[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 29, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1232-D1234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EXAMINING THE NEED FOR A FISCAL COMMISSION REVIEWING H.R. 710, H.R. 
5779, AND S. 3262
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the Need for a Fiscal Commission Reviewing H.R. 710, H.R. 
5779, and S. 3262''. Testimony was heard from Senators Manchin and 
Romney; and Representatives Huizenga, Peters, Womack, Case, McGovern, 
and Smucker.
BAD FOR BUSINESS: DOL'S PROPOSED OVERTIME RULE
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Bad for Business: DOL's Proposed 
Overtime Rule''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AMERICA LEADS THE WAY: OUR HISTORY AS THE GLOBAL LEADER AT REDUCING 
EMISSIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment, 
Manufacturing, and Critical Materials held a hearing entitled ``America 
Leads the Way: Our History as the Global Leader at Reducing 
Emissions''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
UNDERSTANDING HOW AI IS CHANGING HEALTH CARE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Understanding How AI is Changing Health Care''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Semi-Annual Report of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection''. Testimony was heard from Rohit Chopra, Director, Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
6349, to prohibit or require notification with respect to certain 
activities of United States persons involving countries of concern, and 
for other purposes; H.R. 533, to amend the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 
to modify certain provisions of that Act; H.R. 2766, to support the 
human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing 
primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their 
distinct identity, and for other purposes; H.R. 5375, to require a 
strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation

[[Page D1233]]

between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to 
establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer 
cooperation on shared interests and values; H.R. 1103, to require the 
President to remove the extension of certain privileges, exemptions, 
and immunities to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices if Hong Kong 
no longer enjoys a high degree of autonomy from the People's Republic 
of China, and for other purposes; and H.R. 5532, to provide for the 
imposition of sanctions with respect to North Korea's support for 
Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. H.R. 6349 was ordered reported, 
without amendment. H.R. 533, H.R. 2766, H.R. 5375, H.R. 1103, and H.R. 
5532 were ordered reported, as amended.
THE HIGH NORTH: HOW U.S. ARCTIC STRATEGY IMPACTS HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The High North: How U.S. Arctic Strategy Impacts Homeland Security''. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Sullivan, Vice Admiral Peter W. 
Gautier, Deputy Commandant for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard; Christa 
Brzozowski, Acting Assistant Secretary, Trade and Economic Security, 
Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, Department of Homeland Security; 
and Chelsa L. Kenney, Director, International Affairs and Trade, 
Government Accountability Office.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on H.R. 6285, the ``Alaska's Right to Produce 
Act of 2023''. Testimony was heard from Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior; 
John Boyle, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, Alaska; and 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL AGENCIES' POST-PANDEMIC TELEWORK POLICIES: PART II
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of Federal Agencies' Post-Pandemic Telework Policies: Part 
II''. Testimony was heard from Bob Leavitt, Deputy Assistant Secretary 
of Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of 
Health and Human Services; Oren McKnelly, Executive Counselor, U.S. 
Social Security Administration; Jeremy Pelter, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration, Department of Commerce; and Kathryn 
Stevens, Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, U.S. Agency for 
International Development.
SAFEGUARDING THE FEDERAL SOFTWARE SUPPLY CHAIN
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on 
Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a 
hearing entitled ``Safeguarding the Federal Software Supply Chain''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee concluded a 
markup on H.R. 6213, the ``National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization 
Act''; and H.R. 6131, the ``Commercial Space Act of 2023''. H.R. 6213 
and H.R. 6131 were ordered reported, as amended.
GETTING ON THE RIGHT TRACK: NAVIGATING THE FUTURE OF INTERCITY 
PASSENGER RAIL IN AMERICA
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Getting on the Right Track: Navigating the Future of Intercity 
Passenger Rail in America''. Testimony was heard from Kirk Watson, 
Mayor, Austin, Texas; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a markup on H.R. 1753, the ``Jax Act''; H.R. 
3790, the ``Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2023''; H.R. 4016, the 
``Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act''; H.R. 4190, the ``Restoring 
Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act''; H.R. 4306, the ``Michael Lecik 
Military Firefighters Protection Act''; H.R. 5559, ``Protecting 
Veterans Claim Options Act''; H.R. 5891, ``Veteran Appeals Decision 
Clarity Act''; H.R. 5870, ``Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2023''; 
H.R. 5890, the ``Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2023''; and H.R. 
5938, the ``Veterans Exam Expansion Act of 2023''. H.R. 3790, H.R. 
5938, H.R. 4190, H.R. 5559, H.R. 5870, H.R. 5891, H.R. 1753, and H.R. 
4306 were forwarded to the full Committee, as amended. H.R. 4016 and 
H.R. 5890 were forwarded to the full Committee, without amendment.
EXAMINING THE VA APPEALS PROCESS: ENSURING HIGH QUALITY DECISION-MAKING 
FOR VETERANS' CLAIMS ON APPEAL
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Examining the VA Appeals 
Process: Ensuring High Quality Decision-Making for Veterans' Claims on 
Appeal''. Testimony was heard from Elizabeth Curda, Director, 
Education, Workforce,

[[Page D1234]]

and Income Security Issues, Government Accountability Office; Kenneth 
A. Arnold, Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
STRENGTHENING THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR STATES AND 
TRIBES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Work and Welfare; and 
Subcommittee on Oversight held a joint hearing entitled ``Strengthening 
the Child Support Enforcement Program for States and Tribes''. 
Testimony was heard from James Fleming, Director, Child Support 
Section, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; Bryan 
Tribble, Administrator, Child Support Services, Illinois Department of 
Healthcare and Family Services; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
  Conferees  met to resolve the differences between the Senate and 
House passed versions of H.R. 2670, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense 
and for military construction, and for defense activities of the 
Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
such fiscal year, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed 
subject to the call.