[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D905-D909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
INSPECTORS GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER 
CORPORATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing 
on Inspectors General of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, Department of Transportation, and the National Railroad 
Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). Testimony was heard from Rae Oliver 
Davis, Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development; 
Eric J. Soskin, Inspector General, Department of Transportation; and 
Kevin H. Winters, Inspector General, National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation (Amtrak).
THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL 
DEFENSE STRATEGY
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Findings and Recommendations of the Commission on the National 
Defense Strategy''. Testimony was heard from Eric Edelman, Vice 
Chairman, Commission on the National Defense Strategy; and Jane Harman, 
Chairwoman, Commission on the National Defense Strategy.
EXAMINING THE BIDEN-HARRIS ATTACKS ON TIPPED WORKERS
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Biden-Harris 
Attacks on Tipped Workers''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3433, the ``Give Kids a Chance Act''; H.R. 7188, the ``Shandra Eisenga 
Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act''; H.R. 670, the ``Think 
Differently Database Act''; H.R. 8107, the ``Ensuring Access to 
Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2024''; H.R. 8108, to amend title XIX 
of the Social Security Act to add a Medicaid State plan requirement 
with respect to the determination of residency of certain individuals 
serving in the Armed Forces; H.R. 7623, the ``Telehealth

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Modernization Act of 2024''; H.R. 3227, the ``Ensuring Seniors' Access 
to Quality Care Act''; H.R. 9067, the ``Building America's Health Care 
Workforce Act''; H.R. 7890, the ``Children and Teens' Online Privacy 
Protection Act''; H.R. 7891, the ``Kids Online Safety Act''; H.R. 8449, 
the ``AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act''; H.J. Res 139, providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services relating to ``Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing 
Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional 
Payment Transparency Reporting''; H.J. Res. 163, providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency 
relating to ``New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired 
Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; 
and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule''; H.J. Res. 133, 
providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, 
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental 
Protection Agency relating to ``Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for 
Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3''; H.J. Res. 117, providing for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency 
relating to ``Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Particulate Matter''. H.J. Res. 139, H.J. Res. 163, H.J. 
Res. 133, H.J. Res. 117 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 
3433, H.R. 7188, H.R. 670, H.R. 8107, H.R. 8108, H.R. 7623, H.R. 3227, 
H.R. 9067, H.R. 7890, H.R. 8449, and H.R. 7891 were ordered reported, 
as amended.
DAZED AND CONFUSED: BREAKING DOWN THE SEC'S POLITICIZED APPROACH TO 
DIGITAL ASSETS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Digital Assets, 
Financial Technology and Inclusion held a hearing entitled ``Dazed and 
Confused: Breaking Down the SEC's Politicized Approach to Digital 
Assets''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PROTECTING AMERICANS' SAVINGS: EXAMINING THE ECONOMICS OF THE MULTI-
MILLION DOLLAR ROMANCE CONFIDENCE SCAM INDUSTRY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions held a 
hearing entitled ``Protecting Americans' Savings: Examining the 
Economics of the Multi-Billion Dollar Romance Confidence Scam 
Industry''. Testimony was heard from Dara Daniels, Associate Director, 
Research and Analysis Division, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, 
Department of the Treasury; Matthew Noyes, Cyber Policy and Strategy 
Director, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security; Scott 
Rembrandt, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Policy, Office of 
Terrorist Finance and Financial Crimes, Department of the Treasury; and 
Erin West, Deputy District Attorney, Santa Clara County, California.
GREAT POWER COMPETITION IN THE INDO-PACIFIC
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Great Power Competition in the Indo-Pacific''. Testimony was heard 
from Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, Department of State.
A COUNTRY WITHOUT BORDERS: HOW THE BIDEN-HARRIS OPEN BORDERS POLICIES 
HAVE UNDERMINED OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``A Country Without Borders: How the Biden-Harris Open Borders Policies 
Have Undermined Our Safety and Security''. Testimony was heard from Jim 
Desmond, Board of Supervisors, San Diego County, California; David 
Hathaway, Santa Cruz County, Arizona; and public witnesses.
CONTINUITY OF CONGRESS: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE BY LEARNING FROM THE 
PAST
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Modernization held a 
hearing entitled ``Continuity of Congress: Preparing for the Future by 
Learning from the Past''. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Wenstrup; Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, 
Government Accountability Office; Eric Petersen, Specialist in American 
National Government, Congressional Research Service, Library of 
Congress; and a public witness.
OVERSIGHT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime and Federal 
Government Surveillance held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of Homeland 
Security Investigations''. Testimony was heard from Katrina Berger, 
Executive Associate Director, Homeland Security Investigations, 
Department of Homeland Security.

[[Page D907]]


LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 1479, the ``Chiricahua National Park Act''; H.R. 1504, 
the ``Apex Area Technical Corrections Act''; H.R. 8931, to redesignate 
Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield 
Park; H.R. 8946, the ``Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act''; H.R. 
9159, the ``Appalachian Trail Centennial Act''; H.R. 9492, to amend 
Public Law 99-338 with respect to Kaweah Project permits; HR. 9516, the 
``Military Families National Parks Access Enhancement Act''; and S. 
612, the ``Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act''. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Ciscomani, Horsford, Valadao, and Chavez-
DeRemer; Jacqueline Emanuel, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 
System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Mike Caldwell, 
Associate Director, Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; Pamela Goynes-Brown, Mayor, North 
Las Vegas, Nevada; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Full Committee held a markup 
on H.R. 3642, to require the Office of Government Ethics to establish 
and maintain a centralized database for executive branch ethics records 
of noncareer appointees; H.R. 9598, to amend the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act to reauthorize such Office, and 
for other purposes; H.R. 9592, to amend title 44, United States Code, 
to modernize the Federal Register, and for other purposes; H.R. 5300, 
to amend provisions relating to the Office of the Inspector General of 
the Government Accountability Office, and for other purposes; H.R. 
9597, to amend title 41, United States Code, to make changes with 
respect to the Federal Acquisition Security Council, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 9596, to amend title 41, United States Code, and title 
10, United States Code, to provide best value through the multiple 
award schedule program, and for other purposes; H.R. 9595, to improve 
Federal technology procurement, and for other purposes; H.R. 9566, to 
require governmentwide source code sharing, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 5536, to require transparency in notices of funding opportunity, 
and for other purposes; H.R. 9594, to amend chapter 71 of title 5, 
United States Code, to charge labor organizations for the agency 
resources and employee time used by such labor organizations, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 9593, to require annual surveys of Federal 
employee managers, and for other purposes; H.R. 8784, to require each 
agency to evaluate the permitting system of the agency, to consider 
whether a permit by rule could replace that system, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 825, to prohibit contracting with persons that have 
business operations with the Maduro regime, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 7507, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 203 East 6th Street in Lexington, Nebraska, as the 
``Bill Barrett Post Office Building''; H.R. 6116, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14280 South 
Military Trail in Delray Beach, Florida, as the ``Benjamin Berell 
Ferencz Post Office Building''; H.R. 7158, to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in 
Santa Maria, California, as the ``Larry Lavagnino Post Office 
Building''; H.R. 7508, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, as the ``Gladys P. Todd Post Office''; H.R. 8057, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the ``Little Saigon 
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office''; H.R. 8405, to designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 90 McCamly 
Street South in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the ``Sojourner Truth Post 
Office''; H.R. 8516, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 840 Front Street in Casselton, North Dakota, 
as the ``Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office''; H.R. 8717, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
20 West Main Street in Santaquin, Utah, as the ``SGT Bill Hooser Post 
Office Building''; H.R. 8841, to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, 
Minnesota, as the ``Floyd B. Olson Post Office''; H.R. 8868, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the ``Chief 
Michael Maloney Post Office Building''; H.R. 8909, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82-6110 
Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the ``Army 1st Lt. John 
Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building''; H.R. 8919, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 
South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the ``SFC Shawn McCloskey Post 
Office''; H.R. 8976, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in Millstadt, Illinois, 
as the ``Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post Office''; H.R. 9174, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
31143 State Highway 65 in Pengilly, Minnesota, as the ``First 
Lieutenant Richard Arne Koski Post Office''; H.R. 9285, to designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3913 Leland

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Avenue Northwest in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the ``Captain Miguel 
Justin Nava Post Office''; H.R. 9322, to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in 
Akron, Ohio, as the ``Judge James R. Williams Post Office Building''; 
H.R. 9421, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 108 North Main Street in Bucoda, Washington, as the 
``Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office''; H.R. 9549, to designate the facility 
of the United States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in 
Hillsboro, Oregon, as the ``Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building''; 
H.R. 9580, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, as 
the ``Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office''; H.R. 8641, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street 
in Brawley, California, as the ``Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post 
Office Building''; and H.R. 9600, to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, 
Georgia, as the ``Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office''. H.R. 3642, 
H.R. 9598, H.R. 9598, H.R. 9598, H.R. 9592, H.R. 5300, H.R. 9597, H.R. 
9596, H.R. 9595, H.R. 9566, H.R. 5536, H.R. 9594, H.R. 9593, H.R. 8784, 
H.R. 825 and H.R. 7507 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 6116, 
H.R. 7158, H.R. 7508, H.R. 8057, H.R. 8405, H.R. 8516, H.R. 8717, H.R. 
8841, H.R. 8868, H.R. 8909, H.R. 8919, H.R. 8976, H.R. 9174, H.R. 9285, 
H.R. 9322, H.R. 9421, H.R. 9549, H.R. 9580, H.R. 8641, and H.R. 9600 
were ordered reported, without amendment.
HOLDING THE SBA ACCOUNTABLE: TESTIMONY FROM SMALL BUSINESS 
ADMINISTRATOR GUZMAN
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Holding the SBA Accountable: Testimony from Small Business 
Administrator Guzman''. 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. 8689, the ``Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act''; 
H.R. 3149, to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, 
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of 
Honor Highway'', and for other purposes; H.R. 3988, the ``Assuring that 
Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised 
Over National Emergencies Act''; H.R. 6435, the ``Making Aid for Local 
Disasters Equal Now Act''; H.R. 2672, the ``FEMA Loan Interest Payment 
Relief Act''; H.R. 6997, the ``Disaster Contract Improvement Act''; 
H.R. 8530, the ``Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024''; 
H.R. 2892, the ``Weather Alert Response and Notification Act''; H.R. 
6984, to designate the Federal building located at 300 E. 3rd Street in 
North Platte, Nebraska, as the ``Virginia Smith Federal Building'', and 
for other purposes; H.R. 8692, the ``Amtrak Transparency and 
Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayers Act''; H.R. 9135, the 
``Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act''; 
H.R. 8995, the ``Baby Changing on Board Act''; H.R. 4043, to amend the 
Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to expand eligibility for certain wastewater 
infrastructure grants, and for other purposes; H.R. 9037, the ``Federal 
Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act''; 
H.R. 9541, the ``Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience 
Act of 2024''; H.R. 3356, the ``Motor Carrier Safety Screening 
Modernization Act''; H.R. 8505, the ``Household Goods Shipping Consumer 
Protection Act''; H.R. 7779, the ``Good Samaritan Remediation of 
Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024''; H.R. 1720, the ``Ocean 
Pollution Reduction Act II''; H.R. 8728, the ``State-Managed Disaster 
Relief Act''; H.R. 1605, the ``Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 
2023''; H.R. 8616, the ``Ensuring Quality Investments in Preparedness 
Act of 2024''; H.R. 9121, the ``Fire Management Assistance Grants for 
Tribal Governments Act''; H.R. 5623, the ``Addressing Addiction After 
Disasters Act''; H.R. 6083, the ``Duplications of Benefits Victims 
Relief Act''; H.R. 9313, the ``Think Differently About Building 
Accessibility Act''; H.R. 9024, the ``Extreme Weather and Heat Response 
Modernization Act''; H.R. 8610, the ``Counter-UAS Authority Security, 
Safety, and Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 9591, to require the 
Administrator of General Services to sell certain property related to 
United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, and for other purposes; H.R. 
5623, the ``Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act''; H.R. 9024, the 
``Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act''; and 11 General 
Services Administration Capital Investment and Leasing Program 
Resolutions. H.R. 8689, H.R. 3988, H.R. 8692, H.R. 9135, H.R. 3356, 
H.R. 8505, H.R. 7779, H.R. 1720, H.R. 8728, H.R. 5623, H.R. 9024, H.R. 
8610, H.R. 2892, H.R. 8616, and H.R. 4043 were ordered reported, as 
amended. H.R. 3149, H.R. 2672, H.R. 6997, H.R. 8530, H.R. 6984, H.R. 
9591, H.R. 8995, H.R. 9541, H.R. 9121, H.R. 6083, H.R. 9313, H.R. 6435, 
and H.R. 9037 were ordered reported, without amendment. Eleven GSA

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Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions were agreed to. H.R. 
1605 was not agreed to.
EXAMINING VA'S CHALLENGES WITH ENSURING QUALITY CONTRACTED DISABILITY 
COMPENSATION EXAMINATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Examining VA's 
Challenges with Ensuring Quality Contracted Disability Compensation 
Examinations''. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey London, Executive 
Director, Medical Disability Examination Office, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Elizabeth Curda, 
Director Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government 
Accountability Office; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a markup on 
H.R. 9496, to amend title 38, United States Code, to include a 
representative of the National Association of State Veterans Homes on 
the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs; H.R. 9324, the ``Protecting Veteran Access to 
Telemedicine Services Act of 2024''; H.R. 9478, the ``Veterans 
Supporting Prosthetics Opportunities and Recreational Therapy Act''; 
H.R. 9525, the ``Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act''; H.R. 7504, the 
``Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act''; H.R. 9301, the ``New 
Mexico Rural Veteran Health Care Access Act''; H.R. 9485, the 
``Enhancing Faith-Based Support for Veterans Act of 2024''; H.R. 9438, 
the ``No Wrong Door for Veterans Act''; H.R. 9146, the ``Ensuring 
Continuity in Veterans Health Act''; and H.R. 8562, the ``Parity for 
Native Hawaiian Veterans Act''. H.R. 9496, H.R. 9324, H.R. 9478, H.R. 
9525, H.R. 7504, H.R. 9301, H.R. 9485, H.R. 9146, and H.R. 8562 were 
forwarded to the full Committee, without amendment. H.R. 9438 was 
forwarded to the full Committee, as amended.
DIAL 988+1: EXAMINING THE OPERATIONS OF THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Dial 988+1: Examining the Operations of the Veterans Crisis 
Line''. Testimony was heard from Matthew Miller, Executive Director, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Julie 
Kroviak, M.D., Principal Deputy Assistant Inspector General for 
Healthcare Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
INVESTING IN A HEALTHIER AMERICA: CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
TREATMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Investing in a Healthier America: Chronic Disease Prevention 
and Treatment''. Testimony was heard from former Senator Bill Frist and 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
RUSSIA'S IMPERIAL IDENTITY
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Russia's imperial identity, after receiving 
testimony from Botakoz Kassymbekova, University of Basel; Philip Obaji 
Jr., The Daily Beast; Timothy Snyder, Yale University; and Maria 
Vyushkova, Buryat activist and scientist.