[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 174 (Tuesday, October 21, 2025)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D1061-D1063] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) NOMINATIONS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Stephen Carmel, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration, who was introduced by Senator Kelly, Laura DiBella, of Florida, and Robert Harvey, of Florida, both to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, and Timothy Petty, of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who was introduced by Senator Risch, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. NOMINATIONS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Mitch Graves, and Jeff Hagood, both of Tennessee, who were introduced by Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, Randall Jones, of Alabama, who was introduced by Senator Tuberville, and Arthur Graham, of Florida, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 2960, to develop economic tools to deter aggression by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2130, to make improvements to the AUKUS partnership, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2424, to require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the Government of the People's Republic of China, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1744, to amend the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan among the list of recipient countries with respect to which shorter certification and reporting periods apply and to expedite licensing for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2626, to strengthen the leadership role of the United States at the Inter-American Development Bank, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; [[Page D1062]] S. 2146, to require the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for increased transparency with respect to exchange rate policies of the People's Republic of China, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2950, to require the Secretary of State and relevant executive branch agencies to address international scam compounds defrauding people in the United States, to hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2550, to provide for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1854, to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to political and economic elites in Haiti, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2657, to impose sanctions relating to the support of the People's Republic of China for the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2018, to modify certain limitations and exclusions regarding defense articles and requirements regarding security assistance and sales with respect to the Republic of Cyprus, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 799, to establish and implement a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2684, to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, to counter efforts by the People's Republic of China to coerce or pressure governments into breaking such ties, to deepen coordination with Taiwan on diplomatic, development, and economic engagement in the Western Hemisphere, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2224, to amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 to provide that the United States, in its role as a member of any international organizations, should oppose any attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve Taiwan's status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of any such organization; S. 2918, to amend the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act to improve the implementation of the seizure of Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine; S. 1000, to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. Res. 409, recognizing the 74th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the strong bilateral security alliance between our two nations in the wake of escalating aggression and political lawfare by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea; S. 2978, to provide for the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. Res. 226, condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China for engaging in transnational repression; and The nominations of Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary (Near Eastern Affairs) (without recommendation), and Andrew Veprek, of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Secretary (Population, Refugees, and Migration), both of the Department of State. LABOR LAW REFORM Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine labor law reform part 2, focusing on new solutions for finding a pro-worker way forward, after receiving testimony from Thomas Beck, Littler Mendelson Workplace Policy Institute, Nashville, Tennessee; F. Vincent Vernuccio, Institute for the American Worker, Hamilton, Virginia; Jonathan S. Hartley, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Joshua C. Arnold, Boeing Defense, St. Louis, Missouri; and Mary Turner, National Nurses United, Plymouth, Minnesota. NOMINATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Andrew Duva, of Florida, to be an Assistant Attorney General, William J. Crain, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Alexander C. Van Hook, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of John Bartrum, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health. MODERNIZING HEALTH CARE Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine modernizing health care, focusing on how shoppable services improve outcomes and lower costs, after receiving testimony from Mark Cuban, Cost Plus Drugs, Dallas, Texas; G. Keith [[Page D1063]] Smith, Surgery Center of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, on behalf of the Free Market Medical Association; Donald B. Moulds, CalPERS, Sacramento, California; and Jeanne M. Lambrew, The Century Foundation, New York, New York.