John Joyce
| John Joyce | |
| Born | 8 2, 1957 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Physician, politician |
| Known for | U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district; Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce |
| Education | Doctor of Medicine |
John Joyce (born February 8, 1957) is an American physician and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Joyce has served in Congress since 2019 and has established himself as an active legislator on matters related to healthcare policy, government oversight, and constituent services. Before entering politics, he practiced medicine as a dermatologist for several decades in central Pennsylvania. In the 119th Congress, Joyce serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a role through which he has led inquiries into Medicare and Medicaid fraud, organ procurement oversight, and environmental regulatory matters. His legislative work has included the introduction of bills aimed at expanding federal services to rural and underserved communities in his district and across the nation.
Career
Entry into Politics and Early Congressional Service
John Joyce entered electoral politics relatively late in life after a long career in medicine. He was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district and took office in January 2019. The district encompasses a large, predominantly rural swath of south-central Pennsylvania. As a physician-turned-legislator, Joyce has frequently drawn upon his medical background when engaging with healthcare-related legislation and oversight activities.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Joyce serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the oldest and most influential standing committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. Within the committee, he holds the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, a position that grants him significant authority to convene hearings and launch inquiries into federal programs and regulatory agencies.
In January 2026, Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, serving as Chairman of the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Joyce jointly announced an oversight and investigations hearing focused on Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes. The hearing was designed to examine vulnerabilities in the federal healthcare payment systems that have been exploited by fraudulent actors, costing taxpayers significant sums and undermining the integrity of programs that serve millions of Americans.[1]
In November 2025, Guthrie and Joyce co-authored a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) following an announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the decertification of a South Florida organ procurement organization (OPO). The letter also addressed the implementation of further safety guidelines for the national organ procurement and transplant system. The correspondence reflected the subcommittee's ongoing interest in ensuring patient safety and accountability within the organ donation and transplantation infrastructure.[2]
Environmental and Regulatory Oversight
Joyce has also been involved in oversight efforts related to environmental regulation. In November 2025, he joined Chairman Guthrie and Congressman Gary Palmer in launching an investigation into the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Energy and Commerce Committee and examined the regulatory practices and authority of CARB, which has historically played an outsized role in shaping national vehicle emissions and air quality standards due to California's unique waiver authority under the Clean Air Act.[3]
Legislative Initiatives
Joyce has introduced a range of bills during his time in Congress. In January 2026, he introduced H.R. 6997, titled the Community Passport Services Access Act. The bill, which had garnered 14 co-sponsors at the time of its introduction, was designed to expand access to passport services in communities across the United States. The legislation sought to address a gap in federal services that particularly affects residents of rural areas, who may face long travel distances to reach existing passport acceptance facilities or regional passport agencies.[4] The bill reflected Joyce's broader legislative focus on improving access to government services for constituents in less densely populated regions of the country, consistent with the largely rural character of Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district.
Healthcare Policy
As a physician, Joyce has been a frequent voice on healthcare matters within the Republican conference. His chairmanship of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has provided a platform for examining waste, fraud, and abuse in federally funded healthcare programs. The Medicare and Medicaid fraud hearing announced in early 2026 was part of a broader pattern of healthcare-focused oversight during the 119th Congress.[5]
His involvement in the organ procurement and transplant system oversight also demonstrated his interest in healthcare infrastructure and patient safety. The letter to CMS that he co-authored with Chairman Guthrie addressed systemic issues within the organ procurement ecosystem, calling for stronger safety protocols and greater transparency in the processes by which organs are procured and distributed to patients in need of transplants.[6]
Recognition
Joyce's role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce represents one of the more prominent positions held by a member of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation in the 119th Congress. The chairmanship has placed him at the center of several high-profile investigations and hearings, including those related to Medicare and Medicaid fraud,[5] organ procurement safety,[6] and the regulatory authority of state environmental agencies such as the California Air Resources Board.[7]
References
- ↑ "Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce Announce Oversight and Investigations Hearing on Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Schemes".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2026-01-27.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-joyce-announce-oversight-and-investigations-hearing-on-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-schemes.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce Pen Letter to CMS Following HHS Announcement Decertifying South Florida OPO and Implementing Further Safety Guidelines for the Organ Procurement and Transplant System".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2025-11-17.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-joyce-pen-letter-to-cms-following-hhs-announcement-decertifying-south-florida-opo-and-implementing-further-safety-guidelines-for-the-organ-procurement-and-transplant-system.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Palmer Investigate California Air Resources Board".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2025-11-24.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-joyce-and-palmer-investigate-california-air-resources-board.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "New Bill: Representative John Joyce introduces H.R. 6997: Community Passport Services Access Act".Quiver Quantitative.2026-02-24.https://www.quiverquant.com/news/New+Bill%3A+Representative+John+Joyce+introduces+H.R.+6997%3A+Community+Passport+Services+Access+Act.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce Announce Oversight and Investigations Hearing on Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Schemes".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2026-01-27.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-joyce-announce-oversight-and-investigations-hearing-on-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-schemes.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce Pen Letter to CMS Following HHS Announcement Decertifying South Florida OPO and Implementing Further Safety Guidelines for the Organ Procurement and Transplant System".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2025-11-17.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-joyce-pen-letter-to-cms-following-hhs-announcement-decertifying-south-florida-opo-and-implementing-further-safety-guidelines-for-the-organ-procurement-and-transplant-system.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Palmer Investigate California Air Resources Board".House Committee on Energy and Commerce.2025-11-24.https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-joyce-and-palmer-investigate-california-air-resources-board.Retrieved 2026-02-24.