Chair Rodgers Applauds House Passage of Nine Health Bills

Sep 23, 2024

Washington, D.C. - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the House passed nine health bills:

"These bipartisan bills will help improve the health and wellbeing of the American people, including individuals battling Alzheimer's and children suffering from rare diseases, as well as those living with a disability. I'm grateful to my Energy and Commerce colleagues for moving the bills through regular order and will work to see them signed into law."

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 8108- To amend title XIX of the SSA to add a Medicaid State plan requirement with respect to determination of residency of certain individuals serving in Armed Forces:

• Led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
• Requires States to continue to provide Medicaid coverage for (or retain waiting list placement for) active-duty military families who are receiving home and community-based services (or are on the waitlist to receive such services) in the event that the family moves out of state for military relocation.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on September 18, 2024.

S. 133- NAPA Reauthorization Act:

• Led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
• Reauthorizes and makes improvements to the National Alzheimer's Project including expanding the membership of the project's advisory council.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• House companion (H.R. 619), led by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), passed out of the House Energy and Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

S. 134 - Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act:

• Led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
• Requires the NIH to continue to submit an annual budget estimate to Congress to achieve the initiatives and goals included in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• House companion (H.R. 620), led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Paul Tonko (R-NY), passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

H.R. 6829- HEARTS Act:

• Led by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
• Promotes student access to AEDs and CPR in schools, including educational materials, training programs, and equipment.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

H.R. 3884- Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act:

• Led by Reps. Michael Burgess, M.D., (R-TX) and Danny Davis (D-IL)
• Reauthorizes programs and activities under the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed to support research, prevention, and treatment for sickle cell disease and other heritable blood disorders through fiscal year 2028.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on July 19, 2023.

H.R. 2706- Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act:

• Led by Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
• Prohibits health care providers and other entities from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely based on an individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

H.R. 5526- Seniors' Access to Critical Medications Act:

• Led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
• Amends the physician self-referral law to permit Medicare patients to receive prescription drugs via caregivers picking up drugs on the patient's behalf or via mail or couriers delivering the drug to the patient in instances when a provider prescribes a drug to be dispensed by a pharmacy that falls under the self-referral law's definition of an in-office ancillary service.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on June 12, 2024.

H.R. 3433- Give Kids a Chance Act:

• Led by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
• Reauthorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) program through fiscal year 2029.
• Requires the FDA to establish an office in an Abraham Accord country.
• Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees and distribute these fees to support the operation of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on September 18, 2024.

H.R. 7189- Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act:

• Led by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Darren Soto (FL)
• Reauthorizes and makes improvements to the national congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program at the CDC through fiscal year 2029.
• Passed the House unanimously.
• Passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on March 20, 2024.

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