[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1351-D1353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FARM BILL INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE AND 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign 
Agriculture held a hearing entitled ``The Implementation of Farm Bill 
International Food Assistance and Development Programs''. Testimony was 
heard from Ken Isley, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
Department of Agriculture; and Trey Hicks, Director, Office of Food for 
Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development.
DIVERSITY IN RECRUITING AND RETENTION: INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE 
MILITARY--WHAT THE MILITARY SERVICES ARE DOING
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing entitled ``Diversity in Recruiting and Retention: Increasing 
Diversity in the Military--What the Military Services are Doing''. 
Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General Thomas C. Seamands, Deputy 
Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army; Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr., Chief 
of Naval Personnel, U.S. Navy; Lieutenant General Brian T. Kelly, 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, U.S. Air 
Force; and Lieutenant General Michael A. Rocco, Deputy Commandant for 
Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps.
SECURING THE U.S. DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN: OVERSIGHT OF FDA'S FOREIGN 
INSPECTION PROGRAM
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Securing the U.S. Drug Supply 
Chain: Oversight of FDA's Foreign Inspection Program''. Testimony was 
heard from Mary Denigan-Macauley, Director, Health Care, Government 
Accountability Office; and Janet Woodcock, M.D., Director, Center for 
Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
PROPOSALS TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Proposals to Achieve Universal Health Care Coverage''. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Jayapal, DeLauro, Higgins of 
New York, Delgado, and Malinowski; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
1731, the ``Cybersecurity Disclosure Act of 2019''; H.R. 2445, the 
``Self-Employed Mortgage Access Act of 2019''; H.R. 4545, the ``Private 
Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2019''; H.R. 5287, the ``Fair Student 
Loan Debt Collection Practices Act''; H.R. 5294, the ``Student 
Borrowers Protections Act''; H.R. 5332, the ``Protecting Your Credit 
Score Act of 2019''; H.R. 5330, the ``Consumer Protections for Medical 
Debt Collections Act''; H.R. 5322, the ``Ensuring Diversity in 
Community Banking Act of 2019''; H.R. 5315, the ``Expanding 
Opportunities for Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) Act''; a 
resolution electing majority members to the Subcommittee on Investor 
Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets; a resolution 
establishing the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence; and a 
resolution establishing the Task Force on Financial Technology.
HAITI ON THE BRINK: ASSESSING U.S. POLICY TOWARD A COUNTRY IN CRISIS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, 
Civilian Security, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Haiti on the 
Brink: Assessing U.S. Policy Toward a Country in Crisis''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
AUTHORITARIANISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS: POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS 
HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGES IN CHINA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
Nonproliferation held a hearing entitled ``Authoritarianism with 
Chinese Characteristics: Political and Religious Human Rights 
Challenges in China''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE WAY FORWARD IN IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North 
Africa, and International Terrorism held a hearing entitled ``The Way 
Forward in Iraq''. Testimony was heard from Joey Hood, Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of 
State.
EXAMINING THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL 
LEAVE
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Need for Comprehensive National Paid Family 
and Medical Leave''. Testimony was heard from Representative DeLauro; 
Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor and 
Workforce Development; and public witnesses.

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EXAMINING CARCINOGENS IN TALC AND THE BEST METHODS FOR ASBESTOS 
DETECTION
Committee on Oversight And Reform: Subcommittee on Economic and 
Consumer Policy held a hearing entitled ``Examining Carcinogens in Talc 
and the Best Methods for Asbestos Detection''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT OF 2019; FARM WORKFORCE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 
2019; CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION 
ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3, the 
``Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019'' [Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug 
Costs Now Act of 2019]; H.R. 5038, the ``Farm Workforce Modernization 
Act of 2019''; and the Conference report to accompany S. 1790, the 
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020'' (H. Rept. 
116-333). The Committee granted, by record vote of 8-3, a rule 
providing for consideration of H.R. 3, the ``Lower Drug Costs Now Act 
of 2019'', H.R. 5038, the ``Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019'', 
and the Conference report to accompany S. 1790, the ``National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020'' (H. Rept. 116-333). The rule 
provides for consideration of H.R. 3, the ``Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 
2019'', under a structured rule. The rule provides four hours of 
general debate, with three hours equally divided among and controlled 
by the respective chairs and ranking minority members of the Committees 
on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, and 
one hour equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and the 
Minority Leader or their respective designees. 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 116-41, modified by the amendment printed in 
Part A of the Rules Committee report, 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 only those further amendments printed in Part B of 
the Rules Committee report. Each such further 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 B of the report. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. The rule provides for 
consideration of H.R. 5038, the ``Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 
2019'', under a closed 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 provides that an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules 
Committee Print 116-42, modified by the amendment printed in Part C of 
the Rules Committee report, 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 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule 
provides for consideration of the conference report to accompany S. 
1790, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020''. 
The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and 
against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report 
shall be considered as read. The rule provides one hour of debate on 
the conference report, divided pursuant to clause 8(d) of rule XXII. 
The rule provides one motion to recommit if applicable. The rule 
provides that the chair of the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence may insert in the Congressional Record not later than 
December 13, 2019, such material as he may deem explanatory of 
intelligence authorization measures for the fiscal years 2018, 2019, 
and 2020. The rule provides that it shall be in order at any time 
through the legislative day of December 20, 2019, for the Speaker to 
entertain motions that the House suspend the rules as though under 
clause 1 of rule XV, and that 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. The rule waives the 
requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to 
consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is 
presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through 
the legislative day of December 20, 2019. Section 7 of the rule 
provides that on any legislative day of the first session of the 116th 
Congress after December 12, 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. Section 8 of the 
rule provides that on any legislative

[[Page D1353]]

day of the second session of the 116th Congress before January 7, 2020: 
the Speaker may dispense with organizational and legislative business; 
the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day shall be considered 
as approved if applicable; 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 periods addressed by sections 7 and 8. The rule provides that each 
day during the periods addressed by sections 7 and 8: shall not 
constitute calendar days 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 Lofgren, Chairman Scott of Virginia, Chairman 
Pallone, Chairman Neal, Chairman Smith of Washington, and 
Representatives Walden, Brady, Foxx, Doggett, Titus, Collins of 
Georgia, Newhouse, and Thornberry.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL MATERIALS CHALLENGE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a hearing entitled ``Research and Innovation to Address the 
Critical Materials Challenge''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
REVIEW OF THE SBA'S 504/CDC LOAN PROGRAM
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight 
and Regulations held a hearing entitled ``Review of the SBA's 504/CDC 
Loan Program''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
  On Monday, December 9, 2019, Conferees agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions 
of S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year.