WASHINGTON – In 2021, U.S. Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.-08) fought for Indiana’s best interests by sponsoring legislation, letters, and more to support Hoosiers in Southwest and West Central Indiana.
Beyond his legislative work, Dr. Bucshon has the privilege of being able to help Hoosiers who are struggling with federal agencies and has helped nearly 700 constituents navigate the bureaucratic red tape of our nation’s federal agencies this year alone.
“I have spent the past year traveling all across Indiana’s 8th Congressional District hearing from Hoosiers about the issues that matter most to them. Whether it is fighting against the federal vaccine mandates or protecting the sanctity of life, I am committed to creating real change for Southwest and West Central Indiana. As we look towards the New Year, I’ll keep putting Hoosier families, farmers, and small businesses first, while being your voice in the House of Representatives,” said Dr. Bucshon.
Dr. Bucshon’s Highlights from 2021:
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Cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to oppose the federal government mandating COVID-19 vaccines to employees, such as the Fairness for Federal Contractors Act of 2021 (H.R. 6016) that prohibits federal agencies from enforcing mandates on federal contractors and H.J.Res.65 that would repeal OSHA’s vaccine mandate for private employers through the Congressional Review Act.
Dr. Larry Bucshon and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) led a letter with 113 of their colleagues opposing the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for Medicare and Medicaid service providers. In the letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the members urged the administration to abandon the new federal mandate. At a time when we are facing a growing health care workforce shortage – including a projected physician shortage of more than 100,000 by 2034 – implementing a federal vaccine mandate will only serve to exacerbate the problem.
With Hoosiers facing rising energy costs, Dr. Bucshon joined the rest of the Indiana Delegation on a letter urging the Biden Administration to take steps to address the shortage of propane fuel, which many Hoosiers rely on to heat their homes during winter.
Dr. Bucshon and his Republican colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm requesting information about how the Department of Energy planned to address the rising energy prices. Unfortunately, the Secretary’s response to the letter did not adequately address these concerns, and so, in a subsequent letter to Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, the Congressman and other Committee Republicans urged the Committee to hold a hearing about the rising energy prices and conduct the necessary oversight of the Department of Energy. To date, Committee Democrats have not agreed to a hearing on this crucial issue.
Additionally, Dr. Bucshon spoke at a local gas station in Newburgh, Indiana to highlight how America’s Energy Crisis is hurting Hoosiers.
Dr. Bucshon introduced the bipartisan Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2021 (H.R. 6020) to extend the 2021 Medicare physician payment adjustment of 3.75% for an additional year.
Dr. Bucshon also led a letter along with over 245 Members of Congress urging House Leadership to address looming Medicare cuts before they go into effect on January 1st, 2022.
Dr. Bucshon also penned an op-ed for Modern Healthcareurging Congress to act to address looming Medicare reimbursement cuts that would interfere with physician reimbursement and seniors access to care.
In 2021, Dr. Bucshon received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Organization and an A+ from the Susan B. Anthony List for his voting record supporting the sanctity of life.
Voted against bills like H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 that would effectively codify Roe v. Wade and repeal a number Indiana State laws pertaining to abortion.
Co-signed numerous letters to Congressional leadership and the Administration asking to support the Hyde Amendment, oppose unethical research that utilizes Human Fetal Tissue, uphold existing state laws that provide protections for the unborn, and supported an amicus brief for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case currently before the Supreme Court examining pre-viability restrictions and Roe v. Wade.
Cosponsored multiple pieces of pro-life legislation such as the Life At Conception Act (H.R. 1011), the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 619), the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1080), and more.
Dr. Bucshon cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to protect 2ndamendment rights such as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38), the Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act of 2021 (H.R. 988), and the Firearm Due Process Protection Act (H.R. 3820).
Additionally, Dr. Bucshon cosigned letters to the Administration opposing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) proposed rule that would ban pistol braces, expressing concern to the ATF over their efforts to create a federal gun registry, and supporting the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association in their case before the Supreme Court to invalidate New York’s onerous concealed carry restrictions.
Dr. Bucshon cosponsored the Border Security for America Act of 2021 (H.R. 4828) which will resume construction of the border wall, train and hire additional CBP officers, and invest in technologies to increase security at our border.
Dr. Bucshon also cosigned letters to the Administration asking for answers on where illegal immigrants have been internally relocated within the US, opposing paying $450,000 settlements to illegal immigrants, and expressing concern with the fact that American citizens and visa holders have stricter health requirement restrictions than illegal migrants.
Dr. Bucshon pushed the Biden Administration for transparency and accountability in the handling of the collapse of Afghanistan, and efforts to rescue and offer asylum to Afghan SIVs and refugees that had helped the United States during the conflict in that country.
Dr. Bucshon introduced bipartisan legislation, the TESTs Act, to dramatically expand COVID-19 testing throughout the country.
This legislation would make more testing available to more people across the country. It would help increase testing capacity at labs across the country by providing them the funding they need to purchase new diagnostic testing equipment that can run thousands of tests at a time.
While our country’s COVID-19 diagnostic testing capabilities and capacity have increased over time during the pandemic, Dr. Bucshon continues to hear from Hoosiers in the Eighth District of Indiana that the turnaround times for their results take too long and some continue to have difficulty accessing a rapid response test.
The American people are counting on us to ensure our hospitals and public health labs have the equipment they need in order to meet the demands of not only the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but any future disease outbreaks that may occur.
Dr. Bucshon introduced thebipartisan, bicameralVerifying Accurate Leading-Edge IVCT Development (VALID) Act. This bipartisan legislation would level the playing field by establishing a new risk-based framework for the review and approval of diagnostic tests, accelerating innovation and ensuring Americans can rely on the test results they receive.
In the operating room time is a precious commodity – even the smallest delay can be the difference between life or death for a patient.Recent advancements in diagnostic testing technology have transformed the speed and accuracy in which doctors receive this life-changing information, giving patients and doctors what they need most: more time.
The VALID Act makes sure that a safe, accurate, and risk-based framework is in place to allow leading edge development and innovation to thrive in our hospitals and laboratories, while assuring doctors and patients that their test results are analytically and clinically valid.
Dr. Bucshon was selected to chair the Healthy Future Task Force Subcommittee on Doctor/Patient relationships. This Subcommittee will examine policy impacting doctor/patient relationships to craft a patient-focused agenda for the future by building off Republican successes.
Giving patients and their doctors the freedom to make their own health care decisions, as opposed to Washington bureaucrats, has been a top priority of Dr. Bucshon’s since coming to Congress. He looks forward to working with his Republican colleagues on future legislation that prioritizes patients in Indiana and across the country
Dr. Bucshon cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to support the men and women in law enforcement such as the David Dorn Back the Blue Act (H.R. 3131) that will help augment local law enforcement wages and provide them additional training, the Protect the Serve Act of 2021 (H.R. 3079) to increase penalties on those who knowingly assault law enforcement, and the Qualified Immunity Act of 2021 (H.R. 288) to codify the policy of qualified immunity that law enforcement relies on.
He also cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to support our officers in the Bureau of Prisons, like those at FCC Terre Haute, including the Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021(H.R. 5975) that would require updates to camera and radio systems used at the BOP and require additional safety features be implemented, and the Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act (H.R. 5761) that would make pay for corrections more competitive with the areas they work to help solve the staffing shortage they are currently facing.
In addition, Dr. Bucshon held roundtable discussions and meetings with law enforcement officers from all around Indiana’s 8th Congressional District to hear how they could be best supported.
Dr. Bucshon keeps in regular contact with Chambers of Commerce and Business Leaders in the district.
Dr. Bucshon has long supported small business in Indiana and has been committed to helping them rebound from the adverse impacts of COVID-19. He has cosponsored multiple bills to support businesses including:
the Eliminating Global Market Distortions to Protect American Jobs Act of2021(H.R. 6121) which will modernize and strengthen the effectiveness of our trade remedies and help push back against China’s anti-free market practices;
the ENTRÉE Act (H.R. 4568), which would provide $60 billion to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF);
the PPP Extension Act of 2021 (H.R. 1799), which extended PPP eligibility from March 31, 2021, to June 30, 2021;
the Fair Access to Banking Act (H.R. 1729), which would prohibit banks from refusing to do business with any legally-compliant person because of political or reputational considerations.
Dr. Bucshon introduced the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act(MHQIA) (H.R. 4387), aimed at reducing the alarming rate of maternal deaths in America and saving mothers’ lives. Indiana has an unacceptably high maternal mortality rate state-wide, possessing the third worst rate in the country. It is vital that we improve maternal mortality rates, especially in rural America, by providing the necessary resources to stop preventable maternal mortality. This bipartisan legislation will benefit patients and communities that are currently struggling by providing them with the support and training they so desperately need, and by helping ensure that women in rural areas can have access to maternal health providers.
Dr. Bucshon introduced the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act (H.R. 4217), a bipartisan bill to protect the mental health of new mothers by increasing prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and access to care for maternal mental health conditions.
Dr. Bucshon proudly supported the National Defense Authorization Actfor fiscal year 2022 that will provide critical funds to support a robust military, provide a pay raise for our troops, and strengthen the ability of our armed forces to combat global threats. The bill also prohibits a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination and requires uniform procedures for vaccine exemptions.
In addition, Dr. Bucshon makes frequent visits to Naval Support Activity Crane (NSA Crane) and is actively engaged in supporting the work of the multiple commands located there.
In June, Dr. Bucshon joined Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and over 60 House Republicans in launching the Conservative Climate Caucus. The Caucus promotes innovation that will yield practical, exportable solutions to reduce emissions, not energy choices.
To mark National Clean Energy Week (September 20-24), Dr. Bucshon discussed the benefits of hydropower and how the Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act, a bill authored by the Congressman which became law in 2018, is helping remove red tape and accelerate the process of modernizing existing dams to generate hydropower.
Dr. Bucshon has been actively pushing back against the Biden Administration’s energy policies that are failing to alleviate ordinary Americans from high energy prices while also surrendering our nation’s energy independence to foreign adversaries like Russia and China.
The Congressman has cosponsored several bills to maintain our ability to meet our energy needs at home, including:
the Safeguarding Oil and Gas Leasing and Permitting Act (H.R. 519), which would mandate that any order or other action imposing a moratorium on Federal oil and gas leasing or permitting must be approved by Congress before going into effect;
the Protecting Our Wealth of Energy Resources Act (H.R. 543), which would prevent the President or designee from prohibiting the issuance of oil and gas, coal, hard rock, and critical minerals leases on federal lands and withdrawing federal lands from mineral development without the approval of Congress; and
the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 751), which would prohibit the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium.
The Congressman has highlighted these concerns during his work on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
In a November Committee hearing, Dr. Bucshon highlighted the rising costs facing 8th District Hoosiers and the shortcomings of the Biden Administration’s energy policies.
After the disastrous winter storms in Texas in February, Dr. Bucshon askedCommittee witnesses about the weather resiliency of energy sources in Texas during the storm and stressed the need to seek practical solutions to strengthen our energy grid.
Dr. Bucshon also issued a statement in response to President Biden's decision to release 50 million barrels of crude oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. President Biden’s decision to do this was nothing more than an attempt to distract Americans from the disastrous impacts of the Biden administration’s energy policies because it ultimately did nothing to control runaway domestic gas prices
In response to the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in May, Dr. Bucshon joined Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Department of Energy’s ability to protect our energy infrastructure, including:
the Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R. 3078), which would strengthen the Department of Energy’s ability to respond to threats against pipeline and LNG facilities to prevent attacks like the Colonial cyberattack;
the Energy Emergency Leadership Act (H.R. 3119), which would help elevate energy emergency and cybersecurity responsibilities as a core function for the Department of Energy;
the Cyber Sense Act (H.R. 2928), which would bolster U.S. electric infrastructure by encouraging coordination between the Department of Energy and electric utilities; and
the Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act (H.R. 2931), which would direct the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with States, other Federal agencies, and industry stakeholders, to create and implement a program to enhance the physical and cyber security of electric utilities.
Dr. Bucshon helped formulate draft legislation to improve transparency and accountability at big tech, and to reduce the prevalence of cyberbullying on social media.
Dr. Bucshon also helped develop draft legislation that will make the internet a safer place for Hoosiers, that will establish a national privacy standard and encourage companies and organizations to incorporate “Privacy by Design” into their operations to secure sensitive and private information from bad actors.
Dr. Bucshon co-led a bipartisan bill to strengthen critical supply chains and boost rural manufacturing.
Introduced the RECS Act (H.R. 2676) to require the Federal Trade Commission to submit economic analyses alongside recommendations for legislation. This will help bring greater transparency and accountability to agency proposals that can have huge impacts on the economy.
Dr. Bucshon helped advance US policies that will allow America to remain a leader in autonomous vehicle technologies including:
Helped reintroduce the SELF DRIVE Act(H.R. 3711) that will create a federal framework for the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Co-led a bipartisan letter with House Energy and Commerce colleagues to the Department of Transportation asking them to update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards so that more autonomous vehicles can be safely manufactured and deployed.
Co-led the CASE Act(H.R. 2997) to help ensure that autonomous vehicles are safe for all Americans, as the bill would conduct a study evaluating how well crash-avoidance systems accurately detect pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users of different skin tones.
Dr. Bucshon cosponsored the STARTER 2.0 Act (H.R. 3341), which authorizes over $400 billion for actual infrastructure projects and reduces the red tape needed to get through to begin working on projects.
Dr. Bucshon cosigned letters to the Department of Transportation asking to advance work and complete the I-69 Ohio River Crossing, and a letter asking for grant support to help refurbish and reopen the Harmony Way Bridge.
Dr. Bucshon has been actively monitoring the exit of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. During the evacuations in August, the Congressman joined a letter led by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to President Biden that raised several questions regarding the withdrawal such as the evacuation of Afghan SIVs and longer-term strategic concerns such as the Taliban’s relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Dr. Bucshon also cosponsored a resolution (H.Res. 607) that condemns President Biden’s failure to heed the advice of military and intelligence advisors that led to the abrupt, disorderly evacuation.
Dr. Bucshon continues to be a strong champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship in Congress. The Congressman opposed radical Democrat efforts to strip funding for the Iron Dome missile defense program out of the annual appropriations package. As the world saw in May, Iron Dome protects civilians from terrorist groups like Hamas that indiscriminately target civilian areas. Thankfully, pressure from the Congressman and others led the House to pass a standalone bill to ensure Iron Dome continued to received U.S. funding.
Dr. Bucshon is actively working across the aisle to promote a lasting peace for Israel and the Middle East. The Congressman cosponsored the Israel Relations Normalization Act (H.R. 2748), a bipartisan bill that would build upon the Abraham Accords and assist Israel build meaningful diplomatic partnerships with countries in the Arab World and beyond.
Dr. Bucshon wrote an op-ed for the Washington Times outlining the benefits of state-based Medicaid programs like Indiana’s Healthy Indiana Plan, while showcasing the failures in the Affordable Care Act. This unprecedented global tragedy has highlighted more than ever before that state-based health care programs have the ability to adapt, sustain, and provide adequate health care coverage for their communities. The Affordable Care Act’s flawed policies and regulations have left Americans stuck with health care choices that continue to climb in cost and decrease in number year after year. It is clear that a state-based solution, like the Healthy Indiana Plan, is best for Hoosiers and best for Americans.