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Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein this morning for a discussion on the importance of increasing health care transparency to drive down costs for patients.  As Chair Rodgers said, “This is a 95% positive issue for people when they hear about price transparency for health care. They support it. They believe that it's needed.”   Watch it here and check out key highlights of Chair Rodgers’ remarks below.  ON THE LOWER COSTS, MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT :   “ I'm 100% committed to getting this bill up for consideration on the floor, passed out of the House, and ultimately onto the President's desk.   “I’m really, really proud of the work that has been done around this legislation. It passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously.  “I'm proud to Chair this Committee. This Committee has a rich history of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate, and that's what we've done on this bill.  “This is a very important first step when we talk about price transparency. We've worked hard with the Ways and Means Committee, the Education and the Workforce Committee. We're working with Leadership to get this bill out of the House.  “I also am really grateful to Ranking Member Pallone for his work and partnership in bringing the bill this far and we're committed to getting it done.”   ON PRICE TRANSPARENCY:    “I have a hospital in my district that has embraced this. They’re working with local employers and really looking at how can reimbursements be targeted to make sure that we're driving down costs for seniors for patients.  “Our goal is to really get price transparency within the health care system, whether it's hospitals, health plans, or PBMs. Price transparency is really important to accountability and ultimately to empowering patients and doctors to be making these decisions.”  ON EMPOWERING PATIENTS:   “One of my colleagues said it best when I was talking to him about it recently. He said ‘You know, in America, we know the price for everything that we buy. And as consumers, we're able to go out and make decisions based upon what the prices are. And in health care, we need that too.’  “We need, as individuals, to be empowered with the prices. That is one of the best things that we could do to bring back the decision-making to the patient and the doctor, which is my goal in this huge health care system to really get to the core issues on what's driving the cost of health care.  “We continue to see health care costs increasing, and we need to address what's driving the cost of health care. We've seen a lot of consolidation, and it is not bringing down the cost of health care.   “This is a very important first step to really look at how we address the rising cost of health care and make sure that we're protecting the decision-making between the patient and the doctor.”  ON ENSURING COMPLIANCE:   “Part of the reason this legislation is important is so that we have data that can be used most effectively. And the continued focus on making sure that the hospitals and others in this legislation—the health insurance companies, PBMs—are also in compliance.  “But we also have more stories because of price transparency today, of individuals and employers that are making decisions that are benefiting seniors and are bringing down the actual cost that they're having to pay out-of-pocket and as employers.  “I have employers in my district, but there's others around the country, that are also seeing those savings, because they're able to make a value-based decision, but also based upon on the price.”    CLICK HERE for more on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act .  CLICK HERE for how the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act helps patients. 

DON’T MISS: This morning, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News to share how Committee Republicans are leading an investigation to hold Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra accountable. Secretary Becerra failed to follow the Constitution and the law to lawfully reappoint 14 senior officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including Dr. Anthony Fauci, when their terms expired in December 2021. As a result, these 14 NIH officials held unlawful positions and exercised authority they didn’t have—such as approving $26 billion in grants. Check out highlights from the interview below. BECERRA’S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE LAW “We have uncovered through our investigation that HHS Secretary Becerra did not follow federal law when he failed to reappoint leaders at NIH, including Dr. Fauci. “Dr. Fauci, who was the highest paid federal employee, has made decisions—as well as these other leaders at NIH—over billions of dollars in grants, including the most recent grant to EcoHealth Alliance. “We know that EcoHealth Alliance is the one that facilitated research at the Wuhan lab in China. “These individuals were to be reappointed [in December 2021]. This is an accountability measure that was put into the law by Congress in the 21st Century Cures Act because we believed it was important that these individuals be held accountable.” HHS NOT COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATION “Health and Human Services and public health agencies have not been accountable to Congress across the board. “They [HHS] lied to us in early 2022. HHS said that they had made the appointments and that they couldn't produce the documents. “Secretary Becerra just recently retroactively made these appointments. It raises a lot of questions.” OFFICIALS UNLAWFULLY APPROVED BILLIONS “Dr. Fauci was in a position, along with these other officials, making decisions over billions of dollars of grants without a proper appointment... Secretary Becerra did not follow the Constitution or federal law in ensuring that these individuals are acting lawfully. “They've not been accountable to Congress or the American people for that matter, and we are going to continue to demand that these questions are answered.” CLICK HERE to read more about the Committee's findings.

The size of the error on appointments would appear to be unprecedented Legal experts are weighing in on the House Energy and Commerce Committee investigation that has uncovered evidence that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra may have failed follow the Constitution or the law to properly appoint 14 senior officials at the National Institutes of Health, including Dr. Fauci, which could have grave consequences. Excerpts and highlights from Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley’s analysis of the Committee's investigation. Dr. Anthony Fauci has faced intense scrutiny in the past over his testimony denying any funding of "gain-of-function" research at the Wuhan lab in China. However, the most serious question now may be whether Fauci was who he said he was in those hearings: the then-director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). On Friday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce issued a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra that raises the disturbing question of whether Fauci and 13 other National Institutes of Health (NIH) institute and center directors were unlawfully holding their offices for some period. Not only did these directors make sweeping policy changes for the nation but, in 2022 alone, they awarded more than $25 billion in federal biomedical grants. […] CNN's senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, once gushed that when " Dr. Fauci talks, he's just like a regular guy ." It turns out she might have been more accurate than she thought -- because Fauci legally may have been just a "regular guy" giving out billions without authority. What is equally baffling is that the House informed the administration that it was presumptively in violation of federal law. What followed were convoluted and confusing statements from the administration on a very simple question: Did Becerra appoint these directors?  […] The size of the error on appointments would appear to be unprecedented. What is clear is that such a violation would constitute a shocking level of administrative incompetence. It also is clear that the House committee can now demand — and, if necessary, compel — answers from Becerra on whether federal law was knowingly flaunted and whether Congress was actively misled.  CLICK HERE to read all of Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley’s analysis. Excerpts and highlights from CBS's exclusive coverage of the Committee's investigation. "Institute directors with discretion to award billions or even hundreds of millions in research funding are, by definition, exercising significant authority pursuant to the laws of the United States. As such, institute directors are the quintessential 'inferior officers,'" a former senior HHS official told CBS News. " The Secretary cannot delegate his or her constitutional authority to appoint inferior officers. It is my understanding that prior administrations of both parties zealously guarded the appointments process and took care to ensure that inferior officers were properly appointed ," said the former senior official, who previously served in the Bush, Reagan and Trump administrations. CLICK HERE to read more in CBS News. CLICK HERE to read more about the Committee’s investigation.

Bipartisan PATIENT Act Gains Momentum as Experts Voice Support Americans want more health care transparency and lower prices. The bipartisan PATIENT Act , led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), will help Americans get access to the right care, at the right time, at a price they can afford. Solutions in the PATIENT Act —like increasing price transparency and addressing the cost of prescription drugs— are supported by the vast majority of Americans . Nearly 90% of Americans support strengthening price transparency requirements and nearly 85% of Americans favor solutions that prevent them from having to pay more for their prescription drugs than their insurance company. Check out the below opinion pieces featured in Newsweek and RealClear Policy for more on support of the PATIENT Act . Last month, the Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously reported out The Patient Act ( H.R. 3561 ), which would require hospitals and health insurance companies to post the true prices of their medical services. Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) are sponsoring this legislation, one of six bipartisan committee measures to help patients and improve the functioning of the nation's troubled health care markets.   Today, few health care policy proposals attract broad bipartisan support. Health care price transparency, however, is one of those rare "unicorns." In this case, the bipartisanship has been given a boost, because the Biden administration has largely embraced and continued the Trump administration's groundbreaking regulatory efforts to require hospitals and health insurance companies to reveal their real prices.   Nearly 90 percent of Americans support health care price transparency, Washington has a golden opportunity to improve the lives of millions of Americans through a more affordable and competitive health care marketplace . In a recent report for The Heritage Foundation , we outlined several policy options for Congress to consider, which would benefit all Americans.   CLICK HERE to continue reading more from David N. Bernstein and Robert E. Moffit in Newsweek. Next up: The PATIENT Act ( Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency Act ) to tackle health care costs by increasing transparency and competition. After numerous hearings, the bill passed through the Energy and Commerce Committee 49-0, and a House floor vote is expected in July. Here is a section-by-section summary. One reason for this progress is that the legislative process is going through “regular order” for the first time in years. That means that a Member proposes a legislative idea, hearings are held, and the relevant subcommittee considers and reports the bill to the full committee. The full committee then debates the measure and, if approved, it goes to the Floor for a vote, after passing through the Rules Committee which decides the process for offering amendments. This is what’s happening now, straight out of Civics 101. CLICK HERE to continue reading from Grace-Marie Turner in RealClear Policy.

Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) led subcommittee members in a field hearing last week in Moore County, North Carolina, on enhancing America’s grid security and protecting the grid from vulnerabilities, including cyberattacks. Before the hearing, E&C Republicans toured the Duke Energy power substation that was attacked in December—leaving 45,000 homes and businesses without power for five days. America's electrical grid keeps our hospitals, military bases, homes, and businesses powered. We MUST make sure the grid is secure to keep people safe and our economy moving. The North State Journal : Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce came to Moore County for a Congressional field hearing about securing the nation’s energy grid on Friday, June 16. […] Rep. Richard Hudson, a member of the committee and resident of Southern Pines, called the field hearing essential and the start of a conversation. “This is a day we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Testimony we hear today will set up a national discussion on grid vulnerability,” Hudson said in his opening statement. WNCN : Congressional leaders listened to testimony from a Duke Energy leader about the December power grid attack in Moore County. The attack crippled the electric grid for days and impacted 45,000 customers in the county. “This is a challenging thing for our whole industry,” Jeff Brooks, spokesperson for Duke Energy said. Brooks said the power company is making changes as grid attackers become more sophisticated. “Ways we can get essential equipment closer to the areas that we need it, to use mobile technology where we can. Plus, any deterrent measures we can in place,” Brooks said. Republican Congressman Richard Hudson lives in Moore County and was part of the hearing. He said adding cameras and walls to substations and bringing grids back online faster are just some solutions. “But that’s not enough,” Hudson said. Fox News’ Special Report with Brett Baier : “Tonight, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for answers after a major cyber intrusion on several government agencies. “Tonight, Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are calling on the Biden administration to brief them on the major cyberattack that hit multiple federal agencies including the Department of Energy, saying saving people's lives and livelihoods are counting on the committee's work to protect critical infrastructure.” […] “The attack happened as the committee headed to North Carolina for a field hearing on securing the nation's power grid. Last December, someone shot up to power substations in Moore County, knocking out power to 45,000 people for days. According to the Energy Department, attacks on the power grid were up 77% nationwide from 2021 to 2022. Lawmakers say private utility companies need to do more to prevent attacks.” […] “Lawmakers are also deeply concerned about the supply chain right now. It could take up to two years to get a replacement transformer.” […] “Republican Congressman Richard Hudson introduced a bill this week that would prohibit the energy secretary from changing energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for the next five years.” Highlights from Energy and Commerce Committee Members: Subcommittee Chair Duncan : “There have been several grid security incidents that have occurred recently that we are examining as part of our oversight responsibilities. “Within the last year, we have seen electrical transmission substations attacked in Tacoma, WA and here in Moore County. Both of these attacks resulted in blackouts that affected tens of thousands of people for multiple days. “Prior to these incidents, we saw one of the nation’s most critical pipelines, the Colonial Pipeline, suffer a cyberattack that created fuel shortages and price spikes that lasted weeks.” […] “We are also gathering the perspectives of the electric industry and state partners, to learn how we can harden our grid, improve situational awareness, and support response efforts. […] “I look forward to learning more about the substation attack that occurred here in Moore County so I can share lessons learned with the electric utilities and state officials in my home state of South Carolina and with my colleagues back in Washington, D.C.” Rep. Hudson: “Earlier this morning, we toured the Duke Energy West End substation, one of two substations in Moore County that was intentionally attacked on the evening of December 3rd, leaving my house and 45,000 of my neighbors without power for up to ten days. “In the aftermath of the attack, our hospital was impacted, threatening medical treatments, schools were shutdown, businesses were affected, stoplights were dark, gas stations were closed, cell signal was impacted, and water couldn’t be heated. “Our region suffered millions of dollars in damage—and just before the Christmas holiday.” […] “Since this attack occurred, I have been in listening mode. I have heard from constituents, grid operators, community developers, and business owners who have concerns with our grid’s security and resilience—all against the backdrop of historic energy costs. I share these concerns. “That’s why, as I promised in the days following the attack, I have brought Washington to North Carolina today. “I want to show my colleagues not just the numbers and facts of grid security and resilience, but the people personally affected and their experiences.” Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) : “By forcing states to adopt strict and specific spending targets... the funding is not as effective as it can be. One thing that we worry about is that one size fits coming out of Washington. What you do here in North Carolina might not work in Ohio.” […] “We need to hear from people in the states as they make these things work.” […] “My concern is – if we have a coordinated, massive attack, do we have the supply chain out there... because we have a vulnerability out there.” Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN): “In recent years, we’ve all been confronted with just how vulnerable the grid is. Physical, cybersecurity threats, weather events, and a laze of maintenance all contribute to the uncertainty for providers and rate payers.” […] “It’s critically important that private companies work with governmental agencies, including law enforcement.” […] “We’re going to have to reassess critical infrastructure... and make sure there is good coordination to prevent these attacks that could affect not only a large portion of the American people, but our national security.” Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL): “Depending on the time of year, when you knock out a system for a couple weeks, or longer, it’s not just about loss of business opportunities, it’s talking about loss of life.” CLICK HERE to watch the full field hearing. ICYMI: House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Member Frank Pallone requested briefings from the Biden administration last week following a major global cyberattack that affected several federal agencies, including the Department of Energy.

Lawmakers leave door open to compelling testimony if Becerra refuses to cooperate House Republicans are holding the Biden administration accountable for the surge of migrants flowing across our border illegally and the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children that has followed.  Despite publicly committing to Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith that he would “absolutely” be willing to appear before the Subcommittee, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has failed to make good on his promise.  On Friday, E&C Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Subcommittee Chair Griffith sent Secretary Becerra a letter demanding that he testify. In the letter , the Chairs outlined the great lengths to which they’ve gone to accommodate Secretary Becerra’s travel schedule and venue preference. They have offered a hearing date of June 13 or June 14.  READ: Exclusive Coverage on FOX News : Becerra’s appearance is being sought as the U.S. is continuing to deal with a migrant crisis at the southern border now in its third year. While the primary agency dealing with the migrant surge is the Department of Homeland Security, unaccompanied minors encountered by  Border Patrol  are transferred into HHS custody, at which point officials attempt to find sponsors—typically a relative or parent—for them.  According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, the number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) who arrive at the border has increased from 33,239 in fiscal year 2020 to more than 146,000 in fiscal year 2021 and 152,000 in fiscal year 2022. So far in fiscal year 2023, there have been more than 70,000 encounters of UACs.  […]  The Times reported how officials  reportedly ignored  signs of "explosive" growth in the child labor force, while staff members claimed Becerra pushed for discharging minors even quicker.  "If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would never have become rich and famous," he was quoted by the Times as telling staff. "This is not the way you do an assembly line."  […]  "In the event you do not select either of the above dates, the Committee will be forced to consider other avenues to secure testimony from you that is needed to fulfill our constitutional mandate to oversee the administration of these programs," they say.   CLICK HERE to read more from FOX News.  CLICK HERE to read the full letter to Secretary Becerra. 

House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are continuing to push back against Democrats’ radical efforts to ban gas stoves nationwide. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson on Sinclair to discuss how this attack on common household appliances, like natural gas stoves, will make life unaffordable for Americans, especially middle- and low-income families. Chair Rodgers said on Full Measure: “I think it’s fair to say gas stoves are under attack by the current administration and some radical climate groups.” “I come from Washington state, where our governor... has been calling for a ban on gas stoves. It seems to be part of this larger effort that some call the ‘energy transition,’ but it really is the federal government controlling and the federal government saying ‘we know best.’” To stop the Biden administration’s attempts to ban gas stoves, Energy and Commerce Committee members Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) have recently introduced legislation which would prohibit Secretary of Energy and the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves. “Inflation is hurting everyone. We have a crisis at our Southern Border. North Dakotans are worried about being able to provide for their families. What is the Biden administration focused on? Controlling the kind of stove Americans use,” said Congressman Armstrong. “This is further incompetence from an administration that seems more interested in dictating every aspect of our lives than solving real problems. Our bill makes it clear that Americans should decide if a gas stove is right for their families, not the federal government.” “The Biden Administration’s extreme proposed regulation that will ban nearly every gas stove on the market is just another example of out-of-touch bureaucrats trying to control Americans’ everyday lives,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “I am proud to join Congressman Armstrong in introducing these important bills to protect Americans’ consumer choice and stop this egregious power-grab.” CLICK HERE to read H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act. CLICK HERE to read H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act. It’s not just Congress that agrees banning gas stoves is wrong. A federal three-judge panel unanimously agreed that Berkeley, California’s ban on natural gas piping was unlawful. In addition, the House just passed H.R .1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, with a bipartisan vote to restore America’s energy dominance, lower the cost of living, and ensure American continues to lead the world at reducing emissions. As Chair Rodgers said: “Republicans are prioritizing the American people over the Democrat’s radical climate agenda. On his first day in office, President Biden started the war on American energy,” Chair Rodgers said. “He has revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, imposed a moratorium on oil production on federal lands, directed agencies across the Federal government to impose punitive and burdensome regulations, and made us more reliant on China. “Predictably, gas prices skyrocketed to the highest levels in American history. People are counting on us to improve their quality of life. H.R. 1 delivers on that promise and will ensure America continues to lead the world at reducing emissions. I commend the passing of this package, which will boost energy production, lift regulatory burdens for the construction of more energy infrastructure, cut China out of our critical materials supply chains, and lower costs across the board. H.R. 1 is how we build a better and more secure future for all Americans.”

Following the Energy and Commerce Committee’s hearing with TikTok, Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union to talk about TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) urgent threat to our national and personal security. She told Tapper that TikTok’s testimony placed “more urgency on us passing a national data privacy law to protect [America] from the next technological tool or weapon that China may put together.” Excerpts and highlights of Chair Rodgers’ interview below: TIKTOK MUST BE BANNED “What the hearing made clear to me was that TikTok should be banned in the United States of America to address the immediate threat and we also need a national data privacy law. “Mr. Chew said that the data that they are amassing on Americans is accessible by the CCP. “He was asked about ByteDance spying on Americans and he responded, ‘oh, well, I wouldn't describe it as spying.’ “What we are seeing is that TikTok and Mr. Chew have repeatedly been caught in this lie, that there's not a connection to ByteDance and ultimately, the CCP.” TIKTOK CANNOT BE TRUSTED “What we do have evidence of is that TikTok cannot be trusted to... protect our data and they cannot be trusted to ensure that our children's mental health is a priority.” E&C LEADING ON A NATIONAL DATA PRIVACY STANDARD “We need to address the immediate threat that TikTok poses because it is it is ultimately the Chinese Communist Party accessing data. “We need a national data privacy standard also and that's what Ranking Member Pallone and I have worked on and we're going to introduce this Congress because we need to take action. “Whether it's TikTok, Big Tech, or other data brokers to restrict the amount of data that they're collecting to begin with, we need to ensure that individuals have the right to know what their profile might be or to be alerted if their information, their personal data is being accessed or transferred to another country like China. “We need to protect kids and we have the strongest protections for kids in the privacy proposal that we have been working on to protect anyone under the age of 17. “We need to stop this listening on devices of people. Our bill would say you cannot listen to conversations on an app or on your device without people actually having given you the permission.”

TikTok CEO Shou Chew will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee tomorrow to testify about TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platform’s impact on kids, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) jointly spoke with Fox News’ Bret Baier about the national privacy standard they are leading on together to prevent any app, website, and platform like TikTok from ever spying on Americans again. THE IMPORTANCE OF TOMORROW’S HEARING “This hearing has been long overdue. This will be the first time the CEO of TikTok, Mr. Chew, has been before any congressional committee. “It's very important that he answer for some of the repeated lies that we know about TikTok and their association with ByteDance and ultimately the Chinese Communist Party. “[We have] growing concerns about the threat that this platform, this app poses in the United States of America but also it highlights the concerns around other technological tools or weapons that China may use for their own strategic future and that's why we are joining together. “We believe it's very important that we hold TikTok accountable but also make sure that any app or platform is ultimately protecting individual Americans’ privacy and making sure that Americans are protected from harm and our children are protected from harm.” TIKTOK’s CONNECTION WITH BYTEDANCE AND THE CCP “It is clear that TikTok will say anything to ensure that it is not banned in the United States of America.” “They have said that they're not surveilling on Americans or spying on Americans and yet now we know that they were used. ByteDance used TikTok to spy on American journalists. “We know that they continue to say that their data is not going back to China and that this walled off from the Chinese Communist Party and yet we now have recordings of employees at TikTok that say that everything is seen by China.” A NATIONAL DATA PRIVACY STANDARD “There is a lot of common ground and I think the fact that Mr. Chew is going directly to the TikTok users in America, that 150 million Americans [use it], now only underscores the importance of us taking action, because Americans’ data privacy is not protected. “This platform can also be used to manipulate what people see or hear or think. “It all points to the importance of us passing a larger national privacy standard, as Mr. Pallone is joining me to [achieve], because we believe this is a clarion call as to the need for a national data privacy standard to minimize the amount of data that TikTok, Big Tech, or other data brokers are collecting to begin with, to make sure that Americans are alerted when their data is being used or stored or transferred over to countries like China and to protect our kids for those under 17. “The legislation that we propose would make it illegal to track our kids online and to make sure that private conversations are actually private, that apps and devices would be prohibited from listening to our private conversations when we haven't given them permission. “This is all really important and we need to ban TikTok and we need to pass a national data privacy law.” CLICK HERE to watch Thursday’s hearing.