Henry Waxman

Washington, Oct 29 -- In conjunction with comprehensive health reform legislation, House leaders introduced a bill that would permanently reform the Medicare physician payment system. The "Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act" (H.R. 3961) will repeal a 21 percent fee reduction scheduled for January 2010 and replace the physician payment formula with a more stable system that ends the unrealistic cycle of threats of ever-larger fee cuts followed by short-term patches. When considered in the House, H.R. 3961 will also include Statutory PAYGO legislation.    » read more »

Energy and Global Warming Legislation Passes E&C Committee

Washington, DC (May 21, 2009) – The Energy and Commerce Committee today passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), a historic bill that will make significant investments in clean, renewable energy and reduce carbon pollution that causes global warming. Under the leadership of Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA), the bill cleared a major hurdle with support from a coalition of members of Congress from all parts of the nation.

Following is a statement from Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council:    » read more »

Bill Moves Us One Step Closer to Clean Energy Future; Key Elements Must Be Strengthened As Plan Moves Forward

May 21, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.--The House Energy & Commerce Committee tonight passed a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan, the American Clean Energy & Security Act (Waxman-Markey). Several other committees, notably Ways & Mean, may seek an opportunity to weigh in on the bill before it comes to the House floor later this summer. The Sierra Club offered the following comments in response to today's vote.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director    » read more »

Washington , DC - 05/21/2009 - Today, Phyllis Cuttino, Director of the Pew Environment Group’s U.S. Global Warming Campaign, released the following statement on the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.    » read more »

05/21/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement on the passage of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee:

“I applaud today’s bipartisan vote in Congress to move forward the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act. While the Act still has a long road ahead of it and I will work with the California delegation to improve it further, this Act represents the kind of comprehensive federal strategy to use energy more efficiently, produce more clean energy here at home, and courageously address the urgent threat of global warming that leading states such as California have urged for years.    » read more »

Prevent Consumers from Economic Benefits of Fuel Efficiency and Clean Car Standards

WASHINGTON (May 15, 2009) — Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) today released details (pdf) of an agreement on auctioning and allocating emissions allowances in their proposed climate and energy legislation. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) congratulated the two congressmen for steering this landmark piece of legislation toward passage. But experts at the science group cautioned that the some of the most recent draft allocation categories should be strengthened before finalizing the bill.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2009) -- As momentum builds in the Energy and Commerce Committee behind comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation (the American Clean Energy and Security Act), Congressman Joe Barton (R-Texas) has released an alternative plan that would set back progress toward a clean energy future, according to experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council.    » read more »

Bill Needs Strengthening to Guarantee Necessary Carbon Reductions, New Green Jobs and Consumer Benefits, Science Group Says

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2009) – New details of a House Energy and Commerce Committee compromise on the Waxman-Markey climate bill indicate that it may have enough votes to go to the House floor, but it must be strengthened to truly be effective, experts at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said today.

"Chairman Waxman and congressmen Markey, Gordon, Dingell, Boucher, Doyle and Inslee have addressed some of the thorniest issues, and this agreement demonstrates the good will and tenacity that has long been this committee's hallmark," said UCS President Kevin Knobloch. "This compromise will help move this critical legislation forward.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (May 13, 2009) -- The Energy and Commerce Committee under Chairmen Waxman and Markey are prepared to move forward with clean energy and climate legislation (the American Clean Energy and Security Act).

Following is a statement by Dan Lashof, Director of the Climate Center for the Natural Resources Defense Council:    » read more »

Sierra Club Launching “The Broken Record” to Catalogue, Respond to Lies, Mistruths, and Distortions by Defenders of Dirty Energy

April 21, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The House Energy & Commerce Committee today launched a marathon series of hearings on the clean energy jobs plan, the American Clean Energy & Security Act, currently being drafted by the Committee’s Chairman, Representative Henry Waxman, and the Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, Representative Ed Markey.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—AARP today applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act, introduced by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), will create a needed pathway for the approval of safe generic versions of costly biologic drugs. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“Biologic drugs are treating some of the most devastating diseases Americans face, like cancer, anemia and multiple sclerosis. But for too many people, these life-saving medicines are simply out of reach because of their overwhelming price tags.    » read more »

"Good morning. This is Congressman Henry Waxman of California, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"This was a great week in the House of Representatives for the children of America. On one single day, we passed two critically important pieces of legislation. The first, to reinvigorate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and strengthen its ability to assure safe toys for our children. The second is legislation that provides the authority to regulate tobacco and stop tobacco companies from targeting our kids.    » read more »

'Kids Safe Chemical Act' Would Ensure All Chemicals Used In Every Day Products, Including Those Used in Baby Bottles and Children's Toys, Are Proven Safe

May 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced major legislation to protect Americans, especially children, from toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.

Baby with bottle: Photo by Frank Tellez (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The Committee held holding a hearing titled, “EPA’s New Ozone Standards” at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing examined the new ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and the process the Environmental Protection Agency used in setting them.    » read more »

Senior congressmen are California superdelegates

May 15, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman Howard Berman, major committee chairmen and California superdelegates, endorsed Barack Obama today, citing his ability to unite the country and put and end to eight years of failed Bush policies.

Barack Obama supporters, California: Photo by Barack Obama campaign

Congressman Waxman chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; Congressman Berman chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Both are respected leaders in the American Jewish community and major voices in Democratic policymaking.    » read more »