House Committee on Energy and Commerce

All Updates

Jul 22, 2026

House Passes Energy and Commerce Bills to Strengthen Public Health Efforts and Expand Access to Medical Innovation for American Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, issued a statement following House passage of 12 bills.

"This week, we passed legislation that is critical to strengthening our nation's public health infrastructure," said Chairman Guthrie. "The bills that passed the House this week work to reauthorize vital medical grant programs, strengthen our health care workforce, accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments for chronic diseases and illnesses, and allow more patients to access additional therapies and medical equipment. I'm grateful to the champions of these bills for their diligent work on such important policies aiming to expand access to care for all Americans."

"House passage of these important bills highlights the good work of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Health," said Chairman Griffith. "We believe these policies will help address federal health agency challenges, streamline patient opportunities for care and serve the medical needs of American communities. I appreciate working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to meet these key objectives."

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 1493, To reauthorize and improve federal programs related to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries - Rep. Pallone (NJ-06) and Rep. Bacon (NE-02):
H.R. 1493 would reauthorize Federal programs to reduce the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain injuries and the Bill Pascrell, Jr., National Program for Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance and Registries through 2030. It would also reauthorize state grant programs for the purpose of protection and advocacy systems that provide services to individuals with a TBI.
H.R. 1493 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 2001, To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program addressing dental workforce needs - Rep. Kelly (IL-02) and Rep. Simpson (ID-02):
H.R. 2001 would reauthorize a grant program that helps states develop and implement innovative programs to address the needs of the dental workforce in designated dental health professional shortage areas.
H.R. 2001 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 2715, Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act - Rep. Higgins (LA-03) and Rep. Carter (LA-02):
H.R. 2715 provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to require an importer to destroy an FDA-regulated product that was refused entry into the U.S. and presents a significant public health concern. The legislation would also authorize FDA to require importers to bear the costs of storage and destruction and prohibit the movement of hazardous refused shipments.
H.R. 2715 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 2821, FDA Modernization Act 3.0 - Rep. Carter (GA-01) and Rep. Barragán (CA-44):
H.R. 2821 would require the Secretary to publish an interim final rule to amend certain regulations to replace references of animal tests, data, studies, models, and research with references to nonclinical tests, data, studies, models, and research.
H.R. 2821 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 3491, DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 - Rep. DeGette (CO-01) and Rep. Hudson (NC-09):
H.R. 3491 would authorize the INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Project at the NIH, which promotes the scientific understanding of Down syndrome and co-occurring conditions and improve the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. This bill would also require reporting to Congress on the program's progress and related research.
H.R. 3491 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 3747, Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer's Provider Training Act - Rep. Balderson (OH-12) and Rep. Barragán (CA-44):
H.R. 3747 would reauthorize the Project ECHO (Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes) Grant Program, which facilitates case-based learning, promoting access to specialty care in rural and underserved areas.
H.R. 3747 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 4348, To reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act - Rep. Smith (NJ-04) and Rep. Doggett (TX-37):
H.R. 4348 would reauthorize the National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) cooperative agreements with health departments in areas at high risk of vector-borne diseases.
H.R. 4348 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 4541, EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2025 - Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Rep. Miller-Meeks (IA-01):
H.R. 4541 would reauthorize educational resources for breast cancer early detection through.
H.R. 4541, as amended, passed the House under suspension of the House rules by a roll call vote of 394 yeas - 6 nays, with 31 not voting.
H.R. 5160, Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025 - Rep. Smith (NJ-04) and Rep. Matsui (CA-07):
H.R. 5160 would reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation program and the National Cord Blood Inventory program.
H.R. 5160 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 6238, NIH IMPROVE Act - Rep. Underwood (IL-14) and Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01):
H.R. 6238 would authorize the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative within the NIH. This initiative would advance maternal health research, with the goal of reducing preventable causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.
H.R. 6238 passed the House under suspension of the House rules.
H.R. 8205, Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 - Rep. Quigley (IL-05) and Rep. Calvert (CA-41):
H.R. 8205 would reauthorize and make changes to the grant award authority, expanded access program, and public-private partnership for research on therapies under the original ACT for ALS, which was enacted in 2021.
H.R. 8205 passed the House under suspension of the House rules by voice vote.
H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026 - Rep. Joyce (PA-13):
H.R. 1703 would clarify coding and payment rules for manual wheelchairs under Medicare Part B, requiring the Secretary to establish two or more codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs. Beneficiaries covered under Medicare Part B have the option to upgrade their wheelchair if they choose to do so. The Secretary may require suppliers to issue a notice to the individual prior to the purchase or rental of the wheelchair to inform the beneficiary of potential financial liability.
H.R. 1703 passed the House under the suspension of the House rules.

Jul 22, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Hudson Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing titled Legislative Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivit_y._

Subcommittee Chairman Hudson's opening statement as prepared for delivery:

"Good afternoon, and welcome to today's hearing. We are here to consider several bills that address important issues facing our nation's communications ecosystem. These range from securing our networks from foreign threats and robocalls, to improving how we connect our rural constituents.

"We all know the frustration of receiving unwanted robocalls. Americans received an estimated 4.3 billion robocalls last month alone. Although some of these calls are legal-calls that the recipient has consented to receiving, such as from a school or pharmacy-illegal robocalls continue to be a problem. In fact, fraud perpetuated against Americans by illegal robocalls cost an average of $25 billion annually, primarily affecting those who cannot afford such losses. Additionally, fraudulent robocalls make us distrustful of legitimate callers, causing us to ignore calls from unknown numbers and often miss important calls.

"Congress has taken steps to address this problem. In 2019, we enacted the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act. This law took important steps to reduce illegal robocalls by requiring providers to implement call authentication, increased fines for intentional violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, authorized traceback efforts, and established a federal interagency working group to combat illegal robocalls. The FCC has also taken important steps to reduce illegal robocalls, both in implementing the TRACED Act and by working to block these calls from reaching our networks in the first place.

"Unfortunately, however, more still needs to be done. Bad actors continue to develop new ways to enter our networks. And many of these culprits are based abroad, making them hard to track down. One of the bills we are considering today will improve our efforts to identify and catch these foreign bad actors and make it harder for their calls to enter our networks. These are meaningful steps.

"I want to make clear that I am well aware of the difficulties that Congress, and the Federal government faces when trying to address this problem. Fraudsters do not follow the law, and we must be mindful of imposing new requirements that will only burden legitimate callers while doing nothing to reduce the illegal calls that harm us.

"We are also considering legislation to improve our efforts to connect our unserved and underserved rural constituents. Closing the digital divide has long been a priority for Congress, but our efforts to accomplish this goal has created a web of overlapping and duplicative programs. In 2022, the Government Accountability Office found that the federal government runs over 130 broadband programs across 15 different agencies. This fragmented approach has led to overbuilding and waste, not to mention confusion caused by conflicting requirements and obligations. GAO has recommended a government-wide strategy to better coordinate and align these programs, and I am pleased we are considering legislation to do that.

"One helpful development in our efforts to deploy broadband is the FCC's broadband map. Although not perfect, this map has significantly improved our ability to identify who has broadband and who does not. We can improve this map, and today we are considering a bill that will help us identify agricultural areas so we can ensure farmers have the connectivity they need for things like precision agriculture and other modern technologies.

"I know full well the immense importance of connecting unserved Americans. I am a proud member of the bipartisan, bicameral Universal Service Fund Working Group, and I am continuing to work with the group on reforms to ensure the USF is sustainable for future generations. The USF is an important tool in our efforts to ensure universal connectivity, and I hope we can reach an agreement soon.

"As we continue to deploy and upgrade communications infrastructure nationwide, we need the most advanced technology to ensure they are efficient, resilient, and secure. To accomplish this, we can turn to our favorite buzzword: artificial intelligence (AI). At a time when threats to our networks are at an all-time high, AI is a crucial tool to fight fire with fire and ensure one of our most critical systems is protected. Although AI is already deployed throughout our networks in certain capacities, we can always benefit from a greater understanding of how it can be implemented to maximize security.

"We have a lot to talk about today. Thank you to our witnesses for being here. I look forward to the discussion.

"I now yield five minutes to my colleague, Ranking Member Matsui, for her opening statement."

Jul 22, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Releases POWER Act to Lower Electricity Costs for American Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, released a discussion draft of the Permitting Our Way to an Energy Resurgence (POWER) Act, a package of Energy and Commerce Committee bills, to address America's broken permitting system and lower energy costs for hard-working families.

Slow, burdensome, and unpredictable permitting reviews have produced an unreliable grid and higher electricity costs for hardworking families, while our nation's manufacturers and other industry leaders also contend with longer construction timelines and higher project costs that put the United States at a competitive disadvantage. The POWER Act addresses these issues, cutting through red tape to speed up construction of the pipelines, power generation, electricity transmission, and industrial projects needed to ensure that energy is reliable and affordable for the American people.

Attributable to Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce:

"To win the race to AI dominance, onshore jobs, and deliver reliable and affordable power for families, Americans needs a permitting system that works for their communities," said Chairman Guthrie. "The POWER Act cuts the red tape holding back American innovation, protects hard-working families from higher electricity costs, and keeps the lights on for generations to come. This package is the result of months of hard work by Members across the Committee on Energy and Commerce. For too long, burdensome regulations that fail to meet the moment have held back economic growth. I'm proud to introduce commonsense legislation that will make energy more affordable for every American and unleash industrial expansion to support new jobs and growth."

Attributable to Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy:

"The POWER Act is a critical step toward modernizing our nation's energy permitting process and ensuring we can build the infrastructure needed to power America's future. This comprehensive discussion draft includes 19 bills from the Energy and Environment Subcommittees that provide commonsense solutions to strengthen America's energy infrastructure and reliability," said Chairman Latta. "I am especially proud that it includes my Electric Supply Chain Act, which will help strengthen our electric grid by addressing supply chain challenges that delay critical repairs, as well as the Ratepayer Protection Act, which helps ensure hardworking families are not left footing the bill for energy infrastructure needed to support data centers. Together, these provisions will strengthen our energy security, improve grid reliability, and protect American ratepayers."

Attributable to Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment:

"For too long, Washington's broken permitting process has delayed the infrastructure America needs to produce more affordable, reliable energy and strengthen our national security. The POWER Act delivers commonsense reforms that cut red tape and help ensure the United States can build the energy and industrial projects our economy depends on," said Chairman Palmer. "As Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee, I'm proud that many of the reforms included in this package advanced through our subcommittee, including my Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act, which will help prevent unnecessary permitting delays from undermining critical national security projects. I appreciate Chairman Guthrie's leadership and his commitment to advancing this package."

LEGISLATION INCLUDED:

Pipelines and Powerlines - Moving Energy

Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act (Rep. Hudson) - Streamlines permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines at FERC.
High-Capacity Grid Act (Rep. Fedorchak) - Requires modern power lines to carry more electricity on our current grid.
Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act (Rep. Goldman) - Establishes a DOE clearinghouse for transmission technologies that strengthen our grid, address wildfire risk, and cut red tape.
Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act (Rep. Harshbarger) - Directs DOE to study AI technologies to increase efficiencies and get more out of the existing electric grid.
GRID Power Act (Rep. Balderson) - Moves dispatchable, on-demand power plants to the front of the line.
Electric Supply Chain Act (Rep. Latta) - Directs DOE to identify and fix potential supply chain issues preventing timely repair of grid infrastructure components.

Power Generation - Producing Energy

Ratepayer Protection Act (Rep. Evans) - Requires state PUCs to consider a strategy to make data centers pay their own way when it comes to electric grid infrastructure and upgrades, instead of passing costs onto hardworking families.
Reliable Power Act (Rep. Balderson) - Requires FERC review peer agency actions (such as the Clean Power Plan 2.0) to ensure federal actions do not impact reliability.
Load Forecasting Enhancement Act (Rep. Balderson) - Directs FERC and state PUCs to develop best practices for forecasting electric load growth to better predict demand and build what's needed.
State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (Rep. Evans) - Requires state PUCs to consider planning 10 years ahead for a grid that's reliable and affordable.
State Energy Accountability Act (Rep. Langworthy) - Requires state PUCs to examine the costs of their green energy mandates.
Power Plant Reliability Act (Rep. Griffith) - Empowers FERC to keep reliable power plants running for up to five years when retiring them would threaten the grid.

Powering Industry to Build and Grow

New Source Review Permitting Improvements Act (Rep. Griffith) - Streamlines the New Source Review permitting process for companies to upgrade facilities and install modern pollution controls without delays.
CLEAR Act (Rep. Carter) - Modernizes NAAQS air quality standards so they're achievable in the real world, protecting clean air without blocking growth.
Clean Air and Buildings Infrastructure Improvement Act (Rep. Allen) - Gives builders clear air quality rules up front, providing certainty for NAAQS implementation rules.
FENCES Act (Rep. Pfluger) - Prevents punishment of states and localities for foreign pollution drifting into the U.S.
FIRE Act (Rep. Evans) - Protects states' ability to conduct controlled burns and clear brush to prevent wildfires without suffering Clean Air Act penalties.
RED Tape Act (Rep. Joyce) - Ends double reviews of projects by EPA if already vetted under NEPA.
Air Permitting Improvements to Protect National Security Act (Rep. Palmer) - Provides an alternative process to meet emission offset requirements for new critical mineral processing and advanced manufacturing.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of the legislation.

CLICK HERE to read more from Fox News.

Jul 22, 2026

Press Release

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Legislation to Strengthen Consumer Product and Service Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace.

“For decades, the FTC has served as our nation's primary consumer protection agency. Since its creation in 1914, the FTC has worked to combat unfair and deceptive practices and promote competition without unduly burdening legitimate business activity,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “Today’s proposals represent Congress's continued effort to keep the FTC and CPSC equipped to protect American consumers.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14): “Finally, I would like to thank AMERIPEN and the larger coalition of food manufacturers, packaging associations, and consumer advocacy organizations for their continued support of the PACK Act and its goal to create a consistent and voluntary federal framework for environmental claims on various products. Suffice it to say, we might be able to actually package a better life for our kids and our grandkids and a safer future for them.”

Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09): “The FTC estimates that once underreporting is accounted for, Americans have lost roughly $196 billion to fraud in 2024 alone. And the problem is not that nobody is working on this at the federal level. The problem is that everyone is working on a different piece of it. There's no single agency that is seeing the whole picture. Our bill [the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act] directs the FTC, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, to convene an interagency task force to develop a national strategy to address these scams; one that puts consumer complaint databases to work, invests in public education, coordinates with industry, sharpens enforcement, and works with our international partners.”

Congressman Tom Kean (NJ-07): “China and Russia have long sought to wield influence on American opinion, seeking to influence America's policy makers through a variety of media formats. How does foreign propaganda threaten to unduly influence Americans without awareness of the entities that are influencing them?” Mr. Castro: “I think right now you have, of course, advertisements across all sorts of different platforms, and consumers benefit when they know who it is that's actually speaking to them. Transparency in this information is critical so that they can be informed consumers and understand what information they're receiving and whether or not it's trustworthy.”

Jul 22, 2026

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Chairman Bilirakis Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Hearing on Legislation to Strengthen Consumer Product and Service Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing titled Legislative Proposals to Strengthen Consumer Protection in a Changing Marketplace.

Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis' opening statement as prepared for delivery:

"Good morning, all, and welcome to today's legislative hearing. We are here today to consider a dozen bills aimed at strengthening consumer protections and ensuring the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have the tools they need to address challenges in today's economy.

"For decades, the FTC has served as our nation's primary consumer protection agency. Since its creation in 1914, the FTC has worked to combat unfair and deceptive practices and promote competition without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. From the FTC Act itself to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the more recent Take it Down Act, the FTC has been a driving force in consumer protection issues by keeping Americans safe in nearly every corner of our economy.

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the CPSC, plays an equally important role by safeguarding the American public from hazardous consumer products through education, strong safety standards, and enforcement. As online marketplaces continue to grow and imported products enter the U.S. in record numbers, it is critical that the CPSC is fully equipped to fight the wave of unsafe Chinese products flooding the American market.

"Today, we will examine twelve bills that would strengthen these agencies' abilities to protect consumers. Several bills, including the PACK Act and the Recycled Materials Attribution Act will improve transparency by addressing misleading recyclability claims, while allowing for new innovations to improve recycling rates and assist job creators. Others, such as the TERMS Act would impose new transparency obligations on online platforms. We will also consider legislation such as the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act and Stop the Fraud Act, which seek to address unsafe products and strengthen enforcement against foreign companies that violate our consumer protection laws.

"Together, these proposals represent Congress's continued effort to keep the FTC and CPSC equipped to protect American consumers. Thank you and I look forward to listening to our witnesses' testimony."

Jul 22, 2026

Press Release

C&T Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Legislative Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity.

“Today, we considered several bills that address important issues facing our nation’s communications ecosystem. These range from securing our networks from foreign threats and robocalls, to improving how we connect our rural constituents,” said Chairman Hudson. “As we continue to deploy and upgrade communications infrastructure nationwide, we need the most advanced technology to ensure they are efficient, resilient, and secure.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02): “Recent reports of a China-linked plot to cripple New York’s communications networks serve as a stark reminder that these threats are real and ongoing and show the lengths to which our adversaries will go to undermine our interests and threaten our homeland. Given those risks, any legislation effort to amend the covered list administered by the FCC warrants careful consideration by the Committee.”

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “"When we talk about having 130 broadband programs across 15 different departments and agencies, the question always comes up: how many do we really need? We don't need that many. I know we don't.”

Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09): “Does the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act incentivize tracking down bad actors?” Mr. Rupy: I believe it does, Congressman. I think there are a lot of good things in the bill. Among other things, the task force is formed. I'm a big believer that good data informs good policy, and the task force strives to do that. On the traceback front, I think it is a great idea that we are moving that renewal process from one year to three. [Right now] all that is just a paperwork exercise for FCC Enforcement Bureau staff and the traceback consortium. Let's reduce the paperwork so they can focus on enforcement and traceback.”

Jul 21, 2026

Press Release

Ratepayer Protection Act Advances from House Committee on Energy and Commerce

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), applauded the Committee's passage of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, by a vote of 52-0. The legislation would require state public utility commissions to consider a strategy to make data centers pay their own way, instead of passing costs onto American consumers.

"We have met with numerous stakeholders, including the data center industry and big tech, state regulators, utilities, and others," said Chairman Guthrie. "But it has become clear that across the entire industry there is one entity uniquely positioned to stand up for families and communities who are the ones paying electricity bills-and that is this Committee, and our colleagues in Congress. The Ratepayer Protection Act will ensure that data centers pay their own way, instead of passing costs onto hardworking families. Thank you to Congressman Gabe Evans for leading this vital legislation that will protect Americans from rising electricity costs while ensuring the United States is positioned to win the race for AI dominance."

"This legislation protects American ratepayers from being forced to cover the cost of energy infrastructure upgrades needed to support data centers," said Chairman Latta. "I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation as we continue to strengthen America's leadership in the AI race against Communist China while ensuring hardworking families and local communities aren't left footing the bill. Numerous states already have large load tariffs in place for data centers, including Ohio. I urge the House to bring the Ratepayer Protection Act to the floor as soon as possible so we can get this commonsense legislation across the finish line."

"America must build the energy infrastructure necessary to win the global AI race and outcompete adversaries like Communist China-but hardworking families should never be forced to subsidize that growth through higher electric bills," said Rep. Evans.** "This bipartisan commonsense legislation ensures the companies creating new demand for electricity pay for the infrastructure they require-not Colorado families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses. I'm proud to see the swift advancement of the Ratepayer Protection Act through committee, and I look forward to its final passage in the House."

BACKGROUND:

This legislation would amend Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) to require each state regulatory authority to consider establishing a large-load standard to provide that a rate charged, or related agreement entered into, by an electric utility for providing electric service to a large-load customer shall recover the full, incremental cost of any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade necessary to serve the load of such customer and to provide for financial assurances to cover such upgrades.

The legislation would define large-load customers as non-residential electric consumers requesting electric energy for one or more facilities at a site or campus with peak demand of 100 megawatts or more.

Jul 21, 2026

Press Release

RESCHEDULED: Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson Announce Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity

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 Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity.

"Bad actors, whether adversarial nations or agents of chaos, often seek to exploit communications networks to carry out their objectives, so it is imperative that we in Congress do our part to secure our nation's communications networks and ensure that every American has access to the reliable connectivity that underpins the digital economy," said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. "This hearing will give Members the opportunity to examine legislation that aims to protect Americans from foreign threats, such as China, cut down on scammers and bad actors using illegal robocalls to target Americans, and expand access to the reliable broadband needed for the 21 st Century economy. We look forward to discussing and examining these bipartisan proposals as we work to keep families and businesses safe and connected."

Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled Legislative Hearing on Protecting Communications Networks and Improving Connectivity.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing to consider legislation to protect communications networks and improve connectivity.

DATE: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

The hearing will focus on the following bills:

H.R. 9129, GUARD Act (Reps. Moolenaar and McClellan)
H.R. 6152, Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (Reps. McDowell and Morrison)
H.R. 1027, QUIET Act (Reps. Sorensen and Ciscomani)
H.R. 7294, AI for Secure Networks Act (Reps. Menendez and Pfluger)
H.R. 2805, PLAN for Broadband Act (Reps. Walberg and Peters)
H.R. 4950, Data BRIDGE Act (Reps. Houchin and Kelly (IL)

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.

Jul 21, 2026

Press Release

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Advances 17 Bills to the Full House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a markup of 17 bills aiming to lower energy costs, cut red tape, protect communities from illicit drug threats, and empower patients by expanding access to clear pricing data.

"Today's markup made clear that the Committee on Energy and Commerce is standing up for families to keep electricity prices low in our communities. On top of that, our Committee is working to strengthen our grid for the long haul, keep our communities safe from illicit drugs, and support patients across the country," said Chairman Guthrie. "Achieving bipartisan support on critical pieces of legislation, like the Ratepayer Protection Act and the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, helps us achieve those goals, and I look forward to House passage of these bills to positively impact Americans across the country."

Legislative Vote Summary:

H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 52 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 6633, the High-Capacity Grid Act, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 49 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9335, the Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 39 yeas - 10 nays.
H.R. 9338, the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 41 yeas - 8 nays.
H.R. 9332, the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 47 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9339, the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 44 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 6529, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 44 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9617, the Coordinating and Harnessing America's Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 47 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9616, the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full House, by a roll call vote of 48 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 45 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 9390, Prices on the Wall Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 24 yeas - 21 nays.
H.R. 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 48 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 2004, Tyler's Law, was forwarded to the Full House by a roll call vote of 46 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 7970, the STOP Nitazenes Act, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by 28 yeas - 21 nays.
H.R. 1561, the ALERT Communities Act, was forwarded to the Full House by a roll call vote of 48 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 7994, the HERO Act, was forwarded to the Full House by a roll call vote of 48 yeas - 0 nays.
H.R. 8005, the Stop Pills That Kill Act, was forwarded to the Full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 43 yeas - 6 nays.

Watch the full markup here.

Below are key excerpts from today's markup:

Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) on H.R 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act: "The Ratepayer Protection Act does exactly what the title suggests: protects everyday ratepayers from higher electric bills due to unprecedented energy demand from data centers.

"This legislation codifies President Trump's Ratepayer Protection Aledge, which reinforces the public-private commitment that data center developers in the U.S. pay for the generation, transmission, and distribution that they need. It's common sense, it's bipartisan, and it directly responds to constituents' concerns about the cost of living and potential financial burdens tied to rapid data center development across the country.

"Over the next decade, demand for AI infrastructure will continue to grow exponentially across the world. Large amounts of computing power are required for daily operations, such as the everyday AI that you use on your cell phone. Even more is needed for complex operations like research and development for innovative technology and emerging industries in places like aerospace or medicine. These are industries that employ thousands of Coloradans.

"We must ensure we're building AI infrastructure responsibly, and that we have policies in place to reassure hardworking families that this new development delivers benefits, not higher electric bills."

Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) on H.R. 9616, the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Act of 2026: "Critical materials are essential to some of the most important technologies and products in the communications, energy, defense, and transportation sectors. However, their supply chains are vulnerable to disruption, and we rely on other nations, including adversaries such as China for many of these. China is currently responsible for over 70 percent of global rare earth metal production and refines up to 87 percent of the world's supply of critical minerals. Unless we develop more domestic sources for critical materials, we will remain at the mercy of our enemies. Fortunately, cutting edge technologies are emerging to identify and take advantage of unconventional sources of critical minerals, right here at home."

Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) on H.R. 9393 the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026: "H.R. 9393 is accumulation of many months of work by this committee to assess health care affordability challenges and identify opportunities to lower costs for American families. I was proud to introduce this legislation with my good friend, Ranking Member Pallone.

"In just the last seven months, we have held hearings with insurance CEOs, members of the drug supply chain, hospitals, and doctors. We've conducted critical oversight of waste, fraud, and abuse in the health care system, and we've assessed opportunities to enhance transparency for consumers. The AINS, which we are considering today, builds on each of those hearings and creates a comprehensive health care package that will strengthen health care price transparency, hold insurers accountable to their patients, lower drug prices, and expand access to care.

"This bill improves price transparency across the health care system by codifying and building on the Trump Administration's historic price transparency regulation, and extends these requirements to lab tests and imaging services, as well as ambulatory surgical centers. This will give consumers and employers the tools they need to find the highest quality of care at the lowest price.

"This package will also hold insurers accountable by requiring insurers to publish their overhead costs and claims payments, and information about how they employ prior authorization. This information will help consumers better shop for care and find the best plan for their family. This bill will lower drug prices by cutting unnecessary red tape that has slowed consumer access to lower cost alternatives for biosimilars and over-the-counter medications."