Pallone Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup of 19 Bills

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks at a full Committee markup of 19 bills:

Today the Committee will mark up 19 bills – some I will support and others I will oppose.

I am pleased we are considering 13 bipartisan bills that advanced out of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee earlier this month, including the two satellite bills that Chair Rodgers and I have been working on since last Congress. I look forward to these bills advancing out of the Committee today and reaching the House floor in the near future.

We will also consider H.R. 467. I continue to have significant concerns about the bill, which now expands mandatory minimums for fentanyl-related substances (FRS) after adoption of an amendment in the Health Subcommittee. This is a significant departure from the Biden Administration's proposal to address FRS, which includes guardrails to ensure that we are not exacerbating inequities in our criminal justice system while permanently scheduling FRS.

Unfortunately, Republicans refused to work with me on the necessary guardrails to improve this legislation, and to actually work on something that has a chance of being signed into law.

I also have strong concerns with H.R. 801. This bill is a misguided expansion of Title 42 authorities and goes beyond the purpose and intent of the statute, which is to stop the spread of communicable disease. It is also a massive expansion of executive power that would broaden the conditions where the executive branch could unilaterally shut down trade, immigration, and travel to this country. I urge my colleagues to oppose this extreme anti-public health and anti-immigrant proposal.

On H.R. 485, it's unfortunate that we have not been able to reach an agreement. This is discouraging as my staff and I have worked in good faith on this bill. I need assurances that nothing in the legislation would go beyond banning the use of QALYs or could be used to delay or disrupt the implementation of the drug price negotiations in the Inflation Reduction Act. It is disappointing that the Majority chose to move forward with a partisan amendment.

Lastly, we will consider H.R. 1603, the so-called "Homeowner Energy Freedom Act." This bill repeals the popular home electrification grants that will give customers immediate, off-the-top discounts for electric appliances. It also repeals funding for energy workforce training and building code adoption. We haven't had any hearings or stakeholder testimony on this bill, but we know it's a terrible idea. These are popular incentives that will save consumers money and are urgently needed to help us fight the climate crisis. This bill has nothing to do with freedom – it is about keeping customers, especially low- and middle-income customers, tethered to expensive and volatile fossil fuels.

I will have more to say on several of the 19 bills throughout the markup.

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