[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D866-D868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, 
and Research held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Effectiveness of 
the National Organic Program''. Testimony was heard from Greg Ibach, 
Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Department of 
Agriculture.
EDUCATING OUR EDUCATORS: HOW FEDERAL POLICY CAN BETTER SUPPORT TEACHERS 
AND SCHOOL LEADERS
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, 
Elementary, and Secondary Education; and Subcommittee on Higher 
Education and Workforce Investment held a joint hearing entitled 
``Educating our Educators: How Federal Policy Can Better Support 
Teachers and School Leaders''. Testimony was heard from Tricia McManus, 
Assistant Superintendent for Leadership, Professional Development and 
School Transformation, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa, 
Florida; John White, State Superintendent of Education, Louisiana; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3375, the ``Stopping Bad Robocalls Act''; H.R. 2211, the ``STURDY 
Act''; H.R. 3172, the ``Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019''; H.R. 3170, 
the ``Safe Cribs Act of 2019''; H.R. 1618, the ``Nicholas and Zachary 
Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019''; H.R. 806, the 
``Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019''; H.R. 2647, the 
``SOFFA''; H.R. 1315, the ``Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs 
Development Act of 2019''; H.R. 2665, the ``Smart Energy and Water 
Efficiency Act of 2019''; H.R. 2044, the ``Smart Building Acceleration 
Act''; H.R. 359, the ``Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private 
Partnerships Act''; H.R. 360, the ``Cyber Sense Act of 2019''; H.R. 
362, the ``Energy Emergency Leadership Act''; H.R. 370, the ``Pipeline 
and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act''; H.R. 2088, a bill to 
amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize 
the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 2041, the ``Weatherization Enhancement and Local 
Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act''; H.R. 2119, a 
bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize grants for 
improving the energy efficiency of public buildings, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 2781, the ``EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019''; H.R. 728, 
the ``Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019''; H.R. 
1058, the ``Autism CARES Act of 2019''; H.R. 2507, the ``Newborn 
Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019''; H.R. 776, the 
``Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act 
of 2019''; H.R. 2035, the ``Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act 
of 2019''; H.R. 2296, the ``METRIC Act''; and H.R. 2328, the ``REACH 
Act''. H.R. 3375, H.R. 2211, H.R. 3172, H.R. 3170, H.R. 1618, H.R. 806, 
H.R. 1315, H.R. 2665, H.R. 2088, H.R. 2041, H.R. 2119, H.R. 2781, H.R. 
728, H.R. 1058, H.R. 2507, H.R. 2035, H.R. 2296, and H.R. 2328 were 
ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 2647, H.R. 2044, H.R. 359, H.R. 360, 
H.R. 362, H.R. 370, and H.R. 776 were ordered reported, without 
amendment.
EXAMINING FACEBOOK'S PROPOSED CRYPTOCURRENCY AND ITS IMPACT ON 
CONSUMERS, INVESTORS, AND THE AMERICAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining Facebook's Proposed Cryptocurrency and Its Impact on 
Consumers, Investors, and the American Financial System''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
326, expressing the sense of the House regarding United States efforts 
to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-
state solution; H. Res. 246, opposing efforts to delegitimize the State 
of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement 
targeting Israel; H.R. 1850, the ``Palestinian International Terrorism 
Support Prevention Act of 2019''; H.R. 1837, the ``United States-Israel 
Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act''; H. Res. 138, 
expressing support for addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict in a 
concurrent track with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and 
commending Arab and Muslim-majority states that have improved bilateral 
relations with Israel; H. Con. Res. 32, expressing the sense of 
Congress regarding the execution-style murders of United States 
citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in the Republic of Serbia in 
July 1999; H. Res. 442, observing 10 years since the war in Sri Lanka 
ended on May 18, 2009, commemorating the lives lost, and expressing 
support for transitional justice, reconciliation, reconstruction, 
reparation, and reform in Sri Lanka, which are necessary to ensure a 
lasting peace and a prosperous future for all Sri Lankans; H.R. 3501, 
the ``Safeguard our Elections and Combat Unlawful Interference in Our 
Democracy Act''; H.R. 2097, to recognize the Hmong, Khmer, Laotian, and 
other ethnic groups commonly

[[Page D867]]

referred to as Montagnards, who supported and defended the Armed Forces 
during the conflict in Southeast Asia, authorize assistance to support 
activities relating to clearance of unexploded ordnance and other 
explosive remnants of war, and for other purposes; and H. Res. 127, 
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the importance 
and vitality of the United States alliances with Japan and the Republic 
of Korea, and our trilateral cooperation in the pursuit of shared 
interests. H.R. 3501, H.R. 1850, H. Con. Res. 32, H.R. 2097, and H. 
Res. 127 were ordered reported, without amendment. H. Res. 326, H. Res. 
246, H.R. 1837, H. Res. 138, and H. Res. 442 were ordered reported, as 
amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
2203, the ``Homeland Security Improvement Act''; H.R. 3106, the 
``Domestic Terrorism DATA Act''; H.R. 3246, the ``Traveling Parents 
Screening Consistency Act of 2019''; H.R. 3318, the ``Emerging 
Transportation Security Threats Act of 2019''; H.R. 3320, the 
``Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act of 2019''; H.R. 3356, 
the ``Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act''; H.R. 3413, 
the ``DHS Acquisition Reform Act of 2019''; H.R. 3525, the ``U.S. 
Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act''; H.R. 3526, the 
``Counter Terrorist Network Act''; H.R. 3669, the ``Weatherizing 
Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 
2019''; H.R. 3670, the ``Short-term Detention Act''; H.R. 3675, the 
``Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2019''; H.R. 
3691, the ``TRANSLATE Act''; H.R. 3694, the ``Helping Families Fly Act 
of 2019''; H.R. 3699, the ``Pipeline Security Act''; H.R. 3710, the 
``Cybersecurity Vulnerability Remediation Act''; and H.R. 3722, the 
``Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2019''. H.R. 
2203, H.R. 3525, H.R. 3670, H.R. 3106, H.R. 3318, H.R. 3320, H.R. 3413, 
and H.R. 3699 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 3246, H.R. 3356, 
H.R. 3526, H.R. 3669, H.R. 3675, H.R. 3691, H.R. 3694, H.R. 3710, and 
H.R. 3722 were ordered reported, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE--
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3239, 
the ``Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border 
Protection Custody Act''. H.R. 3239 was ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
1373, the ``Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act''; H.R. 2181, the 
``Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019''; and H.R. 3405, 
the ``Removing Uranium from the Critical Minerals List Act''. H.R. 1373 
and H.R. 3405 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 2181 was ordered 
reported, without amendment.
TO THE CLOUD! THE CLOUDY ROLE OF FedRAMP IN IT MODERNIZATION
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``To the Cloud! The Cloudy Role of 
FedRAMP in IT Modernization''. Testimony was heard from Anil Cheriyan, 
Director, Technology Transformation Services, General Services 
Administration; Jack Wilmer, Deputy Chief Information Officer for 
Cybersecurity, Department of Defense; Joseph Klimavicz, Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General and Chief Information Officer, Department of 
Justice; Jose Arrieta, Chief Information Officer, Department of Health 
and Human Services; and public witnesses.
SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL AGENCIES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology; and Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a 
joint hearing entitled ``Scientific Integrity in Federal Agencies''. 
Testimony was heard from John Neumann, Managing Director, Science, 
Technology Assessment, and Analytics, Government Accountability Office; 
and public witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY DELIVERY: MODERNIZING AND SECURING OUR 
NATION'S ELECTRICITY GRID
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Electricity Delivery: 
Modernizing and Securing our Nation's Electricity Grid''. Testimony was 
heard from Karen Evans, Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity, 
Energy Security, and Emergency Response, Department of Energy; Juan 
Torres, Co-Chair, Grid Modernization Lab Consortium and Associate 
Laboratory Director, Energy Systems Integration, National Renewable 
Energy Laboratory, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3537, 
the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019''; H.R. 3734, the 
``Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act''; H.R. 
1615, the ``Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business 
Adjustment Act''; H.R. 499, the ``Service-Disabled Veterans Small 
Business Continuation Act''; and H.R. 3661, the ``Patriotic Employer 
Protection Act''. H.R. 1615 was ordered

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reported, as amended. H.R. 499, H.R. 3661, H.R. 3734, and H.R. 3537 
were ordered reported, without amendment.
STATE OF AVIATION SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing entitled ``State of Aviation Safety''. 
Testimony was heard from Dana Schulze, National Transportation Safety 
Board; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on H.R. 561, the ``Protecting Business Opportunities for 
Veterans Act of 2019''; H.R. 716, the ``Homeless Veterans Legal 
Services Act''; H.R. 1615, the ``VA-SBA Act''; H.R. 2227, the ``Gold 
Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief 
Expansion Act of 2019''; H.R. 2618, to amend the Servicemembers Civil 
Relief Act to provide a guarantee of residency for registration of 
businesses of spouses of members of the uniformed services, to improve 
occupational license portability for military spouses through 
interstate compacts, and for other purposes; H.R. 2924, the ``Housing 
for Women Veterans Act''; legislation to amend title 38, United States 
Code, to authorize State approving agencies to carry out outreach 
activities; legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
require that educational institutions abide by Principles of Excellence 
as a condition of approval for purposes of the educational assistance 
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; 
legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require 
proprietary for-profit educational institutions to comply with Federal 
revenue limits to participate in educational assistance programs of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs; legislation to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to require that certain educational institutions have 
letters of credit as a condition of approval for purposes of the 
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
and for other purposes; legislation on the Forever GI Bill Class 
Evaluation Act; legislation on the VA Economic Hardship Report Act; 
legislation to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to collect 
overpayments of specially adapted housing assistance; legislation on 
the legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act; legislation on the GI 
Bill Access to Career Credentials Act; legislation to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to extend the time period under which an election 
must be made for entitlement to educational assistance under the All-
Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans 
Affairs; legislation on the Student Veteran Empowerment Act of 2019; 
and legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the 
monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance 
Program for individuals who pursue programs of education solely through 
distance learning on more than a half-time. Testimony was heard from 
Charmain Bogue, Executive Director, Education Service, Veterans 
Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Jeffrey 
London, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; David Carroll, Executive Director, Mental Health Operations, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.