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Legislative Counsel Announcement

(1-4-01) Yesterday, the GOP Conference confirmed the selections made earlier in the day by the GOP Steering Committee regarding committee chairmen and committee assignments. Following are some of the significant results of this election and the implications for health care policy in the 107th Congress.

Energy and Commerce Committee

The Commerce Committee has been renamed the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is what it was known as until the start of the 104th Congress. In addition to the name change, the Energy and Commerce Committee has had some of its jurisdiction carved out.

Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Rep. Michael Oxley (R-OH) have been waging a high-profile battle for the Commerce gavel throughout the last several months. In an effort to accommodate both members, the financial services jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee were removed and combined with the jurisdiction of the old Banking and Financial Services Committee, creating a new Financial Services Committee, which Rep. Oxley will chair in the 107th Congress.

Rep. Tauzin will chair the Energy and Commerce Committee, which will retain its jurisdiction over Medicaid, parts of Medicare, the State Childrens' Health Insurance Program, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Public Health Service Act.

Rep. Tauzin, who chaired the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, has not been particularly active on health care issues. It is unclear at this point what the health care priorities of the Energy and Commerce Committee will be in the 107th Congress.

Committee on Ways and Means

Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) was named chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee for the 107th Congress. Rep. Philip Crane (R-IL), who had more seniority than Rep. Thomas, was passed over for the post in what was a close, hotly contested race. Rep. Thomas served as chairman of the Health Subcommittee prior to the 107th Congress, and served as Speaker Dennis Hastert's point man on most health care issues, including prescription drugs, patients' bill of rights, and Medicare "givebacks."

Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) will chair the Health Subcommittee. Rep. Johnson has been active on health care issues, and has indicated that a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, making long-term care insurance more available and affordable, and addressing the nation's nursing shortages will be among her priorities.

Education and the Workforce

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) was named chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, which has jurisdiction over vocational rehabilitation programs and work incentive programs. Rep. Boehner has been active on health care issues in the past and was named a conferee to the patients' rights conference committee. His committee will likely receive a great deal of exposure if President-elect George W. Bush follows through with his promise to make education his top priority.