Norma Torres: “The Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1256, providing for consideration of H.R. 263, the Big Cat…”

“The Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1256, providing for consideration of H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, under a structured rule. It provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources, makes in order one amendment, and provides one motion to recommit. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 4040, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, under a closed rule. The rule self-executes a manager's amendment from Chairman Pallone, provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and provides one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule deems as passed H. Res. 517. First, the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, led by Representative Cheney, and I am a proud cosponsor, will extend critical telehealth policies implemented during the pandemic while making it easier for seniors to access telehealth services. We know that because of the pandemic, healthcare visits to the doctor drastically changed, and these health services have become critical to patients in accessing care. The pandemic made access to healthcare difficult, but telehealth turned this negative into a positive. To avoid exposure, many patients, including high-risk, vulnerable people, choose to visit their doctor by video or telephone to receive care.…”