Good morning, Niaz

New Witness Added: CMS Administrator Confirmed for March 18 Drug Pricing Hearing

Senate Finance Committee confirmed CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz will testify at the March 18 Medicare Drug Pricing Oversight hearing. Administrator expected to present new CMS data showing 62% average discount achieved in first-year negotiations. This is the first public testimony since expanded negotiation list publication.

Senate Armed Services Committee Announces FY2027 NDAA Markup Date — April 2

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Wicker confirmed the FY2027 NDAA markup will begin April 2, 2026. Staff draft includes $12B industrial base resilience fund, expanded CMMC Phase 3 requirements for defense subcontractors, and new restrictions on Chinese-sourced critical minerals in defense supply chains.

Senate EPW Committee Adds NEPA Reform Amendment — Transit Categorical Exclusion Included

Senate Environment & Public Works Committee staff released draft amendment language for April 16 hearing that includes a new categorical exclusion for urban transit capital projects under NEPA. The exclusion would apply to projects under $500M with prior environmental review documentation, potentially cutting review timelines from 4 years to 18 months.

HASC Cybersecurity Hearing Witness List Finalized — Small Contractor Coalition Included

House Armed Services Committee finalized witness list for March 31 CMMC hearing. Notably, a small defense contractor coalition representative was added at the request of Rep. Smith, alongside DoD CISO, DCSA Director, and a third-party assessor. This is the first hearing where small contractor compliance burden will receive direct committee attention.

Senate Energy Committee Hearing Rescheduled — DOE Deputy Secretary Added as Witness

Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee rescheduled the DOE Clean Energy Deployment hearing from March 19 to March 21 due to a Senate floor vote conflict. DOE Deputy Secretary was added to witness roster, elevating the significance of the hearing. New draft agenda includes a dedicated panel on LPO loan processing timelines.