[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1282-D1284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ROLE IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``The 
Department of Energy's Role in Addressing Climate Change''. Testimony 
was heard from Vi Lyles, Mayor, Charlotte, North Carolina; and public 
witnesses.
REEXAMINING THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF DEBT
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Reexamining the Economic Costs of Debt''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT'S 
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Higher Education and 
Workforce Investment held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Policies 
and Priorities of the Labor Department's Apprenticeship Program''. 
Testimony was heard from John Pallasch, Assistant Secretary of Labor 
for Employment and Training, Department of Labor.
BUILDING A 100 PERCENT CLEAN ECONOMY: THE CHALLENGES FACING FRONTLINE 
COMMUNITIES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Climate Change held a hearing entitled ``Building a 100 Percent Clean 
Economy: The Challenges Facing Frontline Communities''. Testimony was 
heard from Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, 
Government Accountability Office; Lilian Sotolongo Dorka, Director, 
External Civil Rights Compliance Office, Environmental Protection 
Agency; Helena Wooden-Aguilar, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office 
of Policy, Environmental Protection Agency; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee concluded a markup on 
H.R. 3432, the ``SAFER Pipeline Act of 2019''; H.R. 2339, the 
``Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019''; H.R. 4995, the 
``Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2019''; H.R. 4996, the 
``Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services Act of 2019''; H.R. 1603, 
the ``Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019''; H.R. 535, the 
``PFAS Action Act of 2019''; H.R. 2699, the ``Nuclear Waste Policy 
Amendments Act of 2019''; H.R. 3851, the ``Brand USA Extension Act''; 
H.R. 4779, to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud 
Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 4229, the ``Broadband Deployment Accuracy and 
Technological Availability Act''; H.R. 4227, the ``Mapping Accuracy 
Promotes Services Act''; H.R. 5000, the ``SHARE Act''; H.R. 4998, the 
``Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act''; H.R. 4461, the 
``Network Security Information Sharing Act of 2019''; H.R. 2881, the 
``Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019''; H.R. 4500, the ``Promoting United 
States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019''; H. Res. 575, expressing the 
sense of the House of Representatives that all stakeholders in the 
deployment of 5G communications infrastructure should carefully 
consider and adhere to the recommendation of ``The Prague Proposals''; 
and H.R. 5035, the ``Television Viewer Protection Act''. H.R. 3432, 
H.R. 1603, H.R. 4995, H.R. 2339, H.R. 5035, H.R. 2699, H.R. 535, H.R. 
4996, H.R. 4229, H.R. 5000, H.R. 4998, H.R. 4461, H.R. 2881, H.R. 4500, 
H. Res. 575, and H.R. 3851 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 4779 
and H.R. 4227 were ordered reported, without amendment.
AN EXAMINATION OF REGULATORS' EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE MINORITY 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Consumer Protection 
and Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled ``An Examination of 
Regulators' Efforts to Preserve and Promote Minority Depository 
Institutions''. Testimony was heard from Beverly Cole, Deputy 
Comptroller for the Northeastern District and Designated Federal 
Officer for the Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury; 
Betty J. Rudolph, National Director, Minority and Community Development 
Banking,

[[Page D1283]]

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Arthur W. Lindo, Deputy 
Director, Division of Supervision and Regulation, Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System; and Martha Ninichuk, Director of the Office 
of Credit Union Resources and Expansion, National Credit Union 
Administration.
SAFE AND DECENT? EXAMINING THE CURRENT STATE OF RESIDENTS' HEALTH AND 
SAFETY IN HUD HOUSING
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing, Community 
Development, and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``Safe and Decent? 
Examining the Current State of Residents' Health and Safety in HUD 
Housing''. Testimony was heard from Susan Rollins, Executive Director, 
Housing Authority of St. Louis County, Missouri; Margaret Salazar, 
Executive Director, Oregon Housing and Community Services Department; 
and public witnesses.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a business meeting 
on A Resolution Offered by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson Authorizing 
Issuance of Subpoena on documents related to U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection Operations. A Resolution Offered by Chairman Bennie G. 
Thompson Authorizing Issuance of Subpoena on documents related to U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection Operations was agreed to, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 5038, 
the ``Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019''; H.R. 3884, the 
``Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019''; 
H.R. 5140, the ``Satellite Television Community Protection and 
Promotion Act of 2019''; H.R. 3991, the ``Affordable Prescriptions for 
Patients Through Improvements to Patent Litigation Act of 2019''; and 
H.R. 5133, the ``Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through 
Promoting Competition Act of 2019''.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup H.R. 307, 
the ``Preserving America's Battlefields Act''; H.R. 1708, the ``Rim of 
the Valley Corridor Preservation Act''; H.R. 2199, the ``Central Coast 
Heritage Protection Act''; H.R. 2215, the ``San Gabriel Mountains 
Foothills and Rivers Protection Act''; H.R. 2250, the ``Northwest 
California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act''; H.R. 
2546, the ``Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019''; H.R. 2854, the ``Protect 
Our Refuges Act of 2019''; H.R. 3794, the ``Public Land Renewable 
Energy Development Act of 2019''; and S. 216, the ``Spokane Tribe of 
Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act''. H.R. 
307, H.R. 2854, and S. 216 were ordered reported, without amendment. 
H.R. 1708, H.R. 2199, H.R. 2215, H.R. 2250, H.R. 2546, and H.R. 3794 
were ordered reported, as amended.
FIGHTING FLU, SAVING LIVES: VACCINE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Fighting Flu, Saving Lives: Vaccine Science and 
Innovation''. Testimony was heard from Daniel B. Jernigan, M.D., 
Director, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and 
Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., 
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, 
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; 
and public witnesses.
A TASK OF EPIC PROPORTIONS: RECLAIMING U.S. LEADERSHIP IN WEATHER 
MODELING AND PREDICTION
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``A Task of EPIC Proportions: 
Reclaiming U.S. Leadership in Weather Modeling and Prediction''. 
Testimony was heard from Neil Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
for Environmental Observation and Prediction, performing the duties of 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 5078, 
the ``Prison to Proprietorship Act''; H.R. 5065, the ``Prison to 
Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act''; H.R. 5130, the 
``Capturing All Small Businesses Act of 2019''; and H.R. 5146, the 
``Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019''. H.R. 
5078, H.R. 5065, H.R. 5130, and H.R. 5146 were ordered reported, 
without amendment.
BUSINESS MEETING; MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on adoption of Subcommittee Membership assignments; 
and a markup on H.R. 5120, the ``SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019''; H.R. 
5047, to require the Administrator of General Services to conduct an 
annual audit of properties leased to private parties, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 5139, the ``Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in 
Transportation Act''; and H.R. 5119, to

[[Page D1284]]

amend title 49, United States Code, to require certain air carriers to 
provide reports with respect to maintenance, preventative maintenance, 
or alterations, and for other purposes. Subcommittee Membership 
assignments were approved. H.R. 5119 and H.R. 5047 were ordered 
reported, without amendment. H.R. 5120 and H.R. 5139 were ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 
3495, the ``Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act''; and legislation to 
establish a pilot program for the issuance of grants to eligible 
entities. Testimony was heard from Robert Wilkie, Secretary, Department 
of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.


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

  
  November 20, 2019, on page D1284, the following language 
appears: LEGISLATIVE MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full 
Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3495 and legislation to establish 
a pilot program for the issuance of grants to eligible entities. 
Testimony was heard from Robert Wilkie, Secretary, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: LEGISLATIVE 
MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a 
hearing on H.R. 3495, the ``Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act''; 
and legislation to establish a pilot program for the issuance of 
grants to eligible entities. Testimony was heard from Robert 
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public 
witnesses.


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


                  GO-LIVE MARCH 2020: THE STATUS OF EHRM READINESS
      Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Technology 
Modernization held a hearing entitled ``Go-Live March 2020: The Status 
   of EHRM Readiness''. Testimony was heard from James Byrne, Deputy 
               Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
                                       U.S.-JAPAN TRADE AGREEMENTS
   Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing 
  entitled ``U.S.-Japan Trade Agreements''. Testimony was heard from 
                           public witnesses.
                          IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY: AMBASSADOR SONDLAND
   Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
    hearing entitled ``Impeachment Inquiry: Ambassador Sondland''. 
   Testimony was heard from Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the 
                            European Union.
                      IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY: MS. COOPER AND MR. HALE
   Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
  hearing entitled ``Impeachment Inquiry: Ms. Cooper and Mr. Hale''. 
 Testimony was heard from Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
  Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian Affairs, Department of 
    Defense; and David Hale, Under Secretary of State for Political 
                     Affairs, Department of State.
         CREATING A CLIMATE RESILIENT AMERICA: REDUCING RISKS AND 
                                                             COSTS
 Select Committee on the Climate Crisis: Full Committee held a hearing 
  entitled ``Creating a Climate Resilient America: Reducing Risks and 
          Costs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
CONNECTING MORE PEOPLE TO WORK
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
connecting more people to work, after receiving testimony from 
Veronique de Rugy, George Mason University Mercatus Center, Arlington, 
Virginia; Oren M. Cass, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, and 
Jose Ortiz, Jr., New York City Employment and Training Coalition, both 
of New York, New York; and Jay C. Shambaugh, Brookings Institution, 
Washington, D.C.
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN BELARUS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Russian influence in Belarus, after receiving 
testimony from Andrei Yeliseyeu, International Strategic Action Network 
for Security, Warsaw, Poland; Sofya Orlosky, Freedom House, and Brian 
Whitmore, Center for European Policy Analysis, both of Washington, 
D.C.; and Franak Viacorka, U.S. Agency for Global Media, Belarus.