Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are leading on solutions to strengthen our nation’s health care, including access to care in rural communities. Today’s Health Subcommittee markup included five bills. 

Legislative Summary: 

• H.R. 3173, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 3655, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2021, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote.  
• H.R. 5141, the Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a vote of 29-0. 
• H.R. 8163, the Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 6737, the Flint Registry Reauthorization Act, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a vote of 16-12. 

Democrats blocked the following Republican-led amendments to H.R. 6737, the Flint Registry Reauthorization Act: 

• Health Ranking Member Brett Guthrie’s (R-KY) amendment to allow for registries to be established in more than one city.  
• Rep. Buddy Carter’s (R-GA) amendment to allow for registries to be established in more than one city, including Jackson, Mississippi, and other affected cities and counties in Washington, Minnesota, and West Virginia.
• Rep. Gus Bilirakis’s (R-FL) amendment to require non-Federal recipients of aid under this section to pay a matching amount as a condition of receiving federal aid.

Highlights and key excerpts from Leader Rodgers during the markup: 

On H.R 5141, the MOBILE Act: “Mr. Hudson and Ms. Herrera Beutler’s H.R 5141, the MOBILE Act will ensure that community health centers could use their grant funding for mobile units. This will help people in rural communities all across this country access care they need.”

On H.R. 3173, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021: “We are also moving H.R. 3173, which is a top priority for Dr. Bucshon, and I’m grateful for his hard work and leadership … My hope is to get this score settled and ultimately offset as we move this important legislation that improves care for seniors while also making sure Medicare is solvent for seniors in the future.” 

On H.R. 6737, the Flint Registry Reauthorization Act: “I hope that we can come together to help other communities in America benefit from a registry — communities like Jackson, Mississippi — that are dealing with its own government failures that have led to unsafe drinking water, as well as other areas of the country where this has been an issue.”

On H.R. 3655, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2021: “Mr. Upton worked tirelessly on H.R. 3655 to reform the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. We are taking a small step to improve the program, and I look forward to working with Chairman Pallone for an offset before this moves to the floor.” 

On H.R. 8163, the Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act: “I still have outstanding concerns about changes to the state matching requirements. I thank Chairman Pallone for continuing to work with me on this before the full committee markup.”

CLICK HERE for Leader Rodgers’ full opening statement.

CLICK HERE for Health Subcommittee Leader Guthrie (R-KY) opening statement.