Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at the Committee's mark up of H.R. 5646, Stop Campus Hazing Act; H.R. 7233, Jenna Quinn Law of 2024; H.R. 736, PROTECT Kids Act; H.J. Res. 181, Congressional Review Act resolution to stop the Biden-Harris rule limiting access to Association Health Plans (AHPs); H.R. 3120, Healthy Competition for Better Care Act; and H.R. 9457, Transparent Telehealth Bills Act of 2024:

"Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce is taking action on several bipartisan bills that will improve the health, safety, and well-being of the American people.
 
"We start with a tranche of bills aimed at student and child safety, including H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA). Hazing is a persistent issue that endangers young lives and undermines the very promise of an education environment conducive to learning. By strengthening policies around hazing prevention and reporting, we are reinforcing the message that student safety comes first.
 
"Next, we turn to H.R. 7233, the Jenna Quinn Law of 2024, introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX). This bill’s story begins with its namesake, Jenna Quinn, a teenage sexual assault survivor. Legislation in Jenna’s name was enacted in the state of Texas in 2009 and has already saved countless children from abuse. Now, the Committee has a chance to apply some of its key protections across the country.
 
"This bill allows for grants for child sexual abuse prevention programs in schools, equipping educators to recognize and report signs of abuse early. Jenna Quinn's story reminds us of the urgency to act, and this bill ensures that we continue to safeguard vulnerable children from preventable cases of sexual assault.
 
"I also want to highlight H.R. 736, the PROTECT Kids Act. Thank you to Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) for introducing this bill that requires schools to obtain parental consent before making changes to a minor child's name, pronouns, or sex-based accommodations. It’s a simple but critical way to ensure parents are involved in the decisions that impact their children’s lives. While respecting the privacy of students, this bill reinforces the role of parents as the primary decision-makers in their children’s education and well-being. The Committee will always fight for parental rights.

"Finally, the Committee is marking up three bills dedicated to our continued goal of helping lower health care costs for working Americans.

"H.J. Res. 181, also introduced by Rep. Walberg, is a great step in that direction. H.J. Res. 181 is a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving the Biden-Harris administration rule making it harder to form AHPs. AHPs unlock affordable health insurance options, yet the Biden-Harris administration rule restricts small businesses from accessing this vital tool. In passing this resolution, the Committee will help small businesses provide their employees with high-quality coverage at lower costs.
 
"Additionally, H.R. 3120, the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act, introduced by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), is a bold step forward in ensuring our health care system remains competitive and transparent. By targeting anticompetitive terms too often included in contracts, this bill encourages a more open market where employers have better leverage to lower costs and expand access to care. We know that competition drives innovation, improves quality, and reduces costs—this legislation aims to do just that, particularly in the face of ongoing consolidation in the health care industry.
 
"The last bill today aimed at tackling health care costs is H.R. 9457, the Transparent Telehealth Bills Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL). It seeks to ban unnecessary hospital facility fees for telehealth services accessed from the comfort of one’s home. With 82 percent of Americans opposing these fees, this legislation is a common-sense solution that will protect patients and employers from unjustified costs and further reduce overall health care expenses.
 
"The bills before us today touch on some of the most important issues facing our country—from student safety and child protection to health care access and parental rights. I am grateful to all the Members who have worked diligently to bring these bills to the forefront, and I am confident that by advancing these pieces of legislation, we are making meaningful strides in the well-being of our constituents and accountability from our government.
 
"With that, let’s move these bills forward with the urgency they are due and that the American people expect from their elected representatives."

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