[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 9, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D378-D382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department 
of Justice. Testimony was heard from William P. Barr, Attorney General; 
and Lee J. Lofthus, Assistant Attorney General for Administration.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Member 
Day''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Allen, Carter of 
Georgia, Cox, Rodney Davis of Illinois, Duncan, Gonzalez-Colon of 
Puerto Rico, Granger, Griffith, Hagedorn, Johnson of Louisiana, Lamb, 
Mast, McNerney, Mucarsel-Powell, O'Halleran, Olson, Peters, Ruiz, 
Scalise, Shimkus, Titus, Upton, Wilson of South Carolina, and Wittman.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Department of the 
Treasury. Testimony was heard from Steven Mnuchin, Secretary, 
Department of the Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the U.S. Special Operations Command. Testimony was heard 
from General Richard D. Clarke, Commander, U.S. Special Operations 
Command. This hearing was closed.
COMBATTING WAGE THEFT: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF WAGE AND HOUR ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``Combatting Wage Theft: The Critical Role of Wage and 
Hour Enforcement''. Testimony was heard from Kwame Raoul, Attorney 
General, Illinois; and public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
budget hearing on the Department of Agriculture. Testimony was heard 
from Erica Navarro, Budget Officer, Department of Agriculture; and 
Sonny Perdue, Secretary, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Indian Health Service. 
Testimony was heard from Rear Admiral Michael D.

[[Page D379]]

Weahkee, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the U.S. Army. Testimony was heard from Mark T. Esper, 
Secretary of the Army; and General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff, U.S. 
Army.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Internal Revenue 
Service. Testimony was heard from Charles P. Rettig, Commissioner, 
Internal Revenue Service.
PUBLIC WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``Public Witness Day''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Member Day''. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Jackson Lee, Long, Van Drew, Gonzalez-Colon of 
Puerto Rico, Escobar, Hill, Burgess, and Espaillat.
EVOLUTION, TRANSFORMATION, AND SUSTAINMENT: A REVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR 
2020 BUDGET REQUEST FOR U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Evolution, 
Transformation, and Sustainment: A Review of the Fiscal Year 2020 
Budget Request for U.S. Special Operations Forces and Command''. 
Testimony was heard from Mark E. Mitchell, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of Defense, Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; 
and General Richard D. Clarke, Commander, U.S. Special Operations 
Command.
FY20 PRIORITIES FOR ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE, NONPROLIFERATION, SAFETY AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``FY20 Priorities for Atomic Energy Defense, 
Nonproliferation, Safety and Environmental Management''. Testimony was 
heard from Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Administrator, National Nuclear 
Security Administration; Anne Marie White, Assistant Secretary for the 
Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy; and Bruce 
Hamilton, Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and Labor: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
1010, to provide that the rule entitled ``Short-Term, Limited Duration 
Insurance'' shall have no force or effect. H.R. 1010 was ordered 
reported, without amendment.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Civil Rights and 
Human Services held a hearing entitled ``The Equality Act (H.R. 5): 
Ensuring the Right to Learn and Work Free from Discrimination''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 EPA BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Climate Change held a hearing entitled ``The Fiscal Year 2020 EPA 
Budget''. Testimony was heard from Andrew Wheeler, Administrator, 
Environmental Protection Agency.
PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM DANGEROUS PRODUCTS: IS THE CONSUMER PRODUCT 
SAFETY COMMISSION FULFILLING ITS MISSION?
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Consumer Protection 
and Commerce held a hearing entitled ``Protecting Americans from 
Dangerous Products: Is the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
Fulfilling Its Mission?''. Testimony was heard from the following 
Consumer Product Safety Commission officials: Ann Marie Buerkle, Acting 
Chairman; Elliot F. Kaye, Commissioner; Robert S. Adler, Commissioner; 
Dana Baiocco, Commissioner; Peter A. Feldman, Commissioner; and public 
witnesses.
THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT: ASSESSING THE LAW'S IMPACT ON 
DISCRIMINATION AND REDLINING
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Consumer Protection 
and Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled ``The Community 
Reinvestment Act: Assessing the Law's Impact on Discrimination and 
Redlining''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE ANNUAL TESTIMONY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY ON THE STATE OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Annual Testimony of the

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Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial 
System''. Testimony was heard from Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary, 
Department of the Treasury.
FY 2020 FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``FY 2020 Foreign Assistance Budget and Policy Priorities''. Testimony 
was heard from Mark Green, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International 
Development.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 9, 
the ``Climate Action Now Act''; H.R. 2002, the ``Taiwan Assurance Act 
of 2019''; H. Res. 273, reaffirming the United States commitment to 
Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act; H.R. 97, 
the ``RAWR Act''; H.R. 753, the ``Global Electoral Exchange Act of 
2019''; H.R. 1704, the ``Championing American Business Through 
Diplomacy Act of 2019''; H.R. 1004, the ``Prohibiting Unauthorized 
Military Action in Venezuela Act''; H.R. 1952, the ``Intercountry 
Adoption Information Act''; H.R. 615, the ``Refugee Sanitation Facility 
Safety Act of 2019''; H.R. 526, the ``Cambodia Democracy Act''; H. Res. 
106, denouncing female genital mutilation/cutting as a violation of the 
human rights of women and girls and urging the international community 
and the Federal Government to increase efforts to eliminate the harmful 
practice; H.R. 1359, the ``Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2019''; 
and H.R. 2116, the ``Global Fragility Act''. H.R. 2002, H. Res. 273, 
H.R. 97, H.R. 753, H.R. 1704, H.R. 615, H.R. 526, H. Res. 106, H.R. 
1359, H.R. 951, H.R. 2116, and H.R. 9 were ordered reported, without 
amendment. H.R. 1952 and H.R. 1004 were ordered reported, as amended.
SECURING AMERICA'S TRANSPORTATION AND MARITIME SYSTEMS: A REVIEW OF THE 
FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUESTS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 
ADMINISTRATION AND THE U.S. COAST GUARD
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation and 
Maritime Security held a hearing entitled ``Securing America's 
Transportation and Maritime Systems: A Review of the Fiscal Year 2020 
Budget Requests for the Transportation Security Administration and the 
U.S. Coast Guard''. Testimony was heard from David P. Pekoske, 
Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, Department of 
Homeland Security; and Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant, U.S. Coast 
Guard.
ASSESSING THE HOMELAND SECURITY IMPACTS OF A CHANGING CLIMATE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Recovery held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Homeland 
Security Impacts of a Changing Climate''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
HOUSE OFFICER PRIORITIES FOR 2019 AND BEYOND
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``House Officer Priorities for 2019 and Beyond''. Testimony 
was heard from the following House of Representatives officials: Paul 
D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms; Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the House; 
Philip G. Kiko, Chief Administrative Officer; and Michael T. 
Ptasienski, Inspector General.
HATE CRIMES AND THE RISE OF WHITE NATIONALISM
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Hate Crimes and the Rise of White Nationalism''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
THE STATUS OF THE `REBUILDING AND PRIVATIZATION OF THE PUERTO RICO 
ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY', (PREPA)
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Status of the `Rebuilding and Privatization of the Puerto Rico 
Electric Power Authority', (PREPA)''. Testimony was heard from Bruce J. 
Walker, Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity, Department of 
Energy; Jose F. Ortiz Vazquez, Executive Director and Chief Executive 
Officer, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority; and public witnesses.
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Health and Environmental Impacts of 
Mountaintop Removal Mining''. Testimony was heard from Chairman 
Yarmuth, and public witnesses.
THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECT NATIONAL 
SECURITY
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``The Need for Leadership to Combat Climate Change and Protect 
National Security''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

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CLIMATE CHANGE, PART I: THE HISTORY OF A CONSENSUS AND THE CAUSES OF 
INACTION
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing entitled ``Climate Change, Part I: The History of a Consensus 
and the Causes of Inaction''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
A REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY FISCAL 
YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``A Review of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Fiscal Year 2020 Budget 
Request''. Testimony was heard from Walter G. Copan, Undersecretary of 
Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a markup on H.R. 1237, the ``COAST Research Act of 
2019''; H.R. 1716, the ``Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 
2019''; H.R. 1921, the ``Ocean Acidification Innovation Act of 2019''; 
and H.R. 988, the ``NEAR Act of 2019''. H.R. 1237, H.R. 1716, and H.R. 
988 were forwarded to the full Committee, without amendment. H.R. 1921 
was forwarded to the full Committee, as amended.
EVERY LIFE COUNTS: IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF OUR NATION'S ROADWAYS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing entitled ``Every Life Counts: 
Improving the Safety of our Nation's Roadways''. Testimony was heard 
from Jennifer Homendy, Member, National Transportation Safety Board; 
Michael L. Brown, Chief of Police, Alexandria, Virginia; and public 
witnesses.
BUILDING PROSPERITY: EDA'S ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RECOVERY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a 
hearing entitled ``Building Prosperity: EDA's Role in Economic 
Development and Recovery''. Testimony was heard from John Fleming, 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Department of 
Commerce; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on H.R. 95, the ``Homeless Veteran Families Act''; H.R. 
444, the ``Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 1718, the ``GI Education Benefits Fairness Act''; legislation to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the 
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
with respect to flight training programs and certain other programs of 
education, and for other purposes; legislation on the Justice for 
Servicemembers Act; legislation to amend the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 and title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the 
HUD-VASH program; to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit 
annual reports to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives regarding homeless veterans, and for other 
purposes; legislation on the Homes for Our Heroes Act of 2019; 
legislation on the Veteran Employment and Child Care Access Act; 
legislation on the BRAVE Act; legislation to clarify seasoning 
requirements for certain refinanced mortgage loans, and for other 
purposes; legislation on the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William 
``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act; legislation on the 
VET OPP Act; legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
adjust certain limits on the guaranteed amount of a home loan under the 
home loan program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes; legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
certain improvements to the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship 
program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; legislation to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the Marine 
Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship to children and spouses of 
certain members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who die 
from service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes; and 
legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
ability of veterans to receive in-state tuition using educational 
assistance administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Testimony 
was heard from Margarita Devlin, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for 
Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 2113, 
the ``Prescription Drug Sunshine, Transparency, Accountability and 
Reporting Act''. H.R. 2113 was ordered reported, as amended.

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Joint Meetings
HUNGARY
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine recent developments in Hungary, focusing on issues 
related to the rule of law and corruption, after receiving testimony 
from Melissa Hooper, Human Rights First, and Susan Corke, German 
Marshall Fund, both of Washington, D.C.; and Dalibor Rohac, American 
Enterprise Institute, New York, New York.