Beth Van Duyne

Reps. Van Duyne, Clarke, and Foushee Introduce Bipartisan CREATOR Act to Protect Creators with Visual Artistic Protections

Position: The representatives introduce legislation to establish federal protections for visual artists against unauthorized commercial use of AI-generated works that stylistically impersonate their art, framing this as necessary to protect creators' livelihoods and intellectual property rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) announce the introduction of the Creative Rights Ensuring Artists' Technique and Originality Are Reserved (CREATOR) Act, legislation designed to safeguard visual artists from the unauthorized commercial exploitation of their unique and creative artistic styles in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The CREATOR Act reflects the Congressional Creators Caucus' broader mission to support creators and to foster policies that promote innovation while protecting intellectual property rights, economic opportunity, and overall creativity. Specifically, the legislation would establish a new federal right that protects visual artists from the unauthorized commercial use and public distribution of AI-generated works that constitute a stylistic impersonation of their art. This legislation was inspired by creators, artists, and stakeholders engaged through the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, which Rep. Van Duyne co-founded alongside Rep. Clarke, to elevate the voices of digital creators and entrepreneurs in federal policymaking. "Since launching the Congressional Creators Caucus, I've had the privilege of hearing directly from an incredible and growing community of creators across this country," said Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. "Artists, illustrators, and designers in every district are watching their livelihoods be undercut by AI tools deliberately impersonating them, but right now, the law has no answer for it. These are people who have spent a lifetime building their creative identity – they deserve protection. I have heard loud and clear that this is a growing problem across the industry, and the CREATOR Act is a direct response. I'm glad to be leading this bipartisan effort alongside Representatives Clarke and Foushee, taking direct aim at the bad actors who knowingly use AI to fake an artist's identity for commercial gain." "Creators and artists have been sounding the alarm about the misuse of their work and identities by AI systems," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "As AI continues to evolve rapidly, Congress must work to ensure resources and protections are in place to support content creators in succeeding in this new era of start-ups and meet the moment. Through the Congressional Creators Caucus, we have heard directly from individuals whose livelihoods depend on their intellectual property and creative expression. The CREATOR Act is a direct response to those concerns and represents an important step toward ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of the creators who drive it. I want to thank my colleagues for working on this bipartisan legislation and delivering on our promise to create an economy for the next generation of entrepreneurship in America." "Creative jobs and workers must be supported as AI threatens to disrupt their livelihoods and exploit creative work. As we work to establish guardrails that protect our communities, ensuring that AI-generated content cannot deliberately replicate a visual artists' distinctive style without consent is critical to protecting artistic expression, preserving our nation's vibrancy, and advancing civil rights," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. "AI companies are reshaping our economy and society faster than our laws have kept pace, often without adequate transparency or accountability, and Congress must make regulating this technology a priority. I'm proud to join Representatives Beth Van Duyne and Yvette Clarke in introducing the CREATOR Act to strengthen protections for artists from AI misuse and prevent the unauthorized commercialization of AI-generated imitations of their work. I look forward to continuing to push for legislation that puts people over Big Tech." "AI has the power to supercharge human creativity — but only if creators have rights that match the realities of the technology," said Louise Pentland, Chief Legal Officer, Adobe. "There are no existing frameworks that can defend against AI-driven style imitation, and in the age of AI, that gap leaves creators and artists increasingly vulnerable. The CREATOR Act closes that gap by establishing a federal right protecting visual artists' signature styles from intentional, commercial AI-enabled impersonation and giving creators meaningful recourse. We commend Representatives Van Duyne, Clarke, and Foushee for introducing this legislation. The artists who power America's $1.2 trillion creative economy have earned this protection, and we urge Congress to move quickly to advance this important bill." "As an illustrator, my identity and career come from years of dedication to my craft derived from personal experience. With my podcast, I amplified Latinx artists who have likewise spent years building their own inimitable style. When AI is used to replicate work without consent, it's so much more damaging than just copying an image; it's profiting unfairly off of someone else's creative vision, skill, and dedication. The CREATOR Act would give artists like me a real legal right to protect our work, and I'm proud to support it," said Fabiola Lara, Philadelphia-based Illustrator. "For the past 10 years, I've worked to build a creative style and visual identity that reflects my story, perspective, and lived experience as a photographer and multimedia artist. My work is deeply personal to who I am and how I connect with others. Seeing AI systems replicate the work and likeness of creators without consent is terrifying, especially for independent artists whose creativity is directly tied to their livelihood. The CREATOR Act is an important step toward giving creators legal protection and accountability when AI is used to imitate or profit from our work without permission. I'm proud to support the CREATOR Act and grateful to Representatives Beth Van Duyne, Yvette Clarke, and Valerie Foushee for championing legislation that helps protect the future of creative work," said Alexsey Reyes, Houston-based photographer and multimedia artist. "AI can now mimic a photographer's visual identity with alarming precision, and the law has not kept pace. The CREATOR Act would give visual artists a layer of protection they've needed for a long time. I've been part of the Content Authenticity Initiative since its inception, and to me, this legislation is a critical next step in making that work matter in the real world," said Andrew Scrivani, D.C.-based photographer, author, and multimedia artist. "The Graphic Artists Guild applauds Representatives Beth Van Duyne and Yvette D. Clark for their efforts to protect the rights of artists, illustrators, designers, and other creators as artificial intelligence technologies become increasingly integrated into creative industries. Artists deserve meaningful protections against the unauthorized use and exploitation of their distinctive styles, and they should have clear avenues for recourse when bad actors misuse generative AI systems to imitate or profit from their work without consent," said Rachel Sheeran, Advocacy Co-Chair, The Graphic Artists Guild. "BSA commends Representatives Van Duyne and Clarke for their work and introduction of the CREATOR Act to support America's visual artist communities. The legislation is an important step in the broader effort to protect visual artists from the intentional dissemination and sale of AI-generated outputs that unfairly compete and mislead the public," said Aaron Cooper, Senior Vice President, Global Policy, Business Software Alliance (BSA). "The PLUS Coalition commends Representatives Van Duyne and Clarke for their bipartisan leadership in advancing protections and accountabilities as generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into creative, educational, cultural, research, and commercial industries. Their efforts recognize the need to balance innovation with meaningful safeguards and clarified boundaries for the broad ecosystem of stakeholders who create, preserve, manage, license, and rely on creative content. As AI technologies continue to evolve, stakeholders will benefit from readily apparent guardrails supporting informed decisions about the use of creative works, styles, identities, and intellectual assets; meaningful protections against unauthorized exploitation; and effective mechanisms to address misuse when it occurs. Fostering trust in the digital ecosystem is essential to sustaining a vibrant and innovative creative economy," said Professor Jeffrey Sedlik, President, PLUS Coalition. Read the full bill text HERE. Read Axios exclusive here. Read Adobe's blog post here. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/6/reps-van-duyne-clarke-and-foushee-introduce-bipartisan-creator-act-to-protect-creators-with-visual-artistic-protections

Van Duyne Introduces the Healthcare Freedom and Fairness Act to Vastly Expand Access and Options for Healthcare Coverage

Position: Rep. Van Duyne supports reforming ERISA regulations to allow small businesses, self-employed individuals, and underinsured Americans to form nationwide risk pools and negotiate directly with insurers, positioning this as a market-driven alternative to the ACA marketplace.

Washington, D.C. – As healthcare and insurance costs continue to rise causing more Americans to go without needed care, Rep. Van Duyne introduced new legislation to eliminate Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) regulations that prevent more people from participating in healthcare marketplace pools to secure coverage for their families or employees. The Healthcare Freedom and Fairness Act empowers small businesses, the self-employed, and underinsured Americans to form massive nationwide risk pools. This broader availability of participation will allow new marketplace pools to bypass present insurance barriers and negotiate directly with health insurance companies for lower premiums and superior coverage. By reforming ERISA – the federal law governing employee benefits – the bill removes constraints put in place under Obamacare and levels the marketplace playing field long tilted in favor of corporations. It allows independent workers and small shops to wield the same massive purchasing power as the government, labor unions, and Fortune 500 companies. "Due to the ongoing failure of Obamacare coupled with healthcare monopolies and artificial barriers for healthcare innovation, hard-working families and small businesses continue to pay the price for limited healthcare options with skyrocketing premiums," said Rep. Van Duyne. "This legislation is about delivering common-sense reforms to strip away unnecessarily restrictive federal regulations and create the conditions for more Americans to have access to truly affordable, high-quality healthcare coverage. Through the Healthcare Freedom and Fairness Act we are finally breaking down regulatory barriers and giving the self-employed, Main Street businesses, and other individuals the collective bargaining power they deserve to command a better deal from insurance companies." Reforming ERISA provides a direct, market-driven alternative to the shortcomings of the ACA marketplace: Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/5/van-duyne-introduces-the-healthcare-freedom-and-fairness-act-to-vastly-expand-access-and-options-for-healthcare-coverage

Reps. Van Duyne and Suozzi introduce the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act to recoup nearly $1B in frozen Unemployment Insurance (UI) funds

Position: The release advocates for legislation to establish a federal taskforce to recover nearly $1 billion in COVID-era unemployment insurance funds held by financial institutions that were obtained through fraud, and to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic unemployment fraud from 5 to 10 years.

Washington, D.C. – Reps. Van Duyne (R-TX-24) and Suozzi (D-NY-3) introduced H.R. 8873, the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act to provide a pathway for banks to return frozen funds to state workforce agencies and to report to Congress on the status of the recovery of those funds. A recent investigation by the Department of Labor Inspector General (DOL-OIG) found nearly $1 billion in COVID-era UI funds tied to fraud being held by financial institutions. Some of these accounts have been left "forgotten" by state workforce agencies, unreconciled, and in some cases transferred by banks to state unclaimed property due to inactivity. Without Congressional action, hundreds of millions in funds may go unclovered. The Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act establishes a federal taskforce, led by a National Recovery Coordinator, to coordinate with applicable state agencies to identify federal pandemic UI payments issued on prepaid debit cards held by financial institutions or transferred to state agencies responsible for unclaimed property. Requires the taskforce to develop model processes that facilitate cost-effective recovery of payments and return them to the federal government. Also extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions in pandemic unemployment programs from 5 to 10 years to provide law enforcement agencies more time to hold fraudsters accountable. "During a time of an unprecedented pandemic, Congress worked tirelessly to support and stabilize tens of millions of Americans affected by businesses being shut down and job losses. Fraudsters exploited that moment of crisis to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the American people and commit rampant identity theft" said Congresswoman Van Duyne. "The Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act is a bipartisan solution to help recover these funds by providing a pathway to return funds to the federal government. It is not too late – but Congress must act swiftly to prevent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from going unrecovered and ensure fraudsters are held accountable before they harm more Americans." "We need to root out waste, fraud, and abuse at every level of our government. Members of Congress have a duty to protect victims of fraud and identity theft, who are most often senior citizens, and make sure bad actors don't get away with preying on them," said Congressman Suozzi. "This bipartisan bill is a great step forward in helping recover stolen funds, strengthening protections for victims, and providing stronger tools for states and financial institutions to crack down on fraud before more Americans are harmed." The Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act is supported by Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers Compensation (UWC), the US Chamber of Commerce, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. Click HERE for full bill text. Background Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/5/reps-van-duyne-and-suozzi-introduce-the-recover-covid-unemployment-fraud-in-banks-act-to-recoup-nearly-1b-in-frozen-unemployment-insurance-ui-funds

Van Duyne Introduces the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act to Enact Mandatory Oversight Requirements to Combat Hospice and Home Healthcare Fraud

Position: Rep. Van Duyne introduced legislation to strengthen Medicare oversight of hospice and home health providers through enhanced enrollment screening, more frequent inspections of new and suspicious providers, stronger accreditation standards, and increased transparency in enforcement activities to combat fraud.

Washington, D.C. – Since 2023, Rep. Van Duyne (TX-24) has been a recognized leader on the issue of exposing and stopping hospice and home healthcare fraud that steals billions of taxpayer dollars, weakens the Medicare program for American citizens, and harms seniors across the country when they are at their most vulnerable and in need of quality care. As the Trump Administration continues investigations and suspension of licenses of hundreds of fraudulent care providers across the country, Rep. Van Duyne introduced new legislation, the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, to strengthen Medicare oversight, crack down on bad actors, protect seniors from fraudulent enrollments, and improve accountability across the hospice and home health system. "Every single dollar stolen by criminals from Medicare is a dollar ripped away from a vulnerable senior who is just trying to spend their final days in comfort, peace, and dignity. Americans are disgusted by the heartless actions of scammers treating these vital lifelines as personal ATMs and demand reforms to stop these criminals before they can steal precious taxpayer dollars, thereby further weakening the Medicare system," said Rep. Van Duyne. "My bill takes a proactive approach to stop fraud by strengthening oversight of high-risk hospice programs and home health agencies through enhanced enrollment screening, mandating more frequent surveys for new and suspicious providers, establishing stronger accreditation standards, and increasing transparency around enforcement activities. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services needs and deserves these measures to fight the continued exploitation of services our seniors rely on." "The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) appreciates Rep. Van Duyne for her leadership in advancing targeted, data-driven program integrity solutions for Medicare home health and hospice. The Alliance supports the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, which utilizes targeted metrics to eliminate bad actors from the Medicare hospice and home health systems. This legislation has the potential to reduce the burden on legitimate providers, and ensure that bad actors cannot exploit the trust that beneficiaries place in our federal programs. The Alliance looks forward to continuing to collaborate on these reforms, including seeking a positive resolution to the overly broad national enrollment moratorium on new home health and hospice providers, which poses risks to legitimate providers and patient access. We will continue to work together with lawmakers to preserve and strengthen access to high-quality care in the home for the Americans who depend on it most." - Jennifer Sheets, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Care at Home This legislation is a targeted Medicare program integrity package focused on cracking down on hospice and home health fraud while protecting legitimate providers and patient access. The bill is designed to move Medicare oversight from a reactive model to a proactive one by identifying bad actors earlier, particularly in geographic hotspots where provider growth far exceeds patient growth. It targets providers with aberrant billing, discharge, enrollment, or low-quality reporting patterns rather than imposing blanket burdens across the industry. Increased survey frequency for newly enrolled hospices and home health agencies, providers with ownership changes, or providers displaying signs of fraudulent behavior. Enhanced screening requirements for providers deemed at "extreme risk" of fraud, including fingerprinting administrators and medical directors and requiring proof of liability insurance. Greater accountability for accrediting organizations through standardized survey training requirements. New beneficiary notification requirements to ensure seniors know when they have been enrolled in hospice and understand how to disenroll if fraud or abuse occurs. Annual reporting to Congress on CMS program integrity activities, enforcement actions, fraud trends, and efforts to reduce unnecessary administrative burden on legitimate providers. Click HERE to read the full bill text. In February 2023, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Van Duyne and Rep. Blumenauer sent a letter to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressing their concern about fraud and abuse within the hospice benefit and requesting a briefing on CMS's hospice-related oversight activities as well as any gaps in oversight tools. In March 2023 at a Ways and Means Committee hearing, Rep. Van Duyne questioned the then-Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, on his agency's failure to conduct proper oversight of the hospice benefit. In June 2023, Rep. Van Duyne and a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm about newly certified hospices that engaged in unlawful, unethical practices, resulting in alarming reports of fraud & abuse that threatened both patient safety and fiscal responsibility. In March 2024, Rep. Van Duyne questioned then-HHS Secretary Becerra again on his failure to address fraudulent hospice schemes that defrauded taxpayers out of millions of dollars. In May 2024, Rep. Van Duyne and Rep. Blumenauer led a bipartisan group of 38 lawmakers demanding answers from CMS on the implementation of recent reforms aimed at combating hospice fraud and abuse. In June 2024, Rep. Van Duyne was recognized with the Hospice Action Network Angel Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization for her work to combat fraud and abuse in our hospice programs. In November 2024, Rep. Van Duyne introduced the Enhancing Hospice Oversight and Transparency Act, bipartisan legislation to restore integrity in the hospice benefit. May 2026, CMS announces the suspension of approximately 800 hospice service providers citing massive, suspected Medicare fraud. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/5/van-duyne-introduces-the-protecting-seniors-and-stopping-fraudsters-act-to-enact-mandatory-oversight-requirements-to-combat-hospice-and-home-healthcare-fraud

Van Duyne Leads Request to Trump Administration Cabinet Officials to Initiate Investigations into North Texas H-1B Visa Fraud

Position: The representatives urge the Trump administration to conduct a coordinated investigation into reported H-1B visa fraud in North Texas, citing concerns that visa abuse distorts local labor markets, suppresses wages, and displaces American workers.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), U.S. Representative Pat Fallon (R-TX-04), U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), and U.S. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) sent a letter to urge Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Acting Secretary Sonderling, and Secretary Mullin to "conduct a coordinated, interagency investigation into reported H-1B fraud activities in North Texas". The North Texas Members of Congress note: "The concentration of these activities in North Texas—a major economic hub for our nation—raises additional concerns about localized exploitation of the system. When bad actors are able to manipulate visa pathways at scale, it distorts local labor markets, suppresses wages, and erodes trust in lawful immigration processes." "I'm thankful for my fellow North Texas Members in joining me to urge the Administration to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute these egregious violations of our immigration laws. Much like we saw with the Nick Shirley investigative journalism which exposed Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota and rampant hospice fraud in Los Angeles, California, North Texas independent journalists have repeatedly uncovered flagrant abuse of the H-1B visa program concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and specifically in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant Counties," said Rep. Van Duyne. "H-1B visa abuse is an affront to our country, it harms American workers, depresses wages, leaves graduating university students without job prospects in their area of study, and it must be stamped out for economic and national security reasons." Both Governor Abbott and Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, initiated investigations earlier this year to root out bad actors and scammers who are abusing the H-1B visa program and displacing Texas workers. The Governor and Attorney General call out past instances of businesses firing highly qualified Texas workers only to be replaced by lower wage H-1B workers or instances of sham companies setting up non-existent businesses at residential addresses or empty unfinished buildings. In their letter, the Members call on the relevant Departments to take the following specific actions: EXCLUSIVE: The Bottom Line on Fox Business first reported on this story. Watch the interview HERE. Click HERE to read the letter. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/5/van-duyne-leads-request-to-trump-administration-cabinet-officials-to-initiate-investigations-into-north-texas-h-1b-visa-fraud

Reps. Van Duyne and Wasserman Schultz introduce the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) introduce H.R. 8358 the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2026. This legislation extends the U.S. Postal Service's authority to issue the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp for an additional 10 years, ensuring continued voluntary funding for breast cancer research. A companion bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The Breast Cancer Research stamp has raised millions of dollars for lifesaving research while giving Americans a simple way to support the fight against breast cancer. With the current authorization set to expire in 2027, this bill ensures the program can continue supporting innovative research and advancing progress against one of the most common cancers affecting women in the United States. "The Breast Cancer Research stamp program proves that small actions can make a big difference, raising nearly $100 million for lifesaving research over the past three decades," said Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. "I am glad to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to extend the program for another decade to give Americans an easy, voluntary way to support the fight against a disease that impacts 1 in 8 women." "I know what it's like to hear the dreaded words: 'you have breast cancer.' As a survivor, this fight is personal," said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. "That's why I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research stamp program, which raised nearly $100 million for lifesaving studies at the Defense Department and NIH. Every stamp purchase is a commitment to beat this deadly disease." Reps. Van Duyne and Wasserman Schultz were joined by Reps. Bacon (R-NE-2), Cohen (D-TN-9), Dingell (D-MI-6), Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Garamendi (D-CA-8), and Matsui (D-CA-7) in introducing the bill. The bill was also supported by the Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Women's Association, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Breastcancer.org, Cancer Nation, CancerCare, Check for a Lump, DenseBreast-info, Inc., FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, HealthyWomen, Living Beyond, Breast Cancer, Livestrong, Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Inc., Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance, Men Supporting Women With Cancer, METAvivor Research and Support, NAACP, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, National Black Nurses Association, National Cancer Registrars Association, National Consortium of Breast Centers, Nueva Vida, Oncology Nursing Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, SHARE Cancer Support, Society of Breast Imaging, Susan G. Komen, The Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, Tigerlily Foundation, Triage Cancer, Unite for HER, and Young Survival Coalition. Click here to read their letter of support. "Susan G. Komen applauds the leadership of Senators Rosen and Moody and Congresswomen Van Duyne and Wasserman-Schultz in introducing legislation to reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and urge Congress to swiftly act. This bicameral, bipartisan legislation represents a critical opportunity to sustain a proven, innovative funding mechanism that has advanced lifesaving breast cancer research," said Molly Guthrie, vice president of policy and advocacy for Susan G. Komen. "For almost three decades, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised nearly $98 million for breast cancer research—research that has led to significant progress in the detection and treatment of this disease but is still estimated to take the lives of 43,000 Americans in 2026 alone. Every dollar raised through the Breast Cancer Research Stamp can help advance needed discoveries and save more lives." "For decades, progress against breast cancer has depended on strong, sustained support for research. The Breast Cancer Research Stamp has empowered Americans to be part of that effort while helping generate critical funding for breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense medical research programs. Reauthorizing the stamp preserves a proven tool that raises awareness of breast cancer and helps fuel scientific innovation to improve treatment options and resources for patients, survivors, and those at high risk of the disease." - Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, Medical Director, Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons Click HERE to read bill text. Click here to read the letter of support from ASBrS. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/4/reps-van-duyne-and-wasserman-schultz-introduces-the-breast-cancer-research-stamp-reauthorization-act

Reps. Van Duyne and Larson Introduce the Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026

Position: The release advocates for legislation that modernizes Medicare payment policies for ambulatory surgical centers by aligning payment updates with hospital outpatient departments and removing budget neutrality adjustments, to promote site-neutral care and expand access to lower-cost outpatient surgery for seniors.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Van Duyne (R-TX-24) and Larson (D-CT-01) introduced the Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 to modernize Medicare payments for ambulatory surgical centers and promote site-neutral policies that support lower-cost outpatient care for seniors. Ambulatory surgical centers often perform the same procedures as hospitals at significantly lower cost, but Medicare payment policies have historically treated these sites differently. By aligning payment updates and removing outdated adjustments, this legislation supports greater site neutrality, expands access to outpatient surgery, and helps ensure seniors can receive care in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting. "Outdated Medicare policies are limiting access to high-quality and lower-cost care," said Rep. Beth Van Duyne. "Our healthcare system should reward high-quality, lower-cost care, not stand in its way, like current rules fail to treat outpatient surgical centers fairly. This bipartisan legislation supports expanded access to outpatient surgery facilities and ensures our nation's seniors can receive the best care." "Ambulatory Surgical Centers provide preventive services and essential procedures to thousands of patients across the State of Connecticut every year," said Rep. John B. Larson. "I'm proud to join with my colleague, Rep. Beth Van Duyne, on this common-sense, bipartisan bill to protect outpatient care for Connecticut residents and Americans across the country. We will continue to work together on solutions that connect patients with the care they need and save taxpayer money." "Surgery centers perform millions of essential elective procedures for Medicare beneficiaries every year," said Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice. "Ensuring an accurate and stable payment system is key to protecting patient access to low-cost, high-quality surgery centers. ASCA thanks Representatives Larson and Van Duyne for introducing this important bill." Background The Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 aligns how Medicare updates payments for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) with hospital outpatient departments beginning in 2027, and removes outdated adjustments that suppress ASC reimbursement. These changes modernize Medicare's payment structure and better reflect the shift toward lower-cost outpatient surgical care. Aligns annual payment updates for ASCs with hospital outpatient departments starting in 2027. Eliminates ASC-specific budget neutrality adjustments that suppress payments. Requires CMS to consider ASC spending when calculating outpatient payment adjustments. Together, these reforms modernize the ASC payment framework and help ensure Medicare policies keep pace with the shift of surgical care from hospitals to outpatient facilities. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/3/reps-van-duyne-and-larson-introduce-the-outpatient-surgery-access-act-of-2026

Rep. Van Duyne Announces Ways and Means Passage of Ensuring Children Receive Support Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Van Duyne (TX-24) announced the Ensuring Children Receive Support Act (H.R. 6903) has been passed by the Ways and Means Committee by a bipartisan vote of 40-2. Working with Chairman Smith (MO-08) and Representative Panetta (CA-19), they successfully moved the bill through committee to now be offered for consideration by the full House. "Ensuring children are taken care of should be non-negotiable. When child support obligations go unmet, children are the ones who suffer," said Rep. Van Duyne. "This bill strengthens enforcement efforts and ensures we are standing firmly on the side of America's children. I'm grateful to Chairman Smith, Representative Panetta, and members of the committee for helping to advance this bipartisan, commonsense legislation so it can be considered by the full House." "I commend Representative Van Duyne for her strong, long-standing leadership on this legislation to put children first," said Ways and Means Chairman Smith. "The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act strengthens an enforcement tool to help collect past-due child support and ensure parents meet their obligations to their children. Thanks to Representative Van Duyne's efforts, we are prioritizing the needs of children across America to make sure they get the support and resources they are owed." "Child support payments are not just mandated by law, they provide important resources and support so that children can succeed," said Rep. Panetta. "The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act would help delinquent parents make those payments by preventing them from leaving the country. By empowering the State Department to revoke passports of parents who are delinquent in their child support payments, we can continue to support those children with practical solutions to ensuring child support gets paid." This bipartisan legislation will strengthen enforcement of the Passport Denial Program. Under current law, if the Department of Health and Human Services certifies that an individual owes more than $2,500 in child support, the Department of State must refuse to issue the individual a passport and may revoke a previously issued passport. Since passports must be updated every 10 years, this initiative has minimal effect. My bill would require the State Department to revoke the previously issued passport. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/1/rep-van-duyne-announces-ways-and-means-passage-of-ensuring-children-receive-support-act

Van Duyne Leads RSC Budget Roadmap to Restore America's Golden Age

Position: The RSC Budget proposes balancing the federal budget within ten years by returning spending to pre-pandemic levels, cutting waste and fraud, and advancing pro-growth tax policies, while protecting Social Security, Medicare, and agricultural programs.

Washington, D.C. – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Budget and Spending Task Force Chair Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) and RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) today released the RSC Budget, a comprehensive fiscal roadmap that balances the federal budget within ten years by returning spending to pre-pandemic levels and putting an end to Washington's reckless spending habits. For decades, the RSC Budget has been a cornerstone of the Republican Study Committee—a conservative tradition that serves as a reality check on Washington's addiction to spending. This year's budget carries that legacy forward by proving fiscal responsibility isn't theoretical. It's achievable. Critically, the RSC Budget balances the books without cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits, raising the Social Security retirement age, or eliminating agricultural programs that support America's farmers—priorities families across the country have made clear matter most. It unleashes American energy production, ensures our border remains secure, strengthens our military, and protects the sanctity of unborn life. At a time when runaway spending has saddled our children with historic debt that threatens long-term economic prosperity, the RSC Budget restores discipline by making realistic, responsible choices. It rejects the false choice between fiscal sanity and protecting essential government functions—and shows we can and must do both. The RSC Budget incorporates more than 220 bills from RSC Members, highlights key provisions from the historic Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, and advances pro-growth policies that let free markets—not Washington—drive opportunity. By cutting waste, fraud, and abuse while protecting those who truly need assistance, the RSC Budget rewards hard work, strengthens economic growth, and restores America's competitive edge. "As Chair of the Budget and Spending Task Force, I have prioritized a return to pre-pandemic spending levels and a balanced federal budget as soon as possible – which our budget will do in ten years," said RSC Budget and Spending Task Force Chair Beth Van Duyne (TX-24). "We are following a precedent set by my friend, Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington. Since January, our Task Force has been working with RSC Members, the House Budget Committee, the White House, and many stakeholders to gather proposals that were aimed at addressing our nation's fiscal challenges. We developed this budget around a simple principle: Washington must live within its means." "For too long, Washington has ignored the basic math that every American family understands," said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11). "Families balance their budgets and make tough choices every day. They expect their government to do the same. The RSC Budget is a reality check for Washington and proof that we can balance the budget, protect seniors, and restore fiscal sanity without punishing hardworking Americans." See the full RSC Budget document HERE. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2026/1/van-duyne-leads-rsc-budget-roadmap-to-restore-america-s-golden-age

Rep. Van Duyne Reintroduces the Ensuring Children Receive Support Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Van Duyne (R-TX-24) and Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Passport Denial Program. The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act requires the Secretary of State to revoke any U.S. passport issued to an individual exceeding $2,500 in outstanding child support payments. "The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act is a commonsense bill that will go a long way in safeguarding innocent children from neglect," said Rep. Van Duyne. "This bill strengthens enforcement efforts and ensures we are standing firmly on the side of America's children. I am committed to bringing pragmatic solutions for families in Texas-24 and across the country." "Child support payments are necessary for some children to have the resources and support that they need to succeed," said Rep. Panetta. "The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act would help us meet the urgency single parents feel by empowering the State Department to revoke passports for delinquent child support payments. We must continue to support those children by finding practical solutions to ensuring child support gets paid." Under current law, if the Department of Health and Human Services certifies that an individual owes more than $2,500 in child support, the Department of State must refuse to issue the individual a passport and may revoke a previously issued passport. Since passports must be updated every 10 years, this initiative has minimal effect. My bill would require the State Department to revoke the previously issued passport. Click HERE to read the full bill text. Permalink: https://vanduyne.house.gov/2025/12/rep-van-duyne-reintroduces-the-ensuring-children-receive-support-act