Month: March 2026

Senate Democrats Announce Effort to Lower Costs, Improve Health Coverage – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) unveiled plans last week to tackle rising health care costs. Sen. Wyden and 11 other Senate Democrats – Mark Warner (Va.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Tina Smith (Minn.), and Peter Welch (Vt.) – sent a Dear Colleague letter stating their intention to develop policies “that lower costs, make it simpler to get and use insurance, and rein in shameless profiteering by corporate insurance companies.” Their efforts will be centered on the goals of (1) reversing Republican cost increases and reimagining a better path; (2) making health care simpler for families; and (3) taking on corporate greed. While specific legislative proposals are not detailed in the letter, the lawmakers plan to release more information in the coming weeks and months. Democrats also published a flash report in conjunction with their Dear Colleague that outlines the impact of the Trump administration’s health care agenda on costs and coverage.

 

Senate Appropriations Leadership Release FY 2027 Guidance – The Senate Appropriations Committee has released guidance for fiscal year (FY) 2027 programmatic, language, and congressionally directed spending (CDS) requests. Members of Congress have until April 7 to submit CDS requests and until April 14 to submit programmatic requests to the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee. Members have until April 21 to submit CDS and programmatic requests to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee.

 

Comer, Aderholt Pen Letter on PBM Use of Utilization Management – Two House Republicans have written a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking the agency to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are not using prior authorization or step therapy to block access to physician-prescribed therapies. The letter, sent by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human Services Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), urges CMS to use its oversight authority to prevent benefit designs that create barriers to appropriate care. “Drug selection must be individualized,” the letter argues. “Blanket step therapy requirements that force patients to try and fail on a PBM-preferred agent before accessing the prescribed one substitute cost and contracting preferences for clinical judgment.”

 

Federal Court Blocks ACIP Changes – A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from changing some childhood vaccinations from “routine” recommendations to “shared clinical decision making,” granting a motion for a preliminary injunction brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The decision from Judge Brian Murphy also temporarily blocks Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) while the case moves forward. The decision freezes the appointments of 13 ACIP members made between June and January, as well as all the ACIP votes taken during that time. The Committee postponed its scheduled March 18-19 meeting as a result of the decision. The panel had planned to discuss Covid vaccine injuries, long Covid, and ACIP’s recommendation methodology. It’s unclear whether HHS will appeal the preliminary injunction while the litigation proceeds in the district court.

 

White House Releases AI Framework – On Friday, the White House released a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence which addresses seven key objectives. The White House noted that “this framework can succeed only if it is applied uniformly across the United States” while allowing for states to keep stricter laws that protect children. The framework also called on Congress to “turn this framework into a legislation that the President can sign.” In response, Republican congressional leadership stressed that Congress must take action and expressed their intent to work to “enact a national framework that unleashes the full potential of AI, cements the U.S. as the global leader, and provides important protections for American families.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who serves on the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence, stated that “While this framework takes steps in the right direction, including child safety and lower energy costs, it is still a half-measure that falls short of what’s necessary for ‘Smart AI’ regulation. AI is too important, — and too vital to our global competitiveness, economy, jobs, and families — to do anything short of a full-measure.”

 

CMS Convenes First Rural Health Transformation Summit – CMS convened a rural health transformation summit last week. The event featured leaders from state Rural Health Transformation Programs and the Office of Rural Health Transformation to discuss implementation priorities and progress nationwide. Last year’s Republican reconciliation bill established and provided $50 billion to the Rural Health Transformation Program, with the aim of helping states strengthen and modernize their rural health systems. During the summit, state leaders highlighted efforts to strengthen local care delivery, shared best practices, and underscored the importance of integrating this work into health care financing and workforce structures.

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations legislative hearing; 2:15 p.m.; March 25

 

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Member Day; 2:30 p.m.; March 25

 

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Member Day; 10:00 a.m.; March 26

 

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health legislative hearing “Policies to Protect Our Communities From Illicit Drug Threats;” 2:00 p.m.; March 26

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

H.Res.1117 — Expressing support for the designation of March as “Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month” to strengthen public awareness of this neurodegenerative disorder; Sponsor: Mullin, Kevin [Rep.-D-CA-15]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7952 — To amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit a reduction in the number of personnel assigned to duty with a service review agency, to direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report regarding consideration of reviews and appeals of discharges or dismissals, based on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to post a summary of such report online, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Walkinshaw, James R. [Rep.-D-VA-11]; Committees: House – Armed Services

 

S.Res.646 — A resolution recognizing March 14, 2026, as “Black Midwives Day” and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States; Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4106 — A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve access to certain medications under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

 

S.4109 — A bill to reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Reed, Jack [Sen.-D-RI]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4110 — A bill to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act; Sponsor: Reed, Jack [Sen.-D-RI]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4118 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the integrity of hospice care furnished under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

H.Res.1120 — Supporting the recognition of March 14, 2026, as “Black Midwives Day” and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States; Sponsor: Moore, Gwen [Rep.-D-WI-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Armed Services

 

H.R.7953 — To accelerate patient access to innovative medicines and clinical trials for life-threatening diseases by establishing a reciprocal approval mechanism with trusted international regulatory authorities; Sponsor: Sessions, Pete [Rep.-R-TX-17]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7956 — State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2026; Sponsor: Fedorchak, Julie [Rep.-R-ND-At Large]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7961 — To exempt H-1B health care workers from the restriction under the Presidential Proclamation entitled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17]; Committees: House – Judiciary

 

H.R.7966 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the integrity of hospice care furnished under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sánchez, Linda T. [Rep.-D-CA-38]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

 

S.4131 — A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide market-based rate adjustments to certain providers for furnishing qualifying specialized surgical services to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.4132 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase vaccination rates of pregnant and postpartum individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4137 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide grants to outpatient mental health facilities for the provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care for veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blackburn, Marsha [Sen.-R-TN]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7970 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act to permanently schedule 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids (commonly referred to as nitazenes) as Schedule 1 controlled substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Latta, Robert E. [Rep.-R-OH-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.7973 — To end preventable maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Underwood, Lauren [Rep.-D-IL-14]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce; Veterans’ Affairs; Natural Resources; Judiciary

 

H.R.7976 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the retroactive payment of benefits for veterans with covered mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carbajal, Salud O. [Rep.-D-CA-24]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7980 — 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: Dexter, Maxine [Rep.-D-OR-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7983 — To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a chemical abortion without the physical presence of a healthcare provider; Sponsor: Miller, Mary E. [Rep.-R-IL-15]; Committees: House – Judiciary

 

H.R.7985 — To prohibit the marketing, advertising, or provision of professional services without the appropriate licenses, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Mullin, Kevin [Rep.-D-CA-15]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

S.J.Res.141 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to “Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt”; Sponsor: Warnock, Raphael G. [Sen.-D-GA]; Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

 

S.4141 — A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make temporary zero-percent interest loans under the community facilities direct loan program to construct or renovate certain rural hospitals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bennet, Michael F. [Sen.-D-CO]; Committees: Senate – Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

 

S.4149 — A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a task force to develop strategies and coordinate efforts to eliminate preventable maternal mortality, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4153 — A bill to phase out production of nonessential uses of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, to prohibit releases of all perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate – Environment and Public Works

 

H.R.7994 — To establish a grant program to provide schools with opioid overdose reversal drugs, to direct schools receiving Federal funds to report to certain Federal information systems any distribution of an opioid overdose reversal drug, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce

 

H.R.8000 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act to schedule synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I controlled substance; Sponsor: Bilirakis, Gus M. [Rep.-R-FL-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.8005 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit certain acts related to fentanyl, analogues of fentanyl, and counterfeit substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Evans, Gabe [Rep.-R-CO-8]; Committees: House – Judiciary; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8008 — To address social determinants of maternal health to eliminate maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8011 — To increase global health security, create more stable societies, and save lives, especially children’s lives, by clarifying and focusing United States support for frontline health workers across global health and humanitarian investments, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kiggans, Jennifer A. [Rep.-R-VA-2]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs; Armed Services; Intelligence (Permanent Select)

 

H.R.8016 — To phase out production of nonessential uses of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, to prohibit releases of all perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes; Sponsor: McCollum, Betty [Rep.-D-MN-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Government Reform; Science, Space, and Technology; Transportation and Infrastructure; Armed Services

 

H.R.8018 — To regulate human cadaveric islets for transplantation as organs; Sponsor: Norman, Ralph [Rep.-R-SC-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8022 — To require the Science and Technology Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Drug Enforcement Agency to develop greater capacity to detect, identify, and disrupt illicit substances, such as nitazenes, in very low concentrations; Sponsor: Pfluger, August [Rep.-R-TX-11]; Committees: House – Homeland Security

 

H.R.8024 —  To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to maternal vaccination awareness and equity, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Sewell, Terri A. [Rep.-D-AL-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

House GOP Holds Annual Policy Retreat – The House of Representatives was not in session last week, with Republican members attending their annual policy retreat at President Donald Trump’s resort in Doral, Florida. During the retreat lawmakers discussed their legislative priorities for the year ahead of the November midterm elections.  House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) proposed revisiting Medicaid spending cuts previously considered during the last budget reconciliation process as a part of Republicans’ broader focus on fraud prevention. While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has indicated some support for pursuing a second reconciliation bill, the idea has not been endorsed by the President and was not mentioned in his address to lawmakers during last week’s retreat.

 

Sen. Johnson to Probe FDA Denial of Rare Disease Treatments – Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) plans to launch an investigation into the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent denial of several treatments for rare diseases. The announcement was made during a news conference last week attended by patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Sen. Johnson is seeking to review the FDA’s complete response letters – the written denials to drug manufacturers to reject their applications as submitted. The lawmaker specifically characterized the FDA’s request for a new trial of an experimental gene therapy for Huntington’s disease as “bureaucratic idiocy.” Johnson is also considering calling FDA officials to testify before the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which he chairs.

 

Comer Asks GAO to Investigate Medicaid, CHIP Fraud – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review allegations of fraud in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and other federally funded state-administered benefits programs. Chairman Comer’s letter to GAO Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown calls on the agency to conduct a comprehensive investigation of federally funded, state-administered programs to identify indicators of fraud, assess fraud prevention efforts, and determine whether existing oversight mechanisms are sufficient to safeguard taxpayer dollars nationwide. “It is critical that federal programs identify issues before they arise, therefore a close review of programs across states would benefit the Committee’s further nation-wide oversight and legislative reform work,” Comer wrote. “The intent of this work is for GAO and the Committee to gain a thorough understanding of how such federally funded, state-administered programs can be reformed by addressing program specific federal authorizing statutes, federal or State level policies, or specific executive branch agency management and administrative practices and controls.”

 

Lawmakers Request Details on Study of Reusable PPE – A bipartisan group of lawmakers are urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to release a study on the benefits and feasibility of expanding the use of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) and other health care textiles. A related study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was expected to be completed in 2024 but has not yet been published. The lawmakers cite evidence that reusable equipment reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and solid waste, improves supply-chain resilience, and provides equal or better liquid barrier performance compared with disposable products. The letter was signed by Reps. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), and Troy Carter (D-La.).

 

JEC Releases Brief on Impact of MA on Part B Premiums – The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) released an issue brief last week titled The Part B Premium Pass-Through: Medicare Advantage Overpayments Inflate Premiums for All. According to the brief, Medicare Advantage (MA) overpayments increased Part B premiums by $212 per enrollee in 2025, totaling $13.4 billion in higher premiums. Since 2016, MA overpayments have added an estimated $82 billion to Part B premiums, with the Committee estimating that traditional Medicare beneficiaries bore roughly $6 billion of that cost. The brief suggests that aligning MA payments with traditional Medicare would prevent unnecessary premium growth, increase the affordability of Medicare, and protect net Social Security benefits, given that Part B premiums are withheld from Social Security checks for most seniors.

 

Rep. Kevin Kiley Leaves GOP in Switch to Independent – Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.) announced last week that he will leave the Republican Party and become an independent. Rep. Kiley had previously announced his plans to run for reelection as an independent in November. His decision involves filing a letter with the House Clerk to drop his GOP identification for the remainder of the current Congress. He cited the redistricting battles occurring across the country, including a recent redrawing of the House map in California, as the reason for his decision. He will continue to caucus with Republicans, allowing him to keep his committee positions. Kiley currently serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies oversight hearing on the National Institutes of Health; 10:30 a.m.; March 17

 

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing “Protecting Patients and Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars: The Role of CMS in Combatting Medicare and Medicaid Fraud;” 2:00 p.m.; March 17

 

House Select Committee on China hearing “From the Science Lab to the Medicine Cabinet: How China is Cornering the Market on Our Medicines;” 10:00 a.m.; March 18

 

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing “Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape;” 10:15 a.m.; March 18

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee legislative hearing; 10:15 a.m.; March 18

 

House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing “Improving Kidney Health Through Better Prevention and Innovative Treatment;” 2:00 p.m.; March 18

 

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Member Day hearing; 10:00 a.m.; March 19

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

S.4027 — A bill to ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care; Sponsor: Husted, Jon [Sen.-R-OH]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4031 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as innovative therapies centers of excellence, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gallego, Ruben [Sen.-D-AZ]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7860 — To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to address fraudulent enrollments in the Exchanges; Sponsor: Barrett, Tom [Rep.-R-MI-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7861 — To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide for certain reforms with respect to medical loss ratios and reducing fraudulent enrollment in qualified health plans; Sponsor: Barrett, Tom [Rep.-R-MI-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7863 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to align payment under Medicare for specified surgical procedures with high-cost supplies furnished in office-based facilities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bilirakis, Gus M. [Rep.-R-FL-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7868 — To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program; Sponsor: DelBene, Suzan K. [Rep.-D-WA-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7871 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to codify value-based purchasing arrangements under the Medicaid program and reforms related to price reporting under such arrangements, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Guthrie, Brett [Rep.-R-KY-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7877 — To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program to test mandatory coverage of treatment for wound care for epidermolysis bullosa under the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Landsman, Greg [Rep.-D-OH-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7879 —To require the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other relevant departments and agencies, as appropriate, to formulate a strategy for the Federal Government to secure support from foreign countries, multilateral organizations, and other appropriate entities to facilitate the development and commercialization of qualified pandemic or epidemic products, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Levin, Mike [Rep.-D-CA-49]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.7884 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to health care professionals that provide health care services in qualifying facilities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Tenney, Claudia [Rep.-R-NY-24]; Committees: House – Ways and Means

 

S.Con.Res.28 — A concurrent resolution expressing support for the recognition of March 10, 2026, as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day”; Sponsor: Hirono, Mazie K. [Sen.-D-HI]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4036 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to expand the Project ECHO Grant Program, to allow for such program to disseminate knowledge and build capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Capito, Shelley Moore [Sen.-R-WV]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4037 — A bill to ensure continued access to diabetes technology upon Medicare enrollment, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Shaheen, Jeanne [Sen.-D-NH]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.4039 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reverse the reductions in Federal loan availability for graduate and professional students enacted under Public Law 119-21; Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4043 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.4048 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service to require the Secretary to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish, maintain, or improve activities related to the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases through wastewater for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Scott, Tim [Sen.-R-SC]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4061 — A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies to include mental health and suicide prevention information on student identification cards, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4066 — A bill to provide that the approved application under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the drug mifepristone for the purpose of the termination of intrauterine pregnancy is deemed to have been withdrawn, to establish a Federal tort for harm to women caused by chemical abortion drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hawley, Josh [Sen.-R-MO]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4069 — A bill to direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks to ensure certain biological datasets are ready for use in artificial intelligence models, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN];Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

 

S.4070 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to cover physician services delivered by podiatric physicians to ensure access by Medicaid beneficiaries to appropriate quality foot and ankle care, to amend title XVIII of such Act to modify the requirements for diabetic shoes to be included under Medicare, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.4076 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare Program; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.4085 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program; Sponsor: Murphy, Christopher [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.4086 — A bill to establish protections for health care providers who raise concerns about the quality of health care services, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murphy, Christopher [Sen.-D-CT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

H.Res.1112 — Supporting the goals and ideals of “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Murphy, Gregory F. [Rep.-R-NC-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.Con.Res.78 — Expressing support for the recognition of March 10, 2026, as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day”; Sponsor: Pressley, Ayanna [Rep.-D-MA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.7895 — To amend section 408 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to prohibit kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers; Sponsor: Allen, Rick W. [Rep.-R-GA-12]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce

 

H.R.7902 — To provide that the approved application under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the drug mifepristone for the purpose of the termination of intrauterine pregnancy is deemed to have been withdrawn, to establish a Federal tort for harm to women caused by chemical abortion drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Harshbarger, Diana [Rep.-R-TN-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.7905 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to cover physician services delivered by podiatric physicians to ensure access by Medicaid beneficiaries to appropriate quality foot and ankle care, to amend title XVIII of such Act to modify the requirements for diabetic shoes to be included under Medicare, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Joyce, John [Rep.-R-PA-13]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7906 — To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and administer a pilot program to provide grants to support Food is Medicine programs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kelly, Robin L. [Rep.-D-IL-2]; Committees: House – Agriculture; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7907 — To direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to facilitate the establishment of definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks to ensure certain biological datasets are ready for use in artificial intelligence models, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Khanna, Ro [Rep.-D-CA-17]; Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology

 

H.R.7909 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an option for individuals who are ages 50 to 64 to buy into Medicare, to provide for health insurance market stabilization, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Krishnamoorthi, Raja [Rep.-D-IL-8]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7911 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to nonprofit organizations to carry out programs and activities intended to promote caregiver wellness, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce

 

H.R.7912 — To require providers to disclose policies regarding the minimum gestational age at which life-saving care will be provided to an infant in the case of a premature birth; Sponsor: Mackenzie, Ryan [Rep.-R-PA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7920 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program; Sponsor: Scanlon, Mary Gay [Rep.-D-PA-5]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7931 — To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exempt from preemption certain State laws related to dental benefits; Sponsor: Van Drew, Jefferson [Rep.-R-NJ-2]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce

 

H.R.7933 — To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authority to provide a wig and treat traction alopecia under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Watson Coleman, Bonnie [Rep.-D-NJ-12]; Committees: House – Armed Services

Lawmakers Comment on ‘Professional Degree’ Proposed Rule – A bipartisan group of 150 members of Congress have raised concerns about the impact of new borrowing caps for graduate and professional degree students on the nursing workforce. The lawmakers submitted a public comment on the Department of Education’s proposed rule to implement the student financial aid provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. The letter expresses disappointment over the Department’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree,” and warn that the proposed rule will make it more difficult for nurses to join the health care workforce. “At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,” the lawmakers argue. “Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes…As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.”

 

Lawmakers Ask HHS Secretary to Address NIH Advisory Council Vacancies – A bipartisan group of lawmakers have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging him to fill outstanding vacancies on advisory councils of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While each of NIH’s divisions has an advisory council to assess scientific grant applications, only one council vacancy has been filled since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. A STAT analysis found that the majority of NIH advisory councils are operating at less than half capacity, while several institutes, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute on Aging are at risk of losing all their advisory council members at the end of 2026 when their terms expire. The letter, led by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), was signed by more than two dozen other members of Congress.

 

Oversight Committee Continues MN Fraud Investigation – House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) released an interim staff report last week regarding fraud in the state of Minnesota’s social services programs. The report asserts that $9 billion in Medicaid funds were lost or put at risk since 2018. “The Committee’s findings raise serious questions about governance and oversight in Minnesota’s administration of federal funds,” the report states, asserting “the failure to act decisively in the face of known fraud allowed criminal schemes to flourish and diverted resources away from eligible recipients: the vulnerable populations these programs were intended to serve.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison appeared before the committee during a hearing last week.

 

Republican Leaders of Energy and Commerce Committee Expand Medicaid Fraud Investigation – House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), E&C Health Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), and E&C Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair John Joyce, MD (R-Penn.) have expanded their investigation into alleged fraud within the Medicaid program. The Republican lawmakers sent letters to the governors and leaders of state health agencies in ten states on Tuesday, including New York, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. The Committee asked the states to respond to their inquiries by March 17.

 

Grassley, Wyden Inquire about OPTN Spending – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have sent a letter regarding the $20 million spent by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) on meetings in 2024. The lawmakers also cite allegations from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) had deleted or modified records, and ask the agency how this information was uncovered. UNOS responded to the allegations and asserted that no files or data required by its contract with HRSA to serve the OPTN are missing.

 

Latest Congressional Resignations/Retirements – Several lawmakers have announced their decision to not seek reelection in November. The list includes Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), the former Navy SEAL who served as Interior Secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. Rep. Zinke currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee. Montana Sen. Steven Daines (R) also plans to retire. Sen. Daines, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) also plan to retire at the end of their terms. Owens is a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, while Issa sits on the Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees. Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw was defeated in a primary challenge for the state’s 2^nd congressional district on Tuesday. Rep. Crenshaw is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The President has also tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to replace Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary at the end of the month. Mullin currently sits on both the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Appropriations’ Labor-Health and Human Services and Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration subcommittees. The number of members leaving their seats this cycle is approaching record highs, with nearly 60 members of the House of Representatives and 10 senators planning to retire.

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing “Foreign Dependence: How China Captured America’s Drug Supply;” 3:30 p.m.; March 11

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

S.3957 — A bill to support National Science Foundation education and professional development relating to artificial intelligence; Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS]; Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

 

H.R.7745 — To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Arrington, Jodey C. [Rep.-R-TX-19]; Committees: House – Armed Services

 

H.R.7747 — To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline the certification process for State Veterans Homes by allowing certain facilities certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be deemed in compliance with specified Medicare and Medicaid requirements, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bergman, Jack [Rep.-R-MI-1]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.3963 — A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide overtime compensation exceptions to employers of emergency medical technicians and paramedics in rural areas; Sponsor: Curtis, John R. [Sen.-R-UT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

H.Res.1098 — Expressing support for the designation of March 3, 2026, as “National Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Day”; Sponsor: Morelle, Joseph D. [Rep.-D-NY-25]; Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform

 

H.R.7777 — To amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ensure the supply of certain medical materials essential to national defense, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Salazar, Maria Elvira [Rep.-R-FL-27]; Committees: House – Financial Services

 

H.R.7778 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase under the Medicaid program the minimum monthly personal needs allowance for institutionalized individuals and couples; Sponsor: Subramanyam, Suhas [Rep.-D-VA-10]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7779 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for the conduct and support of research, training, and health information dissemination with respect to environmental risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Subramanyam, Suhas [Rep.-D-VA-10]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

S.3988 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to offer annual preventative health evaluations to veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder and increase access to assistive technologies, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.3989 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide community-based training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Curtis, John R. [Sen.-R-UT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.3990 – A bill to increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the transmission of HIV; Sponsor: Smith, Tina [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.3992 — A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to codify authority for the Joint Medical Facility Fund of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7787 — To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7790 —To amend the HITECH Act to allow an individual to obtain a copy of such individual’s protected health information at no cost unless certain circumstances apply, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Foster, Bill [Rep.-D-IL-11]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7799 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that 501(c)(3) organizations are liable for the use of funding provided as a fiscal sponsor; Sponsor: Moran, Nathaniel [Rep.-R-TX-1]; Committees: House – Ways and Means

 

H.R.7803 — To rename the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.; Sponsor: Pocan, Mark [Rep.-D-WI-2]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

 

S.3999 — A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that women veterans may schedule appointments for women’s specialty care under the laws administered by the Secretary without requiring a referral, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Blackburn, Marsha [Sen.-R-TN]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.4008 — A bill to reauthorize programs relating to oral health promotion and disease prevention; Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.4009 — A bill to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX]; Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations

 

H.Res.1109 — Supporting the goals and ideals of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; Sponsor: Waters, Maxine [Rep.-D-CA-43]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.7817 — To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to ensure that taxpayer funds for health insurance coverage are available only to authorized individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Boebert, Lauren [Rep.-R-CO-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7830 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals to develop discharge plans for pregnant individuals as a condition of participation under Medicare, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kelly, Robin L. [Rep.-D-IL-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7837 — To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model implementing most-favored-nation drug pricing; Sponsor: Meuser, Daniel [Rep.-R-PA-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.7841 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to include infertility as a condition presumed to be incurred or aggravated by toxic exposure in the course of active military, naval, air, or space service; Sponsor: Morrison, Kelly [Rep.-D-MN-3]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7853 — To increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the transmission of HIV; Sponsor: Takano, Mark [Rep.-D-CA-39]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Government Reform; Ways and Means; Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services; Natural Resources; Financial Services; Education and Workforce

 

H.R.7854 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Tlaib, Rashida [Rep.-D-MI-12]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

President Delivers State of the Union Address – President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday. While health care issues were not a primary focus of the record-length speech, the President highlighted his administration’s efforts on eliminating health care fraud and improving affordability. He reiterated his desire for direct payments to Americans for the purchase of health insurance coverage, and called on Congress to codify his most-favored nation proposal to link domestic pharmaceutical prices to lower prices available in other countries. President Trump also discussed efforts to target Medicaid fraud in Democratic states like Minnesota, and called for further restrictions on gender-affirming care for youths. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger gave the Democratic rebuttal and spoke about the impact of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, particularly on the Medicaid program and rural health care providers.

 

HELP Advances Two Health Bills – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced two health care related bills last week. The Living Donor Protection Act (S. 1552) would prohibit life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance carriers from denying or otherwise restricting coverage for living organ donors. It would also qualify donors for 12 weeks of medical leave. The Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act (S. 3315) would provide grants to health entities to improve cyberattack prevention and response, and require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a cybersecurity incident response plan. Each bill was approved in a 22-1 vote, with Sen. Rand Paul, MD (R-Ky.) voting in opposition.

 

Collins, Murkowski Remain Undecided on Surgeon General Nominee – Surgeon General nominee Casey Means appeared before the Senate HELP Committee for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioned the nominee about her position on vaccines; Means repeatedly stated that “vaccines save lives” while also underscoring the importance of a “true” informed consent process between an individual and their health care provider. Means still lacks the votes needed to advance her nomination, with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) remaining undecided on how they will vote.

 

Marshall, Booker Request Testing of Medically Tailored Meal Model – Sens. Roger Marshall, MD (R-Kan.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have sent a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) recommending the development of a model to evaluate the impact of medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries with acute and chronic diet-related illnesses. “Congress established CMMI to test innovative payment and service-delivery models that improve care quality while reducing expenditures for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Medically tailored meals are an ideal candidate therapy for achieving this mission,” the lawmakers argue. The letter highlights evidence that medically tailored meals can reduce hospital stays, improve health outcomes, and lower overall health care costs in Medicaid and other payer settings.

 

House Appropriations Leadership Release FY 2027 Guidance – The House Appropriations Committee has released guidance for fiscal year (FY) 2027 programmatic, language, and community project funding requests. Members of Congress have until March 13 to submit requests for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee and March 20 to submit requests to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Subcommittee. Lawmakers will be allowed to request funding for up to 20 projects, an increase to the current limit of 15, with LHHS project funding limited to the Health Resources and Services Administration account.

 

E&C Plans Next Hearing in Health Care Affordability Series – The House Energy and Commerce Committee will reportedly hear from health care providers and hospitals during the panel’s next hearing in its series on affordability. The Committee has already received testimony from health insurance CEOs and representatives of groups along the pharmaceutical supply chain. Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) recently told reporters that the details of the next hearing are still being determined.

 

Updated Projections of the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund’s Solvency – The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released an updated projection of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund’s solvency over the next 25 years. CBO estimates that the fund will be exhausted in 2040, 12 years earlier than previously anticipated. The agency attributes the earlier insolvency date largely to changes put in place by the 2025 reconciliation bill, which lowered tax rates and created a temporary deduction for taxpayers aged 65 or older – thereby reducing total revenues from the taxation of Social Security benefits. Increased demand for Medicare Part A services was also a factor in the updated projection. If the balance of the fund were to be exhausted, Medicare would need to reduce total benefits by 8% in 2040 and up to 10% in 2056.

 

CDC Second in Command to Depart – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) principal deputy director Ralph Abraham, MD has departed the agency, citing “unforeseen family obligations” which local press reported was due to the “failing health of a close relative in his 80s.” Dr. Abraham, the former surgeon general of Louisiana, assumed his post as the second highest ranking CDC official less than two months ago. His announcement follows other recent health personnel changes in the administration, including the naming of National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD as acting CDC director on February 18. The CDC has been without a permanent director since the firing of Susan Monarez in August 2025.

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness hearing “Less Hype, More Help: AI That Improves Safety, Productivity, and Care;” 10:15 a.m.; March 3

 

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine a discussion draft, S.____, the Toxic Substances Control Act Fee Reauthorization and Improvement Act; 10:00 a.m.; March 4

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Oversight hearing Delivering for Veterans and Caregivers: Year One of the Dole Act;” 2:15 p.m.; March 4

 

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing “Transforming Health Care with Data: Improving Patient Outcomes Through Next-Generation Care;” 10:00 a.m.; March 5

 

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health oversight hearing Hidden Wounds: Effectively Supporting Veterans with TBI; 10:15 a.m.; March 5

House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Member Day hearing; 10:30 a.m.; March 5

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation        

H.R.7602 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report on the state of men’s health in the United States and to establish an Office of Men’s Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7651 —To provide a private right of action for children and the parents of children whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing or participating in certain interventions; Sponsor: Onder, Robert F. [Rep.-R-MO-3]; Committees: House – Judiciary

 

H.R.7653 — To enhance diplomatic engagement on international biotechnology and biosecurity matters; Sponsor: Self, Keith [Rep.-R-TX-3]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs

 

S.3898 — A bill to amend the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act to extend burial benefits for certain veterans who die at home while in receipt of hospice care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs; Sponsor: Boozman, John [Sen.-R-AR]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.7654 — Advance Global Health Act; Sponsor: Lawler, Michael [Rep.-R-NY-17]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.7666 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow payments under the Medicare program for certain items and services furnished by off-campus outpatient departments of a provider to be determined under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Smith, Adrian [Rep.-R- NE-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

S.Res.614 — A resolution designating February 2026 as “American Heart Month”; Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

 

S.3908 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow payments under the Medicare program for certain items and services furnished by off-campus outpatient departments of a provider to be determined under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Hoeven, John [Sen.-R-ND]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.3922 — A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction over certain tobacco products, and to protect jobs and small businesses involved in the sale, manufacturing, and distribution of traditional and premium cigars; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

H.Res.1079 — Recognizing the significance of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and the need for robust funding of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.Res.1081 — Raising awareness for the sarcoma cancer chordoma; Sponsor: Johnson, Henry C. “Hank” [Rep.-D-GA-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.Res.1084 — Support for the designation of February 28 as “HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day” and affirming that people living with HIV should not be criminalized based on their HIV status; Sponsor: Pocan, Mark [Rep.-D-WI-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7677 — Closing the Provider Fraud Gap Act; Sponsor: Owens, Burgess [Rep.-R-UT-4]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce

 

H.R.7681 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for health savings accounts, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Bean, Aaron [Rep.-R-FL-4]; Committees: House – Ways and Means

 

H.R.7685 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to specify that hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances will be considered adulterated, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Brown, Shontel M. [Rep.-D-OH-11]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7686 — To recognize the importance of clinical roles of locum tenens physicians, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [Rep.-R-GA-1]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration

 

H.R.7693 — To mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on incentives under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the development of orphan drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7694 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a public awareness campaign to increase participation by women in clinical trials that are conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7713 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure the appropriate availability of personal care services under the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Schweikert, David [Rep.-R-AZ-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7717 — To establish a pilot program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support local jurisdictions in developing neighborhood-level, publicly accessible health data platforms, to establish a National Neighborhood Health Data Repository, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Torres, Ritchie [Rep.-D-NY-15]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

S.Res.620 — A resolution designating February 28, 2026, as “Rare Disease Day”; Sponsor: Barrasso, John [Sen.-R-WY]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

 

S.3934 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Collins, Susan M. [Sen.-R-ME]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.3944 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the WISEWOMAN program; Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

H.Res.1087 — Recognizing community water fluoridation as a safe, effective public health intervention to prevent tooth decay and promote oral and physical health; Sponsor: Frankel, Lois [Rep.-D-FL-22]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.Res.1090 — Expressing support for the designation of February 2026 as “Low Vision and Vision Impairment Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Veasey, Marc A. [Rep.-D-TX-33]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.7727 —To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the continued designation of certain critical access hospitals under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Alford, Mark [Rep.-R-MO-4]; Committees: House – Ways and Means

 

H.R.7733 —To amend title 18, United States Code, to ensure access to obstetrician-gynecologists for female prisoners, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Foushee, Valerie P. [Rep.-D-NC-4]; Committees: House – Judiciary

 

H.R.7735 — To require the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee to assess the effectiveness of certain mental health activities of the Departments, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Golden, Jared F. [Rep.-D-ME-2]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services

 

H.R.7739 — To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide overtime compensation exceptions to employers of emergency medical technicians and paramedics in rural areas; Sponsor: Maloy, Celeste [Rep.-R-UT-2]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce