[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1224-D1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
2018 VETERANS AFFAIRS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``2018 
Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record''. Testimony was heard from 
the following Department of Veterans Affairs officials: David J. 
Shulkin, Secretary; John H. Windom, Program Executive, Electronic 
Health Record Modernization; and Scott R. Blackburn, Executive in 
Charge, Office of Information and Technology.
EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department 
of Labor''. Testimony was heard from R. Alexander Acosta, Secretary, 
Department of Labor.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment held a 
markup on H.R. 1917, the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from 
Closing Kilns Act of 2017''; H.R. 453, the ``Relief from New Source 
Performance Standards Act of 2017''; H.R. 350, the ``Recognizing the 
Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017''; and H.R. 1119, the 
``Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act''. H.R. 1917, 
H.R. 453, and H.R. 350 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 
1119 was ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee completed a markup on 
H.R. 1153, the ``Mortgage Choice Act of 2017''; H.R. 1638, the 
``Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act''; H.R. 3093, the 
``Investor Clarity and Bank Parity Act''; H.R. 3221, the ``Securing 
Access to Affordable Mortgages Act''; H.R. 3299, the ``Protecting 
Consumers' Access to Credit Act of 2017''; H.R. 3978, the ``TRID 
Improvement Act of 2017''; H.R. 4015, the ``Corporate Governance Reform 
and Transparency Act of 2017''; H.R. 4247, the ``Restoring Financial 
Market Freedom Act of 2017''; H.R. 4248, to amend the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 to repeal certain disclosure requirements related 
to conflict minerals, and

[[Page D1225]]

for other purposes; H.R. 4258, the ``Family Self-Sufficiency Act''; 
H.R. 4263, the ``Regulation A+ Improvement Act of 2017''; H.R. 4267, 
the ``Small Business Credit Availability Act''; H.R. 4270, the 
``Monetary Policy Transparency and Accountability Act of 2017''; H.R. 
4278, the ``Independence from Credit Policy Act of 2017''; H.R. 4279, 
the ``Expanding Investment Opportunities Act''; H.R. 4281, the 
``Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act''; H.R. 4289, 
to amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
to repeal certain disclosure requirements related to coal and mine 
safety; H.R. 4292, the ``Financial Institution Living Will Improvement 
Act''; H.R. 4293, to reform the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and 
Review process, the Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test process, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 4294, the ``Prevention of Private Information 
Dissemination Act of 2017''; H.R. 4296, to place requirements on 
operational risk capital requirements for banking organizations 
established by an appropriate Federal banking agency; H.R. 4302, the 
``Congressional Accountability for Emergency Lending Programs Act of 
2017''; and H.R. 4324, the ``Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access 
to Finance Act''. H.R. 1638, H.R. 4292, H.R. 4279, and H.R. 4293 were 
ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 4258, H.R. 4324, H.R. 4270, H.R. 
4278, H.R. 4302, H.R. 1153, H.R. 3093, H.R. 3221, H.R. 3978, H.R. 4294, 
H.R. 4296, H.R. 4015, H.R. 4248, H.R. 4263, H.R. 4267, H.R. 4281, H.R. 
3299, H.R. 4247, and H.R. 4289 were ordered reported, without 
amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
336, reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Mexico 
Partnership; H. Res. 401, urging China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, 
the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, and all nations to 
outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and to enforce existing laws against 
the trade; H. Res. 407, condemning the persecution of Christians around 
the world; H.R. 1164, the ``Taylor Force Act''; H.R. 1415, the ``End 
Neglected Tropical Diseases Act''; H.R. 2712, the ``Palestinian 
International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2017''; H.R. 3542, 
the ``Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act''; H.R. 3776, the ``Cyber 
Diplomacy Act of 2017''; and H. Con. Res. 90, condemning ethnic 
cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the attacks in and 
an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine 
in Burma. H. Res. 336 was ordered reported, without amendment. H. Res. 
401, H. Res. 407, H.R. 1164, H.R. 1415, H.R. 2712, H.R. 3542, H.R. 
3776, and H. Con. Res. 90 were ordered reported, without amendment.
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE IN ASIA: U.S. ECONOMIC STRATEGY AMID CHINA'S BELT 
AND ROAD
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``Development Finance in Asia: U.S. Economic 
Strategy Amid China's Belt and Road''. Testimony was heard from 
Jonathan N. Stivers, Commissioner, U.S.-China Economic and Security 
Review Commission; and public witnesses.
MAXIMIZING THE VALUE OF CYBER THREAT INFORMATION SHARING
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and 
Infrastructure Protection held a hearing entitled ``Maximizing the 
Value of Cyber Threat Information Sharing''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 170, 
the ``Protect and Grow American Jobs Act''. H.R. 170 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and 
Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing on H.R. 212, the ``EFFECT Act''; 
H.R. 2320, the ``Samish Indian Nation Land Conveyance Act of 2017''; 
and H.R. 3225, the ``Oregon Tribal Economic Development Act''. 
Testimony was heard from John Tahsuda III, Acting Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 801, the ``Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation 
Act''; H.R. 2888, the ``Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park 
Establishment Act''; H.R. 3979, the ``Keep America's Refuges 
Operational Act''; and H.R. 4266, the ``Acadia National Park Boundary 
Clarification Act''. Testimony was heard from Representatives LaHood, 
Smith of Missouri, Jeffries, and Poliquin; Sue Masica, Acting Deputy 
Director for Operations, National Park Service; and public witnesses.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFORMS FROM THE INSPECTORS GENERAL
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Recommendations and Reforms from the Inspectors 
General''.

[[Page D1226]]

Testimony was heard from Michael E. Horowitz, Chair, Council of the 
Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Inspector General, 
Department of Justice; John Roth, Inspector General, Department of 
Homeland Security; and a public witness.
THE FEDERAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION REFORM ACT (FITARA) 
SCORECARD 5.0
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Technology; and Subcommittee on Government Operations held 
a joint hearing entitled ``The Federal Information Technology 
Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) Scorecard 5.0''. Testimony was heard 
from Max Everett, Chief Information Officer, Department of Energy; 
Alison Doone, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy; 
John Bashista, Director of Acquisition Management, Department of 
Energy; Barbara Helland, Associate Director of Advanced Scientific 
Computing Research, Department of Energy; Dave Powner, Director of IT 
Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Jay Mahanand, 
Chief Information Officer, U.S. Agency for International Development; 
Reginald Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Agency for 
International Development; Wade Warren, Acting Deputy Administrator, 
U.S. Agency for International Development; Maria Roat, Chief 
Information Officer, Small Business Administration; Tim Gribben, Chief 
Financial Officer, Small Business Administration; and Althea Coetzee 
Leslie, Deputy Administrator, Small Business Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 4376, the ``Department of Energy Research Infrastructure 
Act of 2017''; H.R. 4377, the ``Accelerating American Leadership in 
Science Act of 2017''; H.R. 4378, the ``Nuclear Energy Research 
Infrastructure Act of 2017''; H.R. 4375, the ``STEM Research and 
Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act''; H.R. 4323, the 
``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act''; H.R. 4254, the ``Women in 
Aerospace Education Act''; and H.R. 3397, the ``Building Blocks of STEM 
Act''. H.R. 3397 and H.R. 4254 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 
4323, H.R. 4375, H.R. 4376, H.R. 4377, and H.R. 4378 were ordered 
reported, without amendment.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SMALL BUSINESSES: PROMOTING GREATER INFORMATION 
SHARING FOR STRONGER CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Federal Government and Small Businesses: Promoting Greater 
Information Sharing for Stronger Cybersecurity''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
TURKEY'S FAILING RULE OF LAW
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine the victims of Turkey's failing rule of law, after 
receiving testimony from Jonathan R. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary 
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs; CeCe Heil, American Center 
for Law and Justice, Franklin, Tennessee; Nate Schenkkan, Freedom 
House, New York, New York; and Jacqueline Furnari, Chapel Hill, North 
Carolina.