Public Health

Latest News

Committee to Hold Hearing on Domestic HIV Epidemic

The Committee will hold a hearing titled, “The Domestic Epidemic is Worse than We Thought: A Wake-Up Call for HIV Prevention” on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Committee to Hold Hearing on HIV/AIDS

The Committee will hold a hearing in September to consider the implications of new HIV incidence numbers announced by the Centers for Disease Control.

Chairman Waxman Delivers Democratic Radio Address

On August 2, 2008, Chairman Waxman delivered the Democratic Radio Address. In his address, Chairman Waxman discussed critical legislation passed by the House this week that addresses the health and safety of America’s children.

Chairman Waxman's Statement on the New CDC HIV Incidence Numbers

Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement today upon the release of new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HIV incidence numbers.

Committee Holds Hearing on Terminations of Individual Health Insurance Policies

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding a hearing titled, “Business Practices in the Individual Health Insurance Market: Terminations of Coverage” on Thursday, July 17, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Chairman Waxman Questions Proposed Rule Regarding Automobile Roof Safety

In a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Peters, Chairman Waxman questioned a proposed rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that fails to ensure that automobile roofs are strong enough to protect passengers in rollover crashes. Chairman Waxman urged the Secretary to issue a strong rule that will significantly reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by the crushing of vehicle roofs during rollovers.

Investigation Continues into Whether FDA Regulation Should Bar Liability Claims

Following a May 14, 2008, hearing, Chairman Waxman wrote to the FDA to request documents related to the agency’s recent reversal of its long-standing position on preemption of state product liability lawsuits relating to FDA-approved drugs and medical devices.

Committee Holds Hearing on Whether FDA Regulation Should Bar Liability Claims

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled, “Should FDA Drug and Medical Device Regulation Bar State Liability Claims?” on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Committee Surveys State Hospital Associations Regarding Healthcare Associated Infections

Chairman Waxman sent letters to each of the nation’s state hospital associations requesting information about their efforts to halt the epidemic of healthcare associated infections and whether proven solutions have been implemented.

Committee Holds Hearing Assessing the Evidence of Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs

The Committee held a hearing titled, “Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence” on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic

The Committee held a hearing titled, “Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic” at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Democrats Urge Trade Ambassador to Focus on Access to Medicines

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab, Chairman Waxman and twenty-six other Members of Congress asked that in reviewing the global state of intellectual property rights the Ambassador act upon the United States’ commitment to respecting measures that improve access to live-saving medicines in developing countries.

Chairman Waxman Statement on EPA’s Final Rule on Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting

Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement in response to EPA’s issuance of a final rule on lead renovation, repair, and painting.

Members Urge Office of National Drug Control Policy to Support Needle Exchange Programs

In a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Chairman Waxman and Rep. Barbara Lee responded to Director John Walter’s unsupported assertion that needle exchange programs “support” injection drug use. The letter cites numerous studies that found needle exchange programs help reduce the spread of HIV and other dangerous infectious diseases without encouraging or increasing drug use, and in fact provide opportunities to reduce illegal drug use.

Committee Holds Hearing on Myths and Facts about Human Growth Hormone, B12, and Other Substances

The full Committee held a hearing at 10:00 a.m. to examine the myths and facts about performance-enhancing substances such as human growth hormone, B12 and other substances.

Members Call on the Science Board to Assess Resources Needed to Remedy FDA's Funding Crisis

Reps. Henry A. Waxman, John D. Dingell, Bart Stupak, and Frank Pallone, Jr., called on members of one of FDA’s own advisory committees to provide Congress with its assessment of the resources needed to remedy the crisis at the agency stemming from years of chronic underfunding.

Chairman Waxman Requests Briefing on Inspections of Chinese Drug Manufacturer

In a letter to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, Chairman Waxman requested a briefing on FDA inspections of all facilities owned by the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group that produce drugs for the United States. The Chinese company is currently under criminal investigation in China for the production of tainted leukemia drugs and manufactures at least one drug for export to the United States.

Full Committee Holds Hearing on CDC Program Providing Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

The full Committee held a hearing on “Addressing the Screening Gap: The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.” The hearing examined the National Breast and Cervical Cancer program which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide mammograms, pap smears, and other screening exams for breast and cervical cancer to low-income women without another source of coverage.

Members of Congress Question FDA Proposal Designed to Create Liability Shield for Drug and Device Companies

Today Representatives Henry A. Waxman, John D. Dingell, Frank Pallone, Jr., Rosa L. DeLauro, and Edward Markey, and Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Patrick J. Leahy, and Christopher J. Dodd, questioned the basis for a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal that was apparently designed to shield pharmaceutical and device companies from liability for injuries sustained by American consumers as a result of unsafe products.

Chairman Waxman Requests FDA Provide Documents Regarding Drug Company Marketing Loophole

On January 22, Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach requesting documents related to the FDA’s draft guidance allowing drug companies to use journal articles to promote potentially dangerous off-label uses of drugs and medical devices without prior FDA review and approval. According to FDA minutes of a meeting, Dan Troy and other drug company representatives urged FDA to issue guidance to protect the companies from “Federal prosecutors pursuing distributors of this information for criminal conduct.”

Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Expanded HIV Testing

Chairman Waxman asks CDC Director Gerberding and HRSA Director Duke to conduct additional analysis to answer questions about the impact of the expanded testing program on the demand for care and treatment of HIV. Chairman Waxman also asks Dr. Gerberding to explain CDC’s position on the role of prevention counseling provided in conjunction with testing.

Legislation Introduced to Increase Adult Access to Life-Saving Vaccines

Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, and Rep. Roybal-Allard introduced a package of bills that will help ensure that adults have access to life-saving vaccines. These vaccines include a new vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer as well as vaccines again seasonal influenza, certain pneumonias, Hepatitis B, and shingles, among others.

Waxman Requests Information About Afghan Maternity Hospital

In a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt, Chairman Waxman expressed concern over reports of serious problems in the HHS-supported maternity hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Chairman Waxman Urges Strong Response to Report on FDA Resource Shortfalls

Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, Secretary Leavitt, and OMB Director Nussle regarding the FDA Science Board’s Subcommittee on Science and Technology report that found that funding shortages at FDA have undermined science and endangered public health. Chairman Waxman urges these agencies to request adequate funding and resources for FDA.

Chairman Waxman Urges FDA Not to Open Loophole

Chairman Waxman released a draft of an internal FDA guidance that would allow drug companies to use journal articles to promote potentially dangerous uses of drugs and medical devices without prior FDA review and approval.

Displaying Items 1 to 25 of 122:

Previous Page • Next Page

[1] • [2] • [3] • [4] • [5]