A Recap of Today's #SubHealth and #SubCommTech Hearings

Statement

The Energy and Commerce subcommittees on Health and Communications and Technology today held hearings continuing longstanding work to strengthen Medicaid and protect the future of the Internet.

Health Subcommittee Hearing on "Medicaid at 50: Strengthening and Sustaining the Program"
The Health subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), examined ways to strengthen and sustain Medicaid for our nation's most vulnerable. Members and witnesses discussed Medicaid's current and foreseeable challenges, including budget sustainability and meaningful access to care for patients.

"No doubt, Medicaid is a critical lifeline for some of our nation's most vulnerable patients. Medicaid provides health care for children, pregnant mothers, the elderly, the blind, and the disabled. It is safe to say that every Member of this Committee wants to see a strong safety net program that protects the most vulnerable -- regardless of how they feel about its recent expansion," said Pitts. "But as we all know, the current trajectory of Medicaid spending is problematic." Witnesses shared insights into how to strengthen the program.

Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing on "Internet Governance Progress After ICANN 53"
The Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), continued its oversight of the administration's work to transition key Internet functions from the United States to the multistakeholder community. Members heard from NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers CEO Fadi Chehade and discussed the status of transition efforts following the recently concluded meeting of representatives from the international Internet community.

"From the beginning, this subcommittee sought to strike the right balance between supporting the multi- stakeholder model of Internet governance, while still protecting the invaluable tool of communications and commerce the Internet has become. And many of the questions we have raised are being incorporated into the work of the multi-stakeholder groups committed to working through this transition," said Walden. "My hope is that this committee's oversight will continue to strengthen the process, raise important questions, and improve the outcome."

Last month, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan DOTCOM Act, authored by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL). The legislation, H.R. 805, aims to protect the future of the Internet by ensuring congressional oversight of the transition.

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