Hearings/MarkupsHouse Committee on Energy and Commerce: “A Public Health Emergency: State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis”
Tuesday, January 14, 2020: The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on actions taken by states to address the current opioid crisis.
Why this is important: Common themes
Final Regulations/GuidanceFDA Issues Ban on Flavored Vaping Products
On Jan. 2, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released guidance that bans flavored vaping products containing sweet and fruity flavors, yet allows menthol pods and a range of vape liquids to remain on the market. FDA’s guidance does not permanently ban flavored or cartridge-based e-cigarettes.
HouseHouse Passes USMCA Trade Deal
On Dec. 19, the House passed H.R. 5430, the U.S., Mexico and Canada trade deal. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced a Senate vote on the new North American trade deal would happen in 2020, after the impeachment trial for President Trump in January. The deal removes 10-year patent
Hearings/MarkupsHouse Committee on Energy and Commerce: “Proposals to Achieve Universal Health Care Coverage”
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019: The Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on a variety of plans offered to achieve universal health care.
Why this is important: The committee examined nine legislative proposals that could
House to Vote on Pelosi Drug Pricing Bill This Week
On Dec. 5, it was announced that Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) drug pricing bill, H.R. 3, will be voted on next week in the full House. As of now, there is no complete score of projected savings from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) before
Hearings/MarkupsHouse Committee on the Judiciary: “The Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Appointments Clause: Implications of Recent Court Decisions”
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019: The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on the patent system and implications of recent court decisions on the system.
Why this is important: On Nov. 20, the
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee: “Examining the Response to Lung Illnesses and Rising Youth Electronic Cigarette Use”
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to examine the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) response to
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Special Committee on Aging: “Veteran Scams: Protecting Those Who Protected Us”
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019: The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on protecting veterans from a variety of scams, including fake charities. As a result of the witness testimonies, a letter was sent to Secretary of the Department of Veterans
Hearings/MarkupsSenate Committee on Finance: “Medicaid: Compliance with Eligibility Requirements”
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019: The Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on eligibility requirements under the Medicaid program. This hearing foreshadows action that is expected to be taken by the administration soon related to states’ ensuring Medicaid recipients are eligible for
HearingsHouse Energy and Commerce Committee: “Sabotage: The Trump Administration’s Attack on Health Care”
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019: The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held to seek clarity on the Trump administration’s health care policy choices. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma testified at