[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D273-D277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE DANGER CHINA POSES TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Danger China Poses to American Agriculture''. Testimony was heard from 
Kristi Noem, Governor, South Dakota; Chairman Gallagher and 
Representative Krishnamoorthi; and public witnesses.
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 D274]]


APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard from 
Xavier Becerra, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE MILITARY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled 
``Quality of Life in the Military''. Testimony was heard from Chief 
Master Sergeant John F. Bentivenga, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space 
Force, U.S. Space Force; Chief Master Sergeant David A. Flosi, Chief 
Master Sergeant of the Air Force, U.S. Air Force; Master Chief Petty 
Officer James M. Honea, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, U.S. 
Department of the Navy; Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz, Sergeant Major 
of the Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps; and Sergeant Major Michael R. 
Weimer, Sergeant Major of the Army, Department of Army.
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 Ely Ratner, Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Department of 
Defense; Admiral John Aquilino, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; 
and General Paul LaCamera, Commander, United Nations Command, ROK/US 
Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea.
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND COMMAND--CHALLENGES AND RESOURCE 
PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``U.S. Special Operations Forces and 
Command--Challenges and Resource Priorities for Fiscal Year 2025''. 
Testimony was heard from Christopher P. Maier, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SOLIC), 
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Department of 
Defense; and General Bryan P. Fenton, U.S. Army, Commander, U.S. 
Special Operations Command, Department of Defense.
EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY 
CORPORATION
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, 
Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``Examining the 
Policies and Priorities of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation''. 
Testimony was heard from Gordon Hartogensis, Director, Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
2864, the ``Countering CCP Drones Act''; H.R. 820, the ``Foreign 
Adversary Communications Transparency Act''; H.R. 619, the ``NAPA 
Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 4581, the ``Maternal and Child Health 
Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024''; H.R. 2706, the ``Charlotte 
Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act''; H.R. 4646, 
the ``SIREN Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 6160, to amend the Public 
Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program; H.R. 
7251, the ``Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024''; H.R. 
7208, the ``Dennis John Beningo Traumatic Brain Injury Program 
Reauthorization Act of 2024''; H.R. 6829, the ``Cardiomyopathy Health 
Education, Awareness, and Research, and ED Training in the Schools Act 
of 2024''; H.R. 7189, the ``Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization 
Act of 2024''; H.R. 7406, the ``DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 
2024''; H.R. 3916, the ``SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2024''; H.R. 5074, 
the ``Kidney PATIENT Act''; H.R. 7655, the ``Pipeline Safety, 
Modernization, and Expansion Act of 2024''; H.R. 1513, the ``FUTURE 
Networks Act''; H.R. 7589, the ``ROUTERS Act''; H.R. 620, the 
``Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act''; H.R. 7218, the 
``Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 
2024''; H.R. 6960, the ``Emergency Medical Services for Children 
Reauthorization Act of 2024''; H.R. 7153, the ``Dr. Lorna Breen Health 
Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 7224, to amend the 
Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and 
Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program; H.R. 7673, the 
``Liberty in Laundry Act''; H.R. 7645, the ``Clothes Dryers Reliability 
Act''; H.R. 7637, the ``Refrigerator Freedom Act''; H.R. 7626, the 
``Affordable Air Conditioning Act''; H.R. 7700, the ``Stop Unaffordable 
Dishwasher Standards Act''; and H.R. 7650, the ``Air Quality Standards 
Implementation Act of 2024''. H.R. 2864, H.R. 820, H.R. 619, H.R. 4581, 
H.R. 2706, H.R. 4646, H.R. 6160, H.R. 7251, H.R. 7208, H.R. 6829, H.R. 
7189, H.R. 7406, H.R. 3916, H.R. 5074, and H.R. 7655 were ordered 
reported, as amended. H.R.

[[Page D275]]

1513, H.R. 7589, H.R. 620, H.R. 7218, H.R. 6960, H.R. 7153, H.R. 7224, 
H.R. 7673, H.R. 7645, H.R. 7637, H.R. 7626, H.R. 7700, H.R. 7650 were 
ordered reported, without amendment.
SEC OVERREACH: EXAMINING THE NEED FOR REFORM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets held a 
hearing entitled ``SEC Overreach: Examining the Need for Reform''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE CHARACTERISTICS AND CHALLENGES OF TODAY'S HOMEBUYERS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance 
held a hearing entitled ``The Characteristics and Challenges of Today's 
Homebuyers''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PAKISTAN AFTER THE ELECTIONS: EXAMINING THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN 
PAKISTAN AND THE U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONSHIP
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North 
Africa, and Central Asia held a hearing entitled ``Pakistan After the 
Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the U.S.-
Pakistan Relationship''. Testimony was heard from Donald Lu, Assistant 
Secretary of State, Bureau for South and Central Asian Affairs, 
Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
6727, to establish the United States Foundation for International 
Conservation to promote long-term management of protected and conserved 
areas, and for other purposes; H.R. 7256, to require a full review of 
the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa; 
H.R. 7701, to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to any 
foreign person that knowingly participates in the construction, 
maintenance, or repair of a tunnel or bridge that connects the Russian 
mainland with the Crimean peninsula; H. Res. 901, expressing support 
for democracy and human rights in Pakistan; H.R. 3334, to provide for 
the imposition of sanctions on members of the National Communist Party 
Congress of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes; H. 
Res. 1084, condemning the killing of Alexei Navalny and calling for the 
release of all political prisoners in the Russian Federation; H.R. 
5245, to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to 
require certain congressional notification prior to entering into, 
renewing, or extending a science and technology agreement with the 
People's Republic of China, and for other purposes; H.R. 6831, to 
reauthorize the Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and 
Development Act of 2019, and for other purposes; and H.R. 7710, to 
authorize and encourage the United States Agency for International 
Development to pursue a model of locally led development and 
humanitarian response and expand engagement with local partners and 
increase its local partner base.
EXAMINING THE CURRENT STATUS OF IRAN'S AXIS OF RESISTANCE AND THE 
IMPLICATIONS FOR HOMELAND SECURITY AND U.S. INTERESTS
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the Current Status of Iran's Axis of Resistance and the 
Implications for Homeland Security and U.S. Interests''. Testimony was 
heard from James Dunlap, Deputy Under Secretary for Analysis, Office of 
Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security; Robert R. 
Wells, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, Department of Justice; Carrie Thompson, Chief of 
Intelligence, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice; 
and Elizabeth Richard, Ambassador-at-Large, Coordinator for 
Counterterrorism, Bureau of Counterterrorism, Department of State. Part 
of this hearing was closed.
SECURING OUR NATION FROM WMDS: A REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY'S COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Management 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Securing our Nation from WMDs: 
A Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of 
Mass Destruction Office''. Testimony was heard from Mary Ellen 
Callahan, Assistant Secretary, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Office, Department of Homeland Security; Tina Won Sherman, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office; and 
Herbert Wolfe, Acting Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director, Office 
of Health Security, Department of Homeland Security.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO SUPPORT MODERNIZING THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH 
SERVICE AND THE USE OF FEDERAL DATA
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Modernization held a 
hearing entitled ``Legislative Proposals to Support Modernizing the 
Congressional Research Service and the Use of Federal Data''. Testimony 
was heard from Robert Randolph Newlen,

[[Page D276]]

Interim Director, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
REINING IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE: AGENCY ADJUDICATION AND OTHER 
AGENCY ACTION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Administrative State, 
Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a hearing entitled ``Reining in 
the Administrative State: Agency Adjudication and Other Agency 
Action''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 5015, the ``Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat 
Restoration Act of 2023''; H.R. 5499, the ``Congressional Oversight of 
the Antiquities Act''; H.R. 6085, to prohibit the implementation of the 
Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Rock Springs RMP Revision, Wyoming; H.R. 6209, the ``Sloan Canyon 
Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act''; H.R. 6547, the ``Colorado 
Energy Prosperity Act''; and H.R. 7006, to prohibit natural asset 
companies from entering into any agreement with respect to land in the 
State of Utah or natural assets on or in such land. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Boebert, Hageman, Titus, Miller-Meeks, and Leger 
Fernandez; Nada Wolff Culver, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior; Chris French, Deputy Chief, 
National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; 
Eric Bingham, Land Use Director, Sweetwater County, Wyoming; Greg 
Poschman, Commissioner, Board of County Commissioners, Pitkin County, 
Colorado; and public witnesses.
ADVANCING TRIBAL SELF-DETERMINATION: EXAMINING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND 
CHALLENGES OF THE 477 PROGRAM
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian and Insular 
Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Advancing Tribal Self-Determination: 
Examining the Opportunities and Challenges of the 477 Program''. 
Testimony was heard from Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian 
Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
ASSESSING DOMESTIC OFFSHORE ENERGY RESERVES AND ENSURING U.S. ENERGY 
DOMINANCE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Assessing Domestic Offshore Energy 
Reserves and Ensuring U.S. Energy Dominance''. Testimony was heard from 
Walter Cruickshank, Deputy Director, U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
INFLUENCE PEDDLING: EXAMINING JOE BIDEN'S ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Influence Peddling: Examining Joe Biden's Abuse of 
Public Office''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 272, the ``ASTRO Act''; H.R. 6219, the ``ASCEND Act''; 
H.R. 7687, the ``NASA Streamlining Partnerships''; H.R. 4152, the 
``Space Resources Institute Act''; H.R. 7630, the ``ANCHOR Act''; H.R. 
7686, the ``Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Definition 
Clarification''; H.R. 7073, the ``Next Generation Pipelines R&D Act''; 
and H.R. 7685, the ``IMPACT Act''. H.R. 272, H.R. 7687, and H.R. 7630 
were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 6219, H.R. 4152, H.R. 
7686, H.R. 7073, and H.R. 7685 were ordered reported, as amended.
CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT: TESTIMONY FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Conducting Oversight: Testimony from the Small Business 
Administrator''. Testimony was heard from Isabella Casillas Guzman, 
Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 7659, the ``Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024''; 
H.R. 6140, the ``Facilitating Access to Swiftly Transport Goods during 
a Publicly Announced State of Emergency Situation Act''; and two 
General Services Administration Capital Investment and Leasing Program 
Resolutions. H.R. 7659 and H.R. 6140 were ordered reported, as amended. 
Two General Services Administration Capital Investment and Leasing 
Program Resolutions were adopted.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on H.R. 6656, the ``Stuck on Hold Act''; H.R. 7323, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to disapprove courses of education offered by a public 
institution of higher learning that does not charge the in-State 
tuition rate to a veteran using certain educational assistance under

[[Page D277]]

title 10 of such Code; legislation to amend title 38, United States 
Code, to provide for a limitation on the amount of entitlement to 
educational assistance payable for flight training under the Post-9/11 
Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the 
restoration of entitlement of individuals entitled to educational 
assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs who use such entitlement to pursue a course or program of 
education at an educational institution found to have violated certain 
prohibitions on advertising, sales, and enrollment practices, and for 
other purposes; legislation to amend titles 10 and 38, United States 
Code, to make improvements to certain programs for a member nearing 
separation, or for a veteran who recently separated, from the Armed 
Forces, and for other purposes; H.R. 6225, the ``Expanding Home Loans 
for Guard and Reservists Act''; legislation to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to authorize the use of Department of Veterans Affairs 
work-study allowance to carry out casework, policy making, and 
oversight related to the activities of the Department at certain 
congressional offices; legislation to amend title 38, United States 
Code, to update certain terminology regarding veteran employment; and 
legislation on the Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2024. 
Testimony was heard from Melissa Cohen, Executive Director of Outreach, 
Transition, and Economic Development, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; James Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary 
for Veterans' Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor; and 
public witnesses.
LOST IN TRANSLATION: HOW VA'S DISABILITY CLAIMS AND APPEALS LETTERS 
SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Lost in Translation: How 
VA's Disability Claims and Appeals Letters Should be Simplified''. 
Testimony was heard from Beth Murphy, Executive Director, Compensation 
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN 
SERVICES SECRETARY XAVIER BECERRA
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``President's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request with Health and Human 
Services Secretary Xavier Becerra''. Testimony was heard from Xavier 
Becerra, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.