[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 26, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D454-D456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
OVERSIGHT ON U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held an oversight 
hearing on U.S. Pacific Command. Testimony was heard from Admiral Harry 
Harris, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. This hearing was closed.
MILITARY ASSESSMENT OF THE SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC 
REGION
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Military Assessment of the Security Challenges in the Indo-Asia-
Pacific Region''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Harry Harris, 
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command.
CREATING A FLEXIBLE AND EFFECTIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND 
ACQUISITION SYSTEM: ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING 
LANDSCAPE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Creating a Flexible and 
Effective Information Technology Management and Acquisition System: 
Elements for Success in a Rapidly Changing Landscape''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a markup 
on H.R. 1180, the ``Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017''. H.R. 
1180 was ordered reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing on the ``Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017''. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Heller, Representatives Kihuen, Rosen, 
Titus, and Wilson of South Carolina, and public witnesses.

[[Page D455]]


A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO CREATE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTORS, 
CONSUMERS, AND ENTREPRENEURS
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``A Legislative Proposal to Create Hope and Opportunity for Investors, 
Consumers, and Entrepreneurs''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
THE QUESTIONABLE CASE FOR EASING SUDAN SANCTIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``The Questionable Case for Easing Sudan Sanctions''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CHINA'S TECHNOLOGICAL RISE: CHALLENGES TO U.S. INNOVATION AND SECURITY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``China's Technological Rise: Challenges to U.S. 
Innovation and Security''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS AND THE U.S. MARSHALS 
SERVICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland 
Security, and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the 
Federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service''. Testimony 
was heard from Thomas Kane, Acting Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons; 
and David Harlow, Acting Director and Deputy Director, U.S. Marshals 
Service.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
220, to authorize the expansion of an existing hydroelectric project, 
and for other purposes; H.R. 497, the ``Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land 
Exchange Act''; H.R. 660, the ``Bureau of Reclamation Transparency 
Act''; H.R. 1073, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington Ridge 
tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 1135, to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities Historic Preservation program; H.R. 1500, the ``Robert 
Emmet Park Act of 2017''; H.R. 1654, the ``Water Supply Permitting 
Coordination Act''; H.R. 1715, the ``Medgar Evers House Study Act''; 
H.R. 1769, the ``San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act''; H.R. 1807, 
the ``Public Water Supply Invasive Species Compliance Act of 2017''; 
H.R. 1873, the ``Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act''; 
H.R. 1967, the ``Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower 
Development Act''; and H.R. 2085, to approve an agreement between the 
United States and the Republic of Palau, and for other purposes.
UNFUNDED MANDATES: EXAMINING FEDERALLY IMPOSED BURDENS ON STATE AND 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Intergovernmental Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Unfunded Mandates: 
Examining Federally Imposed Burdens on State and Local Government''. 
Testimony was heard from Wayne Niederhauser, President, Utah State 
Senate; Jim Davis, Senator, North Carolina State Senate; Gary Moore, 
Judge/Executive, Boone County, Kentucky; Jermaine Reed, Councilman, 
City of Kansas City, Missouri; and Jeff McKay, Supervisor, Fairfax 
County Board of Supervisors, Virginia.
REVIEWING THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE FOREIGN ACCOUNT TAX 
COMPLIANCE ACT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Operations held a hearing entitled ``Reviewing the 
Unintended Consequences of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act''. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Paul and public witnesses.
FANNIE AND FREDDIE OPEN RECORDS ACT OF 2017
Committee on Rules: Full Committee concluded a hearing on H.R. 1694, 
the ``Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act of 2017''. The Committee 
granted, by record vote of 8-3, a structured rule for H.R. 1694. The 
rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order as original text for 
purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-14, modified by the 
amendment printed in part A of the Rules Committee report, and provides 
that it shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against that amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule 
makes in order only those further amendments printed in part B of the 
Rules Committee report. Each such amendment may be offered only in the 
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated 
in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be

[[Page D456]]

debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in part B of the report. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. In section 2, the rule provides 
that it shall be in order at any time through the legislative day of 
April 29, 2017, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House 
suspend the rules and that the Speaker or his designee shall consult 
with the Minority Leader or her designee on the designation of any 
matter for consideration pursuant to this section. Finally, section 3 
of the rule waives clause 6(a) of rule 13 (requiring a two-thirds vote 
to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules 
Committee) against any resolution reported through the legislative day 
of April 29, 2017.
ADVANCES IN THE SEARCH FOR LIFE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Advances in the Search for Life''. Testimony was 
heard from Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, Science Mission 
Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and public 
witnesses.
STORM WATCH: MAKING SURE SBA'S DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM IS PREPARED
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Storm Watch: Making Sure SBA's Disaster Loan Program is Prepared''. 
Testimony was heard from James Rivera, Associate Administrator, Office 
of Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration; Hannibal 
``Mike'' Ware, Acting Inspector General, Small Business Administration; 
William Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, 
Government Accountability Office.
BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AMERICA: THE STATE OF 
RAILROAD, PIPELINE, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY REGULATIONS AND 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFORM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: The State of 
Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Safety Regulations and 
Opportunities for Reform''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STOPPING DISABILITY FRAUD: RISK, PREVENTION, AND DETECTION
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing entitled ``Stopping Disability Fraud: Risk, Prevention, and 
Detection''. Testimony was heard from Sean Brune, Assistant Deputy 
Commissioner, Office of Budget, Finance, Quality and Management, Social 
Security Administration; and Seto J. Bagdoyan, Director, Forensic 
Audits and Investigative Service, Government Accountability Office.
EXAMINING THE 2017 TAX FILING SEASON
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the 2017 Tax Filing Season''. Testimony was heard 
from Kirsten Wielobob, Deputy Commissioner for Services and 
Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service; Michael McKenney, Deputy 
Inspector General for Audit, Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration; and Jessica Lucas-Judy, Acting Director, Strategic 
Issues, Government Accountability Office.

Joint Meetings
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN RUSSIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine democracy and human rights abuses in Russia, after 
receiving testimony from Vladimir Kara-Murza, Open Russia, and Daniel 
Calingaert, Freedom House, both of Washington, D.C.; and Rachel Denber, 
Human Rights Watch, New York, New York.