[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D336-D340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY 
ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration. 
Testimony was heard from the following National Nuclear Security 
Administration officials: Admiral James F. Caldwell, Deputy 
Administrator for Naval Reactors; Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Under 
Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator; Brent Park, Deputy 
Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; and Charles Verdon, 
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs.
APPROPRIATIONS--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Environmental Protection 
Agency. Testimony was heard from Holly Greaves, Chief Financial 
Officer, Environmental Protection Agency; and Andrew Wheeler, 
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
MEMBERS DAY AND PUBLIC WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled 
``Members Day and Public Witness Day''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Dunn, Thompson of Pennsylvania, Carbajal, Brindisi, 
Cisneros, Kildee, and Sablan; and public witnesses.
THE RURAL ECONOMY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``The Rural Economy''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
budget hearing on the National Institutes of Health. Testimony was 
heard from the following National Institutes of Health officials: Diana 
W. Bianchi, Director, Eunice

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Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human 
Development; Francis S. Collins, Director; Anthony S. Fauci, Director, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Gary Gibbons, 
Director, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; Doug Lowy, Deputy 
Director, National Cancer Institute; and Nora Volkow, Director, 
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL 
AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Geospatial 
Agency. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, 
Director, Defense Intelligence Agency; and Vice Admiral Robert D. 
Sharp, Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. This hearing 
was closed.
MEMBERS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing entitled ``Members Day''. Testimony was heard from Chairman 
Takano, and Representatives Casten of Illinois and Eshoo.
PUBLIC WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing entitled ``Public Witness Day''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland 
Security held a budget hearing on the Transportation Security 
Administration. Testimony was heard from David Pekoske, Administrator, 
Transportation Security Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AIR FORCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the U.S. Air Force. Testimony was heard from General David 
L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; and Heather Wilson, 
Secretary, U.S. Air Force.
FISCAL YEAR 2020 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE 
DEPARTMENT OF ARMY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for 
the Department of Army and the Department of the Air Force''. Testimony 
was heard from Mark T. Esper, Secretary of the Army, U.S. Army; General 
Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Heather Wilson, Secretary of 
the Air Force, U.S. Air Force; and General David L. Goldfein, Chief of 
Staff, U.S. Air Force.
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF THE COMMANDER IN SEXUAL ASSAULT PROSECUTIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Role of the Commander in Sexual 
Assault Prosecutions''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant Commander 
Erin Elliot, U.S. Navy; Lieutenant General Charles N. Pede, The Judge 
Advocate General, U.S. Army; Vice Admiral John G. Hannink, The Judge 
Advocate General, U.S. Navy; Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Rockwell, 
The Judge Advocate General, U.S. Air Force; and Major General Daniel J. 
Lecce, Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, U.S. 
Marine Corps.
EXAMINING SURPRISE BILLING: PROTECTING PATIENTS FROM FINANCIAL PAIN
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Health, Employment, 
Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``Examining Surprise 
Billing: Protecting Patients from Financial Pain''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
LESSONS FROM ACROSS THE NATION: STATE AND LOCAL ACTION TO COMBAT 
CLIMATE CHANGE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Climate Change held a hearing entitled ``Lessons from Across the 
Nation: State and Local Action to Combat Climate Change''. Testimony 
was heard from Jay Inslee, Governor, Washington; Steve Benjamin, Mayor, 
Columbia, South Carolina; Jackie Biskupski, Mayor, Salt Lake City, 
Utah; James Brainard, Mayor, Carmel, Indiana; Daniel C. Camp III, 
Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Beaver County, Pennsylvania; and 
Jerry F. Morales, Mayor, Midland, Texas.
PRICED OUT OF A LIFESAVING DRUG: THE HUMAN IMPACT OF RISING INSULIN 
COSTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Priced Out of a Lifesaving 
Drug: The Human Impact of Rising Insulin Costs''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.

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THE FAIR HOUSING ACT: REVIEWING EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AND 
PROMOTE OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSING
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Fair Housing Act: Reviewing Efforts to Eliminate Discrimination 
and Promote Opportunity in Housing''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN RURAL AMERICA: ASSESSING THE FEDERAL 
RESPONSE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing, Community 
Development, and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``The Affordable 
Housing Crisis in Rural America: Assessing the Federal Response''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``How Climate Change Threatens U.S. National Security''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF NATO: NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, 
and the Environment held a hearing entitled ``The Future of NATO: New 
Challenges and Opportunities''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
SUPPORTING A FACT-BASED APPROACH TO PREVENTING TERRORIST TRAVEL TO THE 
UNITED STATES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence and 
Counterterrorism; and Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, 
and Operations held a joint hearing entitled ``Supporting a Fact-Based 
Approach to Preventing Terrorist Travel to the United States''. 
Testimony was heard from Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security 
and Justice Team, Government Accountability Office; Donald Conroy, 
Director, National Targeting Center--Passenger Operations, Office of 
Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of 
Homeland Security; and Monte Hawkins, Director, National Vetting 
Center, Department of Homeland Security.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5, 
the ``Equality Act''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PROTECTING COASTAL COMMUNITIES FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Protecting Coastal Communities from 
Offshore Drilling''. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Cunningham and Rooney of Florida; Jimmy Carroll, Mayor, Isle of Palms, 
South Carolina; Sharon Hewitt, Senator, Louisiana State Senate; and 
public witnesses.
WOW 101: THE STATE OF WESTERN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and 
Wildlife held a hearing entitled ``WOW 101: The State of Western Water 
Infrastructure and Innovation''. Testimony was heard from Vicente 
Sarmiento, President, Board of Directors, Orange County Water District 
and Council Member, City of Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, California; and 
public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Forests, and Public Lands hearing on H.R. 823, the ``Colorado Outdoor 
Recreation and Economy Act''; H.R. 1708, the ``Rim of the Valley 
Corridor Preservation Act''; H.R. 434, the ``Emancipation National 
Historic Trail Act''; and H.R. 306, the ``Kettle Creek Battlefield Park 
Study Act''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Jackson Lee and 
Schiff; Chris French, Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. 
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Dan Smith, Deputy Director, 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Dan Gibbs, Executive 
Director, Department of Natural Resources, Colorado; Laurene Weste, 
Councilmember, Santa Clarita, California; and public witnesses.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a business 
meeting on A Resolution Offered by Chairman Elijah E. Cummings 
Authorizing Issuance of Subpoena Related to Security Clearances; and A 
Resolution Offered by Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Authorizing Issuance 
of Subpoenas Related to the 2020 Census. A Resolution Offered by 
Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Authorizing Issuance of Subpoena Related to 
Security Clearances, and A Resolution Offered by Chairman Elijah E. 
Cummings Authorizing Issuance of Subpoenas Related to the 2020 Census 
passed, as amended.

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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019
Committee on Rules: Full Committee concluded a hearing on H.R. 1585, 
the ``Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019''. The 
Committee granted, by record vote of 9-3, a structured rule providing 
for consideration of H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women 
Reauthorization Act of 2019. The rule provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on the Judiciary. 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 116-9, 
modified by the amendment printed in part A of the Rules Committee 
report, 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 part B of the Rules Committee report. 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 part B of the report. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Jackson Lee, Cline, Scanlon, and Lesko.
A REVIEW OF THE NASA FY2020 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``A Review of the NASA FY2020 Budget Request''. 
Testimony was heard from James F. Bridenstine, Administrator, National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
THE SMALL BUSINESS TRADE SNAPSHOT: AGRICULTURE AND WORKERS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship held a hearing entitled ``The 
Small Business Trade Snapshot: Agriculture and Workers''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
PIPELINE SAFETY: REVIEWING THE STATUS OF MANDATES AND EXAMINING 
ADDITIONAL SAFETY NEEDS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Pipeline Safety: Reviewing the Status of Mandates and Examining 
Additional Safety Needs''. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Moulton and Trahan; Howard R. Elliott, Administrator, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of 
Transportation; Jennifer L. Homendy, Board Member, National 
Transportation Safety Board; and public witnesses.
MAPPING THE CHALLENGES AND PROGRESS OF THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND 
TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Modernization held a hearing entitled ``Mapping the Challenges and 
Progress of the Office of Information and Technology''. Testimony was 
heard from Carol Harris, Director for Information Technology 
Acquisition Management, Government Accountability Office; and Brent 
Arronte, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office of Audits and 
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
MISSION CRITICAL: ASSESSING THE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CARE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``MISSION Critical: Assessing the Technology to Support Community 
Care''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of Veterans 
Affairs officials: Richard Stone, Executive in Charge, Veterans Health 
Administration; James Gfrerer, Assistant Secretary for Office of 
Information and Technology, and Chief Information Officer; and Melissa 
Glynn, Assistant Secretary for Enterprise Integration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 1759, 
the ``BRIDGE for Workers Act''; H.R. 1994, the ``Setting Every 
Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019''; and H.R. 1957, 
the ``Taxpayer First Act of 2019''. H.R. 1759, H.R. 1994, and H.R. 1957 
were ordered reported, without amendment.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.

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