Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, participated in the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce teleconference with Federal Trade Commission Chairman, Joseph Simons, to ensure consumers are not harmed during this pandemic. “I appreciate today’s call with Chairman Simons,” said Burgess. “Our discussion centered around the efforts taken by the FTC to ensure consumers are not harmed during these unprecedented times, including... Read More »
May 10, 2020 Dear Friends, On Friday, I sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health Chair Anna Eshoo (D-CA) urging her to schedule a hearing on the federal government’s supply of medical countermeasures for public health emergencies, the Strategic National Stockpile. It is Congress’ duty to conduct oversight and improve this important national resource that has been stretched to the limits during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Update: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response announced a distribution plan for the 607,000 vials of the experi... Read More »
May 8, 2020 Dear Friends, Moderna announced that it will soon begin the Phase 2 study of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric vaccination, which reveals a decrease in ordering and administering of childhood vaccines. The National Institutes of Health began enrolling hospitalized adults with COVID-19 in a new clinical trial evaluating antiviral remdesivir in combination with anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an update on its ef... Read More »
Washington, D.C. -- Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to call for a hearing on the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). With a wide range of jurisdiction over the health sector and federal agencies directly involved in the response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee has a responsibility to actively examine through hearings how to improve efforts to fight COVID-19, as well as conduct oversight as resources provided by Congress are being deployed. Today, Burgess ... Read More »
by Chris Larson U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) led a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions that discriminate against American energy companies and their workers—who are being hit very hard during the coronavirus pandemic. “As every sector of our economy struggles to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks financial stability from the federal government, environmental extremists are using the pandemic to accelerate the... Read More »
by Anne Gearan, Mike DeBonis and Brady Dennis President Trump is increasingly dismissing the consensus of health experts, scientists and some of his Republican allies that widespread testing is key to the safe end of restrictions meant to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, saying Friday that “testing isn’t necessary” and is an imperfect guide. The president has played down the need for testing as he overrides public health recommendations that would prolong the closures of schools, businesses and much of daily life. Although he is now tested every day with a rapid-result machine, Trump... Read More »
May 7, 2020 Dear Friends, The Department of Health and Human Services extended the deadline to 45 days for health care providers to attest to receipt of payments and accept the Terms and Conditions from the Provider Relief Fund. National Update: The Food and Drug Administration released a revised Emergency Use Authorization for disposable filtering facepiece respirators manufactured in China that do not meet NIOSH standards due to concerns about the level of protection certain products offer. The U.S. Travel Association released a health and safety guidance document for those who work in the ... Read More »
by Ripon Advance News Service U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) on May 4 introduced a bipartisan bill that would provide $3 billion in funding to purchase crude oil produced in the United States for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). “I’m leading this bipartisan, bicameral legislation because it will not only support our energy industry but benefit American taxpayers with greater economic and national security,” Sen. Hoeven said. “We need to pass this legislation to fund the purchase of U.S. crude for the SPR, which will help relieve supply pressures and support a vital U.S. industry and its wo... Read More »
by Patrick Thibodeau Citing unemployment levels not seen since the Great Depression, U.S. Senate and House Republicans sent letters Thursday urging President Trump to "suspend" guest worker visa programs until the economy recovers or for at least one year -- whichever comes first. "There is no reason why unemployed Americans and recent college graduates should have to compete in such a limited job market against an influx of additional H-1B workers, most of whom work in business, technology, or STEM fields," wrote Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, Chuck Grassley of... Read More »
