[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Page D1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
U.S. POLICY TOWARD SYRIA (PART II)
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``U.S. Policy Toward Syria (Part II)''. 
Testimony was heard from James F. Jeffrey, Special Representative for 
Syria Engagement, Department of State; and Robert Jenkins, Deputy 
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and 
Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development.
EVALUATING FEDERAL DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Evaluating Federal Disaster Response and Recovery 
Efforts''. Testimony was heard from William B. Long, Administrator, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency; Major General Scott A. Spellmon, 
Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers; and a public witness.
REVIEW OF RECENT GAO REPORTS ON ICEBREAKER ACQUISITION AND THE NEED FOR 
A NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``Review of 
Recent GAO Reports on Icebreaker Acquisition and the Need for a 
National Maritime Strategy''. Testimony was heard from Rear Admiral 
Michael J. Haycock, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief 
Acquisition Officer, U.S. Coast Guard; Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, U.S. 
Navy (Ret.), Administrator, Maritime Administration; Marie A. Mak, 
Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management, Government 
Accountability Office; Andrew Von Ah, Director of Physical 
Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability Office; and Ronald 
O'Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs, Congressional Research Service, 
Library of Congress.
VA'S DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY INITIATIVES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``VA's Development and 
Implementation of Policy Initiatives''. Testimony was heard from Paul 
R. Lawrence, Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Michael J. Missal, 
Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS REFORM
Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform: 
Committee concluded a markup of the Committee's report, 
recommendations, and legislative language. The bill and accompanying 
report were not agreed to.
COMPUTATIONAL PROPAGANDA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission received a 
briefing on how to defeat computational propaganda from Matt Chessen, 
Acting Deputy Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State; 
and Karen Kornbluh, German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Nina 
Jankowicz, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Kennan 
Institute, both of Washington, D.C.