[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D368-D372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE; OFFICE OF 
CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS; CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL 
LEADERSHIP
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service; the 
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights; and the Congressional Office 
for International Leadership. Testimony was heard from Brian Pugh, 
Executive Director, John C. Stennis Center for Public Service; Martin 
J. Crane, Executive Director, Office of Congressional Workplace Rights; 
and Jane Sargus, Executive Director, Congressional Office for 
International Leadership.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the U.S. Forest Service. 
Testimony was heard from Randy Moore, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, 
Department of Agriculture; and Mark Lichtenstein, National Budget 
Director, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a

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budget hearing on the Department of Justice. Testimony was heard from 
Merrick Garland, Attorney General, Department of Justice.
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--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Denis 
McDonough, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
APPROPRIATIONS--LIBRARY OF CONGRESS; ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the Library of Congress and the Architect of the 
Capitol. Testimony was heard from Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, 
Library of Congress; Joseph DiPietro, Acting Architect of the Capitol; 
Robert R. Newlen, Interim Director, Congressional Research Service, 
Library of Congress; and Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and 
Director, U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
budget hearing on the Transportation Security Administration. Testimony 
was heard from David Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security 
Administration, Department of Homeland Security.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Department of the Army Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request''. Testimony 
was heard from General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army; and 
Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army.
FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ENERGY, 
INSTALLATIONS, AND ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for Department of Defense 
Energy, Installations, and Environment Programs''. Testimony was heard 
from Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, 
Installations, and Environment, Department of the Navy; Ravi Chaudhary, 
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and 
Environment, Department of the Air Force; Rachel Jacobson, Assistant 
Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations and Environment, 
Department of the Army; and Brendan Owens, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Office of the 
Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.
FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FIXED-
WING TACTICAL AND TRAINING AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request of the 
Department of Defense for Fixed-Wing Tactical and Training Aircraft 
Programs''. Testimony was heard from Douglas C. Schmidt, Director, 
Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense; Lieutenant 
General Richard G. Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, 
Department of the Air Force; Lieutenant General Bradford J. Gering, 
Deputy Commandant for Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps; Lieutenant General 
Michael J. Schmidt, F-35 Program Executive Officer, Department of the 
Air Force; and Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly, Director, Air Warfare 
Division, Department of the Navy.
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY: THE PATH TO 
HIGHER QUALITY, LOWER COST HEALTH CARE
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, 
Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``ERISA's 50th 
Anniversary: the Path to Higher Quality, Lower Cost Health Care''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EXAMINING HEALTH SECTOR CYBERSECURITY IN THE WAKE OF THE CHANGE 
HEALTHCARE ATTACK
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity in the Wake of the 
Change

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Healthcare Attack''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EXAMINING HOW IMPROPER PAYMENTS COST TAXPAYERS BILLIONS AND WEAKEN 
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Examining How Improper 
Payments Cost Taxpayers Billions and Weaken Medicare and Medicaid''. 
Testimony was heard from Michael Chernew, Chair, Medicare Payment 
Advisory Commission; Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General, Government 
Accountability Office; Christi Grimm, Inspector General, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and Timothy Hill, Member, Medicaid and 
Children's Health Insurance Program Payment and Access Commission.
HELD FOR RANSOM: HOW RANSOMWARE ENDANGERS OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions held a 
hearing entitled ``Held for Ransom: How Ransomware Endangers Our 
Financial System''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AGENCY AUDIT: REVIEWING CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU FINANCIAL 
REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Monetary Policy held a hearing entitled ``Agency Audit: Reviewing 
CFPB Financial Reporting and Transparency''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
A REVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``A Review of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Department of 
Homeland Security''. Testimony was heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, 
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 1631, 
the ``Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act''; H.R. 7737, 
the ``One Agency Act''; H.R. 3591, the ``Asylum Accountability Act''; 
H.R. 3269, the ``Law Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act''; H.R. 
7581, the ``Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness 
Through Data Act''; and H.R. 4951, the ``Ensuring Justice for Victims 
of Terrorism Act''.
LIBERTY, TYRANNY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY: COVID-19 AND THE CONSTITUTION
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Subcommittee on the Constitution and 
Limited Government held a hearing entitled ``Liberty, Tyranny, and 
Accountability: Covid-19 and the Constitution''. Testimony was heard 
from Joseph A. Ladapo, M.D., Surgeon General, Florida; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
5015, the ``Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 
2023''; H.R. 6482, the ``Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal 
Lands Act''; H.R. 7003, the ``National Landslide Preparedness Act 
Reauthorization Act of 2024''; H.R. 7370, the ``Geothermal Energy 
Opportunity Act''; H.R. 7375, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to 
improve the assessment of expression of interest fees, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 7377, the ``Royalty Resiliency Act''; H.R. 7408, the 
``America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act''; H.R. 7409, the ``HEATS 
Act''; and H.R. 7422, the ``Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 
2024''. H.R. 7409 was ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 7422, 
H.R. 7408, H.R. 7377, H.R. 7375, H.R. 7370, H.R. 7003, H.R. 6482, and 
H.R. 5015 were ordered reported, as amended.
HOW THE BORDER CRISIS IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on National 
Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``How 
the Border Crisis Impacts Public Safety''. Testimony was heard from 
Bill Waybourn, Sheriff, Tarrant County, Texas; Mike Chapman, Sheriff, 
Loudoun County, Virginia; and public witnesses.
ACADEMIC MALPRACTICE: EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENTIFIC 
JOURNALS, THE GOVERNMENT, AND PEER REVIEW
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Select Subcommittee on the 
Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing entitled ``Academic Malpractice: 
Examining the Relationship Between Scientific Journals, the Government, 
and Peer Review''. Testimony was heard from a public witness.

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EXPLORING SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS: REVIEWING THE SMALL 
BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANY AND SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH 
PROGRAMS' IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and 
Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``Exploring SBA Programs: 
Reviewing the SBIC and SBIR Programs' Impact on Small Businesses''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on updated Committee roster. The updated Committee 
roster was approved.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a markup on H.R. 1083, the ``Caring for 
Survivors Act of 2023''; H.R. 2911, the ``Fairness for Servicemembers 
and their Families Act of 2023''; H.R. 3651, the ``Love Lies On Act of 
2023''; H.R. 7100, the ``Prioritizing Veterans' Survivors Act''; H.R. 
7150, the ``Survivor Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2024''; H.R. 
7777, the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 
2024''; H.R. 7793, the ``Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act of 
2024''; H.R. 7816, the ``Clear Communications for Veterans Claims 
Act''; H.R. 7883, the ``Toxic Exposures Examination Improvement Act''; 
H.R. 7917, the ``Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2024''; and H.R. 
7919, the ``Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2024''. H.R. 
2911 and H.R. 7816 were forwarded to the full Committee, as amended. 
H.R. 1083, H.R. 3651, H.R. 7100, H.R. 7150, H.R. 7777, H.R. 7793, H.R. 
7883, H.R. 7917, and H.R. 7919 were forwarded to the full Committee, 
without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a markup on 
H.R. 3225, the ``BUILD for Veterans Act of 2023''; H.R. 3303, the 
``Maternal Health for Veterans Act''; H.R. 3644, the ``ACT for Veterans 
Act''; H.R. 3649, the ``Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury 
Treatment Act''; H.R. 4424, the ``Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer 
Study Act''; H.R. 3584, the ``Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research, and 
Effectiveness Act''; H.R. 5530, the ``VA Emergency Transportation 
Access Act''; H.R. 5794, the ``Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality 
Act of 2023''; H.R. 6324, the ``Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major 
Medical Facility Authorization Act''; H.R. 6373, the ``Veterans STAND 
Act''; H.R. 7347, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report on whether the Secretary will 
include certain psychedelic drugs in the formulary of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and a Lease Resolution. H.R. 3644 was forwarded to 
the full Committee, as amended. H.R. 3584, H.R. 4424, H.R. 6373, H.R. 
5530, H.R. 6324, H.R. 7347, H.R. 3225, H.R. 5794, H.R. 3649, and H.R. 
3303 were forwarded to the full Committee, without amendment. The Lease 
Resolution was forwarded to the full Committee.
HEARING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S 2024 TRADE POLICY AGENDA WITH 
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE TAI
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Hearing on the Biden Administration's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with 
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai''. Testimony was heard 
from Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office of the 
President.
HEARING ON THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION AND GOVERNMENT PENSION 
OFFSET
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing entitled ``Hearing on the Windfall Elimination Provision and 
Government Pension Offset''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S ROLE IN THE FENTANYL CRISIS
Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States 
and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The CCP's Role in the Fentanyl Crisis''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
REPUBLIC OF MALTA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine the Republic of Malta, focusing on leading the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe through turbulent 
times, after receiving testimony from Ian Borg, Republic of Malta 
Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office, Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe.

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