MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he highlighted that while Donald Trump and Republicans continue to waste taxpayer dollars on a war of choice in the Middle East as costs rise here at home, Democrats remain committed to reining in this lawless administration.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yesterday was Tax Day, and House Republicans decided to celebrate the fact that, in connection with their One Big Ugly Bill, they enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, ripping healthcare away from 14 million Americans. As a result of their toxic policies, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based clinics are closing all across the country, particularly in rural America, as a direct result of what Republicans have done in their One Big Ugly Bill. In that same piece of legislation, Republicans ripped food assistance away from hungry children, seniors and veterans with the largest cut to SNAP—$186 billion—in American history. And why did they do all of this, which they celebrated yesterday? To provide their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks, to continue to subsidize the lifestyle of the rich and shameless.

We are now in the midst of an ongoing war of choice in the Middle East that is reckless and costly, where billions of dollars are being spent every day while Republicans are unwilling to spend a dime to make life more affordable for the American people. All of this, of course, is unfolding in the midst of an affordability crisis that Donald Trump continues to maintain is a hoax. And as a direct result of the costly and reckless Republican war of choice, gas prices have skyrocketed, putting more cost pressure on working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans. Enough. Donald Trump and Republicans have failed the American people. House Democrats, in partnership with Senate Democrats, are going to continue to focus on driving down the high cost of living because we know that life has become far too expensive in the United States of America as a direct result of policies that Donald Trump and compliant Republicans continue to jam down the throats of the American people.
 
Full event can be watched here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Questions Secretary of Agriculture in Oversight Hearing

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar questioned Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during an Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture budget hearing. During the hearing, Moolenaar praised the Trump administration’s efforts to support Michigan farmers and requested information from Rollins on how her department is confronting threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. 

“I appreciate the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to ensure USDA programs deliver for Michigan farmers and they can compete on a global stage. USDA is on the front lines protecting our food security and ensuring American farmland is not purchased by our adversaries like the CCP. I remain committed to working with the administration on strengthening farm programs, stopping the CCP from buying American farmland, and ensuring rural communities have the tools they need to succeed,” said Moolenaar. 

Moolenaar is the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from the State of Michigan and the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. 

Full video of Moolenaar’s questioning can be found here. A transcript of Moolenaar’s questioning is included below. 

Congressman John Moolenaar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Madame Secretary, Thanks for being here today, and also for visiting Michigan last week. And we appreciate all you and President Trump are doing to support our farmers in Michigan. A few questions, this may have come up in some of your meetings, but our domestic sugar producers in Michigan, we have sugarbeet growers and family farmers are being undercut by foreign competitors, and I wonder if you could talk about the actions you’re taking to ensure that out sugar  producers are being treated fairly. 

Secretary Brooke Rollins: I think that sugar is the top of the list. Certainly, I had the seafood guys in yesterday, we opened the Office of Seafood the first time USDA has ever had that to offer so many programs there to our seafood producers, our farmers of the sea. Whether it is seafood, where it’s sugar, a lot of our citrus growers, the crushing that has happened by foreign imports is real, and it has devastated so many of our industries. It is unbelievable. Sugar obviously remains a priority, I know it was included in the last farmer bridge assistance payment. We will continue to make it a priority and welcome the conversations anytime on that. I think that this President and our US Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer, whom I speak with almost daily at this point, is very focused on ensuring we are America First and we are protecting our American food growers. Obviously USMCA is coming up for renegotiation we’ve got a lot going on around the world, but anything you hear Congressman, that you think will be helpful for me anyway, anyway I can lean in. I’ve visited some sugar growers in Florida. I didn’t get a chance to go in Michigan, to the beets, been up in Minnesota with the beets. But would love to get more involved in that but we are making progress. Bui it does need to remain a priority, national security, etc. 

Congressman Moolenaar: Thank you, I appreciate also you mentioned your Farm Security Action Plan, one of your priorities is to stop China from buying up our farmland. Could you outline what you’re doing to prevent our farmland from being controlled by China? 

Secretary Rollins: This is, if not everyone in this room including all of you, who I am speak to today, I don’t know that there is a more perilous threat in front of us that the international purchasing- foreign adversaries, and otherwise, but certainly foreign adversaries of our farmland and our agricultural companies. In 1983, China about 2000 acres in America. Today, they own 300,000 acres of what was good American farmland. A lot of it around military bases, et cetera. We’ve been working with all of you, I think we got it really close, we didn’t make it to the finish line, to the President’s desk for a Congressional directive on that. But in the meantime, working alongside all of the states. I am very big believer in the ability of the states to act as guardians of the gate on key issues like that and some of our – a lot of our states – about 20, have really leaned in and have passed legislation. Arkansas, I think has been probably the most forward leaning, Sarah Sanders there not only passed barring the future sale of farmland, but also has begun clawing some of it back, and I think is a really important piece of this puzzle as we move forward. So, I look forward to continuing work with all of you to champion this here in Washington. But as we wait for Washington to move forward on that, the Sates can actually make good advancements and I am working with a lot of those governors on that.

Congressman Moolenaar: Thank you, and also just the area of research security in our agriculture research service, I want to put that on your radar screen, because we know China is also engaging in the coordinated effort to steal US technology and intellectual priority. 

Secretary Rollins: that is exactly right, and I was with Michigan State in your great land grant on Monday, we actually talked about this specifically, there have been cases in America. Our USDA has – our OIG working with Secret Service and others have arrested some of our students from other countries who have been caught red-handed, basically trying to steal our secrets, but also trying to disrupt our system. So, this will continue to be a major issue. 

Congressman Moolenaar: Thank you very much, I yield back.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, lead a hearing to discuss the Department of Energy’s funding for the 2027 fiscal year. 

“As Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations, it has been an honor to work with Secretary Wright to deliver the agenda the American people demanded of us. I am working with my colleagues to support the aggressive pace of the Administration to do just that, whether it’s unleashing our energy abundance or revolutionizing scientific discovery with artificial intelligence through the Genesis Mission,” Rep. Fleischmann. “I am encouraged by the Department’s continued focus on critical research areas, including high performance computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, nuclear energy, and critical minerals. I am particularly pleased to see that the Secretary appropriately places nuclear at the forefront of achieving American energy dominance. Finally, I fully support the continued strong investments in NNSA to sustain and modernize our nuclear arsenal. Our nuclear deterrent remains indispensable to U.S. national defense” 

In November, President Trump issued an executive order launching the Genesis Mission, an ambitious effort to advance discovery science, enhance our national security, and accelerate new energy technologies through the use of an artificial intelligence platform that brings together the National Labs and industry collaborators and leverages the Department’s high-performance computing, quantum systems, and artificial intelligence expertise.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), released the statement below following his appearance prior to the Department of Energy’s third annual National Lab Research SLAM competition.

Three years ago, the Department of Energy hosted a collaborative research competition displaying the vast knowledge and expertise from all 17 National Laboratories in the United States Capitol. Our National Lab System is at the cutting edge of addressing science’s most pressing challenges including artificial intelligence, energy technology, advanced materials, national security, and beyond. The National Lab Research SLAM competition empowers early career researchers from our National Laboratories to communicate groundbreaking science to broad audiences. One researcher represents their respective National Lab and presents their research to a panel of esteemed judges in the nation’s capital.

“As Chairman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, I have the opportunity to witness the best and brightest working on the hardest scientific and technological challenges, but the National Labs Research SLAM stands out as a favorite of mine. The most promising young researchers from across the United States represent their respective National Labs right here in Washington, D.C. presenting their incredible research and earning the recognition of their peers in the research community. We cannot take for granted that the United States will lead in science and technology as we have for decades. The outstanding young men and women in this competition represent our best hope for an even better future,” said Rep. Fleischmann. “I support all 17 National Labs and I am incredibly proud to support these incredible scientific minds, but Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) of course has a special place in my heart. As Oak Ridge’s representative in Congress, I will be cheering slightly louder for Bryan Conry of ORNL. I wish all the competitors the best because the true winners are the American people and ultimately the world that will benefit from their breakthroughs and innovations!”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood, Alma Adams (D-NC-12), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced the bicameral resolution recognizing April 11 through April 17 as Black Maternal Health Week. This resolution serves to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the critical need to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black mothers. 

In the United States, Black women face a maternal mortality rate two to three times that of white women, yet studies show that 80% of all maternal deaths are preventable. The resolution calls on Congress to support and promote policies addressing Black maternal health in order to address the ongoing Black maternal mortality crisis.

“Our country’s Black maternal health crisis demands urgent action,” said Congresswoman Underwood, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “In 2019 I co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Congresswoman Alma Adams to respond to this crisis and advance evidence-based solutions that will save lives and end disparities. I’m thrilled to continue this work by introducing this resolution with Congresswoman Adams and Senator Booker to recognize Black Maternal Health Week 2026. I am thinking of the families and moms who have been impacted by this crisis like Mercedes Wells, Karrie Jones, and Dr. Janell Green Smith who we tragically lost, and I’m grateful to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance for their leadership in establishing this critical week of awareness and action. We must continue to elevate Black maternal health as a national priority, and we must pass the entire Momnibus.” 

“Our annual Black Maternal Health Week resolution says, unequivocally, that Black Moms matter,” said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “This week is a time for us to raise awareness around the maternal mortality and morbidity epidemic Black mothers face and urge our Congressional and state leaders to take action. We need to see a real commitment from Congress to address this crisis, and I am dedicated to working with our Black maternal health advocates across the country to make that happen. Black mamas can’t wait!”

“It is unacceptable that Black women continue to face a maternal mortality rate two to three times higher than White women because of deep, systemic failures in our health care system,” said Senator Booker. “This resolution is not just about acknowledging the disparities Black women face. It is about recognizing that Congress must do more to protect the lives of Black mothers by addressing the structural barriers that drive them and ensuring that every mother has a safe and healthy pregnancy and the care they deserve.”

“2026 marks more than a decade of Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) building the skills, convening, and mobilizing the global Black perinatal, maternal, and reproductive health workforce to END maternal mortality. Over the past 10 years, BMMA has worked to establish the global Black Maternal Health Movement, centering the organizing and collaborative efforts of Black perinatal and maternal professionals. That is our midwives, our physicians, our doulas, our nurses, advocates, healing practitioners, and even artists. We have built this movement on the intellectual traditions of Black feminism, womanism, and the principles of reproductive justice and birth justice.” said BMMA, Inc. Co-Founder & Executive Director Angela D. Aina, who is also a 2026 TIME100 Health Honoree.

“As we launch our 9th annual Black Maternal Health Week, we do so rooted in both the weight of this moment and the joy of this movement,” Aina continued. “We are witnessing unprecedented attacks on Black families, on reproductive rights, and on the very institutions meant to protect our health and dignity. And yet, we remain rooted. Justice and joy are not separate — they are the foundation of everything we do. BMHW26 is a time for community rooted action in addressing maternal health inequities and ensuring that everyone, especially Black Mamas, receive the resources needed to thrive.”

Full text of the resolution can be found here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02), and Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) introduced the bipartisan Drug Origin Transparency Act, legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health care providers, and purchasers better visibility into where prescription drugs and their key ingredients are actually made.

As it stands, the public and even FDA do not have a full picture of where a drug originates or where its active ingredients come from. That lack of transparency makes it harder to detect vulnerabilities in the supply chain, respond to disruptions, and prevent shortages before they reach patients in need.

“When a patient cannot get the medicine they need, nothing else matters. Families are left waiting, doctors are left scrambling, and too often no one has a clear answer for why it happened,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “That is unacceptable. This bill gives FDA and the public a clearer picture of where our drugs and their ingredients come from so we can catch risks earlier, respond faster, and better protect patients from life-threatening shortages.”

“We’ve allowed critical parts of our pharmaceutical supply chain to drift overseas — often to countries that don’t share our interests — and we still lack full visibility into the risks it creates. That’s unacceptable,” said Congressman Crenshaw. “This bill forces transparency so we know exactly where our drugs and their ingredients are coming from. You can’t fix a supply chain you can’t fully see.”

“For far too long, we’ve relied on China for critical medications Americans depend on every day — that’s a serious national security and public health risk,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “This bipartisan bill brings much-needed transparency to our pharmaceutical supply chain so we know exactly where our medicines are coming from and can start bringing that production back home. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to strengthen American manufacturing and reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries for critical medications.”

“As a pediatrician, I know how devastating drug shortages can be for patients,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Our pharmaceutical supply chain is heavily reliant on foreign countries, which presents a threat to national security; and the complicated manufacturing process often leaves everyone from patients to the FDA without the critical information they need. This legislation would provide transparency in every step of the process, help ensure we have redundant or domestic sources for the most important medications, and ultimately ensure Americans have access to safe, effective medications.”

The Drug Origin Transparency Act would strengthen oversight of the pharmaceutical supply chain by:

• Allowing FDA to require more detailed reporting on the suppliers of each active pharmaceutical ingredient and intermediate product, including how much of those materials each supplier manufactures.

• Requiring the drug label to identify the original manufacturer, the original manufacturer of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and any other manufacturer, packer or distributor involved in the supply chain.

Current law requires manufacturers to report to FDA the annual amount of drug they produce, but that alone does not show where key ingredients originate or how reliant manufacturers are on specific suppliers. Drug labels only identify the final manufacturer, packer or distributor, even though critical parts of a drug’s supply chain may lie elsewhere.

The bill is endorsed by the Association for Clinical Oncology, Vizient, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) called for continued action to improve Black maternal health instead of the Trump administration’s attacks against healthcare with health advocates and U.S. Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04). Black Maternal Health Week, from April 11 to 17, marks a time to raise awareness to the fact that Black women face higher risks of maternal death, stillbirths, preterm births and pregnancy-related complications.

“I brought the issue of maternal mortality to Congress nearly a decade ago because nobody was doing anything to save the lives of Black women,” said Rep. Kelly, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus. “We’ve made some progress, but so much more work needs to be done to confront the systematic racism in our healthcare system. I will continue to echo the voices of Black women in Congress until we receive the care we need and deserve before, during, and after pregnancy.”

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the first-ever comprehensive legislative package addressing maternal health after Charles Johnson’s wife, Kira, died after a routine C-section. Pieces of her MOMMA’s Act, now called CARE for Moms Act, has passed into law, including the extension of Medicaid postpartum care from 60 days to a full year. Illinois was the first of 48 states to adopt this policy, ensuring health coverage for postpartum women. Her most recent maternal health bill, the WELLS Act, was introduced after her constituent Mercedes Wells was discharged from a hospital while in active labor.

“Ten years ago, I lost my wife, Kira, to a preventable childbirth complication—and that pain became a purpose to fight for every mother’s right to survive and thrive,” said Johnson, founder of 4Kira4Moms. “During Black Maternal Health Week, I’m honored to stand with Robin Kelly to advance the WELLS Act—because no woman should ever be dismissed, unheard, or sent home while in crisis. This legislation is about accountability, dignity, and ensuring that no family has to endure the loss that mine did.”

“I thank Rep. Robin Kelly for convening us during Black Maternal Health Week and standing with those fighting to protect Black mothers and families. The state of Black maternal health in America is a moral and equitable crisis, with Black women still three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, too many of them preventable. We must honor the memory of Kira Johnson and others whose stories demand action,” said Rep. Clarke, Chair of the CBC. “While progress like extended postpartum coverage matters, we must do more to expand equitable care and confront dangerous attacks on healthcare that threaten to take us backward. The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to advancing policies that protect access, center equity, and ensure Black mothers can thrive.”

“As Chair of the Congressional Mamas’ Caucus, I know the Black maternal health crisis impacts so many mothers and families in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes due to racial bias in medicine and a health care system that has failed them for far too long,” said Rep. Tlaib. “We must act with urgency at the federal level by investing in community-based care, protecting and expanding Medicaid, supporting doulas and midwives, and passing legislation like the CARE for Moms Act. Black mothers deserve to live, to be heard, and to receive equitable, comprehensive care.”

“Eleven years ago this month, I almost became the statistic of a Black woman who was three times more likely to die from a childbirth-related death when nine weeks before my due date, my placenta ruptured. My daughter and I were one of the lucky ones. But too many mothers and infants are not so lucky,” said Rep. McClellan, Chair of Abortion Rights and Access Task Force in the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “We face a complex road ahead as we seek to protect Black women and families against this loss. On the 10th annual Black Maternal Health Week, we want this to be the last one where we say a Black woman is more than three times as likely to die in childbirth. And we will not rest until we reach that moment.”

In addition to Johnson with 4Kira4Moms, five more leading health advocates stood with Rep. Kelly to demand better health outcomes for Black mothers.

“The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is proud to partner with the many Congressional champions and key partners today in honor of Black Maternal Health Week,” said Nikeisha Olgetree, Chief Operating Officer of AMCHP.  “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 pregnancy-related deaths occur in the U.S. each year, and 87% of these deaths are preventable. As leaders in maternal and child health, we know that there is not a singular policy solution that will solve the crisis of maternal mortality and morbidity overnight, but with collective action to ensure maternal and child health programs get sustained, increased investments, we’ll better be able to best serve the nation’s mothers, children, and families now and into the future.”

“Black maternal health is not only about whether a mother survives childbirth,” said Kay Matthews, Executive Director of Shades of Blue Project. “It is also about whether she is heard, believed, and supported through grief, trauma, and the full postpartum journey. Mental health care must be treated as essential maternal health care.”

“I am honored to be here today during the 10th anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week to call attention to the fact that despite having made gains in combatting maternal mortality overall, racial disparities in maternal health outcomes persist,” said Dr. Anita Mikkilineni, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “This is unacceptable and we must double down and keep working for progress. I look forward to continuing ACOG’s partnership with Congresswoman Kelly and other maternal health champions to advance legislation to improve Black maternal health.”

“Black maternal health is not a talking point. It is a public health crisis,” said Joy Calloway, President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative. “At the Black Women’s Health Imperative, we seek to curate and advance solutions that will work for Black women and girls. We are proud to stand with Congresswoman Kelly- once again – in pursuing policy changes like the CARE for Moms Act and the WELLS Act that will move us closer to the maternal health outcomes Black women have always deserved.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. David Schweikert, Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, announced he has filed legislation to combat home health fraud. The Combating Deceptive Practices in Assistance Programs Act would tighten requirements for an individual to be eligible for home health services in Medicaid. 

Additionally, the Joint Economic Committee released an issue brief entitled From Care to Cash: Correcting Misaligned Incentives in Home Health outlining how some states, particularly New York, have outsized spending on home health care well beyond what would be expected given their senior population. In New York, health care and social assistance are by far the largest job growers with home health aides per residents over 65 being well over twice as high as the national average. Also, under Medicaid in New York they spend nearly $1,000 more per resident than the next highest state. The Joint Economic Committee estimates that if New York’s per resident Medicaid spending was the same as the national average, they would have spent nearly $43 billion less in 2024. Today, Chairman Schweikert asked Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy about this issue during the Secretary’s appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee. 

In order to provide better oversight to an industry with few guardrails, and in turn reduce fraud in the Medicaid program, Chairman Schweikert’s bill would require recipients to prove they are unable to perform three or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), activities which include bathing, personal hygiene and grooming, eating, dressing and general mobility. This requirement adds additional federal oversight to home health services while also tightening eligibility to ensure that only individuals who need assistance are receiving funding.

“If we seriously want to preserve Medicaid, and provide for the people most in need, we must crack down on fraud,” said Rep. Schweikert. “Reaching people that need these services the most should be the top priority of these programs, not growing one of the largest jobs corps in the state. With the U.S. adding almost $87,000 per second to our national debt, making commonsense reforms can save tens of billions of dollars while protecting the truly vulnerable.”

Through a variety of broad federal waiver programs, state Medicaid systems are allowed to provide long-term, at home care to individuals to help prevent them from entering a nursing home. While all 50 states have at least some forms of at home care model, federal guidelines are broad enough that these waivers give states wide authority to oversee their models, which can lead to a lack of guardrails intended to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. A lack of adequate federal oversight has led to specific states having especially egregious policies. In fact, DOJ and various state Attorney’s General/State’s Attorney offices have made several indictments regarding fraudulent home healthcare claims.

New York’s state Medicaid program is particularly susceptible to fraud due to its Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) which allows individuals eligible for home health care through Medicaid to choose their caregiver, which can include friends or family members, many with little to no experience or training. Today, more than 250,000 people are enrolled into the program with around 400,000 total caregivers.

With both limited standards to meet for an individual to be eligible for services, and little to no training required for caregivers, this has led to an explosion in spending in NY State’s Medicaid program. In fact, in 2019, NY spent approximately $2.5 billion, in 2023 that number reached $9.1 billion. More recent analysis estimates that spending in 2025 is around $12 billion with continued spending growth despite attempts by the governor to reform what she has called “one of the most abused programs in the history of New York.” 

###

Back to News

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

“On the very day we celebrate Emancipation Day, marking the day President Lincoln freed 3,100 enslaved people in D.C., the first in the country, House Republicans have chosen to remind us that Congress can still impose its own policy priorities on D.C. without the consent of those who live in the nation’s capital.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) demanded answers from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., about a new program he implemented that is unnecessarily delaying and denying care to seniors in Washington.

DelBene has been a leading voice in raising the alarm about how this program could harm patients since it was announced. She has introduced legislation and championed several efforts to cancel it.

Here is a link to the video, and below is the transcript:

DelBene: Secretary, I’m glad you’re appearing before us today. Under your leadership, CMS recently added new layers of red tape that Medicare patients need to navigate to get the care that they’re entitled to. Mr. Secretary, I hope you understand the harm that delaying and denying necessary care can have. Do you remember saying this: “Americans shouldn’t have to negotiate with their insurer to get the care they need. Pitting patients and their doctors against massive companies was not good for anyone.” Do you remember?

Kennedy: I don’t remember, but I would, I would align with that,

DelBene: I’ll submit for the record, actually, a press release from CMS with your quote in that is from June 23 of 2025. In this case, I agree. Pitting patients and their doctors against massive companies isn’t good for anyone. And yet, less than a week after you said that CMS announced the WISeR model. The program allows private companies to use AI to review traditional Medicare claims and pays them based on the amount of care they deny. This program went into place in six states across the country, including my home state of Washington.

President Trump said multiple times on the campaign trail that he would not cut Medicare, but this program does exactly that. For example, Joanne is a senior from Washington on Medicare. She has a herniated disc that is pinching her sciatic nerve, causing immense pain down the right side of her body. Her doctor prescribed an injection that would help relieve her pain. If it had been prescribed last year, she would have received the treatment, no problem. But because of the WISeR model that has been implemented, she has been in intense pain for over six weeks while she waits for approval. She has been using crutches or a wheelchair for over a month now, which is making her arthritis worse, adding to her chronic pain. Since using crutches, she’s fallen multiple times, including earlier this week. Instead of simply approving the procedure, Joanne’s conditions are getting worse, and Secretary Kennedy, the W in the WISeR model stands for ‘wasteful.’ Do you think that Joanne’s treatment, which would allow her to walk and live with less pain that her doctor has prescribed. Do you think that’s wasteful?

Kennedy: Do you want me to actually answer that question?

DelBene: Yeah!

Kennedy: I think that that’s a terrible outcome. It’s one that was not intended by the system. Obviously, the problem is there’s tremendous ways… In Medicaid, there’s only 5% of the cases are given prior authorization. In private industry, 30%.

DelBene: This is traditional Medicare now where it’s now. This is only been put under prior authorization under your leadership. Now, President Trump promised multiple times that he “will not lay a finger on Medicare.” Given President Trump’s promise, did you or the President approve this model, which is now delaying and denying care for people in states like the state of Washington?

Kennedy: Can I answer the question?

DelBene: Yeah, people are being denied care across our state right now.

Kennedy: Very quickly, and this is an example – Five years ago, we were paying $250,000 a year for – $250 million for skin substitutes. This year, $23 billion. Why? Because there was no prior authorization in the Medicare program.

DelBene: And now someone like Joanne is not getting her care. It’s more expensive for us because Joanne is not getting her care. We have story after story. I can also submit for the record stories of all the people who are being delayed and denied care. It is more expensive for us. It is more expensive for them when they are not getting the care they need.

Last year, I sent CMS a letter detailing my concerns about the WISeR model. I still have not gotten a response. That was last August. Can you publicly commit to responding to that letter and addressing the concerns of this harmful model?

Kennedy: Yeah, absolutely, we will, and I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. We have an unprecedented number of communications from Congress.

DelBene: Well, we don’t have you here very often. We have people in my state who are being denied care, who are being hurt based on this policy, and there’s an indifference to the challenges that they are facing, all because of a model put in place for no reason and doing exactly what you said shouldn’t happen, which is “pitting patients and their doctors against massive companies.” These are private companies doing this prior authorization was not good for anyone. Thank you, I yield back, Mr. Chairman.

Kennedy: Discovering $23 billion worth of fraud is not for no reason.

DelBene: You are hurting patients in our state and other states across the country for no reason, and I appreciate you finally responding to the letter. Thank you. I yield back.