R. 1047 , Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power (GRID Power) Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 23 nays. H.R. 3632 , Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 25 yeas – 21 nays.      H.R. 3638 , Electric Supply Chain Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 33 yeas – 16 nays. H.R. 3157 , State Energy Accountability Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 26 yeas – 20 nays. H.R. 3628 , State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 25 yeas – 23 nays.     H.R. 3657 , Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act, was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 47 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 3015 , National Coal Council Reestablishment Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 25 yeas – 20 nays.     H.R. 3617 , Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act, was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 23 yeas – 21 nays.     H.R. 3109 , Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 20 nays.     H.R. 3062 , Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 23 nays.     H.R. 1949 , Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 26 yeas - 23 nays. H.R. 3668 , Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 27 yeas – 23 nays. Watch the full markup here . Below are key excerpts from today’s markup: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) : “My legislation, the Unlocking our Domestic Energy Potential Act, would ensure that a ban is never again placed on LNG exports. LNG exports unequivocally benefit our economy and domestic prices, and Congress must act to remove the politics from energy exports just as this committee did in 2015 when it lifted the crude oil export ban. The IEA expects global gas demand to reach record highs in the coming years, underscoring the need for new LNG supply, and it must be the United States, not Iran, not Russia, nor any other adversarial country that, that meets that demand and supplies affordable, clean, and abundant energy to the world.” Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-13): “If we want to fuel our nation forward, lower costs for consumers, win the AI race against China, and strengthen our position as an energy superpower. It is critical we have regulatory and statutory processes in place to build infrastructure in this country. This is a race we cannot lose. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): “The State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act is a common sense measure that will help incentivize better energy policy in Colorado and across the nation. The bill will help states lower the financial burden that constituents like mine are facing by encouraging states to consider implementing policy that focuses on long term energy reliability, which of course encourages affordability for working class families. Countless folks in my district are working tirelessly, tirelessly to put food on the table and achieve the American dream. But one of the biggest hurdles that my constituents are facing right now is skyrocketing utility costs.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared in the New York Post this week. In Case You Missed It:  "President Donald Trump has asked Congress to follow through on his domestic-policy agenda by extending tax cuts for Americans, investing in our military and border security and cutting waste, fraud and abuse in entitlement spending, which threatens the solvency our nation’s safety-net programs.   “For my House Committee on Energy and Commerce, this meant hitting a 10-year savings target of $880 billion across our jurisdiction — energy, environment, telecommunications and health care — which I knew could only be reached through careful consideration and resolve.   “The committee came through, and then some: The most recent estimate from the Congressional Budget Office found that our efforts will save nearly $1.1 trillion.   “More than a quarter of this amount, $344 billion, comes from new community-engagement rules (i.e., work requirements) for able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid benefits but choose not to work.   “The rules will promote greater accountability and refocus Medicaid to better serve the most vulnerable.   “What exactly do these community-engagement requirements consist of?   “If you’re an able-bodied, unemployed adult who receives Medicaid, they ask that you demonstrate that you are either working, volunteering, in job training or in school for an average of 80 hours per month.   “Health care and work are inextricably linked in this country: Nearly half of all Americans get their health insurance through their jobs, seniors get Medicare after years of contributing payroll taxes and members of our military and our veterans get their coverage through their service to our country.   “To require Medicaid recipients who are able-bodied and unemployed to either work, go to school or volunteer in their communities in order to continue receiving subsidized health insurance should be a no brainer.   “You may have heard misinformation that work requirements are really just a sneaky way to take health care away from hard-working Americans, or even people with disabilities.   “Let me set the record straight: This policy applies only to able-bodied, unemployed adults who have chosen not to work.   “Our bill couldn’t be clearer about that; it includes a long list of exempted individuals. For instance:   If you’re pregnant, a member of a federally designated tribe, a caregiver or parent, under 19 or over 65, you’re exempt from the requirements.  You’re exempt if you’re medically frail, which includes anyone who’s blind, disabled, battling a chronic substance-use disorder or living with a serious and complex medical condition like cancer.  If you meet work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare), you’re also relieved of the requirements.  If you’re in jail, prison or were released from incarceration within the past 90 days, you’re exempt.  And if you’re a former foster youth under 26, the requirements don’t apply.  “Plainly, the policy is targeting just a subset of fully able adults who are voluntarily choosing not to work or give back to their communities.   “There are strong grounds for this policy: A new study from the American Enterprise Institute found that able-bodied, unemployed adult Medicaid recipients without dependents average 6.1 hours a day — 184 hours a month — watching television and socializing.   “That figure is 50% higher than for employed beneficiaries.   “These individuals spend less than a combined one hour a day looking for work or caring for others.   “And we’re only asking that, in return for their Medicaid coverage, they choose from an array of options — work, go to school or volunteer — for just 80 hours per month.   “That’s eminently reasonable, and can help them become more self-reliant and productive.   “Note, too, that a sizable number — 38% of beneficiaries, per a new White House Council of Economic Advisors study — are able-bodied, working-age adults.   “There’s no good reason for them not to be contributing to their communities or at least on a path to becoming productive.   “Americans are smart enough not to fall for the false narratives, lies and smears against work requirements.   “They share Republicans’ desires to purge government programs of rampant waste, fraud and abuse.   “Our requirements help do just that, strengthening Medicaid for those who truly need it.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s Full Committee Markup. Chairman Guthrie's opening statement as prepared for delivery:  “Thank you, Chairman Latta, and the members of the Committee for your legislative work to unleash American energy and make our electric grid more reliable and affordable.  "Today, the full Committee is taking up 13 bills that will lead to the production of more American energy, remove regulatory burdens to electric generation, and help us win the race to power AI for the good of the country.  "We have had multiple hearings this Congress already during which we heard that the U.S. must be able to power our technology future. For the U.S. to win the AI race, we need to produce significantly more 365/24/7 power to run AI and data centers.  "We heard from witnesses that not all electrons are a one-for-one substitute, and that we should not be taking baseload power plants offline without sufficient and comparable replacements.   "I would remind my colleagues, if AI data centers running the world’s most advanced models could run on just wind and solar power, they would be doing so already.  "To fuel American energy abundance, lower prices for American households, and make the U.S. more energy secure, the bills before us today address obstacles to an efficient and cost-effective infrastructure development. This important legislation also identifies opportunities to expand our refining capacity, improve our hydropower permitting process, secure our energy supply chains, increase LNG exports, and streamline the permitting of natural gas pipelines.    "In addition, the bills before us today will ensure timely interconnection of dispatchable resources and rightly place the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, as the federal authority on reliability to prevent a future Clean Power Plan 3.0.  "I am disappointed that more of these bills are not bipartisan, because winning the AI race and guaranteeing we have sufficient amounts of the right kind of power to do it should not be a partisan issue.  "I agree that wind and solar should be part of our overall energy mix – but I disagree with the idea that wind and solar with storage are going to provide the type of power needed to run AI data centers. Most energy experts and the technology companies themselves have not supported that approach either because wind and solar with storage do not provide the necessary reliability.  "Time is of the essence, and I hope my Democratic colleagues will recognize the critical importance of this issue and work with us to enact legislation that puts our country on track to beat China in the race to AI dominance.  "Thank you and I yield back." ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee Chairman Carter's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “It is my pleasure to begin today’s hearing by welcoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health.  “Thank you, Secretary Kennedy, for coming before the Committee to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the U.S. Department of Health an d Human Services.  “ In 2023, our nation spent an estimated $4.9 trillion on health care. That’s nearly 20 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. And when it comes to per-person health care spending, the United States far surpasses every other nation in the world.  “ And yet, America’s health outcomes still lag behind our peers. Life expectancy in the U.S. is lower than in other developed economies, and rates of infant and maternal mortality, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are higher. At the same time, public trust in government health agencies has eroded.  “ The results of our record-breaking spending speak for themselves — and they’re unacceptable.   “ The system isn’t just expensive — it’s failing the very people it’s meant to serve.  “ Currently, in the United States, three in four adults experience one or more chronic conditions. In 2013, no state had adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent. Fast forward to 2023, 23 states had 35 percent or higher adult obesity rates. According to the CDC, in my home state of Georgia, 35 percent of adults are obese, and one in ten adults are living with three or more chronic conditions.    “ During my time as a pharmacist, I saw first-hand the toll that diet-related chronic diseases can have on individuals and families, due to rising health care premiums, out-of-pocket-costs, and missed work. The financial impact is astronomical – not to mention how taxing the physical, emotional, and mental burdens can be.   “ Just looking at the impact of diabetes, the United States spends more than $327 billion each year combatting the disease–with $237 billion spent on medical costs and another $90 billion in productivity losses.  “ America needs a new prescription — a clear, bold vision for the future. We can no longer afford to simply throw more money at this problem and hope for change. It is time to break from the old ways and embrace innovative, courageous ideas that will truly Make America Healthy Again.  “ I am looking forward to hearing more about how HHS is working to improve health care access for American patients and reduce provider burnout by leading on necessary changes to fix the broken health insurance prior authorization process.  “ I am also looking forward to hearing more about your agency’s plan to reduce unnecessary animal testing. So many of us here today are committed to a more efficient drug development process, and I am encouraged by the FDA’s Roadmap to reduce animal testing in preclinical safety studies through the use of innovative 21st-century science. “ As a supporter of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 and the lead author of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, I am excited to see that, under your leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services is building off of these proposals and leading the charge for the development of safe, effective treatments and therapies without unnecessary animal suffering. “ I look forward to hearing additional details of the Secretary’s proposal, and to continuing the dialogue between HHS and the Energy and Commerce Committee as we begin the budget process in earnest.  “ Again, I appreciate you being here today. I look forward to hearing how the proposed HHS budget will advance President Trump’s mission of Making America Healthy Again." ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget. “America needs a new prescription — a clear, bold vision for the future. We can no longer afford to simply throw more money at this problem and hope for change,” said Chairman Carter . “It is time to break from the old ways and embrace innovative, courageous ideas that will truly Make America Healthy Again.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09): “One important tool in promoting drug development is the FDA's Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Program, which has led to the approval of over 50 treatments for 39 different rare, pediatric diseases - 36 of which had no FDA approval treatments before the program began. I was very pleased to see the president's FDA budget allocate funding for this priority review voucher program, and I have bipartisan legislation that would fully reauthorize the program for years to come.” Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02): “I was just wondering if you can explain how HHS will be investing in rural America and specifically rural Iowa to ensure that Americans still have access to vital health care services.” Secretary Kennedy: “ We have a number of programs for expanding healthcare in rural areas. One of those that I'm most excited about are these innovations in telemedicine and AI nursing. That is going to deal with some of the treatment [and] the diagnosis issues. I've seen the systems in action, and they're extraordinary.” Congresswoman Kat Cammack: (FL-03): “Under the previous administration of Joe Biden, maternal health deserts expanded significantly, leaving over 2.5 million women without access to any sort of maternal health care. In fact, I believe it was 1 in 25 maternal health clinics [that] closed under the previous administration. And you've pointed out that there are more than 40 different maternal health programs scattered across HHS. From where I sit, that sounds like a lot of bureaucracy, and I want us to focus on patient outcomes and improving those, like you do.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Full Committee Markup of 13 bills. WHAT:  Full Markup of 13 Bills  DATE:  Wednesday, June 25, 2025  TIME:  10:15 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 energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Donlon with the Committee staff at  Jessica.Donlon@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matthew VanHyfte at  Matthew.Vanhyfte@mail.house.gov .   Items to be considered:  H.R. 3616 , Reliable Power Act (Rep. Balderson) H.R. 1047 , Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power (GRID Power) Act (Rep. Balderson) H.R. 3632 , Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025 (Rep. Griffith) H.R. 3638 , Electric Supply Chain Act (Rep. Latta) H.R. 3157 , State Energy Accountability Act (Rep. Langworthy) H.R. 3628 , State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (Rep. Evans) H.R. 3657 , Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act (Rep. Schrier) H.R. 3015 , National Coal Council Reestablishment Act (Rep. Rulli) H.R. 3617 , Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act (Rep. James) H.R. 3109 , Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act (Rep. Latta) H.R. 3062 , Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act (Rep. Fedorchak)  H.R. 1949 , Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025 (Rep. Pfluger)   H.R. 3668 , Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act (Rep. Hudson) ###