WASHINGTON – Today, the Education and the Workforce Committee passed six bills: 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.
During the markup, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) said: “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.”
H.R. 5646, Stop Campus Hazing Act
Combats hazing and protects students by requiring that universities report hazing incidents under the Clery Act and when an investigation has taken place to confirm a student organization has violated a university hazing policy. The legislation also requires institutions to provide comprehensive hazing prevention programs for faculty and students to avoid hazing before it occurs.
H.R. 7233, Jenna Quinn Law of 2024
Allows existing federal grants to be used to educate students, parents, teachers, and other school employees to recognize, prevent, and safely report child sexual abuse. The bill also directs the Comptroller General of the United States to report on whether these grants are effective or duplicative, ensuring that all efforts to prevent child abuse are targeted for the most success.
H.R. 736, PROTECT Kids Act
Emphasizes the fundamental role of parents in making sensitive decisions regarding their child. As a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, public elementary and middle schools cannot make changes to a student’s pronouns, preferred name, or sex-based accommodations without parental consent.
H.J. Res. 181, Congressional Review Act resolution to stop the Biden-Harris rule limiting access to AHPs
AHPs allow job creators and self-employed individuals to pool their resources and expand access to affordable health care options that would be out of reach otherwise. H.J. Res. 181 will stop the Biden-Harris administration from blocking the expansion of AHPs so health care options increase, health insurance costs are lowered, and small and large businesses are on the same playing field.
H.R. 3120, Healthy Competition for Better Care Act
By targeting anticompetitive terms too often included in contracts, H.R. 3120 encourages a more open market where employers have better leverage to lower costs and expand access to care. This legislation fosters competition, which drives innovation, improves quality, and reduces costs—particularly in the face of ongoing consolidation in the health care industry.
H.R. 9457, Transparent Telehealth Bills Act of 2024
Seeks to ban unnecessary hospital facility fees for telehealth. 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.
