[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 164 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1125-D1127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION OF USDA FARM BILL RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, 
and Research held a hearing entitled ``To Review Implementation of USDA 
Farm Bill Research Programs''. Testimony was heard from Scott Hutchins, 
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics, Department 
of Agriculture.
OVERSIGHT HEARING: CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Hearing: Chronic 
Wasting Disease''. Testimony was heard from William Werkheiser, Science 
Advisor to the Secretary and Chair, Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT HEARING: THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT-DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of 
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Hearing: The Department of Housing 
and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster 
Recovery Program''. Testimony was heard from the following Department 
of Housing and Urban Development officials: Irv Dennis, Chief Financial 
Officer; Jeremy Kirkland, Counsel to the Inspector General, Office of 
Inspector General; and David Woll, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and Labor: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3, the ``Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019''. H.R. 3 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3, the ``Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019''; H.R. 4665, the ``Medicare 
Vision Act of 2019''; H.R. 4671, the ``Help Seniors Afford Health Care 
Act''; H.R. 4618, the ``Medicare Hearing Act of 2019''; and H.R. 4650, 
the ``Medicare Dental Act of 2019''. H.R. 4665, H.R. 4671, H.R. 4618, 
and H.R. 4650 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 3 was 
ordered reported, as amended.
EXAMINING CORPORATE PRIORITIES: THE IMPACT OF STOCK BUYBACKS ON 
WORKERS, COMMUNITIES, AND INVESTORS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Investor Protection, 
Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets held a hearing entitled 
``Examining Corporate Priorities: The Impact of Stock Buybacks on 
Workers, Communities, and Investors''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
PROMOTING INCLUSION: EXAMINING THE NEED FOR DIVERSITY PRACTICES FOR 
AMERICA'S CHANGING WORKFORCE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Diversity and 
Inclusion held a hearing entitled ``Promoting Inclusion: Examining the 
Need for Diversity Practices for America's Changing Workforce''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEFENDING THE HOMELAND FROM BIOTERRORISM: ARE WE PREPARED?
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Recovery held a hearing entitled ``Defending the Homeland 
from Bioterrorism: Are We Prepared?''. Testimony was heard from 
Jennifer Rakeman, Assistant Commissioner and Director, Public Health 
Laboratory,

[[Page D1126]]

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York; Umair A. Shah, M.D., 
Executive Director, Public Health, Harris County, Texas; and a public 
witness.
THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW: FOIA AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, 
and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``The Public's Right to 
Know: FOIA at the Department of Homeland Security''. Testimony was 
heard from James Holzer, Deputy Chief FOIA Officer, Privacy Office, 
Department of Homeland Security; Tammy Meckley, Associate Director, 
Immigration Records and Identity Services Directorate, U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Alina Semo, 
Director, Office of Government Information Services, U.S. National 
Archives and Records Administration; and Vijay D'Souza, Director, 
Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Government Accountability 
Office.
VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IN AMERICA
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held a 
hearing entitled ``Voting Rights and Election Administration in 
America''. Testimony was heard from Catherine E. Lhamon, Chair, U.S. 
Commission on Civil Rights; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled ``Legislative 
Proposals to Strengthen the Voting Rights Act''. Testimony was heard 
from Representative Sewell and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT HEARING ON THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS AND IMPLEMENTATION 
OF THE FIRST STEP ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Hearing on the 
Federal Bureau of Prisons and Implementation of the First Step Act''. 
Testimony was heard from Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, Federal Bureau 
of Prisons; Antoinette T. Bacon, Associate Deputy Attorney General, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 2420, the ``National 
Museum of the American Latino Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Serrano and Castro of Texas; Eduardo Diaz, Director, 
Latino Center, Smithsonian Institution; and public witnesses.
THE CASE FOR CLIMATE OPTIMISM: REALISTIC PATHWAYS TO ACHIEVING NET ZERO 
EMISSIONS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``The Case for Climate Optimism: 
Realistic Pathways to Achieving Net Zero Emissions''. Testimony was 
heard from Hector De La Torre, Board Member, California Air Resources 
Board; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and 
Wildlife held a hearing on H.R. 2795, the ``Wildlife Corridors 
Conservation Act of 2019''; and H.R. 3742, the ``Recovering America's 
Wildlife Act of 2019''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Beyer 
and Dingell; Stephen Guertin, Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 4091, the ``ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019''; H.R. 
2051, the ``Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 
2019''; and H.R. 1709, the ``Science Integrity Act''. H.R. 4091, H.R. 
2051, and H.R. 1709 were ordered reported, as amended.
CAN OPPORTUNITY ZONES ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMY?
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and 
Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``Can Opportunity Zones Address 
Concerns in the Small Business Economy?''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
CHINA'S MARITIME SILK ROAD INITIATIVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL 
MARITIME SUPPLY CHAIN
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``China's 
Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Implications for the Global Maritime 
Supply Chain''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General Giovanni K. 
Tuck, Director for Logistics, J4, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chad Sbragia, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense; Carolyn 
Bartholomew,

[[Page D1127]]

Chairwoman, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; and 
public witnesses.
INVESTING IN THE U.S. HEALTH SYSTEM BY LOWERING DRUG PRICES, REDUCING 
OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS, AND IMPROVING MEDICARE BENEFITS
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Investing in The U.S. Health System by Lowering Drug Prices, Reducing 
Out-Of-Pocket Costs, and Improving Medicare Benefits''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS: CLEANER, STRONGER BUILDINGS
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Solving the Climate Crisis: Cleaner, Stronger Buildings''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.