One of the best ways to address inflation is to secure our supply chains for critical components like semiconductors and microchips that are essential to domestic manufacturing.  With the Senate now scheduled to amend the America COMPETES Act of 2022 with its own version and send it back to us, the House will vote to go to conference this work period.  Together, we are moving one step closer to securing the enactment of a bipartisan innovation bill that will secure our supply chains and help bring costs down while ramping innovation up.  I hope that House and Senate conferees will work quickly to resolve differences so that we can come together and approve a conference report that builds on the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and achieves many of the goals of the Make It In America plan.  Whenever a final version is ready for consideration, the House will take action alongside the Senate to send an innovation, manufacturing, and jobs bill to President Biden for his signature.

As we continue looking for ways to bring costs down for Americans, I welcome Leader Schumer’s remarks in support of bipartisan negotiations toward legislation that would cap the price of insulin – a critical priority for our Caucus that would make a world of difference for Americans struggling to afford insulin.  Last year, the House passed legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month, a game-changer for those with diabetes and their families. The House is ready to take quick action on this priority and other measures to bring prices down for consumers in our country.    During the week of March 28, the House will take up legislation to help Americans save for retirement.  Building on their bipartisan SECURE Act from 2019, Chairman Neal and Members of the Ways and Means Committee marked up H.R. 2954, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, last year, and it includes bipartisan provisions from bills introduced by many of our Members.  By expanding automatic enrollment in employer provided retirement plans, simplifying rules for small businesses, and helping those near retirement save more for longer, this legislation will help increase Americans’ access to retirement funds and help families save for the future.  I also want to thank Chairman Bobby Scott and Members of the Education and Labor Committee for their work moving this legislation forward by marking up several critical components that will benefit millions of Americans.

In addition, next week the House will consider H.R. 3617, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, critical legislation that will restore justice to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by harsh penalties for possessing even small amounts of marijuana.  Sponsored by Chairman Nadler of the Judiciary Committee, along with the leadership of Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Barbara Lee, this legislation – which the House passed last Congress – would decriminalize marijuana, expunge the federal arrests and convictions of nonviolent marijuana offenders, prohibit the denial of federal public benefits, and provide resources to support long-term economic recovery efforts for communities of color.    As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, next week the House also will take up S. 3294, the Senate-passed companion to legislation introduced by Rep. Lois Frankel to authorize the placement of statues in the U.S. Capitol of former Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  These trailblazing women ought to be recognized among the pantheon of great Americans in our Capitol, and the House will consider S. 3294 under suspension of the rules.  I hope we can come together to celebrate these outstanding exemplars of justice by passing this legislation with strong bipartisan support and sending it to President Biden’s desk.    During the week of March 28, the House will also consider H.R. 6865, the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, named for our late colleague.  I want to thank Chairman DeFazio and Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their hard work on this legislation, which we will consider under suspension.  I also want to thank them for their efforts to mark up additional bills that the House will consider under suspension this work period, including H.R. 5706, the Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act, and H.R. 5547, Rep. Nikema Williams’s Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act.    The following week, we expect to be ready to consider a supplemental appropriation bill to fund our continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic by preparing for the next variant before it arrives, stepping up vaccination and therapeutic capacity both here and abroad. The House will be ready to act on this critical priority as soon as the Senate sends us a bill.    Also that week, the House will vote on H.R. 1916, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act.  Sponsored by Rep. Eshoo and Rep. Ferguson, this broadly bipartisan and popular legislation will close a loophole that allowed insurers to deny coverage for corrective vision and dental treatments to help individuals born with congenital abnormalities or birth defects.  Their bill would require insurers to cover these critical procedures and help families access the affordable care for their children that they deserve.    As a reminder, I will provide sufficient advance notice of any changes to the House schedule.  I continue to urge all Members to help combat the spread of COVID-19 by following health guidelines from the Office of the Attending Physician and from local health officials in your districts.  I look forward to continuing to work with you throughout the remainder of March and April as we press ahead with our agenda of security, justice, equality, and opportunity for all.    Sincerely,

  STENY H. HOYER House Majority Leader