[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D470-D473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE STATE OF THE CFTC
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, 
and Credit held a hearing entitled ``The State of the CFTC''. Testimony 
was heard from J. Christopher Giancarlo, Chairman, Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland 
Security held a budget hearing on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency. Testimony was heard from Christopher Krebs, Director, 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from 
following Department of Defense officials: Patrick M. Shanahan, Acting 
Secretary of Defense; General Joseph F. Dunford, U.S. Marine Corps, 
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and David L. Norquist, Performing the 
Duties of Deputy Secretary of Defense.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
markup on the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY 2020. The 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY 2020, was forwarded to the 
full Committee, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a markup on the Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Bill, FY 2020. The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2020, was forwarded to the full 
Committee, without amendment.
NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITY IN NORTH AND 
SOUTH AMERICA
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activity in North and 
South America''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Craig S. Faller, U.S. 
Navy, Commander, U.S. Southern Command; Kathryn Wheelbarger, Acting 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 
Department of Defense; General Terrance J. O'Shaughnessy, U.S. Air 
Force, Commander, U.S. Northern Command; and Kenneth P. Rapuano, 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global 
Security, Department of Defense.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing entitled

[[Page D471]]

``Department of the Army Modernization Programs''. Testimony was heard 
from Bruce D. Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, 
Logistics, and Technology, Department of the Army; General John M. 
Murray, U.S. Army, Commander, Army Futures Command, Department of the 
Army; Lieutenant General James F. Pasquarette, U.S. Army, Deputy Chief 
of Staff, Army (Programs), Department of the Army; and Jon R. 
Ludwigson, Acting Director, Contracting and National Security 
Acquisitions, Government Accountability Office.
FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET REQUEST FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ENERGY, AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
entitled ``Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for Military Construction, 
Energy, and Environmental Programs''. Testimony was heard from Robert 
H. McMahon, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, Department 
of Defense; John W. Henderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for 
Installations, Environment and Energy, Department of the Air Force; 
Alex A. Beehler, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, 
Energy and Environment, Department of the Army; and Todd C. Mellon, 
Performing the Duties of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, Department of the Navy.
EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Education and Labor: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department 
of Labor''. Testimony was heard from Alexander Acosta, Secretary, 
Department of Labor.
THE STATE OF PIPELINE SAFETY AND SECURITY IN AMERICA
Committee on Energy And Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing 
entitled ``The State of Pipeline Safety and Security in America''. 
Testimony was heard from Howard R. Elliott, Administrator, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; W. William Russell, Acting 
Director, Government Accountability Office; Lawrence Friedeman, 
Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; and public 
witnesses.
DOE'S MOUNTING CLEANUP COSTS: BILLIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY AND 
GROWING
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``DOE's Mounting Cleanup Costs: 
Billions in Environmental Liability and Growing''. Testimony was heard 
from Anne White, Assistant Secretary, Office of Environmental 
Management, Department of Energy; and David C. Trimble, Director, 
Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office.
EXAMINING DISCRIMINATION IN THE AUTOMOBILE LOAN AND INSURANCE 
INDUSTRIES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Examining Discrimination in 
the Automobile Loan and Insurance Industries''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
GOOD FOR THE BOTTOM LINE: A REVIEW OF THE BUSINESS CASE FOR DIVERSITY 
AND INCLUSION
Committee On Financial Services: Subcommittee on Diversity and 
Inclusion held a hearing entitled ``Good for the Bottom Line: A Review 
of the Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
COUNTERING A RESURGENT RUSSIA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Countering a Resurgent Russia''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
TROUBLE AT THE TOP: ARE VACANCIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY UNDERMINING THE MISSION?
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Trouble at the Top: Are Vacancies at the Department of Homeland 
Security Undermining the Mission?''. Testimony was heard from Gene L. 
Dodaro, Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office; and John 
Roth, Former Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on a motion to 
permit an additional hour of questioning, equally divided between the 
Majority and Minority, for any Full Committee Hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice: Report by Special 
Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III on the Investigation Into Russian 
Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election; and Related Matters''; 
a motion to permit Committee staff, as designated by the Chair and 
Ranking Member, to question the

[[Page D472]]

witness for an additional hour, equally divided between the Majority 
and Minority, at any Full Committee Hearing entitled ``Oversight of the 
U.S. Department of Justice: Report by Special Counsel Robert S. 
Mueller, III on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 
Presidential Election; and Related Matters''; and H.R. 5, the 
``Equality Act''. A motion to permit an additional hour of questioning, 
equally divided between the Majority and Minority; and a motion to 
permit Committee staff, as designated by the Chair and Ranking Member, 
to question the witness for an additional hour, equally divided between 
the Majority and Minority, passed, without amendment. H.R. 5 was 
ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
255, the ``Big Bear Land Exchange Act''; H.R. 278, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities, easements, and 
rights-of-way to the Kennewick Irrigation District, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 312, the ``Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation 
Reaffirmation Act''; H.R. 315, the ``Community Reclamation Partnerships 
Act''; H.R. 375, to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the 
authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for 
Indian Tribes, and for other purposes; H.R. 434, the ``Emancipation 
National Historic Trail Act''; H.R. 1014, to amend the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act to apply to territories of the United 
States, to establish offshore wind lease sale requirements, to provide 
dedicated funding for coral reef conservation, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 1146, the ``Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act''; 
H.R. 1261, the ``National Landslide Preparedness Act''; H.R. 1568, the 
``SAVE Right Whales Act''; H.R. 1809, to amend the Pittman-Robertson 
Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration 
Act, to provide parity for United States territories and the District 
of Columbia, to make technical corrections to such Acts and related 
laws, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2156, the ``RECLAIM Act of 
2019''. H.R. 255, H.R. 278, H.R. 315, H.R. 1014, and H.R. 1809 were 
ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 434, H.R. 312, H.R. 375, H.R. 
1146, H.R. 1261, H.R. 1568, and H.R. 2156 were ordered reported, as 
amended.
THE STATE OF FISHERIES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and 
Wildlife held a hearing entitled ``The State of Fisheries''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE: BEST AND WORST PRACTICES
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Rights and 
Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled ``Protecting the Right to Vote: 
Best and Worst Practices''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 34, the ``Energy and Water Research Integration Act of 
2019''; H.R. 2397, the ``American Manufacturing Leadership Act''; 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. 34, H.R. 2397, H.R. 1237, H.R. 1716, H.R. 1921, and H.R. 
988 were ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 277, 
the ``Access to Sufficient Capital for Everyone in Natural Disaster 
areas Act of 2019''; H.R. 2142, to amend the Small Business Act to 
require the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement 
Ombudsman to create a centralized website for compliance guides, and 
for other purposes; H.R. 1649, the ``Small Business Development Center 
Cyber Training Act of 2019''; H.R. 1648, the ``Small Business Advanced 
Cybersecurity Enhancements Act of 2019''; H.R. 2331, the ``SBA Cyber 
Awareness Act of 2019''; and H.R. 2345, the ``Clarifying the Small 
Business Runway Extension Act of 2019''. H.R. 277, H.R. 2142, H.R. 
1649, H.R. 1648, and H.R. 2331 were ordered reported, without 
amendment. H.R. 2345 was ordered reported, as amended.
MEMBER'S DAY HEARING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Member's Day Hearing''. Testimony was heard from 
Chairman Lofgren, Chairman Takano, Chairman Velazquez, Chairman Waters, 
and Representatives Rose of New York, Moore, Trahan, Bustos, Sherrill, 
Harder, Cunningham, Thompson of Pennsylvania, Omar, Quigley, Marshall, 
Underwood, Hoyer, Langevin, Himes, Blumenauer, Newhouse, Wittman, 
Shalala, Peters, Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Gottheimer, Khanna, 
Haaland, Cline, Welch, Jayapal, Luria, Keating, Meng, King of Iowa, 
O'Halleran, Cardenas, Scanlon, Costa, Slotkin, Neguse, Carter of 
Georgia, Phillips, and Matsui.

[[Page D473]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a markup on H.R. 95, the ``Homeless Veteran Families Act''; H.R. 
444, the ``Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act''; H.R. 
1988, the ``Protect Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act''; H.R. 2109, 
the ``BRAVE Act''; H.R. 2196, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM 
Scholarship program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 2326, 
the ``Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William `Bill' Mulder (Ret.) 
Transition Improvement 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 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 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; H.R. 
2221, the ``Fry Scholarship Improvement Act of 2019''; and H.R. 2045, 
the ``VET OPP Act''. H.R. 95, H.R. 444, H.R. 1988, H.R. 2109, H.R. 
2196, H.R. 2221, 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 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 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; 
and legislation on the Homes for Our Heroes Act of 2019 were ordered 
reported, without amendment. H.R. 2045 and H.R. 2326 were ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on H.R. 1199, the ``VA Website 
Accessibility Act of 2019''; H.R. 1200, the ``Veterans' Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019''; H.R. 1126, the ``Honoring 
Veterans' Families Act''; H.R. 1628, the ``Enewetak Atoll Cleanup 
Radiation Study Act''; H.R. 1826, the ``Veterans Valuing Our Widows and 
Widowers Act''; legislation to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce 
educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program; and legislation 
to update H.R. 299. Testimony was heard from Chairman Takano, and 
Representatives David P. Roe of Tennessee, Lamb, Brownley of 
California, and Steube; and Matthew Sullivan, Deputy Under Secretary 
for Finance and Planning, National Cemetery Administration.
FISCAL YEAR 2020 NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE AND NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL 
PROGRAM BUDGET REQUESTS HEARING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Strategic 
Technologies and Advanced Research held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal 
Year 2020 National Reconnaissance and National Geospatial Program 
Budget Requests Hearing''. Testimony was heard from Robert Sharp, 
Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and Frank Cavelli, 
Acting Director, National Reconnaissance Office. This hearing was 
closed.
FORMER MEMBERS HEARING: SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Full Committee held 
a hearing entitled ``Former Members Hearing: Speaking from 
Experience''. Testimony was heard from the following former Members: 
Tom Davis, Vic Fazio, Martin Frost, Reid Ribble, Tim Roemer, and Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.