[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D123-D127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
SUPERCHARGING THE INNOVATION BASE
Committee on Armed Services: Future of Defense Task Force held a 
hearing entitled ``Supercharging the Innovation Base''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM--ARE THE MILITARY SERVICES REALLY 
TAKING CARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS?
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing entitled ``Exceptional Family Member Program--Are the Military 
Services Really Taking Care of Family Members?''. Testimony was heard 
from Carolyn Stevens, Director, Office of Military Family Readiness 
Policy, Department of Defense; Captain Edward Simmer, U.S. Navy, Chief 
Clinical Officer, TRICARE Health Plans, Defense Health Agency, 
Department of Defense; Colonel Steve Lewis, U.S. Army, Deputy Director, 
DA Quality of Life Task Force and DA Family Advocacy Program Manager, 
U.S. Army; Ed Cannon, Director, Fleet and Family Readiness, Commander, 
U.S. Navy Installations Command; Norma Inabinet, Deputy Director, 
Military Personnel Programs, U.S. Air Force Personnel Center; Jennifer 
Stewart, Manager, Exceptional Family Member Program, Headquarters, U.S. 
Marine Corps; Jackie Nowicki, Director, K-12 Education, Government 
Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
UPDATE ON NAVY AND MARINE CORPS READINESS IN THE PACIFIC IN THE 
AFTERMATH OF RECENT MISHAPS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces; and Subcommittee on Readiness held a joint hearing entitled 
``Update on Navy and Marine Corps Readiness in the Pacific in the 
Aftermath of Recent Mishaps''. Testimony was heard from Vice Admiral 
Richard A. Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet; 
and Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder, U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy 
Commandant for Aviation, U.S. Marine Headquarters.
OVERSIGHT HEARING ON DOE'S ROLE IN ADVANCING BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Oversight 
Hearing on DOE's Role in Advancing Biomedical Sciences''. Testimony was 
heard from Narayanan Kasthuri, Neuroscientist, Argonne National 
Laboratory, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAMS: CHALLENGES AND 
OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Strengthening Community 
Recycling Programs: Challenges and Opportunities''. Testimony was heard 
from Peter Wright, Assistant Administrator, Office of Land and 
Emergency Management, Environmental Protection Agency; and public 
witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF WORK: PROTECTING WORKERS' CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Civil Rights and 
Human Services held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Work: Protecting 
Workers' Civil Rights in the Digital Age''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

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MODERNIZING THE NATURAL GAS ACT TO ENSURE IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing 
entitled ``Modernizing the Natural Gas Act to Ensure it Works for 
Everyone''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
VAPING IN AMERICA: E-CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS' IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Vaping in America: E-Cigarette 
Manufacturers' Impact on Public Health''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
RENT-A-BANK SCHEMES AND NEW DEBT TRAPS: ASSESSING EFFORTS TO EVADE 
STATE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND INTEREST RATE CAPS
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Rent-A-Bank Schemes and New Debt Traps: Assessing Efforts to Evade 
State Consumer Protections and Interest Rate Caps''. Testimony was 
heard from Monique Limon, Chair, Banking and Finance Committee, State 
Assembly, California; and public witnesses.
A FUTURE WITHOUT PUBLIC HOUSING? EXAMINING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S 
EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC HOUSING
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing, Community 
Development, and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``A Future Without 
Public Housing? Examining the Trump Administration's Efforts to 
Eliminate Public Housing''. Testimony was heard from Ann Gass, Director 
of Strategic Housing Initiatives, Housing Authority of the City of 
Austin, Texas; Bobby Collins, Executive Director, Housing Authority of 
the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; Eugene Jones, Jr., President and 
Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Housing Authority, Georgia; and public 
witnesses.
UNIQUE CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE IN GLOBAL HEALTH
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Unique Challenges Women Face in Global Health''. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Lowey and Representative Rodgers of Washington; and 
public witnesses.
THE WUHAN CORONAVIRUS: ASSESSING THE OUTBREAK, THE RESPONSE, AND 
REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
Nonproliferation held a hearing entitled ``The Wuhan Coronavirus: 
Assessing the Outbreak, the Response, and Regional Implications''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE NORTHERN NORTHERN BORDER: HOMELAND SECURITY PRIORITIES IN THE 
ARCTIC, PART II
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation and 
Maritime Security held a hearing entitled ``The Northern Northern 
Border: Homeland Security Priorities in the Arctic, Part II''. 
Testimony was heard from Admiral Charles Ray, Vice Commandant, U.S. 
Coast Guard; Michael Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European 
and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State; and Marie Mak, Director for 
Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Government 
Accountability Office.
OVERSIGHT OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH BY 
HONORING LATINO AMERICANS AND ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution: Opportunities for 
Growth by Honoring Latino Americans and Asian Pacific Americans''. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Serrano, Meng, and Hurd; 
Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution; Lisa Sasaki, 
Director, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Smithsonian 
Institution; Eric Petersen, Specialist in American National Government, 
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation''. Testimony was 
heard from Christopher A. Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on H.R. 5598, the ``Boundary Waters Wilderness 
Protection and Pollution Prevention Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative McCollum; Chris French, Deputy Chief, National Forest 
System, Department of Agriculture; Leah Baker, Associate State 
Director,

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Bureau of Land Management Eastern States, Department of the Interior; 
and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of 
the United States held a hearing on H.R. 4059, to take certain lands in 
California into trust for the benefit of the Agua Caliente Band of 
Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes; H.R. 4495, to authorize the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of 
the Indian Health Service, to acquire private land to facilitate access 
to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 4888, to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, 
and for other purposes; and H.R. 5153, the ``Indian Buffalo Management 
Act''. Testimony was heard from Darryl LaCounte, Director, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; Randy Grinnell, Deputy 
Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service, Department 
of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
A THREAT TO AMERICA'S CHILDREN? THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED 
CHANGES TO THE POVERTY LINE CALCULATION
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``A Threat to America's Children? 
The Trump Administration's Proposed Changes to the Poverty Line 
Calculation''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Ocasio-Cortez 
and Miller; and public witnesses.
A THREAT TO AMERICA'S CHILDREN: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO 
GUT FAIR HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Rights and 
Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled ``A Threat to America's 
Children: The Trump Administration's Proposal to Gut Fair Housing 
Accountability''. Testimony was heard from Ellen Lee, Director of 
Community and Economic Development, New Orleans, Louisiana; and public 
witnesses.
PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE ACT OF 2019; EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL 
APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND PUERTO RICO DISASTER TAX RELIEF 
ACT, 2020; EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HARMFUL 
ACTIONS TOWARDS MEDICAID
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 2474, the 
``Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019''; H.R. 5687, the 
``Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto 
Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act, 2020''; and H. Res. 826, expressing 
disapproval of the Trump administration's harmful actions towards 
Medicaid. The Committee granted, by record vote of 9-4, a rule 
providing for consideration of H. Res. 826, the ``Protecting the Right 
to Organize Act of 2019'', H.R. 2474, the ``Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief 
Act, 2020'', and H.R. 5687, Expressing disapproval of the Trump 
administration's harmful actions towards Medicaid. The rule provides 
for consideration of H. Res. 826, Expressing disapproval of the Trump 
administration's harmful actions towards Medicaid, under a closed rule. 
The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the resolution. The rule provides that the resolution shall be 
considered as read. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2474, 
the ``Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019'', under a 
structured rule. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Education and Labor. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment 
in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education 
and Labor now printed in the bill, 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 amendments printed in part B of the 
Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. Each amendment made 
in order 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 in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 
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. 5687, 
the ``Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and 
Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act, 2020'', 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 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the bill shall

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be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against 
provisions in the bill and provides that clause 2(e) of Rule XXI shall 
not apply during consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order 
only those 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 in the House or in the Committee of the 
Whole. All points of order against the amendments printed in Part C of 
the report are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Pallone, 
Chairman Lowey, Chairman Scott of Virginia, and Representatives Walden, 
Rodgers of Washington, Granger, Suozzi, Rice of South Carolina, Graves 
of Louisiana, and Foxx.
MANAGEMENT AND SPENDING CHALLENGES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S 
OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight; and Subcommittee on Energy held a joint 
hearing entitled ``Management and Spending Challenges within the 
Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy''. Testimony was heard from Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary, 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy; 
and public witnesses.
AMERICA'S SEED FUND: A REVIEW OF SBIR AND STTR
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``America's Seed Fund: A Review 
of SBIR and STTR''. Testimony was heard from Dawn Tilbury, Assistant 
Director, Directorate of Engineering, National Science Foundation; and 
public witnesses.
SBA MANAGEMENT REVIEW: OFFICE OF CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``SBA Management Review: Office of Credit Risk Management''. Testimony 
was heard from Susan E. Streich, Director, Office of Credit Risk 
Management, U.S. Small Business Administration.
TRACKING TOWARD ZERO: IMPROVING GRADE CROSSING SAFETY AND ADDRESSING 
COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Tracking Toward Zero: Improving Grade Crossing Safety and Addressing 
Community Concerns''. Testimony was heard from Karl Alexy, Associate 
Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer, Federal 
Railroad Administration; Brian Vercruysse, Rail Safety Program 
Administrator, Illinois Commerce Commission; Matthew O'Shea, Alderman, 
19th Ward of Chicago, Chicago City Council, Illinois; and public 
witnesses.
EXAMINING HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF 
MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations; and Women Veterans Task Force held a joint hearing 
entitled ``Examining How the Department of Veterans Affairs Supports 
Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma''. Testimony was heard from Willie 
Clark, Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Julie Kroviak, Deputy 
Assistance Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Office of 
Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
MORE CURES FOR MORE PATIENTS: OVERCOMING PHARMACEUTICAL BARRIERS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``More Cures for More Patients: Overcoming Pharmaceutical 
Barriers''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CREATING A CLIMATE RESILIENT AMERICA: OVERCOMING THE HEALTH RISKS OF 
THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Committee on the Climate Crisis: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Creating a Climate Resilient America: Overcoming the Health Risks of 
the Climate Crisis''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ARTICLE ONE: FOSTERING A MORE DELIBERATIVE PROCESS IN CONGRESS
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Full Committee held 
a hearing entitled ``Article One: Fostering a More Deliberative Process 
in Congress''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

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Joint Meetings
PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine the power and purpose of parliamentary diplomacy, 
focusing on inter-parliamentary initiatives and the United States 
contribution, after receiving testimony from George Tsereteli, Georgian 
Member of Parliament and President of the Organization for Security and 
Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Tbilisi, Georgia; and 
Attila Mesterhazy, Hungarian Member of Parliament and Acting President 
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly, 
Budapest, Hungary.