[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D234-D237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
PUBLIC WITNESS HEARING--TRIBAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Public Witness Hearing--
Tribal Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the Library of Congress. Testimony was heard from 
Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing on the 
Executive Office for Immigration Review. Testimony was heard from James 
McHenry, Director, Executive Office for Immigration Review.
ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF GUN VIOLENCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``Addressing the Public Health Emergency of Gun 
Violence''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES: AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of 
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
held a hearing entitled ``Stakeholder Perspectives: Affordable Housing 
Production''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
VA WHOLE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``VA 
Whole Health, Mental Health and Homelessness''. Testimony was heard 
from David Carroll, Executive Director, Office of Mental Health and 
Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; Tracy W. Gaudet, M.D., Executive Director, National 
Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, Veterans 
Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and a public 
witness.
ENERGY WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held

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a hearing entitled ``Energy Workforce Opportunities and Challenges''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PUBLIC WITNESS HEARING--TRIBAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Public Witness Hearing--
Tribal Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Supreme Court of the 
United States. Testimony was heard from Samuel Alito, Associate 
Justice, Supreme Court of the United States; and Elena Kagan, Associate 
Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.
U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held an oversight 
hearing on the U.S. European Command. Testimony was heard from General 
Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Commander, U.S. European Command, and Supreme 
Allied Commander Europe (NATO). This hearing will be closed.
NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE 
GREATER MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in the 
Greater Middle East and Africa''. Testimony was heard from General 
Joseph Votel, U.S. Army, Commander, U.S. Central Command; General 
Thomas Waldhauser, U.S. Marine Corps, Commander, U.S. Africa Command; 
and Kathryn Wheelbarger, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
International Security Affairs, Department of Defense.
U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND AND MARITIME ADMINISTRATION: STATE OF THE 
MOBILITY ENTERPRISE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces; and Subcommittee on Readiness held a joint hearing entitled 
``U.S. Transportation Command and Maritime Administration: State of the 
Mobility Enterprise''. Testimony was heard from General Steve Lyons, 
Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Department of Defense; and Rear 
Admiral Mark H. Buzby, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Administrator, Maritime 
Administration, Department of Transportation.
THE COST OF INACTION: WHY CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS THE MULTIEMPLOYER 
PENSION CRISIS
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Health, Employment, 
Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``The Cost of Inaction: Why 
Congress Must Address the Multiemployer Pension Crisis''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
WASTED ENERGY: DOE'S INACTION ON EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND ITS IMPACT ON 
CONSUMERS AND THE CLIMATE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing 
entitled ``Wasted Energy: DOE's Inaction on Efficiency Standards and 
Its Impact on Consumers and the Climate''. Testimony was heard from 
Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
PUTTING CONSUMERS FIRST? A SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL 
PROTECTION BUREAU
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Putting Consumers First? A Semi-Annual Review of the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau''. Testimony was heard from Kathy 
Kraninger, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
75, strongly condemning the January 2019 terrorist attack on the 14 
Riverside Complex in Nairobi, Kenya; H.R. 739, the ``Cyber Diplomacy 
Act of 2019''; H. Res. 156 calling for accountability and justice for 
the assassination of Boris Nemtsov; H.R. 596, the ``Crimea Annexation 
Non-recognition Act''; and H.R. 295, the ``End Banking for Human 
Traffickers Act of 2019''. H. Res. 75 was ordered reported, without 
amendment. H.R. 739, H. Res. 156, H.R. 596, and H.R. 295 were ordered 
reported, as amended.
THE STATUS OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North 
Africa, and International Terrorism held a hearing entitled ``The 
Status of American Hostages in Iran''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
CBP WORKFORCE CHALLENGES: EXPLORING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS RECRUITMENT 
AND RETENTION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, 
and Accountability held a

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hearing entitled ``CBP Workforce Challenges: Exploring Solutions to 
Address Recruitment and Retention''. Testimony was heard from Benjamine 
Huffman, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; 
Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, 
Government Accountability Office; Rodolfo Karisch, Chief Patrol Agent, 
Rio Grande Valley Sector, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``Reauthorization of the 
Violence Against Women Act''. Testimony was heard from Ramona A. 
Gonzalez, Presiding Judge, Wisconsin Circuit Court, LaCrosse, 
Wisconsin; and public witnesses.
DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF CONSOLIDATION AND 
ANTICOMPETITIVE CONDUCT IN HEALTH CARE MARKETS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and 
Administrative Law held a hearing entitled ``Diagnosing the Problem: 
Exploring the Effects of Consolidation and Anticompetitive Conduct in 
Health Care Markets''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE THREATS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and 
Wildlife held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Threats to the North 
Atlantic Right Whale''. Testimony was heard from Chris Oliver, 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE DRUG CRISIS
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Trump Administration's Response to the Drug Crisis''. 
Testimony was heard from James W. Carroll, Jr., Director, Office of 
National Drug Control Policy; Triana McNeil, Acting Director, Strategic 
Issues, Government Accountability Office; and Mike McDaniel, Director, 
Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Texas.
THE ENERGY WATER NEXUS: DRIER WATTS AND CHEAPER DROPS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a hearing entitled ``The Energy Water Nexus: Drier Watts and 
Cheaper Drops''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY: A REVIEW OF THE SBA MICROLOAN PROGRAM
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Small but Mighty: A Review of the SBA Microloan Program''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND: HOW FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
INVESTMENT CAN HELP COMMUNITIES MODERNIZE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``The Clean Water 
State Revolving Fund: How Federal Infrastructure Investment Can Help 
Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure and Address Affordability 
Challenges''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HEARING WITH THE NATIONAL TAXPAYER ADVOCATE ON THE IRS FILING SEASON
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
entitled ``Hearing with the National Taxpayer Advocate on the IRS 
Filing Season''. Testimony was heard from Nina E. Olson, National 
Taxpayer Advocate.
PROMOTING COMPETITION TO LOWER MEDICARE DRUG PRICES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Promoting Competition to Lower Medicare Drug Prices''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR WORKING FAMILIES: CHALLENGES AND 
OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support 
held a hearing entitled ``Leveling the Playing Field for Working 
Families: Challenges and Opportunities''. Testimony was heard from 
Kelly Schulz, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Maryland; and public 
witnesses.
BUSINESS MEETING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on Adoption of the

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Committee's Views and Estimates Letter. The Committee's Views and 
Estimates Letter was adopted. This meeting was closed.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
concluded a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
to examine the legislative presentation of multiple veterans service 
organizations, after receiving testimony from Regis William Riley, 
AMVETS, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; David Zurfluh, Paralyzed Veterans of 
America, Ruston, Washington; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, 
Middle Village, New York; Jeremy Butler, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 
of America, New York, New York; Jared Lyon, Student Veterans of 
America, Alexandria, Virginia; Charles A. Susino, American Ex-Prisoners 
of War, Piscataway, New Jersey; and Rene C. Bardorf, Wounded Warrior 
Project, Washington, D.C.