U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) announced Tuesday that she was named chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. She in turn announced yesterday that the House Republican Steering Committee recommended nine new members to serve on the panel.
The E&C Committee has jurisdiction over the 340B program and is expected at a minimum to hold hearings on it this session. The first Republican-sponsored bill to change the drug discount program was filed Tuesday.
McMorris Rodgers’ Jan. 11 announcement about the nine new members did not disclose the full Republican committee lineup for this Congress. The E&C Committee has the broadest jurisdiction among all House committees and seats on it are highly coveted. The GOP chair of at least one other House committee, Financial Services, yesterday announced its complete Republican roster.
E&C Democrats had not yet announced their committee members as of early this morning. The House Democratic Caucus last month elected the immediate past E&C chair, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking Democratic E&C member for this Congress.
The new Republican E&C members are:
- Randy Weber (Texas)
- Rick Allen (Ga.)
- Troy Balderson (Ohio)
- Russ Fulcher (Idaho)
- August Pfluger (Texas)
- Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa)
- Kat Cammack (Fla.)
- Jay Obernolte (Calif.)
The GOP Steering Committee’s recommendations of these members to serve on the E&C committee are subject to the approval by the full House GOP caucus. Their final approval is expected.
Neither party has announced who will be their chairs and ranking members of the E&C health subcommittee and E&C oversight and investigations subcommittee.
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) is expected to be picked to chair the health subcommittee. He said last month he expects there will be hearings on 340B.
