Gregory F. Murphy

Murphy Hosts Successful Fifth Annual North Carolina WATERS Summit

Position: The release describes a summit on flood mitigation and storm resiliency, and states that improving infrastructure to withstand flooding is critical for North Carolina, citing Hurricane Helene recovery. It does not specify a particular bill or policy direction.

Greenville, NC — Today, Congressman Greg Murphy hosted the 5th Annual Water Adaptations to Ensure Regional Success (WATERS) Summit alongside Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07). "It was a pleasure to host another successful WATERS Summit, convening so many incredible leaders from across North Carolina and our country to collaborate on flood mitigation," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Waterway challenges and storm resiliency are not partisan issues - they are human issues. No recent example is greater than Hurricane Helene, which devastated our mountain neighbors, who we continue to support as they rebuild their lives. North Carolina faces unique challenges as a large state, and improving our infrastructure to withstand flooding is critical to our continued success and the preservation of our way of life." "As communities grow in North Carolina, it's more important than ever to build them strong and resilient," said Congressman David Rouzer. "That’s why I'm proud to help bring together industry leaders and public officials at the fifth annual WATERS Summit to identify ways to better protect North Carolinians from flooding. By leveraging modern technology and advancing legislative solutions in Congress, we can better prepare our state for future flood risks. I appreciate the partnership with Congressman Greg Murphy and everyone else who makes this a productive and collaborative summit." Background The purpose of this nonpartisan conference was to examine human adaptation strategies to waterway challenges in North Carolina and develop legislative plans to combat these challenges over the next 5, 25, and 100 years. The event welcomed over 190 public officials, field experts, and stakeholders, breaking the previous attendance record. Watch the livestream here.

Murphy Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Physician-Assisted Suicide

Position: Introduces a resolution opposing physician-assisted suicide, arguing that vulnerable patients should be protected and that expanded access to palliative and hospice care should be prioritized instead.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA), introduced a resolution expressing that assisted suicide puts everyone, including those most vulnerable, at risk of deadly harm. "Rather than support and facilitate access to physician-assisted suicide, we should prioritize expanding accessibility to palliative and hospice care to maximize the quality of life for patients experiencing excessive pain," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "As a practicing physician of 35 years, I have dedicated my career to saving lives and comforting my patients. Assisted suicide is unethical, and vulnerable individuals must be protected, especially when there are alternative options available." "Americans with terminal illnesses and disabilities deserve access to quality health care and should not have their opportunity for a dignified life taken away from them," said Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA). "I have various concerns with assisted suicide laws and proposals that may adversely affect patients. This resolution intends to protect vulnerable patients across the country from any attempts to pressure them into assisted suicide." Read the resolution here.

Murphy Legislation to Grant Authority to NPS to Extend Leases Passes House of Representatives

Position: The release supports H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service Director, to extend certain leases at least five years after they were entered into. The release argues the authority would provide investment certainty for communities such as those near Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of H.R. 4931, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act. This legislation grants the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), the authority to extend a lease if the lease has been entered into not less than 5 years before the date of the extension is to take effect. "I am proud my bill, the National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act, passed in the House of Representatives," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "This legislation is critical to helping our coastal communities flourish, especially within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Capital investment relies on long-term certainty, and granting this authority to the National Park Service would encourage private investors to invest in our communities where such public-private partnerships have already shown to be beneficial. I am grateful for the support of Dare County Chairman Bob Woodard for giving testimony in favor of this bill, and I look forward to continuing my advocacy as it heads to the Senate." Background Grants the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), the authority to extend a lease if the lease has been entered into not less than 5 years before the date of the extension is to take effect. The Director of the National Park Service would determine if extending the lease is in the best interests of the applicable unit of the National Park Service.

Murphy Urges CMS to Expand Access to Healthy Food for MA Beneficiaries

Position: Urges CMS to issue guidance allowing Medicare Advantage plans to offer healthy food as a supplemental benefit for seniors managing chronic conditions, arguing that nutrition helps prevent and manage chronic disease and reduce costs.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., led seven of his colleagues in urging Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz to issue guidance allowing Medicare Advantage plans to provide healthy food as a supplemental benefit for seniors managing chronic conditions. "It has become increasingly apparent that healthy food should be part of the solution when we are treating chronic disease," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "As a physician, I know that nutrition plays an important role in preventing and managing both acute and chronic illness. Food is medicine. We should be giving seniors the tools they need to stay healthy and out of the hospital, rather than waiting until their conditions become more severe and expensive to treat. CMS can take action within existing authority to make nutritious food more accessible to seniors who need it most." Background Medicare Advantage plans currently have authority to offer certain supplemental benefits to beneficiaries. However, access to healthy food benefits is generally limited to enrollees who meet specific eligibility requirements related to their health and risk of hospitalization. Congressman Murphy and his colleagues are asking CMS to update these rules so more seniors can use nutritious food to help prevent and manage chronic disease, reduce health care costs, and improve quality of life. Read the letter here.

Murphy Leads Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Sarajevo Security Conference

Position: The release states that the U.S. should engage with Balkan and European partners on defense and security, support democratic processes in Bosnia, confront China, Russia, and Iran with robust funding, and remember the Srebrenica genocide.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D, led a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Sarajevo Security Conference over the weekend. "As a member of the Helsinki Commission, a Speaker-appointed position, it was my honor to lead a bipartisan delegation to the Sarajevo Security Conference," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "I advocated for enhanced Balkan and European engagement in defense and security alongside the United States to support our mutual goals. We must support the democratic process, especially in places like Bosnia. To protect our domestic interests, we must collectively confront with vigor and robust funding the greatest threat to global peace - the sinister axis of China, Russia, and Iran. We must also never forget the horrific genocide of Srebrenica and commit to never allowing such evil to occur again." Background The Sarajevo Security Conference serves as a platform for global policy and business leaders to address the security challenges facing Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.

Murphy Applauds Passage of Congressional Stock Trading Ban & Voter ID

Position: The release supports H.R. 7008, which would prohibit Members of Congress, spouses, and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks, and supports H.R. 9368, which would require photo identification to vote in federal elections.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, to prohibit Members of Congress, spouses, and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks, as well as H.R. 9368, the Voter ID Act, which was included, to require voters to show a photo ID when they cast a ballot for an election for federal office. "As members of Congress, we are elected to serve our constituents with integrity and not for self-benefit,"said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D."Members and their families should not use the office for financial gain. We must root out perceptions of corruption to preserve faith in our federal government, and even the appearance of impropriety stands in the way of that pursuit. This commonsense reform is overdue, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for it to become law. Likewise, free and fair elections are fundamental to American democracy. We require photo identification to open a bank account or purchase alcohol; it should be requisite to vote in federal elections, a sacred exercise in our democracy. Confidence in our elections is the bedrock of trust in governance and our nation's leaders. We must never cease to improve access to voting and election integrity."

Murphy Co-Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent AI Increasing Prior Authorization Denials

Position: The release supports legislation requiring Medicare Advantage plans to disclose AI use in prior authorization decisions, provide physician attestations, allow direct communication with reviewing physicians, and retain and report AI-related denial records.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., M.D., introduced the Protecting Patients from Automated Denials Act, bipartisan legislation to establish safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence in Medicare Advantage prior authorization decisions. "Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare at the speed of light, but we must protect the physician-in-the-loop," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "While advancements in diagnostics, research, and administrative work will advance medicine in incredible ways, the value of a trained physician and sentient influence cannot be eroded. This is especially important for prior authorization decisions - patients are not merely numbers on a spreadsheet. We cannot allow greedy health insurers to utilize AI to deny healthcare to those in need. I am proud to lead on this issue by establishing sensible guardrails that ensure the proliferation of AI in the field of medicine does no harm." Background The Protecting Patients from Automated Denials Act requires Medicare Advantage plans to provide physicians' attestations to requesting providers. Allow direct communications with the reviewing physician. Require the disclosure of AI usage. Plans must retain all AI-related denial records for at least ten years and submit detailed reports to the Department of Health and Human Services every 90 days.

Murphy Introduces Bipartisan POPCaP Authorization Act for Veteran Prostate Cancer Treatment

Position: Congressman Murphy and Congressman Conaway support permanent authorization of the Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP) within the VA system, arguing that the program is vital to address disproportionate prostate cancer rates among veterans, particularly African American veterans, and should not be dismantled or integrated into broader oncology care.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the POPCaP Authorization Act, legislation to permanently establish a Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP). "As a urologist and representative of over 76,000 veterans, I understand how important the POPCaP Program is to treat individuals with prostate cancer," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Due to the exposures our veterans faced during their time serving our nation, they are far more likely to develop prostate cancer than civilian men. Given the special attention this disease demands, rolling the POPCaP Program into greater oncology care is insufficient. We have made great strides in research and treatment for veterans and cannot afford to slow our progress. This program is vital and must not be dismantled or diminished." "As a physician, a veteran, and a Member of Congress I have seen firsthand the consequences of gaps in care and inequities in health outcomes," said Congressman Herb Conaway, M.D. "Prostate cancer remains a serious and disproportionate threat to our veteran population, particularly for African American veterans, who continue to face significantly higher rates of both diagnosis and mortality. This legislation represents an important step toward addressing those disparities by strengthening research and improving the delivery of care within the VA system. We have both the tools and the responsibility to do better. We must ensure we are making the investments necessary to protect the health and dignity of those who have served our country." "The POPCaP Authorization Act represents a pivotal moment in the fight against prostate cancer," said Courtney Bugler, President and CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer. "Our veterans face disproportionate risk due to service-related exposures, and African American veterans bear an unconscionable burden with twice the diagnosis rate and twice the mortality. We commend Representatives Murphy and Conaway for their leadership on this critical legislation. The VA's integrated healthcare system offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance precision oncology research while delivering quality care to those who've served our nation. Congress must now move swiftly to pass this bill and ensure its funding. Our veterans have earned this investment, and the breakthroughs generated through POPCaP will benefit all American men facing this disease." Background Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. In 2016, the VA Office of Research & Development launched the VA Precision Oncology Program to conduct state-of-the-art precision oncology research to improve care for Veterans and others with cancer. As part of this initiative, in 2016, the VA partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to establish the Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP). Currently, the VA plans to integrate the POPCaP program into a newly created Precision Oncology Program, diluting the quality of care that veterans with prostate cancer receive and making it more difficult for veterans to receive state-of-the-art treatments. ###

Murphy Applauds Passage of Historic Farm Bill to Support Eastern North Carolina Agriculture

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. "Eastern North Carolina, rightly so, is proud of its rich farming tradition, especially hogs, turkeys, sweetpotatoes, cotton, peanuts, and tobacco," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Our farmers feed the nation and contribute to the global economy by producing world-class products. They are among America's finest people and deserve the resources they need to plant, harvest, and get their yield to market. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud to have helped write and pass into law the Working Families Tax Cut that gave our producers a competitive edge, protected family farms, and provided much-needed tax certainty. I spend a great deal of time visiting farms in Eastern North Carolina and listening to what our farmers say they need out of Congress. I proudly supported the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, legislation that reauthorizes and reforms Department of Agriculture programs through FY2031 to build on pro-farmer provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, deliver certainty and regulatory clarity to farmers, and expand on investments in rural and agricultural communities." Background: Reauthorizes, modernizes, and improves key USDA programs through 2031, providing certainty to farmers and stakeholders who are currently operating under the third consecutive extension of the 2018 farm bill. Expands access to credit and risk management tools for producers who are facing some of the toughest times in the farm economy since the crisis of the 1980s. Promotes specialty crops, prioritizing domestic production of healthy fruits and vegetables. Streamlines working lands conservation programs and prioritizes responsible management of federal forests. Doubles funding for export promotion programs and ensures responsible oversight of humanitarian food aid programs. Modernizes rural development and energy programs, prioritizes cutting edge research, expands access to meat processing, and codifies key initiatives related to national security and foreign ownership of farmland. Protects interstate commerce for livestock producers and provides regulatory certainty for farmers who need access to critical crop protection tools.

Murphy Introduces the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act

Position: Congressman Murphy opposes the retirement earnings test, which reduces Social Security benefits for early retirees who earn above a certain income threshold. He argues the policy penalizes work and should be repealed.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), introduced the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act to repeal the retirement earnings test (RET), which reduces benefits for Social Security beneficiaries who claim early retirement but choose to continue working and make above a certain threshold. "American seniors' ability to earn income and enjoy the dignity of work should not be penalized by arbitrary parameters to receive Social Security benefits," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Current law unnecessarily complicates seniors' right to access the benefits they paid into for the entirety of their careers and must be done away with. While certain guardrails are in place to ensure the viability of Social Security and incentivize participation in the workforce, the Retirement Earnings Test does neither and is a bureaucratic hurdle that does more harm than good." Background The Retirement Earnings Test (RET) reduces Social Security benefits that early retirees are eligible to receive by nearly fifty percent for earning more than $21,240 annually. Although the reduction in benefits is returned to seniors upon reaching Full Retirement Age (FRA), many seniors are unaware of this and choose to earn below the income threshold. Senator Rick Scott, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.