▶ 0:16:19>> please come to order.
▶ 0:16:30Chair Cassidy: We will start with opening statements. We do not have a quorum at. -- yet. Today at the committee is considering multiple bipartisan pro-worker, profamily and pro-patient bill strengthening americans access to quality health care in retirement benefits. I really appreciate colleagues working on these bills. When the committee sets politics aside and works together, we can deliver real results for american families.
▶ 0:17:00Chair Cassidy: I hope this to be the first of many that will move. We are voting to increase user stock, and build wealth for themselves and their families. Sinister's marshall and kane threw on the clarifies federal law ensuring they can sell shares of their company to employees without the fear of frivolous lawsuits.
▶ 0:17:30Chair Cassidy: My employee ownership representation act as two new board members to the advisory council. Senator hassan is offered an amendment to the bill which I look forward to supporting that improves the bill and I appreciate her thoughtful engagement. I also want to move the committee is not voting on the employee ownership fairness act to authorize them to give to retirement plans.
▶ 0:18:01Chair Cassidy: This strengthens employee ownership and puts more money in worker's pockets. Several committee members from both sides have expressed strong support for the goals of the legislation, but the bill is not on today's agenda and we are working to refine the policy. To get it can appear in the future.
▶ 0:18:22Chair Cassidy: The committee is reauthorizing the over the over-the-counter monograph drug user fee amendment to improve the food and drug administration review of otc drugs so they can be more quickly available while start -- still ensuring safety. The committee held a hearing for enhancing it.
▶ 0:18:41Chair Cassidy: And the work of the senators to include additional policy writers to speed up the review and allow more drugs available otc. The uniform services leave parity act now gives the same leave available to other members of the uniformed services.
▶ 0:19:08Chair Cassidy: Senator scott and smith improving care and rule -- rural american act addresses health care needs of rural communities by reauthorizing grant programs supporting access to screenings telehealth services and chronic disease management in -- important for this committee.
▶ 0:19:34Chair Cassidy: The kay hagan take reauthorization act is named in honor of the former senator kay hagan of north carolina who passed away from a rare tickborne disease in 2019. Specifically it improves coordination among federal agencies, health departments and scientists and builds regional capabilities to respond to vectorborne disease outbreaks. I think senator collins for her steadfast leadership on this issue critical to us all.
▶ 0:20:09Chair Cassidy: And I look forward to advancing the bills and with that I recognize senator sanders.
▶ 0:20:15Sen. Sanders: Thank you very much, Mr. chairman. I will be supporting all of the pieces of legislation we have before us. I am pleased that we have focused attention on the need to improve and expand worker ownership.
▶ 0:20:38Sen. Sanders: We live in a moment in american history where we have more income and wealth inequality and we have ever had and we are more concentration of ownership than we have ever had and I think we live in a moment where millions of workers feel kind of powerless as to what their economic future can be here tomorrow, some company can announce they are moving to china and shutting down and workers have nothing to say about that.
▶ 0:21:04Sen. Sanders: In antidote to that is what we have been talking about and I enjoyed here -- the hearing we had last week. I think all the witnesses were very good. How do you empower workers and create a climate where workers themselves are involved in the decision-making process so that they are not just cogs in a machine. That is our goal. I think the legislation we are looking at today is a modest, modest step forward.
▶ 0:21:30Sen. Sanders: I have proposed a major piece of legislation which would enable workers and small business owners all over the country to get more information as to how they can move forward to worker ownerships.
▶ 0:21:48Sen. Sanders: I know in vermont and we heard from the panelists last week that there are many small businesses, started a business, work hard and have 20 or 30 employees that would rather leave it to their employees if they had a tax breaks and knowledge as to how to do that. We need financial support from the federal government to help those workers and those employees move forward. We are not doing that today.
▶ 0:22:16Sen. Sanders: I hope we will do that in the near future. Having said that, Mr. chairman, I will be supporting the pieces of legislation that we are discussing today.
▶ 0:22:29Chair Cassidy: I will ask members to raise the amendments they wish to discuss. Approximate 12 will stand for an amendment. All of my folks need to be back for final passage in we need you in your chair throughout the boat.
▶ 0:22:52Chair Cassidy: If you need to leave because everyone has a lot of committees, then we will let you know and coordinate with you good with that, does anyone have an amendment they would like to raise? Oh, I'm sorry. S. 2292 the over-the-counter monograph drug user fee amendments , s.
▶ 0:23:19Chair Cassidy: 1440, uniformed services leave parity act s. 2398, kay hagan tick , reauthorization act s. 2403, retire through ownership act s. 1728, employee ownership representation act.
▶ 0:23:39Chair Cassidy: I ask you to limit remarks to two minutes when discussing bills because we have a lot to go through it as a reminder when discussing an amendment, please identify what you're discussing it by name and number.
▶ 0:23:54Sen. Sanders: I call up s. 2403. We need clear guidance for worker protections. This amendment clarifies the department of labor retains the right to regulate around the valuation to protect workers and make sure fiduciary responsibilities apply. I think senators for supporting this amendment.
▶ 0:24:26Sen. Sanders: The authors of the legislation for supporting this amendment and I hope my colleagues can support it.
▶ 0:24:31Chair Cassidy: Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, we moved to vote. The interment will be voting >> aye. -- will be voting aye.
▶ 0:24:54Chair Cassidy: >> for the information of everybody, the minority graciously waved the quorum requirement to allow us to proceed. >> yes by proxy. >> senator collins. >> yes by proxy.
▶ 0:25:25Chair Cassidy: >> senator murkowski. >> aye. >> senator marshall. >> yes by proxy. >> senator scott. Senator hawley. >> yes by proxy. Senator banks. >> aye. >> senator moody. >> yes by proxy.
▶ 0:25:59Chair Cassidy: Senator sanders. >> yes. >> senator murray. >> senator baldwin. >> aye by proxy. >> senator hassan. Aye by proxy. >> chairman cassidy.
▶ 0:26:29Chair Cassidy: >> aye. >> I have 23 ayes. No nas.
▶ 0:26:38Chair Cassidy: The minimum passes. We have eight managers amendment to s. 2403 to adopt a substitute and have it considered original text for the purpose of further amendments. All those in favor please say aye the motion is agreed to. That is the retire through ownership act. Does anyone have another amendment?
▶ 0:27:12Sen. Kim: Chairman, I am not going to bring it up for a vote but I want to fly that filed an amendment to ensure that the otc monograph system continues to rely on the so-called generally recognize safe and effective at standard. I understand there is more work to be done on this to get this in the shape we want good I look forward to the conversation ahead and look for the work of the committee on it. With that, I yield back.
▶ 0:27:40Sen. Sanders: I call up s. 1728 given the benefits of employee ownership the department of labor should do everything they can to support the expansion.
▶ 0:27:51Chair Cassidy: Which is this? S. 1728 -- Sen. sanders: s. 1728 .
▶ 0:28:03Chair Cassidy: Do I have any more of these? >> to the managers amendment.
▶ 0:28:11Chair Cassidy: We have a managers amendment to s. 1728 I moved to approve and have it considered original text for the purpose of further amendments and this is the employee ownership representation act. All in favor please say aye. The aye habits. The motion is agreed to.
▶ 0:28:37Sen. Sanders: I call up amendment number one to s. 2398, the department of labor should do everything to support the expansion of employee owned businesses this amendment builds on the bipartisan legislation we passed a few years ago to establish employee ownership centers throughout the country, educate workers and retiring business owners.
▶ 0:29:00Sen. Sanders: This amendment would create an employee ownership counsel at the department of labor and required to be appropriately staffed pretty it would also establish a seven member advisory council on employee ownership in the department of labor. This amendment should be noncontroversial and I asked my colleagues to support it.
▶ 0:29:17Chair Cassidy: This is 1728 sanders one. Are there any comments, questions or anything? Seeing no, we will move to a vote and interment will be voting aye. >> senator paul. >>aye by proxy. >> senator collins. Aye by proxy.
▶ 0:29:48Chair Cassidy: >> senator murkowski. Aye by proxy. >> senator scott. >> senator hawley. >> aye by proxy. >> senator banks. >> aye. >> senator moody. >> aye by proxy.
▶ 0:30:18Sen. Sanders: . Aye. >> senator murray. Aye. >> senator baldwin. Aye. >> senator kaine. >> aye by proxy. . >> senator hassan. >> aye by proxy. >> senator kim.
▶ 0:30:48Sen. Sanders: Aye. >> chairman cassidy. >> aye. I have 25 ayes. --a -- ayes.
▶ 0:31:19Sen. Sanders: I'm going to offer this amendment for senator hassan on s 1728, the employee owner representation act would amendment -- give the employee ownership advocate at the department of labor to support the formation and success of employee ownership.
▶ 0:31:44Sen. Sanders: I appreciate the partnership on this amendment and the note that the association and employee owned s corporations support this amendment as well. I asked for my colleagues support.
▶ 0:31:57Chair Cassidy: Any comments on hassan number one on s. 1728. Seeing none we will go to a vote . >> senator paul.
▶ 0:32:15Sen. Paul: Aye tibor proxy.
▶ 0:32:19Sen. Collins: Aye by proxy. >> senator marshall. >> aye by proxy. >> senator scott. >> aye by proxy. >> senator banks. Senator husted. Aye. >> senator sanders. Aye. >> senator baldwin.
▶ 0:32:50Sen. Collins: >> aye. >> senator hassan. Aye. >> senator markey. >> aye aye by proxy. >> senator alsobrooks. >> aye by proxy. >> I have 25 ayes and a zero nays.
▶ 0:33:18Chair Cassidy: Will move to s. 2292 -- other anymore on 1728? Seeing none I will begin with consideration of s 2292 the over-the-counter monograph drug user fee amendments and before I introduce this I recognize senator banks for two minutes.
▶ 0:33:42Chair Cassidy: >> I will be very brief pretty over monograph vis-à-vis authorization amendments are common sense reform to the fda process of reviewing and approving nonprescription drugs that americans use every day. I want to thank the chairman, senator kaine for working with me, senator kim, senator husted, senator hassan and the fda and work with me to reauthorize through 2030.
▶ 0:34:10Chair Cassidy: This saves taxpayer dollars and helps the fda work more effectively and speeding up the process and making reforms that will do more with less money with the $32 that omufa collected and will make them more effective. With that, yield back.
▶ 0:34:33Chair Cassidy: We have eight management member which I moved to adopt s. 2292 and a substitute and have it considered original text for the purpose of further amendments. All those in favor please say I. >> aye. Oppose satan oppose sad say nay.
▶ 0:34:57Chair Cassidy: Supporting nonclinical testing methods is important so we don't limit ourselves to unnecessary frameworks that insurance limit medical innovation. I look forward to working on this policy pursued in this committee. Senator who studied.
▶ 0:35:15Sen. Husted: I appreciate the opportunity -- senator who opportunity -- senator w husted. Several who severaen. Husted these medications keep americans
▶ 0:35:37Healthy: And reduce the strain on health care providers. I'm proud to introduce with senator hassan for the smart otc app to make it easier for fda to approve prescription drugs for over-the-counter use. The smart otc act directs the fda to explain clearly what types of drug categories might be candidates for patients to access over the counter.
▶ 0:36:02Healthy: It also provides a framework for fda to engage with sponsors of new applications and I would like to thank senator hassan and her staff for working with me on this important issue that will improve patient access and give more options. The bottom line is this provision will improve access to medications in a safe and affordable manner and is good progress for americans.
▶ 0:36:27Chair Cassidy: Does anyone have an amendment they would like to propose? Seeing no more amendments come will consider consideration of s.
▶ 0:36:48Chair Cassidy: 1440 uniformed services leave , the parity act and I recognize senator murkowski, for two minutes.
▶ 0:37:02Sen. Murkowski: I am pleased to be able to introduce this measure. With senator duckworth and this is an effort to provide parity to the uniformed service, the united states public health and the public health services commission core is the only uniform service with a public health mission could we have seen them in our states when there are emergencies, natural
▶ 0:37:32Sen. Murkowski: Disasters. They are there. But unfortunately, this is the only federal entity, these officers are the only entity uniformed and civilian without access to parity when it comes to certain benefits. They are the only ones to not have extended parental leave, literally the last federal service members without that.
▶ 0:38:01Sen. Murkowski: Their counterparts in all uniformed services receive comprehensive leave benefits under title x. So this is an effort to make sure that recruiting health confessionals across the country is equitable and fair.
▶ 0:38:17Sen. Murkowski: What we do is extend title x leave authorities to the public health service commission for ensuring we have consistent standards across all uniformed services could we eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies by aligning the phs with the existing framework like we do with tri-care and other benefits . This is about basic fairness regarding those who are serving us and I would urge all my colleagues to support.
▶ 0:38:41Chair Cassidy: Are there any amendments to this bill? Seeing none, we shall proceed. Next we will go to s. 2301, improving care in rule american reauthorize -- reauthorization act of 2025. We have both of the bill sponsors here. I will start with senator tim scott -- to introduce the bill.
▶ 0:39:10Sen. Scott: It has been my pleasure to work with my colleagues on this committee in cosponsoring the bill including senator smith and came to pass legislation that improves the health of all communities, specifically rural communities. This bill improves access to care for the rural communities. Over 30% of south carolinians and one in five americans live in rural areas. Access to care continues to remain a challenge in these -- in these programs are vital to bridging the gaps.
▶ 0:39:39Sen. Scott: That includes language to ensure the funds not on the go to rural communities but include local community involvement and how these programs are run. Rural health care isn't a red or blue state issue. In fact, many of my colleagues on this committee will receive an email on how this programs and grants have impacted states. The data is clear pd programs improve health outcomes and should continue.
▶ 0:40:06Sen. Scott: I look forward to passing this bill today and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting those bills. Thank you. I just want to thank senator scott and others for working on the bill. I was late and didn't get a chance to speak on the bill that I worked on with senator banks but I will think that increase its odds of success that I didn't speak on it.
▶ 0:40:31Chair Cassidy: You are welcome to speak on it.
▶ 0:40:39Sen. Kaine: On this one, senator scott did a good job of laying out what it is, reauthorization for three important programs in virginia and I suspect in many of your states, these programs and health care services outreach grant program, rural development grant program and the small health care provider quality improvement program, these have all provided valuable assistance in virginia.
▶ 0:41:07Sen. Kaine: One of the smallest counties just got their first stop light and it was a big occasion. Paige and shenandoah are larger but they really benefited from these programs. Horizon behavioral health in lynchburg is a really important behavioral health local ngo that received funding to provide access to essential health services. I'm proud of this work and reauthorizing legislation with the senator.
▶ 0:41:36Chair Cassidy: Did you want to comment on the esop.
▶ 0:41:43Sen. Kaine: Let me thank senator marshall who is not here but senator marshall and I worked together on this issue that I think many of us who attended the hearing last week, a very good hearing digging into we would like to have more of them and what are the obstacles.
▶ 0:42:05Sen. Kaine: And one that all witnesses testify to was the challenge of finding the right valuation for the stock of the company when it is going to be sold to the employees. And they should get fair market value and shouldn't have to take a discount because they want to do the right thing and sell to employees but not having the owner too much so that the employees get saddled with big debt is an issue.
▶ 0:42:33Sen. Kaine: A lot of people that want to go into the esop, read that the department of labor will come back and say that was a fair -- unfair evaluation. It uses a lot of irs precedent about how to value small mostly help -- held corporations and if the employer is selling to employees follows the general guidance there will be a safe harbor and there will not be a subsequent action.
▶ 0:43:00Sen. Kaine: So it basically -- and we were supposed to do regulations about valuations and for 50 years they haven't. They have started and stopped a couple of times. This would finally establish a principal. Senator sanders propose an amendment that senator marshall and I thought it was friendly and clarified something we think should be added.
▶ 0:43:22Sen. Kaine: The bill is in good shape and will be one of the things according to witness testimony, that could facilitate more esops being formed. We have one more bill, kay hagan tick reauthorization act .
▶ 0:43:51Sen. Kaine: I will use the bill for the managers amendment and then have her give her two minutes and then we will move straight into a final vote, at which point people can leave. And just again for all of my folks, we will need you in your chair for final passage. We will now begin consideration of s. 2398, the kay hagan tick reauthorization act .
▶ 0:44:22Sen. Kaine: I will recognize senator collins when she arrives. We do have a magic amendment and I moved to a substitute and have it considered original text for the purpose of further amendments. All of those in favor please say I. >> aye. A post sene. -- opposed sene. -- say nay.
▶ 0:44:47Chair Cassidy: S. 2292, s. 2301, s. 2398 and s. 1728 all those in favor say aye. I also ask unanimous consent for support for the bills being considered and enter into the record, I see no objections.
▶ 0:45:19Chair Cassidy: >> are we still stalling for time or no longer expelling.
▶ 0:45:24Chair Cassidy: We are still stalling.
▶ 0:45:30Sen. Kaine: Can I say something about kay hagan.
▶ 0:45:32Chair Cassidy: Yes.
▶ 0:45:36Sen. Kaine: It is very important to name this after her. Talk about a tragedy. She was a great senator and lost her reelection bid, a very healthy and active person and went on a hike in southern virginia not far from where she lived and after that hike she went to africa on a trip and came back and had a very debilitating stroke and everybody thought she must've gotten something in africa and they ran all kinds of tests and
▶ 0:46:06Sen. Kaine: They couldn't find out that this tick very close to home had bitten her and she got a virus. We are familiar with lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever. But this virus is a lesser one that is very serious and it took months for her to be diagnosed for what the actual cost -- because one.
▶ 0:46:36Sen. Kaine: She was in a treatment facility in atlanta with her husband chip by her bedside a month. Eventually recovered enough to come home. She was a fool -- he was able to be at the ribbon-cutting's but died because of this tickborne disease that was not diagnosed properly, although even if it had been, there may have been nothing that could have been done.
▶ 0:47:05Sen. Kaine: I know those of us who served with kate really loved her kind of sparkle and energy and activism. I'm happy that susan and this bill.
▶ 0:47:23Chair Cassidy: We will vote now on block because this is bipartisan and support and we can pull it off. I will wait here until susan can come back, senator collins can come back. We are going to vote on block on s. 2292, s. 1440, s. 2398, s. 1728, s. 2403. Senator paul. >> aye by proxy.
▶ 0:47:51Chair Cassidy: >> as amended we will vote on these. Senator collins. Senator murkowski aye. We don't do proxies, never mind. Senator scott. >> aye. >> senator hawley.
▶ 0:48:21Chair Cassidy: Senator tuberville. Senator banks. Senator who senator w ho senator w hste. Senator movie -- murphy. Senator hickenlooper. >> aye by proxy. >> senator kim. >> aye by proxy. Senator alsobrooks.
▶ 0:48:53Chair Cassidy: >> aye. >> chairman cassidy.
▶ 0:48:57Chair Cassidy: Aye. >> are we going to hold for senator collins? >> she is in aye by proxy. We will keep it open so she can speak.
▶ 0:49:35Chair Cassidy: The bills are favorably reported.
▶ 0:52:42Chair Cassidy: Senator collins, would you like to be recorded as present?
▶ 0:52:46Sen. Collins: Yes, I would. I would ask unanimous consent that I be recorded as present and is voting in favor of the bills.
▶ 0:52:57Chair Cassidy: Without objection.
▶ 0:53:01Sen. Collins: Mr. chairman come with your indulgence, I would like to make a few comments on the tick act if you have time.
▶ 0:53:08Chair Cassidy: Please.
▶ 0:53:11Sen. Collins: They cute very much, Mr. chairman. I would like to thank you and is including s. 2398 kay hagan tick , reauthorization act in today's markup. I offered the original act in 2019 with senator tina smith. Our bipartisan legislation strengthen federal efforts to confront the escalating incidents of lyme disease and other vectorborne illnesses.
▶ 0:53:49Sen. Collins: Our former colleague, senator kay hagan who passed away in october 2019 from complications of a deadly tickborne disease. It is my hope that reauthorizing the tick act will help to prevent further tragedies tickborne diseases have exploded in the last 20 years.
▶ 0:54:18Sen. Collins: We reach a new line disease record with 3218 reported cases. This has more than doubled the number of cases reported in maine just five years ago. I am encouraged that we have made progress in the five years since this bill was first introduced before example, a clinical trial for lyme disease vaccine for people is underway right now at the main health
▶ 0:54:50Sen. Collins: Institute for research. Reauthorizing the tick act would allow crucial developments such as the development to continue. It takes a three-pronged approach to address lyme and other tick and vectorborne diseases first to talk about hhs strategy to combat vectorborne
▶ 0:55:26Sen. Collins: Diseases and reauthorize -- reauthorizing grants to state and local health departments to assist them in bolstering their public health infrastructure. I want to thank senator smith for partnering with me as well as our 13 bipartisan cosponsors, including members of this committee, senders marshall, hassan, holly, hickenlooper and
▶ 0:55:56Sen. Collins: Banks. -- hawley, hickenlooper, and banks. I am happy we are adopting the bill today. >> I appreciate the senator working on that.
▶ 0:56:25Sen. Collins: We developed a test to check from quote long covid and lyme. >> that is great.
▶ 0:56:42Chair Cassidy: Also in closing I want to thank the esop association. Two very good bills and we wouldn't have had them without their active participation. This concludes today's business. This committee stands adjourned.
▶ 0:57:37Chair Cassidy: Now you need feeling oh ok yeah yeah here?
▶ 0:57:50Chair Cassidy: Can you trust right right yeah right I can help if you need done what you know why I wonder
▶ 0:58:28Chair Cassidy: It must be it must be this cover that star that it's eating through the yet leading to the on color minutes to see into the chlorine might have survived a bluing next year yeah and we are