[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 78 (Thursday, May 6, 2021)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D474-D477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TSA: PANDEMIC AND POST-PANDEMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR BUDGET AND OPERATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Homeland 
Security held a hearing entitled ``TSA: Pandemic and Post-Pandemic 
Implications for Budget and Operations''. Testimony was heard from 
Darby LaJoye, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Administrator, 
Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland 
Security.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Committee on Appropriations: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
budget hearing on the Department of Education. Testimony was heard from 
Miguel Cardona, Secretary, Department of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY
Committee on Appropriations: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Defense 
held a budget hearing on the U.S. Army. Testimony was heard from 
General James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army; and John E. 
Whitley, Acting Secretary of the Army.
RELATED AGENCIES--THE YEAR AHEAD
Committee on Appropriations: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing 
entitled ``Related Agencies--The Year Ahead''. Testimony was heard from 
Margaret Bartley, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims; Robert J. Dalessandro, Acting Secretary, American Battle 
Monuments Commission; Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Army 
National Military Cemeteries, Arlington National Cemetery, U.S. Army; 
and Major General Stephen T. Rippe, Chief Executive Officer, Armed 
Forces Retirement Home.
U.S. SECRET SERVICE OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing entitled ``U.S. Secret Service Operational Priorities''. 
Testimony was heard from James Murray, Director, U.S. Secret Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Energy. Testimony was heard from Jennifer M. Granholm, 
Secretary, Department of Energy.

[[Page D475]]


USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT MISSION AREA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing entitled ``USDA Rural Development Mission Area''. Testimony was 
heard from the following Department of Agriculture officials: Justin 
Maxson, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development; Christopher 
McLean, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service; Karama Neal, 
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service; and Chad Parker, 
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department 
of Commerce. Testimony was heard from Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary, 
Department of Commerce.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Armed Services: On May 5, 2021, Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Member Day''. Testimony was heard from Chairman 
Kilmer, and Representatives Foster, Welch, Scanlon, Schrader, Case, 
Arrington, San Nicolas, and Sherman.
SHIP AND SUBMARINE MAINTENANCE: SUSTAINMENT CONSIDERATIONS FOR A 
CHANGING FLEET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
entitled ``Ship and Submarine Maintenance: Sustainment Considerations 
for a Changing Fleet''. Testimony was heard from Vice Admiral William 
J. Galinis, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; Rear Admiral Eric Ver 
Hage, Director, Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization (SEA 21), 
Naval Sea Systems Command; and Rear Admiral Howard B. Markle, Deputy 
Commander, Logistics, Maintenance, and Industrial Operations (SEA 04), 
Naval Sea Systems Command.
CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR RULES BASED ORDER IN SPACE
Committee on Armed Services: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Strategic 
Forces; and Subcommittee on International Development, International 
Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact of the House Committee 
on Foreign Affairs held a joint hearing entitled ``Creating a Framework 
for Rules Based Order in Space''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant 
General Stephen Whiting, Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. 
Space Force, Department of Defense; John D. Hill, Performing the Duties 
of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Department of 
Defense; Bruce Turner, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Arms Control, 
Verification and Compliance, Department of State; and Jonathan M. 
Moore, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State.
LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW: EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Committee on Education and Labor: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on 
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``Lower 
Drug Costs Now: Expanding Access to Affordable Health Care''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
ADDRESSING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, 
Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled 
``Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Students with Disabilities''. 
Testimony was heard from Danielle M. Kovach, Special Education Teacher, 
Tulsa Trail Elementary School, Hopatcong, New Jersey; and public 
witnesses.
THE CLEAN FUTURE ACT: DRIVING DECARBONIZATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION 
SECTOR
Committee on Energy and Commerce: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on 
Energy held a hearing entitled ``The CLEAN Future Act: Driving 
Decarbonization of the Transportation Sector''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
BROADBAND EQUITY: ADDRESSING DISPARITIES IN ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Broadband Equity: Addressing 
Disparities in Access and Affordability''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
GAME STOPPED? WHO WINS AND LOSES WHEN SHORT SELLERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND 
RETAIL INVESTORS COLLIDE, PART III
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Game Stopped? Who Wins and Loses When Short Sellers, Social Media, 
and Retail Investors Collide, Part III''. Testimony was heard from Gary 
Gensler, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and public 
witnesses.

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REAFFIRMING THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on Europe, 
Energy, the Environment and Cyber held a hearing entitled ``Reaffirming 
the Good Friday Agreement''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE ATROCITIES AGAINST UYGHURS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN XINJIANG
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Atrocities Against Uyghurs and Other Minorities in Xinjiang''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
RESPONDING TO RANSOMWARE: EXPLORING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO A CYBERSECURITY 
CRISIS
Committee on Homeland Security: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on 
Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation held a hearing 
entitled ``Responding to Ransomware: Exploring Policy Solutions to a 
Cybersecurity Crisis''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON ADDRESSING MIGRATION PUSH FACTORS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, 
and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``Stakeholder Perspectives 
on Addressing Migration Push Factors''. Testimony was heard from Steve 
Hinkley, Sheriff, Calhoun County, Michigan; and public witnesses.
VOTING IN AMERICA: THE POTENTIAL FOR VOTER LIST PURGES TO INTERFERE 
WITH FREE AND FAIR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held a 
hearing entitled ``Voting in America: The Potential for Voter List 
Purges to Interfere with Free and Fair Access to the Ballot''. 
Testimony was heard from Joshua L. Kaul, Attorney General, Wisconsin; 
and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE
Committee on the Judiciary: On May 5, 2021, Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Oversight of the U.S. Copyright Office''. Testimony 
was heard from Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director, 
U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: On May 5, 2021, Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 443, the ``Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land 
Transfer Act''; H.R. 1029, the ``Free Veterans from Fees Act''; H.R. 
1505, the ``Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021''; H.R. 
1506, the ``Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2021''; H.R. 1517, 
the ``Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies Act of 2021''; 
and H.R. 2348, the ``Advancing Conservation and Education Act'', and 
concluded a markup on H.R. 1503, the ``Restoring Community Input and 
Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021''. H.R. 443, H.R. 
1029, and H.R. 2348 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 
1503, H.R. 1505, H.R. 1506, H.R. 1517 were ordered reported, as 
amended.
MEMBER DAY
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Member Day''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Costa, Bost, 
Escobar, Hill, Valadao, and Rutherford.
PIPELINES OVER PEOPLE (PART II): MIDSHIP PIPELINE'S DISREGARD FOR 
LANDOWNERS IN ITS PATHWAY
Committee on Oversight and Reform: On May 5, 2021, Subcommittee on 
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled ``Pipelines 
Over People (Part II): Midship Pipeline's Disregard for Landowners in 
Its Pathway''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BIRTHING WHILE BLACK: EXAMINING AMERICA'S BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Birthing While Black: Examining America's Black Maternal 
Health Crisis''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Pressley, 
Bush, Underwood, and Adams; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: ADVANCING RESEARCH FOR THE FUTURE OF U.S. 
INNOVATION PART II
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``National Science Foundation: 
Advancing Research for the Future of U.S. Innovation Part II''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GROWING JOBS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Innovation, 
Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development held a hearing entitled 
``Growing Jobs through Infrastructure Investment''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.

[[Page D477]]


WHEN UNLIMITED POTENTIAL MEETS LIMITED RESOURCES: THE BENEFITS AND 
CHALLENGES OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND EMERGING RAIL TECHNOLOGIES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and 
Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies''. 
Testimony was heard from Phillip Washington, Chief Executive Officer, 
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, California; 
Carbett Duhon III, Judge, Waller County, Texas; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: On May 5, 2021, Full Committee held a 
hearing on H.R. 1273, the ``Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Study Act''; 
H.R. 1355, the ``K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021''; H.R. 1585, the ``Mark 
Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2021''; H.R. 1972, the 
``Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2021''; H.R. 2127, the ``TEAM 
Act''; H.R. 2268, the ``Keeping Our Promises Act''; H.R. 2368, the 
``COVENANT Act''; H.R. 2372, the ``Presumptive Benefits for War 
Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act''; H.R. 2436, the 
``Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021''; H.R. 2530, the 
``Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Radiation Study Act''; H.R. 2569, the 
``Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act''; H.R. 2580, the 
``Palomares Veterans Act of 2021''; H.R. 2607, the ``FASTER 
Presumptions Act''; H.R. 2742, the ``PFAS Registry Act of 2021''; and 
H.R. 2825, the ``Fort McClellan Health Registry Act''. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Bost, Luria, Nehls, Pappas, Slotkin, Trone, 
Ruiz, Westerman, Lynch, Zeldin, Tonko, Cartwright, and Hayes; Ronald 
Burke, Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight, Veterans 
Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
TRANSFORMING THE VA WORKFORCE: ASSESSING PROGRESS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, 
AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Transforming the VA Workforce: 
Assessing Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives''. 
Testimony was heard from Harvey Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Resolution 
Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: On May 5, 2021, Full Committee held a 
markup on the Budget Views and Estimates Letter; and H.R. 2954, the 
``Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021''. The Budget Views and 
Estimates Letter was adopted, and H.R. 2954 was ordered reported, 
without amendment.
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF CAPACITY: IMPROVING STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 
INCREASING RETENTION AND COMPETING FOR TOP TALENT
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Full Committee held 
a hearing entitled ``Congressional Staff Capacity: Improving Staff 
Professional Development, Increasing Retention and Competing for Top 
Talent''. Testimony was heard from Catherine Szpindor, Chief 
Administrative Officer, U.S. House of Representatives; and public 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.