[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D493-D496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Appropriations: Full Committee held a markup on the FY 
2019 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Bill; and the FY 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Bill. The FY 2019 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Bill and the FY 2019 Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Bill were ordered reported, as amended.

[[Page D494]]


THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' 
COMPENSATION ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``The Opioid Epidemic: Implications 
for the Federal Employees' Compensation Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Scott S. Dahl, Inspector General, Department of Labor; Scott D. 
Szymendera, Acting Section Research Manager, Congressional Research 
Service, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
COMBATING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC: EXAMINING CONCERNS ABOUT DISTRIBUTION 
AND DIVERSION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Combating the Opioid Epidemic: 
Examining Concerns About Distribution and Diversion''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
SHARING THE ROAD: POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF ELECTRIC AND CONVENTIONAL 
VEHICLES IN THE YEARS AHEAD
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing entitled ``Sharing the Road: Policy Implications of Electric 
and Conventional Vehicles in the Years Ahead''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
IMPROVING THE COORDINATION AND QUALITY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 
TREATMENT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Improving the Coordination and Quality of Substance Use 
Disorder Treatment''. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Blumenauer; and public witnesses.
CONFRONTING THE IRANIAN CHALLENGE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Confronting the Iranian Challenge''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN THE OPIOID ABUSE CRISIS
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Challenges and Solutions in the Opioid Abuse Crisis''. Testimony was 
heard from Robert Patterson, Acting Administrator, Drug Enforcement 
Administration; J. Spencer Morgan III, Commonwealth's Attorney, 
Accomack County, Virginia; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
221, the ``Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act''; H.R. 
1791, the ``Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Act''; H.R. 
2591, the ``Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs 
Act of 2017''; H.R. 3535, the ``Ruffey Rancheria Restoration Act of 
2017''; H.R. 4032, the ``Gila River Indian Community Federal Rights-of-
Way, Easements and Boundary Clarification Act''; H.R. 4506, the ``Jobs 
for Tribes Act''; H.R. 4689, to authorize early repayment of 
obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the Northport 
Irrigation District in the State of Nebraska; H.R. 5317, to repeal 
section 2141 of the Revised Statutes to remove the prohibition on 
certain alcohol manufacturing on Indian lands; and H.R. 5655, the 
``Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument Act''. H.R. 221, H.R. 1791, 
H.R. 2591, H.R. 3535, H.R. 4032, and H.R. 4506 were ordered reported, 
as amended. H.R. 4689, H.R. 5317, and H.R. 5655 were ordered reported, 
without amendment.
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 2020 CENSUS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee began a 
hearing entitled ``Progress Report on the 2020 Census''. Testimony was 
heard from Earl Comstock, Director, Office of Policy and Strategic 
Planning, Department of Commerce; Ron S. Jarmin, Acting Director, 
Census Bureau; David A. Powner, Director of Information Technology 
Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Robert Goldenkoff, 
Director of Strategic Issues, Census Issues, Government Accountability 
Office; and a public witness.
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2018
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3053, the 
``Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018''. The Committee granted, 
by record vote of 7-4, a structured rule providing for the 
consideration of H.R. 3053. The rule provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule makes in 
order as original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 
115-69 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 the Rules Committee report.

[[Page D495]]

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 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 the report. The rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Shimkus, Tonko, Amodei, Kaptur, Titus, Kihuen, and 
Rosen.
LEVERAGING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND 
COMBAT COUNTERFEIT GOODS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Oversight; 
and Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a joint hearing 
entitled ``Leveraging Blockchain Technology to Improve Supply Chain 
Management and Combat Counterfeit Goods''. Testimony was heard from 
Douglas Maughan, Cyber Security Division Director, Science and 
Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM: A SMALL BUSINESS ANGLE
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and 
Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``Travel and Tourism: A Small 
Business Angle''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BLUE TECHNOLOGIES: USE OF NEW MARITIME TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE 
EFFICIENCY AND MISSION PERFORMANCE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``Blue 
Technologies: Use of New Maritime Technologies to Improve Efficiency 
and Mission Performance''. Testimony was heard from Rear Admiral 
Michael Haycock, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief 
Acquisition Officer, U.S. Coast Guard; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a business meeting 
on subcommittee assignments; and a markup on H.R. 299, the ``Blue Water 
Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017''; H.R. 5674, the ``Department of 
Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening 
Integrated Outside Networks Act''; H.R. 1972, the ``VA Billing 
Accountability Act''; H.R. 2147, the ``Veterans Treatment Court 
Improvement Act''; H.R. 3642, the ``Military Sexual Assault Victims 
Empowerment Act''; H.R. 3832, the ``Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention 
Act''; H.R. 4635, to direct the secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for 
women veterans; H.R. 5520, the ``Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis 
Research Act of 2018''; H.R. 4245, the ``Veterans' Electronic Health 
Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017''; HR 4334, the ``Improving 
Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017''; H.R. 4451, the 
``Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 
2017''; H.R. 4830, the ``Servicemembers Improved Transition through 
Reforms for Ensuring Progress Act''; H.R. 4958, the ``Veterans 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018''; H.R. 5044, the 
``Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act''; H.R. 
5215, the ``Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act''; and 
H.R. 5418, the ``Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing 
Stabilization Act''. The committee resolution on subcommittee 
assignments was agreed to. H.R. 299, H.R. 1972, H.R. 2147, H.R. 3642, 
H.R. 3832, H.R. 4635, and H.R. 5520 were ordered reported, as amended. 
H.R. 5674, H.R. 4245, H.R. 4334, H.R. 4451, H.R. 4830, H.R. 4958, H.R. 
5044, H.R. 5215, and H.R. 5418 were ordered reported, without 
amendment.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  May 8, 2018, on page D495, the following language appears: 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS: Full 
Committee held a business meeting on subcommittee assignments; and 
a markup on H.R. 299, the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 
2017"; H.R. 5674, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Maintaining 
Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks 
Act"; H.R. 1972, the "VA Billing Accountability Act"; H.R. 2147, 
the "Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act"; H.R. 3642, the 
"Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act"; H.R. 3832, the 
"Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act"; H.R. 4635, to direct the 
secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-
peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans; H.R. 
5520, the "Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 
2018"; H.R. 4245, the "Veterans' Electronic Health Record 
Modernization Oversight Act of 2017"; HR 4334, the "Improving 
Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017"; H.R. 4451, the 
"Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 
2017"; H.R. 4830, the "Servicemembers Improved Transition through 
Reforms for Ensuring Progress Act"; H.R. 4958, the "Veterans 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018"; H.R. 5044, 
the "Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act"; 
H.R. 5215, the "Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation 
Act"; and H.R. 5418, the "Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical 
Purchasing Stabilization Act". The committee resolution on 
subcommittee assignments was agreed to. H.R. 299, H.R. 1972, H.R. 
2147, H.R. 3642, H.R. 3832, and H.R. 4635 were ordered reported, 
as amended. H.R. 5520, H.R. 5674, H.R. 4245, H.R. 4334, H.R. 4451, 
H.R. 4830, H.R. 4958, H.R. 5044, H.R. 5215, and H.R. 5418 were 
ordered reported, without amendment.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: MISCELLANEOUS 
MEASURES COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on subcommittee assignments; and a markup on H.R. 
299, the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017"; H.R. 
5674, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal 
Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act"; H.R. 
1972, the "VA Billing Accountability Act"; H.R. 2147, the 
"Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act"; H.R. 3642, the 
"Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act"; H.R. 3832, the 
"Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act"; H.R. 4635, to direct the 
secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-
peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans; H.R. 
5520, the "Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 
2018"; H.R. 4245, the "Veterans' Electronic Health Record 
Modernization Oversight Act of 2017"; HR 4334, the "Improving 
Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017"; H.R. 4451, the 
"Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 
2017"; H.R. 4830, the "Servicemembers Improved Transition through 
Reforms for Ensuring Progress Act"; H.R. 4958, the "Veterans 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018"; H.R. 5044, 
the "Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act"; 
H.R. 5215, the "Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation 
Act"; and H.R. 5418, the "Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical 
Purchasing Stabilization Act". The committee resolution on 
subcommittee assignments was agreed to. H.R. 299, H.R. 1972, H.R. 
2147, H.R. 3642, H.R. 3832, H.R. 4635, and H.R. 5520 were ordered 
reported, as amended. H.R. 5674, H.R. 4245, H.R. 4334, H.R. 4451, 
H.R. 4830, H.R. 4958, H.R. 5044, H.R. 5215, and H.R. 5418 were 
ordered reported, without amendment.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

VA LOGISTICS MODERNIZATION: EXAMINING THE RTLS AND CATAMARAN PROJECTS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``VA Logistics Modernization: 
Examining the RTLS and Catamaran Projects''. Testimony was heard from 
Nicholas Dahl, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and 
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and Tammy Czarnecki, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for 
Health for Administrative Operations, Veterans Health Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
THE CURRENT STATUS OF AND QUALITY IN THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``The Current Status of and Quality in the Medicare Advantage 
Program''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
UKRAINE
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission received a 
briefing on ending the war in Ukraine from Kurt Volker, Special 
Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Department of State.

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