HEALTH Act

Bill Number

H.Res. 10

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Last Updated

2025-01-30T13:09:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution, titled the "House Endeavor to Accelerate a Legislative Transformation of Healthcare Act" or "HEALTH Act," aims to create a dedicated standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives focused on health policy. By establishing a Committee on Health, it seeks to centralize and streamline oversight of key health-related issues currently spread across other committees.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Committee: Amends Rule X of the House Rules (which outlines committee jurisdictions) by inserting a new paragraph (j) to create the Committee on Health as a permanent standing committee. Its jurisdiction includes:
• Biomedical research and development, including oversight of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency responsible for regulating drugs, medical devices, and food safety.
• General health matters, health facilities, and healthcare programs funded by federal revenues (excluding veterans' hospitals and care).
• Public health and quarantine efforts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency that handles disease prevention and health emergencies.
• Redesignation of Existing Rules: Shifts the lettering of other committee paragraphs (from j through t to k through u) to accommodate the new committee.
• Adjustments to Other Committees:
• Modifies the Committee on Education and the Workforce to limit its role in health matters, specifically excluding health insurance programs.
• Alters the Committee on Energy and Commerce by removing its authority over certain health areas (such as those now assigned to the new committee) and renumbering its remaining responsibilities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This is an internal rule change for the House, not a new law affecting the public directly. It transfers health-related oversight from the Committee on Energy and Commerce (which previously handled many health issues like public health and biomedical research) and partially from the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
• No new laws or funding are created; instead, it reorganizes how the House reviews and advances health legislation, potentially speeding up processes by concentrating expertise in one committee.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Agencies like the FDA and CDC may face more targeted congressional scrutiny and support through a dedicated committee, which could lead to faster policy responses on health crises or innovations but also more frequent oversight hearings.
• On Citizens: Could result in more efficient federal health policies, such as improved regulation of drugs or public health responses, benefiting everyday access to healthcare and safety. However, it might shift priorities in how health bills are debated and passed.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though centralized oversight could strengthen U.S. positions in global health negotiations (e.g., on pandemics or drug approvals) by providing focused congressional input.
• Overall, this could enhance the House's ability to address growing health challenges like disease outbreaks or healthcare costs without broadly affecting current laws.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Members of Congress: House representatives, particularly those on the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, and the new Committee on Health, as it redistributes influence, staffing, and budget allocations for committees.
• Health Agencies and Organizations: FDA, CDC, and related federal bodies; healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and public health groups that interact with Congress on policy.
• Citizens and Advocacy Groups: Patients, researchers, and health advocates who rely on federal health programs, as committee changes could influence funding and regulations for services like insurance or disease control.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As a House resolution, it only binds the House of Representatives and can be changed by future resolutions; it does not require Senate approval or presidential signature, making it a procedural tool rather than substantive law.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I of the U.S. Constitution to set its own internal rules, ensuring balanced oversight without altering the separation of powers.
• Political: Represents a reorganization of committee power, potentially favoring members interested in health policy while diluting influence in existing committees. It could spark partisan debates over committee assignments and priorities, especially in a divided Congress, but promotes specialization in a critical area like healthcare amid ongoing national challenges.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
• 2025-01-03: Submitted in House
• 2025-01-03: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• House Endeavor to Accelerate a Legislative Transformation of Healthcare Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (2 pages)