In the News

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today held a panel discussion entitled, "Conversation on Child Cures." The discussion featured patients and advocates, including an 18-year-old young man with cystic fibrosis and parents of children with rare diseases. Rock legend Roger Daltrey of The Who, co-founder of Teen Cancer America, headlined the conversation and spoke in support of H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act.

Celeb: Roger Daltrey, the legendary frontman for British rock outfit The Who.

Cause: Daltrey and The Who’s guitarist, Pete Townshend, founded Teen Cancer America, an organization that encourages hospitals to cater better to patients who are too old for cancer-wing programs and playrooms aimed at kids — and yet too young for the adult facilities.

To avoid election turbulence, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) hope Congress passes by July 4 a bill that combines the House's 21st Century Cures Act and the Senate's Innovation for Healthier Americans Act.

The two lawmakers, along with Energy & Commerce ranking Democrat Frank Pallone (NJ), spoke Wednesday (March 23) at an event their committee organized on children and teens with rare diseases.

Representative Diana DeGette assured that if she is reelected she will propose a group of bills to help students who are burdened by student debt. DeGette believes that a loan forgiveness plan must be approved for those graduates who choose to work in public service or in the non-profit industry. The Democratic representative also believes that Congress must legislate to reduce interest rates on student loans and to increase scholarship funding.

Lawmakers delved into the inner workings of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, needling Chairman Tom Wheeler about the agency’s openness (or lack thereof) with the American public when drafting or tweaking rules that govern the telecom industry.

Top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee are similarly worried about bipartisan divides on the five-person commission. They are particularly sympathetic to claims from Republican commissioners that they are being ignored and excluded from proceedings.

Rock legend Roger Daltrey took the stage for a different type of show Wednesday on Capitol Hill where he headlined a “Conversation on Child Cures."

The Who frontman was joined by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Diana Degette (D-Colo.), as well as parents and survivors of deadly diseases.

Daltrey, the co-founder of Teen Cancer America, spoke on his passion for the charity and the need for young adolescents to have their own wing of hospitals.

Vice President Joe Biden met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday to discuss a medical innovation bill that could be the path to funding for his cancer “moonshot.”

Biden met with House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Rep. Diana Degette (D-Colo.), who are the leaders of the House’s 21st Century Cures effort.

Also at the meeting were Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and ranking member Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

This election cycle has placed a renewed focus on money's influence in politics.