Hearing Update Feed
5 updates detected this week
Today, March 14
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.
Brief health coalition members on CMS testimony talking points before March 18. Prepare counter-narrative on innovation investment data. Coordinate with Cassidy office on committee response strategy.
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.
Activate defense practice engagement immediately. Schedule member calls with Wicker and Reed offices before March 25. Prepare CMMC small business extension amendment language.
Yesterday, March 13
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.
Immediate engagement with EPW staff on amendment language. Provide transit authority data on NEPA delays to support categorical exclusion expansion. Monitor for clean energy project siting provisions.
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.
Coordinate with small contractor coalition witness on testimony alignment. Prepare written statements from 2 consortium members to submit as hearing record supplements. Target Rogers and Smith offices for post-hearing meetings.
Thursday, March 12
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.
Update member schedules for March 21 date. Prepare pre-hearing briefing materials for DOE Deputy Secretary outreach. Submit LPO application status questions for the record.