[House Report 116-710]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 594
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 116-710
_______________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
DECEMBER 31, 2020
(Pursuant to House Rule XI, I(d)(1))
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 31, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
42-829 WASHINGTON : 2020
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Oversight and Reform,
Washington, DC, December 31, 2020.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Speaker: Under Rule XI, Clause 1(d)(1) of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, ``[n]ot later than
January 2 of each odd-numbered year, a committee shall submit
to the House a report on the activities of that committee.''
Pursuant to this Rule, I respectfully submit the activities
report of the Committee on Oversight and Reform for the 116th
Congress. As required by the Rule, a copy of this report ``has
been available to each member of the [C]ommittee for . . .
seven calendar days.''
Sincerely,
Carolyn B. Maloney,
Chairwoman.
C O N T E N T S
I. INTRODUCTION.................................................... 1
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS.............................................. 2
A. Full Committee.................................... 2
B. Subcommittee on National Security................. 10
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations............. 12
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy...... 15
E. Subcommittee on Environment....................... 16
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.. 19
G. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis..... 22
III. FORMAL BIPARTISAN MEMBER BRIEFINGS HELD IN LIEU OF HEARINGS DURING
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.............................................. 23
A. Full Committee.................................... 23
B. Subcommittee on National Security................. 24
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations............. 25
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy...... 26
E. Subcommittee on Environment....................... 26
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.. 26
G. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis..... 27
IV. LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.................................... 28
A. Business Meetings (Legislation)................... 28
B. Business Meeting (Subpoena)....................... 29
C. Legislation Enacted into Law...................... 29
D. Bills Passed by the House......................... 34
E. Legislation Considered by the Committee........... 43
F. Postal Naming Measures Enacted into Law........... 47
G. Postal Naming Measures Passed by the House........ 51
H. Postal Naming Measures Approved by the Committee.. 53
V. SUMMARY OF OVERSIGHT PLAN AND CORRESPONDING ACTIONS............ 53
A. Full Committee.................................... 55
i. Health Care and Increasing Drug Prices.......... 55
ii. Executive Branch Ethics, Transparency, and
Accountability................................. 57
iii The President's Business Interests, Conflicts
of Interest, and Emoluments.................... 58
iv. Security Clearances........................... 65
v. Voting Rights, Voter Suppression, and Election
Security....................................... 65
vi. Environment and Public Health.................. 66
vii. Immigration................................... 67
viii Workers' Rights and Protections............... 69
ix. Homeland and National Security................. 70
x. Criminal Justice Reform......................... 72
xi. Census......................................... 72
xii. Postal Service................................ 73
xiii. Cybersecurity and Privacy.................... 74
xiv. Electronic Location Data...................... 75
xv. Student Loans and For-Profit Colleges.......... 76
xvi. Title ix and Campus Sexual Assault............ 76
xvii. Government Contracting....................... 77
B. Subcommittee on National Security................. 78
i. War in Afghanistan.............................. 78
ii. Veterans and Related Issues.................... 78
iii. U.S. Foreign Policy and Counterterrorism...... 79
iv. Homeland Security.............................. 80
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations............. 81
i. Federal Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Policy......................................... 81
ii. Administration Reorganization Plans............ 82
iii. Protections for Whistleblowers................ 82
iv. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 83
v. Intergovernmental Affairs....................... 83
vi. Federal Property Management and Procurement.... 84
vii. Support for the Federal Workforce............. 84
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy...... 85
i. Carcinogens in Consumer Talc Products........... 85
ii. Youth E-Cigarette Epidemic and JUUL............ 85
iii. Coronavirus-Related Waste, Fraud, and Abuse... 87
iv. For-Profit Colleges and Student Debt........... 89
v. Privacy and Cybersecurity....................... 89
vi. Payday Lending................................. 89
vii. Treasury Department's Opportunity Zones
Program........................................ 90
E. Subcommittee on Environment....................... 90
i. Environmental Regulatory Reform Efforts and
their Impacts.................................. 90
ii. Transparency in Executive Branch Environmental
Actions........................................ 91
iii. Storage of Nuclear Waste...................... 91
iv. Natural Disasters.............................. 92
v. Climate Change and the Development of
Alternative Energy Sources..................... 92
vi. Public Health Implications of Government
Actions and Policies........................... 93
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.. 93
i. Voting Rights................................... 93
ii. Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, and
Assembly....................................... 94
iii. Equal Protection and Respect for Equal Rights
Throughout Society............................. 94
iv. Property Rights................................ 95
v. Immigration..................................... 95
vi. Census......................................... 96
vii. Criminal Justice Reform....................... 96
VI. SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS......... 97
A. Additional Oversight and Investigations of the
Full Committee and Standing Subcommittees........ 97
i. Coronavirus Pandemic............................ 97
ii. President's Abuse of Power and Obstruction of
Congress (Impeachment)......................... 98
iii. Scientific Integrity in Health Policymaking... 99
iv. Inspector General Independence................. 100
v. Federal Vacancies and Acting Officials.......... 100
vi. Facial Recognition Technology.................. 101
vii. Paid Leave for Federal Employees.............. 101
viii. Childhood Trauma............................. 102
B. Oversight Activities of the Select Subcommittee on
the Coronavirus Crisis........................... 103
i. White House Coronavirus Task Force.............. 103
ii. Loan to Eastman Kodak Company.................. 104
iii. Operation Warp Speed.......................... 104
iv. Political Interference in Public Health........ 105
v. HHS Coronavirus Advertising Campaign............ 105
vi. Challenges to Reopening K-12 Schools........... 105
vii. Farmers to Families Food Box Program.......... 106
viii. Economic Impact Payments..................... 106
xi. Protecting Homeowners and Renters During the
Pandemic....................................... 106
x. Free, Fair, and Safe Elections During the
Pandemic....................................... 107
xi. Paycheck Protection Program.................... 107
xii. Emergency Lending Facilities.................. 108
xiii. Payroll Support Program...................... 108
C. Official Travel/Delegations....................... 109
D. State and District Level Reports.................. 109
VII. HEARINGS HELD PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2(n) OF HOUSE RULE XI........ 110
VIII.HEARINGS HELD PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (p) OF HOUSE RULE XI......... 116
Calendar No. 594
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 116-710
======================================================================
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
_______
December 31, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney, from the Committee on Oversight and Reform,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
I. INTRODUCTION
During the 116th Congress, the Committee on Oversight and
Reform and its subcommittees held 134 hearings, as well as
several virtual Member briefings in addition to hearings
beginning in March 2020 when House offices began teleworking in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee issued 238
state and district level staff reports for Members of the House
covering issues ranging from drug prices to census data to
climate change. In addition, 16 bills advanced by the Committee
were enacted into law. An additional 33 bills, not including
postal naming measures, were passed by the House. Seven of
those House-passed bills may be enacted into law in the final
days of the 116th Congress after the filing of this report.
Major investigations conducted during the 116th Congress
included the high cost of prescription drugs; the federal
response and other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
efforts to combat the opioid crisis; barriers to health care
access; self-dealing and violations of ethics laws by senior
Executive Branch officials; the President's conflicts of
interest; security clearances and safeguarding classified
information; voting rights, voter suppression, and election
security; climate change; child separation; workers' rights and
protections; efforts by senior Administration and White House
officials to rush the transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear
technology to Saudi Arabi; preparations for the 2020 Decennial
Census and the Trump Administration's efforts to add a
citizenship question; mismanagement and challenges facing the
Postal Service; cybersecurity, privacy, and consumer protection
issues; and the President's conditioning of a White House visit
and critical U.S. military assistance for Ukraine in exchange
for a promise that the Ukrainian President would conduct an
investigation into President Trump's political rival, then-
former Vice President Joe Biden, and into a discredited theory
that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016
presidential election.
At the beginning of the 116th Congress, the Committee Chair
was Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and the Ranking Member was Rep. Jim
Jordan. Chairman Cummings passed away on October 17, 2019. On
November 20, 2019, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney was selected to
succeed Chairman Cummings as Chair of the Committee. On June
29, 2020, Rep. James R. Comer was selected to replace Jim
Jordan as Ranking Member.
To carry out its duties as effectively as possible, at the
beginning of the 116th Congress, the Committee established the
following five standing subcommittees: Subcommittee on National
Security; Subcommittee on Government Operations; Subcommittee
on Economic and Consumer Policy; Subcommittee on Environment;
and Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. On April
23, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the House
passed H. Res. 935 establishing the Select Subcommittee on the
Coronavirus Crisis as an additional investigative subcommittee
of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
This report describes the Committee's major oversight and
legislative accomplishments, provides a summary of Committee
and Subcommittee proceedings, and summarizes activities of the
Subcommittees during the 116th Congress.
II. OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
A. Full Committee
In the 116th Congress, the full Committee held 45 hearings,
receiving testimony from 201 witnesses. Those hearings include:
Hearing on ``Examining the Actions of Drug Companies in
Raising Prescription Drug Prices'' (January 29, 2019).
Witnesses: Dr. Gerard Anderson, Professor of Health Policy and
Management, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Catherine Alicia
Georges, National Volunteer President, AARP; Dr. Aaron
Kesselheim, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical
School; Mr. Avik S.A. Roy, President, The Foundation for
Research on Equal Opportunity; Ms. Antroinette Worsham, Mother
of Two Insulin-Dependent Daughters.
Hearing on ``H.R. 1: Strengthening Ethics Rules for the
Executive Branch'' (February 6, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Scott Amey, General Counsel, Project on
Government Oversight; Mrs. Karen Hobert Flynn, President,
Common Cause; Mr. Rudy Mehrbani, Spitzer Fellow and Senior
Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice; Mr. Walter Shaub Jr.,
Senior Advisor, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington; Mr. Bradley A. Smith, Chairman, Institute for Free
Speech.
Hearing ``With Michael Cohen, Former Attorney to President
Donald Trump'' (February 27, 2019). Witness: Mr. Michael Cohen,
Former Attorney for Donald Trump.
Hearing on ``GAO's 2019 High Risk Report'' (March 6, 2019).
Witness: The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General,
Government Accountability Office.
Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's Response to the
Drug Crisis'' (March 7, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable James
W. Carroll Jr., Director, Office of National Drug Control
Policy; Mr. Mike McDaniel, Director, Houston High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area; Ms. Triana McNeil, Acting Director,
Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office.
Hearing on ``FOIA: Examining Transparency Under the Trump
Administration'' (March 13, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Timothy R.
Epp, Acting Director, National FOIA Office, Office of General
Counsel, Environmental Protection Agency; Ms. Melanie Ann
Pustay, Director, Office of Information Policy, Department of
Justice; Ms. Rachel Spector, Acting Deputy Chief Freedom of
Information Act Officer, Department of the Interior.
Hearing ``With Commerce Secretary, Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.''
(March 14, 2019). Witness: Wilbur Ross, Secretary, Department
of Commerce.
Hearing on ``Member Day'' (March 28, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable Mo Brooks, Member of Congress, AL-05; The Honorable
Mike Gallagher, Member of Congress, WI-08; The Honorable Derek
Kilmer, Member of Congress, WA-06; The Honorable Paul Mitchell,
Member of Congress, MI-10; The Honorable Christopher H. Smith,
Member of Congress, MJ-04; The Honorable Jackie Speier, Member
of Congress, CA-14; The Honorable Tim Walberg, Member of
Congress, MI-07.
Hearing on ``The Need for Leadership to Combat Climate
Change and Protect National Security'' (April 9, 2019).
Witnesses: The Honorable Charles T. Hagel, Former Secretary of
Defense, Former United States Senator; The Honorable John F.
Kerry, Former Secretary of State, Former United States Senator.
Hearing on ``The Financial Condition of the Postal
Service'' (April 30, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Megan J.
Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service; Ms.
Margaret M. Cigno, Director, Office of Accountability and
Compliance, Postal Regulatory Commission; Mr. Joel Quadracci,
Charmain, President, and Chief Executive Office, Quad/Graphics;
Mr. Fredric V. Rolando, President, National Association of
Letter Carriers; Mr. Chris Edwards, Director of Tax Policy
Studies, Cato Institute.
Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's Response to the
Drug Crisis, Part II'' (May 9, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
James W. Carroll Jr., Director, Office of National Drug Control
Policy; Ms. Triana McNeil, Acting Director Homeland Security
and Justice, Government Accountability Office; Ms. Karyl Thomas
Rattay, M.D., M.S., Director, Delaware Division of Public
Health; Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Brevard County, Florida.
Hearing on ``DOD Inspector General Report on Excess Profits
by TransDigm Group, Inc.'' (May 15, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable Kevin Fahey, Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Department of Defense; The Honorable Glenn Fine,
Acting Inspector General, Department of Defense; Mr. Nicholas
Howley, Executive Chairman and Founder, TransDigm; Ms. Theresa
Hull, Assistant Inspector General for Acquisition, Office of
Inspector General, Department of Defense; Mr. Kevin Stein,
Chief Executive Officer, TransDigm.
Hearing on ``HIV Prevention Drug: Billions in Corporate
Profits after Millions in Taxpayer Investments'' (May 16,
2019). Witnesses: Mr. Daniel O'Day, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Dr. Robert M. Grant,
Professor of Medicine, University of California; Dr. Rochelle
Walensky, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Professor of Medicine, Harvard University;
Mr. Tim Horn, Director, Medication Access and Pricing, National
Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD); Dr.
Aaron Lord, PrEP Patient and Advocate; Mr. Stephen Ezell, Vice
President, Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and
Innovation Foundation.
Hearing on ``Facial Recognition Technology (Part I): Its
Impact on our Civil Rights and Liberties'' (May 22, 2019).
Witnesses: Ms. Joy Buolamwini, Founder, Algorithmic Justice
League; Mr. Andrew G. Ferguson, Professor of Law, University of
the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law; Ms.
Clare Garvie, Senior Associate, Georgetown University Law
Center, Center on Privacy & Technology; Ms. Neema Singh
Guliani, Senior Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties
Union; Dr. Cedric Alexander, Former President, National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
Hearing on ``Facial Recognition Technology (Part II):
Ensuring Transparency in Government Use'' (June 4, 2019).
Witnesses: Ms. Kimberly J. Del Greco, Deputy Assistant
Director, Criminal Justice Information Services, Federal Bureau
of Investigation; Dr. Gretta L. Goodwin, Director, Homeland
Security and Justice, U.S. Government Accountability Office;
Mr. Austin Gould, Assistant Administrator, Requirements and
Capabilities Analysis, Transportation Security Administration;
Dr. Charles H. Romine, Director, Information Technology
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Hearing on ``Medical Experts: Inadequate Federal Approach
to Opioid Treatment and the Need to Expand Care'' (June 19,
2019). Witnesses: Dr. Susan R. Bailey, President-elect,
American Medical Association; Dr. Arthur C. Evans, Chief
Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, American
Psychological Association; Ms. Angela Gray BSN, RN, Nurse
Director, Berkeley-Morgan County Board of Health, West
Virginia; Dr. Yngvild K. Olsen, Vice President, American
Society of Addiction Medicine; Ms. Jean Ross RN, President,
National Nurses United; Dr. Nancy K. Young, Executive Director,
Children and Family Futures.
Hearing on ``Identifying, Resolving, and Preventing
Vulnerabilities in TSA's Security Operations'' (June 25, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Donald Bumgardner, Deputy Assistant Inspector
General, Office of Inspector General; Mr. Charles M. Johnson
Jr., Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues,
Government Accountability Office; The Honorable David P.
Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration,
Department of Homeland Security.
Hearing on ``Violations of the Hatch Act Under the Trump
Administration'' (June 26, 2019). Witness: The Honorable Henry
J. Kerner, Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel.
Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's Attack on the ACA:
Reversal in Court Case Threatens Health Care for Millions of
Americans'' (July 10, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Abbe Gluck,
Director and Professor of Law, Solomon Center for Health Law
and Policy, Yale University Law School; Mr. Frederick Isasi,
Executive Director, Families, U.S.A; Ms. Casey Dye, Patient/
Consumer, Monroeville, Pennsylvania; Mr. Peter Morley, Patient/
Consumer, New York, New York; Mr. Paul Gibbs, Patient/Consumer,
West Valley, Utah; Ms. Stephanie Burton, Patient/Consumer,
Kansas City, Missouri; Mr. David Balat, Director, Right on
Healthcare Initiative, Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Hearing on ``Identifying, Preventing, and Treating
Childhood Trauma: Pervasive Public Health Issue that Needs
Greater Federal Attention'' (July 11, 2019). Witnesses: Mr.
William Kellibrew, Founder, The William Kellibrew Foundation;
Ms. Heather Martin, Executive Director and Co-Founder, The
Rebels Project; Mr. Justin Miller, Deputy Executive Director,
Objective Zero Foundation; Ms. Creeana Rygg, Survivor and
Activist; Dr. Debra Houry, Director, National Center for Injury
Prevention & Control, Center for Disease Control and
Prevention; Mr. James Henry, Former Deputy Governor & Chief of
Staff, State of Tennessee; Mr. Charles Patterson, Health
Commissioner, Clark County, Ohio; Dr. Christina Bethell,
Director, Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative;
Dr. Denese Shervington, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry,
Tulane University School of Medicine.
Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's Child Separation
Policy: Substantiated Allegations of Mistreatment'' (July 12,
2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Veronica Escobar, Member of
Congress, TX-16; The Honorable Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Member
of Congress, NY-14; The Honorable Ayanna Pressley, Member of
Congress, MA-07; The Honorable Rashida Tlaib, Member of
Congress, MI-13; Ms. Jennifer L. Costello, Acting Inspector
General, Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Thomas D. Homan,
Former Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
Ms. Ann Maxwell, Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation and
Inspections, Department of Health and Human Services; Ms. Elora
Mukherjee, Director, Immigrants' Rights Clinic, Columbia Law
School; Ms. Jennifer Nagda, Policy Director, Young Center for
Immigrant Children's Rights.
Hearing on ``Violations of the Hatch Act Under the Trump
Administration, Part II: Kellyanne Conway'' (July 15, 2019).
Expected Witness: Ms. Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the
President, The White House. (Although the Committee issued a
subpoena compelling the expected witness's testimony, the
witness failed to appear at this hearing.)
Hearing ``With the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
Kevin K. McAleenan'' (July 18, 2019). Witness: The Honorable
Kevin K. McAleenan.
Hearing ``The Patient Perspective: The Devastating Impacts
of Skyrocketing Drug Prices on American Families'' (July 26,
2019). Witnesses: Ms. Ashley Krege, Patient, Houston, Texas;
Ms. Sa'ra Skipper, Patient, Indianapolis, Indiana; Ms. Pam
Holt, Patient, Grangier, Indiana; Mr. David Mitchell, Patient,
Founder, Patients for Affordable Drugs, Bethesda, Maryland; Ms.
Laura McLinn, Mother of Patient, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hearing on ``H.R. 51: Making D.C. the 51st State''
(September 19, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Muriel Bowser,
Mayor, District of Columbia; Mr. Jeffrey S. DeWitt, Chief
Financial Officer, District of Columbia; The Honorable Phil
Mendelson, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia; Mr.
Kerwin Miller, Veteran and District of Columbia Resident; Dr.
Roger Pilon, B. Kenneth Simon Chair, Constitutional Studies,
Cato Institute; Mr. Kenneth Thomas, Legislative Attorney,
Congressional Research Service.
Hearing on ``Examining State Efforts to Undermine Access to
Reproductive Health Care'' (November 14, 2019). Witnesses: Ms.
Jennifer Box, St. Louis, Missouri; Ms. Fatima Goss Graves,
President and Chief Executive Officer, National Women's Law
Center; Ms. Marcela Howell, Founder and President/Chief
Executive Officer, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's
Reproductive Justice Agenda; Dr. Colleen McNicholas, OB/GYN,
Chief Medical Officer, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis
Region and Southwest Missouri; Ms. Allie Stuckey, Carrollton,
Texas.
Hearing on ``Examining the Need for Comprehensive National
Paid Family and Medical Leave'' (December 10, 2019). Witnesses:
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Congresswoman, CT-03; Ms. Jacqui
Silvani, Newfields, New Hampshire; The Honorable Robert Asaro-
Angelo, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor and
Workforce Development; Mr. Aaron Seyedian, Founder, Well-Paid
Maids; Ms. Jennifer Tucker, Senior Policy Advisor, The National
Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Ms. Vicki Shabo, Senior
Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab, New
America,; Ms. Rachel Greszler, Research Fellow, Economics,
Budget, and Entitlements, The Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``H.R. 51: Making D.C. the 51st State''
(December 19, 2020). The Committee continued its hearing on
H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which recessed on
September 19, 2019. Prior to the completion of the September 19
hearing, Ranking Member Jim Jordan and other Republican
Committee Members sent a letter pursuant to House Rule XI,
Clause 2(j)(1) requesting six additional witnesses for a
subsequent minority day of hearings. Witnesses invited: The
Honorable Jack Evans, Member, Council of the District of
Columbia; Corbett A. Price, Former Board Member, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Clarence C. Crawford,
Former Board Member, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority; Lynn Bowersox, Senior Vice President, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Jennifer Ellison, Board
Corporate Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority; Patricia Y. Lee, General Counsel, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. (The witnesses declined to
attend in response to the minority's request, and the hearing
was adjourned.)
Hearing on ``Reaching Hard-to-Count Communities in the 2020
Census'' (January 9, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Kevin Allis, Chief
Executive Officer, National Congress of American Indians; Ms.
Vanita Gupta, President and Chief Executive Officer, The
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Mr. Darrell
Moore, Executive Director, Center for South Georgia Regional
Impact, Valdosta State University; Mr. Marc Morial, President
and Chief Executive Officer, National Urban League; Mr. Arturo
Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund; Mr.
John Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans
Advancing Justice.
Hearing on ``Facial Recognition Technology (Part III):
Ensuring Commercial Transparency & Accuracy'' (January 15,
2020). Witnesses: Ms. Brenda Leong, Senior Counsel and Director
of AI and Ethics, Future of Privacy Forum; Dr. Charles Romine,
Director, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute
of Standards and Technology; Ms. Meredith Whittaker, Co-Founder
and Co-Director, AI Now Institute, New York University; Mr.
Daniel Castro, Vice President and Director of Center for Data
Innovation, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation;
Mr. Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations,
Security Industry Association.
Hearing on ``75 Years After the Holocaust: The Ongoing
Battle Against Hate'' (January 29, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Nat
Shaffir, Holocaust Survivor; Mr. Brad Orsini, Senior National
Security Advisor, Secure Community Network, Former Director of
Community Security, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh;
Dr. Edna Friedberg, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum; Mr. Jonathan Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer, Anti-
Defamation League; Ms. Hilary O. Shelton, Director, Washington
Bureau & Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy,
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Mr.
Dore Gold, President, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs,
Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Former Director General,
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ``Hearing with Census
Bureau Director, Dr. Steven Dillingham'' (February 12, 2020).
Witnesses: The Honorable Dr. Steven Dillingham, Director,
United States Census Bureau; Mr. Nick Marinos, Director,
Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Government
Accountability Office; Mr. J. Christopher Mihm, Managing
Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office;
Mr. Albert E. Fontenot, Associate Director of the Decennial
Census Programs, United States Census Bureau.
Hearing on ``Voter Suppression in Minority Communities:
Learning from the Past to Protect Our Future'' (February 26,
2020). Witnesses: Ms. Diane Nash, Civil Rights Activist,
Founding Member, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee;
Reverend Doctor William J. Barber II, President, Repairers of
the Breach and Co-Chair, Poor People's Campaign: A National
Call for Moral Revival; Mr. Timothy L. Jenkins, Board Member,
Teaching for Change Board Member, Civil Rights Movement
Archive, Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee; Ms. Marcia
Johnson-Blanco, Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers'
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Hearing on ``The Administration's Religious Liberty Assault
on LGBTQ Rights'' (February 27, 2020). Witnesses: The Honorable
Sean Patrick Maloney, Member of Congress, NY-18; The Honorable
Mark Takano, Member of Congress, CA-41; The Honorable Joseph P.
Kennedy, Member of Congress, MA-04; The Honorable Mike Kelly,
Member of Congress, PA-16; Ms. Sarah Warbelow, Legal Director,
Human Rights Campaign; Reverend Stan J. Sloan, Chief Executive
Officer, Family Equality Council; Mr. Ernesto Olivares, San
Antonio, Texas; Mr. Evan Minton, Livermore, California; Mr.
Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel, First Liberty
Institute.
Hearing on ``Coronavirus Preparedness and Response'' (March
11-12, 2020). Witnesses: Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National
Institutes of Health; Dr. Robert Redfield, Director, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Robert Kadlec,
Assistant Secretary, Preparedness and Response, Department of
Health and Human Services; Dr. Terry M. Rauch, Acting Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and
Oversight, Department of Defense; Mr. Chris Currie, Director,
Emergency Management and National Preparedness, Government
Accountability Office.
Hearing on ``No Worker Left Behind: Supporting Essential
Workers'' (June 10, 2020). Witnesses: Ms. Eneida Becote, Wife
of Edward Becote, Essential Worker who died from coronavirus;
Ms. Bonnie Castillo, Executive Director, National Nurses
United, California Nurses Association, & National Nurses
Organizing Committee; Mr. John Costa, International President,
Amalgamated Transit Union; Mr. Clint Odom, Senior Vice
President for Policy and Advocacy Executive Director, National
Urban League, Washington Bureau; Mr. Anthony ``Marc'' Perrone,
International President, United Food & Commercial Workers
International Union; Mr. Avik S.A. Roy, President, Foundation
for Research on Equal Opportunity.
Hearing on ``U.S. Cybersecurity Preparedness and H.R. 7331,
the National Cyber Director Act'' (July 15, 2020). Witnesses:
The Honorable James R. Langevin, Commissioner, U.S. Cyberspace
Solarium Commission, Member of Congress, RI-02; The Honorable
Mike Gallagher, Co-Chair, U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission,
Member of Congress, WI-08; The Honorable Michael J. Rogers,
David Abshire Chair, Center for the Study of the Presidency &
Congress, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence (2011-2015); Mr. J. Michael Daniel, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Cyber Threat Alliance, White House
Cybersecurity Coordinator (2012-2017); Mr. Amit Yoran, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Tenable, Founding Director, U.S.
Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) (2003-2004); Ms.
Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser, Homeland Security,
International Security Program, Center for Strategic &
International Studies, Commissioner, U.S. Cyberspace Solarium
Commission; Mr. Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder & Executive Director,
National Security Institute, George Mason University.
Hearing on ``F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Ensuring Safety and
Accountability in the Government's Trillion Dollar Investment''
(July 22, 2020). Witnesses: Lieutenant General Eric T. Fick,
Program Executive Officer, F-35 Joint Program Office,
Department of Defense; Ms. Theresa Hull, Assistant Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Defense; The Honorable Ellen Lord,
Under Secretary for Acquisitions and Sustainment, Department of
Defense; Ms. Diana Maurer, Director, Government Accountability
Office, Defense Capabilities and Management; Mr. Greg Ulmer,
Vice President and General Manager, F-35 Lightning II Program,
Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Hearing on ``Counting Every Person: Safeguarding the 2020
Census Against the Trump Administration's Unconstitutional
Attacks'' (July 29, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Vincent Barabba,
Former Director, Census Bureau; Dr. Steven Dillingham,
Director, Census Bureau; Mr. John Eastman, Professor, Henry
Salvatori Professor of Law and Community Service Director,
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Dale E. Fowler School
of Law, on behalf of Chapman University, Senior Fellow,
Claremont Institute; Mr. Robert M. Groves, Former Director,
Census Bureau (2009-2012); Mr. Kenneth Prewitt, Former
Director, Census Bureau (1998-2001); Mr. John H. Thompson,
Former Director, Census Bureau (2013-2017).
Hearing on ``The Devasting Health Impacts of Climate
Change'' (August 5, 2020). Witnesses: Dr. Drew Shindell,
Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Earth Science, Duke
University; Dr. Michael Greenstone, Milton Freidman
Distinguished Service Professor in Economics, the College, and
the Harris School, Department of Economics, University of
Chicago; Dr. Neeta Thakur, Medical Director, Zuckerberg San
Francisco General Hospital Chest Clinic, University of
California, San Francisco; Dr. Renee N. Salas, Assistant
Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Mr.
Michael Shellenberger, President and Founder, Environmental
Progress.
Hearing on ``Protecting the Timely Delivery of Mail,
Medicine, and Mail-in Ballots'' (August 24, 2020). Witnesses:
Mr. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal
Service; The Honorable Robert Duncan, Chairman, United States
Postal Service Board of Governors.
Hearing on ``Providing the Census Bureau with the Time to
Produce a Complete and Accurate Census'' (September 10, 2020).
Witnesses: Mr. J. Christopher Mihm, Managing Director,
Strategic Issues Team, Government Accountability Office; Mr.
John H. Thompson, Former Director, Census Bureau (2013-2017);
Mr. Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community;
Ms. Stacey Carless, Executive Director, NC Counts Coalition;
Mr. Hans A. von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow, Heritage
Foundation.
Hearing on ``Unsustainable Drug Prices: Testimony from the
CEOs (Part I)'' (September 30, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Mark
Alles, Former Chief Executive Officer, Celgene Corporation; Dr.
Giovanni Caforio, Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Meyers
Squibb; Mr. Kare Schultz, Chief Executive Officer, Teva
Pharmaceuticals.
Hearing on ``Unsustainable Drug Prices: Testimony from the
CEOs (Part II)'' (October 1, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Robert
Bradway, Chief Executive Officer, Amgen, Inc.; Mr. Mark
Trudeau, Chief Executive Officer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals;
Mr. Thomas Kendris, U.S. Country President, Novartis AG.
Hearing on ``Ensuring the 2020 Census Count is Complete and
Accurate'' (December 3, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. J. Christopher
Mihm, Managing Director of the Strategic Issues Team,
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Joseph Salvo, Chief
Demographer, Population Division, Department of City Planning,
New York City; Mr. Jeff Landry, Attorney General, Louisiana;
Mr. Robert Santos, Vice President and Chief Methodologist,
Urban Institute, and President-Elect, American Statistical
Association.
Hearing on ``The Role of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler
Family in the Opioid Epidemic'' (December 17, 2020). Witnesses:
David Sackler, Former Member of the Board of Directors, Purdue
Pharma L.P.; Dr. Kathe Sackler, Former Vice President and
Member of the Board of Directors, Purdue Pharma L.P.; Craig
Landau, President and CEO, Purdue Pharma L.P.
B. Subcommittee on National Security
Hearing on ``Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
Reconstruction's 2019 High-Risk List'' (April 3, 2019).
Witness: The Honorable John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General
for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
Hearing on ``Veteran and Active-Duty Military Suicides''
(May 8, 2019). Witnesses: Captain (Dr.) Mike Colston, Director,
Mental Health Programs, Department of Defense; Dr. Karin Orvis,
Director, Defense Suicide Prevention Office, Department of
Defense; Dr. Richard Stone, Executive in Charge, Veterans
Health Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs; Dr. Keita
Franklin, National Director for Suicide Prevention, Office of
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans
Affairs; Ms. Terri Tanielian, Senior Behavioral Scientist,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hearing on ``Securing U.S. Election Infrastructure and
Protecting Political Discourse'' (May 22, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable Christopher Krebs, Director, Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; Mr. Adam Hickey, Deputy Assistant Attorney General,
National Security Division, Department of Justice; The
Honorable Christy McCormick, Chairwoman, Election Assistance
Commission; The Honorable Ellen L. Weintraub Commissioner
Federal Election Commission; The Honorable Bill Galvin,
Secretary of the Commonwealth, State of Massachusetts; Mr.
Richard Salgado, Director of Law Enforcement & Information
Security, Google; Mr. Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity
Policy, Facebook; Mr. Kevin Kane, Public Policy Manager,
Twitter.
Hearing on ``U.S. Biodefense, Preparedness, and
Implications of Antimicrobial Resistance for National
Security'' (June 26, 2019). Witnesses: Dr. Helen Boucher,
Director, Tufts Center for Integrated Management of
Antimicrobial Resistance, Tufts Medical Center; Mr. Chris
Currie, Director, Emergency Management, Disaster Recovery and
Department of Homeland Security Management Issues, Homeland
Security and Justice Team, Government Accountability Office;
Dr. Cham Dallas, University Professor and Director, Institute
for Disaster Management, University of Michigan; Dr. Asha
George, Executive Director, Blue Ribbon Study Panel on
Biodefense.
Hearing on ``Securing the Nation's Internet Architecture''
(September 10, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Jeanette Manfra, Assistant
Director for Cybersecurity, Department of Homeland Security,
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency; Ms. Diane Rinaldo,
Acting Assistant Secretary/Administrator, Department of
Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration; Mr. B. Edwin Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Cyber Policy, Department of Defense, Office of
the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.
Hearing on ``Confronting Violent White Supremacy (Part
III): Addressing the Transnational Terrorist Threat''
(September 20, 2019). Witnesses: Dr. Kathleen Belew, Assistant
Professor of U.S. History and the College, The University of
Chicago; Dr. Joshua Geltzer, Director, Institute for
Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law; Ms.
Katrina Mulligan, Managing Director for National Security and
International Policy, Center for American Progress; Ms. Candace
Owens, Founder, Blexit, Host, Candace Owens Show.
Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's Syria Policy:
Perspectives from the Field'' (October 23, 2019). Witnesses:
Mr. Ilham Ahmed, Accompanied by Translator, Co-President,
Syrian Democratic Council; Mr. John Glaser, Director of Foreign
Policy Studies, Cato Institute; Mr. Martin Palmer, Former
Special Forces Officer, 5th Special Forces Group; Mr. Bernice
Romero, Senior Director, International Humanitarian Response,
Save the Children; Ms. Emerita Torres, Director of Programs and
Research, Soufan Center.
Hearing on ``The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency:
Bringing Our Nation's Heroes Home'' (November 19, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Kelly McKeague, Director, Defense POW/MIA
Accounting Agency; Mr. Mark Noah, Chief Executive Officer,
History Flight; Mr. Vincent ``B.J.'' Lawrence, Washington
Office Executive Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States; Ms. Jo Anne Shirley, Former Chair, National
League of POW/MIA Families.
Hearing on ``U.S. Counterterrorism Priorities and
Challenges in Africa'' (December 17, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Judd
Devermont, Director, Africa Program, Center for Strategic &
International Studies; Mr. Adotei Akwei, Deputy Director for
Advocacy and Government Relations, Amnesty International; Ms.
Alexis Arieff, Specialist in African Affairs, Congressional
Research Service; Mr. Joshua Meservey, Senior Policy Analyst,
Africa and the Middle East, The Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``Examining the Trump Administration's
Afghanistan Strategy'' (January 28, 2020). Witness: The
Honorable John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General, Afghanistan
Reconstruction.
Hearing on ``Karshi-Khanabad: Hazardous Exposures and
Effects on U.S. Servicemembers'' (February 27, 2020).
Witnesses: Ms. Kim E. Brooks, Spouse of Lieutenant Colonel
Timothy Brooks, U.S. Army; Mr. Scott W. Welsch, K2 Veteran,
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army; Mr. Paul B. Widener
Jr. K2 Veteran, Retired Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force.
Hearing on ``Empowering Women and Girls and Promoting
International Security'' (July 23, 2020). Witnesses: The
Honorable Kelley Curie, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's
Issues, Department of State; The Honorable Michelle Bekkering,
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education,
and Environment, U.S. Agency for International Development; Ms.
Stephanie Hammond, Acting Deputy Assistant of Defense for
Stability and Humanitarian Affairs, Department of Defense; Ms.
Cameron Quinn, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties,
Department of Homeland Security.
Hearing on ``Examining the Trump Administration's
Afghanistan Strategy, Part 2'' (September 22, 2020). Witnesses:
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Special Representative for
Afghanistan Reconciliation, Department of State; Mr. David F.
Helvey, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Department of Defense.
Hearing on ``Karshi-Khanabad: Honoring the Heroes of Camp
Stronghold Freedom'' (November 18, 2020). Witnesses: Dr.
Patricia R. Hastings, Chief Consultant, Post Deployment Health
Services, Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. David J. Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness,
Policy and Oversight, Department of Defense.
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations
Hearing on ``Effects of Vacancies at the Merit Systems
Protection Board'' (February 28, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Valerie
Brannon, Legislative Attorney, Congressional Research Service;
Mr. Thomas Devine, Legal Director, Government Accountability
Project; Mr. John Palguta, Former Director of Policy and
Evaluation, Merit Systems Protection Board; Mr. Mark Robbins,
Acting Chairman, Merit Systems Protection Board; Mr. John York,
Policy Analyst, Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (H.R.
1076)'' (March 13, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Ron Johnson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs; The Honorable Cory A. Booker, Senator, New Jersey; The
Honorable Doug Collins, Ranking Member, Committee on the
Judiciary, U.S. House Representatives; Ms. Holly Harris,
Executive Director, Justice Action Network; Ms. Teresa Hodge,
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, R3 Score Technologies,
Inc. (CRCL was lead subcommittee).
Hearing on ``Government Shutdowns: Contract Killers'' (May
6, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Roger A. Krone, Chief Executive
Officer, Leidos; Mr. Jaime Contreras, Vice President, 32BJ
SEIU; Ms. Alba M. Aleman, Chief Executive Officer, Citizant,
Inc.; Mr. Wesley Ford, President, TKI Coffee; Mr. Ed Grabowski,
President, Local 2061, International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers; Mr. David Berteau, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Professional Services Council; Mr. Michael
Niggel, Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Concepts &
Technologies; Mr. Mark Hall, Executive Vice President,
ServiceSource; Mr. Anthony Crescenzo, Chief Executive Officer,
IntelliDyne, LLC; Ms. Tamela Worthen, Security Guard,
Smithsonian Institution.
Hearing on ``The Administration's War on a Merit Based
Civil Service'' (May 21, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Margaret Weichart, Deputy Director of Management, Office of
Management and Budget, Acting Director, Office of Personnel
Management; Ms. Triana McNeil, Acting Director of Strategic
Issues, Government Accountability Office; Mr. Norbert E. Vint,
Acting Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management Office
of Inspector General; Mr. J. David Cox, Sr., National
President, American Federation of Government Employees; Mr. Ken
Thomas, National President, National Active and Retired Federal
Employees; Ms. Linda M. Springer, Former Director, Office of
Personnel Management.
Hearing on ``Examining Federal Labor-Management Relations''
(June 4, 2019). Witness: The Honorable Colleen Duffy Kiko,
Chairman, Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Hearing on ``Ensuring Quality Health Care for Our
Veterans'' (June 20, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Tammy Czarnecki,
Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Administrative
Operations, Veterans Health Administration, Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Michael Heimall, Director, Veteran
Affairs Medical Center (Washington, DC); The Honorable Michael
Missal, Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hearing on ``FITARA 8.0'' (June 26, 2019). Witnesses: Mr.
Jason Gray, Chief Information Officer, Department of Education;
Ms. Carol Harris, Director, IT Management Issues, Government
Accountability Office; Ms. Suzette Kent, Federal Chief
Information Officer, Office of Management and Budget; Mr. Eric
Olson, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of the
Treasury; Mr. Gary Washington, Chief Information Officer, U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Hearing on ``Document Production Status Update: OPM, FBI,
and GSA'' (June 27, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Stephen Billy, Deputy
Chief of Staff, Office of Personnel Management; Mr. Robert
Borden, Chief of Staff, General Services Administration; Ms.
Jill Tyson, Assistant Director, Office of Congressional
Affairs, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hearing on ``To the Cloud! The Cloudy Role of FedRAMP in IT
Modernization'' (July 17, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Anil Cheriyan,
Director, Technology Transformation Services, General Services
Administration; Mr. Jack Wilmer, Deputy Chief Information
Officer for Cybersecurity, Department of Defense; Mr. Joseph
Klimavicz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief
Information Officer, Department of Justice; Mr. Jose Arrieta,
Chief Information Officer, Department of Health and Human
Services; Mr. Johnathan Berroya, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel, Internet Association; Mr. Douglas Barbin,
Principal, Schellman & Company, LLC; Mr. Will Ackerly, Chief
Technology Officer, Virtu; Ms. Lynn Martin, Vice President of
Government, Education, and Healthcare, VMware.
Hearing on ``Restoring the Partnership: The Future of
Federalism in America'' (July 23, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable Rob Bishop, Member of Congress, UT-01; Mr. Matthew
Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Counties;
Ms. Teresa Gerton, Executive Director, National Academy of
Public Administration; Dr. Carl W. Stenberg III, Former Staff
Member, U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations.
Hearing on ``Overseeing the Overseers: Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency at 10 Years''
(September 18, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Michael A. Horowitz,
Inspector General, Department of Justice, Chairman, Council of
the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency; Ms. Kathy
A. Buller, Inspector General, Peace Corps, Executive Director,
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency,
Legislation Committee; Mr. Scott Dahl, Inspector General,
Department of Labor, Chairman, Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency.
Hearing on ``NextGen Feds: Recruiting the Next Generation
of Public Servants'' (September 25, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney, Member of Congress, NY-12, U.S.
House of Representatives; Ms. Margot Conrad, Director, Federal
Workforce Programs, Partnership for Public Service; Mr. Robert
Goldenkoff, Director of Strategic Issues, Government
Accountability Office; Ms. Rachel Greszler, Research Fellow,
The Heritage Foundation; Mr. Anthony Reardon, National
President, National Treasury Employees Union.
Hearing on ``Metro: Report Card for America's Subway''
(October 22, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Paul Wiedefeld, General
Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority; Mr. Paul Smedberg, Chair, Board of
Directors, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Mr.
Geoffrey Cherrington, Inspector General, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Mr. David L. Mayer, Chief
Executive Officer, Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.
Hearing on ``FITARA 9.0'' (December 11, 2019). Witnesses:
Ms. Elizabeth Cappello, Acting Chief Information Officer,
Department of Homeland Security; Ms. Carol Harris, Director, IT
Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Ms. Renee
Wynn, Chief Information Officer, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Hearing on ``Protecting Those Who Blow the Whistle on
Government Wrongdoing'' (January 28, 2020). Witnesses: Mr.
David K. Colapinto, Founder and General Counsel, National
Whistleblower Center; The Honorable Glenn A. Fine, Principal
Deputy Inspector General, Department of Defense; Ms. Elizabeth
Hempowicz, Director of Public Policy, Project on Government
Oversight; The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector
General, Department of Justice; Mr. Paul Rosenzweig, Resident
Senior Fellow, National Security and Cybersecurity, R Street
Institute.
Hearing on ``A Threat to America's Children: The Trump
Administration's Proposed Changes to the Poverty Line
Calculation'' (February 5, 2020). Witnesses: Representative
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Member of Congress, NY-14;
Representative Carol Miller, Member of Congress, WV-03; Sister
Simone Campbell, Executive Director, Network Lobby; Mr. Indi
Dutta Gupta, Co-Executive Director, Center on Poverty,
Georgetown Law; Ms. Amy Jo Hutchison, Organizer, Healthy Kids
and Families Coalition, West Virginia; Mr. Rob Smith, Advisory
Board Member, Legacy Republican Alliance.
Hearing on ``Making IT a Priority for the Federal
Government'' (March 4, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Anil Cheriyan,
Director, Technology Transformation Services, General Services
Administration; Ms. Carol C. Harris, Director, Information
Technology and Cybersecurity, Government Accountability Office;
Mr. Bill Zielinski, Assistant Commissioner, Office of
Information Technology Category, General Services
Administration.
Hearing on ``Frontline Feds: Serving the Public During a
Pandemic'' (June 25, 2020). Witnesses: The Honorable Jim
DeMint, Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute; Ms.
Lorraine Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer,
National Safety Council; Mr. J. Christopher Mihm, Managing
Director for Strategic Issues, Government Accountability
Office; Ms. Jacqueline Simon, National Policy Director,
American Federation of Government Employees.
Hearing on ``Federal IT Modernization: How the Coronavirus
Exposed Outdated Systems'' (July 20, 2020). Witnesses: Mr.
Gordon Bitko, Senior Vice President of Policy, Information
Technology Industry Council; Mr. Matthew Cornelius, Executive
Director, Alliance for Digital Innovation; Mr. Steve O'Keeffe,
Founder, MeriTalk; Ms. Hana Shank, Director of Strategic,
Public Interest Technology, New America.
Hybrid Hearing on ``FITARA 10.0'' (August 3, 2020).
Witnesses: Ms. Clare Martorana, Chief Information Officer,
Office of Personnel Management; Mr. Jason Gray, Chief
Information Officer, Department of Education; Ms. Maria A.
Roat, Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer, Office of
Management and Budget; Ms. Carol Harris, Director, IT
Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Mr. David
Powner, Director of Strategic Engagement and Partnerships, The
MITRE Corporation; Ms. LaVerne Council, Chief Executive
Officer, Emerald One, LLC.; Mr. Richard Spires, Principal,
Richard A. Spires Consulting.
Hearing on ``Postal Update'' (September 14, 2020).
Witnesses: Mr. S. David Fineman, Former Chairman, United States
Postal Service Board of Governors; Mr. Richard W. Painter, S.
Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law, University of
Minnesota Law School, Former Chief White House Ethics Lawyer
and Associate Counsel to the President (2005-2007); Ms. Lisa
Graves, Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief, True Northern
Research; Ms. Ann M. Ravel, Former Federal Election Commission
Chair and California Fair Political Practices Chair, Adjunct
Professor at UC Berkeley Law; Mr. Michael Plunkett, President
and Chief Executive Officer, Association for Postal Commerce
(Postcom).
Hearing on ``IRS in the Pandemic'' (October 7, 2020).
Witnesses: Ms. Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate,
Taxpayer Advocate Service; Mr. Vijay A. D'Souza, Director,
Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Government
Accountability Office; Mr. Charles P. Rettig, Commissioner,
Internal Revenue Service.
Hearing on ``The Elements of Presidential Transitions''
(December 10, 2020). Witnesses: Martha Joynt Kumar, Professor
Emerita, Department of Political Science, Towson University;
Max Stier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Partnership
for Public Service; Lisa Brown, Vice President and General
Counsel, Georgetown University.
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy
Hearing on ``Examining the Public Health Risks of
Carcinogens in Consumer Products'' (March 12, 2019). Witnesses:
Mr. Scott Faber, Vice President of Government Affairs,
Environmental Working Group; Dr. Anne McTiernan, Member, Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Mr. Marvin Salter, Son of
Deceased Ovarian Cancer Patient.
Hearing on ``Improving Data Security at Consumer Reporting
Agencies'' (March 26, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Andrew Smith,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade
Commission; Mr. Michael Clements, Director, Financial Markets
and Community Investment, Government Accountability Office; Mr.
Mike Litt, Consumer Campaigns Director, U.S. PIRG; Ms. Jennifer
Huddleston, Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason
University.
Hearing on ``CFPB's Role in Empowering Predatory Lenders:
Examining the Proposed Repeal of the Payday Lending Rule'' (May
16, 2019). Witness: Mr. Thomas Pahl, Policy Associate Director
for Research, Markets & Regulations, Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau.
Hearing on ``Examining For-Profit College Oversight and
Student Debt'' (May 22, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Lindsey Burke,
Director, Center for Education Policy, The Heritage Foundation;
Mr. David Halperin, Attorney & Counselor; Mr. Robert J.
Infusino, Former Student; Ms. Diane Auer Jones, Principal
Deputy Under Secretary, Department of Education; Mr.
Christopher Madaio, Assistant Attorney General, Consumer
Protection Division, Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
Hearing on ``Examining JUUL's Role in the Youth Nicotine
Epidemic: Part I'' (July 24, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Richard Durbin, United States Senator from Illinois; Ms.
Meredith Berkman, Co-Founder, Parents Against Vaping E-
cigarettes; Dr. Robert Jackler, Professor, Stanford University;
Dr. Raymond Niaura, College of Global Public Health, New York
University; Ms. Rae O'Leary, Public Health Analyst, Missouri
Breaks Industries Research; Dr. Johnathan Winickoff, Member,
American Academy of Pediatrics.
Hearing on ``Examining JUUL's Role in the Youth Nicotine
Epidemic: Part II'' (July 25, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Ashley
Gould, Chief Administration Officer, JUUL Labs, Inc.; Mr. James
Monsees, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, JUUL Labs, Inc.;
Mr. Matthew L. Myers, President, Tobacco-Free Kids.
Hearing on ``Don't Vape: Examining the Outbreak of Lung
Disease and CDC's Urgent Warning Not to Use E Cigarettes''
(September 24, 2019). Witnesses: Dr. Ann Schuchat, Principal
Deputy Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director, Illinois Department of Public
Health; Ms. Ruby Johnson, Parent; Ms. Vicki Porter; Dr. Albert
Rizzo, Chief Medical Officer, American Lung Association.
Hearing on ``The Federal Response to the Epidemic of E-
Cigarette Use, Especially Among Children, and the Food and Drug
Administration's Compliance Policy'' (December 4, 2019).
Witness: Mr. Mitchell Zeller, Director, Center for Tobacco
Products, On behalf of Food and Drug Administration, Department
of Health and Human Services.
Hearing on ``Examining Carcinogens in Talc and the Best
Methods for Asbestos Detection'' (December 10, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Alex Gorsky, Chief Executive Officer, Johnson &
Johnson; Dr. William Longo, Scientist, Materials Analytical
Services, LLC; Dr. Rodney V. Metcalf, Geologist, University of
Nevada-Las Vegas; Dr. Jacqueline Moline, Physician, Feinstein
Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health; Mr. David
Etheridge, Patient.
Hearing on ``A Threat to America's Children: The Trump
Administration's Proposed Changes to Broad-Based Categorical
Eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program''
(February 6, 2020). Witnesses: Ms. Lisa Davis, Senior Vice
President, No Kid Hungry Campaign, Share Our Strength; Mr. Zach
Pethan, Principal, Jefferson Elementary, Sheboygan Area School
District; Ms. Diane Sullivan, Advocate, Witnesses to Hunger;
Ms. Tega Toney, Teacher, Oak Hill High School, Fayette County
Schools; Mr. Sam Adolphsen, Policy Director, Foundation for
Government Accountability.
E. Subcommittee on Environment
Hearing on ``Examining PFAS Chemicals and their Risks''
(March 6, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Brian K. Fitzpatrick,
Member of Congress, PA-01; The Honorable Daniel T. Kildee,
Member of Congress, MI-05; Mr. Dave Ross, Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Water, Environmental Protection
Agency; Ms. Maureen Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Environment, Department of Defense.
Hearing on ``Climate Change, Part I: The History of a
Consensus and the Causes of Inaction'' (April 9, 2019).
Witnesses: The Honorable Tim Wirth, Former Senator from
Colorado, Vice Chairman and President Emeritus of the United
Nations Foundation; Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Albert G. Milbank
Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, Woodrow
Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton
University; Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor and
Director, Center for Sustainable Development, School of
International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; Mr.
Nicolas Loris, Deputy Director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute
of Economic Policy Studies, Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in
Energy and Environmental Policy, The Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``Climate Change, Part II: The Public Health
Effects'' (April 30, 2019). Witnesses: Dr. Karen DeSalvo,
Professor of Medicine and Population Health, Dell Medical
School, University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Bernard D.
Goldstein, Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Public
Health, University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Co-
Director, Center for Climate, Health and the Global
Environment, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard
University; Dr. Cheryl L. Holder, Associate Professor, Herbert
Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University;
Dr. Caleb Rossiter, Executive Director, CO2 Coalition.
Hearing on ``Examining America's Nuclear Waste Management,
Storage, and the Need for Solutions'' (June 7, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Don Hancock, Director and Administrator, Nuclear
Waste Safety Program, Southwest Research and Information
Center; Mr. Tom Isaacs, Former Lead Advisor, Blue Ribbon
Commission on America's Nuclear Future; The Honorable Darrell
E. Issa, Former Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform; Mr. Scott Morris, Region IV Administrator, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission; Mr. Daniel Stetson, Vice Chairman, SONGS
Community Engagement Panel.
Hearing on ``Recovery, Resiliency, and Readiness:
Contending with Natural Disasters in the Wake of Climate Change
(Climate Change, Part III)'' (June 25, 2019). Witnesses: Mr.
Stephen Costello, Chief Recovery Officer, City of Houston; Mr.
Christopher Currie, Director, Emergency Management, Disaster
Recovery and Department of Homeland Security Management Issues,
Government Accountability Office; Dr. Judith Curry, President,
Climate Forecast Applications Network; Mr. Mark Ghilarducci,
Director, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services;
Dr. Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Meteorology,
Director, Earth System Science Center, The Pennsylvania State
University; Mr. Omar Marrero, Executive Director, Central
Office of Recovery and Reconstruction of Puerto Rico; Ms.
Adrienne Williams-Octablien, Director, Office of Disaster
Recovery, Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority; Mr. James
Witt, Former Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hearing on ``The Devil They Knew: PFAS Contamination and
the Need for Corporate Accountability'' (July 24, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Bucky Bailey, Affected Resident and Activist,
Parkersburg, West Virginia; Ms. Emily Donovan, Co-Founder,
Clean Cape Fear; Ms. Sandy Wynn-Stelt, Affected Resident and
Activist, Belmont, Michigan; Dr. Jamie C. DeWitt, Associate
Professor, East Carolina University; Mr. Glenn Evers,
President, IS2 Consulting; Ms. Jane C. Luxton, Partner, Lewis
Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP; Ms. Catherine R. McCabe,
Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection; Mr. Robert R. Scott, Commissioner, New Hampshire
Department of Environmental Services; Mr. Steve Sliver,
Executive Director, Michigan PFAS Action Response Team,
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Hearing on ``Courage Under Fire: Examining Government
Preparedness and Response to Wildfires in California'' (August
20, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Brent Berkompas, Director of
Governmental Affairs, Orange County Professional Firefighters
Association; Dr. Afif El-Hasan, Pediatrician, California; Mr.
Robert Fenton, Region IX Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency; Mr. Mark Ghilarducci, Director, California
Governor's Office of Emergency Services; Mr. Dan Johnson,
Southern Region Chief, California Department of Forestry & Fire
Protection; Mr. Randy Moore, Regional Forester, Pacific
Southwest Region, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest
Service; Mr. Max Moritz, Cooperative Extension Wildfire
Specialist, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management;
Mr. Drew Smith, Battalion Chief, Los Angeles County Fire
Department.
Hearing on ``The Devil They Knew: PFAS Contamination and
the Need for Corporate Accountability, Part II'' (September 10,
2019). Witnesses: Mr. Robert A. Bilott, Partner, Taft
Stettinius & Hollister LLP; Ms. Lori Swanson, Former Attorney
General, State of Minnesota; Ms. Denise R. Rutherford, Senior
Vice President of Corporate Affairs, The 3M Company; Mr. Paul
Kirsch, President of Fluoroproducts, The Chemours Company; Mr.
Daryl Roberts, Chief Operations & Engineering Officer, Dupont
de Nemours, Inc.; Mr. Matt Hardin, Commonwealth's Attorney,
Greene County.
Hearing on ``Environmental Injustice: Exploring Inequities
in Air and Water Quality in Michigan'' (September 19, 2019).
Witnesses: Dr. Delores Leonard, Advocate; Ms. Nayyirah Shariff,
Director, Flint Rising; Dr. Paul Mohai, School of Environment
and Sustainability, University of Michigan; Mr. Nick Leonard,
Executive Director, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center; Ms.
Emma Lockridge, Climate and Environmental Justice Organizer,
Michigan United.
Hearing on ``Trump's Wrong Turn on Clean Cars: The Effects
of Fuel Efficiency Rollbacks on the Climate, Car Companies, and
California'' (October 29, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Edmund Brown, Jr., Former Governor of California; The Honorable
Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island; Dr. Antonio
Bento, Professor of Public Policy and Economics, Sol Price
School of Public Policy and Department of Economics, University
of Southern California; The Honorable Samuel Liccardo, Mayor of
San Jose, California; Dr. Emily Wimberger, Climate Economist,
Rhodium Group; Dr. Marlo Lewis, Senior Fellow, Competitive
Enterprise Institute.
Hearing on ``Toxic, Forever Chemicals: A Call for Immediate
Federal Action on PFAS'' (November 19, 2019). Witnesses: Mr.
Mark Ruffalo, Actor, Producer, and Artist; Mr. Scott Faber,
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Environmental
Working Group; Mr. Mark Favors, U.S. Army Veteran, Member,
Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition; Mr. Tiger Joyce,
President, American Tort Reform Association.
Hearing on ``Climate Change, Part IV: Current Economic
Effects of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction'' (December
19, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural
Resources and Environment Team, Government Accountability
Office; Mr. Dave Jones, Senior Director for Environmental Risk,
The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman
Distinguished Service Professor in Economics, University of
Chicago; The Honorable Stephen Benjamin, Mayor, The City of
Columbia, South Carolina; Dr. Kevin Dayaratna, Senior
Statistician and Research Programmer, Center for Data Analysis,
Institute for Economic Freedom, The Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``A Threat to America's Children: The Trump
Administration's Proposal to Undermine Protections from Mercury
Air Toxics Standards'' (February 6, 2020). Witnesses: Reverend
Mitchell C. Hescox, President/Chief Executive Officer,
Evangelical Environmental Health Network; Ms. Katie Huffling,
Executive Director, Alliance for Nurses for Healthy
Environments; Ms. Heather McTeer Toney, National Field
Director, Moms Clean Air Force; Ms. Mandy M. Gunasekara,
Founder, Energy 45, Senior Fellow to Texas Public Policy Life:
Powered Project.
Hearing on ``FEMA's Natural Disaster Preparedness and
Response Efforts During the Coronavirus Pandemic'' (July 24,
2020). Witness: Mr. Peter T. Gaynor, Administrator, Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
Hearing on ``Climate Change, Part IV: Moving Towards a
Sustainable Future'' (September 24, 2020). Witnesses: Dr.
Robert C. Orr, Ph.D., Dean, University of Maryland School of
Public Policy; Dr. Rachel Cleetus, Ph.D., Policy Director,
Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; Mr.
Christopher Castro, Senior Advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer,
Director of Sustainability & Resilience, City of Orlando; Mr.
Reed Schuler, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor,
Governor Jay Inslee; Dr. Kevin Dayaratna, Ph.D., Principal
Statistician, Data Scientist, and Research Fellow, The Heritage
Foundation.
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Hearing on ``The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (H.R.
1076)'' (March 13, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Ron Johnson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs; The Honorable Cory A. Booker, Senator, New Jersey; The
Honorable Doug Collins, Ranking Member, Committee on the
Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives; Ms. Holly Harris,
Executive Director, Justice Action Network; Ms. Teresa Hodge,
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, R3 Score Technologies,
Inc.
Hearing on ``Failure of Administration to Comply with
Subpoenas on Child Separation Policy'' (April 9, 2019).
Witnesses: The Honorable Christine Ciccone, Assistant Secretary
for the Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of Homeland
Security; The Honorable Stephen E. Boyd, Assistant Attorney
General for the Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of
Justice; The Honorable Matthew Bassett, Assistant Secretary for
Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services.
Hearing on ``Protecting the Right to Vote: Best and Worst
Practices'' (May 1, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Myrna Perez, Deputy
Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Ms.
Leigh Chapman, Director, Voting Rights Program, The Leadership
Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Mr. Dale Ho, Director,
Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union; Ms.
Kaylan Phillips, Litigation Counsel, Public Interest Legal
Foundation.
Hearing on ``Confronting White Supremacy (Part I): The
Consequences of Inaction'' (May 15, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Susan
Bro, Co-Founder President/Board Chair, Heather Heyer
Foundation; Mr. George Salim, Senior Vice President of
Programs, Anti-Defamation League; Mr. Omar Ricci, Chairman,
Islamic Center of Southern California; Mr. Michael German,
Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice; Mr. Roy Austin, Partner,
Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, LLP; Mr. Robby Soave, Associate
Editor at Reason Magazine, D.C. Advisory Committee to the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights.
Hearing on ``Getting Counted: The Importance of the Census
to State and Local Communities'' (May 28, 2019). Witnesses: Ms.
Gail Mellow, President, LaGuardia Community College; Ms. Julie
Menin, Census Director, City of New York; Mr. Joseph Salvo,
Chief Demographer, Population Division, New York City
Department of City Planning; Ms. Melva Miller, Executive Vice
President, Association for a Better New York; Mr. Steven Choi,
Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition; Mr. Marc
Morial, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Urban
League; Ms. Greta Byrum, Co-Director, New School Digital Equity
Laboratory; Ms. Elizabeth OuYang, Civil Rights Attorney,
Educator, and Community Advocate; Mr. Jorge Luis Vasquez, Jr.,
Associate Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDF; Ms. Lurie Favors, Esq.,
General Counsel, Center for Law & Social Justice; Ms. Kazi
Fouzia, Desis Rising Up and Moving; Mr. Carlos Menchaca,
Council Member, New York City Council.
Hearing on ``Confronting White Supremacy (Part II):
Adequacy of the Federal Response'' (June 4, 2019). Witnesses:
Mr. Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism
Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Mr. Calvin Shivers,
Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division,
Federal Bureau of Investigation; Ms. Elizabeth Neumann,
Assistant Secretary, Threat Prevention and Security Policy,
Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Tony McAleer, Co-Founder,
Life After Hate; Ms. Lecia Brooks, Outreach Director, Southern
Poverty Law Center; Ms. Brette Steele, Director of Prevention
and National Security, McCain Institute for International
Leadership, Arizona State University; Mr. Todd Bensman, Former
Manager, Counterterrorism Unit, Intelligence and
Counterterrorism Division, Texas Department of Public Safety.
Hearing on ``Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the
Border'' (July 10, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Yazmin Juarez, Asylum
Seeker and Mother of 19-month-old Mariee, who died after
detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Mr. Michael
Breen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Human Rights
First; Ms. Clara Long, Deputy Washington Director, Human Rights
Watch; Ms. Hope Frye, Executive Director, Project Lifeline; Dr.
Carlos A. Gutierrez, Pediatrician, El Paso's Children's
Hospital; Mr. Ronald D. Vitiello, Former Chief, U.S. Border
Patrol, Former Acting Director, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement.
Hearing on ``Beyond the Citizenship Question: Repairing the
Damage and Preparing to Count `We the People' in 2020'' (July
24, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Steven Dillingham, Ph.D., Director,
U.S. Census Bureau; Mr. Robert Goldenkoff, Director of
Strategic Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mr.
Nicholas Marinos, Director of Information Technology and
Cybersecurity, Government Accountability Office.
Hearing on ``The Administration's Apparent Revocation of
Medical Deferred Action for Critically Ill Children''
(September 11, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Maria Isabel Bueso,
Concord, CA; Mr. Johnathan Sanchez, Boston, Massachusetts; Ms.
Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Clinical Professor of Law, Director,
Center for Immigrants' Rights Clinic, Penn State Law School;
Dr. Fiona S. Danaher, M.D., MPH, Pediatrician, MGH Chelsea
Pediatrics and MGH Child Protection Program, Co-Chair, MGH
Immigrant Health Coalition, Massachusetts General Hospital for
Children, Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Mr.
Anthony Marino, Director, Immigration Legal Services, on behalf
of Irish International Immigrant Center; Mr. Thomas Homan,
Former Director, Immigration and Customers Enforcement; Mr.
Timothy Robbins, Acting Executive Associate Director,
Enforcement and Removal Operations, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Daniel
Renaud, Associate Director, Field Operations Directorate,
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland
Security.
Hearing on ``Confronting Violent White Supremacy (Part
III): Addressing the Transnational Terrorist Threat''
(September 20, 2019). Witnesses: Dr. Kathleen Belew, Assistant
Professor of U.S. History and the College, The University of
Chicago; Dr. Joshua Geltzer, Director, Institute for
Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law; Ms.
Katrina Mulligan, Managing Director for National Security and
International Policy, Center for American Progress; Ms. Candace
Owens, Founder, Blexit, Host, Candace Owens Show.
Hearing on ``Examining the Oil Industry's Effort to
Suppress the Truth about Climate Change'' (October 23, 2019).
Witnesses: Dr. Mustafa Ali, Vice President, Environmental
Justice Climate and Community Revitalization, National Wildlife
Federation; Dr. Ed Garvey, Former Exxon Scientist; Dr. Martin
Hoffert, Former Exxon Consultant, Professor Emeritus, Physics,
New York University; Dr. Naomi Oreskes, Professor, History of
Science, Affiliated Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences,
Harvard University; Ms. Sharon Eubanks, Esq., Of Counsel,
Henderson Law Firm, PLLC; Ms. Mandy Gunasekara, Founder, Energy
45, Senior Fellow, Life: Powered Project.
Hearing on ``The Administration's Decision to Deport
Critically Ill Children and Their Families'' (October 30,
2019). Witnesses: Mr. Matthew Albence, Acting Director,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland
Security; Mr. Ken Cuccinelli, Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.
Hearing on ``Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must
Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and
Retaliation'' (December 11, 2019). Witnesses: Vice Admiral
Michael McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support,
United States Coast Guard; Lieutenant Commander Kimberly Young-
McLear, Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff, United States
Coast Guard; Mr. Jackson Eaton, Deputy Assistant Inspector
General, United States Department of Homeland Security.
Hearing on ``Ending Global Religious Persecution'' (January
28, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Rushan Abbas, Executive Director,
Campaign for Uyghurs; Ms. Rachel Deitch on behalf of Rafida
Bonya Ahmed, Policy Manager, The American Humanist Association;
Mr. Jeremy Barker, Senior Program Officer and Director for
Middle East Action Team, Religious Freedom Institute; Mr.
Francisco Bencosme, Asia Pacific Advocacy Manager, Amnesty
International.
Hearing on ``A Threat to America's Children: The Trump
Administration's Proposal to Gut Fair Housing Accountability''
(February 5, 2020). Witnesses: Ms. Ateira Griffin, Chief
Executive Officer and Founder, BOND, Inc.--Building Our
Nation's Daughters; Ms. Ellen Lee, Director of Community and
Economic Development, City of New Orleans; Dr. Megan Sandel,
Principal Investigator, Children's Healthwatch, M.D., Boston
Medical Center; Mr. Jorge Andres Soto, Director of Public
Policy, National Fair Housing Alliance; Mr. Michael Hendrix,
Director, State and Local Policy, Manhattan Institute.
Hearing on ``Confronting Violent White Supremacy (Part IV):
White Supremacy in Blue--The Infiltration of Local Police
Departments'' (September 29, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. Michael
German, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice; Ms. Vida B.
Johnson, Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown University; Mr.
Frank Meeink, Author and Activist; Mr. Mark Napier, Sheriff
Pima County, Arizona; Ms. Heather Taylor, President Ethical
Society of Police, St. Louis.
Hearing on ``Pipelines Over People: How FERC Tramples
Landowner Rights in Natural Gas Projects'' (December 9, 2020).
Witnesses: Mr. David L. Morenoff, Acting General Counsel,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Mr. Terry Turpin,
Director, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
G. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
Hearing on ``The Unemployment Pandemic: Addressing
America's Job Crisis'' (June 18, 2020). Witnesses: Ms. Michele
Evermore, Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst, National
Employment Law Project; Mr. William E. Spriggs, Chief
Economist, AFL-CIO, Professor, Department of Economics, Howard
University; Mr. Jason Furman, Professor of the Practice of
Economic Policy, Harvard University; Ms. Rachel Greszler,
Research Fellow in Economics, Budget and Entitlements, The
Heritage Foundation.
Hearing on ``Accountability in Crisis: GAO's
Recommendations to Improve the Federal Coronavirus Response''
(June 26, 2020). Witnesses: The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro,
Comptroller General of the United States, Government
Accountability Office.
Hearing on ``The Administration's Efforts to Procure,
Stockpile, and Distribute Critical Supplies'' (July 2, 2020).
Witnesses: The Honorable Kevin Fahey, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition, Department of Defense; Admiral Brett
P. Giroir M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of
Health and Human Services; Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, Vice
Director of Logistics, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Supply Chain
Stabilization Task Force, on behalf of Department of Defense.
Hearing on ``Former Federal Reserve Chairs on Responding to
Our Nation's Economic Crisis'' (July 17, 2020). Witnesses: The
Honorable Ben Bernanke, Distinguished Fellow in Residence, The
Brookings Institution, Former Chair, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve; The Honorable Janet Yellen, Distinguished
Fellow in Residence, The Brookings Institution, Former Chair,
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Hybrid Hearing on ``The Urgent Need for a National Plan to
Contain the Coronavirus'' (July 31, 2020). Witnesses: Dr.
Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health; Admiral
Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Robert R.
Redfield, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Remote Hearing on ``Challenges to Safely Reopening K-12
Schools'' (August 6, 2020). Witnesses: The Honorable Arne
Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective, Former Secretary
of Education; Mr. Dan Lips, Fellow, Foundation for Research on
Equal Opportunity; Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Senior Scholar, Johns
Hopkins Center for Health Security, Assistant Professor,
Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns
Hopkins School of Public Health; Mr. Robert W. Runcie,
Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools; Ms. Angela
Skillings, Teacher, Hayden Winkelman Unified School District.
Hybrid Hearing ``With Treasury Secretary Steven T.
Mnuchin'' (September 1, 2020). Witness: Steven T. Mnuchin,
Secretary, Department of the Treasury.
Remote Hearing on ``Ensuring a Free, Fair, and Safe
Election During the Coronavirus Pandemic'' (September 9, 2020).
Witnesses: Mr. Jay Ashcroft, Missouri Secretary of State; Ms.
Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director, Lawyers'
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Dr. Krutika Kuppalli,
M.D., Vice Chair of Global Health Committee, Infectious
Diseases Society of America and Assistant Professor of
Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical University
of South Carolina; Ms. Mimi Marziani, President, Texas Civil
Rights Project; Ms. Kerry Washington, Actor and Activist.
Hybrid Hearing ``With Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H.
Powell'' (September 23, 2020). Witness: The Honorable Jerome H.
Powell, Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
Hybrid Hearing ``With Secretary of Health and Human
Services Alex M. Azar II'' (October 2, 2020). Witness: The
Honorable Alex M. Azar II, Secretary, Department of Health and
Human Services.
III. FORMAL BIPARTISAN MEMBER BRIEFINGS HELD IN LIEU OF HEARINGS DURING
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
A. Full Committee
On March 20, 2020, the Full Committee held a telephone
Member briefing on ``The Coronavirus Crisis.'' Briefer: Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter T.
Gaynor.
On March 30, 2020, the Full Committee held a video briefing
regarding shortages in coronavirus tests, personal protective
equipment (PPE) to protect health care workers from contracting
the coronavirus, and medical equipment needed to treat
critically ill patients. Briefers: Dr. Robert Kadlec, Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS); Mr. Brian Shuy, Deputy Assistant
Director and Chief of Staff to Dr. Kadlec, Department of Health
and Human Services; Mr. Joel Doolin, Associate Administrator
for Policy, Program Analysis, and International Affairs,
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and Rear Admiral
John Polowczyk, Senior Logistics Officer for the Joint Chiefs,
Chair, Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
On April 3, 2020, the Full Committee held a Member briefing
on ``Women's Rights in Afghanistan.'' Briefer: Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John
F. Sopko.
On April 9, 2020, the Full Committee held a video Member
briefing on the Coronavirus Crisis. Briefer: United States
Postal Service Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan.
On April 14, 2020, the Full Committee held a telephone
Member briefing with Census Experts on the Impact of
Coronavirus on 2020 Census. Briefers: Mr. John Thompson, Former
Director, Census Bureau; Mr. John Yang, President and Executive
Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice; Mr. Arturo Vargas,
Chief Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund; Ms. Terri Ann
Lowenthal, Census Consultant.
On April 17, 2020, the Full Committee held a conference
call briefing on the Coronavirus Crisis and Immigrant Detention
Facilities. Briefers: Mr. Matthew T. Albence, Acting Director,
Immigration Customs Enforcement; Mr. Mark Morgan, Acting
Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.
On April 24, 2020, the Full Committee held a conference
call briefing on the impact of the Coronavirus Crisis on the
2020 Census. Briefers: Dr. Steven Dillingham, Director, Census
Bureau; Mr. Albert E. Fontenot Jr., Associate Director for
Decennial Census Programs, Census Bureau.
On May 7, 2020, Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney and
Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr., the Vice Chairman of the
Joint Economic Committee held a call on ``Economic Priorities
for CARES 2.'' Briefer: Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, Professor,
Columbia University, Chief Economist, The Roosevelt Institute.
On May 8, 2020, the Full Committee held a briefing on the
lessons from Hurricane Katrina and how those lessons could be
implemented to improve the federal response to the Coronavirus
Crisis. Briefer: Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore (Ret.).
On May 19, 2020, the Full Committee held a closed briefing
on ``F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Maintenance and Performance.''
Briefers: Colonel Michael Allison, 56th Maintenance Group
Commander, Luke Air Force Base; Colonel Michael Miles, 388th
Maintenance Group Commander, Hill Air Force Base.
On June 19, 2020, the Full Committee held a briefing on
``Voice from the Front: An Overdue Reckoning with Structural
Racism in Policing.'' Briefers: Ms. Keturah Herron, Policy
Strategist, ACLU of Kentucky; Mr. Cephus ``Uncle Bobby X''
Johnson, Uncle of Oscar Grant, Co-Founder of Families United
for Justice and Co-Founder of Love Not Blood Campaign.
B. Subcommittee on National Security
On April 27, 2020, the Subcommittee on National Security
and the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy held a
joint telephone briefing on ``Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Security'' to examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on
the global supply chain for pharmaceuticals sold in the United
States, with a particular focus on national security and
consumer implications. Briefers: Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director,
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug
Administration; Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, Deputy Director for
Operations, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and
Drug Administration; Dr. Doug Throckmorton, Deputy Director for
Regulatory Programs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research,
Food and Drug Administration; Ms. Mary Beth Clarke, Director,
Office of Executive Programs, Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research, Food and Drug Administration.
On April 29, 2020, the Subcommittee on National Security
held a telephone briefing on current events in Afghanistan.
Briefer: Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
Reconstruction John F. Sopko.
On May 14, 2020, the Subcommittee on National Security held
a briefing on ``Coronavirus in Africa and Implications for
International Security.'' Briefers: Mr. Bob Kitchen, Vice
President of Emergencies and Humanitarian Action, International
Rescue Committee; Ms. Claudine Awute, West Africa Regional
Director, CARE International; Ms. Kijala Shako, Head of
Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication, and Media for East and
Southern Africa, Save the Children.
On May 29, 2020, the Subcommittee on National Security held
a briefing on ``Cyberthreats to U.S. and Global Coronavirus
Response.'' Briefers: Ms. Tonya Ugoretz, Deputy Assistant
Director, Cybersecurity Division, Federal Bureau of
Investigation; Mr. Bryan Ware, Assistant Director,
Cybersecurity Division, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency; Mr. Adam Hickey, Deputy Assistant Attorney
General, National Security Division, Department of Justice.
On August 17, 2020, the Subcommittee on National Security
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia,
Nonproliferation, and the Pacific held a briefing on ``China's
Oppression of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.'' Briefers: Mr.
Dolkun Isa, President, World Uyghur Congress; Ms. Jessica
Batke, Senior Editor, ChinaFile, Center on U.S.-China
Relations; Ms. Maya Wang, China Senior Researcher, Human Rights
Watch.
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations
On April 28, 2020, the Subcommittee on Government
Operations held a telephone briefing on Inspectors General
response to the coronavirus pandemic. Briefers: Inspector
General Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice, Chairman of
the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency;
Mr. Richard K. Delmar, Acting Treasury Inspector General; Mr.
Hannibal ``Mike'' Ware, Inspector General, Small Business
Administration.
On June 1, 2020, the Subcommittee on Government Operations
held a briefing on the role of Inspectors General to the
oversight of the pandemic response. Briefer: The Honorable
Scott S. Dahl, Inspector General, Department of Labor.
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy
On June 9, 2020, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer
Policy held a briefing on ``COVID-19 Antibody Testing: Uses,
Abuses, Limitations, and the Federal Response.'' Briefers: Dr.
Jesse Goodman, M.D., MPH, Director, Center on Medical Product
Access, Safety and Stewardship (COMPASS), Georgetown
University, Former-Chief Scientist, Food and Drug
Administration; Dr. Jennifer Rakeman, Ph.D., Assistant
Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene; Dr. Gigi Gronvall, Ph.D., Senior Scholar & Associate
Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,
Center for Health Security; Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, M.D., MPH,
Chair, Board of Trustees, American Medical Association.
On July 14, 2020, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer
Policy held a briefing on ``Guardrails to Ensure a Safe and
Effective COVID-19 Vaccine.'' Briefers: Dr. Bruce Gellin, M.D.,
M.P.H., President, Global Immunization, Sabin Vaccine
Institute, Former-Director, National Vaccine Program,
Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Jesse Goodman,
M.D., M.P.H., Director, Center on Medical Product Access,
Safety and Stewardship (COMPASS), Georgetown University,
Former-Chief Scientist, Food and Drug Administration; Dr. Ruth
Karron, M.D., Director, Center for Immunization Research, Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Former-Chair,
Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; Dr.
Jason Schwartz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Health Policy,
Yale School of Public Health.
E. Subcommittee on Environment
On July 7, 2020, the Subcommittee on Environment held a
briefing on ``Plastic Production, Pollution and Waste in the
Time of Covid-19: The Life-Threatening Impact of Single Use
Plastic on Human Health.'' Briefers: Ms. Judith Enck,
President, Beyond Plastics, Former Environmental Protection
Agency Regional Administrator; Ms. Monique Harden, Assistant
Director of Law and Public Policy, Community Engagement Program
Manager, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice; Dr.
Kimberly Terrell, Ph.D., Staff Scientist, Tulane Environmental
Law Clinic; Ms. Yvette Arellano, Policy Research and Grassroots
Advocate, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services
(T.E.J.A.S.); Ms. Carroll Muffett, President & Chief Executive
Officer, Center for International Environmental Law.
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
On June 29, 2020, the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties held a briefing on ``The First Amendment Under
Attack: Examining Government Violence Against Peaceful Civil
Rights Protesters and the Journalists Covering Them.''
Briefers: Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Dean, Radcliffe Institute for
Advanced Study at Harvard University; Linda Tirado, Journalist;
Reverend Gini Gerbasi, Rector, Saint John's Episcopal Church,
Georgetown; LaToya Ratliff, Protester; Gustavo Martinez,
Freelance Journalist; Andy Ngo, Editor-at-Large, The Post
Millennial.
G. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
On May 13, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis held a briefing on ``Coronavirus Testing, Tracing, and
Targeted Containment: Steps to Reopen the Country.'' Briefers:
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former Commissioner, Food and Drug
Administration (2017-2019), Resident Fellow, American
Enterprise Institute; Dr. Mark McClellan, Former Commissioner,
Food and Drug Administration (2002-2004), Former Administrator,
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2004-2006),
Founding Director, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke
University; Dr. Ashish Jha, Director, Harvard Global Health
Institute, Harvard University; Dr. Tom Inglesby, Director,
Center for Health Security, Bloomberg School of Public Health,
Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive
Director, American Public Health Association.
On May 21, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis held a briefing on ``Heroes of the Coronavirus Crisis:
Protecting Front-line and Essential Workers During the
Pandemic.'' Briefers: Dr. Megan Ranney, M.D., MPH, Emergency
Physician & Associate Professor, Brown University; Ms. Talisa
Hardin, Registered Nurse, University of Chicago Medical Center;
Ms. Diana Wilson, Emergency Medical Technician, New York City
Fire Department; Ms. Zenobia Shepherd, Mother of Leilani
Jordan; Mr. Eric Colts, Bus Driver, Detroit Department of
Transportation; Mr. Marcos Aranda, Custodian, Pacific Gas and
Electric; Dr. Shanti Akers, Pulmonary Critical Care Physician,
Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany, Georgia; Mr. Steve
Pettus, Managing Partner, Dickie Brennan & Co. Restaurant
Group.
On May 29, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis held a briefing on ``Supporting America's Cities: What
Mayors Need to Safely Reopen.'' Briefers: Mayor Bryan K.
Barnett, Rochester Hills, Michigan; Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin,
Columbia, South Carolina; Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta,
Georgia; Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle, Washington; Mayor Eric
Garcetti, Los Angeles, California; Mayor Mary Jane Scott,
Mangum, Oklahoma; Mayor Leonard B. Curry, Jacksonville,
Florida; Mayor Mary Jane Scott, Mangum, Oklahoma.
On June 4, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis held a briefing on ``An Unequal Burden: Addressing
Racial Health Disparities in the Coronavirus Pandemic.''
Briefers: Dr. Uche Blackstock, M.D., Chief Executive Officer,
Advancing Health Equity; Dr. Eva Galvez, M.D., Family
Physician, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center; Fawn Sharp,
President, National Congress of American Indians; Dr. Leana
Wen, MD MSc, Visiting Professor, George Washington University
Milken School of Public Health.
On June 11, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the
Coronavirus Crisis held a briefing on ``The Devasting Impact of
the Coronavirus Crisis in America's Nursing Homes.'' Briefers:
Dr. David C. Grabowski, Professor of Health Care Policy,
Harvard Medical School; Mr. Chris Brown, Certified Nursing
Assistant, Chicago, Illinois; Mr. Phil Kerpen, President,
American Commitment; Alison Lolley, Daughter of Nursing Home
Resident, Monroe, Louisiana; Eric Carlson, Directing Attorney,
Justice in Aging.
IV. LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A. Business Meetings (Legislation)
Organizational meeting to appoint the Chairs and Ranking
Members of the five subcommittees and adopt the Committee Rules
(January 29, 2019).
Business meeting to consider H.R. 745, the Executive Branch
Comprehensive Ethics Enforcement Act; H.R. 964 Transition Team
Ethics Improvement Act; H.R. 1076, the Fair Chance Act; H.R.
1496 the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act; H.R. 1847,
the Inspector General Protection Act; and several postal naming
measures (March 26, 2019).
Business meeting to consider a resolution recommending that
the House of Representatives find the Attorney General and the
Secretary of Commerce in contempt of Congress for their refusal
to comply with duly authorized subpoenas relating to the 2020
Census; H.R. 391, White House Ethics Transparency Act; H.R.
2003, Ensuring Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
(FEHBP) Coverage During Shutdowns Act; H.R. 2004, Ensuring
Federal Employees Dental/Vision Program (FEDVIP) and Federal
Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) Coverage During
Shutdowns Act; H.R. 2530, Interim Stay Authority to Protect
Whistleblowers Act; H.R. 1668, Internet of Things Cybersecurity
Improvement Act; H.R. 2978, National Historical Publications
and Records Commission Reauthorization Act; and bills to
designate United States Postal Service facilities were approved
by the Committee and ordered favorably reported to the House by
Unanimous Consent (June 12, 2019).
Business meeting to consider S. 406, The Federal Rotational
Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2019; H.R. 3889, The ONDCP
Technical Corrections Act of 2019; bills to designate United
States Postal Service facilities were approved by the Committee
and ordered favorably reported to the House by Unanimous
Consent (July 25, 2019).
Business meeting to consider S. 375, The Payment Integrity
Information Act of 2019; H.R. 5214, The Representative Payee
Fraud Prevention Act of 2019; H.R. 3883, The Restore the
Partnership Act; H.R. 3830, The Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act;
H.R. 2575, The AI in Government Act of 2019; bills to designate
United States Postal Service facilities were approved by the
Committee and ordered favorably reported to the House by
Unanimous Consent (December 19, 2019).
Business meeting to consider H.R. 5803, Washington, D.C.
Admission Act (February 11, 2020).
Business meeting to consider H.R. 4894, Congressional
Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2019; H.R. 6020, to
Require an Evaluation by the Government Accountability Office
of the Social, Economic, and Historic Contributions that Minor
League Baseball Has Made to American Life and Culture; bills to
designate United States Postal Service facilities were approved
by the Committee and ordered favorably reported to the House by
Unanimous Consent (March 4, 2020).
Business meeting to consider H.R. 4382, The Integrity
Committee Transparency Act; H.R. 5901, The Modernization
Centers of Excellence Program; H.R. 8109, Nonpartisan
Postmaster General Act; H.R. 7496, COVID Prepare Act; H.R.
7340, Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act; H.R. 7548, Made in
America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act; H.R. 7107, The
Periodically Listing Updates to Management Act; H.R. 7936,
Federal Employee Access to Information Act; bills to designate
United States Postal Service facilities were approved by the
Committee and ordered favorably reported to the House by
Unanimous Consent (September 16, 2020).
B. Business Meeting (Subpoena)
Business meeting to consider a motion to subpoena the
Attorney General William P. Barr, Secretary of Homeland
Security Kirstjen M. Nelson, and Secretary of Health and Human
Services Alex M. Azar II for records in connection with the
Committee's investigation into the Trump Administration's child
separation policy (February 26, 2019).
Business meeting to consider a motion to subpoena the
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Gore, Attorney
General William P. Barr, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L.
Ross, Jr. for records in connection with the Committee's
investigation into the addition of a citizenship question to
the 2020 Census (April 2, 2019).
Business meeting to consider a motion to subpoena Counselor
to the President Kellyanne Conway for testimony in connection
with Ms. Conway's failure to comply with the Hatch Act and
ethics laws (June 26, 2019).
Business meeting to consider a motion to subpoena records
relating to the Committee's investigation into the use of non-
official electronic messaging accounts by non-career officials
at the White House, including from Acting White House Chief of
Staff John Michael ``Mick'' Mulvaney (July 25, 2019).
C. Legislation Enacted Into Law
H.R. 150, the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements
Transparency Act of 2019. Introduced on January 3, 2019, by
Rep. Virginia Foxx. The legislation requires the establishment
and use of data standards for information reported by
recipients of federal grants. The legislation also requires the
Office of Management and Budget, jointly with the executive
department that issues the most federal grant awards, to (1)
establish government-wide data standards for information
reported by grant recipients, (2) issue guidance directing
federal agencies to apply those standards, and (3) require the
publication of recipient-reported data collected from all
agencies on a single public website.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; House passed January 17, 2019;
Senate passed October 21, 2019, with an amendment; House passed
Senate amended version December 16, 2019; President signed into
law December 30, 2019
H.R. 1076, the FAIR Chance Act. Introduced on February 7,
2019, by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. The legislation prohibits
federal agencies and federal contractors from requesting that
applicants for employment disclose criminal history record
information before receiving a conditional offer of employment.
Agencies may not require an individual or sole proprietor who
submits a bid for a contract to disclose criminal history
record information regarding that individual or sole proprietor
before determining the apparent awardee. The legislation (1)
sets forth positions to which such prohibitions shall not
apply; and (2) requires the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the
Department of Defense (DOD) to issue regulations identifying
additional positions with respect to which the prohibition
shall not apply. OPM, the Office of Congressional Workplace
Rights, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts,
GSA, and DOD must (1) establish procedures for submitting
complaints about, and taking actions against, agency employees
and contractors for violating such prohibitions and for
appealing such an action; and (2) issue regulations to
implement this bill. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in
coordination with the Census Bureau, must design and initiate a
study on the employment of individuals who are released from
federal prison after completing a term of imprisonment for a
federal criminal offense.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; Committee passed March 26,
2019. Enacted on December 20, 2019; as part of S. 1790--
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
H.R. 1079, the Creating Advanced Streamlined Electronic
Services for Constituents Act of 2019. Introduced on February
7, 2019, by Rep. Garret Graves. The legislation directs the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to require each federal
agency to accept electronic identity proofing and
authentication processes that allow an individual, under the
Privacy Act, to access the individual's records or to provide
prior written consent for the disclosure of the individual's
records. This legislation also requires OMB to: (1) create a
template for electronic consent and access forms; and (2)
require each agency to accept such forms from any individual
properly identity proofed and authenticated.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; House passed February 11,
2019; Senate passed July 31, 2019; President signed into law
August 22, 2019
H.R. 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. Introduced
on March 5, 2019, by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. The legislation
would create a benefit to make federal employees eligible for
12 weeks of paid leave for any reason such leave is available
under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
History: Introduced on March 5, 2019; House passed the bill on July 12,
2019, as part of H.R. 2500; Portions of the bill signed into
law December 20, 2019
H.R. 1668, the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020.
Introduced on March 11, 2019, by Rep. Robin Kelly. This
legislation requires the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) and the Office of Management and Budget to
take specified steps to increase cybersecurity for Internet of
Things (IoT) devices. IoT is the extension of Internet
connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects. The
legislation establishes September 30, 2019, as the deadline for
the completion of NIST's efforts regarding considerations for
managing IoT cybersecurity risks, especially regarding examples
of possible cybersecurity capabilities of IoT devices. By March
31, 2020, NIST must develop recommendations for the appropriate
use and management of IoT devices owned or controlled by the
government, including minimum information security requirements
for managing cybersecurity risks. The Office of Management and
Budget shall then issue guidelines for each agency that are
consistent with such recommendations. NIST and OMB shall
publish guidance on policies and procedures for the reporting,
coordinating, publishing, and receiving of information about a
security vulnerability relating to an IoT device used by the
government and the resolution of such security vulnerability.
History: Introduced on March 11, 2019; Committee consideration June 12,
2019; House passed September 14, 2020; Senate passed November
17, 2020; President signed into law December 4, 2020
H.R. 2575, the AI in Government Act of 2020. Introduced on
May 8, 2019, by Rep. Jerry McNerney. This legislation
establishes the AI Center of Excellence within the General
Services Administration to advise and promote the efforts of
the federal government in developing innovative uses of
artificial intelligence (AI) to benefit the public and improve
cohesion and competency in the use of AI. OMB must issue a
memorandum to federal agencies regarding AI governance
approaches, to be followed by preparation and submission of
governance plans by the agencies. In addition, OPM must
identify key skills and competencies needed for positions
related to AI; and establish an occupational series, or revise
an existing job series, to include positions the primary duties
of which relate to AI.
History: Introduced on May 8, 2019; Committee consideration December
19, 2019; House passed September 14, 2020; President signed
into law December 28, 2020, as part of the Consolidated
Appropriation Act of 2021
H.R. 3889, the ONDCP Technical Corrections Act of 2019.
Introduced on July 23, 2019, by Rep. Harley Rouda. The
legislation makes permanent the grant supporting the National
Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute. Among other things,
the legislation also makes technical corrections and repeals a
requirement that the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
audit ONDCP.
History: Introduced on July 23, 2019; Committee consideration July 25,
2019; House passed October 16, 2019; Senate passed November 14,
2019; President signed into law November 27, 2019
H.R. 4147, the Whistleblower Expansion Act. Introduced on
August 2, 2019, by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly. The legislation
makes technical changes to clarify that subcontractors and
subgrantees are covered by the whistleblower protections
afforded by 41 U.S.C. 4712.
History: Introduced on August 2, 2019; House passed as part of H.R.
6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 July 21, 2020; President signed on December 28, 2020 as
part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021
H.R. 5214, the Representative Payee Fraud Prevention Act of
2019. Introduced on November 21, 2019, by Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
The legislation prohibits a representative payee (i.e., a
person designated to receive payments on behalf of a minor, a
mentally incompetent individual, or an individual under other
legal disability) from embezzling or converting the amounts
received from certain retirement funds. If OPM determines that
a representative payee has embezzled or converted payments from
the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees
Retirement System for a use other than the benefit of the
individual on whose behalf such payments were received, OPM
shall (1) revoke the certification for payment of benefits to
the representative payee, and (2) certify payment to another
representative payee or to the individual.
History: Introduced on November 21, 2019; Committee consideration
December 19, 2019; House passed February 5, 2020; Senate passed
March 3, 2020; President signed into law March 18, 2020
H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Implementation Act. Introduced on December 13, 2019, by Rep.
Steny Hoyer. The legislation provides statutory authority for
the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and
Canada (USMCA), which replaces the North American Free Trade
Agreement. Specifically, the legislation implements provisions
that include labor and environment monitoring and enforcement,
de minimis levels for U.S. exports, and cooperation among
treaty members to prevent duty evasion.
History: Introduced on December 13, 2019; House passed December 19,
2019; Senate passed January 16, 2020; President signed into law
January 29, 2020
H.R. 5901, the Information Technology Modernization, on
Centers of Excellence Program Act. Introduced on February 13,
2020, by Rep. Ro Khanna. This legislation requires GSA to
establish an Information Technology Modernization Centers of
Excellence Program to facilitate the adoption of modern
technology by executive agencies. GSA shall: (1) coordinate
with DHS in establishing the program to ensure that the
technology, tools, and frameworks facilitated for executive
agencies by the program provide sufficient cybersecurity and
maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of
federal information; and (2) report to Congress.
History: Introduced on February 13, 2020; Committee consideration
September 16, 2020; House passed September 30, 2020; Senate
passed November 17, 2020; President signed into law December 3,
2020
H.R. 8694, Oversight.gov Authorization Act. Introduced by
Rep. Ted Lieu on October 27, 2020. This legislation authorizes
the establishment of an oversight.gov website managed by the
Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency on
which each report issued by an Office of Inspector General
shall be posted. The section authorizes $3.5 million to carry
out the duties of the Council, including establishment of the
website.
History: Introduced on October 27, 2020. President signed into law
December 28, 2020, as part of the Consolidated Appropriation
Act, 2021
H.R. 8955, the Construction Consensus Procurement Integrity
Act. Introduced on December 14, 2020 by Rep. James Comer. This
legislation prohibits the use of reverse auctions for awarding
federal contracts for complex, specialized, or substantial
construction and design services. Generally, a reverse auction
is one in which there are multiple sellers lowering their bids
to win a supply or service contract.
History: Introduced on December 14, 2020. President signed a version of
legislation into law on December 28, 2020, as part of the
Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021
S. 375, the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019.
Introduced on February 7, 2019, by Sen. Thomas Carper. The
legislation reorganizes and revises several existing improper
payments statutes, which establish requirements for federal
agencies to cut down on improper payments made by the federal
government. OMB may establish one or more pilot programs to
test potential accountability mechanisms for compliance with
requirements regarding improper payments and the elimination of
improper payments. The legislation requires OMB to update its
plan for improving the death data maintained by the Social
Security Administration (SSA) and improving federal agency use
of death data. The legislation also establishes an interagency
working group on payment integrity.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; Senate passed July 16, 2019;
Committee consideration December 19, 2019; House passed
February 5, 2020; President signed into law March 2, 2020
S. 394, the Presidential Transition Enhancement Act of
2019. Introduced on February 7, 2019, by Sen. Ron Johnson. The
legislation makes changes intended to smooth the transfer of
executive power during presidential transitions. The
legislation provides for the detailing of legislative branch
employees on a reimbursable basis to office staffs designated
by the President-elect or Vice President-elect with the consent
of the supervising Member of Congress. The legislation also
extends support provided by GSA to the President- and Vice
President-elect for up to 60 days after the inauguration. By
September 1 of a year during which a presidential election
occurs, the GSA shall enter into a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) with each eligible candidate, which shall include the
conditions for administrative support services and facilities.
To the maximum extent practicable, an MOU shall be based on
MOUs relating to previous presidential transitions. Each MOU
shall include an agreement that the eligible candidate will
implement and enforce an ethics plan to guide the conduct of
the transition beginning on the date on which such candidate
becomes President-elect. The plan shall be published on the GSA
website. By September 15 of a year during which a presidential
election occurs, each agency shall ensure that a succession
plan is in place for each senior noncareer position in the
agency.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; Senate passed August 1, 2019;
House passed February 5, 2020; President signed into law March
3, 2020
S. 2193, the CHARGE Act. Introduced on July 18, 2019, by
Sen. Gary Peters. The legislation requires GSA to issue: (1)
guidance to clarify that federal agencies may use a charge card
to pay to charge federal electric motor vehicles at commercial
charging stations, and (2) a charge card for such payments to
each agency for each of the agency's electric motor vehicles.
History: Introduced on July 18, 2019; Senate passed November 21, 2019;
House passed September 14, 2020; President signed into law
October 1, 2020
D. Bills Passed by the House
H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019. Introduced on
January 3, 2019, by Rep. John Sarbanes. This legislation
addresses voter access, election integrity, election security,
political spending, and ethics for the three branches of
government. This legislation sets forth provisions related to
ethics in all three branches of government. Specifically, the
legislation requires a code of ethics for federal judges and
justices, prohibits Members of the House from serving on the
board of a for-profit entity, expands enforcement of
regulations governing foreign agents, and establishes
additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for
federal employees and the White House. The legislation also
requires candidates for President and Vice President to submit
10 years of tax returns.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; House passed March 8, 2019.
Committee consideration of provisions referred March 26, 2019
H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Introduced on
January 3, 2019, by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. The legislation
provides for admission into the United States of the state of
Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of most of the
territory of the District of Columbia. The state shall be
admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the other
states. The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall issue a
proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two
Senators and one Representative of the state. The legislation
applies current District laws to the state and continues
pending judicial proceedings. The state: (1) shall consist of
all District territory, with specified exclusions for federal
buildings and monuments, including the principal federal
monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the U.S.
Supreme Court Building, and the federal executive, legislative,
and judicial office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and
the Capitol Building; and (2) may not impose taxes on federal
property except as Congress permits. District territory
excluded from the state shall be known as the Capital and shall
be the seat of the federal government. The bill maintains the
federal government's authority over military lands and
specified other property. The legislation provides for
expedited consideration of a joint resolution repealing the
23rd Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the
appointment of electors of the President and Vice President.
The legislation continues certain federal authorities and
responsibilities, including regarding employee benefits,
agencies, courts, and college tuition assistance, until the
state certifies that it is prepared to take over the
authorities and responsibilities. The legislation establishes
the Statehood Transition Commission to advise the President,
Congress, and District and state leaders on the transition.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; Committee consideration, see
H.R. 5803 of ``Bills Considered by Committee''; House passed
June 26, 2020
H.R. 113, the All-American Flag Act. Introduced on January
3, 2019, by Rep. Cheri Bustos. This legislation prohibits
agencies from using funds to procure a U.S. flag unless such
flag has been manufactured in the United States from materials
that have been U.S. grown, produced, or manufactured. The
legislation specifies exceptions to this prohibition, including
an exception if flags of satisfactory quality and sufficient
quantity cannot be procured as needed at market prices.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; House passed January 15, 2019
H.R. 135, the Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee
Antidiscrimination Act of 2019. Introduced on January 3, 2019,
by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. This legislation requires each
federal agency to establish a model Equal Employment
Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human
Capital or General Counsel office, and it establishes
requirements related to complaints of discrimination and
retaliation in the workplace. An agency must publish a notice
of any final agency action or Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) appellate decision involving a finding of
prohibited discrimination or retaliation, and it must report
certain data with respect to specified equal opportunity
complaints. Each agency must establish a system to track
complaints of discrimination and include a notation of any
adverse action taken against an employee for discrimination or
retaliation in the employee's personnel record. EEOC must refer
to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) a matter about which it
issues an appellate decision involving a finding of
discrimination or retaliation within a federal agency, and the
Office of Special Counsel shall accept and review such referral
for purposes of seeking disciplinary action. An employee who
has authority to take, recommend, or approve any personnel
action shall not implement or enforce a nondisclosure policy
that prohibits or restricts an employee from disclosing
information relating to: (1) a violation of any law, rule, or
regulation; (2) mismanagement, gross waste of funds, or abuse
of authority; (3) a substantial and specific danger to public
health or safety; or (4) any other whistle-blower protection.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; House passed January 15, 2019.
House passed as part of H.R. 6395, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 July 21, 2020; House
passed as part of the conference report for H.R. 6395 December
8, 2020; Senate passed as part of the conference report for
H.R. 6395 on December 11, 2020
H.R. 202, the Inspector General Access Act of 2019.
Introduced on January 3, 2019, by Rep. Cedric Richmond. This
legislation transfers responsibility for investigating certain
allegations of misconduct from the DOJ Office of Professional
Responsibility to the DOJ Office of Inspector General.
Specifically, the legislation transfers responsibility for
allegations relating to a DOJ attorney's authority to
investigate, litigate, or provide legal advice.
History: Introduced on January 3, 2019; House passed January 15, 2019
H.R. 247, the Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2019.
Introduced on January 4, 2019, by Rep. Will Hurd. This
legislation reorganizes OMB information technology (IT)
activities and establishes new IT reporting requirements. The
legislation renames (1) the Office of E-Government &
Information Technology (E-Gov) as the Office of the Federal
Chief Information Officer (Federal CIO), and (2) the E-
Government Fund as the Federal IT Fund. The office shall be
headed by a Federal Chief Information Officer who shall report
directly to the Director of OMB (currently, the head of E-Gov
reports to the Deputy Director). There is established in the
office a Federal Chief Information Security Officer. Agencies
must report IT expenditures to the Federal CIO. The Federal CIO
must publish timely, searchable, computer-readable data on
agency IT expenditures, projects, and programs. The Federal CIO
shall submit to Congress a proposal for consolidating IT across
the federal government and increasing the use of shared
services.
History: Introduced on January 4, 2019; House passed January 15, 2019
H.R. 736, the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports
Act. Introduced on January 23, 2019, by Rep. Mike Quigley. This
legislation requires the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to
establish and maintain a publicly available online portal
containing copies of all congressionally mandated reports. A
federal agency must submit a congressionally mandated report
and specified information about the report to GPO between 30
and 45 calendar days after submission of the report to either
chamber or to any congressional committee or subcommittee. Upon
the written request of the chair of a congressional committee
or subcommittee to GPO, a report submitted to that committee or
subcommittee shall not be submitted or published on the portal.
Federally chartered corporations and GAO Office are excluded
from the requirements of this legislation. OMB must issue
guidance to federal agencies on the legislation's requirement
for agencies to submit copies of congressionally mandated
reports and related information to the GPO.
History: Introduced on January 23, 2019; House passed July 18, 2019
H.R. 790, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act
of 2019. Introduced on January 25, 2019, by Rep. Gerald
Connolly. This legislation increases by 2.6% the rates of basic
pay for federal civilian employees for 2019.
History: Introduced on January 25, 2019; House passed January 30, 2019
H.R. 995, the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act
of 2019. Introduced on February 6, 2019, by Rep. Gary Palmer.
This legislation requires executive agencies to submit
information regarding settlement agreements to a public
database. Specifically, an agency must submit information
regarding any settlement agreement (including a consent decree)
entered into by the agency related to an alleged violation of
federal law. If an agency determines that information regarding
an agreement must remain confidential to protect the public
interest, the agency must publish an explanation of why the
information is confidential.
History: Introduced on February 6, 2019; House passed February 13, 2019
H.R. 1063, the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of
2019. Introduced on February 7, 2019, by Rep. Elijah E.
Cummings. This legislation requires each presidential library
fundraising organization to submit quarterly reports to the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on every
contributor who gave the organization a contribution or
contributions (whether monetary or in-kind) totaling $200 or
more for the quarterly period. NARA shall publish such
information on its website within 30 days after each quarterly
filing. It shall be unlawful for contributors or fundraising
organizations to knowingly and willfully submit false
information or omit material information.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; House passed February 11, 2019
H.R. 1064, To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow
whistleblowers to disclose information to certain recipients.
Introduced on February 7, 2019, by Rep. Katie Hill. This
legislation modifies whistle-blower protections for federal
employees or applicants who disclose classified national
security information, or other protected information, that
evidences wrongdoing. Currently, it is unlawful to retaliate
against a federal employee for disclosing classified or
protected information of wrongdoing to one of the following
recipients: (1) the Office of Inspector General of their
agency, (2) the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, or (3) a
designated agency employee. This legislation expands the list
of recipients to whom a federal employee may make a protected
disclosure to include a supervisor in the employee's direct
chain of command.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; House passed February 11, 2019
H.R. 1065, the Social Media Use in Clearance Investigations
Act of 2019. Introduced on February 7, 2019, by Rep. Stephen F.
Lynch. This legislation directs the Office of Management and
Budget to report on the examination of social media activity
during security clearance investigations.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2019; House passed February 11, 2020
H.R. 1140, the Rights for Transportation Security Officers
Act of 2020. Introduced on February 11, 2019, by Rep. Bennie G.
Thompson. This legislation modifies the workplace rights,
protections, and benefits applicable to Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) personnel. Specifically, the legislation
within 180 days eliminates personnel authorities of DHS and the
Department of Transportation governing the conditions of
employment for TSA employees, thus making TSA employees subject
to the personnel management system applicable to other federal
employees; sets forth transition rules that protect the pay
rates, leave rights, and other rights of TSA employees; and
requires DHS to consult with the labor organization certified
by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to carry out the
conversion of such positions.
History: Introduced on February 11, 2019; House passed March 5, 2020
H.R. 1235, MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act. Introduced on
February 14, 2019, by Rep. Elijah Cummings. This legislation
extends for one year the term of office of an individual who is
currently serving as a member of the Merit Systems Protection
Board.
History: Introduced on February 14, 2019; House passed February 25,
2019
H.R. 1446, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds
Semi-Postal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019. Introduced on
February 28, 2010, by Rep. William Lacy Clay. This legislation
directs the U.S. Postal Service to sell each copy of the
Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semi-Postal Stamp and
notify Congress when all copies have been sold.
History: Introduced on February 28, 2019; House passed November 20,
2019
H.R. 1496, the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of
2019. Introduced on March 5, 2019, by Rep. Jody B. Hice. This
legislation revises the compensation provided to a President
who leaves office after enactment of this legislation or such a
President's widow or widower. Each such President, excluding a
President removed from office through impeachment, shall
receive: (1) an annuity of $200,000 per year for the remainder
of the President's life, and (2) a monetary allowance of
$200,000 per year. Such allowance shall be reduced by the
amount the President's earned income exceeds $400,000. These
monetary amounts are subject to a cost-of-living increase. The
widow or widower of each such President shall be entitled to
receive $100,000 per year, payable monthly, if such individual
waives the right to each other annuity or pension to which the
individual is entitled. This amount is subject to a cost-of-
living increase.
History: Introduced on March 5, 2019; Committee consideration March 26,
2019; House passed October 16, 2019
H.R. 1582, the Electronic Message Preservation Act.
Introduced on March 7, 2019, by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. This
legislation requires the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) to regulate federal agency preservation
of electronic messages that are federal records. NARA's
regulations must: (1) require the electronic capture,
management, and preservation of such records in accordance with
the Federal Records Act; (2) require such records to be
retrievable through electronic searches; (3) include timelines
for federal agency implementation of the regulations that
ensure compliance as expeditiously as practicable; (4)
establish functional requirements for electronic records
management systems and a process to ensure that such systems
meet the functional requirements; and (5) include requirements
for the capture, management, and preservation of other
electronic records. Agencies must publicly report on their
compliance with the regulations. NARA must: (1) establish
standards for the management of electronic presidential records
during a President's term of office, (2) certify annually
whether a President's electronic records management controls
meet the requirements of the Presidential Records Act, and (3)
report after the conclusion of a President's term of office
regarding electronic records deposited into the presidential
archival depository and whether electronic records management
controls met specified requirements.
History: Introduced on March 7, 2019; House passed March 12, 2019.
House passed as part of H.R. 6395, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 July 21, 2020; House
passed portions of the bill as part of the conference report
for H.R. 6395 December 8, 2020; Senate passed as part of the
conference report for H.R. 6395 on December 11, 2020
H.R. 1608, the Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of
2019. Introduced on March 7, 2019, by Rep. William Lacy Clay.
This legislation revises provisions regarding federal advisory
committees, including to: (1) require designation of committee
members as special government employees or representatives, (2)
apply the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to
subcommittees and subgroups, and (3) require publication of
certain information about advisory committees. The legislation
requires appointments to advisory committees to be made without
regard to political affiliation or campaign activity, unless
required by federal statute.
History: Introduced on March 7, 2019; House passed March 12, 2019
H.R. 1654, the Federal Register Modernization Act.
Introduced on March 8, 2019, by Rep. Mark Meadows. This
legislation revises provisions regarding the Federal Register
or the Code of Federal Regulations, including to replace
requirements that the documents be printed with requirements
that the documents be published.
History: Introduced on March 8, 2019; House passed March 12, 2019
H.R. 1847, the Inspector General Protection Act. Introduced
on March 21, 2019, by Rep. Ted Lieu. This legislation requires
the President to notify Congress each time the President places
an inspector general on nonduty status. If the President fails,
within 210 days, to make a formal nomination for a vacant
inspector general position that requires a formal nomination by
the President to be filled, the President shall communicate to
Congress within 30 days after the end of such period: (1) the
reasons why the President has not yet made a formal nomination,
and (2) a target date for making a formal nomination.
History: Introduced on March 21, 2019; Committee consideration March
26, 2019; House passed July 17, 2019
H.R. 2382, the USPS Fairness Act. Introduced on April 29,
2019, by Rep. Peter DeFazio. This legislation repeals the
requirement that the U.S. Postal Service annually prepay future
retirement health benefits.
History: Introduced on April 29, 2019; House passed February 5, 2020
H.R. 3830, the Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act. Introduced on
July 18, 2019, by Rep. Tim Walberg. This legislation requires
OMB to expand the information it publishes in its inventory of
agency programs. The inventory must include information such as
links to program performance reviews and details regarding
financial assistance.
History: Introduced on July 18, 2019; Committee consideration December
19, 2019; House passed February 5, 2020; House passed as part
of H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2021 July 21, 2020; House passed portions of the bill as
part of the conference report for H.R. 6395 December 8, 2020;
Senate passed as part of the conference report for H.R. 6395 on
December 11, 2020
H.R. 3941, the FedRAMP Authorization Act. Introduced on
July 24, 2019, by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly. This legislation
provides statutory authority for the Federal Risk and
Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) within GSA. GSA must
establish a government-wide program that provides the
authoritative standardized approach to security assessment and
authorization for cloud computing products and services that
process unclassified information used by agencies. Agencies
must ensure that their cloud computing services meet GSA
requirements. The legislation establishes the Joint
Authorization Board to conduct security assessments of cloud
computing services and issue provisional authorizations to
operate to cloud service providers that meet FedRAMP security
guidelines. GSA shall: (1) determine the requirements for
certification of independent assessment organizations, and (2)
establish the Federal Secure Cloud Advisory Committee.
History: Introduced on July 24, 2019; Committee consideration December
19, 2019; House passed February 5, 2020
H.R. 4894, the Congressional Budget Justification
Transparency Act of 2020. Introduced on October 29, 2019, by
Rep. Mike Quigley. This legislation requires federal agencies
to make budget justification materials available to the public.
The legislation also requires OMB to make certain details
regarding the materials available to the public, including a
list of the agencies that submit budget justification materials
to Congress, the dates that the materials are submitted to
Congress and posted online, and links to the materials.
History: Introduced on October 29, 2019; Committee consideration March
4, 2020; House passed September 14, 2020
H.R. 5858, the Federal Employee Parental Leave Corrections
Act. Introduced on March 10, 2020 by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney.
This legislation makes amendments to the Family and Medical
Leave Act (P.L. 103-3) to ensure that all federal employees are
eligible for 12 weeks of paid parental leave, including among
others employees of the Federal Aviation Administration, the
Executive Office of the President and certain employees of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
History: Introduced on March 10, 2020; House passed as part of H.R.
6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 July 21, 2020; House passed as part of the conference
report for H.R. 6395 December 8, 2020; Senate passed as part of
the conference report for H.R. 6395 on December 11, 2020
H.R. 6020, To Require an Evaluation by the Government
Accountability Office of the Social, Economic, and Historic
Contributions that Minor League Baseball Has Made to American
Life and Culture. Introduced on February 28, 2020, by Rep. Lori
Trahan. This legislation directs the Government Accountability
Office to evaluate the social, economic, and historic
contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to American
life and culture.
History: Introduced on February 28, 2020; Committee consideration March
4, 2020; House passed March 10, 2020
H.R. 7340, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act of 2020.
Introduced on June 25, 2020, by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly. This
legislation requires federal agencies to develop and disclose
reopening plans that incorporate certain information before
sending employees back to work during a public health
emergency, such as the emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e.,
coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the legislation
requires an agency to post a reopening plan on its website at
least 30 days before reopening a facility. Among other
information, the plan must detail: (1) the personal protective
equipment that the agency will provide to its employees; (2)
protections for employees whose work requires them to be in
nonfederal buildings, such as auditors; and (3) potential
measures to reverse the reopening that still ensure the
continuity of operations. Each agency's Office of Inspector
General must report on whether the agency has complied with
this legislation's requirements and whether the agency has
provided adequate PPE for its employees.
History: Introduced on June 25, 2020; Committee consideration September
16, 2020; House passed September 30, 2020
H.R. 7448, the Telework for U.S. Innovation Act. Introduced
by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly on July 1, 2020. This bill makes
permanent the Telework Enhancement Act Pilot Program in the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The program allows
USPTO employees to telework from locations across the United
States; USPTO may cover any necessary travel expenses to and
from an agency worksite. The program is set to expire on
December 31, 2020.
History: Introduced July 1 2020; House passed as part of H.R. 6395, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 July
21, 2020; House passed as part of the conference report for
H.R. 6395 December 8, 2020; Senate passed as part of the
conference report for H.R. 6395 on December 11, 2020
H.R. 7496, the COVID PREPARE Act of 2020. Introduced on
July 6, 2020, by Rep. Bradley Schneider. This legislation
requires federal agencies to submit to Congress plans for
responding to any resurgence of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus
disease 2019). Specifically, each agency shall submit: (1) an
initial report detailing an action plan, informed by research
and best practices learned from the onset of COVID-19 and
previous presidentially declared emergencies, for addressing
the needs and mitigating and eliminating the risks and
challenges associated with any resurgence in COVID-19 cases;
and (2) subsequent reports, on a quarterly basis until the
President ends the declared emergency, that update the details
submitted in the plan. The initial report shall include agency
priorities for preparing for and responding to any resurgence;
measurable goals specific to priorities and a time line for
addressing each priority; anticipated challenges to addressing
priorities and how the agency will address such challenges; how
the agency will consult with Congress, the public, state and
municipal governments, and relevant stakeholders while working
remotely; and how the agency plans to issue relevant guidance
to entities under the jurisdiction of the agency.
History: Introduced on July 6, 2020; Committee consideration September
16, 2020; House passed September 30, 2020
H.R. 7512, the COMMS Act. Introduced on July 9, 2020, by
Rep. Susan Davis. This legislation renames the House Commission
on Congressional Mailing Standards as the House Communications
Standards Commission, to extend the authority of the Commission
to regulate mass mailings of Members and Members-elect of the
House of Representatives to all unsolicited mass communications
of Members and Members-elect of the House, and for other
purposes.
History: Introduced on July 09, 2020; House passed July 30, 2020
H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act. Introduced on
August 11, 2020, by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. This legislation
prohibits the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from making changes to
operations or levels of service from those that were in effect
on January 1, 2020. Specifically, the USPS may not, during the
period beginning on enactment of this legislation and ending on
the last day of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019)
public health emergency or January 1, 2021, whichever is later,
implement or approve any change to the operations or the level
of service that would impede prompt, reliable, and efficient
services, including changes in the nature of services that will
generally affect service on a nationwide basis; revisions of
service standards; closures or consolidations of post offices
or reduction of facility hours; prohibitions on payment of
overtime pay to USPS officers or employees; changes that would
prevent the USPS from meeting its service standards or that
would reduce measurements of performance concerning those
standards; changes that would have the effect of delaying mail,
allowing non-delivery to a delivery route, or increasing the
volume of undelivered mail.
History: Introduced on August 11, 2020; House passed August 22, 2020
S. 3989, the Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act.
Introduced by Senator Pat Toomey on June 17, 2020. This
legislation Act changes certain requirements of the Commission
established commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding
of the United States. The bill would modify the membership of
the commission and grant the commission the power to authorize
and license official products and logos.
History: Introduced on June 17, 2020; Senate passed July 21, 2020;
House passed December 17, 2020, with an amendment; Senate
passed amended version December 19, 2020
S. 5036, Secret Service Overtime Pay Extension Act.
Introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham on December 16, 2020. This
bill extends the authority of the U.S. Secret Service set to
expire December 31, 2020 to pay its employees in excess of the
pay cap established in section 5545 of title 5 U.S.C. by three
additional years. It also requires reporting by the Secret
Service to Congress on efforts to improve personnel management
at the Service.
History: Introduced on December 16, 2020; Senate passed December 16;
House passed December 18, 2020
E. Legislation Considered by the Committee
H.R. 391, the White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2019.
Introduced on January 9, 2019, by Rep. Stephen L. Lynch. The
legislation creates transparency requirements for ethics
waivers (i.e., waivers from the requirement to sign an ethics
pledge) issued to executive branch appointees. Specifically,
such ethics waivers must be transmitted to the Office of
Government Ethics (OGE) and made publicly available online.
History: Introduced on January 9, 2019; Committee passed June 12, 2019.
Included in H.R. 1 which passed the House March 8, 2019
H.R. 745, the Executive Branch Comprehensive Ethics
Enforcement Act of 2019. Introduced on January 24, 2019, by
Rep. Jamie Raskin. The legislation expands the duties and
authorities of OGE and reauthorizes OGE through FY2023. Among
other things, the legislation authorizes the Office of
Government Ethics to issue subpoenas during investigations, and
order corrective actions (e.g., divestiture) and issue
administrative remedies (e.g., suspension or demotion). OGE
must provide ethics education and training to all designated
and alternate designated agency ethics officials, who must
register with, and report to, OGE and their appointing
authority. Agency ethics officials must provide specified
ethics records to the Office of OGE in a searchable, sortable,
and downloadable format; such information must be published on
the OGE's website.
History: Introduced on January 24, 2019; Committee passed March 26,
2019. Included in H.R. 1 which passed the House March 8, 2019
H.R. 964, the Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act.
Introduced on February 5, 2019, by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings. The
legislation requires a President-elect to submit to Congress a
report with a list of any individual: (1) for whom an
application for a security clearance was submitted, by 10 days
after its submission; or (2) provided a security clearance, by
10 days after it was provided. The Federal Transition
Coordinator must negotiate a memorandum of understanding with
the transition representative of each eligible candidate by
October 1 (currently November 1) of a year during which a
presidential election occurs. Each memorandum of understanding
shall include an agreement that the eligible candidate will
implement and enforce an ethics plan to guide the conduct of
the transition beginning on the date on which the candidate
becomes the President-elect. The ethics plan shall include a
description of the ethics requirements that will apply to all
transition team members; a description of how the transition
team will address the role on the team of registered lobbyists,
former registered lobbyists, persons registered under the
Foreign Agents Registration Act, foreign nationals, other
foreign agents, and transition team members with sources of
income or clients that are not disclosed to the public; a Code
of Ethical Conduct, to which each transition team member will
sign and be subject to, that reflects the content of the ethics
plans and that meets other specified requirements; and a
description of how the transition team will enforce the Code of
Ethical Conduct.
History: Introduced on February 5, 2019; Committee passed March 26,
2019. Included in H.R. 1 which passed the House March 8, 2019
H.R. 2003, the Ensuring FEHBP Coverage During Shutdowns
Act. Introduced on April 1, 2019, by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings.
The legislation provides statutory authority to allow federal
employees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program or make changes to their enrollment due to a qualifying
life event, during a lapse in appropriations for the federal
government. Specifically, the bill designates the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program services as excepted services
under the Anti-Deficiency Act.
History: Introduced on April 1, 2019; Committee passed June 12, 2019
H.R. 2004, the Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During
Shutdowns Act. Introduced on April 1, 2019, by Rep. Elijah E.
Cummings. The legislation prohibits the termination of federal-
employee dental, vision, and long-term-care insurance coverage
as a result of unpaid premiums or other periodic charges in the
event of a lapse in appropriations that results in an employee
being furloughed or an excepted employee working without pay.
This includes supplemental dental, vision, and long-term-care
insurance policies.
History: Introduced on April 1, 2019; Committee passed June 12, 2019
H.R. 2530, the Interim Stay Authority to Protect
Whistleblowers Act. Introduced on May 7, 2019, by Rep. Gerald
E. Connolly. The legislation authorizes the general counsel of
the Merit Systems Protection Board to temporarily act as a
member of the board when dealing with matters related to the
staying of certain personnel actions, and it authorizes a
single member of the board to carry out certain board duties in
the event of a lack of quorum.
History: Introduced on May 7, 2019; Committee passed June 12, 2019
H.R. 2978, the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission Reauthorization Act of 2019. Introduced on May 23,
2019, by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly. The legislation reauthorizes
the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions,
was introduced by Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman
Connolly and Ranking Member Meadows on May 23, 2019. The
legislation would authorize appropriations of $15 million
annually for fiscal years 2020 through 2025. The legislation
also adds the Council of State Archivists, a nonprofit
membership organization of the state and territorial government
archivists, as a member of the National Historical Publications
and Records Commissions.
History: Introduced on May 23, 2019; Committee passed June 12, 2019
H.R. 3883, the Restore the Partnership Act. Introduced on
July 23, 2019, by Rep. Gerald Connolly. The legislation
reconstitutes the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations (ACIR) as the 31-member Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations of the United States to bring
together federal, state, local, and--for the first time--tribal
stakeholders to engage essential and complex issues that
require cooperation among the levels of government in the
United States. The legislation would create a commission to
convene experts, provide technical assistance, and recommend
solutions that lead to more appropriate delegations of
governmental functions.
History: Introduced on July 23, 2019; Committee considered on December
19, 2019
H.R. 4382, the Integrity Committee Transparency Act of
2019. Introduced on September 18, 2019, by Rep. Gerald E.
Connolly. The legislation expands the membership of the Council
of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to include a
former inspector general and revises requirements regarding the
council's Integrity Committee. The Integrity Committee must
provide additional information to: (1) the council when
requesting an extension of time to evaluate an allegation of
wrongdoing, and (2) Congress and the council when it closes an
allegation without referral to the council for investigation.
The committee must brief congressional committees on its
activities every six months.
History: Introduced on September 18, 2019; Committee passed September
16, 2020
H.R. 5803, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Introduced
on February 7, 2020, by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. The
legislation provides for admission into the United States of
the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of
most of the territory of the District of Columbia. The
commonwealth shall be admitted to the Union on an equal footing
with the other states. The Mayor of the District of Columbia
shall issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress
of two Senators and one Representative of the commonwealth. The
legislation applies current District laws to the commonwealth
and continues pending judicial proceedings. The commonwealth:
(1) shall consist of all District territory, with specified
exclusions for federal buildings and monuments, including the
principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol
Building, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and the federal
executive, legislative, and judicial office buildings located
adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol Building; and (2) may not
impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits.
District territory excluded from the commonwealth shall be
known as the Capital and shall be the seat of the federal
government. The bill maintains the federal government's
authority over military lands and specified other property. The
legislation provides for expedited consideration of a joint
resolution repealing the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution,
which provides for the appointment of electors of the President
and Vice President. The legislation continues certain federal
authorities and responsibilities, including regarding employee
benefits, agencies, courts, and college tuition assistance,
until the commonwealth certifies that it is prepared to take
over the authorities and responsibilities. The legislation
establishes the Statehood Transition Commission to advise the
President, Congress, and District and commonwealth leaders on
the transition.
History: Introduced on February 7, 2020; Committee passed February 11,
2020. See H.R. 51 for House passage
H.R. 7107, the PLUM Act of 2020. Introduced on June 4,
2020, by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. The legislation replaces the
congressional publication entitled United States Government
Policy and Supporting Positions, commonly known as the PLUM
Book, with an online public directory. The PLUM Book contains
personnel information for federal civil service leadership and
support positions in the legislative and executive branches
that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment, including
heads of agencies and policy executives. The book is used to
identify presidentially appointed positions and is published
every four years (after each presidential election) by certain
congressional committees. The legislation requires OPM to
publish the information contained in the PLUM Book on a public
website in a format that is easily searchable and that
otherwise meets certain data standards. Agencies must upload
updated information to the website on a monthly basis; OPM must
verify the accuracy of the information twice a year in
coordination with the White House Office of Presidential
Personnel. The legislation terminates publication of the PLUM
Book in its current form on January 1, 2024.
History: Introduced on June 4, 2020; Committee passed September 16,
2020
H.R. 7548, the Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic
Act of 2020. Introduced on July 9, 2020, by Rep. Carolyn B.
Maloney. The legislation establishes a pandemic preparation tax
credit and a requirement to maintain in the Strategic National
Stockpile a specified amount of personal protective equipment.
The pandemic preparation tax credit is an amount equal to 20%
of the qualified expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer for
purposes of producing personal protective equipment that
qualifies for addition to the Strategic National Stockpile. OMB
shall ensure that the stockpile includes an amount of personal
protective equipment sufficient to meet the health security
needs of the United States for one year during a pandemic or
other emergency. The legislation requires that at least 25% of
the personal protective equipment in the stockpile be produced
domestically, with exceptions. If OMB determines that the
requirement is not satisfied, it shall: (1) notify specified
congressional committees on a quarterly basis; and (2) post
each notification on a General Services Administration website.
History: Introduced on July 9, 2020; Committee passed September 16,
2020
H.R. 7936, the Federal Employee Access to Information Act.
Introduced on August 4, 2020, by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. The
legislation prohibits personnel retaliation against federal
employees and applicants for employment who file requests under
the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act or who seek
related administrative or judicial actions.
History: Introduced on August 4, 2020; Committee passed September 16,
2020
H.R. 8109, the Nonpartisan Postmaster General Act of 2020.
Introduced on August 25, 2020, by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. The
legislation restricts the political activities of the members
of the Postal Service Board of Governors, including the
Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General.
Specifically, the legislation prohibits: (1) the Postmaster
General and the Deputy Postmaster General from taking an active
part in political management or political campaigns; and (2)
the Board of Governors, the Postmaster General, and the Deputy
Postmaster General from holding any political position while in
office or soliciting funds for the campaign of a candidate for
elected office or for a political party. An individual must
make certain financial disclosures prior to assuming the duties
of Postmaster General or Deputy Postmaster General.
History: Introduced on August 25, 2020; Committee passed September 16,
2020
F. Postal Naming Measures Enacted into Law
H.R. 540, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New
York, as the ``Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office''.
Introduced on January 14, 2019, by Rep. Joseph D. Moelle.
H.R. 828, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 25 Route 111 in Smithtown, New York,
as the ``Congressman Bill Carney Post Office''. Introduced on
January 28, 2019, by Rep. Lee M. Zeldin.
H.R. 829, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New
York, as the ``Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office
Building''. Introduced on January 28, 2019, by Rep. Lee M.
Zeldin.
H.R. 887, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 877 East 1200 South in Orem, Utah, as
the ``Jerry C. Washburn Post Office Building''. Introduced on
January 30, 2019, by Rep. John R. Curtis.
H.R. 1198, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 404 South Boulder Highway in
Henderson, Nevada, as the ``Henderson Veterans Memorial Post
Office Building''. Introduced on February 13, 2019, by Rep.
Susie Lee.
H.R. 1250, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 11158 Highway 146 North in Hardin,
Texas, as the ``Lucas Lowe Memorial Post Office''. Introduced
on February 14, 2019, by Rep. Brian Babin.
H.R. 1252, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 6531 Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys,
California, as the ``Marilyn Monroe Post Office''. Introduced
on February 14, 2019, by Rep. Tony Cardenas.
H.R. 1253, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 13507 Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima,
California, as the ``Ritchie Valens Post Office Building''.
Introduced on February 14, 2019, by Rep. Tony Cardenas.
H.R. 1449, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 3033 203rd Street in Olympia Fields,
Illinois, as the ``Captain Robert L. Martin Post Office''.
Introduced on February 28, 2019, by Rep. Robin Kelly.
H.R. 1526, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 200 Israel Road Southeast in
Tumwater, Washington, as the ``Eva G. Hewitt Post Office''.
Introduced on March 5, 2019, by Rep. Denny Heck.
S. 725, To change the address of the postal facility
designated in honor of Captain Humayun Khan. Introduced on
March 7, 2019, by Sen. Tim Kaine.
H,.R. 1833, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 35 Tulip Avenue in Floral Park, New
York, as the ``Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson Post Office
Building''. Introduced on March 18, 2019, by Kathleen M. Rice.
H.R. 1844, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 66 Grove Court in Elgin, Illinois, as
the ``Corporal Alex Martinez Memorial Post Office Building''.
Introduced on March 21, 2019, by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
H.R. 1972, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1100 West Kent Avenue in Missoula,
Montana, as the ``Jeannette Rankin Post Office Building''.
Introduced on March 28, 2019, by Rep. Greg Gianforte.
H.R. 2151, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 7722 South Main Street in Pine
Plains, New York, as the ``Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon
M. Kent Post Office''. Introduced on April 9, 2019, by Rep.
Antonio Delgado.
S. 1196, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1715 Linnerud Drive in Sun Prairie,
Wisconsin, as the ``Fire Captain Cory Barr Post Office
Building''. Introduced on April 11, 2019, by Sen. Tammy
Baldwin.
H.R. 2246, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 201 West Cherokee Street in
Brookhaven, Mississippi, as the ``Deputy Donald William Durr,
Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post
Office Building''. Introduced by on April 10, 2019 by Rep.
Michael Guest.
H.R. 2325, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 100 Calle Alondra in San Juan, Puerto
Rico, as the ``65th Infantry Regiment Post Office Building''.
Introduced on April 15, 2019, by Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon.
H.R. 2451, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 575 Dexter Street in Central Falls,
Rhode Island, as the ``Elizabeth Buffum Chace Post Office''.
Introduced on May 1, 2019, by Rep. David N. Cicilline.
H.R. 2454, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 123 East Sharpfish Street in Rosebud,
South Dakota, as the ``Ben Reifel Post Office Building''.
Introduced on May 1, 2019, by Rep. Dusty Johnson.
H.R. 2969, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter
Haven, Florida, as the ``Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post
Office Building''. Introduced on May 23, 2019, by Rep. Darren
Soto.
H.R. 3005, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 13308 Midland Road in Poway,
California, as the ``Ray Chavez Post Office Building''.
Introduced on May 23, 2019, by Rep. Scott H. Peters.
H.R. 3144, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 8520 Michigan Avenue in Whittier,
California, as the ``Jose Ramos Post Office Building''.
Introduced on June 5, 2019, by Rep. Linda T. Sanchez.
H.R. 3207, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 114 Mill Street in Hookstown,
Pennsylvania, as the ``Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin Post Office
Building''. Introduced on June 11, 2019, by Rep. Conner Lamb.
H.R. 3275, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 340 Wetmore Avenue in Grand River,
Ohio, as the ``Lance Corporal Andy `Ace' Nowacki Post Office''.
Introduced on June 13, 2019, by Rep. David P. Joyce.
H.R. 3305, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia
Beach, Virginia, as the ``Ryan Keith Cox Post Office
Building''. Introduced June 18, 2019, by Rep. Elaine G. Luria.
H.R. 3314, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1750 McCulloch Boulevard North in
Lake Havasu City, Arizona, as the ``Lake Havasu City Combat
Veterans Memorial Post Office Building''. Introduced on June
18, 2019, by Rep. Paul A. Gosar.
H.R. 3317, To permit the Scipio A. Jones Post Office in
Little Rock, Arkansas, to accept and display a portrait of
Scipio A. Jones, and for other purposes. Introduced on June 18,
2019, by Rep. French J. Hill.
H.R. 3329, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 5186 Benito Street in Montclair,
California, as the ``Paul Eaton Post Office Building''.
Introduced on June 18, 2019, by Rep. Norma J. Torres.
H.R. 3680, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 415 North Main Street in Henning,
Tennessee, as the ``Paula Croom Robinson and Judy Spray
Memorial Post Office Building''. Introduced on July 10, 2019,
by Rep. David Kustoff.
H.R. 3847, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 117 West Poythress Street in
Hopewell, Virginia, as the ``Reverend Curtis West Harris Post
Office Building''. Introduced on July 18, 2019, by Rep. Donald
A. McEachin.
H.R. 3870, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 511 West 165th Street in New York,
New York, as the ``Normandia Maldonado Post Office Building''.
Introduced on July 22, 2019, by Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
H.R. 4034, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 602 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton,
Washington, as the ``John Henry Turpin Post Office Building''.
Introduced on July 25, 2019, by Rep. Derek Kilmer.
H.R. 4200, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 321 South 1st Street in Montrose,
Colorado, as the ``Sergeant David Kinterknecht Post Office''.
Introduced on August 20, 2019, by Rep. Scott R. Tipton.
H.R. 4279, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 445 Main Street in Laceyville,
Pennsylvania, as the ``Melinda Gene Piccotti Post Office''.
Introduced on September 11, 2019, by Rep. Fred Keller.
H.R. 4672, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 21701 Stevens Creek Boulevard in
Cupertino, California, as the ``Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL)
Matthew G. Axelson Post Office Building''. Introduced on
October 15, 2019, by Rep. Ro Khanna.
H.R. 4725, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 8585 Criterion Drive in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, as the ``Chaplain (Capt.) Dale Goetz
Memorial Post Office Building''. Introduced on October 27,
2019, by Rep. Doug Lamborn.
H.R. 4734, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 171 South Maple Street in Dana,
Indiana, as the ``Ernest `Ernie' T. Pyle Post Office''.
Introduced on October 18, 2019, by Rep. Larry Bucshon.
H.R. 4785, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in
Castroville, Texas, as the ``Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain
Rairdan Post Office''. Introduced on October 22, 2019, by Rep.
Will Hurd.
H.R. 4794, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 8320 13th Avenue in Brooklyn, New
York, as the ``Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Post Office
Building''. Introduced on October 22, 2019, by Rep. Max Rose.
H.R. 4875, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2201 E. Maple Street in North Canton,
Ohio, as the ``Lance Cpl. Stacy `Annie' Dryden Post Office''.
Introduced on October 28, 2019, by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez.
H.R. 4971, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 15 East Market Street in Leesburg,
Virginia, as the ``Norman Duncan Post Office Building''.
Introduced on October 31, 2019, by Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
H.R. 4975, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1201 Sycamore Square Drive in
Midlothian, Virginia, as the ``Dorothy Braden Bruce Post Office
Building. Introduced on November 1, 2019, by Rep. Abigail Davis
Spanberger.
H.R. 4981, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2505 Derita Avenue in Charlotte,
North Carolina, as the ``Julius L. Chambers Civil Rights
Memorial Post Office''. Introduced on November 15, 2019, by
Rep. Alma Adams.
H.R. 5037, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 3703 North Main Street in Farmville,
North Carolina, as the ``Walter B. Jones, Jr. Post Office''.
Introduced on November 12, 2019, by Rep. Gregory Murphy.
H.R. 5062, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 9930 Conroy Windermere Road in
Windermere, Florida, as the ``Officer Robert German Post Office
Building''. Introduced on November 13, 2019, by Rep. Val
Demmigs.
H.R. 5307, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 115 Nicol Avenue in Thomasville,
Alabama, as the ``Postmaster Robert Ingram Post Office''.
Introduced on December 5, 2019, by Rep. Terri A. Sewell.
H.R. 5317, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 315 Addicks Howell Rd. in Houston,
Texas, as the ``Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office
Building''. Introduced on December 5, 2019, by Rep. Lizzie
Fletcher.
H.R. 5384, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 100 Crosby Street in Mansfield,
Louisiana, as the ``Dr. C.O. Simpkins, Sr., Post Office''.
Introduced on December 10, 2019, by Rep. Mike Johnson.
H.R. 5954, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 108 West Maple Street in Holly,
Michigan, as the ``Holly Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
Introduced on February 25, 2020, by Rep. Elissa Slotkin S.
3105, A bill to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 456 North Meridian Street in
Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Richard G. Lugar Post Office''.
Introduced on December 18, 2019, by Sen. Mike Braun.
G. Postal Naming Measures Passed by the House
H.R. 3152, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 456 North Meridian Street in
Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Richard G. Lugar Post Office''.
Introduced on June 6, 2019, by Rep. Andre Carson.
H.R. 3976, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in
Detroit, Michigan, as the ``Aretha Franklin Post Office
Building''. Introduced on July 25, 2019, by Rep. Brenda L.
Lawrence. Passed by the Senate on December 18, 2020.
H.R. 4988, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 14 Walnut Street in Bordentown, New
Jersey, as the ``Clara Barton Post Office Building''.
Introduced on November 5, 2019 by Rep. Andy Kim. Passed the
Senate on December 18, 2020.
H.R. 5123, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 476 East Main Street in Galesburg,
Illinois, as the ``Senior Airman Daniel Miller Post Office
Building''. Introduced on November 15, 2019 by Rep. Cheri
Bustos. Passed by the December 18, 2020.
H.R. 5451, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 599 East Genesse Street in
Fayetteville, New York, as the ``George H. Bacel Post Office
Building''. Introduced on December 17, 2019 by Rep. John Katko.
Passed the Senate on December 18, 2020.
H.R. 5562, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 4650 East Rosedale Street in Fort
Worth, Texas, as the ``Dionne Phillips Bagsby Post Office
Building''. Introduced on January 8, 2020 by Rep. Marc Veasey.
H.R. 5597, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 305 Northwest 5th Street in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, as the ``Clara Luper Post Office Building''.
Introduced on January 14, 2020, by Rep. Kendra Horn. Passed the
Senate December 17, 2020.
H.R. 5987, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 909 West Holiday Drive in Fate,
Texas, as the ``Ralph Hall Post Office''. Introduced on
February 27, 2020 by Rep. John Ratcliffe.
H.R. 5972, Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office Dedication Act.
Introduced on February 26, 2020 by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Passed the Senate December 18, 2020. Passed the Senate December
18, 2020.
H.R. 5983, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 4150 Chicago Avenue in Riverside,
California, as the ``Woodie Rucker-Hughes Post Office
Building''. Introduced on February 26, 2020 by Rep. Mark
Takano. Passed the Senate December 18, 2020.
H.R. 5988, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2600 Wesley Street in Greenville,
Texas, as the ``Audie Murphy Post Office Building''. Introduced
on February 27, 2020, by Rep. John Ratcliffe.
H.R. 6016, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 14955 West Bell Road in Surprise,
Arizona, as the ``Marc Lee Memorial Post Office Building''.
Introduced on February 28, 2020. Passed the Senate December 18,
2020.
H.R. 6161, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1585 Yanceyville Street in
Greensboro, North Carolina, as the ``J. Howard Coble Post
Office Building''. Introduced on March 9, 2020 by Rep. Mark
Walker. Passed the Senate December 18, 2020.
H.R. 6418, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 509 Fairhope Avenue in Fairhope,
Alabama, as the ``William `Jack' Jackson Edwards III Post
Office Building''. Introduced on March 31, 2020 by Rep. Bradley
Byrne. Passed the Senate December 18, 2020.
H.R. 7088, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 111 James Street in Reidsville,
Georgia, as the ``Senator Jack Hill Post Office Building''.
Introduced on June 4, 2020 by Rep. Earl L. ``Buddy'' Carter.
Passed the Senate December 18, 2020.
H.R. 7502, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 101 South 16th Street in Clarinda,
Iowa, as the ``Jessie Field Shambaugh Post Office Building''.
Introduced on July 9, 2020 by Rep. Cynthia Axne. Passed the
Senate December 18, 2020.
H.R. 7810, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 3519 East Walnut Street in Pearland,
Texas, as the ``Tom Reid Post Office Building''. Introduced on
July 29, 2020 by Rep. Pete Olson. Passed the Senate December
18, 2020.
H.R. 8611, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 4755 Southeast Dixie Highway in Port
Salerno, Florida, as the ``Joseph Bullock Post Office
Building''. Introduced on October 16, 2020 by Rep. Brian Mast.
Passed the Senate December 18, 2020.
S. 3257, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 311 West Wisconsin Avenue in
Tomahawk, Wisconsin, as the ``Einar `Sarge' H. Ingman, Jr. Post
Office Building''. Introduced on February 5, 2020 by Senator
Ron Johnson. Passed the House December 10, 2020.
S. 3461, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2600 Wesley Street in Greenville,
Texas, as the ``Audie Murphy Post Office Building''. Introduced
on March 12, 2020 by Senator John Cornyn. Passed the House
December 10, 2020.
S. 3462, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 909 West Holiday Drive in Fate,
Texas, as the ``Ralph Hall Post Office''. Introduced on March
12, 2020 by Senator John Cornyn. Passed the House December 10,
2020.
S. 4126, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 104 East Main Street in Port
Washington, Wisconsin, as the ``Joseph G. Demler Post Office''.
Introduced on July 1, 2020 by Senator Ron Johnson. Passed the
House December 10, 2020.
S. 4684, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 440 Arapahoe Street in Thermopolis,
Wyoming, as the ``Robert L. Brown Post Office''. Introduced on
September 24, 2020 by Senator Michael Enzi. Passed the House
December 10, 2020.
H. Postal Naming Measures Approved by the Committee
H.R. 2277, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1715 Linnerud Drive in Sun Prairie,
Wisconsin, as the ``Fire Captain Cory Barr Post Office
Building''. Introduced on April 10, 2019, by Rep. Mark Pocan.
H.R. 5061, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 42 Main Street in Slatersville, Rhode
Island, as the ``Specialist Matthew R. Turcotte Post Office''.
Introduced on November 13, 2019, by Rep. David N. Cicillini.
V. SUMMARY OF OVERSIGHT PLAN AND CORRESPONDING ACTIONS
Pursuant to Rule X, Clause 2(d) of the Rules of the House
of Representatives the Committee adopted an oversight plan at
the beginning of the 116th Congress. The plan consisted of
topics designated for investigation, evaluation, and review by
then-Chairman Elijah E. Cummings, in consultation with then-
Ranking Member Jim Jordan, other Committee Members, and other
Committees.
The plan highlighted intended subjects of oversight,
including:
Health Care, including the costs of
prescription drugs, the opioid crisis, program
integrity the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) as well as barriers to health care
access with particular attention to the ability of
communities of color, women, and the LGBTQ population
to access the full continuum of health care services;
Executive Branch ethics, transparency, and
accountability, including possible self-dealing and
violations of ethics laws by senior Executive Branch
officials, numerous violations of the Hatch Act by
senior White House and agency officials, reports that
White House and other Administration officials are
obstructing GAO and refusing to cooperate with agency
Inspectors General, noncompliance with the Presidential
Records Act, implementation of open government laws,
and allegations of whistleblower retaliation;
The President's business interests,
conflicts of interest, and emoluments, including
President Trump's failure to divest himself of his
myriad business interests, the President's failure to
report on his annual Financial Disclosure payments and
liabilities to silence women alleging extramarital
affairs during the 2016 presidential campaign, the
President's position as both landlord and tenant in the
General Services Administration's lease of the Old Post
Office Building to the President's company for the
Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the
GSA's management of a decade-long procurement for a new
headquarters building for the FBI to replace the J.
Edgar Hoover Building, and the Administration's
excessive travel spending;
Security clearances, the White House's and
Transition Team's disregard for established procedures
for safeguarding classified information;
Voting rights, voter suppression, and
election security, including laws and policies that
have hindered voting, the security of election
infrastructure, and efforts by federal, state, and
local governments to ensure elections and election
systems resilient against intrusion or interference;
Environment and public health, including
climate change and the federal government's response to
Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands in 2017;
Immigration, including the Trump
Administration policies that have separated thousands
of children from their families at the southern border
as well as Administration's policies relating to the
immigration detention system, visa and asylum
applications;
Workers' rights and protections, including
the Administration's efforts to weaken collective
bargaining rights and employee protections affecting
federal workers, the impact of federal agency
vacancies, and agencies' handling of allegations of
harassment or bullying;
Homeland and national security, including
efforts by former National Security Advisor Michael
Flynn and others within the White House to rush the
transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to
Saudi Arabi, management issues at TSA, and Secret
Service operations;
Criminal justice reform, including staffing,
resources, and facilities management challenges at the
Justice Department's Bureau of Prisons;
Census, including preparations for the
Decennial Census in 2020 and the Trump Administration's
efforts to add a citizenship question to the Census;
Postal Service, including the Postal
Service's deepening financial challenges while
guaranteeing universal service;
Cybersecurity and privacy, including
cyberattacks affecting federal agencies and the private
sector, and federal agencies' compliance with Federal
Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA);
Consumer protection, including whether
federal consumer watchdog agencies are meeting their
statutory responsibilities to protect consumers;
Student loans and for-profit colleges,
including the Department of Education's oversight of
those industries;
Title IX and campus sexual assault,
including the Department of Education's proposed
regulations; and
Government contracting, including
contracting by agencies identified by GAO as ``high
risks,'' to ensure there is appropriate management of
taxpayer funds and agencies are effectively using
acquisition strategies.
The Committee's oversight of these and many other issues in
the 116th Congress resulted in substantial cost savings for
American taxpayers and improvement in the effectiveness and
efficiency of our government. The following highlights the
major oversight accomplishments of the Committee in the 116th
Congress.
A. Full Committee
I. HEALTH CARE AND INCREASING DRUG PRICES
Drug Prices. In January 2019, the Committee launched an
investigation into the pharmaceutical industry's pricing and
other business practices. The purpose of the investigation was
to determine why drug companies are increasing prices so
dramatically, how drug companies are using the proceeds, and
what steps can be taken to reduce prescription drug prices. The
investigation focused on drugs that are among the costliest to
Medicare Part D, including cancer drugs, best-selling
blockbuster drugs, and treatments for rare diseases.
During this investigation, the Committee requested
documents and information from 13 companies and held five
hearings on January 29, 2019, May 16, 2019, July 26, 2019,
September 30, 2020, and October 1, 2020. At the January 29,
2019, hearing, the Committee heard from experts about
strategies drug companies use to preserve market share and
protect pricing power. At the May 16, 2019, hearing, the
Committee examined drug manufacturer Gilead's pricing for the
HIV prevention drug Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP). The hearing examined the significant taxpayer funding
that led to the development of Truvada for PrEP. At the July
26, 2019, hearing, the Committee heard from patients about the
devastating personal, financial, and health impacts of high
drug prices on American families. Finally, at the September 30
and October 1, 2020, hearings, the Committee heard testimony
from senior executives of six pharmaceutical companies.
The Committee released five staff reports on September 30,
2020, and October 1, 2020. The Committee's investigation
revealed the extent to which drug companies take advantage of
U.S. law and regulations and the need for systemic reforms such
as H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act,
which would allow Medicare to negotiate directly with drug
companies for lower prices.
Opioids. On January 10, 2019, Chairman Cummings and
Committee Member Rep. Mark DeSaulnier requested that DOJ
produce documents relating to its decision not to pursue felony
charges against Purdue executives for misleading marketing of
OxyContin. On March 21, 2019, Chairman Cummings and Rep.
DeSaulnier wrote to Purdue requesting documents relating to
reports that members of the Sackler family sought to drive up
sales of OxyContin and other addictive painkillers while
simultaneously expanding the market for medications to treat
addiction, even after the 2007 settlement. The Committee
obtained thousands of documents in response to its request. On
October 27, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney and Rep. DeSaulnier
released documents showing members of the Sackler family
pushing Purdue executives to flood the market with OxyContin
even following the 2007 settlement with DOJ.
The Committee held a hearing on December 17, 2020, to
examine the role of Purdue and members of the Sackler family in
fueling the opioid epidemic. The Committee also held two
hearings March 7 and May 9, 2019, to receive testimony from the
Director of ONDCP and examine ONDCP Policy compliance with
legislation that reauthorized the Office in the 115th Congress.
Federal Contracting at the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS). The Committee conducted a joint
investigation with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and
the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committees concerning CMS Administrator Seema Verma's use of
taxpayer funded contractors. In September 2020, the committees
issued a joint staff report revealing abuse of nearly $6
million in taxpayer funds through Administrator Verma's use of
approximately two dozen private consultants to boost her
personal profile. The committees also requested a formal legal
opinion from GAO as to whether CMS' expenditures violated
appropriations law.
Affordable Care Act. The Committee launched a joint inquiry
with the Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, Ways and
Means, and Judiciary Committees into the Administration's
decision to reverse its litigation position in the Texas v.
California lawsuit and not seek to defend the constitutionality
of the Affordable Care Act. On July 10, 2019, the Committee
held a hearing to examine the effects of the Administration's
position in Texas.
Women's Reproductive and LGBTQ Rights. During the 116th
Congress, the Committee conducted oversight into administrative
actions that undermine access to health care for women, LGBTQ
people, and marginalized communities. For example, the
Committee sent letters to OMB and Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) concerning its regulatory review of
the Title X Gag Rule promulgated by HHS, which prohibits
providers from referring patients for the full range of
reproductive health care services. The Committee also requested
documents from HHS concerning the Refusal of Care Rule, which,
if enforced, would expand the ability of health care providers
to refuse to provide care to patients on purported religious or
moral grounds.
During the 116th Congress, the Committee held multiple
hearings on administrative actions threatening the health of
women and LGBTQ people across the United States. On November
14, 2019, the Committee held a hearing examining how state
governments are restricting access to comprehensive
reproductive health care services--including abortion--for
their residents, and the impact of these restrictions on
patients and providers in these states. On February 27, 2020,
the Committee held a hearing on the ways in which religious
exemptions have been expanded to erode LGBTQ rights and allow
discrimination against LGBTQ individuals--including in health
care settings.
II. EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Compliance with Ethics Laws. The Committee investigated
possible self-dealing and violations of ethics laws by senior
Executive Branch officials including Secretary of
Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of the Interior David
Bernhardt, former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, EPA
Administrator Andrew Wheeler, former EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt, and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, among others.
In February 2019, the Committee launched an investigation
of EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's compliance with the
Ethics in Government Act. The purpose of the investigation was
to determine whether Administrator Wheeler had omitted former
clients from his financial disclosure form. The Ethics in
Government Act requires senior government officials to list all
clients from whom they received compensation over $5,000 in the
two years preceding their government employment. The Committee
obtained documents from Administrator Wheeler's former client,
Darling Ingredients, that showed Administrator Wheeler had
received over $5,000 in compensation for lobbying activities he
performed for Darling. Administrator Wheeler did not list
Darling Ingredients as a former client, a clear violation of
the Ethics in Government Act.
The Committee also investigated Executive Branch compliance
with the Ethics in Government Act, regulations issued by OGE,
Executive Order 13770, and other laws, regulations, and
guidance. The Committee investigated the use and adherence to
Executive Branch ethics pledges, as well as the possible misuse
of the granting of ethics waivers, in the White House and
across major agencies and offices throughout the Executive
Branch.
Hatch Act. The Committee investigated numerous violations
of the Hatch Act by senior White House and agency officials.
On June 26, 2019, the Committee held a hearing with Special
Counsel Henry Kerner on ``Violations of the Hatch Act under the
Trump Administration.'' The hearing focused on recurrent and
flagrant violations of the Hatch Act by Counselor to the
President Kellyanne Conway as well as violations of the Hatch
Act by other White House officials.
On September 3, 2020, the Committee requested that OSC
investigate multiple potential violations of the Hatch Act by
the Trump Administration during the Republican National
Convention. In its request, the Committee identified numerous
potential violations of the Hatch Act, including the Trump
Administration staging an official pardon and naturalization
ceremony to collect video for use during the convention, using
White House grounds for convention speaking engagements, and
Secretary of State Michael Pompeo engaging in political
activity while speaking at the convention while on official
travel abroad. OSC's investigation remains pending.
Freedom of Information Act. The Committee investigated the
possible misuse of ``awareness reviews'' at the Department of
the Interior and EPA as part of their respective Freedom of
Information Act policies and procedures.
On March 5, 2019, Chairman Cummings, joined by Senator
Patrick Leahy, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator John Cornyn,
sent a letter to David Bernhardt, then-Acting Secretary of the
Department of the Interior, to express significant concern with
a proposed rule revising the agency's FOIA regulations. The
Department of the Interior's final rule incorporated many
changes to address the concerns raise by the joint letter.
On March 13, 2019, the Committee held a hearing examining
the compliance of federal agencies with FOIA, including the
extent to which agencies have implemented the FOIA Improvement
Act of 2016.
Federal Records and Transparency. The Committee conducted
three transcribed interviews with officials at the Department
of the Interior, including with Chief of Staff Todd Willens, as
part of investigation into the Department of the Interior's
practices related to recordkeeping and scheduling of meetings
with David Bernhardt in his various positions as Deputy
Secretary, Acting Secretary, and Secretary. The Committee's
investigation found unexplained inconsistencies, and the
Department of the Interior changed its processes.
On November 10, 2020, the Committee also sent letters to
dozens of federal agencies, offices, and entities reminding
them of their obligations to preserve documents in accordance
with the Federal Records Act.
Presidential Records and Transparency. The Committee
investigated allegations that White House officials were not
complying with the Presidential Records Act and allegations
that White House officials were using personal email accounts,
text messages, phone-based message applications, or encryption
software to conduct official business. On July 25, 2019, the
Committee held a business meeting and voted on a resolution
authorizing Chairman Elijah E. Cummings to subpoena records
relating to the Committee's investigation into the use of non-
official electronic messaging accounts by non-career officials
at the White House
On November 10, 2020, the Committee also sent a letter to
White House Counsel Pat A. Cipollone reminding him of President
Trump's obligations to preserve documents and materials in
accordance with the Presidential Records Act.
Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Committee is
investigating, along with the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
whether three Mar-a-Lago members, Isaac Perlmutter, Dr. Bruce
Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman, constituted an advisory committee
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. In February 2020,
Committees launched a joint investigation into the potential
improper influence over the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
by the Mar-a-Lago trio and whether they constituted an advisory
committee. The Committee has received thousands of pages of
documents from the Mar-a-Lago trio.
III. THE PRESIDENT'S BUSINESS INTERESTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND
EMOLUMENTS
After the election in 2016--but before Donald Trump was
sworn into office--Republican and Democratic ethics experts
strongly advised the then-President-elect to fully divest his
business interests, liquidate his assets, and place the
proceeds into an independent blind trust. They warned that
these steps were critical because legitimate concerns would be
raised about the President's decision-making if he did not
sufficiently address potential conflicts of interest stemming
from his financial affairs before assuming office.
Instead of fully divesting from his sprawling business
empire, President Trump set up a revocable trust controlled by
his son Donald Trump, Jr., and Trump Organization Chief
Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg. He never released tax
returns or audited financial statements, and he claimed
publicly that ``the president can't have a conflict of
interest'' and that ``I'm not going to have anything to do with
the [Old Post Office] hotel.'' Shortly after taking office, the
trust was modified to permit President Trump to withdraw income
from it at any time without disclosure. Rather than isolate
President Trump from his companies, the trust appeared to
reinforce President Trump's continued ownership and control
over his business assets while in office.
Although presidents and presidential candidates are
required to disclose financial information under ethics laws
passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal, those laws have
never before been tested by a president who brings extensive
and sprawling financial holdings into office.
Since the beginning of the 116th Congress, Congress has
considered ethics reforms, including several provisions
specifically applicable to presidents. Congress introduced a
series of bills that seek to prevent presidential conflicts of
interest and self-dealing, and some of those have passed the
House, but have not been taken up by the Senate.
To legislate effectively, the Committee's investigations
have followed three tracks relating to presidential conflicts
of interest and financial disclosures, presidential contracts
with the federal government and potential self-dealing, and
presidential adherence to the Emoluments Clauses. The Committee
is investigating:
President Trump's federal financial
disclosures to OGE, in order to pass legislation to
ensure presidential financial disclosures include
sufficiently detailed information to assess potential
conflicts of interest, close loopholes in the financial
disclosure process, and strengthen OGE;
President Trump's lease agreement with GSA
for the Trump Old Post Office Hotel, in order to pass
legislation to ensure that GSA administers federal
contracts with the President in a fair and transparent
manner, prevent future presidents from engaging in and
maintaining self-dealing contracts with the U.S.
government, and close loopholes in government
contracting; and
President Trump's receipt of funds from
foreign governments, federal officials, or state
officials through his business holdings, resulting in
the receipt of emoluments. This track is aimed at
passing legislation to prohibit taxpayer funds from
flowing to the President's businesses, strengthen
disclosure requirements to ensure compliance with the
Emoluments Clauses, enable Congress to identify
noncompliance and conflicts of interest involving
foreign governments, and consider other potential
remedies for specific conflicts of interests as they
are identified.
Michael Cohen's Role Facilitating Hush Money Payments for
President Trump. On January 8, 2019, the Committee launched an
investigation of presidential financial disclosures following
the conviction and sentencing to prison of President Trump's
former attorney Michael Cohen for his role in facilitating hush
money payments to women alleging extramarital affairs on behalf
of President Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. On
December 12, 2018, Mr. Cohen was sentenced to three years in
prison for arranging a $150,000 payment by the National
Enquirer's parent, American Media, Inc., to Karen McDougal, a
former model and actress, as part of a so-called ``catch-and-
kill'' to prevent her allegations from being publicly aired,
and a $130,000 payment made by Mr. Cohen to Stephanie Clifford,
a/k/a the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, in exchange for
her entering into a non-disclosure agreement regarding her
alleged extramarital affair with President Trump.
Mr. Cohen admitted in open court that he made both hush
money payments ``in coordination with, and at the direction
of'' President Trump ``for the principal purpose of influencing
the election.'' Court documents also showed that Mr. Cohen was
reimbursed $420,000 by the Trump Organization for these
payments.
President Trump's first financial disclosure, filed after
taking office on June 14, 2017, did not disclose any debt owed
to Mr. Cohen as a result of his payment to Ms. Clifford.
However, on May 15, 2018, President Trump disclosed payments to
Mr. Cohen of ``$100,001-$250,000'' for calendar year 2017.
On January 8, 2019, the Committee requested documents from
the White House and the Trump Organization related to the hush
money payments made by Mr. Cohen. While the White House
eventually permitted Committee staff to review 30 pages of
documents in camera, half of these documents were either
publicly available or entirely redacted and of little
informational value to the Committee. The Trump Organization
declined to produce any documents.
On January 22, 2019, the Committee requested communications
between the White House or the President's personal
representatives and OGE regarding the President's belated and
incomplete acknowledgment of a liability to Mr. Cohen.
Subsequently, the Committee obtained internal notes of
discussions before President Trump's May 2018 disclosure was
filed that appear to show Sheri Dillon, President Trump's
personal attorney, and Deputy White House Counsel Stefan
Passantino repeatedly stating to OGE officials that the
President never owed any money to Mr. Cohen in 2016 and 2017.
The notes also appear to show that Ms. Dillon told OGE
officials that the payments to Mr. Cohen were in connection
with legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement, which she
refused to provide upon request. Prosecutors later revealed
that there was in fact no retainer agreement and that the
payments were ``reimbursement for election-related expenses,''
rather than legal expenses.
On February 27, 2019, the Committee requested transcribed
interviews with Ms. Dillon and Mr. Passantino in order to
obtain information related to the hush money payments and their
representations of those payments to OGE. The White House and
the Trump Organization both declined to allow either individual
to appear before the Committee.
On February 27, 2019, the Committee held a hearing with Mr.
Cohen, former attorney to President Trump. Mr. Cohen testified
before the Committee regarding the hush money payments and
other issues. At the hearing, Mr. Cohen testified that he
arranged hush money payments to Ms. Clifford and Ms. McDougal
at the direction of President Trump. Mr. Cohen also testified
that the President routinely altered the estimated value of his
assets and liabilities on financial statements--including
inflating or deflating the value of assets depending on the
purpose for which he intended to use the statements. Mr. Cohen
also testified that the President provided financial statements
with inflated assets to an insurance company. Mr. Cohen further
testified that President Trump may have deflated certain assets
to reduce his real estate taxes.
To corroborate his testimony, Mr. Cohen provided the
Committee copies of numerous reimbursement checks signed after
the President took office by President Trump, Donald Trump,
Jr., and Allen Weisselberg, including checks issued prior to
the President's 2017 financial disclosure omitting the
liability. Mr. Cohen also produced to the Committee President
Trump's ``Statements of Financial Condition'' from 2011 and
2012, as well as a one-page ``Summary of Net Worth'' from 2013.
At least two of the documents were prepared by the Mazars USA
LLP accounting firm, which was reported to have a longstanding
relationship with the Trump Organization.
On July 19, 2019, following reports that DOJ had concluded
its investigation of Michael Cohen and related campaign finance
violations, and in light of additional evidence showing Mr.
Cohen's communications with President Trump shortly before Mr.
Cohen facilitated hush money payments, the Committee wrote to
Audrey Strauss, the Deputy United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York requesting information about the
status of any criminal investigation of President Trump's role,
including whether the Department had declined to prosecute the
President given Department policy despite evidence of guilt.
Neither the Southern District of New York nor DOJ --to which it
referred the request--has provided any information the
Committee in response to its requests.
Committee's Subpoena to President's Accounting Firm, Mazars
USA LLP. As the Committee's investigations progressed during
the 116th Congress, President Trump's longtime accounting firm,
Mazars USA LLP, emerged as a custodian of documents relevant to
several investigations. Based on testimony and financial
statements obtained during the Committee's investigations, the
Committee has determined that Mazars is in possession of
documents and information necessary to help the Committee
define areas that require remedial measures and undertake the
necessary legislative reforms.
On March 20, 2019, the Committee sent a letter to Mazars
requesting financial statements that Mazars prepared for
President Trump and his businesses for the ten-year period
spanning from January 1, 2009, to March 20, 2019. The Committee
also requested documents and communications on how these
financial statements and other financial disclosures were
prepared for the same time period.
On March 27, 2019, outside counsel to Mazars responded
that, pursuant to the company's legal obligations, Mazars could
not voluntarily turn over the documents ``unless disclosure is
made pursuant to, among other things, a Congressional
subpoena.''
On April 12, 2019, Chairman Cummings circulated a
memorandum to Committee Members stating his intent to issue a
subpoena to Mazars and soliciting Members' views.
On April 15, 2019, the Committee issued a subpoena to
Mazars seeking the same categories of documents as the March
20, 2019, request letter, but narrowing the timeframe from ten
years to eight years.
The subpoena consists of four requests, all of which are
related to the financial statements prepared by Mazars for the
President and his businesses, and each is designed to help the
Committee evaluate these financial statements. Request One
calls for all financial statements created by Mazars for the
President and certain of his businesses from 2011 to 2018.
Request Two calls for any engagement letters governing the
financial statements created from 2011 to 2018. Request Three
calls for the documents Mazars relied on to create the
financial statements. Request Four calls for any
communications, memoranda, or notes in Mazars' possession
regarding the financial statements, particularly those of
Donald Bender, a partner at Mazars reported to be in charge of
President Trump's accounts, and any communication raising
concerns or red flags.
On April 22, 2019, President Trump and his businesses filed
a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court seeking to prevent Mazars
from complying with the Committee's lawful subpoena.
On May 20, 2019, the District Court issued a ruling
upholding the authority of the Oversight Committee to
investigate issues concerning the President and his companies.
On October 11, 2019, the Circuit Court of District of
Columbia upheld the District Court's decision, again ruling in
favor of the Committee's subpoena.
After the full D.C. Circuit rejected their petition for en
banc review, President Trump and his businesses petitioned for
Supreme Court review. The Supreme Court granted the petition
and consolidated the case with Trump v. Deutsche Bank et al.,
another case that involves congressional subpoenas for the
President's financial records.
On July 9, 2020, the Supreme Court issued a decision in
Trump v. Mazars holding that the President is not above the law
and announcing a new four-factor standard for evaluating
congressional subpoenas for the President's personal
information. The Court vacated the lower court's decision and
remanded the case to the D.C. Circuit.
On August 28, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney issued an extensive
memorandum to Committee Members explaining how the Committee's
subpoena met the Supreme Court's new test.
On October 20, 2020, the D.C. Circuit heard re-arguments by
the Committee and by President Trump on whether the case should
be remanded to the District Court and whether the D.C. Circuit
should affirm the District Court's decision upholding the
subpoena to Mazars.
To date, the D.C. Circuit has not issued an opinion.
President Trump's Lease with GSA for D.C. Hotel. The
Committee investigated the General Services Administration's
award and management of its federal lease for the Old Post
Office Building to President Trump and his company, Trump Old
Post Office LLC. The investigation followed extensive work
undertaken by then-Ranking Member Cummings to obtain
information in the 115th Congress after concerns were raised
that President Trump would continue to receive financial
benefits while serving in office despite an explicit
prohibition on elected officials benefiting from a GSA lease
for federal property. The highly unusual and improper
arrangement meant that President Trump is effectively on both
sides of the contract as the landlord and tenant and raised
concerns about presidential conflicts of interest and undue
influence over GSA.
On April 12, 2019, Chairman Cummings and Government
Operations Subcommittee Chairman Gerald E. Connolly sent a
letter to GSA requesting 14 categories of documents relating to
the Committee's investigation of the lease and reiterated
several requests for documents that had been rebuffed by
General in the 115th Congress.
In response to the April 12, 2019, letter, GSA provided
documents that were of little investigative value involving
topics such as fire alarm testing and art installations. As a
result, on June 27, 2019, the Subcommittee on Government
Operations held a hearing with a senior GSA official
responsible for document production efforts about the lack of
compliance with the Committee's requests. GSA still did not
produce any additional documents related to the Old Post Office
Hotel.
On August 22, 2019, GSA sent a letter to the Committee
explaining its decision to withhold several key categories of
documents requested by the Committee, including financial
documents and submissions made by President Trump and his
companies. GSA explained that it deferred to the Trump
Organization, which through counsel Stefan Passantino, objected
to the production.
On April 29, 2020, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney sent a letter to
GSA demanding full compliance with outstanding document
requests contained in the Committee's April 12, 2019, letter.
GSA still has not produced any additional responsive material.
Other Conflicts and Emoluments. During the 116th Congress,
the Committee investigated a range of conflicts and emoluments
involving President Trump and his businesses, including
spending by federal government agencies at President Trump's
properties in potential violation of the Constitution's
Domestic Emoluments Clause.
In Spring 2019, the Committee began investigating potential
expenditures by DOD at President Trump's Turnberry golf resort
in Ayrshire, Scotland. On June 21, 2019, the Committee and
Civil Liberties Subcommittee Chairman Jamie Raskin sent a
letter to DOD requesting six categories of documents related to
DOD spending at the Turnberry resort and the use of the nearby
Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
On September 10, 2019, the Committee renewed its requests
in a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper after press
reports emerged showing that an Air Force crew stopped over at
the Turnberry resort in March 2019. On September 18, the
Committee sent a follow-up letter raising concern about the
lack of compliance by DOD and its refusal to provide any
communications with outside entities, such as the White House,
about Trump Turnberry.
The Committee uncovered at least $184,000 in DOD spending
at the President's luxury golf resort in Scotland.
FBI Headquarters Relocation. The Committee, jointly with
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
investigated the Trump Administration's abrupt decision in June
2017 to abandon a long-term plan developed over multiple
administrations to move the headquarters of the FBI from its
current site in Washington, D.C. to a suburban location and
replace it with a more costly plan to demolish the existing
building and construct a new facility on the same site. The
investigation followed the release of a GSA Inspector General
(IG) report in August 2018 that found that the Trump
Administration's new plan could cost hundreds of millions of
dollars more than the previous plan. The report also identified
a key meeting involving President Trump and GSA Administrator
Emily Murphy at the White House on January 24, 2018, and
described Administrator Murphy's testimony about that meeting
and other communications with the White House as ``incomplete''
and potentially misleading.
On March 6, 2019, the full Committee, the Subcommittee on
Government Operations, and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure sent letters to the FBI, GSA, and DOJ requesting
transcribed interviews, written responses, and documents
relating to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters
project. On May 3, 2019, Committee staff received a briefing by
the FBI Unit Chief assigned to the Federal Bureau Investigation
Headquarters relocation project.
On May 17, 2019, the Committee and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to the DOJ IG
requesting a comprehensive review of decision-making at DOJ and
the FBI related to the FBI headquarters project. On July 2,
2019, the Office of the Inspector General wrote to the
Committees announcing that it was initiating a review of the
planning for a future FBI headquarters facility.
On June 27, 2019, the Subcommittee on Government Operations
held a hearing that examined, among other topics, the FBI and
GSA lack of compliance with the Committees' requests for
information on the FBI headquarters project.
On July 24, 2019, the Oversight and Reform Committee and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a
transcribed interview of Richard Haley, II, the former
Assistant Director of Finance and Facilities at the FBI,
regarding the FBI headquarters project.
On January 9, 2020, FBI staff met with Committee staff
regarding the Bureau's lack of responsiveness to the
Committee's document requests. However, since that meeting, the
FBI still has not produced a single document.
Compliance by the FBI, DOJ, and GSA with Committee requests
has been woefully inadequate. For instance, following the
Subcommittee's hearing focusing on those agencies' lack of
compliance, Members submitted Questions for the Record,
including to the FBI Assistant Director for Congressional
Affairs. The FBI then took nearly eight months to respond to
those questions, and even then, the agency failed to provide
adequate answers.
None of the agencies have produced key decision-making
documents that the investigating committees had identified as
priorities. FBI officials have suggested that no such documents
exist given the nature of the planning and decision-making for
the project. If accurate, the Committee is deeply troubled that
such a significant decision, which could directly impact the
FBI's critical mission and affect placement of thousands of FBI
employees and billions of dollars in government expenditures,
would be made without any paperwork explaining or memorializing
such a decision.
The Committee's requests remain unfulfilled despite
extensive outreach from staff and accommodations. As of
December 2020, the Administration has not announced a
comprehensive plan for addressing the FBI's aging
infrastructure and need for a modern facility.
IV. SECURITY CLEARANCES
During the 116th Congress, the Committee reviewed the
security clearance process at the White House and the Trump
Transition Team in response to grave breaches of national
security at the highest levels of the Administration, including
by former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and others.
In addition, the Committee reviewed the Trump Administration's
failure to comply with the Securely Expediting Clearances
Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2018 (SECRET Act), which
required the White House to submit a report to Congress by
August 20, 2018 that ``explains the process for conducting and
adjudicating security clearance investigations for personnel of
the Executive Office of the President, including personnel of
the White House Office.''
On March 23, 2019, White House Personnel Security Office
employee Tricia Newbold came forward at great personal risk to
expose grave failures of the White House security clearance
system. After receiving information from Ms. Newbold, the
Committee conducted transcribed interviews of current and
former White House officials and received briefings from DOD,
the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
(DNI) and OPM.
The Committee's investigation determined that the Trump
Administration has made the White House security clearance
process less safe. The Committee's investigation was able to
determine that the Trump Administration's own written documents
about security clearances do not accurately represent its
practices.
V. VOTING RIGHTS, VOTER SUPPRESSION, AND ELECTION SECURITY
During the 116th Congress, the Committee investigated
specific allegations of voter suppression in Georgia, Texas,
and Kansas.
On March 6, 2019, the Committee launched an investigation
into reports of serious problems impacting people's ability to
register and vote in Georgia. The Committee requested documents
from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State
Brad Raffensperger related to the state's cancellation of voter
registrations, the closing of polling sites, then-Secretary of
State Kemp's conflicts of interest while running for Governor,
and Mr. Kemp's unfounded claim that the Democratic Party
attempted to hack state voter registration systems. Although
the Committee received thousands of pages of documents from the
Secretary of State's Office, the Governor's Office, and
Governor Kemp, approximately 99% of these documents were court
filings, news clippings, and other already publicly available
documents. The Secretary of State and Governor's Office
acknowledged withholding more than 1,400 responsive documents
from the Committee--including emails involving Mr. Kemp.
On March 28, 2019, the Committee wrote to Texas Attorney
General Ken Paxton and Texas Acting Secretary of State David
Whitley requesting communications relating to a January 2019
advisory from Mr. Whitley claiming that 95,000 registered
voters in Texas may not be U.S. citizens and that 58,000 of
these individuals may have ``voted in one or more Texas
elections.'' The advisory warned that the Secretary of State
had referred these individuals to the state Attorney General
for criminal prosecution. In response to the Committee's
request, the state agencies withheld most responsive documents,
citing inapplicable state public records laws and ongoing
litigation, and claiming erroneously that the Committee lacks
jurisdiction to investigate voter suppression in Texas.
On March 28, 2019, the Committee launched an investigation
into the decision to move the only polling site in Dodge City,
Kansas outside the city limits--and more than a mile from the
nearest bus station--prior to the 2018 election. Dodge City is
one of the few cities in Kansas with a majority Latino
population, and Latinos' historical support for Democratic
candidates was expected to be a factor in the tight race for
Governor in 2018. The Committee requested and received
communications from Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and
Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox, who reportedly made the decision
to move the polling site. Committee staff also interviewed Ms.
Cox by phone.
On February 25, 2020, the Committee issued a memorandum of
findings resulting from its investigation in conjunction with a
full Committee hearing on ``Voter Suppression in Minority
Communities: Learning from the Past to Protect Our Future.''
Despite unacceptable stonewalling from some of the states the
Committee investigated, Committee staff reviewed hundreds of
thousands of documents and confirmed that state and local
officials took steps to add barriers to individuals seeking to
exercise their right to vote.
The full Committee worked with the Subcommittee on Civil
Rights and Civil Liberties and the Subcommittee on National
Security in support of those Subcommittees' oversight of voting
rights and election security issues.
VI. ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Disaster Response in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands: The Committee investigated the federal government's
response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which struck Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017. In May 2019, all
Democratic Members of the Committee sent a letter to the White
House seeking documents regarding the Trump Administration's
abominable response to those storms.
Contemporaneously, independent investigations also
confirmed the Committee's concerns about the federal
government's response. The DHS IG issued a report finding that
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacked a
coherent strategy for using advanced contracts to procure goods
and services critical to response and recovery efforts in
Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. The IG also released
another report finding that there were serious problems with
the actions of FEMA in distributing commodities in the
aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
The Committee, along with the Small Business Committee
Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
investigated reports that disaster-relief supplies remained in
a warehouse in Ponce for more than two years rather than being
distributed to families in need. The Committee sent letters to
the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico
Emergency Management Agency (PREMA), and FEMA. The Committee
sent the letters after Members visited Puerto Rico as part of a
congressional delegation to survey Puerto Rico's painstaking
progress in recovering from the 2017 hurricanes and to
investigate damage from recent earthquakes. Despite significant
delay, PREMA recently started producing documents to the
Committee.
Fossil Fuels. The full Committee and the Subcommittee on
Environment investigated efforts by Marathon Petroleum
Corporation, trade associations, and front groups funded by
fossil fuel interests to roll back the Obama Administration's
Clean Cars rule.
Pebble Mine Project. The Committee, along with the
Subcommittee on Environment and Rep. Jackie Speier, called on
the IGs at DOD and the U.S. Army to investigate the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers' environmental review of the Pebble Limited
Partnership's dredge-and-fill permit application under Section
404 of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental
Policy Act for the proposed Pebble Mine project in Bristol Bay,
Alaska.
VII. IMMIGRATION
Immigrant Child Separations. In the 116th Congress, the
Committee continued to investigate Trump Administration
policies that separated thousands of children from their
families at the southern border.
On February 26, 2019, following unanswered document
requests to DOJ, DHS, and HHS, the Committee issued subpoenas
to the three agencies to compel production of information on
separated immigrant children and their parents. After issuing
those subpoenas, the Committee obtained new information about
at least 2,648 children who were separated from their parents
under the Trump Administration's Zero Tolerance Policy.
On July 12, 2019, the Committee released a staff report
based on analysis of this information, entitled ``Child
Separations by the Trump Administration.'' The Committee also
held a hearing that day with experts and agency Inspectors
General. The Committee held a second hearing on July 18, 2019,
with Acting Secretary of DHS Kevin McAleenan.
Immigration Detention. The Committee investigated the
development and impact of Administration policies and practices
relating to the immigration detention system and related issues
involving oversight of ICE, Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), and other agencies.
On July 10, 2019, the Committee launched an investigation
into the Trump Administration's use of for-profit contractors
to detain tens of thousands of immigrants. The Committee sent
requests for documents to ICE and two for-profit contractors
that operate ICE detention facilities, CoreCivic and GEO Group.
The Committee's investigation followed a series of troubling
DHS IG reports showing health and safety violations at DHS
facilities and rising costs to U.S. taxpayers for detention
contracts, as well as reports that adults and children had died
in DHS custody. Also, in July 2019, the full Committee and
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held hearings
examining overcrowded conditions in immigration detention
facilities.
In August and September 2019, the Committee sent bipartisan
staff delegations across the country to conduct oversight
inspections of DHS immigration detention facilities. Committee
staff inspected 22 DHS facilities in six states, including 12
detention centers run by ICE and for-profit contractors, seven
Border Patrol stations, and three ports of entry operated by
CBP.
As part of the Committee's investigation into for-profit
contractors, Committee staff reviewed tens of thousands of
pages of detention contracts, audit reports, detainee death
reports, detention policies, policy waivers, and emails.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Committee and the
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties requested
information on the pandemic's impact on immigration detainees
and held a Member briefing with agency leadership.
On September 24, 2020, the Committee issued a staff report
with findings from these investigations, entitled ``The Trump
Administration's Mistreatment of Detained Immigrants: Deaths
and Deficient Medical Care by For-Profit Detention
Contractors.'' As part of this report, the Committee released
documents produced by ICE and the detention contractors,
showing a widespread failure to provide necessary medical care
to detainees with serious and chronic medical conditions as
well as critical medical staff shortages. The Committee found
that immigrants in ICE custody also face serious risks due to
deficient sanitation practices and poor handling of infectious
diseases. Finally, the report noted that ICE has routinely
ignored legal requirements to release investigative reports on
detainee deaths.
Customs and Border Protection. In July 2019, the Committee
began investigating racist, sexist, and xenophobic comments
relating to immigrants and Members of Congress made by
employees of CBP in secret Facebook groups. Despite
unprecedented obstruction and stonewalling by CBP, the
Committee has received final disposition documents in 110
cases. In July 2020, the Committee issued a public statement
expressing concern about CBP's ongoing obstruction and the
extent of its redactions. The Committee also publicly released
a document showing that an employee's discipline was reduced
from a termination to a seven-day suspension, raising concerns
that CBP was not upholding appropriate penalties for its
employee's misconduct.
In October 2020, the Committee released a memo notifying
Committee Members of the Chair's intent to issue a subpoena on
this matter. The memorandum outlined how CBP significantly
reduced the punishment of several of its agents while at the
same time shielding them from congressional oversight. In
November 2020, the Committee issued a subpoena for CBP to
produce complete and unredacted copies of all documents related
to these internal investigations.
VIII. WORKERS' RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS
Early in the 116th Congress, the Committee worked to
prevent a potential crisis at the Merit Systems Protection
Board (MSPB)--a vacant Board without any Members. On January 7,
2017, the MSPB, a small agency established by Congress to
protect merit principles and help ensure a nonpartisan federal
workforce, began operating with two vacancies on its three-
member board, leaving it without a quorum. The sole remaining
member of the MSPB had a term that was scheduled to expire on
February 28, 2019. On February 25, 2019, the House passed the
MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act, a bill offered by Chairman
Cummings and Chairman Connolly to temporarily extend the lone
member's term for one more year. The Senate failed to debate or
vote on the MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act.
On February 28, 2019, the Subcommittee on Government
Operations held a hearing to review the issues of the MSPB and
examine whether a short-term legislative fix should be acted on
by Congress to ensure the MSPB continues to operate. At the
hearing, the Committee heard testimony from Mark Robbins, the
sole remaining member of the MSPB.
On June 20, 2019, Chairman Connolly introduced the Interim
Stay Authority to Protect Whistleblowers Act (H.R. 2530), which
would allow the general counsel at the MSPB to act similarly to
a member of the MSBP board when there is not a quorum and stay
some adverse actions against federal employees.
The Committee also investigated the Trump Administration's
attacks on Federal Unions and collective bargaining, and the
failure of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (Authority).
Under the Trump appointed MSPB Chairman Colleen Duffy Kiko, the
Authority exhibited unprecedented anti-union bias. On June 5,
2019, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing
to examine federal-labor management relations and policies of
the Authority. At the hearing, the Committee rebuked Chairman
Kiko for drafting rogue, unfounded legal opinions that ignored
congressional intent and DOJ precedent.
In July 2020, in the aftermath of continued whistleblower
protection violations by the administration, Chairman Connolly
and Chairwoman Maloney introduced the Merit Systems Protection
Board Empowerment Act of 2020. This legislation would
reauthorize the MSPB for five years beginning in 2021 and
provide it certain other authorities to survey federal
employees and require training in whistleblower protections.
In October 2020, President Trump introduced an executive
order (EO 13957) creating a new excepted service schedule for
federal employees meant to target civil servants hired because
of their merit and expertise. The Government Operations
Subcommittee sent a letter to the OPM and the OMB opening an
investigation in the origins of the executive order. Chairman
Connolly and Chairwoman Maloney introduced the Saving the Civil
Service Act (H.R. 8687) block the executive order and return
employees to their original civil service classifications--with
appropriate protections from removal. The Subcommittee also
worked with GAO on this matter and sent a series of 50+ letters
to federal agencies requesting information on attempts to
implement the EO.
IX. HOMELAND AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Management of the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA). In January 2019, the Committee launched robust oversight
of recommendations to address security vulnerabilities at TSA
made by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), the GAO, and
TSA's own internal testing teams.
On January 22, 2019, Chairman Cummings, along with Chairman
Thompson of the Committee on Homeland Security, hosted a
classified Member briefing with TSA Administrator Pekoske and
William Russell of GAO. On June 25, 2019, the Committee held a
hearing entitled ``Identifying, Resolving, and Preventing
Vulnerabilities in TSA's Security Operations'' to examine TSA's
failure to address vulnerabilities and outstanding
recommendations issued by GAO, the DHS OIG, and TSA's own
internal inspectors as well as the diversion of TSA personnel
to the southern border. At the hearing, the Committee heard
testimony from David P. Pekoske, TSA Administrator and Senior
Official Performing the Duties of DHS Deputy Secretary; Charles
M. Johnson, Jr., from the GAO; and Don Bumgardner from the DHS
OIG.
On September 25, 2010, the Committee hosted a second
classified Member briefing to continue the examination of
unresolved security vulnerabilities. During the course of the
investigation, the Committee also received regular bipartisan
staff briefings from the DHS OIG, GAO, and TSA regarding TSA's
security operations.
The Committee's investigation demonstrated the need for
H.R. 3469, the Covert Testing and Risk Mitigation Improvement
Act of 2019, which would establish standards for the covert
testing processes TSA uses to evaluate its aviation security
operations and require that TSA track and report progress
toward mitigation of vulnerabilities in its security
operations. The bill was introduced by Chairman Cummings and
Chairman Thompson of the Committee on Homeland Security.
The Committee also continued its oversight of the agency's
response to whistleblower claims and personnel issues. In
addition, the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the
Committee on Homeland Security initiated a joint examination of
TSA's anti-harassment and Equal Employment Opportunity policies
and procedures.
The Committee's work during the 116th and prior Congresses
demonstrated the need for legislation, such as H.R. 1140, The
Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2020, to
increase workplace rights and protections for TSA personnel.
Management of the Coast Guard. Over two years ago, then-
Ranking Member Cummings and then-Ranking Member Thompson of the
Committee on Homeland Security, in consultation with Rep. Joe
Courtney, launched an investigation to examine how the Coast
Guard and Coast Guard Academy managed and responded to
allegations and findings of harassment, bullying, and
retaliation. In the course of the investigation, the Committee
reviewed thousands of pages of documents and information,
conducted multiple interviews with Coast Guard personnel,
received numerous staff briefings, and sent a bipartisan staff
delegation to the Coast Guard Academy.
On December 11, 2019, the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties and the Committee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security examined
the findings of the Committees' investigation at a joint
subcommittee hearing entitled ``Righting the Ship: The Coast
Guard Must Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment,
Bullying, and Retaliation.'' At the hearing, the Committees
heard testimony from Coast Guard Vice Admiral Michael
McAllister, Lieutenant Commander Kimberly Young-McLear, and DHS
Deputy Assistant Inspector General Jackson Eaton. Also on
December 11, 2019, the Committees issued a majority staff
report, entitled ``Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must
Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and
Retaliation,'' which set forth the findings of the Committees'
joint investigation.
In October 2020, the Committees received correspondence
from Admiral Karl Schultz, Coast Guard Commandant, stating that
the Coast Guard had implemented all recommendations set forth
in the 2019 ``Righting the Ship'' staff report.
The Committees' investigation revealed the need for H.R.
3488, the Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act, which would
increase diversity and enhance cultural competency within the
Coast Guard Academy.
Saudi Nuclear Deal. In 2017, during the 115th Congress,
after learning of allegations of efforts by former National
Security Advisor Michael Flynn and others within the White
House to rush the transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear
technology to Saudi Arabia in potential violation of the Atomic
Energy Act and without review by Congress as required by law,
then-Ranking Member Cummings began an investigation, which the
Committee continued during the 116th Congress. The Committee
has sought information about the actions of former National
Security Advisor Flynn in these efforts, and the role of IP3
International, a private company that assembled a consortium of
U.S. companies seeking to build nuclear plants in Saudi Arabia
under this plan.
On February 19, 2019, the Committee issued the first
interim staff report on this issue entitled, ``Whistleblowers
Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration's Efforts to
Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia.'' The
staff report detailed disclosures from multiple whistleblowers
who came forward to raise concerns about efforts inside the
White House to rush a plan to transfer nuclear technology,
despite the Saudis' refusal to commit to using this technology
only for peaceful purposes.
During the 116th Congress, the Committee sent numerous
letters requesting documents and interviews to the White House,
the Departments of Commerce, DOD, Energy, State, the Treasury,
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CIA, IP3, and several other entities
including private companies. The Committee obtained more than
60,000 pages of documents, but was stonewalled by the White
House and other agencies.
In July 2019, the Committee issued a second interim staff
report on this matter chronicling the results of the
investigation as of that time.
Secret Service Operations and Travel. During the 116th
Congress, the Committee continued to conduct oversight of
Secret Service operations, especially in anticipation of the
highly demanding 2020 presidential campaign.
On April 4, 2019, following a security incident at
President Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf resort, the Secret Service
provided a classified bipartisan Member briefing on its
operations and the President's security. The Secret Service
provided another classified bipartisan staff briefing on its
operations and the President's security on July 25, 2019.
The Committee also investigated the President's and his
family's frequent travel and the impact on the Secret Service.
On February 12, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney and Committee Member
Rep. Jackie Speier sent a letter to the Secret Service
requesting comprehensive information on government expenditures
at President Trump's properties following reports that the
Secret Service was charged nightly rates as high as $650 per
night. The Committee's interest in this matter and a full
accounting of Secret Service spending at Trump properties
remains ongoing. To date, the Committee has received only 86
documents that were previously released to the public pursuant
to FOIA, as well as answers to four written questions.
X. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
The Committee conducted oversight of the federal Bureau of
Prisons (BOP) and other agencies administering the criminal
justice system and how well they were implementing programs to
help incarcerated persons transition back into society, reduce
recidivism, and collateral consequences to incarceration. The
purpose of this investigation was to investigate systemic
racial bias and unequal treatment throughout our nation's
criminal justice system and provide oversight into legislation
to help address these issues. The Committee examined staffing,
resources, available programming, and facilities conditions.
On September 27, 2019, Committee staff held a bipartisan
briefing on BOP reentry programs with the Administrative Office
of U.S. Courts, and on October 2, 2019, Committee staff held a
bipartisan briefing on reentry programs with BOP.
From October 8 through October 9, 2019, the Committee led
staff delegations to BOP correction facilities--FCC Florence in
Colorado and FCC Hazelton in West Virginia--to investigate the
efficacy of federal reentry programs and speak with
incarcerated persons about conditions within facilities.
XI. CENSUS
In January 2019, the Committee launched an investigation
into preparations for the 2020 Census as well as political
interference by the Trump Administration. The purpose of this
investigation was to provide robust oversight to ensure that
the Census Bureau was ready and able to conduct a full,
accurate, and fair census. The Committee examined Census
planning, preparations, and readiness; technology and
cybersecurity; communications; and changes the Bureau made in
response to the coronavirus pandemic.
During the investigation, the Committee requested documents
and information from the Department of Justice, the Department
of Commerce, and the Census Bureau. The Committee held six
hearings on March 14, 2019, January 9, 2020, February 12, 2020,
July 29, 2020, September 10, 2020, and December 3, 2020. On
March 14, 2019, the Committee heard testimony from Secretary of
Commerce Wilbur Ross about the Trump Administration's attempts
to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.
On July 12, 2019, the Committee voted to recommend the
House hold the Attorney General and the Secretary of Commerce
in contempt of Congress for their refusal to comply with duly
authorized subpoenas relating to the 2020 Census.
During the January 9, 2020, and February 12, 2020,
hearings, the Committee heard testimony about the challenges
the Bureau faced while trying to count hard-to-count
populations. During the July and September hearings, the
Committee heard testimony about how the Bureau planned to
address the challenges they faced in conducting a fair, full,
and accurate census during the coronavirus pandemic. The
Committee held briefings on April 14, 2020, April 24, 2020,
August 27, 2020, and August 28, 2020, to address the Bureau's
rushed timeline to complete the census after delays due to the
pandemic and after the Trump Administration withdrew its
request for extra time to conduct the census.
During the December 3, 2020, hearing, the Committee heard
testimony regarding reports of anomalies, challenges, and
additional delays in the Census Bureau's data collection and
data processing.
The Committee introduced two pieces of legislation, H.R.
7034 and H.R. 7974, to extend the statutory reporting deadlines
for apportionment and redistricting data by 120 days.
Provisions from H.R. 7034 were identical to those included in
H.R. 6800, which passed the House on May 15, 2020. H.R. 7974
also prevented the Secretary of Commerce from delivering
apportionment data to the President before April 1, 2021, and
required the Census Bureau to carry out the Non-Response Follow
Up operations for the 2020 Census through at least October 31,
2020. These provisions were included in H.R. 8406, the Heroes
Act, which passed the House on October 1, 2020.
XII. POSTAL SERVICE
During the 116th Congress, the Committee investigated, and
continues to investigate, widespread and persistent mail delays
and poor performance at the Postal Service caused by
operational and organizational changes implemented by
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy shortly after he began his
tenure in June 2020. The Committee began its investigation
after press reports raised concerns about significant delays in
mail, including mail-in ballots and prescription drugs, and the
release of documents indicating that harmful operational
changes were being implemented at the Postal Service that had
not been briefed to Congress, other stakeholders, or the
American public. Those concerns were heightened by the
coronavirus pandemic, during which the American public has
increasingly turned to the mail--and packages in particular--to
obtain everyday and critical supplies as well as the run-up to
the 2020 presidential election in which record numbers of
voters were expected to request and/or cast ballots by mail.
On October 19, 2020, the Postal Service IG issued a report
finding that under Postmaster General DeJoy, the Postal Service
instituted three sweeping operational changes and oversaw the
implementation of 57 other operational changes that led to
widespread and persistent mail delays, including three major
initiatives launched by the Postmaster General himself. The IG
also found that all of these operational changes had been
implemented without sufficient prior analysis.
On August 24, 2020, the Committee held a hearing with
Postmaster General DeJoy and Chairman of the Postal Service
Board of Governors Robert M. Duncan. At the hearing, the
Postmaster General acknowledged that his changes negatively
impacted service, but he refused to recognize the extent of the
impacts.
Following the hearing, and after several months of refusing
to provide information about the changes under Postmaster
General DeJoy, on September 2, 2020, the Committee issued a
subpoena to the Postal Service requesting 17 categories of
documents and information on the recent changes. The Committee
continues to seek full compliance from the Postal Service with
the subpoena.
The Committee is also examining the lack of oversight
provided by the Board of Governors under Chairman Duncan during
these significant organizational and operational changes as
well as for the circumstances surrounding the hiring of Mr.
DeJoy, who was a prominent Republican fundraiser with
significant financial interests in a USPS competitor. On August
31, 2020, the Committee wrote a letter to Chairman Duncan
requesting documents. The Committee continues to seek full
compliance by the Board of Governors with its document request.
XIII. CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY
The Committee continued to conduct oversight of
cyberattacks affecting federal agencies and the private sector.
FISMA Oversight. The Committee continued its oversight of
the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002
(FISMA), as amended, which requires federal agencies to
implement a number of security controls on their information
systems. On October 8, 2019, Committee staff received a
briefing from GAO on its work related to federal agencies'
information security practices and implementation of FISMA
requirements.
CBP Cyberattack. On July 1, 2019, Chairman Cummings and
Subcommittee Chairman Lynch sent a letter to the Acting
Secretary of CBP after reports emerged in June that a
cyberattack compromised tens of thousands of license plate,
car, and face photos held by a CBP contractor. On July 26,
2019, CBP briefed Committee staff on the security breach, and
on September 6, 2019, CBP submitted a letter with additional
details on the breach.
USAccess. On June 20, 2019, the GSA IG released an alert
memorandum notifying Congress that weaknesses in the USAccess
system may have placed federal security systems at risk. On
July 9, GSA IG briefed Committee staff on the contents of the
alert memorandum. GSA briefed Committee staff on the alert
memorandum on July 11, 2019.
Capital One Cyberattack. In July 2019, reports emerged that
hackers had obtained access to personal information on nearly
100 million customers and potential customers at Capitol One.
On July 29, 2019, DOJ announced that they arrested a former
software engineer in connection with the attack. The Committee
received briefings from both Capital One and Amazon related to
the attack on August 8, 2019, after an initial request from the
minority. On August 7, 2020, Capitol One agreed to pay
regulators an $80 million fine for the 2019 breach.
Twitter Cybersecurity Incident. On July 30, 2020, the
Committee received a bipartisan staff briefing from Twitter
representatives regarding a cybersecurity incident on July 15,
2020, in which Twitter's internal tools were improperly
accessed as part of an apparent attempt to solicit
cryptocurrency that targeted over 100 high-profile social media
accounts. The briefing followed a request sent by Ranking
Member Comer. On July 31, 2020, DOJ announced that three
persons had been charged for their roles in the alleged attack,
including a seventeen-year old recent high school graduate in
Florida, according to press reports.
December 2020 Cyberattack by Suspected State Actor. Near
the end of the 116th Congress, the Committee began conducting
oversight a large-scale cyberattack affecting federal agencies
and the private sector, including reportedly the Departments of
the Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, and Energy,
as well as the National Nuclear Security Administration and the
National Institutes of Health. On December 8, 2020, the
cybersecurity firm FireEye reported that a suspected state
actor had launched a successful cyberattack on the company. In
the course of its internal investigation, FireEye reportedly
identified the intrusion as a supply chain attack involving
third-party commercial Orion software from SolarWinds, which
also reportedly was compromised by the attackers. SolarWinds
produces widely used network monitoring software and counts
numerous federal agencies as its customers. Orion software
containing malicious code reportedly was sent to nearly 18,000
SolarWinds customers. On December 16, 2020, the Department of
Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
acknowledged a ``significant and ongoing cybersecurity
campaign'' that has ``affected networks within the federal
government.''
On December 18, 2020, Committee on Oversight and Reform and
the Committee on Homeland Security hosted a joint classified
Member briefing with CISA, FBI, and ODNI on the cyberattack.
The Committee expects its review of this incident to continue.
XIV. ELECTRONIC LOCATION DATA
In early 2020, the Committee launched a bicameral
investigation into the collection and sale of mobile phone
location data and the acquisition and use of this data by
federal government agencies for law enforcement purposes. In
the course of this investigation, the Committee, along with
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ron Wyden, and Committee
Member Mark DeSaulnier, requested documents and information
from two companies--Venntel and Mobilewalla--after reports
raised constitutional and privacy concerns about the companies'
practices given the sensitivity of the data that they collected
and provided to their customers. Committee staff conducted a
bipartisan, bicameral staff briefing with Mobilewalla's Chief
Executive regarding the company's use of location tracking
data. The Committee's work on this topic remains ongoing.
XV. STUDENT LOANS AND FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES
Student Loans. In August 2019, the Committee launched an
investigation, along with the Committees on Education and Labor
and Financial Services, into reports that the Department of
Education was shielding student loan servicing companies from
state law enforcement and undermining the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau's (CFPB) oversight of these companies. The
Department of Education continues to obstruct this
investigation. The Committee reviewed hundreds of thousands of
documents from student loan servicing companies, including
Nelnet, Navient, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education
Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Borrower Defense/For-Profit Colleges. In June 2020, the
Committee, along with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters, requested that
the Department of Education Inspector General investigate
allegations that the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
illegally used information from the Social Security
Administration to carry out directives that would prevent
students defrauded by for-profit colleges from receiving full
loan relief for their borrower defense claims. The IG accepted
the request and is currently investigating whether the
Department's partial relief formula used data that was
accurate, reliable, and based on quality information.
In September 2020, the Committee launched an investigation,
along with the Committee on Education and Labor, into whether
the Department of Education froze a tool designed to ease the
borrower defense application process for borrowers who were
ripped off by their schools, typically for-profit colleges. The
Committees received documents from Accenture Federal Services,
the contractor designing the web tool. In October 2020, the
Committees released initial findings demonstrating that the
Department of Education halted the web tool and the newly
released documents directly contradicted vehement and public
denials from the Department of Education claiming that there
was no stoppage to the launch of the web tool.
XVI. TITLE IX AND CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT
During the 116th Congress, the Committee conducted
oversight of the Department of Education's enforcement of Title
IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which protects
people from sex discrimination in federally funded education
programs. After the Department proposed a Title IX rule that
would have encouraged schools to pursue fewer complaints of
sexual assault and other forms of harassment, every Democratic
Member of the Committee wrote to Secretary DeVos requesting
documents and information regarding the Department's Title IX
Rule. The Department refused to provide any of the requested
materials, citing the pendency of the rulemaking. On June 22,
2020, after the Department finalized the Title IX Rule,
Chairwoman Maloney and Committee Members Jackie Speier, Ayanna
Pressley, and Brenda Lawrence wrote again to Secretary DeVos,
demanding the Department comply with the Committee's document
requests. The Department still did not provide the requested
documents.
On May 21, 2020, GAO issued a report requested by
Chairwoman Maloney, Committee Member Ro Khanna, and Rep. Susan
Davis examining college campus climate surveys on sexual
assault. The GAO report found that climate surveys can help
educational institutions gather more comprehensive information
about the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment on
campus, but that not all schools have the resources they need
to conduct surveys effectively.
XVII. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
Sole-Source Contractor's Profiteering. In April 2019, in
response to a report by the DOD IG, the Committee launched an
investigation of whether TransDigm Group Incorporated and its
subsidiaries abused their position as a sole-source
manufacturer of spare parts to charge DOD exorbitant prices for
essential components of military aircraft. On May 15, 2019, the
Committee held a hearing with witnesses including Kevin Stein,
TransDigm's Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Howley, the
Chairman of TransDigm's Board, Assistant Secretary of Defense
Kevin Fahey, and DOD IG Glenn Fine. After the hearing,
TransDigm agreed to refund the government $16 million for
overpriced spare parts.
F-35 Spare Parts. In August 2019, in response to a report
by the DOD IG, the Committee launched an investigation of
Lockheed Martin's failure to deliver spare parts that were
ready for installation on the F-35 aircraft. In January 2020,
after several briefings by the F-35 Joint Program Office,
Committee staff visited and interviewed F-35 maintenance
personnel at multiple bases. On July 22, 2020, the Committee
held a hearing with Under Secretary of Defense Ellen Lord, F-35
Program Executive Officer Eric Fick, Lockheed Martin Vice
President Gregory Ulmer, Assistant Inspector General Theresa
Hull and Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and
Management at GAO. After the hearing, on September 21, 2020,
the Committee provided recommendations to DOD to improve the F-
35 program.
Federal Supply Schedule. The Committee conducted oversight
of government-wide contracts awarded under the Federal Supply
Schedule. In July 2019, the GSA IG released a report that
examined two Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts awarded to
McKinsey & Company, Inc. The IG found that that McKinsey could
not justify its team-based weekly pricing model that had been
used to bill the U.S. Government more than $956 million over
the duration of the multi-year contracts and that improper
price increases could cost the federal government an extra $69
million. As a result, the IG recommended cancellation of the
two contracts.
Committee staff received briefings from GSA IG and GSA on
July 31, 2019, and August 6, 2019, respectively, during which
officials indicated that GSA had taken preliminary steps to
prevent new orders under the contract while it renegotiated the
pricing terms with McKinsey.
In April 2020, GSA staff informed Committee staff that GSA
had been unable to successfully negotiate better pricing terms
from McKinsey and that the agency had therefore decided to
cancel McKinsey's contracts.
B. Subcommittee on National Security
I. WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
In July 2018, prior to the start of the 116th Congress, the
Trump Administration began direct talks with the Taliban to
facilitate the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from
Afghanistan. In April 2019, the Subcommittee began to conduct
oversight of the Trump Administration's strategy in
Afghanistan, including U.S.-Taliban negotiations and the
national security and counterterrorism ramifications of an
anticipated U.S. military withdrawal.
As part of its oversight work, the Subcommittee held three
hearings on April 3, 2019, January 28, 2020, and September 22,
2020, and two briefings on April 29, 2020, and September 22,
2020.
At the April 3, 2019 hearing, the Subcommittee heard
testimony from Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko about the 2019 ``high-risk
list'' of U.S. programs that are ``particularly vulnerable to
waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and mission failure.''
On January 28, 2020, after the Department of State and DOD
refused multiple invitations to testify before the
Subcommittee, SIGAR Sopko returned to testify about the
potential ramifications of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal and to
emphasize the importance of Congressional oversight as it
related to the Trump Administration's strategy in Afghanistan.
On April 3, 2020, the Subcommittee worked with the full
Committee to host a virtual briefing with SIGAR Sopko to
examine the potential consequences of the February 29, 2020,
U.S.-Taliban peace deal for Afghan women and girls.
On April 29, 2020, the Subcommittee held a telephone
briefing with SIGAR Sopko to discuss recent developments in
Afghanistan and SIGAR's first quarterly report of 2020 on the
status of Afghan reconstruction.
On September 22, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing with
Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay
Khalilzad and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(DASD) for Indo-Pacific Affairs David Helvey to receive
testimony about the February 29, 2020, peace deal and its
implementation status, as well as long-term national security
implications for the United States in Afghanistan. The
Subcommittee also held a classified briefing with Ambassador
Khalilzad and DASD Helvey immediately prior to the hearing.
II. VETERANS AND RELATED ISSUES
The Subcommittee on National Security held multiple
hearings and launched several investigations during the 116th
Congress to ensure the continued health and well-being of our
nation's veterans and their families.
Preventing Suicide by Current and Former Servicemembers. On
May 8, 2019, the Subcommittee held a bipartisan hearing with
DOD and the VA to examine the alarming rate of suicide among
active-duty servicemembers and veterans.
Repatriation of Missing Servicemembers Remains. In
September 2019, Subcommittee Chairman Lynch led a congressional
delegation to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where the
delegation met with Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)
personnel to learn more about their ongoing efforts to identify
and repatriate the remains of missing American servicemembers
from prior conflicts. On November 11, 2019, the Subcommittee
held a hearing to examine the effectiveness of these efforts
and considered whether the DPAA has sufficient resources to
fulfill its mission.
Karshi-Khanabad Air Base. In January 2020, the Subcommittee
launched an investigation to determine whether U.S.
servicemembers who deployed to Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in
Southeastern Uzbekistan between 2001-2005 to support Operation
Enduring Freedom may have been exposed to toxic hazards that
are now causing adverse health effects. On February 27, 2020,
the Subcommittee held a hearing with K2 veterans and family
members who testified about the toxic conditions at K2 and the
VA's failure to recognize K2 veterans' disabilities as service-
connected.
As a result of its investigation into K2, on July 9, 2020,
the Subcommittee released three newly-declassified assessments
that DOD conducted to environmental conditions at K2. These
assessments detail multiple hazards and toxins that U.S.
servicemembers were potentially exposed to while deployed to K2
between 2001 and 2005, including hazardous petrochemicals and
volatile organic compounds, such as jet fuel and kerosene, and
the potential for exposure to radiation, depleted uranium
sources, and burn pits. In addition, in April 2020, the VA
committed to begin a new study to investigate the health
outcomes of K2 veterans.
On November 18, 2020, the Subcommittee held a bipartisan
hearing to examine how VA and DOD are working to address the
health concerns of K2 veterans and servicemembers.
III. U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AND COUNTERTERRORISM
Foreign Policy. The Subcommittee conducted oversight of
U.S. foreign and defense policy during the 116th Congress. In
August 2019, Subcommittee Chairman Lynch led a delegation to
Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and Hawaii to examine China's
growing influence in Southeast Asia and to learn more about
regional anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing
initiatives.
In October 2019, following the September 2019 attacks on
Saudi Aramco facilities, Chairman Lynch led a delegation to
Algeria and Saudi Arabia to learn directly from senior military
and diplomatic officials about the attacks and to conduct
broader oversight of U.S. counterterrorism initiatives in the
region.
On May 14, 2020, the Subcommittee held a briefing to
examine the coronavirus outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa and
discuss implications for global health and U.S. national
security.
On July 23, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing with
representatives from the Departments of State, DOD, DHS, and
USAID to examine the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and
Security Strategy and whether the Trump Administration has
pursued policies that further the objectives and goals
identified by the strategy.
On August 17, 2020, the Subcommittee held a joint briefing
with the Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the
Pacific, and Nonproliferation, to address China's repression of
Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang and opportunities for the United
States to hold China accountable for these human rights abuses.
Counterterrorism. The Subcommittee carried out significant
oversight of the Trump Administration's counterterrorism
policies in the 116th Congress. On October 23, 2019, following
President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. forces from
northeast Syria, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the
implications of President Trump's decision for the Defeat ISIS
campaign and the humanitarian crisis resulting from Turkey's
incursion into northern Syria.
On December 17, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine U.S. counterterrorism priorities and challenges in
Africa. After Secretary of Defense Esper announced that he was
conducting a review of the alignment of U.S. forces in the
Africa Command area of responsibility, Chairman Lynch led a
delegation to Mali, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia in January
2020 to examine firsthand the importance of continued U.S.
engagement in the region.
Violent White Supremacy. The Subcommittee joined the
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to address the
growing threat of violent white supremacism following several
high-profile attacks during the Trump Administration. On
September 20, 2019, the Subcommittees held a joint hearing to
examine how white supremacist violence has become an
increasingly global and transnational terrorist threat to U.S.
national security and considered whether additional
intelligence, law enforcement, or information sharing
mechanisms can be deployed to counter the growing international
threat of white nationalist terrorism.
Following the hearing, on November 13, 2019, the
Subcommittees held a joint classified briefing with the Acting
Director of the National Counterterrorism Center to discuss the
transnational threat of white supremacist extremism, the need
for greater coordination within the U.S. intelligence community
to most effectively address the threat, and the heightened
importance of protecting civil liberties while engaged in this
effort.
IV. HOMELAND SECURITY
The Subcommittee conducted oversight on a variety of
homeland security issues during the 116th Congress, including
the security of elections and critical infrastructure.
On May 22, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to assess
the security of U.S. election infrastructure. Specifically, the
Subcommittee examined current government efforts to address
attacks on election systems and the important role of state and
local governments, as well as private sector partners, to
protect U.S. election security systems, infrastructure, and
technology platforms.
On June 26, 2019, more than six months before the first
diagnosed case of coronavirus in the United States, the
Subcommittee held a hearing to evaluate the readiness of the
U.S. government and healthcare system, including hospitals and
emergency professionals, to respond to naturally-occurring
pandemics and biological attacks that could be perpetrated by
state and non-state actors, and to consider the potential
ramifications of increased antimicrobial resistance.
On September 10, 2019, the Subcommittee held a joint
hearing with the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on
Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities to receive
testimony from representatives of DHS, Commerce, and DOD about
the internet infrastructure security and the importance of
inter-agency coordination in addressing existing
vulnerabilities.
On April 27, 2020, following the coronavirus outbreak in
the United States, the Subcommittee held a joint briefing with
the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy to examine the
impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global supply chain
for pharmaceuticals sold in the United States, with a
particular focus on national security and consumer
implications.
On May 29, 2020, the Subcommittee held a briefing with
representatives from DHS, DOJ, and the FBI to examine
cybersecurity threats during the coronavirus pandemic.
C. Subcommittee on Government Operations
I. FEDERAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY POLICY
Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act. The
Subcommittee held three hearings on the Federal Information
Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA). These hearings
examined the implementation of FITARA and specifically: (1) how
federal agencies have developed and improved their information
technology postures since FITARA's December 2014 enactment; (2)
whether some metrics have outlived their usefulness and should
be sunset; and (3) new metrics that should be considered for
addition to the Scorecard.
On June 26, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing entitled
``FITARA 8.0,'' during which the Subcommittee heard testimony
from the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO), GAO, and CIOs
from the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Education, and the
Treasury.
On December 11, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing
entitled ``FITARA 9.0,'' during which the Subcommittee heard
from GAO, the Acting CIO from DHS, and the CIO of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
On August 3, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing entitled
``FITARA 10.0,'' during which it heard testimony from GAO, the
Deputy Federal CIO, and officials from OPM and Department of
Education.
During the 116th Congress, agencies' average scores on
FITARA implementation rose from a ``D'' to above a ``C'' on the
program's Scorecard. The most recent Scorecard was also the
first Scorecard in which all agencies received a passing grade.
These grades represent taxpayer dollars saved, better mission
delivery, and more effective and efficient service for the
nation.
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. On July
17, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).
FedRAMP provides a standardized approach for security
assessments of cloud technology and aims to accelerate the
adoption of modern and secure cloud solutions across the
federal government. At this hearing, the Subcommittee heard
testimony from GSA and DOD on their administration of FedRAMP
authorizations.
On July 24, 2019, Chairman Connolly introduced the FedRAMP
Authorization Act, H.R. 3941, that mandates FedRAMP metrics be
established, ensures continued engagement across industry and
agency stakeholders, and authorizes a sufficient resource level
for FedRAMP. The legislation passed the House under suspension
and is currently referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs. Provisions identical to
those in H.R. 3941 are also in the final stages of inclusion in
the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021.
II. ADMINISTRATION REORGANIZATION PLANS
In response to President Trump FY2020 budget request, which
sought to zero out OPM's budget, Chairman Connolly requested
documents from OPM, including a legal analysis of the
Administration's authority to eliminate OPM, a cost/benefit
analysis, and a timeline of the action.
On May 21, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine
the Administration's proposal and heard testimony from OPM
Acting Director Margaret Weichert. At the hearing, Acting
Director Weichert admitted that OPM and GSA were not close to
being ready to meet their October 1 deadline for GSA and OMB to
absorb most of OPM's functions. Acting Director Weichert failed
to provide an explanation as to why the move to GSA would
improve the technology or its operations.
On June 27, 2019, the Subcommittee held a follow-up hearing
with OPM, the FBI, and GSA to address the lack of cooperation
across the Trump Administration in response to multiple
congressional investigations. In defiance of the Subcommittee's
investigation into the Administration's plans to abolish OPM
and move its component parts into other agencies, OPM withheld
key documents, applied extensive redactions, and narrowly
interpreted the Committee's requests. At the hearing,
Democratic members of the Subcommittee demanded that OPM
address deficiencies in their operations and explain in detail
decisions affecting the timeliness of OPM's document
production.
On December 11, 2019, in response to the Subcommittee's
investigation and significant bipartisan outrage, President
Trump announced that he would abandon his proposal to abolish
OPM. The Subcommittee's investigation revealed the fallacy of
the Administration's proposal and ceased the transfer of civil
service policymaking from an independent agency into a highly
politicized environment outside of direct congressional and
inspector general oversight.
III. PROTECTIONS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS
On January 28, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine whistleblower protections and whether new legal
provisions would improve whistleblower protections and ensure
that federal employees, contractors, and grantees are willing
to come forward to expose wrongdoing in government today and in
the future. Democratic Members on the Subcommittee extolled the
value of federal whistleblowers. They stressed that
whistleblowers need to be protected to come forward
confidentially and provided authority to recoup damages for any
loss that results from the release of their private
information.
In response to continued Administration abuses against
whistleblowers, Chairman Connolly introduced the Whistleblower
Expansion Act, H.R. 4147, which would clarify that sub-
contractors and sub-grantees are afforded whistleblower
protections; the Interim Stay Authority to Protect
Whistleblowers Act, H.R. 2530, which allows the general counsel
at the MSPB to take certain actions to protect whistleblowers
as if they were a board member; and the Postal Employee Appeal
Rights Amendments Act, H.R. 597, which would provide
whistleblower protections to thousands of Postal Service
employees in non-bargaining positions that currently lack
rights to appeal adverse actions to the MSPB.
IV. WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY
On October 22, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing on its
continued oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority (WMATA). This hearing was the first public forum in
which Congress would examine the efficacy of the newly created
Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) and its ability
to take on the oversight role formerly performed by the Federal
Transit Administration (FTA). At the hearing, the Subcommittee
heard testimony from the CEO of WMATA, the CEO of the
Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the Chair of WMATA's
Board of Directors, and the WMATA IG. The hearing highlighted
the need to continue trends of improvement and take additional
steps to increase ridership, improve safety, and make for a
better customer experience. The Subcommittee examined the
oversight mechanisms to hold WMATA accountable and ensure
progress, including the new Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission and the Inspector General.
In early 2019, the WMATA Board Ethics Committee opened an
investigation into ethics violations by Jack Evans, the former
WMATA board chairman. Chairman Connolly and the Subcommittee
referred the issues surrounding the ethics investigation and
attempts to impede the investigative process to the WMATA OIG
for review. The WMATA OIG initiated an investigation in
response to the request.
A January 2019 GAO report requested by Chairman Connolly
found that WMATA had not established an adequate and
transparent capital planning process for selecting projects to
fund in its annual capital budget. GAO recommended that WMATA
establish a transparent process for developing its capital
budget. GAO also recommended WMATA conduct a comprehensive risk
assessment for the track preventive maintenance program.
Chairman Connolly previously introduced legislation to
provide WMATA ten years of capital investments and strengthen
the WMATA Office of Inspector General. During the 116th
Congress, the Subcommittee examined the need for additional
legislation.
V. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
On July 23, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
propose and evaluate ways to improve cooperation among federal,
state and local governments. The purpose of the hearing was to
examine the status of federalism in the United States and
review legislation addressing this intergovernmental system. On
the day of the hearing, Chairman Connolly introduced the
Restore the Partnership Act, H.R. 3883, which would
reconstitute and reform the U.S. Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR), a bipartisan entity
comprised of representatives of federal, state, local, and
tribal governments to promote innovation and collaboration in
the intergovernmental space.
Throughout the 116th Congress, the Subcommittee worked to
promote collaboration across governments to ensure the reliable
administration of public services and the protection of the
public welfare.
VI. FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT
The Subcommittee worked with alongside the full Committee
to investigate the abrupt decision to abandon the long-term
plan to move the FBI headquarters to a suburban location and
replace it with a more costly plan to keep the Pennsylvania
Avenue location, demolish the existing J. Edgar Hoover
Building, and construct a new facility on the same site.
On June 27, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
question the Assistant Director of the Office of Congressional
Affairs at the FBI about this matter. The testimony included
questions about the rushed reversal in the FBI's years-long
plan and whether that change involved direct conversations with
the President who stood to gain from this alternative.
This oversight was a continuation of the Subcommittee's
previous work in the 115th Congress. In February 2018, Chairman
Connolly wrote to the GSA IG and requested that she investigate
GSA's decision-making and the role of White House influence. In
August 2018, the IG issued a report that noted inaccuracies in
the cost estimates presented to Congress of up to $500 million
and revealed that President Trump personally participated in
discussions regarding the revised plan.
The Subcommittee also worked alongside the full Committee
to investigate the federal lease for the Old Post Office
Building between GSA and the Trump Organization. At the June
27, 2019, hearing, the Subcommittee heard testimony from the
GSA Chief of Staff on President Trump's position as both the
landlord and the tenant of the Trump International Hotel in
Washington, D.C. The Democratic Members of the Subcommittee
demanded GSA turn over financial documents relevant to the
Committee's investigation that would shed light on potential
conflicts of interest and constitutional violations, among
other issues.
VII. SUPPORT FOR THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE
Throughout this Administration's tenure, the federal
workforce has been attacked for using expertise and performing
their duties. They were also used as political pawns during the
pandemic--often forced to the frontlines of their offices
without clear procedures and protections. In response, the
Government Operations Subcommittee, held hearings on promoting
the protection of federal employees on the frontlines and
recruiting the next generation of federal employees, on June 25
and September 25, 2020, respectively.
The Subcommittee's oversight informed legislative efforts
to support the federal workforce. On October 27, 2020, Chairman
Connolly introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R.
8687, which would reverse President Trump's executive order
that guts the merit-based civil service and creates a new
category for federal employees; on October 20, 2020, Chairman
Connolly introduced the Protecting Employees from Surprise
Taxes Act of 2020, H.R. 8629, to rescind President Trump's
executive order requiring federal employees to accept a tax
deferral that would come due early next year; on July 1, 2020,
Chairman Connolly introduced the Telework for U.S. Innovation
Act, H.R. 7448, which would extend telework for the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office; and on June 25, 2020 Chairman Connolly
introduced the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act, H.R. 7340,
which would require agencies to post their pandemic-related
office reopening plans and communicate them clearly to
employees, and the Federal Workforce Health and Safety During
the Pandemic Act, H.R. 7341, a standalone version of the
workforce provisions the Chairman worked to get included in
House-passed COVID legislation. The Chair also championed a
bill seeking to improve telework, H.R. 6106, the Telework
Metrics and Cost Savings Act; bills seeking pay raises for
federal employees, H.R. 5690 and H.R. 1073; and other bills
seeking to expand the pay and rights of federal employees.
D. Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy
I. CARCINOGENS IN CONSUMER TALC PRODUCTS
In March 2019, the Subcommittee launched an investigation
into carcinogens in consumer products, with a particular focus
on Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder, which contained significant
carcinogenic asbestos. The investigation culminated in Johnson
& Johnson discontinuing sales of its talc-based baby powder on
May 19, 2020. The Subcommittee's 14-month investigation
revealed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its Baby
Powder contained asbestos and that the company fought to
continue using a testing method that never would have allowed
it to be detected.
The Subcommittee's investigation included two hearings. The
first hearing, on March 12, 2019, examined the health risks of
asbestos in talc-containing consumer products, focusing on
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The second, on December 10,
2019, addressed the methods of detecting asbestos in talc. The
hearing remained focused on the significant presence of
asbestos in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and the company's
insufficient testing methods. The Subcommittee put forth
recommended testing improvements for the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to adopt.
Within one month of the Subcommittee's December 2019
hearing, FDA announced that it would hold an open meeting on
that topic, after having left it unaddressed for years. Through
its Interagency Working Group, FDA included preliminary
recommendations that mirrored all but one of the Subcommittee's
recommendations raised at the December hearing.
On March 3, 2020, Chairman Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to
FDA encouraging it to adopt the most stringent testing methods
to detect carcinogenic asbestos in consumer talc-based
products. FDA is still weighing that decision.
II. YOUTH E-CIGARETTE EPIDEMIC AND JUUL
The Subcommittee led congressional oversight of the youth
e-cigarette epidemic and the role of JUUL, an e-cigarette
manufacturer, in creating it. The Subcommittee's 18-month
investigation drastically altered the e-cigarette landscape and
forced significant changes to the industry's troubling
practices.
The Subcommittee launched its investigation on June 7,
2019, issuing extensive document requests to JUUL. The
Subcommittee held the first congressional hearings on vaping on
July 24 and 25, 2019. The Subcommittee's July 24, 2019, hearing
obtained testimony about JUUL's marketing strategies to youth
and vulnerable populations, exposing information about JUUL's
targeting of children in schools and children as young as eight
years old in summer camps. The Subcommittee's July 25, 2019,
hearing obtained key testimony from top JUUL executive and co-
founder James Monsees.
On September 9, 2019, the Subcommittee sent a letter
presenting FDA with clear evidence of illegal safety claims
made by JUUL. Immediately following Chairman Krishnamoorthi's
letter to FDA, which explained that JUUL's marketing practices
violated federal law, FDA issued a Warning Letter to JUUL. The
FDA's letter to JUUL specifically cited its review of testimony
presented at the Subcommittee's July 24 and 25, 2019, hearings.
The President, FDA, and HHS all referred to the
Subcommittee's investigative results when they promised to ban
all e-cigarette flavors to curb youth use. Within three weeks
of Chairman Krishnamoorthi's letter, JUUL announced that it
would stop all U.S. advertising and was removing its Chief
Executive Officer, Kevin Burns.
On September 24, 2019, the Subcommittee held the first
congressional hearing examining the sudden outbreak of vaping-
related lung injuries and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) advice to Americans not to use e-cigarettes.
On September 25, 2019, the Subcommittee sent letters to
four of the leading e-cigarette manufacturers, calling on them
to stop advertising on television, radio, and through social
media influencers. In September and October 2019, in response
to letters from Chairman Krishnamoorthi, e-cigarette
manufacturers NJOY and Logic confirmed they would not advertise
their e-cigarettes in the United States, and Blu discontinued
its social media influencer program that included celebrities
like Post Malone.
On October 1, 2019, the Subcommittee urged the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) to allocate grant funding to
research the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.
On October 7, 2019, the Subcommittee introduced the END
ENDs Act, H.R. 4624, to cap nicotine levels and make e-
cigarettes less likely to addict new users.
On October 10, 2019, the Subcommittee sent a letter to
Reynolds American, Inc., demanding documents regarding its
then-pervasive advertising.
On October 22, 2019, the Subcommittee sent a letter calling
on FDA to deliver on the Administration's promise to ban all e-
cigarette flavors.
On October 30, 2019, after FDA finalized its flavor
guidance, the Subcommittee called on the White House's Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs to finish its review of
FDA's guidance within ten days and cancel its meeting with
industry lobbyists so the guidance could quickly go into
effect.
On November 7, 2019, the Subcommittee demanded documents
from JUUL and its contract manufacturer about allegations that
it was knowingly selling contaminated JUUL pods.
On November 18, 2019, the Subcommittee sent letters calling
on the Administration to issue its promised ban on e-cigarette
flavors and requested information from FDA and OIRA regarding
their delay in finalizing the ban.
On December 4, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing with
FDA to examine why the flavor guidance was being delayed and
why FDA should not include flavor exemptions as favors to
industry.
On December 12, 2019, the Subcommittee introduced
legislation, the PREVENT Act, to establish e-cigarette user
fees collected from e-cigarette manufactures to fund youth
anti-vaping education. This legislation was informed by the
Subcommittee's investigation.
On January 2, 2020, when FDA finally issued flavor guidance
with exemptions for menthol, open tank vapes, and disposable e-
cigarettes, the Subcommittee requested information on how FDA
planned to prevent youth from migrating to the menthol products
it let stay on the market and seeking FDA's commitment to act
when it discovers rising youth use of menthol e-cigarettes.
On January 30, 2020, the Subcommittee sent letters to NJOY
and Blu, the makers of disposable e-cigarettes, about their
business plans after FDA exempted their products from its
flavor guidance.
On February 5, 2020, the Subcommittee released a staff memo
disclosing new evidence of JUUL's wrongdoing.
On April 1, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter demanding
that FDA clear the market of all e-cigarettes during the
coronavirus pandemic due to evidence that e-cigarettes present
serious risks to coronavirus patients.
On June 4, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter pressing
FDA to exercise its full legal authority to immediately clear
the market of all flavored e-cigarette products sold by a
company known as Puff Bar. On July 20, 2020, in response to the
Subcommittee's letter, FDA issued Puff Bar a warning letter
instructing it to discontinue sales of its product.
On September 3, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter urging
CDC to update its guidance to colleges and universities and
encourage campuses to go tobacco-free--which would include e-
cigarettes--for the fall semester due to evidence that e-
cigarettes present serious risks to coronavirus patients.
On November 13, 2020, the Subcommittee wrote a letter to
JUUL encouraging it to follow its own precedent, discontinue
sales of its menthol product, pull its application to FDA for
its menthol product, and produce its Premarket Tobacco Products
Application.
The Subcommittee's oversight and investigation have forced
major changes to the industry's troubling practices. The
investigation has fundamentally altered the e-cigarette
landscape for the better.
III. CORONAVIRUS-RELATED WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE
Philips Respironics Contract with HHS. On April 15, 2020,
the Subcommittee launched an investigation into a bloated $686
million ventilator procurement contract negotiated by top Trump
Administration officials and Philips Respironics. On July 31,
2020, the Subcommittee issued a 54-page staff report, which led
to HHS's September 1, 2020, cancellation of the contract,
saving the taxpayers more than $400 million.
Trump Administration's PR Contracts. The Subcommittee,
along with the full Committee and the Select Subcommittee on
the Coronavirus, investigated HHS coronavirus advertising
contracts that the Trump Administration sought to use to boost
Donald Trump's reelection. The investigation led to the
cancellation of a $15 million contract with Atlas Research on
November 13, 2020.
On September 10, 2020, the Chairs wrote to HHS seeking
documents about a massive $250 million public advertising
contract with the Fors Marsh Group. On October 1, 2020, the
Chairs sought additional documents from contractors on a $15
million ``immediate surge'' communications contract awarded to
Atlas Research LLC.
On October 28, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter to HHS
Secretary Alex M. Azar II releasing new documents obtained from
the contractors showing that Trump Administration official
Michael Caputo, through HHS's communications contracts, was
planning to use celebrities to advance inappropriate partisan
political messaging intended to help the President's re-
election campaign.
In response, HHS sent a letter to the Chairs on November
13, 2020, stating that because of the investigation, HHS was
terminating the $15 million contract with Atlas Research and
was taking a new ``science-based approach'' with contractor
Fors Marsh Group going forward.
Coronavirus Antibody Testing Policy. The Subcommittee
initiated its investigation of the FDA's policy on overseeing
serological coronavirus antibody tests on April 9, 2020, with a
letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn raising issues with
FDA's policy.
On April 24, 2020, the Subcommittee issued a staff report
finding, among other things, that White House plans to reopen
economy were flawed by their dependence on coronavirus antibody
tests, which faced unanswered scientific questions of utility
and accuracy; FDA did not review any coronavirus antibody test
kits before they went on the market; FDA and CDC had not put
forth standards and guidelines for serological antibody tests,
departing from practices governing molecular tests; and
numerous companies appeared to be marketing fraudulent tests.
On the same day, April 24, 2020, FDA Commissioner Hahn
addressed the Subcommittee's staff report during the White
House Coronavirus Task Force briefing.
On April 29, 2020, the Subcommittee sent another letter to
FDA pressing for compliance in the Subcommittee's investigation
into the agency's policies.
On May 4, 2020, FDA revised its policy on serological
antibody testing to address wide gaps in the Trump
Administration's handling of serology tests identified in the
Subcommittee's investigation. In response to the investigation,
FDA admitted its mistakes and made critically needed changes to
its policy to require FDA review of all antibody tests on the
market, and to set standards by which to measure the accuracy
of those tests.
On June 9, 2020, the Subcommittee convened a virtual
briefing to examine the role that serological antibody tests
play in the response to the coronavirus pandemic,
recommendations and limitations for their use, and federal
policy.
Vaccine Oversight. Beginning in June 2020, the Subcommittee
conducted oversight of the development, review, and deployment
of coronavirus vaccines.
On July 14, 2020, the Subcommittee held a virtual briefing
to examine the process used by FDA to review and license or
authorize any vaccine candidates for the novel coronavirus. The
Subcommittee proposed guardrails in vaccine development and
review, including: (1) requiring large phase 3 clinical trials
with at least 30,000 participants, and (2) requiring the use of
advisory committees made up of independent scientists who make
public recommendations to federal agencies. FDA adopted both of
the Subcommittee's guardrails and agreed to implement them.
Sale of Scam Coronavirus-Related Consumer Products and
Drugs. Beginning in March 2020, at the start of the coronavirus
pandemic, the Subcommittee began investigating companies who
sought to profiteer off of the crisis by selling scam miracle
cures and unapproved products. The Subcommittee sent letters to
dozens of such companies. One such company was Wellness Matrix
Group. The Subcommittee's investigation uncovered that the
company was selling unapproved, in-home coronavirus blood tests
and other suspect coronavirus-related products. The
Subcommittee discovered that the company was also providing
inaccurate information in SEC filings. As a result, the SEC
suspended trading of Wellness Matrix Group's stock.
Since the Subcommittee launched the investigation into
unapproved, in-home coronavirus test kits on March 24, 2020,
multiple companies committed to no longer selling at-home test
kits, refunded all money collected from consumers, and
destroyed all consumer samples collected.
IV. FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES AND STUDENT DEBT
The Subcommittee investigated for-profit colleges and
student debt, including a hearing on May 22, 2019, examining
for-profit college closures, accreditation, and funding and
their impact on student debt.
V. PRIVACY AND CYBERSECURITY
The Subcommittee investigated data security at consumer
reporting agencies, including a hearing on March 26, 2019,
examining options available to the Federal Trade Commission and
CFPB to promote the improvement of cybersecurity at consumer
credit reporting agencies and GAO recommendations for improving
those options.
VI. PAYDAY LENDING
The Subcommittee investigated the CFPB's proposed repeal of
its payday lending rule. On May 16, 2019, the Subcommittee held
a hearing which examined: (1) the integrity of CFBP rulemaking
relating to the payday lending industry; (2) the payday lending
industry's attempts to improperly influence the CFPB; and (3)
the integrity of the CFPB's rulemaking process.
VII. TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S OPPORTUNITY ZONES PROGRAM
On June 24, 2020, the Subcommittee initiated an
investigation into the Treasury Department's Opportunity Zone
program established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Opportunity
Zones ``are designed to spur economic development and job
creation in distressed communities.'' The statute targeted
distressed communities by making census tracts eligible as
Opportunity Zones if they have high rates of poverty or
sufficiently low average incomes. Designation as an Opportunity
Zone provides an incentive for community development projects
by reducing or eliminating capital gains taxes for investments
in Opportunity Zones.
On June 24, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter to the
Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin requesting documents and
information after learning that the Department designated
tracts in Detroit, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City as ``low-
income communities'' even though they did not appear to meet
the statutory income qualifications for low-income communities.
Erroneous designation of higher-income tracts as low-income
communities would undermine the purpose of the Opportunity Zone
program by tax breaks to developers that do not benefit the
distressed communities the law was designed to help.
On December 16, 2020, Subcommittee Chairman Krishnamoorthi
and Subcommittee Member Rashida Tlaib sent another letter to
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin requesting additional documents and
information regarding reported investments following the
release of a November 9, 2020, GAO report, which found that
``there are insufficient data available to evaluate OZ
[Opportunity Zone] performance.''
E. Subcommittee on Environment
I. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY REFORM EFFORTS AND THEIR IMPACTS
During the 116th Congress, the Subcommittee investigated
regulatory repeal efforts by the Trump Administration that did
not appear to be based in science. The purpose of the
investigations and hearings was to examine the extent to which
industry, front groups, and associations were able to influence
regulatory actions at EPA and the White House Council for
Environmental Quality (CEQ). The Subcommittee sent two document
request letters, held staff level briefings with agency
officials, and held two hearings.
On October 29, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
Trump Administration's decision to roll back the clean cars
rule and heard testimony from experts and former government
officials that the decision to roll back the rule was costly to
consumers and would lead to increased air pollution. The
Subcommittee also heard testimony that the decision to roll
back the rule appeared to be as a result of industry influence
over the administration.
On February 8, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
Administration's decision to gut the Mercury and Air Toxics
Standards Rule. The Subcommittee heard testimony about the
known health benefits of the rule and how the decision to
undermine the rule was a result of industry influence over EPA.
The document request letters, briefings, and hearings
underscored the need for more transparency from the
Administration and the need for regulatory decisions to be
based in science.
II. TRANSPARENCY IN EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Over the last
two years, the Subcommittee on Environment conducted a series
of hearings and investigations regarding PFAS chemicals with
two goals: (1) to press federal agencies to regulate the toxic
chemicals and to clean up these toxic chemicals that reside in,
and around, military bases as well as communities across the
United States; and (2) to highlight the role of major
corporations in the creation of the PFAS crisis and the need
for corporate accountability. During this investigation, the
Subcommittee sent document requests to three companies and the
EPA and DOD, received staff-level briefings from the EPA, and
held four hearings on March 5, 2019, July 24, 2019, September
10, 2019, and November 19, 2019.
On March 5, 2019, the Subcommittee heard from officials
from the EPA and DOD on the need for increased federal action
to address the PFAS crisis.
On July 24, 2019, the Subcommittee heard testimony from
people across the country who had been personally impacted by
PFAS contamination, as well as a bipartisan panel of state
representatives--both groups pressed for federal regulation of
PFAS chemicals and the people impacted also highlighted the
need for corporate accountability.
On September 10, 2019, the Subcommittee heard testimony
from attorneys who have sued major chemical companies for their
role in the PFAS crisis as well as pressed representatives from
major chemical companies regarding their companies' knowledge
of the toxicity of PFAs chemicals before the public was aware
and urged them to take additional steps to clean up the
hazardous chemicals.
On November 19, 2019, heard from a panel that further
highlighted the human impacts of PFAS exposure, including the
impact on military families.
This investigation resulted in the Subcommittee obtaining a
greater understanding of the pervasiveness of PFAS
contamination in the United States, the role of major chemical
corporations in creating this crisis, and a public commitment
from two major companies that PFOA and PFOS should be
designated as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. In
addition, the hearings and investigations highlighted the need
for companies to remit fees for the manufacturing of PFAS, as
proposed in H.R. 2570, the PFAS User Fee Act of 2019.
III. STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WASTE
Nuclear Waste Field Hearing. On June 7, 2019, the
Subcommittee held a field hearing near San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station highlighting the challenges of the United
States not currently having a permanent solution to nuclear
waste storage. The hearing also addressed concerns about the
placement of interim storage sites and how local communities
could be negatively impacted.
The hearing highlighted the need for a solution to the
United States' nuclear waste challenges, such as the
development of interim storage facilities through non-federal
entities, as proposed in H.R. 8572.
IV. NATURAL DISASTERS
Administration's Response to the 2017 Hurricane Season. The
Subcommittee worked in collaboration with the full Committee to
continue with the Committee's investigation to the
Administration's response and recovery efforts to the 2017
hurricane season.
On June 25, 2019, the Subcommittee heard testimony from
representatives from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the
City of Houston, Texas, as well as a former FEMA Director, to
highlight ongoing recovery challenges in their respective areas
and recommend steps that FEMA can take to improve disaster
recovery and response.
At a hearing on July 24, 2020, the Subcommittee highlighted
the incredibly slow, and at times, dire state of recovery in
the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and pressed FEMA for
action.
Disaster Response and Recovery in the Wake of Climate
Change. The Subcommittee pressed FEMA on the issue of climate
change, with the goal of making the federal agency take climate
change into consideration when the agency is preparing for
natural disasters. At a hearing on June 25, 2019, the
Subcommittee heard testimony from an expert on climate change
who raised concerns about how climate change is already causing
natural disasters to be more severe and more frequent,
underscoring the need for FEMA to factor climate change into
disaster planning. During a hearing with the FEMA Administrator
on July 24, 2020, the Subcommittee obtained an acknowledgement
from the Administrator that climate change was occurring and
pressed the Administration on how the agency factors in climate
change into their disaster planning.
The Subcommittee's hearings underscored the need for all
federal agencies to factor climate adaptation into their
planning, as proposed by Chairwoman Maloney and Subcommittee
Chairman Rouda in H.R. 8429, The Federal Agency Climate PREP
Act.
V. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Climate change. In April 2019, the Subcommittee launched a
series of hearings to examine climate change through three
phases: (1) the history of inaction on climate change; (2) the
current impact of climate change; and (3) the benefits and
costs of action on climate change versus inaction. The purpose
of the series of hearings was to highlight the urgency for
climate action.
On April 9, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing with
experts and a former U.S. Senator regarding the history of
inaction on climate change, including the role of the fossil
fuel industry in defeating congressional climate action. In
hearings and briefings that were conducted on April 30, 2019,
June 25, 2019, and December 19, 2019, the Subcommittee heard
from experts, health practitioners, and former federal
government officials regarding the current impacts of climate
change on public health, the economy, and natural disasters. On
September 24, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing where the
Subcommittee heard from experts and state and local government
officials. That hearing was focused on solutions to the climate
crisis, such as economic incentives to advance a transition to
a green economy. That hearing also explored some of the dire
consequences of inaction on Americans' health and the economy.
The series of hearings culminated in the introduction of
the first part of the ``COR Climate Agenda.'' In addition, the
Subcommittee concluded the climate change series by working
with the full Committee to issue state reports regarding the
health benefits (i.e., avoided deaths and avoided hospital
visits) of meeting the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement
for each state.
VI. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AND POLICIES
Coronavirus. The Subcommittee has investigated the actions
by the Trump Administration during the coronavirus pandemic
that put the health of Americans further at risk. On April 22,
2020, the Subcommittee sent a document request to EPA on the
agency's decision to suspend enforcement of many environmental
laws and regulations during the pandemic. On May 28, 2020, the
Subcommittee released a video report, which included
conversations with a public health expert, a state government
official, and a community advocate voicing concerns that the
actions of EPA could have put the health of communities of
color at increased risk.
On July 8, 2020, the Subcommittee held a briefing with
advocates, former federal officials, and persons affected by
the United States reliance on plastics. Briefers informed the
Subcommittee regarding how fenceline communities, which are
often communities of color, bear the brunt of the impact from
the plastics and petrochemical industries at a disproportionate
rate, and these same communities face an increased risk for
negative coronavirus outcomes.
On October 5, 2020, the Subcommittee sent a letter to the
CDC requesting a national moratorium on water shutoffs. The
Subcommittee also released a video report, which included
conversations with advocates as well as Americans who have been
personally impacted by water shutoffs during the pandemic,
further underscoring the need for federal action.
The Subcommittee's investigation, briefing, and video
reports emphasized the need for all federal agencies to
prioritize the public health of Americans while taking actions
or considering new policies during the coronavirus pandemic.
F. Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
I. VOTING RIGHTS
During the 116th Congress, the Subcommittee worked closely
with the full Committee on its oversight related to voting
rights described above. In addition, the Subcommittee has
ongoing investigations into ten states' compliance with the
National Voter Registration Act's requirement that people
applying for health care through the Affordable Care Act
marketplaces be provided an opportunity to register to vote.
The Committee held a hearing on the best and worst voting
rights practices in order to highlight several key reforms
included in H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019. In October
2020, the Subcommittee issued a staff report entitled ``20 Ways
to Secure a Full and Fair Election During the Coronavirus
Pandemic,'' which highlighted some of those best practices. The
report described steps that individuals, local governments,
state governments, and businesses could take to minimize
threats to the exercise of voting rights during the November
2020 election. That report was accompanied by a video report
featuring several Members of Congress.
II. FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS, AND ASSEMBLY
On July 23, 2019, Subcommittee Chairman Jamie Raskin
introduced legislation, H. Res. 512, Calling for the Global
Repeal of Blasphemy, Heresy, and Apostasy Laws. The
Subcommittee held a bipartisan hearing on that resolution in
January 2020 that spotlighted the persecution of religious
minorities and atheists around the world.
On June 29, 2020, the Subcommittee also held a formal
Member briefing on First Amendment violations that occurred at
anti-police brutality protests around the country. The briefing
featured people who were present at Lafayette Square when
President Trump had the area cleared for a photo opportunity,
were injured by police while protesting or covering protests,
or were unjustifiably arrested. The Subcommittee also launched
related investigations into the use of federal resources to
surveille and police protests across the country. Those
investigations are ongoing.
III. EQUAL PROTECTION AND RESPECT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS THROUGHOUT SOCIETY
The Subcommittee held four hearings focusing on the
disturbing rise of violent white supremacy, beginning with a
hearing in May 2019 that featured former law enforcement
professionals and the mother of a woman killed by white
supremacists. That hearing highlighted the lack of a robust
federal response. The second hearing was held in June 2019 and
featured testimony from DHS and the FBI. At that hearing,
Committee Members pressed the agencies to develop comprehensive
plans to address the rise in hate. In September 2019, following
that hearing, DHS issued a strategic framework that, for the
first time, identified white supremacy as a major threat
requiring federal attention. That same month, the Subcommittee
held a hearing focusing on the global nature of that terror
threat. Finally, the Subcommittee held a hearing in September
2020 highlighting the prevalence of white supremacist ideology
in law enforcement. At the September hearing, Chairman Jamie
Raskin released a long-sought, unredacted FBI report detailing
efforts by white supremacists to infiltrate law enforcement
agencies.
During the 116th Congress, the Subcommittee launched three
related investigations, which are ongoing. First, the
Subcommittee is conducting oversight of DHS's Terrorism and
Targeted Violence Prevention plan. Second, the Subcommittee is
conducting oversight of the FBI's failure to ensure its hate
crimes data collection is robust and complete. Third, the
Subcommittee is investigating eight police departments around
the country which were found to have employed officers who
posted racist, homophobic, or otherwise virulent content on
social media, calling into question their ability to fairly
police the communities they served.
The Subcommittee also conducted oversight of multiple
federal agencies, including HHS, the Department of Labor, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the
Department of Education, and pressed for the reversal of
several administrative decisions harmful to the LGBTQ+
community in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock
vs. Clayton County.
IV. PROPERTY RIGHTS
On February 19, 2020, the Subcommittee launched an
investigation into the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's
(FERC) abuse of ``tolling orders'' that prevent private
landowners from challenging eminent domain proceedings sought
by natural gas pipeline companies. The investigation revealed
that FERC routinely rubber-stamped pipeline company requests to
construct new pipelines. The investigation also revealed that
FERC routinely issued ``tolling orders'' to landowners who
appealed. Rather than issuing a decision within 30 days as
required by statute, FERC delayed a decision for an average of
212 days, during which time pipeline companies are able to seek
eminent domain or begin irrevocable construction activity on
private land. On April 28, 2020, the Subcommittee issued a
video report with its findings. The report was cited in a
federal court decision barring FERC from continuing with its
abuse of tolling orders.
V. IMMIGRATION
The Subcommittee has worked closely with the full Committee
on Immigration oversight. In addition, the Subcommittee held
multiple hearings on the Trump Administration's deadly
immigration policies, beginning with a July 19, 2019, hearing
on the Trump Administration's decision to separate children
from their families and the provision of substandard medical
care. This hearing was part of the Committee's ongoing
oversight into family separations. The Subcommittee heard
testimony from a mother whose infant daughter died after not
receiving proper medical care while in the custody of ICE, as
well as from doctors and advocates who testified as to the
long-term psychological impact the separations would have on
immigrant children.
In addition, the Subcommittee held two hearings on the
Administration's decision to stop granting deferred action,
including to children with life-threatening illnesses. The
first of those hearings featured immigrants whose lives would
be in danger if they were deported to countries where they
could not receive the necessary medical care, as well as two
career officials from ICE and Citizenship and Immigration
Services, neither of whom were prepared to answer the necessary
questions. The second of those hearings included testimony from
the heads of both agencies. Following intense pressure from the
Subcommittee and the full Committee, DHS reversed this
disastrous decision and resumed granting deferred action
requests.
The Subcommittee also launched an investigation into
reports of medical mistreatment at ICE facilities and a related
investigation into DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties. While document production is ongoing, documents
provided as part of this inquiry were used in the joint
Committee and Subcommittee staff report, ``The Trump
Administration's Mistreatment of Detained Immigrants: Deaths
and Deficient Medical Care by For-Profit Detention
Contractors,'' released on September 24, 2020.
The Subcommittee also conducted oversight of DHS's apparent
failure to properly plan for and prevent outbreaks of
coronavirus in its detention facilities. While the Department
has refused to provide the information requested by the
Subcommittee, the Subcommittee was able to conclude, and
release findings noting, that the Department repeatedly misled
Committee Members and the public about its compliance with
public health guidelines on coronavirus prevention.
The Subcommittee is also working with the full Committee
and the Committee on Homeland Security on an ongoing
investigation into allegations that women detained at the Irwin
County Detention Center were subjected to unnecessary and non-
consensual gynecological medical procedures.
VI. CENSUS
The Subcommittee has worked closely with the full Committee
on Census oversight. In addition, the Subcommittee held two
hearings in 2019 on the need for a complete and accurate
Census. The first was a field hearing held on May 28, 2019, in
New York City with 11 witnesses, including City officials,
advocates, and community leaders, to explore how Census data is
used by leaders and businesses around the country, and to
identify the greatest barriers--unrelated to the citizenship
question--that threatened an accurate count.
The Subcommittee followed up that field hearing with a July
24, 2019, hearing in Washington, D.C. at which GAO provided
testimony that highlighted key vulnerabilities in the Decennial
Census plan, and at which Members questioned the Director of
the Bureau on those vulnerabilities, anticipated deficiencies,
and the difficulties raised in the New York hearing.
In addition, the Subcommittee received regular briefings
from GAO and the Bureau on the operational and technological
preparedness and execution of the Census.
The Subcommittee also spearheaded the development of Census
district reports that quantified the potential loss of federal
funding for congressional districts around the country if the
decennial Census undercounted their communities by one percent.
In conjunction with the full Committee, the Subcommittee
produced reports for 98 congressional districts, 11 states, and
the City of New York.
The Subcommittee also worked with representatives from the
Bureau and several organizations representing colleges and
universities to identify solutions to help promote a complete
count of college campuses during the coronavirus pandemic. The
results of this effort were included in H.R. 7034, The Fair and
Accurate Census Act, of which Chairman Jamie Raskin is an
original co-sponsor, H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, and H.R. 7974,
The Fair and Accurate Census Act (Updated), of which Chairman
Jamie Raskin is an original co-sponsor.
VII. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Fair Chance to
Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, highlighting the need for the
federal government to removing criminal background questions
from the early stages of applications for various federal jobs.
The bill would give people who had paid for their crimes to
have a better chance at getting a job to support their families
and prevent recidivism. The bill passed into law in December
2019.
VI. SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS
In addition to topics and matters referenced in the
Committee's Oversight Plan, the Committee engaged in the
following oversight activities and actions during the 116th
Congress.
A. Additional Oversight and Investigations of the Full Committee and
Standing Subcommittees
I. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The full Committee conducted robust oversight of the
federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic in
the 116th Congress. Along with the Subcommittee on Economic and
Consumer Policy and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis, the full Committee investigated contracts between the
federal government and pharmaceutical companies for the
development of coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics, HHS's use
of taxpayer dollars to fund a politically motivated advertising
campaign to ``Defeat Despair'' about the pandemic, and other
issues.
On March 3, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney, National Security
Subcommittee Chairman Lynch, Economic, Consumer Protection
Subcommittee Chairman Krishnamoorthi, and Government Operations
Subcommittee Chairman Connolly sent letters to HHS, CMS, and
the CDC seeking information about the Trump Administration's
initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
On March 11 and 12, 2020, the full Committee held a hearing
at which Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National
Institutes of Health, Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other officials
and experts provided testimony on the Trump Administration's
preparedness for, and response to, the outbreak of the
coronavirus pandemic.
The Committee also conducted a joint investigation with
Senator Elizabeth Warren on the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic on staff and residents of congregate care facilities.
Chairwoman Maloney, Senator Warren, and Committee Member Rep.
Katie Porter released two joint staff reports, on July 2, 2020,
and December 1, 2020, presenting the findings from surveys of
assisted living facilities and behavioral health and addiction
treatment facilities, along with policy recommendations for
improving the safety of residents and staff of these
facilities.
The Committee also investigated widespread shortages of
personal protective equipment, severe shortfalls with
ventilators and other critical medical equipment, and a
dangerous lack of hospital bed capacity. The Committee found
severe shortfalls and released documents obtained from FEMA
showing that the agency provided only a fraction of the
personal protective equipment and critical medical supplies
requested by five states and the District of Columbia. The
Committee then released a document from the HHS detailing the
Administration's insufficient distribution of personal
protective equipment and critical medical supplies to states
from the Strategic National Stockpile.
The Committee and the Subcommittee on Environment
investigated the EPA's unprecedented decision to suspend
enforcement of environmental laws during the coronavirus
pandemic. The Committee received documents from the EPA.
II. PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS
(IMPEACHMENT)
In September 2019, in coordination with the House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, the Committee began investigating a months-long effort
by President Trump to use the powers of his office to solicit
foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election. The
Committees uncovered substantial evidence that President Trump
demanded that the newly elected Ukrainian president, Volodymyr
Zelensky, publicly announce investigations into a political
rival that he apparently feared the most, then-former Vice
President Joe Biden, and into a discredited theory that it was
Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 presidential
election. President Trump conditioned two official acts on the
public announcement of the investigations: a coveted White
House visit and critical U.S. military assistance Ukraine
needed to fight its Russian adversary.
During a July 25, 2019, phone call with President Trump,
President Zelensky expressed gratitude for U.S. military
assistance. President Trump immediately responded by asking
President Zelensky to ``do us a favor though'' and openly
pressed for Ukraine to investigate then-former Vice President
Biden and the 2016 conspiracy theory. In turn, President
Zelensky assured President Trump that he would pursue the
investigation and reiterated his interest in the White House
meeting.
As news of the President's hold on military assistance to
Ukraine became public on August 28, 2019, Congress, the press,
and the public increased their scrutiny of President Trump's
actions regarding Ukraine. By this date, the White House had
learned that the Inspector General of the Intelligence
Community (ICIG), Michael Atkinson, had determined that a
whistleblower complaint related to the same Ukraine matters was
``credible'' and an ``urgent concern,'' and, pursuant to the
applicable statute, recommended to the Acting Director of DNI,
Joseph Maguire, that the complaint should be transmitted to
Congress.
In early September, bipartisan Members of both houses of
Congress--publicly and privately--expressed concerns to the
White House about the hold on military assistance. On September
9, 2019, after months of internal discussion due to growing
concern about the activity of President Trump's personal
attorney, Rudy Giuliani, regarding Ukraine, the Chairs of the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform
announced a joint investigation into efforts by President Trump
and Mr. Giuliani ``to improperly pressure the Ukrainian
government to assist the President's bid for reelection,''
including by withholding Congressionally-appropriated military
assistance.
Later that same day, the ICIG notified Chairman Schiff and
Ranking Member Nunes that, despite uniform past practice and a
statutory requirement that credible, ``urgent concern''
complaints be provided to the intelligence committees, the
Acting DNI was nevertheless withholding the whistleblower
complaint from Congress. The Acting DNI later testified that
his office initially withheld the complaint on the advice of
the White House, with guidance from DOJ.
On October 31, 2019, Congress passed H. Res. 660 formally
directing the Intelligence Committee, in consultation with the
Committees on Oversight and Reform and Foreign Affairs, to
continue its investigation as part of the House of
Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds existed
for the House to impeach President Trump and transmit a report,
evidence and materials to the Judiciary Committee for its
consideration of possible articles of impeachment.
The Committees conducted this investigation ensuring the
full participation of both parties throughout the probe.
Together, the three Committees issued dozens of subpoenas for
documents and testimony and took more than 100 hours of
deposition testimony from 17 witnesses. The Intelligence
Committee held seven public hearings, with the support of the
Oversight and the Foreign Affairs Committees, receiving
testimony from 12 witnesses--including three requested by the
Republican Minority--that totaled more than 30 hours.
On December 3, 2019, the Committee on Intelligence, in
coordination with the Committees on Oversight and Reform and
Foreign Affairs, issued a report on the joint impeachment
inquiry. The report was written by the staffs of the Oversight
and Reform, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs Committees. The
report was transmitted along with accompanying materials to the
House Committee on the Judiciary consistent with H. Res. 660.
On December 10, 2019, as a result of the Committees'
investigation, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler
introduced H. Res. 755, Impeaching Donald John Trump, President
of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. That
resolution included two articles of impeachment. Article I of
the resolution charged the President with abuse of power by
soliciting the interference of Ukraine in the 2020 U.S.
presidential election, and Article II of the resolution charged
the President with obstruction of Congress by directing
defiance of certain subpoenas issued by the House of
Representatives. The House passed both articles on December 18,
2019, by votes of 229 to 198 and 230 to 197, respectively, with
one Member voting present for each.
The articles of impeachment were referred to the Senate,
which held a trial. Oversight and Reform Committee staff
supported the House Managers throughout the trial. On February
5, 2020, the Senate voted to find President Trump not guilty in
the first Article of Impeachment by a vote of 48 to 52, and not
guilty in the second Article of Impeachment by a vote of 47 to
53. Republican Senator Mitt Romney joined all Democratic
Members of the Senate in voting to hold President Trump guilty
of the first Article of Impeachment.
III. SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN HEALTH POLICYMAKING
The Committee conducted oversight into administrative
actions that threatened to undermine scientific integrity in
the federal government's stewardship of public health. For
example, the Committee joined with the House Energy and
Commerce Committee and the Ranking Member of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in sending letters to
HHS requesting documents regarding administrative restrictions
on research that relies on fetal tissue and urging HHS to lift
restrictions on this research. On September 14, 2020,
Chairwoman Maloney released documents showing the role of the
White House in advancing these restrictions, despite career HHS
officials' assessment of the scientific value of this research.
IV. INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General. In
response to unusual delays in the release of DHS IG reports,
including reports on the Trump Administration's immigrant child
separation policy, the Committee launched an investigation of
the DHS Inspector General in March 2020. The Committee also
received reports of concerns with the independence of the DHS
IG from the Department. The Committee received thousands of
documents, and Committee staff continue to engage with DHS IG
staff regarding these matters.
State Department Inspector General Firing. After President
Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on
May 15, 2020, the Committee launched a joint investigation into
this decision with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and
the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations.
As part of this investigation, the Committees requested
documents from the State Department and State Department IG.
The Committees conducted transcribed interviews of four
witnesses: Mr. Linick, former State Department official Charles
Faulkner, and State Department officials Lisa Kenna and Toni
Porter. The Committees uncovered evidence showing that
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may have recommended Mr.
Linick's firing to attempt to interfere with ongoing
investigations into misuse of government resources by Secretary
Pompeo and his wife, as well as other matters including
Secretary Pompeo's role in a 2019 emergency declaration
allowing the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates.
Department of Transportation Inspector General Firing.
After President Trump removed Acting Inspector General Mitch
Behm from his position as Acting IG of DOT on May 15, 2020, the
Committee launched a joint investigation into this decision
with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The investigation focused on whether Mr. Behm's removal may
have been for the purpose of interfering with the DOT's IG's
open investigations into the Office of the Secretary of
Transportation Elaine Chao. The Committees requested that the
new Acting DOT IG, Howard R. Elliott, report to the committees
any changes to the status, scope, or investigative plan any
audits, inspections, evaluations, reviews, or other engagements
during his tenure. This investigation remains ongoing.
V. FEDERAL VACANCIES AND ACTING OFFICIALS
Following the Trump Administration's purge of DHS
leadership in April 2019 and the use of acting officials in the
senior leadership at the agency, the Committee requested
documents regarding these firings and installation of acting
officials. In November 2019, the Committee uncovered documents
showing that Acting Secretaries of DHS Kevin McAleenan and Chad
Wolf, as well as Ken Cuccinelli, the Senior Official Performing
the Duties of the Deputy Secretary, appeared to have legally
invalid appointments. GAO confirmed this finding in a legal
opinion issued in August 2020.
In light of the widespread and unprecedented use of acting
officials throughout the Trump Administration, Chairwoman
Maloney, Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman
Connolly, and several other House Committee Chairs joined Rep.
Katie Porter in introducing H.R. 6689, the Accountability for
Acting Officials Act, on May 1, 2020.
VI. FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY
The Committee continued its examination of government use
of facial recognition technology in order to more fully
understand the scope of the government's current use, and the
effect of such use, on civil rights and civil liberties.
As part of its oversight, the Committee held three hearings
on facial recognition technology on May 22, 2019, June 4, 2019,
and January 15, 2020. At the June 4, 2019, hearing, the
Committee received testimony from advocates and academics on
the civil liberties and civil rights implications of government
use of facial recognition technology. At that hearing, the
Committee received testimony from officials at the FBI, GAO,
NIST and TSA on the scope of government use of facial
recognition. At the January 15, 2020, hearing, the Committee
received testimony from the Director of the NIST, the Director
of NYU's AI Now Institute, and three industry representatives
on the racial disparities across facial recognition systems.
On November 25, 2019, the Committee requested that GAO
conduct a comprehensive survey of federal government use of
facial recognition technology. GAO anticipates that it will be
able to provide preliminary results in 2021.
VII. PAID LEAVE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
The Committee worked closely with the Committee on Armed
Services to ensure that the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2020 included a provision guaranteeing 12 weeks
of paid parental leave for federal employees (P.L. 116-92). The
provision took effect on October 1, 2020. The provision was
included in H.R. 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act,
introduced by Chairwoman Maloney on March 5, 2019. That
legislation would create a broader benefit to make federal
employees eligible for 12 weeks of paid leave for any reason
such leave is available under the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA). The Committee will continue to work to enact
comprehensive paid leave for federal employees, entitling them
to paid leave in the event of illness, illness of a family
member, or military deployment. The Committee has also been
instrumental in making sure that paid leave benefits extend to
the entire federal workforce, not just employees covered by
Title 5, U.S.C.
VIII. CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
During the 116th Congress, the full Committee and the
Subcommittees on Government Operations, Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties, Economic and Consumer Policy, and Environment held a
coordinated a series of five hearings examining childhood
trauma and assessing the detrimental impact of the Trump
Administration's actions on child poverty, housing, hunger, and
health.
On July 11, 2019, the full Committee held a hearing at
which trauma survivors, public health experts, and government
officials provided testimony regarding the long-term
consequences of childhood trauma and the insufficiency of the
federal response to this urgent public health issue.
On February 5, 2020, the Subcommittee on Government
Operations held a hearing, which examined how children would be
negatively impacted by the Trump Administration's proposal to
change how the Official Poverty Measure is calculated. This
hearing was held after the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) requested public comments on the Census Bureau's
estimation of the Official Poverty Measure, including on
alternative measures of inflation that could be used to
calculate the poverty line in lieu of the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). The Government Operations Subcommittee heard testimony
from experts and advocates on how the Trump Administration's
proposal to use an inflation measure other than the CPI could
lower income-eligibility cutoffs for families that rely on
critical federal support programs, ultimately reducing or
eliminating essential services for millions of individuals,
including hundreds of thousands of children.
On February 5, 2020, the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties held the third hearing in this series. This
hearing focused on the Trump Administration's proposal to
redefine the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision of
the Fair Housing Act, which requires entities receiving grants
from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to
``affirmatively further'' equal housing opportunity for all.
The Trump Administration's rule change would reduce the rigor
and accountability of HUD's fair housing oversight. The Civil
Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee hearing examined how
children could be harmed by this proposal.
On February 6, 2020, the Subcommittee on Economic and
Consumer Policy held the fourth hearing in this series and
examined a rule proposed by the Trump Administration to limit
authorities available to states to expand eligibility for SNAP.
SNAP is the nation's largest food assistance program, providing
nutrition benefits to 42 million people with low incomes. More
than 68 percent of SNAP participants reside in families with
children. According to an analysis from the Department of
Agriculture, 684,000 households with children would lose SNAP
eligibility if Broad Based Categorical Eligibility is
eliminated. The analysis also found that nearly a million
children would likely lose direct enrollment in programs that
provide no-cost school meals. The Subcommittee received
testimony on how the Trump Administration's proposal would
aggravate food insecurity among children both at home and at
school.
On February 6, 2020, the Subcommittee on Environment held
the fifth hearing in this series and examined the effectiveness
of the current Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule in
protecting children's health. The MATS rule, finalized in 2012,
restricts the amount of mercury and other toxic emissions that
can be released by coal- and oil-fired power plants. A
significant indirect health benefit of the MATS rule is that it
reduces the amount of fine particulate matter pollution in the
atmosphere, including methylmercury exposure. Despite the
proven health benefits of the MATS rule, in 2018 the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would
be revising the Supplemental Cost Finding for the MATS rule,
which included a determination that the significant health
benefits and lives saved from reduced emissions of fine
particulate matter should not be counted. The Environment
Subcommittee's hearing examined how children would be harmed by
the Trump Administration's effort to undermine the MATS rule.
On October 9, 2020, in response to the Trump
Administration's actions and information learned through this
series of hearings, Chairwoman Maloney introduced H.R. 8565,
The Children's Protection Act, which would require proposed
federal rules to undergo a childhood trauma impact study before
being finalized to ensure that the health, wellbeing, and
futures of all children in America are prioritized. On October
6, 2020, Committee Member Ayanna Pressley also introduced H.R.,
8544, the STRONG Support for Children Act, which would
establish two new grant programs to support local Public Health
Departments in addressing trauma and ensure that programming is
conveniently located and accessible to all children and
families regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, and
prior involvement in the criminal legal system.
B. Oversight Activities of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus
Crisis
I. WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE
In July 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into weekly reports that the White House
Coronavirus Task Force sent privately to states but did not
release to the public. These reports described the coronavirus
outbreak in each state and recommended public health measures
to address it. In August and October 2020, the Select
Subcommittee released reports obtained from the Task Force,
which revealed that the coronavirus outbreak across the country
was more severe than some White House officials had publicly
acknowledged. The reports also recommended that states adopt
public health measures, such as mask mandates, that some
Administration officials had not embraced in public. In
September 2020, the Select Subcommittee released an analysis
showing that public health guidance had been softened in
certain weekly Task Force reports, even as infection rates were
increasing in those states.
The Select Subcommittee held three hearings with members of
the White House Coronavirus Task Force on testing, personal
protective equipment (PPE), and the need for a national plan to
combat the pandemic. These hearings included a July 2, 2020,
hearing with HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett
Giroir, Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, and Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition Kevin Fahey; a July 31, 2020, hearing
with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield,
and Assistant Secretary Giroir; and an October 2, 2020, hearing
with HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar II.
II. LOAN TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
The full Committee, the Select Subcommittee, and the
Committee on Financial Services investigated a proposed a $765
million federal loan from the U.S. International Development
Finance Corporation (DFC) to Eastman Kodak Company to
manufacture generic drug ingredients, as well as unusual
trading activity by Kodak directors and executives prior to the
public announcement of the loan on July 28, 2020.
On August 4, 2020, the Committees sent letters to Kodak and
DFC requesting documents and information about the proposed
loan and the associated trading activity. DFC subsequently
announced that that the loan was being put on hold. On
September 28, 2020, the Committees sent follow-up letters to
Kodak's outside directors, requesting documents and information
regarding their involvement in efforts to obtain the loan and
related securities activity.
III. OPERATION WARP SPEED
On July 24, 2020, Select Subcommittee Chairman James E.
Clyburn led a bipartisan request, along with Rep. Bill Foster
and Rep. Mark Green, to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro
calling on GAO to conduct ongoing oversight of Operation Warp
Speed and other vaccine-development initiatives. On July 28,
2020, GAO accepted the engagement. On September 15, 2020, the
Select Subcommittee wrote to HHS and DOD calling for the
Departments to comply with this review.
On August 12, 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
inquiry into vaccine selection and potential conflicts of
interest among senior advisors to Operation Warp Speed.
Operation Warp Speed hired several former pharmaceutical
company executives, including Dr. Moncef Slaoui, as independent
contractors through a company called Advanced Decision Vectors
(ADV). Because they were not federal employees, these
individuals were not required to disclose their financial
holdings and potential conflicts of interest.
In September 2020, Chairman Clyburn sent a follow-up letter
to ADV urging compliance with the Select Subcommittee's
requests. Chairman Clyburn also released documents obtained in
this investigation. The documents revealed that advisors to
Operation Warp Speed had potential conflicts of interest that
had not previously been publicly disclosed. For example, Dr.
Slaoui reported holdings in Lonza Group, a biotechnology
company that has agreed to manufacture Moderna's experimental
coronavirus vaccine. Other advisors had holdings in Pfizer,
which received a $1.95 billion order from the federal
government for a coronavirus vaccine; Thermo Fisher Scientific,
Inc., which received federal funding for coronavirus testing
materials; and other companies developing coronavirus
therapies. Dr. Slaoui also owns stock in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK),
which is receiving federal funding to develop a coronavirus
vaccine. Documents released by the Select Subcommittee reveal
that rather than divest these holdings, Dr. Slaoui is only
required to donate a portion of his earnings from GSK
securities after his death.
IV. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
The Select Subcommittee investigated instances of
potentially inappropriate political interference by Trump
Administration appointees into the federal government's
pandemic response. On June 22, 2020, the Select Subcommittee
opened an inquiry into possible efforts to limit coronavirus
testing after President Trump stated that he had directed
people to ``slow the testing down.'' Three days later, Chairman
Clyburn and Representatives from Texas, Colorado, Illinois, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania wrote to Secretary Azar to urge him to
reverse the Administration's decision to end federal funding
and support for coronavirus testing sites in these states.
Following these letters, the Administration agreed to restore
temporary support for five Texas testing sites for another
month.
On September 14, 2020, the Select Subcommittee opened an
investigation into reports of interference by HHS political
appointees in CDC's scientific reports and guidance related to
the coronavirus. The Select Subcommittee sought documents and
transcribed interviews with five CDC employees and two HHS
appointees, Assistant Secretary Marc Caputo and Dr. Paul
Alexander. HHS then announced that both appointees were leaving
their roles. Mr. Caputo took a leave of absence, while Dr.
Alexander left the Department permanently.
On October 2, 2020, the Select Subcommittee released a
staff analysis identifying 47 instances of political
interference in the Administration's response to the
coronavirus pandemic from February through September 2020. This
analysis was updated in the Subcommittee's October 30, 2020,
interim report to include a total of 61 instances of political
interference.
V. HHS CORONAVIRUS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
In September 2020, the Select Subcommittee, the full
Committee, and the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy
opened an investigation into two federal contracts for an
advertising campaign to ``defeat despair and inspire hope'' to
be launched just weeks before Election Day. On October 2, 2020,
during his testimony before the Select Subcommittee, HHS
Secretary Azar announced that he had placed these contracts
under ``strategic review'' to ``determine whether the campaign
serves important public health purposes.''
On October 28, 2020, the Committees released documents
showing that Administration officials had vetted celebrities
for participation in the promotional campaign based on their
political views and taken other steps suggesting a partisan
political motivation for the contracts. On November 13, 2020,
HHS announced that it had cancelled one of the contracts and
made changes to the second contract.
VI. CHALLENGES TO REOPENING K-12 SCHOOLS
In July 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into the challenges of reopening K-12 schools
during the pandemic, including the roles played by the
Department of Education and CDC. On August 6, 2020, Select
Subcommittee held a hearing on the health risks to students,
school staff, and their communities from physically reopening
K-12 schools, as well as the logistical and financial hurdles
involved in doing so.
On September 30, 2020, the Select Subcommittee sent a
document request for information and documents to the Trump
Administration regarding reports of political interference in
the CDC school reopening guidance. In response, CDC
acknowledged that its guidance did not reflect the current
science on coronavirus risks to children and committed to
change it. CDC subsequently removed from its website two
guidance documents that contained misleading information
regarding the risk of children transmitting the virus.
VII. FARMERS TO FAMILIES FOOD BOX PROGRAM
On August 24, 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into reports of mismanagement in the Farmers to
Families Food Box Program, a USDA program intended to provide
food assistance to Americans in need during the coronavirus
crisis. The investigation sought to assess whether the new
program achieved its goal of delivering food to communities
experiencing food insecurity. The investigation also sought to
identify reported management and accountability gaps. As part
of the investigation, the Select Subcommittee requested
documents from USDA and companies that received multi-million-
dollar contracts to deliver food to food banks and other non-
profits serving families in need. In November 2020, the Select
Subcommittee released information raising additional questions
about whether one USDA contractor submitted accurate
information to USDA and ensured that all food boxes covered by
its contract reached people in need.
VIII. ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS
On July 8, 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into the implementation by Treasury and the IRS
of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) authorized by Congress in
the CARES Act. The Subcommittee examined issues in EIP
distribution, including the failure to provide EIPs to many
Americans, mailings that confused some recipients, and
interference with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
The Subcommittee's investigation revealed that
approximately nine million low-income individuals did not
receive an EIP as of September 2020. Following the Select
Subcommittee's requests, Treasury and IRS conducted outreach to
notify these Americans how to apply online and extended the
deadline to do so. The Treasury and IRS also took steps to try
to resolve the interference with EITC claims and committed to
additional steps to address distribution problems.
IX. PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS DURING THE PANDEMIC
In July 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation of the steps taken by the Federal Housing Finance
Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to prevent Americans
from losing their homes during the pandemic. The Select
Subcommittee urged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to take immediate
steps to help homeowners and renters in homes with federally-
backed mortgages avoid foreclosure and eviction. To prevent
evictions of tenants who were, at the time of the Select
Subcommittee's investigation, past due on their rent, the
Select Subcommittee called for the government-sponsored
entities (GSEs) direct mortgage servicers to notify borrowers
of the CARES Act notice requirement prior to evicting a tenant.
The Select Subcommittee also requested that the GSEs direct
mortgage servicers to notify borrowers of the terms and
availability of mortgage forbearance.
On October 16, 2020, the Select Subcommittee sent a letter
urging FHFA to take urgent action to prevent foreclosures and
released new information the Select Subcommittee obtained
showing that as of August 2020, more than 31,000 seriously
delinquent homeowners had not received forbearance.
X. FREE, FAIR, AND SAFE ELECTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC
In August 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into efforts to prepare for the 2020 general
election and follow CDC guidelines for safe elections during
the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in certain states where
voters faced serious impediments to casting their ballots
during the 2020 primary election. The Select Subcommittee and
the Committee on House Administration sent letters to four
states--Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin--where primary
elections suffered long lines and polling worker shortages,
among other problems.
On September 9, 2020, the Select Subcommittee held a
hearing on the importance of following CDC's guidance by
providing safe polling places on Election Day and providing
alternatives, such as voting by mail and dropbox and extended
early voting. The same day, the Select Subcommittee released a
staff report with new information on the risks of inadequate
polling places and shortages of poll workers in Texas, Georgia,
Florida, and Wisconsin. In some of these states, these risks
were exacerbated by state policies restricting mail-in voting
and early voting.
XI. PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
In June 2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an
investigation into the Trump Administration's implementation of
the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), following reports that
the program favored large companies over the neediest small
businesses. The Select Subcommittee sent letters to the Small
Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, banking industry
associations, and eight financial institutions: JPMorgan Chase,
Citibank, PNC Bank, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Truist, Wells
Fargo, and Santander. The Subcommittee obtained over 30,000
pages of documents and detailed data on all 5.2 million loans
approved by SBA.
The Select Subcommittee released staff reports detailing
its findings on September 1, 2020, and October 16, 2020. The
Select Subcommittee found that implementation of the PPP by
Treasury, SBA, and several large financial institutions
resulted in minority and women-owned businesses facing
obstacles to receiving PPP loans. Treasury privately encouraged
banks to limit their PPP lending to existing customers. SBA and
Treasury also failed to issue guidance to prioritize
underserved markets, which Congress called for in the CARES
Act.
Based on an analysis of loan data, the Select Subcommittee
also concluded that more than 22,500 PPP loans worth more than
$4.2 billion issued by the Trump Administration could be
subject to fraud, waste, or abuse. Chairman Clyburn referred
these potentially fraudulent loans to the Inspectors General at
Treasury and SBA for examination and called for the Inspectors
General to conduct a review of the program's oversight and
accountability mechanisms.
XII. EMERGENCY LENDING FACILITIES
The Select Subcommittee held several hearings regarding the
economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, including
hearings with former the Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairs Ben
Bernanke and Janet Yellen on July 17, 2020, Treasury Secretary
Mnuchin on September 1, 2020, and Fed Chair Powell on September
23, 2020.
The Select Subcommittee also launched several
investigations into emergency lending facilities implemented by
the Fed and the Treasury using CARES Act funds. On August 6,
2020, the Select Subcommittee launched an investigation the
Main Street Lending Program. This inquiry confirmed public
reports that disagreements between the Fed and the Treasury
delayed the program's launch and constrained its ability to
reach small and medium-sized businesses in need.
The Select Subcommittee also investigated the Fed's
corporate bond purchases. On September 23, 2020, the Select
Subcommittee issued a staff report documenting how hundreds of
companies that benefitted from these bond purchases laid off a
total of more than one million workers and paid billions of
dollars in dividends to shareholders, exacerbating inequality
during the coronavirus crisis.
XIII. PAYROLL SUPPORT PROGRAM
In July 2020, the Select Subcommittee opened an
investigation into Treasury's implementation of the Payroll
Support Program (PSP) following reports that Treasury provided
PSP funds to more than a dozen airline industry contractors
that engaged in mass layoffs. The Select Subcommittee reviewed
thousands of documents from Treasury and four of the top
aviation contractor recipients of PSP funds.
The Select Subcommittee released a staff report on October
9, 2020, which identified decisions by the Treasury that
undermined the job-retention purpose of the program. The Select
Subcommittee calculated that Treasury's actions led companies
to lay off more than 16,500 aviation workers, over 15 percent
of the aviation contractor workforce. Also, on October 9, 2020,
the Select Subcommittee sent follow-up letters to several
aviation contractors that received PSP funds urging them to
halt any further layoffs or furloughs until the companies spent
all remaining PSP funds. The Select Subcommittee received
commitments to halt layoffs from four companies that
collectively employ more than 30,000 workers and received
approximately $595 million in federal payroll support.
C. Official Travel/Delegations
The Full Committee led bipartisan staff delegations
(STAFFDELs) to Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas to conduct oversight inspections of DHS
immigration detention facilities in August and September 2019.
Committee staff inspected 22 DHS facilities in those six
states, including 12 detention centers run by ICE and for-
profit contractors, seven Border Patrol stations, and three
ports of entry operated by CBP.
The Subcommittee on National Security led a congressional
delegation (CODEL) that conducted oversight in Singapore,
Indonesia, Australia, and Hawaii from August 27 to September 6,
2019. The delegation visited U.S. military personnel stationed
at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Australia and met with anti-
money laundering officials and financial regulators in
Singapore and Indonesia. The CODEL also met with U.S. Indo-
Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) leadership and toured Defense POW/
MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) facilities while in Hawaii. The
delegation was led by Subcommittee Chairman Stephen F. Lynch
(D-MA) and included Subcommittee staff.
The Subcommittee on National Security led a CODEL that
conducted oversight in Algeria and Saudi Arabia from October 6
to 11, 2019. In Saudi Arabia, the delegation met with Saudi
officials to examine the U.S.-Saudi bilateral relationship and
discuss regional security challenges of mutual concern. In
Algeria, the CODEL met with State Department and Government of
Algeria officials to examine how U.S. foreign assistance
supports Algerian law enforcement and security agencies to help
interdict and investigate a wide variety of crimes and
terrorist activities. The delegation was led by Subcommittee
Chairman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and included Subcommittee
staff.
The Full Committee led a STAFFDEL that conducted oversight
at military bases that support F-35 aircraft in December 2019
and January 2020. The delegation interviewed F-35 maintenance
personnel to conduct oversight of unresolved issues with spare
parts for F-35 aircraft.
The Subcommittee on National Security led a CODEL that
conducted oversight in Mali, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia on
January 16-24, 2020. The purpose of this trip was to conduct
oversight of U.S. security and development assistance programs
in Mali, as well as to meet with DOD and Department of State
personnel in East Africa to examine how the United States is
combatting terrorist threats in Somalia and promote security
and stability in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. The CODEL also
examined force optimization in the U.S. Africa Command area of
responsibility, to include the impact on operations, risk to
force, and logic behind force structure decisions. The
delegation was led by Subcommittee Chairman Stephen F. Lynch
(D-MA) and included Subcommittee staff.
D. State and District Level Reports
In the 116th Congress, the Committee issued 238 state and
district level staff reports for Members of the House. These
reports covered the following investigations:
Census: Committee staff issued 98 district
level reports and 11 state level reports detailing the
impacts that an undercount in the Census would have on
federal funding for programs such as Medicaid, CHIP,
Title IV-E, Title I, and WIOA.
Drug Prices: Committee staff issued 19 state
level staff reports detailing the savings for states
and the average beneficiaries in those states if H.R.
3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act,
becomes law. Issued with the majority staff of the
Committee on Ways and Means, these reports examined the
impact the legislation would have on the costs of
commonly used drugs for conditions such as
osteoporosis, blood clotting and strokes, diabetes, and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Committee staff
also issued 93 district level reports comparing the
prices of diabetes drugs in the U.S. to the prices in
Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The reports
also estimated potential savings to Medicare
beneficiaries and the Medicare program if diabetes
drugs had the same prices in the U.S. as they do
abroad.
Climate: Committee staff issued 14 state
level staff reports detailing the health benefits if
the United States meets the goals of the Paris
Agreement. Using the research findings of Dr. Drew
Shindell, Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Earth
Sciences at Duke University, these reports estimated
the number of premature deaths, emergency room visits
and hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory
disease, and lost workdays that could be avoided over
the next 50 years if warming is kept below 2 degrees C.
Homeowners: Committee staff issued three
district level reports detailing the impact of the 2017
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on homeowners. These reports
examined the number of homeowners impacted by changes
in the ability to deduct interest on home equity loans,
as well as the number of homeowners who used to be able
to deduct their full property taxes but were no longer
able to do so under the new law.
VII. HEARINGS HELD PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2(n) OF HOUSE RULE XI
Under House Rule XI clause 2(n):
(1) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof,
shall hold at least one hearing during each 120-day period
following the establishment of the committee on the topic of
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs
which that committee may authorize; (2) A hearing described in
subparagraph (1) shall include a focus on the most egregious
instances of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement as
documented by any report the committee has received from a
Federal Office of the Inspector General or the Comptroller
General of the United States.
During the 116th Congress, the Committee held the following
hearings pursuant to this requirement:
Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing on ``Effects
of Vacancies at the Merit Systems Protection Board'' (February
28, 2019). Witnesses: Ms. Valerie Brannon, Legislative
Attorney, Congressional Research Service; Mr. Thomas Devine,
Legal Director, Government Accountability Project; Mr. John
Palguta, Former Director of Policy and Evaluation, Merit
Systems Protection Board; Mr. Mark Robbins, Acting Chairman,
Merit Systems Protection Board; Mr. John York, Policy Analyst,
Heritage Foundation.
Full Committee Hearing on ``GAO's 2019 High Risk Report''
(March 6, 2019). Witness: The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro,
Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office.
Full Committee Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's
Response to the Drug Crisis'' (March 7, 2019). Witnesses: The
Honorable James W. Carroll Jr., Director, Office of National
Drug Control Policy; Mr. Mike McDaniel, Director, Houston High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; Ms. Triana McNeil, Acting
Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office.
Full Committee Hearing on ``FOIA: Examining Transparency
Under the Trump Administration'' (March 13, 2019). Witnesses:
Mr. Timothy R. Epp, Acting Director, National FOIA Office,
Office of General Counsel, Environmental Protection Agency; Ms.
Melanie Ann Pustay, Director, Office of Information Policy,
Department of Justice; Ms. Rachel Spector, Acting Deputy Chief
Freedom of Information Act Officer, Department of the Interior.
Full Committee Hearing with Commerce Secretary, Wilbur L.
Ross, Jr. (March 14, 2019). Witness: Wilbur Ross, Secretary,
Department of Commerce.
Subcommittee on National Security Hearing on ``Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction's 2019 High-
Risk List'' (April 3, 2019). Witness: The Honorable John F.
Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
Reconstruction.
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Hearing on
``Failure of Administration to Comply with Subpoenas on Child
Separation Policy'' (April 9, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Christine Ciccone, Assistant Secretary for the Office of
Legislative Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; The
Honorable Stephen E. Boyd, Assistant Attorney General for the
Office of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice; The
Honorable Matthew Bassett, Assistant Secretary for Legislation,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Full Committee Hearing on ``The Financial Condition of the
Postal Service'' (April 30, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal
Service; Ms. Margaret M. Cigno, Director, Office of
Accountability and Compliance, Postal Regulatory Commission;
Mr. Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive
Officer, Quad/Graphics; Mr. Fredric V. Rolando, President,
National Association of Letter Carriers; Mr. Chris Edwards,
Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute.
Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing on
``Government Shutdowns: Contract Killers'' (May 6, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Roger A. Krone, Chief Executive Officer, Leidos;
Mr. Jaime Contreras, Vice President, 32BJ SEIU; Ms. Alba M.
Aleman, Chief Executive Officer, Citizant, Inc.; Mr. Wesley
Ford, President, TKI Coffee; Mr. Ed Grabowski, President, Local
2061, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers; Mr. David Berteau, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Professional Services Council; Mr. Michael Niggel,
Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Concepts & Technologies; Mr.
Mark Hall, Executive Vice President, ServiceSource; Mr. Anthony
Crescenzo, Chief Executive Officer, IntelliDyne, LLC; Ms.
Tamela Worthen, Security Guard, Smithsonian Institution.
Full Committee Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's
Response to the Drug Crisis, Part II'' (May 9, 2019).
Witnesses: The Honorable James W. Carroll Jr., Director, Office
of National Drug Control Policy; Ms. Triana McNeil, Acting
Director Homeland Security and Justice, Government
Accountability Office; Ms. Karyl Thomas Rattay, M.D., M.S.,
Director, Delaware Division of Public Health; Sheriff Wayne
Ivey, Brevard County, Florida.
Full Committee Hearing on ``DOD Inspector General Report on
Excess Profits by TransDigm Group, Inc.'' (May 15, 2019).
Witnesses: The Honorable Kevin Fahey, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition, Department of Defense; The Honorable
Glenn Fine, Acting Inspector General, Department of Defense;
Mr. Nicholas Howley, Executive Chairman and Founder, TransDigm;
Ms. Theresa Hull, Assistant Inspector General for Acquisition,
Office of Inspector General, Department of Defense; Mr. Kevin
Stein, Chief Executive Officer, TransDigm.
Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing on ``The
Administration's War on a Merit Based Civil Service'' (May 21,
2019). Witnesses: The Honorable Margaret Weichart, Deputy
Director of Management, Office of Management and Budget, Acting
Director, Office of Personnel Management; Ms. Triana McNeil,
Acting Director of Strategic Issues, Government Accountability
Office; Mr. Norbert E. Vint, Acting Inspector General, Office
of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; Mr. J.
David Cox, Sr., National President, American Federation of
Government Employees; Mr. Ken Thomas, National President,
National Active and Retired Federal Employees; Ms. Linda M.
Springer, Former Director, Office of Personnel Management.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Facial Recognition Technology
(Part II): Ensuring Transparency in Government Use'' (June 4,
2019). Witnesses: Ms. Kimberly J. Del Greco, Deputy Assistant
Director, Criminal Justice Information Services, Federal Bureau
of Investigation; Dr. Gretta L. Goodwin, Director, Homeland
Security and Justice, U.S. Government Accountability Office;
Mr. Austin Gould, Assistant Administrator, Requirements and
Capabilities Analysis, Transportation Security Administration;
Dr. Charles H. Romine, Director, Information Technology
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Identifying, Resolving, and
Preventing Vulnerabilities in TSA's Security Operations'' (June
25, 2019). Witnesses: Mr. Donald Bumgardner, Deputy Assistant
Inspector General, Office of Inspector General; Mr. Charles M.
Johnson Jr., Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice
Issues, Government Accountability Office; The Honorable David
P. Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security
Administration, Department of Homeland Security.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Violations of the Hatch Act
Under the Trump Administration'' (June 26, 2019). Witness: The
Honorable Henry J. Kerner, Special Counsel, Office of Special
Counsel.
Full Committee Hearing on ``The Trump Administration's
Child Separation Policy: Substantiated Allegations of
Mistreatment'' (July 12, 2019). Witnesses: The Honorable
Veronica Escobar, Member of Congress, TX-16; The Honorable
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Member of Congress, NY-14; The
Honorable Ayanna Pressley, Member of Congress, MA-07; The
Honorable Rashida Tlaib, Member of Congress, MI-13; Ms.
Jennifer L. Costello, Acting Inspector General, Department of
Homeland Security; Mr. Thomas D. Homan, Former Acting Director,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Ms. Ann Maxwell, Assistant
Inspector General for Evaluation and Inspections, Department of
Health and Human Services; Ms. Elora Mukherjee, Director,
Immigrants' Rights Clinic, Columbia Law School; Ms. Jennifer
Nagda, Policy Director, Young Center for Immigrant Children's
Rights.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Violations of the Hatch Act
Under the Trump Administration, Part II: Kellyanne Conway''
(July 15, 2019). Witness: Ms. Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to
the President, The White House.
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Hearing on
``Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border'' (July 10,
2019). Witnesses: Ms. Yazmin Juarez, Asylum Seeker and Mother
of 19-month-old Mariee, who died after detention by Immigration
and Customs Enforcement; Mr. Michael Breen, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Human Rights First; Ms. Clara Long, Deputy
Washington Director, Human Rights Watch; Ms. Hope Frye,
Executive Director, Project Lifeline; Dr. Carlos A. Gutierrez,
Pediatrician, El Paso's Children's Hospital; Mr. Ronald D.
Vitiello, Former Chief, Border Patrol, Former Acting Director,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Full Committee ``Hearing with Acting Secretary of Homeland
Security Kevin K. McAleenan (July 18, 2019). Witness: The
Honorable Kevin K. McAleenan.
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Hearing on
``Beyond the Citizenship Question: Repairing the Damage and
Preparing to Count `We the People' in 2020'' (July 24, 2019).
Witnesses: Mr. Steven Dillingham, Ph.D., Director, Census
Bureau; Mr. Robert Goldenkoff, Director of Strategic Issues,
U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mr. Nicholas Marinos,
Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity,
Government Accountability Office.
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Hearing on
``Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must Improve its Processes
for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation''
(December 11, 2019). Witnesses: Vice Admiral Michael
McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United
States Coast Guard; Lieutenant Commander Kimberly Young-McLear,
Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff, United States Coast
Guard; Mr. Jackson Eaton, Deputy Assistant Inspector General,
United States Department of Homeland Security.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Reaching Hard-to-Count
Communities in the 2020 Census'' (January 9, 2020). Witnesses:
Mr. Kevin Allis, Chief Executive Officer, National Congress of
American Indians; Ms. Vanita Gupta, President and Chief
Executive Officer, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human
Rights; Mr. Darrell Moore, Executive Director, Center for South
Georgia Regional Impact, Valdosta State University; Mr. Marc
Morial, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Urban
League; Mr. Arturo Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, NALEO
Educational Fund; Mr. John Yang, President and Executive
Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
Subcommittee on National Security Hearing on ``Examining
the Trump Administration's Afghanistan Strategy'' (January 28,
2020). Witness: The Honorable John F. Sopko, Special Inspector
General, Afghanistan Reconstruction.
Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing on
``Protecting Those Who Blow the Whistle on Government
Wrongdoing'' (January 28, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. David K.
Colapinto, Founder and General Counsel, National Whistleblower
Center; The Honorable Glenn A. Fine, Principal Deputy Inspector
General, Department of Defense; Ms. Elizabeth Hempowicz,
Director of Public Policy, Project on Government Oversight; The
Honorable Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, Department of
Justice; Mr. Paul Rosenzweig, Resident Senior Fellow, National
Security and Cybersecurity, R Street Institute.
Subcommittee on National Security Hearing on ``Karshi-
Khanabad: Hazardous Exposures and Effects on U.S.
Servicemembers'' (February 27, 2020). Witnesses: Ms. Kim E.
Brooks, Spouse of Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Brooks, U.S. Army;
Mr. Scott W. Welsch, K2 Veteran, Retired Chief Warrant Officer
2, U.S. Army; Mr. Paul B. Widener Jr. K2 Veteran, Retired
Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force.
Full Committee Hearing with Census Bureau Director, Dr.
Steven Dillingham (February 12, 2020). Witnesses: The Honorable
Dr. Steven Dillingham, Director, United States Census Bureau;
Mr. Nick Marinos, Director, Information Technology and
Cybersecurity, Government Accountability Office; Mr. J.
Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues,
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Albert E. Fontenot,
Associate Director of the Decennial Census Programs, United
States Census Bureau.
Full Committee Hearing on ``The Administration's Religious
Liberty Assault on LGBTQ Rights'' (February 27, 2020).
Witnesses: The Honorable Sean Patrick Maloney, Member of
Congress, NY-18; The Honorable Mark Takano, Member of Congress,
CA-41; The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy, Member of Congress, MA-
04; The Honorable Mike Kelly, Member of Congress, PA-16; Ms.
Sarah Warbelow, Legal Director, Human Rights Campaign; Reverend
Stan J. Sloan, Chief Executive Officer, Family Equality
Council; Mr. Ernesto Olivares, San Antonio, Texas; Mr. Evan
Minton, Livermore, California; Mr. Hiram Sasser, Executive
General Counsel, First Liberty Institute.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Coronavirus Preparedness and
Response'' (March 11-12, 2020). Witnesses: Dr. Anthony Fauci,
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, National Institutes of Health; Dr. Robert Redfield,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr.
Robert Kadlec, Assistant Secretary, Preparedness and Response,
Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Terry M. Rauch,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Readiness Policy and Oversight, Department of Defense; Mr.
Chris Currie, Director, Emergency Management and National
Preparedness, Government Accountability Office.
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Hearing on
``Accountability in Crisis: GAO's Recommendations to Improve
the Federal Coronavirus Response'' (June 26, 2020). Witnesses:
The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United
States, Government Accountability Office.
Full Committee Hearing on ``F-35 Joint Strike Fighter:
Ensuring Safety and Accountability in the Government's Trillion
Dollar Investment'' (July 22, 2020). Witnesses: Lieutenant
General Eric T. Fick, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Joint
Program Office, U.S. Department of Defense; Ms. Theresa Hull,
Assistant Inspector General, Department of Defense; The
Honorable Ellen Lord, Under Secretary for Acquisitions and
Sustainment, Department of Defense; Ms. Diana Maurer, Director,
Government Accountability Office, Defense Capabilities and
Management; Mr. Greg Ulmer, Vice President and General Manager,
F-35 Lightning II Program, Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Counting Every Person:
Safeguarding the 2020 Census Against the Trump Administration's
Unconstitutional Attacks'' (July 29, 2020). Witnesses: Mr.
Vincent Barabba, Former Director, Census Bureau; Dr. Steven
Dillingham, Director, Census Bureau; Mr. John Eastman,
Professor, Henry Salvatori Professor of Law and Community
Service Director, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Dale
E. Fowler School of Law, on behalf of Chapman University,
Senior Fellow, Claremont Institute; Mr. Robert M. Groves,
Former Director, Census Bureau (2009-2012); Mr. Kenneth
Prewitt, Former Director, Census Bureau (1998-2001); Mr. John
H. Thompson, Former Director, Census Bureau (2013-2017).
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Hybrid
Hearing on ``The Urgent Need for a National Plan to Contain the
Coronavirus'' (July 31, 2020). Witnesses: Dr. Anthony Fauci,
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, National Institutes of Health; Admiral Brett P.
Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of
Health and Human Services; Dr. Robert R. Redfield, M.D.,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Protecting the Timely Delivery
of Mail, Medicine, and Mail-in Ballots'' (August 24, 2020).
Witnesses: Mr. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States
Postal Service; The Honorable Robert Duncan, Chairman, United
States Postal Service Board of Governors.
Full Committee Hearing on ``Providing the Census Bureau
with the Time to Produce a Complete and Accurate Census''
(September 10, 2020). Witnesses: Mr. J. Christopher Mihm,
Managing Director, Strategic Issues Team, Government
Accountability Office; Mr. John H. Thompson, Former Director,
Census Bureau (2013-2017); Mr. Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor,
Gila River Indian Community; Ms. Stacey Carless, Executive
Director, NC Counts Coalition; Mr. Hans A. von Spakovsky,
Senior Legal Fellow, Heritage Foundation.
Subcommittee on National Security Hearing on ``Examining
the Trump Administration's Afghanistan Strategy, Part 2''
(September 22, 2020). Witnesses: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad,
Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation,
Department of State; Mr. David F. Helvey, Performing the Duties
of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security
Affairs, Department of Defense.
VIII. HEARINGS HELD PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (p) OF HOUSE RULE XI
Under House Rule XI clause 2(p):
Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall
hold at least one hearing on issues raised by reports issued by
the Comptroller General of the United States indicating that
Federal programs or operations that the committee may authorize
are at high risk for waste, fraud, and mismanagement, known as
the ``high-risk list'' or the ``high-risk series.''
During the 116th Congress, the Committee held the following
hearings pursuant to this requirement:
Hearing on ``GAO's 2019 High Risk Report'' (March 6, 2019).
Witness: The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General,
Government Accountability Office.
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