[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D337-D341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
A REVIEW OF USDA ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE EFFORTS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing entitled ``A Review of USDA Animal Disease Prevention 
and Response Efforts''. Testimony was heard from Jenny Lester Moffitt, 
Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Department of 
Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Testimony was heard from 
Steven Dettelbach, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives, Department of Justice.

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APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
budget hearing on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. 
Testimony was heard from Tae Johnson, Acting Director, U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Committee on Appropriations: 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; and Larry Kean, Budget Director, 
Department of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a budget hearing on the U.S. Agency for 
International Development. Testimony was heard from Samantha Power, 
Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Testimony was heard 
from Marcia Fudge, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
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.
APPROPRIATIONS--FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
budget hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Testimony 
was heard from Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
APPROPRIATIONS--NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND FAMILY 
HOUSING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Navy and Marine Corps Military Construction and Family Housing. 
Testimony was heard from Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy, Energy, Installations, and Environment; Vice Admiral Ricky 
Williamson, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and 
Logistics, N4, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and Lieutenant 
General Edward D. Banta, Deputy Commandant, Installations and 
Logistics, U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. MILITARY POSTURE AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE INDO--
PACIFIC REGION
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Indo-
Pacific Region''. Testimony was heard from Admiral John C. Aquilino, 
Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; General Paul J. LaCamera, 
Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces 
Korea; and Jedidiah P. Royal, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Department of Defense.
FY24 BUDGET REQUEST FOR MISSILE DEFENSE AND MISSILE DEFEAT PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``FY24 Budget Request for Missile Defense and Missile 
Defeat Programs''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of 
Defense officials: Deputy Assistant Secretary John D. Hill, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense; Vice 
Admiral Jon Hill, Director, Missile Defense Agency; Lieutenant General 
Daniel Karbler, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command; and Major 
General David Miller, Director of Operations, U.S. Space Command.
AIR FORCE PROJECTION FORCES AVIATION PROGRAMS AND CAPABILITIES RELATED 
TO THE PRESIDENT'S 2024 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Air Force Projection Forces Aviation 
Programs and Capabilities Related to the President's 2024 Budget 
Request''. Testimony was heard from Andrew P. Hunter, Assistant 
Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Department of the 
Air Force; and Lieutenant General Richard G. Moore,

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Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Department of the Air 
Force.
SCHOOL CHOICE: EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM FOR ALL
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, 
Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled ``School 
Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom for All''. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Davidson, Smith of Nebraska, and Pocan; former 
Member Luke Messer; and public witnesses.
FISCAL YEAR 2024 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and 
Commerce held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Trade 
Commission Budget''. Testimony was heard from the following Federal 
Trade Commission officials: Lina M. Khan, Chair; Alvaro Bedoya, 
Commissioner; and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Commissioner.
INSIGHTS FROM THE HHS INSPECTOR GENERAL ON OVERSIGHT OF UNACCOMPANIED 
MINORS, GRANT MANAGEMENT, AND CMS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Insights from the HHS 
Inspector General on Oversight of Unaccompanied Minors, Grant 
Management, and CMS''. Testimony was heard from Christi A. Grimm, 
Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health 
and Human Services.
AMERICAN NUCLEAR ENERGY EXPANSION: POWERING A CLEAN AND SECURE FUTURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and 
Grid Security held a hearing entitled ``American Nuclear Energy 
Expansion: Powering a Clean and Secure Future''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission''. Testimony was 
heard from Gary Gensler, Chair, Securities and Exchange Commission.
12 YEARS OF TERROR: ASSAD'S WAR CRIMES AND U.S. POLICY FOR SEEKING 
ACCOUNTABILITY IN SYRIA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North 
Africa, and Central Asia held a hearing entitled ``12 Years of Terror: 
Assad's War Crimes and U.S. Policy for Seeking Accountability in 
Syria''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SURROUNDING THE OCEAN: PRC INFLUENCE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific held a 
hearing entitled ``Surrounding the Ocean: PRC Influence in the Indian 
Ocean''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GREAT POWER COMPETITION IN AFRICA: THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing 
entitled ``Great Power Competition in Africa: The Chinese Communist 
Party''. Testimony was heard from Janean Davis, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International 
Development; Amy Holman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of 
African Affairs, Department of State; and Rick Waters, China 
Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China and 
Taiwan, Department of State.
THE HOMELAND SECURITY COST OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S CATASTROPHIC 
WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law 
Enforcement, and Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``The Homeland 
Security Cost of the Biden Administration's Catastrophic Withdrawal 
from Afghanistan''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LOOKING AHEAD SERIES: HOUSE SERGEANT AT ARMS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE 
118TH CONGRESS
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Looking Ahead Series: House Sergeant at Arms Strategic Plan 
for the 118th Congress''. Testimony was heard from William McFarland, 
Acting Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of Representatives.
EXAMINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT AND THE 
GROWING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BACKLOG
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Implementation of the Great American 
Outdoors Act and the Growing National Park Service Deferred Maintenance 
Backlog''. Testimony was heard from

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Charles Sams III, Director, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and 
Fisheries held a hearing on H.J. Res. 29, providing for congressional 
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule 
submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to 
``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Lesser Prairie-
Chicken; Threatened Status With Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern 
Distinct Population Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern 
Distinct Population Segment''; H.J. Res. 46, providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service 
relating to ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 
Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and 
Designating Critical Habitat''; H.J. Res. 49, providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service relating to ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 
Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat''; and H.R. 1213, 
the ``RESCUE Whales Act of 2023''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Grijalava and Stauber; Gary Frazer, Assistant Director 
for Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of 
the Interior; Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory 
Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration; and public witnesses.
INVESTIGATING THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19, PART 2: CHINA AND THE AVAILABLE 
INTELLIGENCE
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Select Subcommittee on the 
Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing entitled ``Investigating the 
Origins of COVID-19, Part 2: China and the Available Intelligence''. 
Testimony was heard from former Member John Ratcliffe and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE OFFICE OF RESETTLEMENT'S UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN 
PROGRAM
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on National 
Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the Office of Resettlement's Unaccompanied Alien 
Children Program''. Testimony was heard from Robin Dunn Marcos, 
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children 
and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
SPENDING ON EMPTY: HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S UNPRECEDENTED 
SPENDING INCREASED RISK OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ENERGY
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on Economic 
Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing entitled 
``Spending on Empty: How the Biden Administration's Unprecedented 
Spending Increased Risk of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the Department of 
Energy''. Testimony was heard from Teri L. Donaldson, Inspector 
General, Department of Energy; and Kathleen Hogan, Principal Deputy 
Under Secretary for Infrastructure, Department of Energy.
ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT NOAA
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Establishing an Independent NOAA''. Testimony was 
heard from Neil Jacobs, Acting Administrator, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; and public 
witnesses.
PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE: HOW TAX HIKES CRUSH THE COMPETITIVENESS OF 
SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Paying Their Fair Share: How Tax Hikes Crush the Competitiveness of 
Small Businesses''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE MEMBER DAY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
Member Day''. Testimony was heard from Chairman Thompson of 
Pennsylvania, and Representatives Langworthy, Higgins of New York, 
Hageman, Hern, Johnson of Ohio, Meuser, Landsman, Barragan, Escobar, 
Sablan, Casar, Garcia of Texas, Crockett, Sherrill, Miller of Illinois, 
Carter of Georgia, Bergman, Roy, Kilmer, Sherman, Davis of North 
Carolina, Schrier, Costa, Luna, Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Soto, 
Goldman, Porter, Crow, Perez, and Fitzpatrick.
REVIEW OF FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE COAST GUARD
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``Review of 
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Coast Guard''. Testimony was 
heard from Admiral Linda L. Fagan, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; and 
Master Chief Heath B. Jones, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast 
Guard, U.S. Coast Guard.

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MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a markup on 
H.R. 41, the ``VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023''; H.R. 562, the 
``Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2023''; 
H.R. 808, the ``Veterans Patient Advocacy Act''; H.R. 754, the 
``Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Act''; H.R. 693, the 
``Veterans Affairs Medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline 
Act''; H.R. 1089, the ``VA Medical Center Transparency Act''; H.R. 366, 
the ``Korean American VALOR Act''; and H.R. 1256, the ``Veterans Health 
Administration Leadership Transformation Act''. H.R. 754, H.R. 693, 
H.R. 1089, and H.R. 366 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 
562, H.R. 808, H.R. 1256, and H.R. 41 were ordered reported, as 
amended.
COMBATTING A CRISIS: PROVIDING VETERANS ACCESS TO LIVE-SAVING SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE DISORDER TREATMENT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Combatting a Crisis: Providing Veterans Access to Live-
saving Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment''. Testimony was heard from 
the following Department of Veterans Affairs officials: Tamara 
Campbell, M.D., Executive Director; Julie Kroviak, M.D., Principal 
Deputy Assistant Inspector General; Sachin Yende, M.D., Chief Medical 
Officer; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a markup on H.R. 645, the ``Healthy Foundations for Homeless 
Veterans Act''; H.R. 728, to Direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor 
for Veterans' Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on 
short-term programs for veterans; H.R. 746, the ``Streamlining Aviation 
for Eligible Veterans Act''; H.R. 1169, the ``VA E-Notification 
Enhancement Act''; H.R. 1635, the ``Filipino Education Fairness Act''; 
H.R. 1669, the ``VET-TEC Authorization Act of 2023''; H.R. 1767, the 
``Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act''; H.R. 1786, the ``Get 
Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act''; H.R. 1798, the ``Protect 
Military Dependents Act''; and H.R. 1799, the ``EMPLOY VETS Act''. H.R. 
746, H.R. 1169, H.R. 1635, and H.R. 1786 were ordered reported, without 
amendment. H.R. 728, H.R. 1767, H.R. 1669, H.R. 1798, H.R. 645, and 
H.R. 1799 were ordered reported, as amended.
HEARING ON COUNTERING CHINA'S TRADE AND INVESTMENT AGENDA: 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing 
entitled ``Hearing on Countering China's Trade and Investment Agenda: 
Opportunities for American Leadership''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.