[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D536-D538] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, after receiving testimony from Lieutenant General William H. ``Butch'' Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, Department of the Army; and Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Interior. ANOMALOUS HEALTH INCIDENTS Committee on Armed Services: Committee received a closed briefing on anomalous health incidents from Peter Highnam, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Critical Technologies and Director of Anomalous Health Incidents Cross-Functional Team, Rear Admiral (lower half) Michael J. Thornton, USN, Military Deputy, Anomalous Health Incidents Cross-Functional Team, Allyson M. Bissing, Program Manager, Anomalous Health Incidents Research Program, Bill Lifsey, Director, Emerging Threats Working Group, Matthew C. Cummings, Director, National and Compartmented Programs, and Thaddeus P. Thomas, Senior Scientific Technical Manager, Army Research Laboratory, all of the Department of Defense. DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST AND FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded a hearing to examine the Department of Defense personnel policies and programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Anthony J. Tata, Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, Maurice L. Todd, Assistant Secretary for Readiness, Timothy D. Dill, Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Keith Bass, Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, all of the Department of Defense. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Budget: Committee ordered favorably reported S. Con. Res. 33, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for [[Page D537]] fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035. PROTECTING SPORTS INTEGRITY Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy concluded a hearing to examine betting, focusing on protecting sports integrity in America, after receiving testimony from Former Representative Patrick McHenry, The Coalition for Prediction Markets, Fairfax, Virginia; Bill Miller, American Gaming Association, Washington D.C.; Mary Beth Thomas, Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, Nashville; Scott Sadin, Integrity Compliance 360, Henderson, Nevada; and Harry Levant, Public Health Advocacy Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. NUCLEAR INNOVATION LEGISLATION Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety concluded a hearing to examine S.4529, to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow the use of commercial-grade steel and concrete in non-safety-related structures at nuclear power plants, and proposed legislation entitled, ``RECHARGE Act'', and ``Enrichment Licensing Modernization Act'', after receiving testimony from Nick Loris, Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions, and Adam Stein, The Breakthrough Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; and Patrick White, Clean Air Task Force, Boston, Massachusetts. NOMINATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Michael Kavoukjian, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway, Michelle Steel, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, who was introduced by Senator Curtis, Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser, David Brat, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, who was introduced by Senator Lummis, and Eric Wendt, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania, all of the Department of State, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. CHARTER SCHOOLS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine meeting the individual needs of all students, focusing on the role of charter schools, after receiving testimony from Debbie Vaughn, Lakes and Bridges Charter School, Easley, South Carolina; Moranda Jackson, GEO Prep Mid City, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Jennifer Coco, The Center for Learner Equity, Oak Park, Illinois. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 236, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah); S. 1513, to take certain Federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe; S. 2098, to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska; S. 2735, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians; H.R. 681, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah); H.R. 2302, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians; H.R. 2388, to take certain Federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe; and H.R. 3620, to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska. BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE BUDGET Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, after receiving testimony from William H. Kirkland, III, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Indian Affairs; and Clayton Fulton, Chief of Staff, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. NOMINATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Benjamin M. Flowers, of Ohio, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, who was introduced by Senator Husted, Matthew A. Schwartz, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, and Don Richard Berthiaume, Jr., of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Justice, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. [[Page D538]] FRAUD TO SMALL BUSINESSES Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a hearing to examine blowing the whistle, focusing on inside the grift that keeps giving, after receiving testimony from Faye Bernstein, Compliance Specialist, Saint Paul, and Jay Swanson, former Manager of Recipient and Child Care Provider Investigations, Stillwater, both of the Minnesota Department of Human Services; Donald K. Sherman, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Washington, D.C.; and Luke Rosiak, The Daily Wire, Nashville, Tennessee. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 and 2028 advance appropriations requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs, after receiving testimony from Doulgas A. Collins, Secretary, and Richard F. Topping, Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer, both of the Department of Veterans Affairs. BUSINESS MEETING Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill entitled, ``Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027''. PREVENTING FALLS AND PRESERVING INDEPENDENCE Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine preventing falls and preserving independence, focusing on technology, community programs, and innovation in senior safety, after receiving testimony from Christine Didion, Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., Saint Petersburg, Florida; Laura Mitchell, GrandCare Systems, San Marcos, California; and Martha Petteys, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Saratoga Springs.