[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D309-D312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a budget hearing on the Department of State. 
Testimony was heard from Mike Pompeo, Secretary, Department of State.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Testimony was heard 
from Brenda Burman, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; R.D. James, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers; Tim Petty, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, 
Department of Interior; and Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite, Chief 
of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

[[Page D310]]


MEMBER DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing entitled ``Member Day''. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Finkenauer and Jackson Lee.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``Member Day''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Fitzpatrick, Haaland, Jackson Lee, Khanna, McCollum, 
Smith of New Jersey, Suozzi, Hagedorn, Visclosky, and Wild.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Testimony was heard from Neil 
Jacobs, Acting Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
USDA'S PROPOSED RELOCATION OF THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AND THE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``USDA's Proposed Relocation of the Economic Research 
Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture''. Testimony 
was heard from Kristi J. Boswell, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of 
Agriculture, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, U.S. CYBER COMMAND
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command. Testimony 
was heard from General Paul M. Nakasone, Director, Commander, National 
Security Agency, Cyber Command. This hearing was closed.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Member Day''. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Visclosky, Posey, Gallagher, Comer, and 
Haaland.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from the following 
Department of Veterans Affairs officials: Paul R. Lawrence, Under 
Secretary for Benefits; Jon Rychalski, Assistant Secretary for 
Management and Chief Financial Officer; Richard A. Stone, M.D., 
Executive in Charge, Veterans Health Administration; and Robert Wilkie, 
Secretary.
PUBLIC WITNESS HEARING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing entitled ``Public Witness Hearing''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Testimony was heard from James 
Bridenstine, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the National Reconnaissance Office. Testimony was heard from 
Frank Calvelli, Principal Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance 
Office. This hearing was closed.
NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE INDO-
PACIFIC
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in the 
Indo-Pacific''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Philip S. Davidson, 
U.S. Navy, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; General Robert B. 
Abrams, U.S. Army, Commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces 
Command, and U.S. Forces Korea; and Randall G. Schriver, Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Department of 
Defense.
RESERVE COMPONENT DUTY STATUS REFORM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing entitled ``Reserve Component Duty Status Reform''. Testimony 
was heard from Jeri Bucsh, Director, Military Compensation Policy, 
Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 
Department of Defense; Major General Michael R. Taheri, U.S. Air Force, 
Director, Joint Staff, National Guard Bureau; Major

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General A.C. Roper, U.S. Army, Deputy Chief, Army Reserve; Patrick J. 
Barrett, U.S. Navy, Deputy Chief, Navy Reserve; Lieutenant General 
Richard W. Scobee, U.S. Air Force; Chief, Air Force Reserve; and Major 
General Bradley S. James, U.S. Marine Corps, Commander, Marine Forces 
Reserve.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Department of Defense's Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request''. Testimony 
was heard from David L. Norquist, Performing the Duties of Deputy 
Secretary, Department of Defense.
INNOVATIONS IN EXPANDING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Higher Education and 
Workforce Investment held a hearing entitled ``Innovations in Expanding 
Registered Apprenticeship Programs''. Testimony was heard from public 
witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a markup 
on H.R. 1781, the ``Payment Commission Data Act of 2019''; H.R. 938, 
the ``BLOCKING Act of 2019''; H.R. 1520, the ``Purple Book Continuity 
Act of 2019''; H.R. 1503, the ``Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 1499, the ``Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 
2019''; H.R. 965, the ``CREATES Act of 2019''; H.R. 1385, the ``SAVE 
Act''; H.R. 1386, the ``ENROLL Act of 2019''; H.R. 1425, the ``State 
Health Care Premium Reduction Act''; H.R. 987, the ``MORE Health 
Education Act''; H.R. 986, the ``Protecting Americans with Preexisting 
Conditions Act of 2019''; and H.R. 1010, a bill to provide that the 
rule entitled ``Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance'' shall have no 
force or effect. H.R. 1781, H.R. 938, H.R. 1385, H.R. 1386, H.R. 987, 
H.R. 986, and H.R. 1010 were forwarded to the full Committee, without 
amendment. H.R. 1520, H.R. 1503, H.R. 965, H.R. 1499, and H.R. 1425 
were forwarded to the full committee, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee continued a markup on 
H.R. 389, the ``Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Act''; H.R. 1500, 
the ``Consumers First Act''; H.R. 1595, the ``Secure and Fair 
Enforcement Banking Act of 2019''; H.R. 1815, the ``SEC Disclosure 
Effectiveness Testing Act''; and H.R. 1856, the ``Ending Homelessness 
Act of 2019''.
MAKING SANCTIONS EFFECTIVE: THE CASE OF NORTH KOREA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
Nonproliferation held a hearing entitled ``Making Sanctions Effective: 
The Case of North Korea''. Testimony was heard from a public witness.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY AND FY20 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The State Department's Foreign Policy Strategy and FY20 Budget 
Request''. Testimony was heard from Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary, 
Department of State.
LOST EINSTEINS: LACK OF DIVERSITY IN PATENT INVENTORSHIP AND THE IMPACT 
ON AMERICA'S INNOVATION ECONOMY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Lost Einsteins: 
Lack of Diversity in Patent Inventorship and the Impact on America's 
Innovation Economy''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF THE PARDON POWER
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, 
and Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled ``Examining the 
Constitutional Role of the Pardon Power''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR'S SPENDING PRIORITIES AND THE 
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the Department of the Interior's Spending Priorities and 
the President's Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal''. Testimony was heard 
from Scott Cameron, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, 
Management, and Budget, Department of the Interior; and Denise 
Flanagan, Director, Office of Budget, Department of the Interior.
EPA'S IRIS PROGRAM: REVIEWING ITS PROGRESS AND ROADBLOCKS AHEAD
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight; and Subcommittee on Environment held a 
joint hearing entitled ``EPA's IRIS Program: Reviewing its Progress and 
Roadblocks Ahead''. Testimony was heard from Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science and Science

[[Page D312]]

Advisor, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection 
Agency; Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, 
Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a markup on H.R. 34, the ``Energy and Water Research Integration 
Act of 2019''. H.R. 34 was forwarded to the full Committee, as amended.
UNLOCKING SMALL BUSINESS RETIREMENT SECURITY
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Unlocking Small Business Retirement Security''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 1108, the ``Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 1775, to establish a task force on NOTAM improvements, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 367, the ``Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 
2019''; H.R.1322, to require a report on the effects of Climate Change 
on the Coast Guard; H.R. 1306, the ``Federal Disaster Assistance 
Coordination Act''; H.R. 1307, the ``Post-Disaster Assistance Online 
Accountability Act''; H.R. 1311, to amend the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that unmet needs 
after a major disaster are met; and H.R. 1331, the ``Local Water 
Protection Act''. H.R. 1331, H.R. 1311, H.R. 1307, H.R. 1306, H.R. 
1322, and H.R. 1775 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 367 
and H.R. 1108 were ordered reported, as amended.
THE 2017 TAX LAW AND WHO IT LEFT BEHIND
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The 2017 Tax Law and Who It Left Behind''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
CONGRESSIONAL REFORMS OF THE PAST AND THEIR EFFECT ON TODAY'S CONGRESS
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Full Committee held 
a hearing entitled ``Congressional Reforms of the Past and Their Effect 
on Today's Congress''. Testimony was heard from Walter Oleszek, Senior 
Specialist, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.