[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D756-D759] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings FINANCIAL CONDITIONS IN FARM COUNTRY Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Financial Conditions in Farm Country''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MOBILITY AIRCRAFT RELEVANCE AND SURVIVABILITY IN A CONTESTED ENVIRONMENT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness; and Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a joint hearing entitled ``Mobility Aircraft Relevance and Survivability in a Contested Environment''. Testimony was heard from General Mike Minihan, Commander, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force; Lieutenant General David H. Tabor, Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, U.S. Air Force; and Rear Admiral Lower Half Derek A. Trinque, Director, Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics, U.S. Transportation Command. THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BUDGET Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing entitled ``The Fiscal Year 2025 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Budget''. Testimony was heard from the following U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials: Annie Caputo, Commissioner; Bradley R. Crowell, Commissioner; Christopher T. Hanson, Chair; and David A. Wright, Commissioner. ARE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S PRIORITIES RESTORING PUBLIC TRUST AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Are CDC's Priorities Restoring Public Trust and Improving the Health of the American People?''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials: Henry Walke, M.D., Director, Office of Readiness and Response; Jennifer Layden, M.D., Director, Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology; Daniel Jernigan, M.D., Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; Karen Hacker, M.D., Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Demetre Daskalakis, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; and Allison Arwady, M.D., Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION BUDGET Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing entitled ``The Fiscal Year 2025 Consumer Product Safety Commission Budget''. Testimony was heard from the following Consumer Product Safety Commission officials: Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair; Peter A. Feldman, Commissioner; Richard L. Trumka, Jr., Commissioner; Mary T. Boyle, Commissioner; and Douglas Dziak, Commissioner. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION EXPLORED: INSIGHTS INTO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``AI Innovation Explored: Insights into AI Applications in Financial Services and Housing''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REQUEST FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia; and Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific held a joint hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for South and Central Asian Affairs''. Testimony was heard from Anjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Department of State. A LOOK AT U.S. POLICY IN GEORGIA AND MOLDOVA AHEAD OF THEIR 2024 ELECTIONS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing entitled ``A Look at U.S. Policy in Georgia and Moldova Ahead of Their 2024 Elections''. Testimony was heard from Joshua Huck, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State; Christopher Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State; and Alexander Sokolowski, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Agency for International Development. [[Page D757]] EXAMINING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OF JULY 13 Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Assassination Attempt of July 13''. Testimony was heard from Colonel Christopher L. Paris, Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Police; and a public witness. CONGRESS IN A POST-CHEVRON WORLD Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Congress in a Post-Chevron World''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons''. Testimony was heard from Colette Peters, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION AND THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``IP Litigation and the U.S. International Trade Commission''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. LEGISLATIVE MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on H.R. 1304, the ``Rio San Jose and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2023''; H.R. 3977, the ``Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2023''; H.R. 6599, the ``Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act''; H.R. 7240, the ``Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8685, the ``Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8791, the ``Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8920, the ``Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8940, the ``Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8945, the ``Navajo Nation Rio San Jose Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8949, the ``Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024''; H.R. 8951, the ``Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024'' and H.R. 8953, the ``Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Leger Fernandez, Rosendale, Zinke, Ciscomani, and Vasquez; Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. LEGISLATIVE MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on legislation on the CORE Act; H.R. 7053, the ``Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2024''; H.R. 8665, the ``Supercritical Geothermal Research and Development Act''; and H.R. 8954, the ``Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2024''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Gosar and Hunt; Steven Feldgus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. INVESTIGATING HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IGNORED CRIES FOR HELP FROM STUDENTS AT HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; and Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a joint hearing entitled ``Investigating how the Biden Administration Ignored Cries for Help from Students at Haskell Indian Nations University''. Testimony was heard from Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; Matthew Elliott, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Office of Inspector General, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. THE ROLE OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG MARKETS PART III: TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Prescription Drug Markets Part III: Transparency and Accountability''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency''. Testimony was heard from Mark Greenblatt, Chair, Council of the Inspectors General [[Page D758]] on Integrity and Efficiency, and Inspector General, Department of the Interior. STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ITS BORDER CZAR, KAMALA HARRIS'S, FAILURE TO SECURE THE UNITED STATES BORDER Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H. Res. 1371, strongly condemning the Biden Administration and its Border Czar, Kamala Harris's, failure to secure the United States border. The Committee granted, by a record vote of 5-2, a rule providing for consideration of H. Res. 1371, Strongly condemning the Biden Administration and its Border Czar, Kamala Harris's, failure to secure the United States border, under a closed rule. The rule provides that upon adoption of the resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider H. Res. 1371. The rule provides that the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the resolution, as amended, shall be considered as read. Finally, the rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security or their respective designees. Testimony was heard from Chairman Guest, and Representative Thompson of Mississippi. LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD: EXAMINING THE LANDSCAPE OF VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure; and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a joint hearing entitled ``Leveling the Playing Field: Examining the Landscape of Veteran Owned Small Businesses''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE: ARE FEDERAL BUILDINGS SECURE? Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Effectiveness of the Federal Protective Service: Are Federal Buildings Secure?''. Testimony was heard from David Marroni, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Government Accountability Office; Richard Cline, Director, Federal Protective Service, Department of Homeland Security; and Elliot Doomes, Public Buildings Service Commissioner, General Services Administration. EXAMINING THE STATE OF RAIL SAFETY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``Examining the State of Rail Safety in the Aftermath of the Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio''. Testimony was heard from Representative Rulli; Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board; Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a markup on H.R. 2971, the ``Veterans Claims Education Act of 2023''; H.R. 6362, the ``Protecting Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act of 2023''; H.R. 8792, the ``Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act of 2024''; H.R. 8874, the ``Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act''; H.R. 8879, the ``Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act''; H.R. 8880, the ``Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act''; H.R. 8881, the ``Rural Veterans' Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2024''; H.R. 8893, the ``Preserving Veterans' Legacy Act''; H.R. 8910, the ``Dayton National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2024''; H.R. 9053, the ``Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act''; H.R. 9054, the ``Safeguarding Veterans 2nd Amendment Rights Act''; H.R. 9057, the ``Gulf War Survivor Benefits Update Act of 2024''; H.R. 9055, the ``Veterans' Burial Improvement Act of 2024''; and H.R. 9056, the ``VA Insurance Improvement Act''. H.R. 2971, H.R. 6362, H.R. 8792, H.R. 8874, H.R. 8879, H.R. 8880, H.R. 8881, H.R. 8910, H.R. 9055, H.R. 9056, H.R. 9057, H.R. 9053, and H.R. 9054 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 8893 was ordered reported, as amended. IS THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION PROPERLY PROCESSING AND DECIDING VETERANS' CLAIMS? Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Is the Veterans Benefits Administration Properly Processing and Deciding Veterans' Claims?''. Testimony was heard from Ronald S. Burke, Jr., Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Policy and Oversight, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Stephen Bracci, Director, Compensation Programs Inspection Division, [[Page D759]] Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Elizabeth Curda, Director Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office; and a public witness. FUELING CHAOS: TRACING THE FLOW OF TAX-EXEMPT DOLLARS TO ANTISEMITISM Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Fueling Chaos: Tracing the Flow of Tax-Exempt Dollars to Antisemitism''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. THE GREAT FIREWALL AND THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY'S EXPORT OF ITS TECHNO-AUTHORITARIAN SURVEILLANCE STATE Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The Great Firewall and the CCP's Export of its Techno-Authoritarian Surveillance State''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. Joint Meetings RUSSIA'S ECOCIDE IN UKRAINE Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Commission received a briefing on Russia's ecocide in Ukraine, focusing on environmental destruction and the need for accountability, from Eugene Z. Stakhiv, Johns Hopkins University; Maryna Baydyuk, United Help Ukraine; and Kristina Hook, Kennesaw State University School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding, and Development.