The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved 16 bipartisan bills on July 21, including two AAMC-supported bills that would improve maternal health and avoid a Medicaid funding cliff for Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
The committee advanced by voice vote the AAMC-endorsed Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021 (H.R. 4387) [refer to Washington Highlights, May 27] and the Supporting Medicaid in the U.S. Territories Act (H.R. 4406). The vote follows approval of the bills by the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on July 15, though the full committee did not consider all of the bills cleared by the subcommittee [refer to Washington Highlights, July 16].
Following the full committee vote, Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) applauded the bipartisan work of the committee and stated that the bills “will strengthen the health and well-being of Americans.”