[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D795-D797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
GENERATIONAL LEARNING LOSS: HOW PANDEMIC SCHOOL CLOSURES HURT STUDENTS
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, 
Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled 
``Generational Learning Loss: How Pandemic School Closures Hurt 
Students''. Testimony was heard from Catherine Truitt, Superintendent, 
Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina; and public witnesses.
STOPPING THE EXPLOITATION OF MIGRANT CHILDREN: OVERSIGHT OF HHS' OFFICE 
OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Stopping the Exploitation of 
Migrant Children: Oversight of HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement''. 
Testimony was heard from Xavier Becerra, Secretary, Department of 
Health and Human Services.
SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK: ENHANCING SAFETY, IMPROVING 
LIVES AND MOBILITY, AND BEATING CHINA
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and 
Commerce held a hearing entitled ``Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative 
Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating 
China''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
4763, the ``Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century 
Act''; H.R. 1747, the ``Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act''; H.R. 
3244, the ``Stop Fentanyl Money Laundering Act of 2023''; H.R. 4768, 
the ``No Russian Agriculture Act''; H.R. 4765, the ``Exposing China's 
Support for the Taliban Act''; and H.R. 2969, the ``Financial 
Technology Protection Act of 2023''. H.R. 4763 was ordered reported, as 
amended. H.R. 1747, H.R. 3244, H.R. 4768, H.R. 4765, and H.R. 2969 were 
ordered reported, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
4619, to authorize the sale of Virginia Class submarines to Australia 
in support of the

[[Page D796]]

trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States, and for other purposes; H.R. 4725, to conduct 
oversight and accountability of the State Department's implementation 
of AUKUS, and for other purposes; H.R. 4716, to amend the Arms Export 
Control Act in support of Australia and the AUKUS partnership; H.R. 
4715, to amend the Arms Export Control Act in support of the United 
Kingdom and the AUKUS partnership; H.R. 1776, to prevent, treat, and 
cure tuberculosis globally; H.R. 4517, to require the Secretary of 
State to submit a plan for the reimbursement of personal funds expended 
to evacuate American citizens, American lawful permanent residents, and 
Afghan allies from Afghanistan, and for other purposes; H.R. 3152, to 
impose sanctions with respect to countries, individuals, and entities 
that engage in any effort to acquire, possess, develop, transport, 
transfer, or deploy Iranian missiles and related goods and technology, 
including materials and equipment, and for other purposes; H.R. 4741, 
to require the development of a strategy to promote the use of secure 
telecommunications infrastructure worldwide, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 4691, to provide for congressional review of actions to terminate 
or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran; H.R. 1456, to limit 
the use of funds for the production of films using assets of the 
Department of State under certain circumstances, and for other 
purposes; H. Res. 578, calling for the immediate release of Eyvin 
Hernandez, a United States citizen and Los Angeles County public 
defender, who was wrongfully detained by the Venezuelan regime in March 
2022; and H.R. 4825, to require the imposition of sanctions and other 
measures relating to the Russian oil price cap policy, and for other 
purposes.
THE REAL COST OF AN OPEN BORDER: HOW AMERICANS ARE PAYING THE PRICE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border Security and 
Enforcement; and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and 
Intelligence held a joint hearing entitled ``The Real Cost of an Open 
Border: How Americans are Paying the Price''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security''. Testimony 
was heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, Department of Homeland 
Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
1318, the ``Women's Suffrage National Monument Location Act''; H.R. 
1722, the ``Grand Ronde Reservation Act Amendment of 2023''; H.R. 2717, 
the ``Hershel `Woody' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument 
Location Act''; H.R. 2997, the ``CONVEY Act''; H.R. 3049, the ``Utah 
School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration Exchange Act of 
2023''; H.R. 3499, the ``Direct Hire to Fight Fires''; H.R. 3675, the 
``Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act''; H.R. 4141, to 
provide that certain communications projects are not subject to 
requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical 
preservation reviews, and for other purposes; and H.R. 4377, to amend 
the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 with respect to extensions, 
additions, and revisions to the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. 
H.R. 4141, H.R. 3675, H.R. 2717, H.R. 2997, and H.R. 3499 were ordered 
reported, as amended. H.R. 3049, H.R. 1318, H.R. 4377, H.R. 1722 were 
ordered reported, without amendment.
UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA: IMPLICATIONS ON NATIONAL SECURITY, 
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on National 
Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled 
``Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, 
Public Safety, and Government Transparency''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
GETTING NOWHERE: DOD'S FAILURE TO REPLACE THE DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on 
Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a 
hearing entitled ``Getting Nowhere: DoD's Failure to Replace the 
Defense Travel System''. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Register, 
Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, Office of the Under 
Secretary for Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of 
Defense; and Elizabeth Field, Director, Defense Capabilities and 
Management, Government Accountability Office.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
Committee on Rules: Full Committee began a hearing on H.R. 4368, the 
``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Harris, Bishop of Georgia, Molinaro, Nunn, Spartz, and 
Jackson Lee.

[[Page D797]]


UNEARTHING INNOVATION: THE FUTURE OF SUBSURFACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
IN THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a hearing entitled ``Unearthing Innovation: The Future of 
Subsurface Science and Technology in the United States''. Testimony was 
heard from Alexandra Hakala, Senior Fellow, Geologic and Environmental 
Systems, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy; 
and public witnesses.
RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: EXAMINING THE CHALLENGES AND STATE OF RURAL 
SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Rural Entrepreneurship: Examining the Challenges and State of Rural 
Small Businesses''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3848, the ``HOME Act''; H.R. 3943, the ``Servicemember Employment 
Protection Act of 2023''; H.R. 3874, the ``Veterans Education 
Assistance Improvement Act''; H.R. 3933, the ``TAP Promotion Act''; 
H.R. 4278, the ``Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability 
Act''; H.R. 4461, the ``Modernizing Department of Veteran Affairs 
Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act''; H.R. 3581, the ``COPE Act''; 
H.R. 1767, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that 
educational assistance paid under Department of Veterans Affairs 
educational assistance programs to an individual who pursued a program 
or course of education that was suspended or terminated for certain 
reasons shall not be charged against the entitlement of the individual, 
and for other purposes; H.R. 3981, the ``Veterans Education Oversight 
Expansion Act''; H.R. 542, the ``Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 
2023''; and H.R. 984, the ``Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach 
Act''. H.R. 3848, H.R. 3943, H.R. 3874, H.R. 4278, H.R. 4461, H.R. 
3581, H.R. 1767, H.R. 3981, H.R. 542, and H.R. 984 were ordered 
reported, as amended. H.R. 3933 was ordered reported, without 
amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4822, 
the ``Health Care Price Transparency Act of 2023''; and H.R. 3284, the 
``Providers and Payers COMPETE Act''. H.R. 4822 and H.R. 3284 were 
ordered reported, as amended.
COMMANDING HEIGHTS: ENSURING U.S. LEADERSHIP IN THE CRITICAL AND 
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States 
and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Commanding Heights: Ensuring U.S. Leadership in the Critical and 
Emerging Technologies of the 21st Century''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
CAPITOL POLICE BOARD OVERSIGHT
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Rules and Administration concluded a 
joint oversight hearing with the House of Representatives Committee on 
House Administration to examine the Capitol Police Board, after 
receiving testimony from Karen H. Gibson, Chair, Capitol Police Board, 
and Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; William P. 
McFarland, Acting Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives; 
Chere Rexroat, Acting Architect and Chief Engineer, Architect of the 
Capitol; and Chief J. Thomas Manger, Capitol Police.
RESCUING UKRAINIAN CHILDREN AND WOMEN
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine rescuing Ukrainian children and women from Russia's 
aggression, after receiving testimony from Beth Van Schaack, 
Ambassador-At-Large for Global Criminal Justice, and Cindy Dyer, 
Ambassador-At-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in 
Persons, both of the Department of State; Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor 
General of Ukraine; Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the 
United States; Sebastian Stachowski, Lion Environmental; Mykola Kuleba, 
Save Ukraine; and James S. Gordon, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine.