Hearings/Markups
Senate Committee on Aging: “Redefining Reality: How the Special Diabetes Program is Changing the Lives of Americans with Type 1 Diabetes”
Wednesday, July 10, 2019: The Senate Committee on Aging held a hearing on the realities of Type 1 diabetes, in light of rising insulin costs and the possible loss of funding for Type 1 diabetes research. Find witness testimonies and hearing updates here.
Why this is important: The panel of witnesses asked the committee to renew the Special Diabetes Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Failure to renew by the end of September would mean $150 million in lost funding for Type 1 diabetes research.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform: “The Trump Administration’s Attack on the ACA: Reversal in Court Case Threatens Health Care for Millions of Americans”
Wednesday, July 10, 2019: The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing on the Texas v. Azar (U.S.) case, which threatens to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if upheld. Find witness testimonies and hearing updates here.
Why this is important: The hearing came a day after a federal appeals court heard oral arguments in Texas v. Azar, during which the two judges expressed skepticism that the ACA’s individual mandate is constitutional without a penalty. Republican members of the committee spent the hearing criticizing the ACA, as well as any plans for Medicare for All.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Markup of Health Care Legislation
Thursday, July 11, 2019: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health held a markup on 10 pieces of health care-related legislation, listed below. All 10 bills were favorably reported to the full committee, with bipartisan support. The subcommittee only had a debate on H.R. 3630, the “No Surprises Act.” While the bill was favorably reported to the full committee without amendment, Republican members raised concerns with the benchmark pricing provision of the bill, urging consideration of arbitration instead. Members anticipate debating amendments on this issue at a full committee markup. The bills that were considered and favorably reported are:
- H.R. 2781, the “Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act of 2019”
- H.R. 728, the “Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019”
- H.R. 1058, the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (Autism CARES) Act of 2019”
- H.R. 2507, the “Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019”
- H.R. 776, the “Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act of 2019”
- H.R. 2035, the “Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019”
- H.R. 2296, the “Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing (FAIR Drug Pricing) Act of 2019”
- H.R. 2328, the “Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act of 2019”
- H.R. 3631, the “Territories Health Care Improvement Act”
- H.R. 3630, the “No Surprises Act”
Find official markup updates here. Find a detailed overview of the markup here.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform: “Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Childhood Trauma: A Pervasive Public Health Issue that Needs Greater Federal Attention”
Thursday, July 11, 2019: The House Committee on Oversight and Reform heard directly from trauma survivors, public health experts and government officials to examine the long-term consequences of childhood trauma and the insufficiency of the federal response to this urgent public health issue. Find witness testimonies and hearing updates here.
Why this is important: First panel witnesses shared their personal stories of trauma, healing and advocacy. Second panel witnesses were experts who discussed the prevalence of childhood trauma and the limited nature of current federal initiatives to prevent childhood trauma and to treat those who have experienced it.
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