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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) released the following statement highlighting legislative accomplishments during the second session of the 116^th Congress.

“Due to the human and financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been a very challenging year for Kentucky families and workers,” said Guthrie. “Throughout this public health emergency, I have been working tirelessly on behalf of Kentuckians to support relief for small businesses and boost unemployment benefits to help hard-working Kentuckians who are struggling during this pandemic. I have also supported funding for COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution to help us beat this virus. In my role as the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I have conducted congressional oversight of COVID-19 response efforts and released recommendations for Congress, states, and other entities regarding COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and the health care supply chain through the Second Wave Preparedness Project. I have also championed legislation to protect patients from counterfeit medical devices, advance Alzheimer’s care planning, and keep the country’s competitive edge in emerging technologies. I look forward to continuing to serve Kentuckians by helping defeat the Invisible Enemy and renew, restore, and rebuild our great country.”

Guthrie legislative accomplishments during the second session of the 116^th Congress and the Second Wave Preparedness Project:

•  The Safeguarding Therapeutics Act (H.R. 5663) helps prevent potentially dangerous counterfeit medical devices from reaching American patients by giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to destroy fake counterfeit medical devices coming into the country. This bill has been passed by Congress and is awaiting the president’s signature.
• The Beat China by Harnessing Important, National Airwaves for 5G Act of 2020 or The Beat CHINA for 5G Act (H.R. 8545) helps boost connectivity, close the digital divide, and keep America’s competitive edge against China in 21st–century technologies by making more spectrum available to deploy 5G technology. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• The Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 1873) promotes Alzheimer’s care planning by  requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to educate health care providers on Medicare care planning benefits and identify barriers to care planning. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• The American Competitive of a More Productive Emerging Tech Economy Act, or American COMPETE Act (H.R. 8132), which includes the Countering Online Harms Act and the Advancing Blockchain Act introduced by Guthrie, helps ensure American leadership in emerging technologies. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• The Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources (EMPOWER) and Care Act (H.R. 1342) reauthorizes Money Follows the Person (MFP) for three years, which helps Medicaid beneficiaries receive care in their own home instead of a nursing home or institution. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• The MODERN Labeling Act (H.R. 5668) updates outdated drug labels so patients and providers have current information on treatment options. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• The Secure and Trusted Communications Act (H.R. 4998) strengthens the security of our telecommunications networks by removing and replacing untrusted equipment. This bill was signed into law on March 12, 2020 and was fully funded on December 27, 2020.
• Funding for the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act of 2018 (H.R. 5327) was approved on December 27, 2020. H.R. 5327 became law though the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which authorized the creation of comprehensive opioid recovery centers throughout the nation.
• The Ceiling Fan Improvement Act (H.R. 5758) updates the Department of Energy’s (DOE) conservation standards of large-diameter fans to better account for its efficiency. This bill was signed into law on December 27, 2020.
• Guthrie and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden (OR-02) released more than 100 recommendations in a series of three pillars to help save time, resources, and lives as the country responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement of the Second Wave Preparedness Project and the first pillar on testing and surveillance can be found HERE. The second pillar on vaccines and therapeutics and the third pillar on the health care supply chain can be found HERE and HERE, respectively.

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