[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 126 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D877-D878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS: U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed 
budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Office 
of the United States Trade Representative, after receiving testimony 
from Robert Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine the nominations of Rick A. Dearborn, of Oklahoma, 
to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors, who was introduced 
by Senators Shelby and Inhofe, and Martin J. Oberman, of Illinois, to 
be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board, who was introduced by 
Representatives Quigley and Lipinski, after the nominees testified and 
answered questions in their own behalf.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
nominations of Justin George Muzinich, of New York, to be Deputy 
Secretary, and Michael J. Desmond, of California, to be Chief Counsel 
for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel, both 
of the Department of the Treasury, after the nominees testified and 
answered questions in their own behalf.
IMPROVING TAX ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight 
concluded a hearing to examine improving tax administration today, 
after receiving testimony from Phyllis Jo Kubey, Member, Internal 
Revenue Service Advisory Council, on behalf of the National Association 
of Enrolled Agents, Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal 
Revenue Service, and John Sapp, Chair, Internal Revenue Service 
Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee, all of the Department 
of the Treasury; and Caroline Bruckner, American University Kogod 
School of Business, and Rebecca Thompson, Prosperity Now, both of 
Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported 
the following business items:
  S. 1023, to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 
through fiscal year 2021, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute;
  S. 1580, to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and 
intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and 
secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women 
and girls, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 3248, to restrict the provision by international financial 
institutions of loans and financial and technical assistance to the 
Government of Turkey;
  S. Res. 501, recognizing threats to freedom of the press and 
expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a 
priority in efforts of the Government of the United States to promote 
democracy and good governance, with amendments;
  S. Res. 541, expressing the sense of the Senate that any United 
States-Saudi Arabia civilian nuclear cooperation agreement must 
prohibit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or 
separating plutonium on its own territory, in keeping with the 
strongest possible nonproliferation ``gold standard'', with amendments;
  S. Res. 571, condemning the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by 
the Russian Federation, with amendments; and
  The nominations of Joseph Cella, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Fiji, and to serve concurrently and without additional 
compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of 
Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tuvalu, Denise Natali, of New Jersey, 
to be an Assistant Secretary (Conflict and Stabilization Operations), 
and Kimberly Breier, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary (Western 
Hemisphere Affairs), all of the Department of State, and routine lists 
in the Foreign Service.

[[Page D878]]


PROPOSED OPM AND GSA REORGANIZATION
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee 
on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management concluded a hearing to 
examine the challenges and opportunities of the proposed government 
reorganization on Office of Personnel Management and General Services 
Administration, after receiving testimony from Emily W. Murphy, 
Administrator, General Services Administration; and Jeff T. H. Pon, 
Director, Office of Personnel Management.
MODERNIZING APPRENTICESHIPS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee 
concluded a hearing to examine modernizing apprenticeships to expand 
opportunities, after receiving testimony from Montez King, National 
Institute for Metalworking Skills, Fairfax, Virginia; Mike Holland, 
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., and Glenn Johnson, BASF 
Corporation, both of Houston, Texas; and Sandi Vito, 1199SEIU Training 
and Employment Funds, New York, New York.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to 
receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of 
the intelligence community.