[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1071-D1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AT USDA AND USAID
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``International Food Assistance Programs at USDA and 
USAID''. Testimony was heard from Trey Hicks, Director, Office of Food 
for Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Ken Isley, 
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND FOSTERING 
COMPETITION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing entitled ``Federal Trade Commission: 
Protecting Consumers and Fostering Competition in the 21st Century''. 
Testimony was heard from Rohit Chopra, Commissioner, Federal Trade 
Commission; and Joseph J. Simons, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission.
INVESTMENTS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH AT FIVE INSTITUTES AND CENTERS OF THE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``Investments in Medical Research at Five Institutes 
and Centers of the National Institutes of Health''. Testimony was heard 
from the following National Institutes of Health officials: Francis 
Collins, M.D., Director; Bruce Tromberg, Director, National Institutes 
of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Eliseo Perez-Stable, M.D., 
Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; 
Helene Langevin, M.D., Director, National Center for Complementary and 
Integrative Health; Christopher Austin, M.D., Director, National Center 
for Advancing Translational Sciences; and Patricia Flatley Brennan, 
Director, National Library of Medicine.
OVERSIGHT HEARING: FAA AVIATION CERTIFICATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of 
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Hearing: FAA Aviation 
Certification''. Testimony was heard from Daniel K. Elwell, Deputy 
Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; and Earl Lawrence, 
Executive Director,

[[Page D1072]]

Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration.
STATUS OF THE B61-12 LIFE EXTENSION AND W88 ALTERATION-370 PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Status of the B61-12 Life Extension and W88 
Alteration-370 Programs''. Testimony was heard from Charles P. Verdon, 
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security 
Administration; Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, Director, Strategic Systems 
Programs, U.S. Navy; and Lieutenant General Richard Clark, Deputy Chief 
of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, U.S. Air 
Force.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  September 25, 2019, on page D1072, the following language 
appears: STATUS OF THE B61-12 LIFE EXTENSION AND W88 ALTERATION-
370 PROGRAMS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces held a hearing entitled ``Status of the B61-12 
Life Extension and W88 Alteration-370 Programs''. Testimony was 
heard from Charles P. Verdon, Deputy Administrator for Defense 
Programs, National Nuclear Security Administrator; Vice Admiral 
Johnny Wolfe, Director, Strategic Systems Programs, U.S. Navy; and 
Lieutenant General Richard Clark, Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, U.S. Air Force.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read:STATUS OF THE B61-
12 LIFE EXTENSION AND W88 ALTERATION-370 PROGRAMS Committee on 
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing 
entitled ``Status of the B61-12 Life Extension and W88 Alteration-
370 Programs''. Testimony was heard from Charles P. Verdon, Deputy 
Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security 
Administration; Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, Director, Strategic 
Systems Programs, U.S. Navy; and Lieutenant General Richard Clark, 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear 
Integration, U.S. Air Force.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


               AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE: TODAY'S GAPS, TOMORROW'S 
                OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE NEED FOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT
    Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``America's Infrastructure: Today's Gaps, Tomorrow's Opportunities, and 
  the Need for Federal Investment''. Testimony was heard from public 
                               witnesses.
                                             MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and Labor: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
 2474, the ``Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019''. H.R. 2474 
                   was ordered reported, as amended.
     SOUNDING THE ALARM: THE PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS OF E CIGARETTES
    Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Sounding the Alarm: The Public 
 Health Threats of E-Cigarettes''. Testimony was heard from Norman E. 
  Sharpless, M.D., Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Anne Schuchat, M.D., Principal 
Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department 
   of Health and Human Services; Joneigh Khaldun, M.D., Chief Deputy 
Director for Health and Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of 
Health and Human Services; Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health 
Director and Chief Medical Officer, North Carolina Department of Health 
 and Human Services; Lee Norman, M.D., Secretary, Kansas Department of 
    Health and Environment; and Monica Bharel, M.D., Commissioner, 
               Massachusetts Department of Public Health.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  September 25, 2019, on page D1072, the following language 
appears: SOUNDING THE ALARM: THE PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS OF E-
CIGARETTES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on 
Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Sounding 
the Alarm: The Public Health Threats of E-Cigarettes''. Testimony 
was heard from Norman E. Sharpless, M.D., Acting Commissioner, 
Food and Drug Administration; Anne Schuchat, M.D., Principal 
Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 
Joneigh Khaldun, M.D., Chief Deputy Director for Health and Chief 
Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human 
Services; Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and 
Chief Medical Officer, North Carolina Department of Health and 
Human Services; Lee Norman, M.D., Secretary, Kansas Department of 
Health and Environment; and Monica Bharel, M.D., Commissioner, 
Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read:SOUNDING THE 
ALARM: THE PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS OF E-CIGARETTES Committee on 
Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
held a hearing entitled ``Sounding the Alarm: The Public Health 
Threats of E-Cigarettes''. Testimony was heard from Norman E. 
Sharpless, M.D., Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug 
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Anne 
Schuchat, M.D., Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; 
Joneigh Khaldun, M.D., Chief Deputy Director for Health and Chief 
Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human 
Services; Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and 
Chief Medical Officer, North Carolina Department of Health and 
Human Services; Lee Norman, M.D., Secretary, Kansas Department of 
Health and Environment; and Monica Bharel, M.D., Commissioner, 
Massachusetts Department of Public Health.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


        MAKING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MORE AFFORDABLE: LEGISLATION TO 
                             NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL FOR AMERICANS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
 entitled ``Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable: Legislation to 
   Negotiate a Better Deal for Americans''. Testimony was heard from 
                           public witnesses.
PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY: ASSESSING THREATS TO THE U.S. FINANCIAL 
SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Consumer Protection 
and Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled ``Promoting 
Financial Stability: Assessing Threats to the U.S. Financial System''. 
Testimony was heard from Dino Falaschetti, Director, Office of 
Financial Research, Department of the Treasury; and Lael Brainard, 
Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  September 25, 2019, on page D1072, the following language 
appears: PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY: ASSESSING THREATS TO THE 
U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM Committee on Financial Services: 
Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions 
held a hearing entitled ``Promoting Financial Stability: Assessing 
Threats to the U.S. Financial System''. Testimony was heard from 
Dino Falaschetti, Director, Office of Financial Research, U.S. 
Department of the Treasury; and Lael Brainard, Governor, Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read:PROMOTING 
FINANCIAL STABILITY: ASSESSING THREATS TO THE U.S. FINANCIAL 
SYSTEM Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Consumer 
Protection and Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled 
``Promoting Financial Stability: Assessing Threats to the U.S. 
Financial System''. Testimony was heard from Dino Falaschetti, 
Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the 
Treasury; and Lael Brainard, Governor, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


            PROTECTING SENIORS: A REVIEW OF THE FHA'S HOME EQUITY 
                                CONVERSION MORTGAGE (HECM) PROGRAM
  Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing, Community 
    Development, and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``Protecting 
 Seniors: A Review of the FHA's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) 
 Program''. Testimony was heard from Alicia Puente Cackley, Director, 
 Financial Markets and Community Investment, Government Accountability 
                     Office; and public witnesses.
                                            MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
 Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
  543, recognizing Hong Kong's bilateral relationship with the United 
 States, condemning the interference of the People's Republic of China 
in Hong Kong's affairs, and supporting the people of Hong Kong's right 
 to protest; H.R. 3289, the ``Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act 
   of 2019''; H. Res. 517, supporting the Global Fund to fight AIDS, 
 tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and its Sixth Replenishment; H. Res. 387, 
condemning continued violence against civilians by armed groups in the 
 Central African Republic and supporting efforts to achieve a lasting 
    political solution to the conflict; H. Res. 552, calling on the 
Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence of wrongdoing 
    or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan; H.R. 4270, the 
 ``PROTECT Hong Kong Act''; and H. Res. 521, commending the Government 
  of Canada for upholding the rule of law and expressing concern over 
actions by the Government of the People's Republic of China in response 
  to a request from the United States Government to the Government of

[[Page D1073]]

    Canada for the extradition of a Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., 
  executive. H. Res. 543, H.R. 3289, H.R. 4270, and H. Res. 387 were 
ordered reported, as amended. H. Res. 517, H. Res. 552, and H. Res. 521 
               were ordered reported, without amendment.
     ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF CUTTING FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL 
                                                           AMERICA
 Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, 
 Civilian Security, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the 
 Impact of Cutting Foreign Assistance to Central America''. Testimony 
                    was heard from public witnesses.
                                            MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
    Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a markup on 
 H.R.1975, the ``Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act of 
  2019''; H.R.4432, the ``Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against 
Drones and Emerging Threats Act''. H.R. 4432 and H.R. 1975 were ordered 
                         reported, as amended.
                           PROTECTING AMERICA FROM ASSAULT WEAPONS
  Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
 ``Protecting America from Assault Weapons''. Testimony was heard from 
  Nan Whaley, Mayor, Dayton, Ohio; RaShall Brackney, Chief of Police, 
            Charlottesville, Virginia; and public witnesses.
                                            MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
 Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
   729, the ``Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act''; H.R. 925, the ``North 
 American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act''; H.R. 1472, to rename 
the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska, as 
 the Homestead National Historical Park; H.R. 1487, the ``Santa Monica 
  Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act''; 
H.R. 1492, the ``Yucca House National Monument Boundary Revision Act''; 
      H.R. 1747, the ``National Fish Habitat Conservation Through 
    Partnerships Act''; H.R. 2185, the ``District of Columbia Flood 
  Prevention Act of 2019''; H.R. 3115, the ``Living Shorelines Act of 
  2019''; H.R. 3541, the ``Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act of 
2019''; and H.R. 3596, the ``Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act''. 
 H.R. 729, H.R. 925, H.R. 1472, H.R. 2185, and H.R. 3541 were ordered 
  reported, without amendment. H.R. 1487, H.R. 1492, H.R. 1747, H.R. 
         3115, and H.R. 3596 were ordered reported, as amended.
       ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS: PROTECTING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FROM 
                              THE EFFECTS OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of 
  the United States held a hearing entitled ``Advance Appropriations: 
    Protecting Tribal Communities from the Effects of a Government 
   Shutdown''. Testimony was heard from Representatives McCollum and 
   Young; Jason Freihage, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Department of the 
 Interior; Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee, Principal Deputy Director, 
  Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services; and 
                           public witnesses.
NEXTGEN FEDS: RECRUITING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``NextGen Feds: Recruiting the Next 
Generation of Public Servants''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney of New York; Robert Goldenkoff, 
Director of Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office; and 
public witnesses.
RELATING TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 
15, 2019
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on S.J. Res. 54, 
relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 
15, 2019. The Committee granted, by record vote of 9-4, a closed rule 
providing for consideration of S.J. Res. 54, Relating to a national 
emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019. The rule 
provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the joint resolution. The rule provides that the joint 
resolution shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against provisions in the joint resolution. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to commit.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 4373, the ``Engineering Biology Research and Development 
Act of 2019''; H.R. 4372, the ``MSI STEM Achievement Act''; and H.R. 
4355, the ``Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks 
Act''. H.R. 4373, H.R. 4372, and H.R. 4355 were ordered reported, as 
amended.

[[Page D1074]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4406, 
the ``Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 4405, the ``Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 4407, the ``SCORE for Small Business Act of 2019''; H.R. 4387, to 
establish Growth Accelerator Fund Competition within the Small Business 
Administration, and for other purposes. H.R. 4406, H.R. 4405, H.R. 
4407, and H.R. 4387 were ordered reported, without amendment.
LANDLORD AND TENANT: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OVERSIGHT OF THE TRUMP 
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL LEASE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a 
hearing entitled ``Landlord and Tenant: The Trump Administration's 
Oversight of the Trump International Hotel Lease''. Testimony was heard 
from Daniel Mathews, Public Buildings Commissioner, General Services 
Administration; Carol F. Ochoa, Inspector General, General Services 
Administration; Michael A. Foster, Legislative Attorney, American Law 
Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and 
public witnesses.
COAST GUARD AND PORT INFRASTRUCTURE: BUILT TO LAST?
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``Coast Guard 
and Port Infrastructure: Built to Last?''. Testimony was heard from 
Rear Admiral Nathan Moore, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and 
Logistics, U.S. Coast Guard; Nathan Anderson, Acting Director, Homeland 
Security and Justice, General Accountability Office; Rear Admiral Ann 
C. Phillips, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Special Assistant to the Governor for 
Coastal Adaptation and Protection, Office of the Governor, Virginia; 
and public witnesses.
MISSION CRITICAL: CARE IN THE COMMUNITY UPDATE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``MISSION Critical: Care in the Community Update''. Testimony 
was heard from Richard Stone, Executive in Charge, Veterans' Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.