Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pelosi Promises To Lower Health Care Costs, Tackle Prescription Drug Prices As She Retakes House Gavel
The Washington Post: The New Congress: Pelosi Retakes House Gavel As Shutdown Continues
The House of Representatives elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as speaker for a second time Thursday, the first day of a new, divided Congress that is more likely to confront President Trump. The 78-year-old California Democrat secured the votes of 220 members of a total of 430 present. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), the top Republican in the chamber, received 192 votes. (Sonmez and Wagner, 1/3)
The Associated Press: Speaker Again, Pelosi Sees 'New Dawn' For 116th Congress
Pelosi promised to "restore integrity to government" and outlined an agenda "to lower health costs and prescription drug prices and protect people with pre-existing medical conditions; to increase paychecks by rebuilding America with green and modern infrastructure from sea to shining sea. "The day unfolded as one of both celebration and impatience. Newly elected lawmakers arrived, often with friends and families in tow, to take the oath of office and pose for ceremonial photos. Then they swiftly turned to the shutdown. (1/3)
The Wall Street Journal: Nancy Pelosi Elected Speaker As House Votes For End To Shutdown
“We enter this new Congress with a sense of great hope and confidence for the future, and deep humility and prayerfulness in the face of the challenges ahead,” Mrs. Pelosi said in a speech to the House, describing the Democrats’ mandate as lowering health-care and prescription-drug costs, protecting individuals with pre-existing medical conditions and “rebuilding America with green and modern infrastructure.” (Andrews and Peterson, 1/3)
The Washington Post: House Democrats Plan To Hold Hearings On Medicare For All
The new Democratic majority in the House will hold the first hearings on Medicare-for-All legislation, a longtime goal of the party’s left, after Speaker Nancy Pelosi lent her support for the process. “It’s a huge step forward to have the speaker’s support,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who will be the House sponsor of the legislation, usually denoted as HR 676. “We have to push on the inside while continuing to build support for this on the outside.” (Weigel, 1/3)
The Hill: Pelosi Supports Holding Hearings On 'Medicare For All'
Pelosi had said last year only that Medicare for all would "have to be evaluated" and is "on the table." Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the main sponsor of Medicare for all in the House, said Thursday that hearings would likely start in the Rules and Budget committees. That would leave out the main committees with jurisdiction over the issue: Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. The chairmen of those committees have not given their backing to Medicare for all, while the chairmen of Rules and Budget have. (Sullivan, 1/3)
The Wall Street Journal: New House Committee Chiefs Take Their Chairs
With control of the House of Representatives, Democrats take over the chairman’s seat in the chamber’s committees. Here are the men and women who will be setting the agenda for key panels, and what policy changes to expect from them. (1/4)
The New York Times: As Shutdown Persists, New Congress Opens With Celebration And Uncertainty
It was a festive but awkward opening of the new Congress. Newly sworn-in members celebrated their electoral success surrounded by family, Democrats cheered their returned speaker and Republicans applauded their expanded majority in the Senate. (Hulse, 1/4)
The Wall Street Journal: House Passes Spending Package In Bid To End Shutdown
House Democrats passed a spending package aimed at reopening the federal government, defying President Trump’s demands for border-wall funding on their first day in power. With a partial government shutdown approaching two full weeks, the House voted, 241-190, on Thursday night to approve a package that included six uncontroversial spending bills crafted in the Senate that would fund most of the government through September. (Peterson, 1/4)
