News Releases
The Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing titled, "'Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2009' Discussion Draft Legislation" on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will examine a discussion draft of legislation to extend the Ryan White Program for three additional years.
The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing titled, "Consumer Product Safety Commission Oversight: Current Issues and a Vision for the Future" on Thursday, September 10, 2009, in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building.
Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak, Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, sent letters to six health insurance companies requesting information about the practice of "purging" small businesses when their employees become ill and their health insurance claims increase. Letters were sent to Aetna, UnitedHealth Group, WellPoint, Humana, Medica, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
A letter today from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) affirms that H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, would significantly reduce prescription drug costs for seniors under the Medicare prescription drug (Part D) program. CBO finds that there will be an overall decrease in out-of-pocket spending due to closing the "donut hole" coverage gap.
Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
As part of the Committee's ongoing investigation of the health insurance industry's business practices, Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak sent letters on Monday to the largest insurance companies requesting information on how the companies use the premiums collected from policyholders, businesses, and the government. A follow up letter was sent to the companies on August 24th clarifying the Committee’s request.
A new report on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) validates previous estimates that the cost of the legislation would be low--less than a quarter a day on average--while growth in America's clean energy sector will be huge.
The Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act," by a vote of 31 to 28. This legislation will build on what works in today's health care system, makes important insurance market reforms to protect consumers, encourages competition among insurance plans to improve choices for patients, and expands access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee released a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled, "U.S.-Russia Nuclear Agreement: Interagency Process Used to Develop the Classified Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Needs to Be Strengthened." The report outlines significant problems within the executive-branch process for evaluating Russia's nuclear proliferation activities as part of the U.S.-Russia negotiation of a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.
The Committee on Energy and Commerce will meet on Thursday, July 30, 2009, to continue consideration of "H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009."