[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D894-D895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
RESTORING THE PARTNERSHIP: THE FUTURE OF FEDERALISM IN AMERICA
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``Restoring the Partnership: The 
Future of Federalism in America''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Bishop of Utah; and public witnesses.
REHABILITATION FOR MULTIEMPLOYER PENSIONS ACT OF 2019; HUMANITARIAN 
STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION CUSTODY ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 397, the 
``Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019''; and H.R. 
3239, the ``Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and 
Border Protection Custody Act''. The Committee granted, by record vote 
of 9-4, a rule providing for consideration of H.R. 397, the 
``Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act'', and H.R. 3239, the 
``Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border 
Protection Custody Act''. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 
397, the ``Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act'', under a 
structured rule. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided 
among and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Education and Labor and the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points 
of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules 
Committee Print 116-24 shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as 
amended, shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule makes in 
order the further amendment printed in Part A of the report, if offered 
by the member designated in the report, which 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, and shall not 
be subject to a demand for division of the question. The rule waives 
all points of order against the amendment printed in part A of the 
report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 3239, 
the ``Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border 
Protection Custody Act'', under a structured rule. 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 116-26 modified by the amendment printed in Part B of 
the report, and provides that it

[[Page D895]]

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 C 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 C of 
the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that House Resolution 507 is hereby 
adopted. The rule provides that it shall be in order at any time on the 
legislative day of July 25, 2019, or July 26, 2019, for the Speaker to 
entertain motions that the House suspend the rules as though under 
clause 1 of rule XV. The Speaker or her designee shall consult with the 
Minority Leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for 
consideration pursuant to this section. Section 5 of the rule provides 
that on any legislative day during the period from July 29, 2019, 
through September 6, 2019: the Journal of the proceedings of the 
previous day shall be considered as approved; and the Chair may at any 
time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time to be 
announced by the Chair in declaring the adjournment. The rule provides 
that the Speaker may appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair 
for the duration of the period addressed by section 5 of the 
resolution. Finally, the rule provides that each day during the period 
addressed by section 5 of the resolution: shall not constitute a 
calendar day for the purposes of section 7 of the War Powers 
Resolution; shall not constitute a legislative day for the purposes of 
clause 7 of rule XIII; and shall not constitute a legislative day for 
the purposes of clause 7 of rule XV. Testimony was heard from Chairman 
Neal, Chairman Scott of Virginia, Chairman Lofgren, and Representatives 
Brady of Texas, Foxx of North Carolina, Grothman, Estes, and Collins of 
Georgia.
LEARNING FROM WHISTLEBLOWERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations concluded a hearing entitled ``Learning from 
Whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs''. Testimony was 
heard from Tamara Bonzanto, Assistant Secretary for Accountability and 
Whistleblower Protection, Department of Veterans Affairs; Michael 
Missal, Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Henry 
Kerner, Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel; Tristan 
Leavitt, General Counsel/Acting Chief Executive and Administrative 
Officer, Merit Systems Protection Board; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
ENERGY AND POWER IN EUROPE
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission received a 
briefing on pipeline politics, focusing on energy and power in Europe 
from Colin Cleary, Director for Energy Diplomacy for Europe, Western 
Hemisphere and Africa, Department of State; Ed Chow, Center for 
Strategic and International Studies, and David Koranyi, Atlantic 
Council, both of Washington, D.C.; and Efgan Nifti, Caspian Policy 
Center, Arlington, Virginia.