[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D294-D296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PUBLIC WITNESS (DAY 2, MORNING 
SESSION)
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``American Indian and Alaska 
Native Public Witness (Day 2, Morning Session)''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE; CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET 
OFFICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the Government Accountability Office and 
Congressional Budget Office. Testimony was heard from Orice Williams 
Brown, Acting Comptroller General of the U.S., Government 
Accountability Office; and Phillip L. Swagel, Director, Congressional 
Budget Office.
APPROPRIATIONS--ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
budget hearing on the Architect of the Capitol. Testimony was heard 
from Thomas E. Austin, Architect of the Capitol.
AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PUBLIC WITNESS (DAY 2, AFTERNOON 
SESSION)
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``American Indian and Alaska 
Native Public Witness (Day 2, Afternoon Session)''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
U.S. MILITARY POSTURE AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN EUROPE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in Europe''. 
Testimony was heard from General Alexus Grynkewich, Commander, U.S. 
European Command, Department of Defense; and Daniel Zimmerman, 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.
POSTURE AND READINESS OF THE MOBILITY ENTERPRISE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces; and Subcommittee on Readiness held a joint hearing entitled 
``Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise''. Testimony was 
heard from General Randall Reed, U.S. Air Force, Commander, U.S. 
Transportation Command, Department of Defense; and Stephen Carmel, 
Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, Department of 
Transportation.
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND COMMAND--CHALLENGES AND RESOURCE 
PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``U.S. Special Operations Forces and 
Command--Challenges and Resource Priorities for Fiscal Year 2027''. 
Testimony was heard from Derrick Anderson, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Office of 
the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense; and Admiral Frank M. 
Bradley, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, Department of 
Defense.
STRENGTHENING FEDERAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS: ENSURING 
INTEGRITY, EFFICIENCY, AND ACCESS
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Strengthening Federal Workers' 
Compensation Programs: Ensuring Integrity, Efficiency, and Access''. 
Testimony was heard from Stephanie McCloud, Administrator and Chief 
Executive Officer, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation; and public 
witnesses.
LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR ALL AMERICANS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE 
U.S. PROVIDER LANDSCAPE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination 
of the U.S. Provider Landscape''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
SECURING U.S. LEADERSHIP OF COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
  Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications 
and Technology held a hearing entitled, ``Securing U.S. Leadership 
of Communications Technology''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.

[[Page D295]]


OVERSIGHT OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Illicit Finance and International Financial Institutions held a hearing 
entitled ``Oversight of the Export-Import Bank''. Testimony was heard 
from John Jovanovic, President and Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the 
U.S..
REVISITING THE TREASURY-FED ACCORD
Committee on Financial Services: Task Force on Monetary Policy, 
Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity held a hearing 
entitled ``Revisiting the Treasury-Fed Accord''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
RESTORING MISSION FOCUS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT: AUTHORITY, 
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE ROLE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Restoring Mission Focus at the State Department: Authority, 
Accountability, and the Role of the Foreign Service''. Testimony was 
heard from Jason S. Evans, Under Secretary for Management, Department 
of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
5891, the ``Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act''; and H.R. 1329, 
the ``Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act''. H.R. 5891 and 
H.R. 1329 were ordered reported, as amended.
IMMIGRATION POLICY BY COURT ORDER: THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF PLYLER V. DOE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution and 
Limited Government held a hearing entitled ``Immigration Policy by 
Court Order: The Adverse Effects of Plyler v. Doe''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
THE LEGAL BASIS FOR ACTION AGAINST VENEZUELAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
entitled ``The Legal Basis for Action Against Venezuelan Drug 
Traffickers''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 3286, the ``Mammoth Cave National Boundary Adjustment 
Act of 2025''; H.R. 4290, the ``Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025''; 
H.R. 4716, to transfer administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal 
land in Saratoga Springs, Utah, from the Secretary of the Interior to 
the United States Postal Service for construction of a post office, and 
for other purposes; H.R. 5555, the ``Monterey Bay National Heritage 
Area Study Act''; H.R. 6062, to transfer administrative jurisdiction 
over certain parcels of federal land in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 
and for other purposes; and H.R. 7031, the ``Making National Parks 
Safer Act''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Vasquez, Owens, 
Panetta, and Moore of West Virginia; Chris Carn, Mayor, Saratoga 
Springs, Utah; Ronald Scott Lindsey, Judge/Executive, Edmonson County, 
Kentucky; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 2766, the ``Special District Fairness and Accessibility 
Act''; H.R. 6916, the ``Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention 
Act of 2025''; H.R. 428, the ``Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025''; 
H.R. 1722, the ``Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025''; H.R. 4642, 
the ``Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act''; H.R. 2069, the ``Stop 
Secret Spending Act of 2025''; H.R. 7934, the ``Settlement Agreement 
Information Database Act of 2026''; H.R. 5525, the ``Stop DC Capital 
Authoritarian Motorvehicle Enforcement and Restoration of Autonomy 
(CAMERA) Act''; H.R. 6399, to direct the United States Postal Service 
to designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Highland City, Utah''; and 
H.R. 6247, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 13355 North Lon Adams Road in Marana, Arizona, as 
the ``Mayor Ed Honea Memorial Post Office''. H.R. 2766, H.R. 6916, H.R. 
428, H.R. 1722, H.R. 4642, H.R. 2069, H.R. 7934, H.R. 5525, and H.R. 
6399 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 6247 was ordered reported, 
without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 7813, the ``NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act''. H.R. 
7813 was ordered reported, as amended.
CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TO MAIN STREET: EXAMINING THE 
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Connecting SBA to Main Street: Examining the SBA Office of Field 
Operations''. Testimony was heard from Lisa Shimkat, Associate 
Administrator, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Small Business 
Administration.

[[Page D296]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 5688, the ``Dalilah's Law''. H.R. 5688 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 
6733, the ``VISN Reform Act of 2025''; H.R. 6580, the ``VA National 
Formulary Act of 2025''; H.R. 6755, the ``Accountable Leadership for 
Veterans Act of 2025''; H.R. 6599, the ``Leasing and Infrastructure Act 
of 2025''; H.R. 6583, the ``Research Reform Act of 2025''; H.R. 6549, 
the ``VA Contracting and Procurement Act''; H.R. 6740, the ``VA TRUST 
Act''; H.R. 6764, the ``Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Oversight 
Act of 2025''; H.R. 6904, the ``Veterans Readiness and Employment 
Improvement and Accountability Act of 2025''; H.R. 6843, the 
``Establishing the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration Act of 2025''; H.R. 6861, the ``Consolidating Veteran 
Employment Services for Improved Performance Act''; H.R. 6833, the 
``Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act of 2025''; H.R. 2303, the 
``Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction 
Act''; H.R. 10, the ``Dental Care for Veterans Act''; H.R. 3183, the 
``SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025''; H.R. 5203, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update directives of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs regarding the management of acute sexual assault, and 
for other purposes; H.R. 4114, the ``EVEST Act''; H.R. 3869, the 
``Every Veteran Housed Act''; H.R. 1732, the ``GUARD VA Benefits Act''; 
H.R. 2722, the ``VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act''; H.R. 1391, 
the ``Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025''; H.R. 4876, the 
``Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act''; legislation on the Get 
Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act; legislation on the Toxic 
Exposure Advisory Committee Establishment Act; legislation to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to establish the Advisory Committee on 
Toxic Exposure of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and legislation 
on the Honor Vets Act; legislation to provide for the modernization of 
the electronic health record system and other health information 
technology activities and systems of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes. Testimony was heard from the following 
Department of Veterans Affairs officials: Phil Christy, Chief 
Acquisition Officer, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and 
Construction; Margarita Devlin, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, 
Veterans Benefits Administration; and Thomas O'Toole, Acting Assistant 
Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, Veterans Health 
Administration.
IMPROVING KIDNEY HEALTH THROUGH BETTER PREVENTION AND INNOVATIVE 
TREATMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Improving Kidney Health Through Better Prevention and 
Innovative Treatment''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FROM THE SCIENCE LAB TO THE MEDICINE CABINET: HOW CHINA IS CORNERING 
THE MARKET ON OUR MEDICINES
Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States 
and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``From the Science Lab to the Medicine Cabinet: How China Is Cornering 
the Market on Our Medicines''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
AGING POPULATION
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
keeping promises, focusing on labor inflows, maintaining 
competitiveness, and supporting an aging population, after receiving 
testimony from Luke Pardue, Aspen Economic Strategy Group, Daniel Di 
Martino, Manhattan Institute, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action 
Forum, and Jeremy Neufeld, Institute for Progress, all of Washington, 
D.C.