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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment sent a letter to David Gadis, the Chief Executive Officer of DC Water requesting information on the failures that led to the spill in the Potomac River and what steps are being taken to ensure it is contained. “The Committee has concerns about how this incident will impact public health, safe drinking water, the environment, interstate commerce, and tourism, all of which fall within the Committee’s jurisdiction,” said Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Palmer. “DC Water is responsible for delivering drinking water and wastewater services to communities in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (DC), as well as the federal government, including operation and maintenance of the 54-mile Potomac Interceptor line. The Committee is requesting documents and information from DC Water about what is already being referred to as ‘one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history.’” Key excerpt from the letter: “Public health warnings have been given for people and pets to avoid contact with water from the Potomac River and to avoid fishing, rowing, and other activities in the area.The warnings to avoid the contaminated water come shortly before the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which is centered around the Tidal Basin along the Potomac River, and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, both of which are expected to attract millions of visitors to the District of Columbia. “An incident of this size and scale presents a significant threat to the public health and welfare of the affected communities, and swift mitigation of these risks is critical. Understanding the nature of how this incident occurred and how future incidents of this scale may be prevented in the future is imperative.” CLICK HERE to read the full letter. BACKGROUND: The letter comes as Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland residents continue to deal with the fallout of the spill that occurred on January 19, 2026, and now has resulted in e. coli levels at the spill site measuring at hundreds of times above EPA safety thresholds. As part of its oversight authority, the Committee is requesting information on what DC Water knew about the risk of a potential spill prior to January, documents discussing why emergency contracting was warranted to repair the pipe, why any approved contracts were not implemented, as well as actions DC Water has taken to address the environmental impacts of the spill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water . “Every American deserves access to safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water. Yet, failing infrastructure creates the potential threat of contamination in the safe drinking water that American families rely on, putting the health and safety of our communities at risk,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer. “This hearing will examine the current state of our nationwide drinking water infrastructure, how the Safe Drinking Water Act is being implemented, and the security of our water systems against cyber threats and other risks to ensure our communities are being served effectively.” Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water . WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment hearing on safe drinking water. DATE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026     TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  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 Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at  Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last December, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report showing that since 2016, OIG has conducted 18 audits, which revealed Medicaid agencies improperly paid states nearly $289 million on behalf of deceased enrollees. The audit outlined in HHS OIG’s report was conducted from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. After reviewing a stratified random sample of 100 capitation payments from the nearly 410,000 capitation payments covered by the audit, HHS OIG found that Medicaid agencies paid for deceased individuals in 99 of the 100 sample capitation payments. During that same one-year period, Medicaid paid over $207 million to insurance companies for people who had already died. This is far from the first accounting of massive fraud found in our federal health programs. In July of 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) announced that they had identified and were removing 2.8 million duplicative enrollees in two or more Medicaid and/or Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange plans after conducting an analysis of 2024 enrollment data. In September of 2025, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that Democrat policies have facilitated a years-long, massive cover-up to defraud American taxpayers in order to subsidize waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health programs, including using loopholes to provide free health care to illegal immigrants. The agency found that Democrat policies have led to at least 2.3 million fraudulent enrollees in Obamacare. And most recently, in December, GAO conducted covert operations by creating fictitious identities with fake or never issued Social Security numbers (SSN) and still received taxpayer-subsidized Obamacare coverage. One hundred percent of fake applicants were approved by the ACA Marketplace in late 2024 and 90 percent of fake applicants received coverage in 2025. Experts estimate the federal government may be spending as much as $27 billion a year in taxpayer dollars on improper Obamacare enrollments. Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts signed into law on Independence Day last year, Republicans implemented commonsense guardrails to protect Americans and crack down on the Democrat-enabled waste, fraud, and abuse pervading our health care system. Our law takes action to remove duplicative and deceased enrollees from the Medicaid rolls and prohibit states from paying multiple managed care organizations for wasteful, duplicative health care coverage. We believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to benefit our most vulnerable Americans. To that end, the Committee has sent letters to state and federal officials requesting additional information on Medicare and Medicaid fraud. For example, the Committee opened an investigation into the massive fraud schemes in Minnesota's Medicaid programs; and just last week, our Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing exploring the egregious Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes that are happening nationwide. Over the past several years, Democrat Administrations have allowed waste, fraud, and abuse across the American health care system to explode, ultimately driving up costs, hurting American families, and draining taxpayer dollars. Republicans are committed to finding solutions that restore affordability, fairness, accountability, and the rule of law across our health care system. Read the full report here .

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John James (MI-10) celebrated House passage of legislation advanced by the Committee on Energy and Commerce to strengthen America’s energy supply chains, reduce reliance on adversarial nations, and safeguard the resources essential to our economy and national security.

H.R. 3617, the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act, requires the Department of Energy to assess critical energy resource supply chains, including critical minerals and rare earth elements, and to strengthen supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption or overreliance on adversarial nations. By taking a holistic view of critical energy resources, the Department of Energy can identify vulnerabilities and address supply chain disruptions to help ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems.

“Keeping our nation strong and secure means having access to reliable and affordable energy. Right now, the technologies that power our grid rely on critical minerals produced and controlled by adversarial nations,” said Chairman Guthrie. “To address this crucial issue, the House passed the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act, which strengthens the Department of Energy’s support for critical energy resource supply chains, which are vital to keeping the lights on for American families and powering U.S. industrial facilities. Thank you to Congressman James for his leadership on this important legislation.”

“This bill is a bold step toward ensuring the United States leads in energy innovation, security, and independence, and I’m thrilled to see it pass the House. We cannot be the ‘land of the free’ if we choose to rely on critical mineral supply chains that are dependent on child and slave labor,” said Rep. James. “This is about unleashing American energy, powering our factories, fueling innovation, and securing our future. It’s a massive step towards building an energy-independent America and putting an end to overreliance on adversaries, dictators, and despots around the world.”

BACKGROUND:

Energy supplies are the linchpin to U.S. global leadership in next generation technologies and industries, job growth in communities across the country, and a robust defense industrial base.

Despite vast domestic natural resources, the United States remains heavily reliant on foreign adversaries for critical energy resources that are essential to our economic and national security:

• The U.S. is 100 percent reliant on imports for 16 critical minerals and 50 percent import reliant on an additional 50 vital mineral commodities;
• China maintains 60 percent of the world’s production of rare earth elements and 90 percent of their global processing capacity.

In recent years, adversarial nations like China have sought to exploit U.S. vulnerabilities, issuing export bans on key minerals, materials, and resources that are essential to both our manufacturing and defense industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain.

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“First, I want to recognize the bipartisan bill that we were able to pass last week that included many important health care provisions and lowered health care costs for all Americans.

“Today, we will discuss health care costs and patient access challenges by examining affordability across the entire pharmaceutical supply chain.

“I’m proud of this subcommittee’s work, but there is still more to be done, which is why I am eager to continue building on our affordability series with today’s hearing that comes after we heard from insurance executives last month.

“We now will hear from stakeholders who are part of the complex pharmaceutical drug supply chain.

“To regular people, this system may seem simple: a disease is researched and a treatment is developed, then that treatment is manufactured and distributed to a hospital, pharmacy, or other health entity before it is dispensed to a patient.

“However, there are many more layers that are involved in this process that affect how a drug gets to a patient and how that drug is priced.

“One of the most frustrating aspects of the supply chain is that it operates in a blackbox.

“Luckily, we have witnesses here to provide their perspectives and shine a light on the process.

“Do each of these entities in front of us today play a role in getting the drug to a patient? Yes.

“Are there too many cooks in the kitchen at times? Probably so.

“Today is a great opportunity for Congress to get a glimpse and see what is happening, and look for ways to help make prescription drugs more affordable.

“In 2017, this same subcommittee held a hearing similar to this one.

“A lot has changed since then.

“I am glad we are reexamining what we learned from that hearing to continue working towards what we all want: lowering costs for patients while ensuring that America remains a leader in pharmaceutical innovation.

“We have PhRMA and BIO in front of us who can speak to the intricacies that go into researching, developing, and pricing a drug on the market.

“We will also get the perspective of generic drugs from the Association for Accessible Medicines who can speak on the issues in that area.

“We also have the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association here who is the trade association that represents pharmaceutical benefit managers, or PBMs.

“In theory, PBMs manage prescription drug benefits for insurance companies, employers, and others.

“What we heard in our hearing last month is that insurance companies own many PBMs.

“The largest three insurance owned PBMs control over 80 percent of the market.

“How they manage these benefits is a mystery and can lead to higher drug prices.

“However, just last week, led by Representative Buddy Carter from Georgia, Congress passed and the President signed into law the biggest PBM reform package in history.

“These bills will bring more transparency into this system, lower costs, and allow for more access to medicines.

“The Healthcare Supply Chain Association is here on behalf of Group Purchasing Organizations, or GPOs, which act as intermediaries between manufacturers and providers.

“In front of us is also the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, who is involved in the distribution of prescription drugs along the supply chain.

“I am looking forward to hearing from the National Community Pharmacists Association who is before us today as well, since they represent community pharmacists.

“These community pharmacies serve a critical role in bringing care to patients, especially in rural areas; yet, many have had to sadly close their doors in recent years due to factors we will discuss today.

“The ERISA Industry Committee is also here to discuss their point of view for employers when it comes to high costs, as well as decisions they make based on those costs.

“Each of these different entities play a unique role in how a drug finally gets to a patient.

“In this meeting, we will hear from these witnesses on how to navigate this complex web on behalf of the American people.

“I look forward to the discussion.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain, featuring witness testimony from representatives across the entire prescription drug supply chain.

“I’m proud of this subcommittee’s work, but there is still more to be done—which is why I was proud to continue building on our affordability series through today’s hearing with representatives across the entire prescription drug supply chain,” said Chairman Griffith. “Hearing from these witnesses on how to best navigate this complex web helps Congress make better-informed policy decisions so that we are able to meaningfully lower the cost of care for all American patients.”

Watch the full hearing here:

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12): “I represent a very rural district, and not only is access to health care a problem, but access to pharmacy services is growing more challenging as well. A 2025 FTC report examined PBM pharmacy contracting practices and found that internal PBM documents suggested rural pharmacies are often forced to accept ‘take it or leave it’ reimbursement rates. Could you elaborate on the specific challenges rural pharmacies face when negotiating contracts with PBMs, and how these practices may affect access to care in rural communities?” Mr. Hoey: “‘Take it or leave it’ contracts are part and parcel of the so-called negotiations between pharmacies and PBMs. PBMs hold all the leverage. They hold the patient lives. So, if a pharmacy does not sign whatever is put in front of them—with very little negotiation—I’m sure our friends at PMA will say there’s robust negotiation, but in reality, it’s a take-it-or-leave-it contract. These pharmacies are often forced to sign contracts that pay them below their cost to acquire the drug. And yes, rural pharmacies, as well as pharmacies in underserved areas, urban areas, and suburban communities, are all taking contracts in which they are paid below cost. As a result, 5,000 pharmacies have gone out of business in the last four years alone. That’s 5,000 fewer pharmacy choices in just four years. It’s a systemic problem. In fact, pharmacy deserts—especially in your district in Ohio and across the country—are growing because of these ‘take it or leave it’ contracts.”

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03): “Three companies control the majority of drug distribution in the United States, and many are vertically integrated to control each phase of the prescription drug supply chain—from manufacturer to pharmacy. Does consolidating the prescription drug industry lower prices for patients? Yes or no?” Mr. Davis: “It has the potential to, yes.” Congresswoman Kat Cammack: “Respectfully, your own industry report projects that the ‘big three’ will generate $871 billion in revenue this year—after four straight years of double-digit growth. So, if this is potentially saving patients money, why are revenues growing so fast, and where are patients seeing the savings?”

Congressman Michael Rulli (OH-06): “President Trump recently launched TrumpRx, a revolutionary platform aimed at bringing price transparency and competition back to the drug market. My constituents tell me every day about how much they dread going to the pharmacy because they never know what price they’re going to pay at the counter; it always changes. Then, you have brand-name versus [generic]... How have your members reacted to the transparent pricing of brand-name [drugs] on TrumpRx?” Mr. Marin: “The PBM industry is all about transparency. We are enhancing it for our customers every day, particularly for employers. The bill Congress passed a couple of weeks ago takes [transparency] to another level—we’re happy with that. We support and applaud the mission of the administration’s goal with TrumpRx.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a markup of twelve bills to strengthen automotive safety, affordability, and leadership.

“The twelve bills we considered address a wide range of priorities from improving vehicle safety technology to modernizing our transportation regulations. Each of these measures reflects a commitment to keeping Americans safe on the road, while supporting the competitiveness and innovation of our domestic automotive industry,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “Ensuring safe, affordable, and reliable transportation is critical for families, businesses, and communities alike, and today’s markup is another step toward saving lives and preparing our automotive industry for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

Legislative Vote Summary:

• H.R. 1566, Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 7390, Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 12 yeas – 11 nays.
• H.R. 7389, Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 5221, PART Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 2110, Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6688, ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 3360, Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 3385, To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to update the definition of motorcycle, and for other purposes, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 7372, Safety Is Not for Sale Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 7377, Know Before You Drive Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 6947, Securing Accessible Functional Emergency (SAFE) Exit Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.
• H.R. 7353, Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act of 2026, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.

Watch the full markup here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s markup:

Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12) on H.R. 7390, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act of 2026: “The SELF DRIVE Act takes a clear approach to regulating autonomous vehicles by pairing innovation with clear, enforceable safety expectations. […] A chaotic web of over 30 state laws breeds confusion, stalls deployment, undermines consistent safety, and erodes consumer confidence. The SELF DRIVE Act cuts through this red tape with a unified national framework, unleashing innovation nationwide.”

Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) on H.R. 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026: “Our primary tasks here today are to strengthen motor vehicle safety, modernize, and unlock innovation in the automotive industry. The Motor Vehicle Modernization Act advances all three of these objectives.”

Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) on H.R. 5221, the PART Act: “Law enforcement groups have gone on the record to state that including tracing in legislation is critical to helping deter the theft and trafficking of stolen catalytic converters, making it easier to prosecute the criminals committing these crimes. […] My constituents deserve real solutions, which the PART Act helps to deliver with a national framework to combat catalytic converter theft.”

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 markup of twelve bills to strengthen automotive safety, affordability, and leadership.

Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today we will be advancing legislation aimed at modernizing and ensuring motor vehicle safety, promoting innovation, and ensuring affordability.

“The Members of this subcommittee understand better than anyone that there is no partisan way to save lives. In 2024, nearly 40,000 people died on our roadways. That number is staggering—but what matters most is what it represents: families forever changed, milestones never reached, and seats left empty around kitchen tables. That reality should drive our work here today.

“Meeting this moment requires practical solutions to strengthen motor vehicle safety and empower NHTSA to succeed in its mission. I would like to highlight three solutions to bolster motor vehicle safety.

“First, we must address the growing risks that electric vehicle battery fires present to vehicle occupants, firefighters, and the public at large. These fires have led to serious fatalities and created dangerous conditions for firefighters, made worse by inconsistent vehicle designs and a lack of standardized response protocols. This is an area where Congress can and must bring together first responders, safety experts, NHTSA, and industry to develop real solutions.

“This issue has had tragic consequences, and I want to again thank Florida State Rep. Meg Weinberger for her leadership in bringing attention to this problem and working with me on potential solutions. I’m grateful to the Chairman for partnering with me to include a new provision in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act that strengthens fire rescue capabilities and improves safety for first responders on the front line.

“Second, we are considering the SELF-DRIVE Act, which establishes a federal framework for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles. I want to commend Mr. Latta for his years of dedication to this issue.

“Autonomous vehicles hold enormous potential, not just as a technological advancement, but as a tool to save lives. By reducing human error, which is responsible for most crashes, AVs can prevent accidents before they happen. They also offer new mobility and independence for seniors and people with disabilities.

“Finally, accessibility must remain central to our approach to mobility. Today, millions of wheelchair users rely on outdated and non-standardized securement systems that are often unreliable. This has led to preventable injuries, restricted travel, and unnecessary dependence on caregivers.

“The Motor Vehicle Modernization Act takes an important step forward by directing NHTSA to prioritize research into automated wheelchair securing systems. I thank the Chairman for recognizing the importance of this issue and including this impactful provision.

“I am confident that, working together, we can advance legislation that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and American automotive leadership. I look forward to our discussion today on how we can achieve these goals by moving these bills to the next stage of the legislative process.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a markup of a bill to reauthorize FirstNet.

“Reliable communications are absolutely essential for our first responders in emergencies. While a lot has been done to stand up this first-of-its-kind public safety communications network, there is more work to do to ensure the promise of FirstNet is fulfilled. In my home state of North Carolina, first responders have shared their frustrations about FirstNet not working during Hurricane Helene,” said Chairman Hudson. “The reforms included in the legislation before us today are intended to ensure that FirstNet delivers a reliable, interoperable communications network to our first responders and the FirstNet Authority acts in the best interests of the public safety community it serves.”

Legislative Vote Summary:

• H.R. 7386, The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.

Watch the full markup here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s markup:

Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02): “We are continuing to hear from public safety groups and other stakeholders about ways to improve certain provisions in this legislation, and we will continue to work with them in good faith to improve the bill. We want to ensure that our first responders have the most reliable communications network when they need it most.”

Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02): “When Congress created the First Responder Network Authority, there was a clear mandate to have a public safety preemptive network that would be used exclusively for first responders on the ground. Our nation's heroes and public servants alike, who are the first to respond, the first people to put their lives on the line, deserve a robust communication system. This is a very clear mandate to give our local communities the resources they need to respond to tragedies.”

Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12): “In my district, FirstNet is not some abstract policy. It's a daily necessity. Local first responders rely on FirstNet every day to maintain secure, reliable communication during emergencies, natural disasters, and major incidents in Tarrant County. FirstNet also plays an important role in supporting the District Attorney's Office by ensuring smooth coordination with law enforcement and public safety partners, particularly during high-risk operations and large-scale investigations.”