[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D99-D101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
QUALITY OF LIFE REVIEW--PERSPECTIVE FROM SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Quality of Life Review--Perspective from Senior Enlisted Leaders''. 
Testimony was heard from Sergeant Major Troy E. Black, Senior Enlisted 
Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the 
Secretary of Defense; Sergeant Major Michael R. Weimer, Sergeant Major 
of the Army, Department of the Army; Master Chief Petty Officer James 
M. Honea, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Department of the 
Navy; Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz, Sergeant Major of the Marine 
Corps, Department of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps; Chief Master Sergeant 
Joanne S. Bass, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Department of 
the Air Force; and Chief Master Sergeant John F. Bentivegna, Chief 
Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Department of the Air Force, U.S. 
Space Force.
CREATING A CULTURE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF THE 
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Creating a Culture of Fiscal Responsibility: Assessing the Role of 
the Congressional Budget Office''. Testimony was heard from Phillip 
Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and Workforce: Full Committee held a markup on 
H.R. 6951, the ``College Cost Reduction Act''. H.R. 6951 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
HEALTH CARE SPENDING IN THE UNITED STATES: UNSUSTAINABLE FOR PATIENTS, 
EMPLOYERS, AND TAXPAYERS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Health Care Spending in the United States: Unsustainable for 
Patients, Employers, and Taxpayers''. Testimony was heard from Chapin 
White, Director of Health Analysis, Congressional Budget Office; and 
public witnesses.
TV TIMEOUT: UNDERSTANDING SPORTS MEDIA RIGHTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``TV Timeout: Understanding Sports 
Media Rights''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ENSURING THE CYBERSECURITY OF AMERICA'S DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment, 
Manufacturing, and Critical Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Ensuring the Cybersecurity of America's Drinking Water Systems''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
RULES WITHOUT ANALYSIS: FEDERAL BANKING PROPOSALS UNDER THE BIDEN 
ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Monetary Policy held a hearing entitled ``Rules Without Analysis: 
Federal Banking Proposals Under the Biden Administration''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D100]]


THE FUTURE OF PEACEKEEPING AND THE INCREASING ROLE OF PRIVATE MILITARY 
COMPANIES IN AFRICA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Global Health, Global 
Human Rights, and International Organizations; and Subcommittee on 
Africa held a joint hearing entitled ``The Future of Peacekeeping and 
the Increasing Role of Private Military Companies in Africa''. 
Testimony was heard from Michele Sison, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
International Organization Affairs, Department of State; and Jonathan 
Pratt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, 
Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee concluded a markup on H. 
Res. 863, Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland 
Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors. H. Res. 863 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 674, the ``Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 
2023''; H.R. 4297, the ``Bolts Ditch Act''; H.R. 5443, the 
``Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act''; H.R. 6994, 
the ``Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety Act''; and 
H.R. 7072, the ``Wabeno Economic Development Act of 2024''. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Newhouse, Neguse, Lee of Nevada, Kim of 
California, and Tiffany; Greg Smith, Associate Deputy Chief, National 
Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Tom 
Tallier, Supervisor, Forest County Board of Supervisors, District 8, 
Wisconsin; Dan Munsey, Fire Chief, San Bernardino County Fire 
Department, California; Siri Roman, General Manager, Eagle River Water 
and Sanitation District, Vail, Colorado; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on H.R. 2925, the ``Mining Regulatory Clarity 
Act of 2023'' H.R. 6862, to amend the FAST Act to include certain 
mineral production activities as a covered project, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 7003, the ``National Landslide Preparedness Act 
Reauthorization Act of 2024''; and H.R. 7004, to amend the Mineral 
Leasing Act to amend references of gilsonite to asphaltite. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Amodei, DelBene, and Curtis; Steven 
Feldgus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals 
Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' COMPLIANCE WITH 
CONGRESS
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Select Subcommittee on the 
Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing entitled ``Overseeing the 
Department of Health and Human Services' Compliance with Congress''. 
Testimony was heard from Melanie Egorin, Assistant Secretary for 
Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 5450, 
the ``Enhancing Competition in Contracting Orders Act''; H.R. 6591, the 
``Encouraging Success Act''; H.R. 6156, the ``Child Care Small Business 
Insight and Improvement Act of 2023''; H.R. 7102, the ``Native American 
Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act''; H.R. 7103, the ``Agency 
Accountability Act of 2024''; H.R. 7104, the ``National SBDC Advisory 
Board Improvement Act''; H.R. 7105, the ``WOSB Certification and 
Opportunity Expansion Act''; H.R. 7128, the ``WOSB Integrity Act of 
2024''; and H.R. 7129, the ``Put America on Commission Act of 2024''. 
H.R. 7102, H.R. 7103, H.R. 7104, H.R. 7105, H.R. 7128, H.R. 7129 were 
ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 5450, H.R. 6591, and H.R. 
6156 were ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 7023, the ``Creating Confidence in Clean Water 
Permitting Act''; H.R. 5089, the ``Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act''; 
H.R. 6248, the ``Think Differently About Transportation Act''; and H.R. 
7070, the ``Wildfire Response Improvement Act''. H.R. 7023, H.R. 6248, 
and H.R. 7070 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 5089 was ordered 
reported, without amendment.
THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CYBER THREAT TO THE AMERICAN HOMELAND AND 
NATIONAL SECURITY
Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States 
and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The CCP Cyber Threat to the American Homeland and National 
Security''. Testimony was heard from General Paul Nakasone, Commander, 
U.S. Cyber Command, Department of Defense; Jen Easterly, Director, 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of 
Homeland Security; Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation; and Harry Coker, Jr., Director, Office of the National 
Cyber Director, Executive Office of the President.

[[Page D101]]



Joint Meetings
UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS ABDUCTED BY RUSSIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine eyewitness accounts from Ukrainian children and 
adult civilians abducted by Russia, after receiving testimony from 
Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; Pia 
Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; Andriy Kostin, 
Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament 
Commissioner for Human Rights; and Mykola Kuleba, Save Ukraine.