Illustration: Aïda Amer / Axios
A House Energy and Commerce markup Tuesday of bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis morphed into a referendum over the Trump administration's first 100 days on health care.
Why it matters: The reauthorization of SUPPORT Act programs gave the panel's Democrats a forum to test messaging against GOP efforts to cut Medicaid and DOGE-directed cuts to federal health agencies.
- But the markup also showed how easily noncontroversial issues that in the past served as rallying points can be sidetracked by partisanship, even with a GOP trifecta in charge.
Context: The SUPPORT Act reauthorization would continue substance abuse treatment and recovery programs.
- The law was signed during the first Trump administration in 2018 but wasn't reauthorized in 2023.
- A reauthorization was jettisoned along with other health provisions from the year-end government funding deal after President Trump and Elon Musk sank the agreement over its size.
What they're saying: Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone said he wouldn't back the SUPPORT Act while the Trump administration is making steep cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Pallone enumerated a lengthy list of HHS cuts that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made since he was confirmed and referred to the leaked draft health budget document and potential Medicaid cuts.
- In response, Chair Brett Guthrie said: "These [health bills] are bipartisan priorities, these are priorities of all of us.… What I will tell you, we are going to use our oversight. We are talking about proposals that aren't out yet. But we want to make sure that we pass the legislation we need to pass."
- "Is that a commitment to holding a hearing and having the secretary testify?" Pallone responded.
- Guthrie said the panel expects Kennedy to appear to discuss the Trump administration's fiscal 2026 budget request. "My commitment is … we will conduct oversight."
Several other Democrats questioned why Republicans won't agree to revive the entire December health care package in committee, noting its bipartisan support during the last Congress.
- Energy and Commerce was due to mark up other noncontroversial health bills, including reauthorizations of organ transplant and cancer research programs.
