releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-committee-passage-bills-protect-consumers-improve
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-committee-passage-bills-protect-consumers-improve | Greg Walden Statement on Committee Passage of Bills to Protect Consumers, Improve Health Care | 2019-07-17 | 2019 | 2019-07 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.--Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement after the Energy andCommerce Committeepassedlegislation that would improve the lives of Oregonians. One of themany bipartisanbills passed by the Committeewas theStopping Bad Robocalls Act, which wouldrequire phone carriers to implement call authentication technology so that consumers can trust their caller ID at no costtothem.According to one study, last year 47.8 billion illegal robocalls were placednationwide, andthat number has already reached 25 billion this year.Walden has been a longtime advocate for stopping illegal robocalls from harassing Americans,going back to his efforts to gettheRAY BAUM'S Actsigned into law last Congress. We all know how pesky robocalls can be. I am thrilled to announce that todaywetook steps to stop illegal robocalls fromburdening Oregonians and Americans at large,said Walden.When you receive a call from an unfamiliar number with a familiararea code-- say 541 --you should be confident that there is a legitimate reason for the call. This bill takes steps to give consumers more confidencethatthere is a reason for any calls they receiveand tracks down bad actorswho make illegal robocallsat no cost to the consumer. In addition to passing legislation to stop pesky robocalls, the Committee passedseveral billsaimed at improvingour healthcare system. One of those bills was theNo Surprises Act,a bipartisan bill that Waldenhelped introduce. The bill would ensure that patients who follow doctor's orders do not later receive surprise medical bills. Walden's call to fix this issue has received widespreadsupportandpraisefrom a range of stakeholders. Patients should not be penalized for following a doctor's orders,said Walden.I've heard too many horror stories of patients who followed the rules and to no fault of their own, after an emergency, received a six-digit bill in the mail--one which they usually have no way of paying. This is not fair, and it should not happen. I am pleased the Committee took steps to stop this preposterous problem and I will work hard to ensure that this bill makes it to the President's desk and is signed into law. The Committee also advancedthe Reauthorizing and Extending America's Community HealthAct, or REACH Act,whichwould reauthorize Community Health Centers(CHCs)for the next four years. Community Health Centers serve more than 240,000 Oregonians in the Second District of Oregon,said Walden.I am thrilled that we were able to continue toadvance the four-year reauthorization of these centers. Our CHCs play a critical role in ensuring that patients have access to health care in their community, both in Oregon and all around the country. In addition to reauthorizing funding for CHCs, Walden helped advance the funding for otherlifesavinghealth care programs,including theSpecial Diabetes Program. The Special Diabetes Program has a lifesaving impact on Americans who have Diabetes,said Walden.It is essential that we continue to fund this program,a program that has received widespread support from prominent groups like the American Diabetes Association. Today, the Committee made great strides in both improving our nation's health care and protecting consumers. I am confident that thesebills will continue to receive bipartisan support and I look forward to working to getthemsigned into law. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |