Technology Issuewatch Newsletter

View in your browser     Tech flocks to SXSW festival By Ali Breland Technology and political leaders are heading to Austin, Texas, this weekend for the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) festival. The 10-day showcase draws some of the biggest names from technology, films and music, and gives policy makers a chance to weigh in on some of the industry's biggest issues. Topping the docket this year are cybersecurity and Russian election meddling. Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is headlining two events on Saturday. At the first panel, he'll discuss the "new battlefield" and the efforts to create a cyber strategy for the 21st century. At the second panel, Warner will address Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and how to prevent foreign interference in the coming midterms. Also on Saturday, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) will join a panel to discuss his Startup Act and how government can help entrepreneurs. It will be a bipartisan gathering, with Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D) joining the discussion. On Sunday, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) will headline an event with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation on how technology firms can help innovation in legacy industries, such as energy and manufacturing. Texas Rep. Will Hurd will to speak at the event on the future of the transatlantic alliance between the U.S. and Europe. Hurd has been a vocal voice in the House on tech issues as the chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on information technology. Expect tech to be an issue at the panel, as the European Union takes a tougher stance on regulation of American technology companies. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) will be doing a doubleheader as he speaks at events on how tech is changing the workforce. Fellow California Rep. Darrell Issa (R) will speak about "the persistence of patent trolls" in the technology industry at a panel alongside Evan Engstrom of the startup trade association Engine. Administration officials will also be at SXSW. Matt Lira, from the White House Office of American Innovation, will join a discussion titled "Tech Under Trump: A 2017/2018 Scorecard" with Consumer Technology Association President Gary Shapiro and others.     New U.S. Patent Office Director Andrei Iancu will unveil a new patent design at the festival as well. Other federal regulators will also be represented, including from the Federal Communications Commission: Commissioners Mignon Clyburn (D) and Brendan Carr (R). Carr will discuss bridging the urban and rural digital divide, an issue FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has vowed to make a priority. Clyburn will speak about the importance of diversity in tech and of emergency response during disasters. Back in Washington, there will also be plenty of tech-related action with both the House and the Senate in session. All eyes will be on a sex-trafficking bill as some tech groups push for last-minute changes before a Senate floor vote. The bill would make tech companies more responsible for content published on their platforms. Supporters say it will help prevent online sex trafficking but tech companies worry it would make them liable for any content posted by third parties. Tensions are running high after groups including startup advocate Engine and prominent companies like Twitter and Yelp urged lawmakers to make changes to the legislation. Other groups like the Internet Association, Oracle, IBM and Facebook signed onto a different letter supporting the bill. It's only the latest salvo in a long fight over the bill, which has divided the tech world. The Internet Association which represents some of the web's biggest companies has been more supportive of the bill, while Engine, which represents smaller tech startups has been critical. There are also a number of tech hearings on the docket on Capitol Hill. On Tuesday at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce subcommittee on technology will hold a hearing on infrastructure and efforts to build 5G networks. Later that afternoon, the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on cybersecurity will examine the "cyber posture of the services" at 2:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the House Commerce Committee will consider legislation to modernize the Department of Energy's cybersecurity practices at 10 a.m. Simultaneously, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on space warfighting capabilities. And the House Foreign Affairs Committee will examine export controls for "cutting-edge technology" at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Rounding out the Wednesday morning House hearings, the House Financial Services Committee will host a hearing on the cryptocurrency markets. Later on Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee will examine the state of federal IT programs. The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on how hackers use stolen data on Thursday at 2 p.m.   Recent stories: Ex-DOJ officials raise concerns about possible Trump interference in AT&T lawsuit Broadcom seeks to reassure lawmakers on national security worries Study: Fake stories 70 percent more likely to spread on Twitter than real ones Tech companies urge last-minute changes to sex trafficking bill New 'Call of Duty' game announced on same day as Trump meeting on video game violence Former Uber CEO announces new investment fund Amazon to offer Prime discount to Medicaid recipients GOP senator offers his own net neutrality bill Reddit has yet to turn over info on ads for Russia probe: report House Dem wants to let news industry organize against tech platforms Broadcom pledges $1.5B innovation fund to reassure regulators Russians collected Americans' personal data through social media 'Clinton Cash' author Peter Schweizer to premiere movie about big tech Lawmakers push crackdown on counterfeit goods online House votes to reauthorize FCC Feds warn Broadcom takeover of Qualcomm could threaten national security BlackBerry sues Facebook over messaging patents FCC proposes nearly $1 billion toward recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Washington becomes first state to pass net neutrality law after FCC repeal Facebook says asking users about 'sexual pictures' from children was a mistake National security review delays Qualcomm shareholder meeting on Broadcom takeover     Join The Hill on Wednesday, March 21, for Leadership in Action: The Hill's Newsmaker Series featuring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), and Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.). RSVP Here         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for Technology Newsletters     Forward Technology Newsletters       Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.

Energy Issuewatch Newsletter

View in your browser     Energy, Interior chiefs to defend Trump budget By Miranda Green Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are heading to Capitol Hill in the coming week to defend President Trump's fiscal 2019 budget request. Both Cabinet secretaries can expect tough questions from lawmakers on the sharp cuts proposed in the fiscal blueprint when they testify on Thursday. Perry is appearing before a House Appropriations subcommittee, while Zinke will face lawmakers on the House Natural Resources Committee, both on Thursday. The White House budget released in February called for cutting Interior's funding by 14 percent and unveiled a plan to use energy sales on public lands to fund much needed infrastructure projects at the department. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled the National Park Restoration Act, a bill meant in part to implement the administration's proposal for a new National Park Service (NPS) infrastructure fund paid for with money from oil drilling, wind, solar and other federal energy sources. The bill would take half of the money that the federal government gets from energy production that comes in above 2018 forecasts and is not dedicated for other use. Overall, the 2019 proposal from the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) calls for cutting Interior's budget from $13.2 billion in 2017 to $11.7 billion in 2019. The proposed cuts are almost identical to last year's OMB request, which called for cutting the department's funding by 12 percent. Many of the same cuts were highlighted this year, including zeroing out Abandoned Mine Land Grants, the Centennial Challenge Fund, the Heritage Partnership Program and the National Wildlife Refuge Fund.     While Congress writes its own budget, the president's blueprint highlights the administration's priorities. Perry's Energy Department was one of the few to see its budget increased overall. But a number of key programs were also zeroed out. In particular, the administration wants to significantly slash a handful of controversial loan and research programs at DOE. Perry can expect some pushback from lawmakers on that proposal at his hearing. The Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) are widely popular among Democrats -- and with some Republicans. Lawmakers worked to insure funding for those programs last year after Trump sought to zero them out. The administration said the cuts shouldn't be interpreted as a sign that officials don't like the programs. "This biggest reason for that is the accomplishments that these individual programs have made," Mark Menezes, the DOE's undersecretary for science, told reporters when the budget was released. Overall, Trump is proposing a slight increase in the DOE's budget, to $30.6 billion from the $30.1 billion current funding level. Outside of the budget, lawmakers have a busy docket of energy and environment related hearings with both the House and Senate in town. On Monday, a House Interior subcommittee will hold a hearing on the 2017 hurricane season and its impact on the U.S. Virgin Islands. That hearing will be on the island of St. Thomas. On Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Committee marks up 6 bills on national monuments and public lands. That same day a House Appropriations Subcommittee holds a hearing on the fiscal 2019 budget requests for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Also on Tuesday, a House Energy and Commerce subcommitee holds a hearing on modernizing the Department of Energy, with a focus on legislation to improve cybersecurity and emergency response. Energy Secretary Rick Perry testifies before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday on the administration's budget request. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testifies before the House Natural Resources panel for an hearing on oversight and the fiscal 2019 budget, also on Thursday. That same day, a House Natural Resources subcommittee holds a hearing on abandoned hardrock mines. Also Thursday, a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee holds a hearing on water resource projects.   Recent stories: -EPA hired right-leaning media firm to compile its 'year in review' -Dem mocks Zinke over updated doors: 'Think how many dining sets you could have bought' -Elephant trophy decision faces pushback from some Trump allies -House votes to loosen air pollution rules for some coal plants -GOP rejects Dems' attempt to stop Pruitt's first-class travel -Court denies Trump admin's plea to stop kids' climate lawsuit -Lawmakers propose boosting park funding with oil money -Wildlife groups fear what comes next on elephant trophies -Trump to consider elephant trophy imports on 'case-by-case' basis -Zinke signed order in January making 'acting' directors official     Join The Hill on Wednesday, March 21, for Leadership in Action: The Hill's Newsmaker Series featuring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), and Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.). RSVP Here         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for Energy Newsletters     Forward Energy Newsletters       Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.

Health Care Issuewatch Newsletter — Presented by UnitedHealth Group

View in your browser     Week ahead: HHS chief to face tough questions on ObamaCare By Jessie Hellmann Health Secretary Alex Azar is returning to Capitol Hill in the coming week to defend his agency's fiscal 2019 budget request before the House Appropriations Committee. Azar is scheduled to testify Thursday before the panel's health subcommittee. He can expect to face tough questions from lawmakers about the administration's proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. But he'll also likely get a grilling from Democrats over how he is dealing with ObamaCare. The administration is charging ahead with two proposals to expand access to insurance plans that don't comply with ObamaCare requirements. Republicans say those changes will help make health plans more affordable, but Democrats see it as an effort to undercut the health law and warn it could increase premiums for those stuck in the individual markets. Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on Friday defended the proposal to expand the duration of short-term insurance plans from three months to 12. She said it would create more affordable options for consumers while having a minimal impact on the ObamaCare markets. "We believe this is far better than forcing people to buy coverage they don't want and can't afford," Verma tweeted.         SPONSORED CONTENT   Millions of people we serve will be eligible for direct, out-of-pocket savings from the rebates we negotiate with brand drug manufacturers. It’s a step toward more affordable prescription drugs. Learn more at unitedhealthgroup.com.         Lawmakers will also likely question Azar about the administration's response to Idaho's proposal to sell plans not compliant with ObamaCare. And in this case he can expect scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) had proposed allowing insurers to sell plans that circumvent some ObamaCare rules, arguing it would help younger, healthier people get more affordable plans. Democrats had blasted the move and pressured the administration to block Idaho. On Thursday, Verma wrote to Otter that the proposal wouldn't comply with current law. "[The Affordable Care Act] remains the law and we have a duty to enforce and uphold the law," she wrote. The decision was particularly noteworthy because it put a Republican administration at odds with a GOP governor. But the controversy may not be over yet. On Friday, Otter said his state is not backing down from trying to offer new insurance plans. He said he did not take Verma's letter to mean the administration was rejecting the proposal and said talks were still ongoing. "Contrary to news media interpretations, the letter from CMS Administrator Verma was not a rejection of our approach to providing more affordable health insurance options for the people of Idaho," he said in a statement. Azar will also likely face questions about Scott Lloyd, the HHS official who has tried to block unaccompanied minors from receiving abortions. Calls for him to step down or be fired have intensified among top Democrats. Azar on Thursday, though, indicated that he intends to stick by Lloyd and his office. "The Office of Refugee Resettlement has a very difficult task," Azar said in a briefing with reporters Thursday. "We are charged with these young women and young men who are minors. They are put into our charge and custody and we have to take care of them and have to ensure and look out for their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as for... the wellbeing of their unborn children, and so we're dong the best we can there." The administration's recent changes to a federal family planning program and approval of state Medicaid work requirements are also likely to be key topics.   Hearings & events Tuesday The American Enterprise Institute will hold an event with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on the opioid crisis at 2 p.m. at 189 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Wednesday The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the reauthorization of Animal Drug User Fees at 10:15 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, room 2125. Thursday The House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education budget request at 10 a.m. at Rayburn room 2632-C. The Senate health committee with hold a hearing on the Medicare 340B discount drug program at 10 a.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, room 430.         SPONSORED CONTENT   Starting January 1, 2019, all UnitedHealthcare members in fully insured group health plans will be eligible for discounts resulting from the rebates we negotiate with drug manufacturers. To ensure members pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs possible under their plans, UnitedHealthcare will apply the savings at the point of sale, when members fill prescriptions for brand drugs that have rebates. Learn more at unitedhealthgroup.com.         In case you missed it: Idaho governor not backing down from attempt to skirt ObamaCare Trump administration blocks GOP governor from skirting ObamaCare Martin Shkreli sentenced to  years in prison Study: ObamaCare premium could increase 90 percent over three years for some states Mississippi lawmakers pass nation' most restrictive abortion law Key Republican: GOP won't add protection for Planned Parenthood in funding bill Cigna to buy Express Scripts in $67 billion deal Abstinence-only education making a comeback under Trump House conservatives brace for ObamaCare payments in funding bill FDA commissioner says 'rigged' system raises drug costs for patients, discourages competition Opioid crisis spurs push for Medicaid funds Trump's health chief warns hospital execs about health care costs: 'Change is coming'     Send tips and comments to Jessie Hellmann, jhellmann@thehill.com; Peter Sullivan, psullivan@thehill.com; Rachel Roubein, rroubein@thehill.com; and Nathaniel Weixel, nweixel@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @thehill, @jessiehellmann, @PeterSullivan4, @rachel_roubein, and @NateWeixel.         Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for Healthcare Newsletters     Forward Healthcare Newsletters       Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.