Why It Matters

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced 17 bills on July 20, 2026, spanning energy infrastructure, grid modernization, drug scheduling, and health care pricing transparency. The session produced a mix of unanimous and contested outcomes, with most bills passing with broad agreement but two health care measures drawing significant opposition. The committee's vote summary documents the outcomes.

The Big Picture

The committee met in open markup on July 20 and considered 29 pieces of legislation, producing recorded votes on final passage for 17 bills along with a series of amendment votes.

Energy and Grid Bills

Nine energy bills advanced, most unanimously. The Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340), sponsored by Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), passed 52-0 after an amendment by Rep. Evans was agreed to by voice vote. The High-Capacity Grid Act (H.R. 6633), sponsored by Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), passed 49-0 as amended following a voice vote amendment by Fedorchak.

The Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act (H.R. 9335), sponsored by Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), passed 39-10, marking the most contested energy bill. The Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 (H.R. 9338), sponsored by Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), passed 41-8 as amended. The Load Forecasting Enhancement Act (H.R. 9332), sponsored by Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), passed 47-0; a prior amendment by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) failed 21-26.

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act (H.R. 9339), sponsored by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA), passed 44-0. The Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act (H.R. 6529), sponsored by Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), passed 44-0. The CHARM Act (H.R. 9617), sponsored by Reps. Gary Palmer (R-AL) and Tonko, passed 47-0. The EMRTAI Act (H.R. 9616), sponsored by Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Landsman, passed 48-0.

Health Care and Drug Policy Bills

Eight health care and drug policy bills advanced, with two drawing substantial opposition. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026 (H.R. 9393), sponsored by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), passed 45-0 as amended. An amendment by Rep. Guthrie was agreed to by voice vote; amendments offered by Reps. Earl Carter (R-GA) and John James (R-MI) were each withdrawn before a vote.

The Prices on the Wall Act of 2026 (H.R. 9390), sponsored by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), passed 24-21 as amended. The Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1266), sponsored by Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Pfluger, passed 48-0 as amended. Tyler's Law (H.R. 2004), sponsored by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Robert Latta (R-OH), passed 46-0.

The STOP Nitazenes Act (H.R. 7970), sponsored by Rep. Latta, passed 28-21 as amended. An amendment by Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) was not agreed to by voice vote. The ALERT Communities Act (H.R. 1561), sponsored by Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Lance Gooden (R-TX), passed 48-0. The HERO Act (H.R. 7994), sponsored by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), passed 48-0 as amended. The Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005), sponsored by Rep. Evans, passed 43-6 as amended.

The Bottom Line

The overwhelming majority of final passage votes were unanimous or lopsided, signaling broad agreement across the energy and drug policy legislation. The most closely contested outcomes were the Prices on the Wall Act and the STOP Nitazenes Act, each drawing 21 nays. The Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act drew 10 nays, making it the most contested of the energy bills. Rep. Tonko's amendment to the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act was the only recorded amendment vote that did not succeed, failing 21-26 before the underlying bill passed unanimously.

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