On April 10, President Biden signed into law H.J. Res. 7, the Pandemic is Over Act, a joint resolution terminating the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration previously announced its intention to end both the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) declarations on May 11, 2023. Congress acted to end the national emergency ahead of this timeline. The House of Representatives adopted H.J.Res.7 at the end of January with 11 Democrats joining House Republicans supporting the measure. The Senate adopted the joint resolution on March 29 by a vote of 68 to 23. President Biden’s signature on H.J. Res. 7 puts an end to the COVID-19 national emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020-which provided a framework for the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to exercise certain emergency authorities with appropriate congressional oversight. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the end of the national emergency, “does not impact current operations at HHS, and does not impact the planned May 11 expiration of the federal PHE for COVID-19 or any associated unwinding plans…any existing waivers currently in effect and authorized under the 1135 waiver authorization for the pandemic, would remain in place until the end of the federal PHE for COVID-19.”
Democratic Senators Request Continued Coverage of Free At- Home Covid Tests
On April 4, Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, led a group of nearly 20 Senators in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the agency to continue providing Medicare coverage of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests beyond the termination of the PHE. In the letter, the senators argue for continued Medicare coverage for the tests, stating, “Easy access to testing with quick results has prevented the spread of COVID-19, reduced severe infection, and enabled many Americans to resume normal life… Ending Medicare coverage for at-home COVID-19 tests could undo much of this progress and make it harder for Medicare beneficiaries to obtain accurate and timely information about their health. For example, without coverage under Medicare, many older Americans will not be able to afford to pay out-of-pocket for these critical tests and simply won’t test.” House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Ca.) sent a similar letter to the agency in September. The PHE is set to terminate on May 11, at which point access to free COVID-19 tests will end and coverage will vary by health plan.
Continuous Enrollment in Medicaid Begins Unwinding
Astatutory provision included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) required states to allow continuous enrollment in Medicaid, regardless of eligibility, through the end of the COVID-19 PHE in exchange for increased federal funding. Congress separated the provision from the PHE in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 and established a clear end date of April 1 for the provision. In January, CMS published an Informational Bulletin outlining timelines for states to unwind the requirement and submit a renewal redistribution plan. The Biden Administration estimates that upwards of 15 million individuals may lose Medicaid coverage as a result. Several states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and South Dakota have already started the disenrollment process.
HHS Announces National Cancer Plan to Advance Cancer Moonshot
On April 3, HHS announced the creation of a National Cancer Plan to advance the President and First Lady’s Cancer Moonshot vision of cutting cancer mortality by at least half within 25 years and improving quality of life for those impacted by cancer. Developed by the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) in collaboration with the cancer community, the plan provides a framework for the federal government and all of society to collaborate to end cancer. The plan establishes eight goals and corresponding strategies, to: prevent cancer; detect cancers early; develop effective treatments; eliminate inequities; deliver optimal care; engage every person; maximize data utility; and optimize the workforce. The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 proposed budget requests Congress provide a $503 million increase from FY2023 levels for NCI and additional funding for the Cancer Moonshot initiative.
Nursing Workforce Survey Released
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing released a new survey titled “Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout & Stress Among U.S. Nurses.” The survey reveals that during the COVID-19 pandemic approximately 100,000 registered nurses retired or resigned due to stress and burnout. One-fifth of registered nurses are estimated to leave the nursing workforce by 2027. Reasons cited include increased workload, feeling emotionally drained and fatigued, among others. The survey also looked at the continued downward trend of the number of licensed practical/ vocational nurses.
Republican Health Committee Leaders Raise Concerns with Biden Administration Drug Price Setting Guidance
On April 12, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) wrote to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure voicing concerns with Inflation Reduction Act implementation guidance related to the drug price-setting provisions in the law. The letter emphasizes concerns, stating “This guidance exacerbates the law’s statutory flaws and compounds the profound uncertainty and risk posed by the legislation’s sweeping drug price controls. We encourage you to reconsider the many components of the initial guidance that will otherwise stifle medical innovation and quality improvement, discourage proven public- private partnerships, undermine American intellectual property (IP) protections, and provide unacceptable conditions for public feedback. If finalized as proposed, these provisions will serve to make bad policy worse, harming patients, caregivers, and health care providers across the United States for generations to come.” HHS published the initial program guidance on March 15 and provided a limited commenting opportunity that closed on April 14. By September 1, the agency will announce the first set of Medicare Part D drugs subject to price negotiation under the program. In 2026, a maximum of ten high-expenditure Part D drugs will have maximum fair prices set under the program.
Senate HELP Committee Drug Pricing Markup Postponed
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has postponed an anticipated markup of bipartisan drug pricing legislation. The new legislation has yet to be made public but is expected to focus on policies related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and generics, potentially drawing from previous proposals on these topics. Staff indicated that the committee is waiting for a significant amount of technical assistance before proceeding. Earlier this year, the committee announced a series of planned, closed-door roundtables to hear from experts on several topics. The committee has heard and will continue to hear from a range of industry experts, including innovative drug makers, the generics and biosimilars industries, and PBMs.
Democratic Health Committee Leaders Seek Information from Health Plans on Preventive Care Coverage After Court Ruling
On March 30, a federal judge’s ruling in Texas struck down an Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement for health plans to fully cover certain preventative healthcare services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force without cost-sharing. In response, five Democratic health committee leaders sent letters to 12 health plans seeking information on future coverage plans for preventive services, such as mammograms and screenings for cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, hepatitis B virus, HIV, and lung cancer. In the letter, the committee leaders state, “We are very concerned that the decision will unnecessarily cause confusion, force consumers to pay out-of-pocket, and result in patients foregoing preventive services screenings and treatment altogether. There is evidence that even modest cost-sharing deters patients from accessing care and exposure to cost-sharing reduces the use of preventive care. We are very concerned that the decision will roll back the significant health care gains that have been made under the ACA and will worsen racial and ethnic inequities.” The letter was signed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). On April 13, U.S. Department of Justice announced it was seeking a stay in Braidwood v. Becerra. HHS Secretary stated that “President Biden, and this entire Administration, will do everything possible to protect and defend Americans’ right to the health care they need and deserve.”
HHS Proposes New Rule on Transparency for Artificial Intelligence
On April 11, the HHS Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (HT1-1 proposed rule) to alter the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The HTI-1 proposed rule would implement provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and according to the agency, seeks to “advance interoperability, improve transparency, and support the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information.” As part of the rulemaking, those creating Artificial Intelligence (AI) used in health care will be required to publicly disclose information on data used to inform algorithms to receive HHS’ certification. Currently, certification is voluntary except for certain technologies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also taken steps to regulate AI. Earlier in April, FDA issued draft guidance related to increasing patient access to AI/machine learning-enabled devises to advance public health. The HTI-1 proposed rule will be formally published on April 18 and public comments will be accepted through June 20, 2023.
POLICY BRIEFINGS
States, Federal Government Consider Scope of Practice Legislation
Some states and the federal government are considering legislation to expand scope of practice to meet demand for future healthcare needs amid a growing workforce shortage in the industry. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the United States could face a shortage of up to nearly 140,000 physicians by 2033. To increase patient access to care and address this shortage, a record number of bills, almost 200, have been filed in states to allow non- physician practitioners to prescribe and administer certain medications and vaccines. Some states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, and Montana, are considering legislation that would change the supervision relationship between physician assistants and physicians. Temporary flexibilities offered during the COVID-19 public health emergency opened the door to allowing certain clinicians to practice medicine beyond their scope, e.g., pharmacists were given the authority to administer the COVID-19 vaccines. While many physician groups recognize policies are needed to increase patient access to care, concerns have been voiced with potential changes to scope of practice laws due to the impact on patient safety, as non-physician providers lack commensurate training and experience.
The administration and Congress are also beginning to consider policies to address healthcare workforce shortages. During a hearing last month, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) raised the issue by stating, “Scope of practice has traditionally been state-based, and I personally think it should continue to be state-based… But as a rule, I am very much for everybody practicing to the upper limit of their license.” Members of the Senate HELP Committee are expected to introduce legislation to address healthcare workforce shortages later this year. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is also in the process of issuing and formalizing scope of practice standards across VA clinics, expected through the beginning of 2024.
Senators Return to Capitol Hill, but Senate Majority Continues to Lack Full Operating Capacity
Members of Congress are returning to Capitol Hill after a two-week recess. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plans to return on Monday, after suffering a concussion and hospitalization from a fall last month. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also indicated he would be back after a six-week hospitalization for depression. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced her return to Washington would be delayed due to ongoing health complications. She has been out for nearly two months, complicating the ability of the Senate Democratic Majority to advance President Biden’s judicial nominees. On April 12, Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called for the Senator’s resignation, stating “We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.” Representative Dean Philips (D-Minn.) agreed, stating “it’s now a dereliction of duty [for her] to remain in the Senate.” In response and citing that her “absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee,” Senator Feinstein called on the chamber to appoint a temporary replacement on the Judiciary Committee until she’s able to resume her committee work. Senator Feinstein previously announced that she will not run for reelection in 2024.
EPA Proposes to Reduce Exposure to Gas Used to Sterilize Medical Devices
On April 11, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new proposals to reduce exposure to Ethylene Oxide (EtO) used to sterilize medical devices. According to the agency, long-term exposure to EtO pollution, for those working in facilities and for those in nearby communities, increases the risk of certain cancers. In the first proposal, EPA is seeking to cut EtO emissions by 80 percent per year across 86 commercial sterilizers nationwide-harmonizing emissions levels in line with EPA’s Clean Air Act benchmark for elevated cancer risk. The second proposal, with authority under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), seeks to protect facility workers by limiting the amount of EtO that can be applied to sterilize medical devices. According to the FDA, about 50 percent of medical devices are sterilized with EtO. In 2019, an FDA Advisory Committee met to discuss EtO use-experts agreed that no other medical device sterilant alternatives exist. In conjunction with the EPA proposals, the FDA announced the voluntary Radiation Sterilization Master File Pilot Program-open to nine eligible participants to help the industry advance alternatives for EtO sterilization of medical devices. The medtech and medical device industry voiced concerns with the announcement. Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) CEO Mark Leahey stated, “Reducing an already stretched supply chain would be catastrophic for patient care, and our sincere hope is that the EPA and the Administration will listen to hospitals, FDA and others to ensure that nothing is done that would compromise patient access to safe and effective medical technologies.” The public comment period is open for sixty days, with a final rule expected in 2024.
Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups
House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing “Investigating the Origins of COVID-19, Part 2: China and the Available Intelligence;” 9:30 a.m.; April 18
House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing “Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID);” 10:00 a.m.; April 18
House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health markup, “Pending Legislation”; 10:00 a.m.; April 18
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing “Insights from the HHS Inspector General on Oversight of Unaccompanied Minors, Grant Management, and CMS;” 10:30 a.m.; April 18
House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, “Combatting a Crisis: Providing Veterans Access to Life-saving Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment;” 12:00 p.m.; April 18
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing, “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and for the National Science Foundation;” 2:30 p.m.; April 18
Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety hearing “Cleaner Vehicles: Good for Consumers and Public Health”; 2:30 p.m.; April 18
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity hearing to receive testimony on artificial intelligence and machine learning applications to enable cybersecurity; 9:30 a.m.; April 19
House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on H.R. 592, Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization Improvement Act; H.R. 608, To terminate the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 1658, Manage VA Act; H.R. 1659, Department of Veterans Affairs IT Modernization Improvement Act; and H.R. 2499, VA Supply Chain Management System Authorization Act; 9:30 a.m.; April 19
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing “Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the National Science Foundation;” 9:30 a.m.; April 19
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing “Examining Existing Federal Programs to Build a Stronger Health Workforce and Improve Primary Care;” including H.R. 2544, the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act and H.R. 2411, the National Nursing Workforce Center Act; 10:00 a.m.; April 19
Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing “PEPFAR at 20: Achieving and Sustaining Epidemic Control;” 10:00 a.m.; April 19
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing “Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and National Institute of Health;” 10:00 a.m.; April 19
House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations hearing “Office of Inspector General Reports to Congress on Investigations of SBA Programs;” 10:00 a.m.; April 19
Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research hearing “SNAP and Other Nutrition Assistance in the Farm Bill;” 12 p.m.; April 19
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Food and Drug Administration;” 2:30 p.m.; April 19
Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight hearing to examine impacts of plastic production and disposal on environmental justice communities; 9:30 a.m.; April 27
Recently Introduced Health Legislation
H.R.2630 – To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Wenstrup, Brad R. [Rep.-R-OH-2]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.2615 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude PFAS remediation reimbursements from gross income; Sponsor: Pappas, Chris [Rep.-D-NH-1]; Committees: House – Ways and Means
H.R.2600 -To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure the equitable treatment of political subdivisions contributing to State expenditures under the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Langworthy, Nicholas A. [Rep.-R-NY-23]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2592 – To allow States and local educational agencies to use any remaining COVID-19 elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds for school security measures; Sponsor: Garcia, Mike [Rep.-R-CA-27]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.2584 – To protect hospital personnel from violence, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bucshon, Larry [Rep.-R-IN-8]; Committees: House – Judiciary
H.R.2583 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand and expedite access to cardiac rehabilitation programs and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blunt Rochester, Lisa [Rep.-D-DE-At Large]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.2577 – To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Thompson, Bennie G. [Rep.-D-MS-2]; Committees: House – Homeland Security
H.R.2574 – To require the Secretary of Labor to revise the Standard Occupational Classification System to accurately count the number of emergency medical services practitioners in the United States; Sponsor: Wild, Susan [Rep.-D-PA-7]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.2573 – To express the Sense of Congress with respect to Federal preemption of State restrictions on dispensing medication abortion, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ryan, Patrick [Rep.-D-NY-18]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2570 – To require more accurate reporting of abortion drug prescribing and related adverse events, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Pfluger, August [Rep.-R-TX-11]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2569 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program of payments to teaching health centers that operate graduate medical education programs; Sponsor: Pallone, Frank, Jr. [Rep.-D-NJ-6]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2562 – To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide for a report on the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Lynch, Stephen F. [Rep.-D-MA-8]; Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.2559 – To extend funding for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Joyce, John [Rep.-R-PA-13]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2550 – To extend funding for Special Diabetes Programs for Type I diabetes. Sponsor: DeGette, Diana [Rep.-D- CO-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce.
H.R.2548 -To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect and disseminate information on concussion and traumatic brain injury among public safety officers; Sponsor: Crenshaw, Dan [Rep.-R-TX-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2547 – To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to extend funding for special diabetes programs for Indians; Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2544 – To improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bucshon, Larry [Rep.-R-IN-8]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2543 -To improve the provision of health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Wittman, Robert J. [Rep.-R-VA-1]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.2541 -To prioritize the hiring and training of veterans and retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Van Drew, Jefferson [Rep.-R-NJ-2]; Committees: House – Judiciary; Veterans’ Affairs; Education and the Workforce
H.R.2535 -To elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Stanton, Greg [Rep.-D-AZ-4]; Committees: House – Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce
H.R.2534- To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to ensure the equitable treatment of covered entities and pharmacies participating in the 340B drug discount program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Spanberger, Abigail Davis [Rep.-D-VA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.2530 -To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Schakowsky, Janice D. [Rep.-D-IL-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.2528-To amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to permit leave to care for an adult child, grandchild, or grandparent who has a serious health condition, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; House – Education and the Workforce; Oversight and Accountability; House Administration
H.R.2526 -To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that caregivers for veterans with serious illnesses are eligible for assistance and support services provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.2503-To modify the project for Central and Southern Florida to include public health considerations, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Mast, Brian J. [Rep.-R-FL-21]; Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.2502 – To repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and amendments to that Act. Sponsor: Massie, Thomas [Rep.-R-KY-4]; Committees: House – Judiciary
H.R.2500 – To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand certain authorities with respect to the recall of controlled substances to apply with respect to all drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Rep.-D-NJ-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R. 2499-To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out an information technology system and prioritize certain requirements to manage supply chains for medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Kiggans, Jennifer A [Rep.-R-VA-2]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R. 2492-To restrict the availability of Federal funds to organizations associated with the abortion industry; Sponsor: Foxx, Virginia [Rep.-R-NC-5]; House – Foreign Affairs
H.R. 2491-To establish a grant program to improve school security, including by training and hiring veterans and former law enforcement officers as school safety officers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Fleischmann, Charles J. “Chuck” [Rep.- R-TN-3]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce; Judiciary
H.R. 2483-To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen school security; Sponsor: Carter, John R. [Rep.-R-TX-31]; House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.2482-To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the accessibility of mental health care providers and services for members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Buchanan, Vern [Rep.- R-FL-16]; House – Armed Services
H.R.2480 -To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on coverage under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act of certain pelvic health services furnished during the postpartum period, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bacon, Don [Rep.-R-NE-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.R.2479 – To provide for safe schools and safe communities; Sponsor: Weber, Randy K., Sr. [Rep.-R-TX-14]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce; Homeland Security; Judiciary; Energy and Commerce; Appropriations
H.R.2478 -To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion from gross income for compensation of certain school resource officers, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Weber, Randy K., Sr. [Rep.-R-TX-14]; Committees: House – Ways and Means
H.R.2477 – To amend the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 to permit qualified law enforcement officers, qualified retired law enforcement officers, and persons not prohibited by State law from carrying a concealed firearm to carry a firearm, and to discharge a firearm in defense of self or others, in a school zone; Sponsor: Weber, Randy K., Sr. [Rep.-R- TX-14]; Committees: House – Judiciary
H.R.2476 -To keep schools safe using unobligated Federal funds available to the Secretary of Education to respond to the coronavirus; Sponsor: Weber, Randy K., Sr. [Rep.-R-TX-14]; Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
H.R.2475-To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to award grants for, and support research on, the development of makerspaces, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Scott, David [Rep.-D-GA-13]; Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.2474 -To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an update to a single conversion factor under the Medicare physician fee schedule that is based on the Medicare economic index; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.2473 -To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to distribute additional information to Medicare beneficiaries to prevent health care fraud, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
H.R.2472 -To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take actions necessary to ensure that certain individuals may update the burn pit registry with a registered individual’s cause of death, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.- D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
H.R.2471 -To prohibit the unauthorized possession of a firearm at a Federal election site; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D- CA-25]; Committees: House – Judiciary
H.R.2469 -To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish an outreach program to inform members of the Armed Forces, assigned to work near burn pits, of the risks of toxic exposure, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D- CA-25]; Committees: House – Armed Services
H.R. 2457- To establish a National Science Foundation grant program to provide opportunities for and strengthen research capacity at institutions of higher education to stimulate sustainable improvement in existing research and development at such institutions, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Troy [Rep.-D-LA-2]; Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
H.Res.281 – Supporting the goals and ideals of “National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”; Sponsor: Lee, Barbara [Rep.- D-CA-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
H.Res.276 -Expressing support for the designation of April 5, 2023, as “Barth Syndrome Awareness Day”; Sponsor: Tonko, Paul [Rep.-D-NY-20]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce