[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D379-D383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the U.S. House of Representatives. Testimony was 
heard from the following U.S. House of Representatives officials: E. 
Wade Ballou, Jr., Legislative Counsel; Matthew Berry, General Counsel; 
Kevin F. McCumber, Acting Clerk; William P. McFarland, Sergeant at 
Arms; Joseph C. Picolla, Inspector General; Ralph V. Seep, Law Revision 
Counsel; and Catherine L. Szpindor, Chief Administrative Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CIVIL WORKS); BUREAU OF 
RECLAMATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works) and the Bureau of Reclamation. 
Testimony was heard from Michael Brain, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Water and Science, Department of the Interior; Camille 
Calimlim Touton, Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department 
of the Interior; Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army 
(Civil Works), Department of the Army; and Lieutenant General Scott A. 
Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department of the 
Interior. Testimony was heard from the following Department of the 
Interior officials: Deb Haaland, Secretary; Denise Flanagan, Director 
of Budget; and Joan M. Mooney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary.

[[Page D380]]


APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from Lloyd J. 
Austin III, Secretary, Department of Defense; General Charles Q. Brown, 
Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Michael McCord, Under 
Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, Department 
of Defense.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the 
Department of Labor. Testimony was heard from Julie Su, Acting 
Secretary, Department of Labor.
APPROPRIATIONS--MEMBER AND PUBLIC WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing entitled ``Member and Public Witness Day''. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Crockett, Kilmer, and Takano; and public 
witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Testimony was heard from Bill 
Nelson, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AIR FORCE AND U.S. SPACE FORCE MILITARY 
CONSTRUCTION AND FAMILY HOUSING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on U.S. 
Air Force and U.S. Space Force Military Construction and Family 
Housing. Testimony was heard from Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary 
of the Air Force for Installations, Energy and Environment, Department 
of Air Force; Brigadier General Brian S. Hartless, Force Director of 
Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and 
Force Protection, U.S. Air Force; and Bruce Hollywood, Associate Chief 
Operations Officer, U.S. Space Force.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
budget hearing on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Testimony 
was heard from Patrick Lechleitner, Acting Director, U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Department of the Air Force Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request''. 
Testimony was heard from Frank Kendall III, Secretary, U.S. Air Force; 
General B. Chance Saltzman, U.S. Space Force, Chief of Space 
Operations, U.S. Space Force; and General David W. Allvin, U.S. Air 
Force, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST FOR SEAPOWER AND 
PROJECTION FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 
2025 Budget Request for Seapower and Projection Forces''. Testimony was 
heard from Nickolas H. Guertin, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for 
Research, Development and Acquisition, Department of the Navy; Vice 
Admiral James Pitts, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting 
Requirements and Capabilities (N9), Department of the Navy; and 
Lieutenant General Karsten S. Heckl, Deputy Commandant for Combat 
Development and Integration (DC CD&I), U.S. Marine Corps.
MILITARY DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CHIEFS: PERSONNEL POSTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Leadership and 
Personnel held a hearing entitled ``Military Department Personnel 
Chiefs: Personnel Posture''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant 
General Douglas F. Stitt, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, 
Department of the Army; Vice Admiral Richard Cheeseman, Jr., U.S. Navy, 
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Department of the Navy; 
Lieutenant General James Glynn, U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant, 
Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of the Navy, Marine Corps; 
Lieutenant General Caroline Miller, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Chief of 
Staff for Manpower and Personnel, Department of the Air Force; and 
Katharine Kelley, Senior Executive Service, Deputy Chief of Space 
Operations for Human Capital, Department of the Space Force.

[[Page D381]]


COLUMBIA IN CRISIS: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM
Committee on Education and Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University's Response to 
Antisemitism''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT KIDS ONLINE AND ENSURE AMERICANS' DATA 
PRIVACY RIGHTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and 
Commerce held a hearing entitled ``Legislative Solutions to Protect 
Kids Online and Ensure Americans' Data Privacy Rights''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
FISCAL YEAR 2025 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Health and Human Services 
Budget''. Testimony was heard from Xavier Becerra, Secretary, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
5535, the ``Insurance Data Protection Act''; H.R. 802, the ``Respect 
State Housing Laws Act''; H.R. 7437, the ``Fostering the Use of 
Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act''; 
H.R. 7440, the ``Financial Services Innovation Act of 2024''; H.R. 
7428, the ``Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act''; H.R. 4206, 
the ``Bank Safety Act of 2023''; H.R. 4116, the ``Systemic Risk 
Authority Transparency Act''; H.J. Res. 127, a resolution providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission 
relating to the ``Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related 
Disclosures for Investors''; H.J. Res. 122, a resolution providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 
relating to ``Credit Card Penalty Fees (Regulation Z)''; H.J. Res. 120, 
a resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of 
title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Financial 
Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) relating to ``Guidance on Non-Bank 
Financial Company Determinations''; H.J. Res. 125, a resolution 
providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, 
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System relating to ``Principles for Climate-Related 
Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions''; H.J. Res. 
126, a resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 
8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation relating to ``Principles for Climate-
Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions''; 
and H.J. Res. 124, a resolution providing for congressional disapproval 
under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted 
by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency relating to 
``Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large 
Financial Institutions''. H.R. 5535, H.R. 802, H.R. 7437, H.R. 7440, 
H.R. 7428, H.R. 4206, and H.R. 4116 were ordered reported, as amended. 
H.J. Res. 127, H.J. Res. 122, H.J. Res. 120, H.J. Res. 125, H.J. Res. 
126, and H.J. Res. 124 were ordered reported, without amendment.
THE DESPOTIC DUO: RUSSO-IRANIAN COOPERATION AND THREATS TO U.S. 
INTERESTS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North 
Africa, and Central Asia; and Subcommittee on Europe held a joint 
hearing entitled ``The Despotic Duo: Russo-Iranian Cooperation and 
Threats to U.S. Interests''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THREE YEARS LATER: D.C. NATIONAL GUARD WHISTLEBLOWERS SPEAK OUT ON 
JANUARY 6 DELAY
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Oversight held a 
hearing entitled ``Three Years Later: D.C. National Guard 
Whistleblowers Speak Out on January 6 Delay''. Testimony was heard from 
the following D.C. Army National Guard officials: Colonel Earl 
Matthews, Chief Legal Advisor; Command Sergeant Major Michael Brooks 
(Retired), Senior Enlisted Officer; Captain Timothy Nick, Aide-de-camp; 
and Brigadier General Aaron Dean (Retired), Adjutant General.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee continued 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''.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on legislation to expedite under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of

[[Page D382]]

1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System 
lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land 
Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, 
fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Westerman; Chris French, Deputy Chief of the National 
Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and 
public witnesses.
DEFENDING AMERICA FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S POLITICAL WARFARE, 
PART I
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Defending America from the Chinese Communist Party's 
Political Warfare, Part I''. Testimony was heard from Brigadier General 
Robert Spalding (Retired), U.S. Air Force; Colonel Grant Newsham 
(Retired), U.S. Marine Corps; and public witnesses.
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION ILLICIT SPOTTER PREVENTION AND 
ELIMINATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee began a hearing on H.R. 3602, the 
``Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and 
Elimination Act'' [End the Border Catastrophe Act]. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives McClintock and Nadler.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup on 
legislation on The Rural Small Business Resilience Act; H.R. 5333, the 
``Investing in All of America Act of 2023''; legislation on The 
Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act; 
legislation on The Plain Language in Contracting Act; legislation on 
The Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform (SPUR) Act of 
2024; legislation on The Individuals with Disabilities Entrepreneurial 
Act of 2024; and legislation on The Think DIFFERENTLY About Disability 
Employment Act. H.R. 5333 was ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 7984, 
H.R. 7987, H.R. 7988, H.R. 7985, and H.R. 7989 were ordered reported, 
without amendment.
GETTING TO WORK: EXAMINING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN THE COMMUTER 
RAIL INDUSTRY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled 
``Getting to Work: Examining Challenges and Solutions in the Commuter 
Rail Industry''. Testimony was heard from Mike Noland, President, 
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Indiana; Debra 
Johnson, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, RT-Denver 
(Regional Transportation District--Denver), Colorado; David W. Dech, 
Executive Director, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/
Tri-Rail, Florida; Kevin Corbett, President and Chief Executive 
Officer, New Jersey Transit, and Northeast Corridor Commission, New 
Jersey; and Darren Kettle, Chief Executive Officer, Metrolink, 
California.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a markup on H.R. 6538, the ``VA Correct 
Compensation Act of 2023''; H.R. 6874, the ``VA WEB Act''; H.R. 7342, 
the ``Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2024''; H.R. 
7713, the ``VA Political Performance Disclosure Act''; H.R. 6452, the 
``Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Act of 2023''; H.R. 7734, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to require a notation in the personal 
record file of certain employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
who resign from Government employment under certain circumstances; H.R. 
6531, the ``TRAIN VA Employees Act''; and H.R. 6947, the ``Veterans 
Affairs Centennial and Heritage Act of 2024''. H.R. 6538, H.R. 6874, 
H.R. 7342, H.R. 7713, H.R. 6531, and H.R. 6947 were forwarded to the 
full Committee, without amendment. H.R. 6452 and H.R. 7734 were 
forwarded to the full Committee, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a markup on H.R. 6225, the ``Expanding Home Loans for Guard and 
Reservists Act''; H.R. 6656, the ``Stuck on Hold Act''; H.R. 7323, the 
``Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act''; H.R. 
7613, the ``Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024''; H.R. 
7643, the ``Veterans Congressional Work Study Act of 2024''; H.R. 7653, 
the ``VERY Act of 2024''; and H.R. 7732, the ``ETS Act''. H.R. 6656, 
H.R. 7613, H.R. 7732, H.R. 6225, and H.R. 7643 were forwarded to the 
full Committee, as amended. H.R. 7323 and H.R. 7653 were forwarded to 
the full Committee, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 5179, 
the ``Anti-BDS Labeling Act''; H.R. 7981, the ``Stop China's 
Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through 
Cobalt Mining Act''; H.R. 7979, the ``End China's De Minimis Abuse 
Act''; H.R. 7983, the ``Stop Executive Overreach on Trade Agreements 
Act''; H.R. 7980, the ``End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in 
America Act of 2024''; and H.R. 7986, the

[[Page D383]]

``Generalized System Preferences Reform Act''. H.R. 5179, H.R. 7981, 
H.R. 7979, H.R. 7983, H.R. 7980, and H.R. 7986 were ordered reported, 
as amended.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.