[House Report 117-17]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                               Union Calendar No. 5

117th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Report 117-17 






                                
                   AUTHORIZATION AND OVERSIGHT PLANS 

                                FOR ALL 

                            HOUSE COMMITTEES 

                               __________







                                 BY THE

                         COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT

                               AND REFORM

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                  (Required by House Rule X, Clause 2)


















[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]





















 April 15, 2021.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

                             _________
  
  
                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                 
44-228                   WASHINGTON : 2021
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
                   COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM

                CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York, Chairwoman
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON,               JAMES COMER, Kentucky,
  District of Columbia                 Ranking Minority Member
STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts      JIM JORDAN, Ohio
JIM COOPER, Tennessee                PAUL A. GOSAR, Arizona
GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia         VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, Illinois        JODY B. HICE, Georgia
JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland               GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin
RO KHANNA, California                MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas
KWEISI MFUME, Maryland               BOB GIBBS, Ohio
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ, New York   CLAY HIGGINS, Louisiana
RASHIDA TLAIB, Michigan              RALPH NORMAN, South Carolina
KATIE PORTER, California             PETE SESSIONS, Texas
CORI BUSH, Missouri                  FRED KELLER, Pennsylvania
DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois             ANDY BIGGS, Arizona
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Florida    ANDREW CLYDE, Georgia
PETER WELCH, Vermont                 NANCY MACE, South Carolina
HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,      SCOTT FRANKLIN, Florida
    Georgia                          JAKE LATURNER, Kansas
JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland           PAT FALLON, Texas
JACKIE SPEIER, California            YVETTE HERRELL, New Mexico
ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois             BYRON DONALDS, Florida
BRENDA L. LAWRENCE, Michigan
MARK DeSAULNIER, California
JIMMY GOMEZ, California
AYANNA PRESSLEY, Massachusetts
MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois
                      Dave Rapallo, Staff Director
                     Jason Powell, General Counsel
          Lisa Lanier, Chief Clerk and Director of Operations
                  Mark Marin, Minority Staff Director
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Agriculture......................................................    13
Armed Services...................................................    21
Budget...........................................................    51
Education and Labor..............................................    59
Energy and Commerce..............................................    71
Financial Services...............................................    85
Foreign Affairs..................................................   109
Homeland Security................................................   121
House Administration.............................................   131
Judiciary........................................................   151
Natural Resources................................................   163
Oversight and Reform.............................................   195
Science, Space, and Technology...................................   215
Small Business...................................................   225
Transportation and Infrastructure................................   235
Veterans' Affairs................................................   263
Ways and Means...................................................   283 












                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, April 15, 2021.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Speaker: In accordance with to Rule X (2) of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit 
the oversight plans of each specified standing committee 
together with recommendations to ensure the most effective 
coordination of such plans and otherwise achieve the objectives 
of the House Rules.

                                        Carolyn B. Maloney,
                                                        Chairwoman.















                                                  Union Calendar No. 5
117th Congress    }                                       {     Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                       {     117-17

======================================================================



 
      OVERSIGHT PLANS FOR ALL HOUSE COMMITTEES WITH ACCOMPANYING 
                            RECOMMENDATIONS

                                _______
                                

 April 15, 2021.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Ms. Carolyn B. Maloney, from the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    OVERSIGHT IN THE 117TH CONGRESS

                            RECOMMENDATIONS

                                 OF THE

                   COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM

                              I. OVERVIEW

    Conducting oversight is a core responsibility of Congress 
under the Constitution. It is through the oversight function 
that Congress performs its role as a check on abuses by the 
other branches of government. Oversight is also critical to 
Congress's legislative function. It is Congress's 
responsibility to utilize the oversight process to review, 
monitor, and supervise the implementation of public policy to 
ensure the effective and efficient operation of the nation's 
laws, as well as to recommend improvements to those laws.
    As the Supreme Court recognized more than 60 years ago in 
Watkins v. United States:
          The power of the Congress to conduct investigations 
        is inherent in the legislative process. That power is 
        broad. It encompasses inquiries concerning the 
        administration of existing laws as well as proposed or 
        possibly needed statutes. It includes surveys of 
        defects in our social, economic or political system for 
        the purpose of enabling Congress to remedy them.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 187 (1957).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the importance of 
Congress's investigatory power in Trump v. Mazars stating, 
``Without information, Congress would be shooting in the dark, 
unable to legislate `wisely or effectively.'''\2\ In its 
decision in Mazars, the Supreme Court cited Watkins and 
affirmed that Congress's investigatory powers are indeed 
```broad' and `indispensable.'''\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP, 140 S. Ct. 2019, 2034 (2020).
    \3\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    It is by conducting oversight that the 117th Congress will 
identify ways to lower health care costs for the American 
people, increase wages for working families, and fix the 
nation's crumbling roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
    It is by conducting oversight that Congress will ensure 
that taxpayer funds go to the programs and services for which 
they are intended. In fiscal year 2020, the federal government 
made $6.6 trillion in outlays to fund operations and 
programs.\4\ Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight 
to ensure that those funds are protected from waste, fraud, and 
abuse.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Government Accountability Office, GAO's 2021 High-Risk Series: 
Dedicated Leadership Needed to Address Limited Progress in Most High-
Risk Areas (GAO-21-119SP) (Mar. 2, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Oversight will also enable Congress to root out government 
corruption, strengthen democracy by countering threats to 
voting rights and election security, and provide transparency 
to improve ethics laws and ensure that government officials are 
working in the public's interest.
    Congressional oversight makes a tangible impact. For 
example, nine investigations conducted by the Committee on 
Oversight and Reform in the 116th Congress saved American 
taxpayers nearly $5.8 billion. While the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of 
Representatives, the various standing House committees each 
play an important role in conducting oversight on matters 
within their respective jurisdictions.
    House Rule X, Clause 2, recognizes Congress's critical 
oversight duties by establishing a process whereby each 
standing committee is required to adopt an oversight plan at 
the beginning of a new Congress. Under this rule, the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform is to review the various plans and, in 
consultation with the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the 
Minority Leader, report to the House the oversight plans along 
with any recommendations that the House leadership and the 
Committee may have to ensure effective coordination. Pursuant 
to this rule, the Committee on Oversight and Reform has 
reviewed and consulted with House leadership about the 
oversight plans of the standing House committees for the 117th 
Congress. These plans outline a thoughtful and thorough 
approach for carrying out Congress's oversight 
responsibilities. The oversight agendas of the various House 
committees address a broad array of priorities focused on 
developing policy solutions for working families.
    The Oversight Committee makes the following recommendations 
regarding coordination of oversight in the House of 
Representatives.
    The Committee recommends that all committees draw on the 
wide variety of available oversight resources in their ongoing 
efforts to evaluate oversight needs and priorities. The 
Government Accountability Office (GAO), in particular, has vast 
experience both in conducting and evaluating the need for 
oversight. On March 2, 2021, GAO issued its biennial ``High-
Risk Report,'' which identifies government programs that are 
particularly vulnerable to waste, fraud, or abuse.\5\ Since its 
first iteration in 1990, the High Risk Report ``has focused 
attention on government operations with greater vulnerabilities 
to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or that are in need 
of transformation to address economy, efficiency, or 
effectiveness challenges.''\6\ GAO has determined that 
addressing high-risk issues highlighted by its work has saved 
the federal government nearly $575 billion since 2006.\7\ 
Approximately $225 billion in savings were achieved just in the 
last two years.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\Id.
    \6\Id.
    \7\Committee on Oversight and Reform, Hearing on the 2021 GAO High-
Risk List: Blueprint for a Safer, Stronger, More Effective America 
(Mar. 2, 2021).
    \8\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agency inspectors general are another valuable resource for 
congressional oversight, and can provide guidance to Congress 
through their audit plans, investigations, and individual 
counsel. According to the Council of the Inspectors General on 
Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE):

          In FY 2019, approximately thirteen-thousand employees 
        at seventy-three OIG [Office of Inspector General] 
        conducted audits, inspections, evaluations, and 
        investigations . . . result[ing] in significant 
        improvements to the economy and efficiency of programs 
        governmentwide, with potential savings totaling 
        approximately $40.8 billion. CIGIE further reported: 
        ``The potential savings total includes: $29.2 billion 
        in potential savings from audit recommendations, and 
        $11.6 billion from investigative receivables and 
        recoveries.''\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, 
Annual Report to the President and Congress (Fiscal Year 2019) (online 
at www.ignet.gov/sites/default/files/files/
FY19_Annual_Report_to_the_President_and_Congress.pdf).

    Finally, the task of ensuring accountability and 
appropriate policies on complex issues often requires the 
participation of multiple committees. Based on their respective 
jurisdictions and experience, different committees can lend 
varying types of expertise to the evaluation of a given matter. 
The oversight plans submitted by the standing committees for 
the 117th Congress recognize that a number of key issues demand 
scrutiny by several different committees. With respect to these 
issues, committees and subcommittees should coordinate to 
ensure that they share the benefits of their findings and 
unique expertise. When appropriate, committees should also 
consult the Committee on House Administration and Committee on 
Ethics if any questions arise regarding appropriate use of 
House resources and the standards of conduct applicable to 
members and staff.
    Part II below contains examples of important areas 
identified by committees for which these recommendations may be 
instructive.

                  II. EXAMPLES OF KEY OVERSIGHT AREAS


                           CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

    The recent outbreak and global spread of the coronavirus 
necessitated extraordinary measures to respond to the crisis. 
To date, tens of millions of Americans have been infected, and 
more than half a million have succumbed to the virus. The 
impact of the pandemic has been wide-ranging and devastating. 
The broad impact of and response to the crisis require broad 
oversight to be coordinated among House committees.
    In April 2020, the House established the Select 
Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, a subcommittee within 
the Committee on Oversight on Reform, to ``conduct a full and 
complete investigation'' of ``the use of taxpayer funds and 
relief programs to address the coronavirus crisis,'' 
``preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis,'' 
``the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis,'' and other 
issues related to the pandemic.\10\ The Select Subcommittee was 
reauthorized in the 117th Congress to continue its robust 
oversight and ensure the nation's ongoing response to the 
pandemic is effective, efficient, and equitable. The Select 
Subcommittee will continue to conduct oversight to detect and 
root out waste, fraud, and abuse in pandemic-related relief 
programs, contracts, and loans. The Select Subcommittee will 
also conduct investigations on topics such as political 
interference with the pandemic response, the development and 
distribution of coronavirus vaccines, the acquisition and 
distribution of critical supplies, the impact of the pandemic 
on nursing homes and residents, and the implementation and 
efficacy of federal programs aimed at addressing the economic 
and financial impacts of the coronavirus crisis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\H. Res. 935, 116th Cong. (2020); H. Res. 8, sec. 4(f), 117th 
Cong. (2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In consultation with the Select Subcommittee, the full 
Committee on Oversight and Reform will examine the 
effectiveness and equity of our national response to the 
coronavirus pandemic and ensure the appropriate expenditure of 
taxpayer funds. The full Committee will also examine whether 
federal resources are being used to promote transparency into 
the pandemic's disproportionate impact on marginalized 
populations--including people with disabilities--and to 
prioritize science in policymaking in order to better prepare 
our country to confront future pandemics.
    The Committee on Agriculture plans to monitor the impacts 
of the coronavirus pandemic on rural communities, farmers, 
ranchers, food and farmworkers, agriculture and food supply 
chains, zoonotic surveillance, and domestic and international 
hunger. The Committee will review federal food assistance 
programs to ensure efforts are equitable across sectors and 
will examine support for socially disadvantaged producers.
    The Committee on Budget will examine budgetary measures 
related to rescuing an economy damaged by the coronavirus 
pandemic. In so doing, the Committee will evaluate the effects 
of the pandemic and the associated government response across 
the various sectors of the U.S. economy.
    The Committee on Education and Labor plans to conduct 
oversight of efforts to ensure that students, teachers, 
workers, and their families are adequately protected during the 
coronavirus pandemic. As part of this work, the Committee will 
assess the effectiveness of federal agencies' coronavirus 
pandemic policies at high-risk worksites. Additionally, the 
Committee will monitor the administration of child nutrition 
programs during the coronavirus pandemic.
    The Committee on Energy and Commerce will review 
pharmaceutical manufacturers' efforts to develop and produce 
coronavirus vaccines, as well as the federal government's role 
in supporting those efforts and ensuring equitable distribution 
of the vaccines. The Committee will also continue to examine 
issues related to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) producing and disseminating reliable public 
health data and information, and efforts by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) to review, authorize, and approve drugs, 
vaccines, and devices in the fight against the coronavirus 
pandemic.
    The Committee on Financial Services plans to conduct 
oversight of housing protections and relief programs 
established during the coronavirus pandemic in order to ensure 
proper implementation, compliance with fair housing and fair 
lending laws, and equitable treatment of the hardest-hit 
communities. The Committee will review the effectiveness of 
eviction and foreclosure moratoria and mortgage forbearance in 
keeping people safely housed and will examine how consumers 
have been affected by the pandemic.
    The Committee on Foreign Affairs plans to examine the 
ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic on broader global 
health efforts. The Committee will conduct oversight on global 
health security efforts, including infectious disease 
surveillance and control and strengthening of health care 
systems.
    The Committee on Homeland Security will conduct oversight 
of the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. The Committee will 
focus on monitoring FEMA's work with the CDC and other federal 
agencies to coordinate with state, local, tribal, and 
territorial entities and the private sector to assist with 
coronavirus vaccine distribution.
    The Committee on Natural Resources will examine the impact 
of the coronavirus pandemic on Indigenous Peoples. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of the Indian Health Service's 
coronavirus pandemic response and will review its ability to 
maintain the health and well-being of tribal communities during 
the pandemic. The Committee will also conduct oversight 
activities to ensure tribes and insular areas receive the 
resources needed to address the coronavirus pandemic and other 
emergencies.
    The Committee on Science, Space and Technology plans to 
examine how scientific integrity failures may have contributed 
to the coronavirus pandemic's severity in the United States and 
will evaluate strategies for addressing future outbreaks of 
infectious disease. The Committee will also examine how the 
vast societal and economic changes forced by the coronavirus 
pandemic have temporarily affected global environmental air 
quality and consider implications for environmental management 
strategies going forward.
    The Committee on Small Business plans to monitor the Small 
Business Administration's (SBA) spending and efforts related to 
the coronavirus pandemic response and fully account for 
coronavirus pandemic-related appropriations. The Committee will 
conduct oversight of programs to provide emergency stimulative 
capital to small businesses, including programs designed to 
provide small businesses access to federal coronavirus pandemic 
support resources.
    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure plans to 
continue to review the unique impact of the coronavirus 
pandemic on the U.S. aviation industry and will conduct 
oversight of the implementation of relief programs for 
airlines, airports, and other aviation stakeholders. The 
Committee will examine the effect of the coronavirus pandemic 
on surface transportation networks, including Amtrak. In 
addition, because the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way 
federal workers utilize real property, the Committee will 
examine changes the coronavirus pandemic will have on federal 
workspace.
    The Committee on Veterans Affairs plans to conduct 
oversight of efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
to address the delays in medical disability exams and the 
backlog of claims resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The 
Committee will also examine the Veterans Health 
Administration's response to the pandemic, the long-term health 
of veterans who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and potential 
ongoing impacts of delays in care, and mental strain due to the 
increased stress and isolation caused by the coronavirus 
pandemic.
    The Committee on Ways and Means plans to conduct oversight 
of the implementation of tax provisions designed to address the 
impact of the coronavirus pandemic and will review the nation's 
unemployment compensation benefits and financing systems, 
including the temporary programs enacted during the coronavirus 
pandemic. The Committee also plans to conduct oversight on the 
effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the Social Security 
Administration's services.
    The Committee on Armed Services will review the Department 
of Defense's (DOD) role in the fight against the coronavirus 
pandemic. The Committee also plans to conduct oversight of 
DOD's science and technology investments in countermeasures to 
adversary capabilities and emerging threats, such as infectious 
diseases and biotechnologies.
    The Committee on House Administration will oversee 
collaboration among House Officers and other Legislative Branch 
entities with respect to the House of Representatives' response 
to the coronavirus pandemic. The Committee plans to oversee 
legislative process adjustments necessitated by the coronavirus 
pandemic and will also review other issues related to the 
coronavirus pandemic, such as member, congressional staff, and 
U.S. Capitol Police Department testing and vaccination.

                              HEALTH CARE

    The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the longstanding 
need for Americans to have equitable access to affordable 
health care. The nation's health care system continues to be 
one of the most expensive in the world. In particular, 
prescription drug prices continue to impose tremendous burdens 
on patients, taxpayers, and the entire health care system. 
While more than 20 million Americans gained health care 
coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid 
expansion, millions of Americans still lack coverage.\11\ The 
Biden Administration has taken several initial actions to make 
health care coverage available for millions of additional 
people, lower premiums, and address racial heath inequities. 
Legislation has been introduced in the House to further address 
these issues. House committees will continue to conduct 
coordinated oversight aimed at lowering health care costs, 
ensuring access to care, and reducing health disparities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \11\Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Chart Book: 
Accomplishments of Affordable Care Act (Mar. 19, 2019) (online at 
www.cbpp.org/research/health/chart-book-accomplishments-of-affordable-
care-act).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee on Energy and Commerce plans to examine the 
availability, affordability, and quality of health care, 
including the implementation of the ACA and the Medicaid 
program; the roles of the National Institutes of Health and FDA 
in the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative 
medications; and initiatives to address high prescription drug 
prices and other medical costs. The Committee will also examine 
efforts to address the opioid epidemic and the health impacts 
caused by gun violence in our communities. In addition, the 
Committee will investigate racial disparities in maternal and 
infant mortality as well as the appropriate collection of 
demographic data related to health and health care.
    The Committee on Ways and Means will conduct oversight of 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the 
administration of the Medicare program. The Committee will 
continue to examine the implementation of the ACA and review 
issues related to private health coverage, including surprise 
billing and prescription drug prices. The Committee will also 
conduct oversight of the quality of care delivered to nursing 
home patients.
    The Committee on Armed Services will conduct reviews of 
military health policies, including TRICARE benefits, wounded 
warrior programs, and policies to address opioid use. The 
Committee will also conduct oversight of the ongoing reform 
efforts at military treatment facilities.
    The Committee on Veterans' Affairs will work to improve 
health care provided to veterans by conducting oversight of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to develop Community 
Care Networks, improve mental health and suicide-prevention 
efforts, reduce health inequities among veterans, monitor the 
expansion of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family 
Caregivers, and review proposed measures concerning veterans' 
access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care.
    The Committee on Foreign Affairs will conduct oversight on 
global health security efforts and examine the impacts of the 
Trump Administration's reimposition of the Global Gag Rule and 
elimination of funding to the United Nations Population Fund on 
women's health services and access to reproductive health. The 
Committee will also examine the progress of global HIV/AIDS-
epidemic initiatives, global malnutrition elimination, support 
for maternal and child health, and U.S. engagement with the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
    The Committee on Education and Labor will investigate 
inequities that prevent individuals and communities from 
accessing needed health care and prescription drugs. The 
Committee on Agriculture plans to review access to health and 
mental health services in rural areas and examine the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's and the Emergency 
Food Assistance Program's ability to respond to a public health 
emergency. The Committee on Financial Services will examine 
health hazards in the nation's public housing system. The 
Committee on Natural Resources will examine health disparities 
among Indigenous Peoples and the ongoing operation of the 
Indian Health Service. The Committee on Small Business will 
examine the cost and availability of health insurance to small 
businesses and their employees, along with ways to improve the 
provision of health care while reducing costs to small 
businesses that offer their workers health insurance.
    Finally, the Committee on Oversight and Reform will 
investigate the actions of drug companies in raising 
prescription drug prices in the United States and limiting 
competition and will conduct oversight to ensure the 
effectiveness of federal actions to lower drug prices. The 
Committee will also continue to examine the origins of the 
opioid crisis and the need for expanded access to treatment and 
support services for those with opioid and other substance-use 
disorders.\12\ The Committee will examine systemic 
discrimination in health care settings, health inequities, and 
other barriers that prevent marginalized populations from 
accessing high-quality, nondiscriminatory medical care in the 
United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \12\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Overdose Deaths 
Accelerating During Covid-19 (Dec. 17, 2020) (online at www.cdc.gov/
media/releases/2020/p1218-overdose-deaths-covid-19.html); Kaiser Family 
Foundation, The Implications of Covid-19 for Mental Health and 
Substance Use (Feb. 10, 2021) (online at www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-
19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-
substance-use/).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

           ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

    As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the 
mismanagement and policies of the Trump Administration, the 
United States is in the midst of an economic crisis. More than 
18 million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits, and 
it is estimated that as many as 40 million Americans cannot 
afford to pay rent and fear eviction.\13\ Nearly 23 million 
Americans, including as many as 11 million children, are living 
in households experiencing food insecurity.\14\ Over 2.3 
million women have been forced to leave the workforce entirely, 
including nearly 1 million mothers, and many minority 
businesses have teetered on the brink of closure.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \13\Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims (Apr. 
8 2021) (online at www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf); National Low-Income 
Housing Coalition, Press Release: 30-40 Million People in America Could 
Be Evicted from Their Homes by the End of 2020 (Aug. 7, 2020) (online 
at nlihc.org/news/30-40-million-people-america-could-be-evicted-their-
homes-end-2020).
    \14\Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, New Data:  Millions 
Struggling to Eat and Pay Rent (Sept. 23, 2020) (online at 
www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/new-data-millions-
struggling-to-eat-and-pay-rent).
    \15\National Women's Law Center, Another 275,000 Women Left the 
Labor Force in January (Feb. 5, 2021) (online at nwlc.org/resources/
january-jobs-day-2021/); A Million American Mothers Are out of Work, 
Axios (Feb. 10, 2021) (online at www.axios.com/mothers-out-of-work-
pandemic-692c26d2-009e-4534-9162-0862ae269499.html); Few Minority-Owned 
Businesses Got Relief Loans They Asked for, New York Times (May 18, 
2020) (online at www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/business/minority-
businesses-coronavirus-loans.html).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    During the 117th Congress, House committees will examine 
ways to promote economic recovery, jobs, higher wages, and 
prosperity; review investments in infrastructure and innovation 
industries; and respond to challenges faced by workers seeking 
to collectively negotiate strong protections in the workplace.
    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure plans to 
examine infrastructure investments to bring the nation's 
crumbling transportation infrastructure to a state of good 
repair while examining new technologies and innovative mobility 
solutions to move people and goods more safely and efficiently. 
The Committee will also monitor the status and solvency of the 
Highway Trust Fund and its ability to fund currently authorized 
programs and meet future surface-transportation investment 
needs. In addition, the Committee will examine the need for 
continued investment in U.S. water-related infrastructure that: 
(1) prioritizes the creation of American jobs and the 
utilization of American-made products, (2) supports a healthy 
and sustainable economy and environment, and (3) protects 
public health and safety.
    The Committee on Financial Services plans to evaluate 
methods to expand equitable access to the traditional financial 
services system, including methods to broaden homeownership, 
increase wages, promote employment within high-growth 
industries, and encourage savings (including retirement 
savings) and investments. The Committee will also evaluate 
consumer financial laws to ensure that they are meeting the 
evolving needs of the American people and that they reduce the 
disparities in opportunity that persist across different 
segments of our society.
    The Committee on Education and Labor plans to conduct 
oversight of Department of Labor programs, policies, and 
enforcement practices and their impact on our nation's workers. 
The Committee will examine the costs and consequences to 
workers, retirees, businesses, and communities, as well as to 
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, if Congress does not 
address the multiemployer pension crisis. Through its 
oversight, the Committee will ensure that community-support 
programs and federal funding targeted to improving equity for 
vulnerable populations achieve the stated goals.
    The Committee on Small Business plans to investigate 
policies to encourage more participation in the labor market 
through initiatives that can be offered by small businesses, 
such as paid sick and parental leave. The Committee will 
monitor the effectiveness of capital access programs to 
generate jobs in small and underserved businesses, investigate 
whether lenders are meeting their goals to lend to small 
businesses and create jobs, and examine methods to enhance 
equity financing to meet the needs of small-business borrowers. 
The Committee will also review federal actions to assist 
employers in workforce training, analyze ways to meet the 
growing need for more skilled workers, and study the 
effectiveness of efforts to encourage more underserved workers 
to enter fields where skilled labor is needed.
    The Committee on Ways and Means will examine ways within 
its jurisdiction to encourage robust investment in American 
infrastructure directed at modernizing how Americans travel and 
how the American economy grows, and at creating good jobs and 
meaningful economic development at the local, state, and 
federal levels. The Committee will also conduct oversight of 
the impact of trade on U.S. jobs, wages, communities, and 
economic growth or displacement, with particular attention to 
whether trade has a disparate impact on underprivileged groups. 
The Committee also plans to conduct oversight of, and promote, 
Administration efforts to enforce provisions relating to tariff 
and non-tariff barriers to U.S. manufacturing, and will assess 
the need to increase U.S. manufacturing exports that also 
promote jobs and economic opportunities for diverse and 
multiracial communities.
    The Committee on Energy and Commerce will focus attention 
on the transition to a clean energy economy, the impact on 
traditional energy employment, and the increased need for a 
skilled workforce in the growing areas of renewable energy, 
energy efficiency, and storage. The Committee will continue its 
ongoing examination of diversity in the energy workforce and 
pathways to ensure underrepresented groups and veterans are 
able to obtain employment and benefit from the transition to a 
clean-energy economy.
    The Committee on Oversight and Reform plans to focus on 
remedying the impacts of the Trump Administration's repeated 
attacks on the federal workforce and collective bargaining. The 
Committee will examine the effects of the Trump 
Administration's efforts to weaken the federal civil service 
and will work to revitalize the federal workforce. The 
Committee will also examine the impact of federal agency 
vacancies at all levels, staffing reductions, and diversity and 
inclusion in the federal workforce.

                   CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

    The standing committees of the House will conduct oversight 
on ways to protect the environment and address the generational 
crisis posed by climate change. On January 9, 2019, the House 
made oversight of these issues a priority when, through House 
Resolution 6, the House authorized the establishment of a 
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis with investigative 
jurisdiction to ``study, make findings, and develop 
recommendations on policies, strategies, and innovations to 
achieve substantial and permanent reductions in pollution and 
other activities that contribute to the climate crisis.''\16\ 
On January 4, 2021, the House reauthorized the Select 
Committeefor the 117th Congress through House Resolution 8.\17\ 
The standing committees of the House will continue to conduct 
robust oversight to augment the work of the Select Committee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \16\H. Res. 6 116th Cong. (2019).
    \17\H. Res. 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee on Energy and Commerce intends to focus on 
the economic, environmental, and health effects of climate 
change, including the disproportionate impacts on low-income 
communities and other historically overburdened populations. 
The Committee will review actions needed to meet the United 
States' obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement and 
examine the climate impacts of federal regulatory efforts and 
programs. The Committee plans to examine activities and 
policies to protect and improve the nation's air quality and 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Committee will also assess 
efforts to ensure states and local communities have the 
resources needed to prepare for and respond to severe weather 
events and natural disasters.
    The Committee on Natural Resources will review the ongoing 
effects of climate change on tribal communities, incorporate 
environmental justice strategies, discuss the adaption of 
strategies employed in those communities, and address any unmet 
needs. The Committee plans to continue to focus on 
understanding the impacts of climate change on public lands and 
ensuring that public lands serve as a key part of the climate 
solution. The Committee will examine strategies to aid local 
communities that will need to transition away from economic 
dependence on fossil fuel extraction.
    The Committee on Science, Space and Technology plans to 
aggressively track emerging issues and scientific studies 
regarding global warming and climate science. The Committee 
will also examine issues surrounding extreme weather events, 
including the science behind these hazards and how climate 
change has increased the frequency and severity of these 
events, improvements to forecasting and warning, and proposed 
methods to reduce their impact.
    The Committee on Agriculture will review the role of 
America's farmers, ranchers, and foresters in mitigating 
climate change, including small-scale, limited-resource, and 
socially disadvantaged producers. The Committee will also 
review the Department of Agriculture's role in providing cost-
share funding, incentives, research, technical expertise, and 
other tools related to climate change adaptation and 
mitigation.
    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will 
examine the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the U.S. 
transportation system and review how transitioning to a more 
sustainable surface transportation system may bring the 
opportunity for new U.S. job bases and a more competitive 
position in the global economy. The Committee will examine 
means of reducing the impacts of carbon pollution from the 
transportation sector and building stronger, more resilient, 
and adaptive transportation networks. The Committee will also 
seek opportunities to address potential inequities in 
communities that may be disproportionately affected by the 
effects of climate change.
    The Committee on Foreign Affairs plans to examine the 
effectiveness of U.S. policy on climate change, including the 
impact of the Trump Administration's withdrawal from the Paris 
Climate Accord on our diplomatic relations, our development 
assistance, and multilateral engagement. The Committee will 
explore the impacts of climate change on national security, its 
contributions to displacement and social unrest across the 
globe, and how to advance a path toward climate stabilization. 
The Committee will consider the evolution of the global energy 
landscape, emphasize good governance of existing resources, and 
work to assure energy security for the United States and our 
allies. The Committee on Ways and Means will conduct oversight 
of efforts to address the impact of climate change through the 
use of trade tools.
    The Committee on Oversight and Reform will continue to 
examine government and private sector policies and actions 
related to the environment, natural resources, and public 
health. In particular, the Committee will review how current 
policies and actions affect marginalized communities, which 
often lack public health infrastructure and bear the brunt of 
the consequences of climate change, including the social and 
environmental determinants of health. The Committee will focus 
on job creation in the transition to clean energy and a green 
economy, environmental justice, and the harmful effects of 
disinformation in the fight against climate change.

                            III. CONCLUSION

    The oversight plans submitted by the standing House 
committees together form a coherent blueprint for Congress's 
efforts to address issues of concern to working families across 
the country. The Committee on Oversight and Reform will 
continue to work with the other House committees and House 
leadership throughout the 117th Congress to promote effective 
congressional oversight. The oversight plans of all House 
committees follow.

                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

TO: The Honorable Carolyn Maloney, Chairwoman, House Committee on 
        Oversight and Reform, The Honorable Zoe Lofgren, Chairperson, 
        Committee on House Administration
FROM: The Honorable David Scott, Chairman, House Committee on 
        Agriculture
DATE: March 1, 2021
SUBJECT: Oversight Plan for the House Committee on Agriculture for the 
        117th Congress
    This oversight plan is filed pursuant to Rule X, clause 
2(d)(1) of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives for 
the 117th Congress. This plan was prepared in consultation with 
the Ranking Member and was presented to the Members of the 
Committee, with proper notice, for their consideration.
    While much of the work in the 117th Congress will focus on 
continued recovery from impacts related to the COVID-19 
pandemic, the Committee and its subcommittees expect to 
exercise appropriate oversight activity regarding the issues 
listed below, as well as to begin consideration and formulation 
of the 2023 Farm Bill. The Committee will also have a general 
focus on the condition of rural communities; the farm economy, 
including ways to support equity for minority and socially 
disadvantaged producers; food security; and food and 
agriculture supply chain resilience. The Committee will also 
conduct any other general oversight as necessary. The Committee 
will consult, as appropriate, with other committees of the 
House that may share subject matter interest.

                             117TH CONGRESS

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    The Committee expects to exercise appropriate oversight 
activity regarding the following issues:

                                General

     Review rulemakings, guidance, and other actions 
under the jurisdiction of the Committee taken by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, the Farm Credit Administration, the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, and the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and any other applicable Federal agency or Department, 
for consistency and compliance with applicable laws and 
Congressional intent, generally and specifically with regard 
to:

                       Animal Health and Welfare

     Review U.S. animal health threats and prevention 
and response capabilities, including animal traceability;
     Review USDA's authorities and functions under the 
Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act; and
     Monitor strategies and opportunities to reduce and 
resolve livestock predation and conflicts between wildlife and 
people, including feral hogs.

                             Biotechnology

     Review USDA's efforts to develop and promote the 
benefits of biotechnology for combatting climate change, 
increasing agricultural productivity, and combating hunger 
globally;
     Review the regulatory process for gene-edited 
plants and animals, including the SECURE rule; and
     Review USDA's implementation of biotechnology 
labeling standards.

                                Climate

     Review the role of America's farmers, ranchers, 
and foresters in mitigating climate change, including small-
scale, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged producers; 
and
     Review USDA's role in providing cost-share 
funding, incentives, research, technical expertise, and other 
tools related to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

                          Commodity Exchanges

     Review the general operations of the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to provide a reauthorization 
of the Commission;
     Review enforcement and oversight policies and 
their implementation by the CFTC;
     Review rulemakings, guidance, and other actions 
taken by the Commission and its staff for consistency and 
compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and Congressional 
intent;
     Review the impact of emerging commodity markets 
and financial technologies and examine the authority of the 
Commission to deter fraud and manipulation, promote market 
integrity, and protect investors in digital commodity 
derivatives and at organized digital commodity trading 
platforms;
     Review the impact of COVID-19 on derivatives 
markets;
     Review international treatment of the U.S. 
derivatives industry, including market participants and 
infrastructure;
     Review the impacts of increased coordinated market 
participation of retail traders; and
     Review the existing and potential market risk in 
derivatives markets posed by climate change.

                       Conservation and Forestry

     Review the effectiveness of Farm Bill conservation 
programs in addressing wildlife habitat, water quality/
quantity, and promoting soil health;
     Review the interaction between conservation 
practices and risk management;
     Review USDA's realignment that resulted in the 
Farm Production and Conservation mission area, including its 
impact on programs, customers, and staff;
     Review actual and planned staffing levels, trends, 
and plans for the Natural Resources and Conservation Service, 
Farm Service Agency, and U.S. Forest Service (USFS);
     Review USDA policies and programs related to the 
outdoor recreation economy;
     Review current USFS management and workforce 
challenges;
     Review USFS's strategy related to wildfire, 
including firefighter pay and retention; use and impact of 
various hiring authorities to supplement permanent workforce; 
fire preparedness; and, use of authorities, agreements, 
partnerships, and technology;
     Review impact of USFS budget modernization efforts 
on staffing and program delivery, including actual and planned 
staffing and resource needs;
     Review USFS forest management, forest health, work 
to combat invasive species, and work to support the climate 
sink opportunity of USFS managed lands, including grasslands 
and forests; and
     Review effectiveness of USDA programs in 
delivering and maximizing ecosystem service benefits on 
National Forest System lands, and USDA metrics and staff 
performance reviews in encouraging those benefits in the field.

Coronavirus Response

     Monitor the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on 
rural communities, farmers, ranchers, food and farmworkers, 
agriculture and food supply chains, zoonotic surveillance, and 
domestic and international hunger;
     Review USDA's COVID-19 response efforts under the 
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, Families First 
Coronavirus Response Act, CARES Act, H.R. 133, and any other 
applicable statute;
     Review USDA's COVID-19 response, including the 
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 1, CFAP 2, and the 
Farmers to Families Food Box Program, to ensure efforts are 
equitable across sectors and support communities in need, 
small-scale, and socially disadvantaged producers; and
     Review status of funding spent and remaining 
available to be spent under the programs and authorities noted 
above.

Dairy, Livestock, and Poultry

     Monitor and examine factors related to dairy, 
livestock, and poultry market conditions and pricing, including 
reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program 
and factors that influence on-farm profitability;
     Review risk management and safety net tools 
available to dairy, livestock, and poultry producers;
     Evaluate processes for and impacts of USDA 
purchases of dairy, meat, and poultry products; and
     Review the U.S. generic dairy, meat, and poultry 
research and promotion programs.

Department Operations

     Examine programmatic and staffing impacts of the 
previous administration's reorganization efforts and use of the 
business center concept in Farm Production and Conservation; 
Research, Education, and Extension; Marketing and Regulatory 
Programs; and other mission areas;
     Review the historical inequality within USDA 
facing Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color (BIPOC);
     Review the civil rights and programs appeals 
processes for both USDA employees and customers; and
     Monitor USDA's efforts to ensure the safety of the 
Department's computer networks and systems and efforts to 
maintain the security of program and customer data; and
     Monitor USDA's compliance with laws intended to 
protect the privacy of producer data.

Disaster

     Monitor the effectiveness of USDA's ad hoc 
disaster programs, including funding remaining to cover 2019 
losses and the estimated losses for 2020 and potential 2021 
losses.

Energy

     Review agriculture's role in a renewable energy 
and biobased economy;
     Review the implementation of the Renewable Fuel 
Standard and its impact on agriculture; and
     Review USDA's Farm Bill energy programs.

Farm Credit, Rural Development, and the Rural Economy

     Review of implementation of rural development 
policies and authorities contained in the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018;
     Review the economic state of rural America and the 
impacts of COVID-19 on rural economies;
     Review credit conditions and the impact of COVID-
19 on credit availability in rural America;
     Review the availability of mental health 
counseling and mediation services in rural areas;
     Review the technical capacity of rural areas in 
accessing Federal programs;
     Review access to and success of rural development 
programs in minority communities;
     Review broadband delivery and needs in rural 
America, including barriers to expansion of telehealth services 
and distance learning; and
     Review rural development loan and grant programs, 
including their role in increasing medical care in rural areas.

Federal Crop Insurance, Commodity Crop Safety Net, and Risk Management

     Review the role and effectiveness of Federal crop 
insurance, including policies developed through 508(h) process, 
and including applicability for new, beginning, and socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers;
     Review the development and delivery of new crop 
insurance products for livestock, specialty crops, timber, and 
dairy;
     Review USDA's realignment that resulted in the 
Farm Production and Conservation mission area, including its 
impact on programs, customers, and staff;
     Review implementation of changes to the Price Loss 
Coverage program, Agriculture Risk Coverage program, and 
marketing assistance loans as enacted in the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018;
     Review USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) 
authorities;
     Review impacts of COVID-19 on the farm economy, 
including examining the resiliency of the agricultural supply 
chain;
     Review FSA program accessibility for socially 
disadvantaged and underserved farmers; and
     Review USDA's enforcement of the Grain Standards 
Act and inspection activities.

Food Loss and Waste

     Review current activities and future opportunities 
within USDA programs to reduce food loss and waste; and
     Examine opportunities to encourage and incentivize 
private sector improvements to increase consumer awareness of 
food loss and waste and to recover food that would otherwise be 
lost or wasted.

Food Safety

     Review USDA's inspection of meat, poultry, and egg 
products; and
     Examine availability of meat and poultry processed 
under benefit of Federal inspection or state inspection 
conducted under cooperative agreement with USDA.

Horticulture and Organic Agriculture

     Review USDA's ongoing implementation of 
horticulture and organic related programs authorized in the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018;
     Review USDA's regulation of organic standards and 
pending organic rulemaking;
     Review USDA's implementation of organic 
certification cost-share and other efforts to assist producers 
transitioning to organic production;
     Review USDA's purchasing programs for 
opportunities to expand access to specialty crops, including 
fresh fruits and vegetables;
     Review USDA's programming as it relates to local 
food production, marketing, urban agriculture, and effort to 
strengthen local and regional food systems;
     Review implementation of the Domestic Hemp 
Production Program and its impacts on the hemp sector, as well 
as interagency coordination on hemp issues;
     Review the use of commodity checkoff programs; and
     Review the implementation of the Food Safety 
Modernization Act.

Nutrition

     Review the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program's (SNAP) ability to respond to a public health 
emergency, including the use of Pandemic-Electronic Benefit 
Transfer (P-EBT);
     Review the Emergency Food Assistance Program's 
(TEFAP) ability to respond to a public health emergency and 
food banks' capacity to manage large increases in distribution;
     Review the challenges states encountered 
administering nutrition programs to efficiently provide 
assistance during the COVID-19 crisis;
     Review retailer operations;
     Review the process by which the 2025 2030 Dietary 
Guidelines for America (DGA) will be decided, including the 
charter and DGA Committee operations;
     Review the challenges related to the SNAP EBT 
system, SNAP online purchasing, and other SNAP technologies; 
and
     Review USDA's implementation of nutrition programs 
and authorities in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

Outreach and Civil Rights

     Review USDA's implementation of outreach and civil 
rights policies, programs and authorities authorized in the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018;
     Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to beginning, 
small, and underserved (e.g. socially disadvantaged and 
Veteran) farmers and ranchers; and
     Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to military 
veterans interested in careers in agriculture.

Regulations

     Review the effect of regulatory activities carried 
out pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, or any proposed 
legislative changes to such Act, on agricultural producers and 
rural communities;
     Review the effect of regulatory activities carried 
out pursuant to the Clean Air and Clean Water Act on 
agricultural producers and rural communities; and
     Review the effect of regulatory activities by the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relative to the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act on agricultural 
producers and industry stakeholders.

Research, Education, and Extension

     Review USDA's implementation of research, 
education and extension programs authorized in the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018;
     Review the operation of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic Research Service 
(ERS);Review the sufficiency of research funding and staffing 
under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic 
Research Service (ERS), National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS), and the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture (NIFA).
     Review USDA-supported research contributing to 
climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency, both 
within ARS and through NIFA;
     Review the capabilities of Land-grant 
institutions, minority serving institutions, and Cooperative 
Extension to support farmers and ranchers, including socially 
disadvantaged farmers and underserved communities;
     Review the effectiveness of data gathering at 
NASS, including outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers;
     Review access to and release of World Agricultural 
Supply and Demand Estimates;
     Review access to and release of World Agricultural 
Outlook Board meetings data; and
     Review efforts to leverage Federal research 
investment with state, local, and private sources of funding.

Trade Facilitation

     Review pending--and review existing--trade 
agreements and disputes and their impact on agriculture;
     Review USDA's trade promotion and technical trade 
facilitation activities;
     Review the effectiveness of USDA's trade 
mitigation programs;
     Review the activities of the Undersecretary for 
Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs;
     Review the legacy impact of Trump Administration 
retaliatory tariffs and trade war on U.S. agricultural 
producers and agribusinesses; and
     Review the impacts of USDA and USAID international 
food aid programs on global food security.

Consultation with Other Committees

     With Natural Resources on forestry issues, 
livestock predation, and aquaculture;
     With Science, Space and Technology on research;
     With Ways and Means and Education and Labor on 
nutrition programs;
     With Ways and Means on tax and trade issues;
     With Judiciary on immigrant agricultural labor and 
hemp issues involving the Drug Enforcement Agency;
     With Energy and Commerce on broadband, food 
safety, food waste, regulation of cell-cultured meat, gene-
edited animals, hemp products including CBD, and biomass 
energy;
     With Transportation and Infrastructure on certain 
Clean Water Act compliance issues, livestock hauling, and food 
aid delivery;
     With Financial Services on Dodd-Frank and emerging 
issues such as digital assets;
     With Foreign Affairs on food aid and trade issues;
     With Homeland Security on biodefense and border 
inspection and security measures related to agriculture;
     With Small Business on addressing economic 
opportunities for rural America and assessing the impact of 
COVID-19 on rural communities and small business; and
     Any other committee as appropriate.
cc: The Honorable James Comer, Ranking Member, House Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform; The Honorable Rodney Davis, 
Ranking Member, House Committee on Administration

                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                 OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
INTRODUCTION.....................................................    22
OVERSIGHT AGENDA.................................................    23
POLICY ISSUES....................................................    24
National Defense Strategy, National Military Strategy, and 
  Related Defense Policy Issues..................................    24
Deterrence.......................................................    25
Strategic Deterrence.............................................    26
Irregular Warfare, Emerging Threats, and Countering Violent 
  Extremist Organizations........................................    26
Defense Industrial Base, Critical Technology, and National 
  Security Information...........................................    28
Organization and Management of the Department of Defense.........    29
Financial Management.............................................    29
Homeland Defense.................................................    30
Acquisition......................................................    30
Intelligence.....................................................    31
Information Operations ..........................................    32
READINESS........................................................    32
Maintenance and Training.........................................    32
Logistics........................................................    33
Life-Cycle Sustainment...........................................    33
Organic Industrial Base..........................................    34
Civilian Personnel...............................................    34
Energy and Environment...........................................    35
Military Construction, Facilities Sustainment, and Real Property 
  Management.....................................................    36
Housing for Military Families and Unaccompanied Service Members..    36
MILITARY PERSONNEL AND HEALTH CARE ISSUES........................    37
Military Manpower and Force Structure............................    37
Military Benefits and Compensation...............................    37
Military Health System...........................................    37
Military Personnel Policy........................................    38
Uniform Code of Military Justice.................................    38
Military Family Readiness........................................    38
Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs and Military Resale 
  Programs.......................................................    39
Prisoner of War and Missing in Action............................    39
Arlington National Cemetery......................................    39
MODERNIZATION AND INVESTMENT ISSUES..............................    39
Overview.........................................................    39
Armored Vehicle Modernization....................................    40
Tactical Wheeled Vehicles........................................    40
Rotorcraft Programs..............................................    41
Communications and Network Programs..............................    41
Fixed-Wing Training and Tactical Aircraft and Related Munitions..    41
Individual Soldier and Marine Equipment..........................    42
Long Range Munitions, Ammunition, and Ammunition Industrial Base.    43
Air Force and Army Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance 
  Programs.......................................................    43
Electronic Warfare Equipment and Modernization...................    43
Bomber Force Structure...........................................    44
Aerial Refueling Aircraft........................................    44
Airlift Programs.................................................    44
Surface Warfare Programs.........................................    45
Undersea Warfare Programs........................................    45
Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and 
  Reconnaissance Programs........................................    46
Strategic Nuclear and Conventional Forces........................    46
Missile Defense..................................................    47
National Security Space..........................................    48
Military Operations in Cyberspace Activities and Information 
  Technology.....................................................    49
Science and Technology...........................................    49

                              Introduction

    The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed 
Services are conducted throughout the calendar year. They are 
instrumental in the committee's' consideration of the annual 
defense authorization bill, which covers the breadth of the 
operations of the Department of Defense as well as the national 
security functions of the Department of Energy and other 
related areas. The annual national defense budget involves 
millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of 
facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and commands 
located throughout the world. The complexity of the current 
threat environment will continue to encompass a range of topics 
requiring committee oversight including strategic, operational, 
and budgetary issues.
    The committee has jurisdiction over laws, programs, and 
agencies under permanent authority in numerous titles of the 
United States Code, including title 10 (Armed Forces), title 32 
(National Guard), title 37 (Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed 
Services), title 41 (Public Contracts), title 42 (Atomic 
Energy), title 46 (Shipping), and title 50 (War and National 
Defense).
    The jurisdiction of the committee, pursuant to clause 1(c) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives is as 
follows:
    1. Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps, Air Force, and Space Force reservations and 
establishments.
    2. Common defense generally.
    3. Conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum 
and oil shale reserves.
    4. The Department of Defense generally, including the 
Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.
    5. Interoceanic canals generally, including measures 
relating to the maintenance, operation, and administration of 
interoceanic canals.
    6. Merchant Marine Academy, and State Merchant Marine 
Academies.
    7. Military applications of nuclear energy.
    8. Tactical intelligence and intelligence-related 
activities of the Department of Defense.
    9. National security aspects of merchant marine, including 
financial assistance for the construction and operation of 
vessels, the maintenance of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship 
repair industrial base, cabotage, cargo preference, and 
merchant marine officers and seamen as these matters relate to 
national security.
    10. Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and 
privileges of members of the armed services.
    11. Scientific research and development in support of the 
armed services.
    12 Selective service.
    13. Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 
Air Force, and Space Force.
    14. Soldiers' and sailors' homes.
    15. Strategic and critical materials necessary for the 
common defense.
    16. Cemeteries administered by the Department of Defense.
    In addition to its legislative jurisdiction and general 
oversight function, the committee has special oversight 
functions with respect to international arms control and 
disarmament and the education of military dependents in schools 
pursuant to clause 3(b) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                            Oversight Agenda

    The committee will continue its oversight and assessment of 
threats to U.S. national security as it considers the fiscal 
year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 defense budget requests. This 
effort will involve appropriate oversight hearings with the 
Secretary of Defense; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff; the individual military service secretaries and chiefs 
of staff; combatant commanders; other officials of the 
Department of Defense and the military departments; officials 
from the intelligence community; and the Secretary of Energy, 
the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, and other officials 
of the Department of Energy. To conduct such oversight and 
threat assessment, the committee will invite a diverse range of 
views and perspectives of outside experts in academia, 
industry, associations and advocacy organizations, and those in 
private life with expertise on these matters. Further, the 
committee will continue its aggressive outreach program to seek 
a wide perspective of views of service members and their 
families to include Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve 
members across the United States and at deployed locations 
overseas.
    The committee carries out its oversight of the Department 
of Defense and its subordinate departments and agencies as well 
as portions of the Department of Energy through activities 
involving the full committee and its standing subcommittees. 
The committee will continue to conduct robust oversight, 
investigate matters, and address inequities within the 
jurisdiction of the committee. Certain issues and activities 
will require more extensive review. Investigatory work that may 
support the oversight responsibilities of standing 
subcommittees will be conducted in a coordinated manner. Each 
subcommittee will conduct oversight of the programs within its 
jurisdiction in accordance with the committee's rules and the 
Rules of the House of Representatives.
    The oversight agenda, unless otherwise noted, is designed 
to support the consideration by the committee and, ultimately, 
the House of Representatives of the annual defense 
authorization bill, as well as the committee's broader 
oversight responsibilities. The issues identified are expected 
to be ongoing areas of oversight activity throughout the 117th 
Congress. In addition, the committee will continue to pay 
attention to the mandates placed on executive departments and 
agencies. In this context, pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of rule X 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the committee 
will continue to emphasize the examination of relevant rules, 
regulations, statutes, and court decisions affecting the 
Department of Defense and the Department of Energy for their 
effects on efficiency and good management practices. To this 
end, the committee will provide oversight of issues of 
inequities, including systemic challenges to diversity and 
inclusion and equitable access to resources to achieve national 
defense goals.
    Given the unique nature of national security issues and 
related oversight of the Armed Forces, the committee believes 
that a qualifier is once again necessary with regard to the 
ability to plan comprehensively and predict all oversight 
activities. Much of the committee's most demanding oversight 
will be, by definition, event-driven and not subject to prior 
planning. Such events significantly complicate the ability to 
prescribe with great accuracy or specificity the committee's 
entire oversight agenda. For instance, the oversight of defense 
activities by the committee has historically involved in-depth 
assessments of military operations and other major events that 
are generally difficult to predict in advance. These reviews 
can dominate committee and staff resources, sometimes at the 
expense of other planned activities. The committee fully 
expects that this type of event-driven oversight will continue 
to be required.
    The committee has a long tradition of translating oversight 
activities into legislative action. In general, the committee 
will continue to maintain a strong linkage between formal 
oversight efforts and legislative initiatives.
    In addition to the above, the following specific areas and 
subjects are identified for special attention during the 117th 
Congress.

                             Policy Issues


  NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY, NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY, AND RELATED 
                         DEFENSE POLICY ISSUES

    The committee will monitor how the Department of Defense 
addresses complex security demands through the formulation and 
implementation of the National Defense Strategy, the National 
Military Strategy, and other strategic guidance. The committee 
will evaluate how the Department identifies and prioritizes 
strategic objectives toward meeting those demands and how it 
applies resources toward achieving its prioritized objectives. 
The committee will conduct oversight regarding vital Department 
of Defense capacities and functions, including readiness, 
doctrinal development, planning, organization, training and 
exercises, education, materiel inventories, production, 
facilities, leadership, and personnel, are appropriately 
aligned to support strategic requirements. In its oversight, 
the committee will take a comprehensive approach to evaluating 
the strategic risks confronting the United States and to 
assessing the factors that compound or amplify strategic risks 
as well as the factors that contain or reduce them. The 
committee will examine the assumptions inherent to the 
Department's' strategic guidance and planning for balancing 
strategic risk and for matching resources with strategic 
objectives. The committee will evaluate ongoing operational 
demands within the context of a broad strategic framework as 
well as how those operational demands will affect the strategic 
risks associated with future challenges. The committee will 
also endeavor to reinforce the civil-military balance in the 
Department's' formulation and implementation of strategy and 
national defense policy.

                               DETERRENCE

    The committee recognizes that U.S. defense posture must 
effectively deter actors posing strategic challenges to the 
United States, its allies, and partners. In particular, the 
committee will focus on efforts to ensure that the United 
States, in concert with allies and partners, is properly 
postured and pursuing appropriate policies to deter military 
threats and to counter efforts by such actors to weaken our 
shared values, undermine our systems of government, threaten 
international norms, and disrupt the cohesion of our alliances 
and partnerships.
    The committee will continue to oversee the Department's' 
global efforts to bolster military deterrence against Russian 
aggression and malign activity. This will include oversight of 
a range of posture, force structure, force readiness 
initiatives, and other efforts aimed at achieving and 
maintaining an effective, sustained deterrent posture against 
Russian hostility; measures to enhance cohesion of U.S. 
alliances and partnerships; and efforts to support the ability 
to respond to attempts to undermine U.S. values and democratic 
norms. At the same time, the committee will conduct oversight 
to ensure that concerns about strategic stability, 
miscalculation, and misunderstanding are properly accounted for 
as a component of deterrence against Russia.
    China continues its efforts to modernize its military, 
leverage its influence, and undermine the rules-based 
international order. China frequently employs its capabilities 
in a manner that erodes security norms and increases the risk 
of conflict, particularly in the South China Sea, East China 
Sea, and along the border with India. The committee will 
continue to conduct oversight of the Department's' response to 
China's' activities, including its efforts to invest in its 
military forces and extend its reach. At the same time, the 
committee will continue to conduct oversight of the Department 
of Defense's military posture, force structure, and force 
readiness efforts, and plans to enhance capabilities, forward 
presence, posture, logistics, and training and exercises to 
deter and counter acts of aggression and protect vital U.S. and 
ally and partner interests.
    North Korea continues to pose a threat to the Korean 
Peninsula, the United States, U.S. forces, allies, and partners 
in East Asia. North Korea continues to advance its weapons 
programs, including its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile 
capabilities. As such, with respect to East Asia, the committee 
will continue to oversee the Department of Defense's efforts to 
implement a range of posture, force structure, and force 
readiness initiatives; infrastructure and force realignments, 
including agreements with regional allies; and bilateral and 
multilateral training and exercises.
    The Government of Iran continues to conduct destabilizing 
activities in the Middle East region that pose challenges to 
the United States, its allies, and partners. The committee will 
conduct oversight to determine how the Department plans to 
deter Iran's' malign activities without escalating toward 
conflict and pursue a sustainable regional posture and partner 
engagement in accordance with the Department's global 
priorities.
    Alliances and partnerships are essential to advance U.S. 
national security objectives, promote global security, preserve 
regional stability, deter adversaries, uphold and strengthen 
shared values, and address common security challenges. The 
committee will conduct oversight of Department of Defense 
activities related to enduring alliances, such as the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization, and other ongoing partnerships to 
ensure that they are supported and utilized in a manner that 
enhances these goals. The committee will continue to oversee 
and, where appropriate, encourage the Department of Defense's 
efforts to strengthen its partnerships and cooperative efforts 
to ensure global stability and security.

Strategic Deterrence

    With regard to strategic deterrence, the committee will 
continue to conduct oversight of nuclear deterrence policy and 
posture. This oversight will include examining adversaries 
nuclear developments; the role of nuclear weapons and purpose 
of nuclear deterrence; options, such as arms control, to reduce 
the risk of miscalculation that could lead to nuclear war in a 
crisis and reduce the risk of a nuclear arms race or a lowered 
threshold to nuclear weapons use; options to maintain credible 
nuclear extended deterrence; and the impact of proposed new 
nuclear weapons capabilities and policies on regional and 
strategic stability and on deterring adversaries.
    The committee will also conduct oversight of issues both 
within the space, conventional prompt strike, and missile 
defense portfolios that contribute to strategic deterrence, 
particularly in regards to alignment of acquisition objectives 
within the military services, Missile Defense Agency, and Space 
Development Agency, with any potential impacts to strategic 
deterrent policies and priorities of the Department of Defense.

 IRREGULAR WARFARE, EMERGING THREATS, AND COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMIST 
                             ORGANIZATIONS

    The committee will conduct oversight as the Department of 
Defense addresses irregular threats in concert with other 
Government agencies. Malign actors employ both military and 
non-military means to accomplish their strategic national 
objectives. Hybrid warfare tactics applied across the spectrum 
of conflict by threat actors undermine the national security 
interests of the United States, our allies, and our partners.
    During the 117th Congress, the committee will conduct 
oversight to ensure that the posture and policies of the 
Department are properly structured, resourced, and aligned to 
effectively deter acts of terror and counter violent extremist 
organizations that threaten the United States, its allies, and 
partners. This includes examining the planning for and 
execution of counterterrorism operations, efforts to strengthen 
the capabilities and practices employed by partners and allies 
to counter such violence, and the detention policy related to 
counterterrorism activities undertaken by the Department. The 
committee will also conduct rigorous oversight of unique 
operational authorities to enable operations to deter violent 
extremist activity and counter irregular efforts by certain 
adversaries.
    The committee recognizes that countering violent ideology 
spread by al-Qaida, ISIS, and other extremist groups requires a 
coordinated interagency and international approach. The 
committee will examine the role of the Department of Defense in 
addressing this challenge alongside other U.S. departments and 
agencies and foreign partners.
    U.S. and coalition forces continue to conduct operations 
against the ISIS as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The 
committee will continue to assess the sufficiency of 
authorities, resources, equipment, basing, and personnel to 
support the Operation Inherent Resolve missions and policy 
objectives. The committee will maintain congressional oversight 
of the effectiveness of the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip 
programs and any additional follow-on programs.
    The committee appreciates the complexity of the security 
landscape in Iraq and the Syria. The committee will examine the 
presence and influence exerted by external actors in Syria and 
U.S. objectives in the region regarding ISIS, regional 
security, and stability.
    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
U.S. military effort in Afghanistan with a focus on the 
security situation, the posture of deployed U.S. forces, the 
Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces, and U.S. 
objectives in Afghanistan as well as the region. The committee 
will continue its oversight activities on the U.S.-led 
Operation Freedom's Sentinel counterterrorism mission and any 
changes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Resolute 
Support Mission train, advise, and assist mission based on the 
reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Additionally, the 
committee will examine the regional security environment with a 
focus on Pakistan and the Central Asian states.
    Further, the committee will oversee implementation of 
provisions relating to reducing civilian casualties included in 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 
(Public Law 115-91) and the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232) and 
examine ways to further reduce civilian casualties resulting 
from military operations.
    The committee will also continue to examine the legal basis 
for the President's' military actions against ISIS, other 
terrorist groups, and regional actors. The committee will 
examine the President's use of aspects of the 2001 
Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40) and 
the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq 
Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) relevant to its 
jurisdiction.
    Additionally, committee oversight will include limited 
authorities provided to the Department to support to foreign 
forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals engaged in 
supporting or facilitating ongoing irregular warfare operations 
by U.S. Special Operations Forces. The committee will examine 
the prudent and appropriate use of this limited authority as 
well as scrutinize related operational authorities.
    Further, the committee will conduct rigorous oversight of 
sensitive military operations outside of the United States to 
ensure that sensitive military operations conducted outside of 
the United States and outside of Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan 
are in line with national security strategy and policy, as well 
as supported and coordinated as appropriate with interagency 
partners.
    The committee will also evaluate special operations forces 
current and future force posture and deployment cycles, 
training programs, and capability modernization efforts to 
ensure platform efficacy in semi- and non-permissive 
environments in order to better understand how special 
operations forces will compete in future threat environments.
    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of 
military operations in the information environment, including 
oversight of U.S. Special Operations Command, which maintains 
responsibility to develop and train military information 
support operations personnel and activities, across all 
mediums, including cyberspace. Such oversight will include 
legal, operational, and funding authorities. The committee will 
also examine ways to strengthen interagency collaboration and 
cohesion for effective strategic communications in support of 
U.S. national security.
    In addition to maintaining oversight of the authorities and 
activities related to the conduct of irregular warfare by 
special operations forces, the committee will also conduct 
rigorous oversight related the culture and climate of special 
operations. Following two decades of regular application of 
special operations forces to execute myriad number of global 
missions, the committee is aware of the psychological and 
physical toll on the operator and impacts on morale. The 
committee will conduct oversight over any potential gaps or 
deficiencies in the ability of the Command to create a healthy, 
sustainable, and professional force.
    The committee will continue to monitor the progress made by 
U.S. Special Operations Command to ensure a force 
representative of the gender, racial, and religious fabric of 
the United States. The committee will also focus on the steps 
taken to ensure the integration of women into previously closed 
positions of special operations forces and assess the 
sufficiency of these efforts to ensure a healthy and safe 
environment for all members of special operations forces.

  DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE, CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY 
                              INFORMATION

    The committee will continue oversight of the health and 
resiliency of the defense industrial base. The committee will 
pay particular attention to sectors of the industrial base that 
involve emerging and critical technologies. Committee oversight 
will ensure that the Department is responsibly using its 
authorities to develop, acquire, field, and sustain cutting-
edge solutions, including from nontraditional defense 
contractors. The committee will utilize recent industrial base 
assessments and the experience responding to COVID-19 to 
identify and mitigate risks, and to encourage the Department to 
build on successful acquisition approaches.
    The committee will review the Department's strategic 
approach to protecting national security information in 
executing the expansion of the capacity and capability of the 
defense industrial base. The committee will also continue 
oversight of the Department's efforts to protect critical 
technology and national security information while maintaining 
respect for civil liberties and a robust research environment. 
Further, the committee will oversee efforts to develop a strong 
science and technology workforce, including emphasis on 
innovation, science, technology, engineering, and math in 
academia.
    The committee will examine the Department's efforts to 
improve cybersecurity standards, to ensure compliance with 
those standards by all stakeholders in the defense industrial 
base, and to neutralize counterintelligence threats. The 
committee will also oversee cybersecurity and supply chain 
security initiatives.
    In each of these lines of oversight, the committee will 
emphasize the importance of collaboration with allies and 
partners.

        ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

    The committee will review the organization of the 
Department of Defense and oversee its management. The committee 
will: carefully review organizational changes, work to enhance 
organizational performance and to promote efficient and cost-
effective practices throughout the Department of Defense 
enterprise, work to enable specific Department of Defense 
mission sets and to ensure that they are optimally aligned 
within the Department's' organizational structure, and apply 
strict managerial accountability standards to the Department's' 
leadership. In overseeing the Department's' organization and 
management, the committee will endeavor to preserve and enhance 
the Department's' civil-military balance.

                          FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

    The committee will continue to oversee military 
effectiveness and fiscal responsibility in a dynamic budgeting 
environment. With the expiration of the discretionary spending 
caps found in Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25), 
as modified by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115-23) and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-
37), the committee confronts an environment of increased fiscal 
uncertainty, with concomitant challenges for budgetary and 
programmatic oversight.
    The Comptroller General of the United States has 
consistently identified the Department of Defense's financial 
management as a high-risk area since 1995. The Department of 
Defense has made some progress in modernizing its financial 
management capabilities, but arcane and obsolete financial 
management systems and processes continue to struggle with the 
immense task of tracking and accounting for Department assets. 
The management of that challenge, and the financial management 
systems, organizations, and processes that are tasked to 
address it, requires significant and sustained congressional 
oversight.
    The committee will continue to review efforts to implement 
the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) plan, as 
mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84). The Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense conducted the first agency-wide financial 
audit of the Department in fiscal year 2018, and has continued 
to conduct such audits annually. The Department has shown 
steady progress in identifying and addressing challenges to its 
goal of an unmodified audit opinion, but remediation and 
corrective actions continue to require a high level of senior 
leadership attention and oversight, both from Congress and the 
Department. The committee will continue to oversee the 
Department's efforts to achieve an unmodified audit opinion, 
including corrective actions and process improvements .
    The committee will monitor the interdependencies between 
the FIAR plan and investments in business and financial systems 
modernization programs as the Department works to correct the 
weaknesses in its financial statements. Both the Department and 
Congress depend on the objective tools provided by proper 
financial management processes and statements in order to make 
informed decisions.

                            HOMELAND DEFENSE

    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
missions and capabilities of U.S. Northern Command and the 
Department of Defense's Homeland Defense and Global Security 
directorate. The committee will review and conduct oversight 
with regard to integration into response planning and exercises 
and requests for support from other departments, to include the 
costs and implications to the military readiness of those 
requests. The committee will also review Defense Support of 
Civil Authorities and the execution of the Department's 
policies and procedures. The committee will continue to review 
the Department's support to civilian law enforcement, the 
COVID-19 pandemic fight, and domestic relief operations.

                              ACQUISITION

    The committee will continue efforts to improve the 
efficiency, flexibility, and streamlining of the Department of 
Defense acquisition system to support a more responsive and 
resilient approach to national security. In undertaking this 
effort, the committee will solicit diverse input from the 
Department and other outside experts. Through its oversight 
function, the committee will monitor the efforts of the 
Department to implement statutory changes and recommendations 
of commissioned reports. The committee will also continue to 
ensure equity, integrity, transparency, and accountability in 
the acquisition process.
    The committee will oversee efforts to lower barriers to 
enhance the Department's ability to take advantage of 
innovative technologies, leverage efficiency through data 
analytics, meet demands by scaling to need, and partner with a 
wide range of businesses, including small, medium, and small 
disadvantaged firms. The committee will oversee efforts to 
address the need to attract, inspire, and retain a highly-
skilled acquisition workforce, including professionals with the 
experience and ability to recognize the benefit of new 
technology capabilities. The committee will also examine the 
policies related to industrial base incentives, including for 
infrastructure improvements and participation in the 
Department's supply chain. Finally, the committee will also 
oversee the Department's efforts to leverage its buying power 
to advance national security sustainably.

                              INTELLIGENCE

    The committee recognizes the threats presented by our 
competitors, primarily China and Russia, but also Iran and 
North Korea, through activities in the gray zone. These 
activities include malign influence campaigns, active measures, 
economic espionage, and political coercion; which occur below 
the threshold of armed conflict and yet can realize strategic 
effects.
    The committee will examine how the Defense Intelligence 
Enterprise (DIE) is postured to analyze and address these new 
and trending threats, while balancing intelligence support to 
established National Defense Strategy priority challenges and 
ongoing counterterrorism operations. The committee is 
particularly interested in how the DIE is countering 
disinformation and false narratives from our adversaries and 
competitors. The committee will assess the extent to which the 
DIE has adopted policies and procedures to more rapidly 
assemble and release focused intelligence to expose malign 
behaviors, particularly as unclassified data injected into the 
public domain.
    The committee will scrutinize current and planned 
modernization activities, including developments in machine 
learning and artificial intelligence across the Defense 
Intelligence Enterprise as a means to create current, informed 
foundational intelligence to support military operations and 
advanced weapons systems, including an examination of the 
strategy and plans for Project Maven and MARS. As the Defense 
Intelligence Enterprise increasingly relies on commercially 
available data, the committee will conduct oversight to ensure 
that any acquisition, storage, or use of U.S. sourced data does 
not infringe on Fourth Amendment rights of U.S. persons.
    Additionally, the committee will conduct rigorous oversight 
of the roles and responsibilities of the security arm of the 
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and 
Security, including an examination of the Defense 
Counterintelligence and Security Agency's priority missions: 
counterintelligence; protecting critical technology; personnel 
vetting; and insider threat management. The committee will 
probe the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency on 
Trusted Workforce 2.0 and the personnel security clearance 
vetting process. The committee also looks forward to the 
results of the ongoing Government Accountability Office's 
review of Personnel Vetting Reform.
    In addition to conducting oversight of intelligence 
capabilities, the committee will conduct oversight to ensure 
the Defense Intelligence Enterprise recruits, retains, and 
develops the best and brightest workforce from all segments of 
our society. Policies that promote diversity and inclusion are 
paramount to ensuring that the Defense Intelligence Enterprise 
is able to attract the broadest base of talent to solve the 
most complex challenges. The committee looks forward to 
understanding what the various components of the Defense 
Intelligence Enterprise are doing to ensure diversity of 
thought at all levels and throughout the enterprise.
    Finally, the committee will conduct oversight of title 10, 
U.S. Code, and Department of Defense title 50, U.S. Code, 
activities in accordance with the committee's jurisdiction. The 
committee will continue to coordinate as appropriate with the 
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on matters 
related to Department of Defense intelligence and 
counterintelligence activities in the course of oversight and 
the authorization of appropriations for intelligence activities 
shared by the two committees.

                         INFORMATION OPERATIONS

    In addition to presenting challenges to U.S. national 
security, the global information environment provides an 
opportunity to gain an advantage in military planning and 
operations, as well as to achieve strategic U.S. objectives 
through a whole-of-government approach.
    Information is crucial to military operations as the global 
information environment continues to evolve and grow. Both 
state and non-state actors seek to exploit this domain and 
spread disinformation to sow discord in our society and 
undermine confidence in democratic institutions, including the 
political process, the press, and other foundational societal 
structures, including the U.S. military.
    In the 117th Congress, the committee will focus oversight 
on legislation established by the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), which expanded 
the strategic activities and established leadership regarding 
information operations. The establishment of a Principal 
Information Operations Advisor to act as the primary advisor to 
the Secretary of Defense on all aspects of information 
operations and the requirement that service members receive 
training on the danger of disinformation are critical areas of 
evolution as the Department of Defense continues efforts to 
develop an updated comprehensive strategy for successful 
operations in the information environment.
    The committee will continue to examine the Department's 
initiatives to strengthen interagency collaboration and 
cohesion for effective information operations to support the 
United States' military and strategic objectives. Also, the 
committee intends to pursue complementary lines of oversight 
effort outlined in additional sections.

                               Readiness


                          MAINTENANCE TRAINING

    The military services are developing new operational 
concepts and seeking to invest in modernization, replacing 
legacy weapon systems with next generation capabilities. As 
they do this, the committee will focus on how legacy platforms 
are being sustained through their retirement, how training 
requirements are changing to support new capabilities entering 
the force, and how the sustainment infrastructure and 
enterprise will be postured to support these next generation 
weapon systems and capabilities.
    The committee will conduct oversight of Navy shipyard 
maintenance availabilities to ensure they are performed on 
budget and schedule; Army force generation and large-scale 
training exercises; Marine Corps amphibious training; and 
aircraft sustainment and training across the military services. 
The committee also recognizes the importance of training for 
the broad range of future missions the military may face, from 
gray-zone conflict to high-intensity conflict. The committee 
will conduct oversight of how the military services adapt 
training concepts, maintenance plans, and analytical tools to 
ensure personnel and equipment are adequately prepared to meet 
these threats.
    Finally, the committee notes the importance of prioritizing 
long-term readiness and believes that it can be best achieved 
by emphasizing the training on and maintenance and sustainment 
of weapon systems that the Department has already made 
substantial investments in developing and procuring. To that 
end, the committee will examine the Department's investments to 
support training and sustainment of existing weapon systems and 
how their actual availability and mission capability rates 
compare to service requirements.

                               LOGISTICS

    The Department of Defense continues its efforts to 
implement the National Defense Strategy, adjust force structure 
and posture concepts, and invest in modernization of the force. 
The committee remains concerned with the perceived lack of 
focus within the Department on the capabilities and capacity of 
the current logistics enterprise required to project and 
sustain a military force in a contested security environment. 
These concerns will only be exacerbated as the Department moves 
toward a more distributed force posture concept, especially in 
regions such as the Indo-Pacific. To this end, the committee 
will conduct oversight of the Department's efforts toward 
contested logistics, including: capability, capacity, and 
readiness of strategic airlift and surge sealift; capability, 
capacity, and readiness of tactical airlift and sealift; 
contested logistic aware weapon systems development and 
procurement; procurement, storage, transportation, and 
distribution of fuel; prepositioning of equipment and supplies 
in forward locations; locations and infrastructure to support 
permanent, rotational, and surge forces; and maintenance and 
repair capabilities for equipment and weapon systems.

                         LIFE CYCLE SUSTAINMENT

    The committee will focus on the Department's initiatives to 
reduce the total-ownership costs of weapons systems and 
equipment while ensuring the Department is appropriately 
considering life-cycle support and sustainment requirements 
when it develops acquisition strategies for each program. The 
committee will also hold the Department accountable for 
improving its estimates of total weapon system life-cycle costs 
to better inform sustainment strategies. Finally, the committee 
will continue to monitor the military services' reset 
strategies to repair, recapitalize, and replace equipment used 
in ongoing operations, and will also monitor progress toward 
reconstitution of prepositioned stocks.

                        ORGANIC INDUSTRIAL BASE

    Our Nation's organic industrial base is vital to achieving 
and maintaining warfighting readiness across all domains. The 
military services' arsenals, depots, air logistics complexes, 
and shipyards provide long-term sustainment through programmed 
maintenance and conduct repair and modernization upgrades. 
These facilities and their skilled workforces provide a 
national-level insurance policy against unforeseen strategic 
contingencies. The committee is concerned about the current 
state and future health of the organic industrial base as a 
result of an extended period of fiscal uncertainty, increasing 
maintenance and sustainment requirements, workforce attrition 
and recruiting challenges, and an emphasis on modernization 
initiatives at the expense of investments in maintaining legacy 
weapon systems.
    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
extent to which the Department's organic industrial base is 
viably positioned for long-term sustainability and possesses 
the workforce and technologies needed for efficient operations 
to meet the Nation's current and future requirements. This will 
include oversight of how the military services plan to recruit, 
train, support, and retain the future industrial base 
workforce. In addition, the committee will conduct oversight 
into the use of new technologies such as additive 
manufacturing, predictive maintenance, robotics, and artificial 
intelligence as pathways to improve maintenance activities, 
management of spares inventory, and supply chain operations. 
The committee will also continue oversight of depot, arsenal, 
and shipyard operations and management, the use of performance-
based logistics, the role of public-private partnerships, and 
the military services' logistics enterprise resource planning 
systems.
    The committee will continue its work to oversee funded but 
unfinished maintenance work (carryover) in order to improve 
workload planning and incentivize sound depot management. The 
committee will also conduct oversight of the Department's 
investments in the organic industrial base to ensure they 
continue to maintain a level of capability to meet the needs of 
the Armed Forces. Finally, the committee will ensure that the 
military services are funding and implementing infrastructure 
optimization plans to improve operations and modernize aging 
infrastructure at the depots, arsenals, and shipyards.

                           CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

    The Federal civilian workforce of the Department of Defense 
plays a critical role in advancing national security, 
contributes unique skillsets to the Department's mission, and 
serves as a force multiplier for the uniformed military force. 
The Department employs more Federal civilians than any other 
Federal agency and these personnel perform disparate and 
essential missions across the globe. The committee will focus 
on providing the Department with the proper tools to invest in 
and support a strong civilian workforce that contributes 
effectively to the success of the Department's mission.
    The majority of Department of Defense civilian personnel 
policies are governed by requirements set forth in title 5 of 
the U.S. Code and corresponding regulations under the purview 
of the Office of Personnel Management. Although the Committee 
on Armed Services does not have jurisdiction over title 5 of 
the U.S. Code, it has in recent years provided numerous 
extraordinary hiring and management authorities tailored to 
specific segments of the Department of Defense civilian 
workforce. Many of these authorities are temporary and will 
expire in the next few years. The committee will conduct 
oversight to evaluate the effectiveness of these authorities 
and to ensure that they are used appropriately and comply with 
merit-based competitive personnel policies.
    The Department meets its manpower requirements through a 
mix of military, civilian, and contractor personnel. It is 
critical for the Department to ensure the appropriate mix of 
different types of employees to provide flexibility, 
continuity, and a base of talent across the force. The 
committee will ensure that the Department assesses the impact 
of any potential reductions to the civilian workforce on cost, 
operational effectiveness, borrowed military manpower, 
workload, lethality, and readiness. The committee will also 
conduct oversight of the Department's efforts to promote a 
civilian workforce that reflects the diverse population of the 
United States. Further, the committee will carefully examine 
the use of contractors within the Department and ensure that 
the Department improves its data collection on the use of 
contractors and the associated costs to the taxpayer.
    Finally, the committee will continue its oversight of the 
timeliness, quality, and cost of processing Federal security 
clearance applications and of the Defense Counterintelligence 
and Security Agency's transition to government-wide continuous 
vetting to ensure the trustworthiness of clearance-holders.

                         ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

    Energy is a key readiness enabler for the Department of 
Defense. Energy resilient installations and increased 
efficiency provide cost savings and guard against mission 
failure. A robust operational energy program enhances 
operational effectiveness of the military and improves our 
national security posture through the mitigation logistics 
challenges in contested environments. Therefore, the committee 
will conduct oversight of the Department and military services' 
efforts to address resiliency gaps and improve energy 
efficiency on military installations and for military 
operations.
    In addition, the committee will conduct oversight of the 
Department and military services' environmental management. The 
committee believes more attention is required to monitor the 
Department's efforts to address the impacts of climate change 
on training and installation resilience. The committee will 
continue to conduct oversight of the Department's efforts with 
respect to emerging contaminants including adherence to 
Federal, state, and local compliance requirements and the 
phase-out of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compound-containing fire-
fighting agents. The committee will continue to provide 
oversight of the military services' efforts to remediate 
existing contamination both on and off Federal lands with 
particular attention paid to locations where contamination may 
be affecting local populations. Additionally, the committee 
will oversee Department efforts to leverage technological 
innovation and implementation of best practices to minimize 
adverse environmental impacts and thereby reduce future cleanup 
costs. The committee intends to continue to monitor activities 
of the Department to ensure that military training is in full 
compliance with applicable Federal, state, and local 
environmental laws.

   MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, FACILITIES SUSTAINMENT, AND REAL PROPERTY 
                               MANAGEMENT

    The committee will review the Department of Defense's 
military construction program to manage the overall capacity of 
the Department's infrastructure and to ensure prudent long-term 
military construction investments that are resilient to natural 
and man-made threats. The committee will also oversee the 
Department's investments in facility sustainment, restoration, 
and modernization, as well as the Department's utilization of 
authorities such as emergency and contingency construction. The 
committee will continue to oversee the execution and 
implementation of requirements from the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) that will enhance 
installation resiliency and increase transparency.
    The real property management process requires extensive 
oversight to maintain over $750.0 billion in infrastructure. 
The committee is concerned that continued poor requirements 
development, and inadequate planning and design result in 
poorly coordinated investment decisions and sub-optimal 
facility construction. The committee will provide increased 
oversight of investments made outside of the United States and 
its territories. The committee will seek to apply best 
practices across the Department of Defense to efficiently 
develop and maintain the military services' ranges, facilities, 
and infrastructure.

    HOUSING FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AND UNACCOMPANIED SERVICE MEMBERS

    The committee will continue to provide increased oversight 
of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) 
program. The committee will monitor the execution and 
implementation of requirements from the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) that reformed the 
MHPI program. In particular, the committee will monitor 
investments related to maintenance and sustainment of housing 
developments, the financial health of individual projects, 
communication with tenants, and ensure that best practices are 
being uniformly adopted to ensure that housing is free of 
environmental hazards.
    The committee is concerned about chronic under-investment 
in unaccompanied service-member housing. Accordingly, the 
committee will conduct increased oversight of the investments 
in sustainment and restoration of existing unaccompanied 
housing as well as the replacement of facilities that are no 
longer viable.

               Military Personnel and Health Care Issues


                 MILITARY MANPOWER AND FORCE STRUCTURE

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue to 
assess the military's manpower requirements to meet its current 
and future global military commitments. Specifically, the 
committee will continue to provide aggressive oversight of 
military manpower levels, skill sets, and force structure to 
ensure they support the National Defense Strategy. During the 
116th Congress, the end strength increased for each military 
service to meet demands and growth in specialized fields such 
as cyber, intelligence, pilots, and maintainers. In the 117th 
Congress, the committee will examine trends in overall total 
force structure requirements, end strength, recruiting, 
retention, morale, and benefits and compensation. The committee 
will continue its oversight of military recruiting, 
particularly the quality and diversity of the recruits needed 
to fulfill the specialized end-strength requirements and ways 
to address those potential recruits that may possess violent 
extremist views.

                   MILITARY BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will scrutinize 
any proposals from the Department of Defense or other 
organizations calling for any changes to military compensation 
and other benefit programs. Specifically, there will be close 
scrutiny of the 2020 Quadrennial Review of Military 
Compensation (QRMC). The QRMC and any other proposals must 
ensure they are thoroughly assessed with respect to their 
positive or negative impacts to the All-Volunteer Force. 
Specifically, the expected Department of Defense proposals to 
reform the Reserve Component call-up duty status authorities 
will overhaul the way a Reserve Component service member is 
activated. The committee's oversight in this area will 
concentrate on the proper implementation of the new authorities 
to ensure that the pay and benefits for Reserve Component 
including the new Space Force Reserve Component members are not 
adversely affected.

                         MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue its 
oversight of military health policies of the Department of 
Defense. The Department will be charged with both supporting 
the readiness requirements of the warfighter and delivering a 
robust military health benefit, all while creating efficiencies 
and implementing cost savings initiatives that may alter the 
composition of the existing Military Health System. The 
committee will examine military medical manning requirements, 
TRICARE benefit delivery, wounded warrior programs, resiliency, 
opioid policy, and ongoing reform efforts that are 
transitioning Military Treatment Facilities and other 
organizational structures from the military service departments 
to the Defense Heath Agency. The committee will also continue 
to monitor the implementation of the Genesis Electronic Health 
Record, as well as other health-related collaborations between 
the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. 
The committee will also take particular interest in 
implementation of Military Healthcare Reform as directed by the 
National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114-328) and the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232). 
Also, the committee will monitor the Department of Defense's 
implementation of the Stayskal Act as directed in the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-
92). Finally, the committee will seek a better understanding of 
environmental health challenges that may be related to burn 
pits, mold, lead paint, contaminated water, and other potential 
exposure issues.

                       MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY

    During the 117th Congress, the personnel policies of the 
Department of Defense will remain under considerable scrutiny 
as the military services compete to recruit, manage, and retain 
the best and brightest men and women. The committee will 
continue to give close examination to proposals from the 
Department of Defense and other organizations calling for any 
major changes to personnel policies including recruiting, 
promotions, career paths, or changes to military retention and 
other policy programs in order to assess the impact of any 
proposed changes on the viability of the All-Volunteer Force. 
The committee will provide oversight of the implementation of 
the Diversity and Inclusion policy requirements from the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) as well as the 
implementation of the President's Executive Order. 
Additionally, the committee will monitor how the Department of 
Defense's policies are structured to prepare service-members 
and veterans for the possibility of being targeted by extremist 
organizations during their service and after they leave 
military service.

                    UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE

    The committee will continue to provide oversight of 
military justice, specifically the role of the commander in 
prosecutions. The committee will also continue its robust 
oversight of the Department of Defense's sexual assault 
prevention and response programs with a focus on implementation 
of best practices for prevention programs. Additionally, the 
committee will put renewed focus on the oversight of the 
Department of Defense's policies and procedures for combatting 
extremism within the ranks.

                       MILITARY FAMILY READINESS

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue to 
focus on the support provided to families of service members, 
particularly during deployments. The committee will assess the 
methods used by the military services to identify the needs of 
military families and to identify the programs and policies 
that can be implemented or modified to improve their quality of 
life. As end strength grows across the Armed Forces, the 
committee will examine the Department of Defense and military 
service family support programs to ensure the programs are 
adequately resourced to support an increase in family members. 
In addition, the committee will continue its oversight on the 
quality and availability of services at Department of Defense 
child development centers and the implementation of new 
requirements to bring uniformity to the Exceptional Family 
Member Program across the military services.

  MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND MILITARY RESALE PROGRAMS

    The committee believes the cost-efficient sustainment of 
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) and military resale 
programs (commissaries and exchanges) is required to protect 
quality of life in military communities. The committee will 
provide oversight efforts directed toward that end in 
conjunction with major reforms, yet to be accomplished that 
were begun in the 114th Congress, to ensure the viability of 
these programs. Additionally, the committee believes that MWR 
and military resale programs must remain competitive with 
private sector entities to ensure that service members and 
their families benefit fully from these programs. The committee 
will monitor current practices and policies to ensure that MWR 
and military resale programs are employing the full range of 
strategies available to private sector competitors to inform 
authorized patrons about the benefits associated with these 
programs and encourage their participation. Finally, the 
committee will monitor and oversee the changes required by the 
commissary reform plan with an emphasis on maintaining this 
valuable benefit without interruption.

                 PRISONER OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue 
oversight of the Department of Defense's Prisoner of War/
Missing in Action activities. Specifically, the committee will 
focus on the operations of the Defense Personnel Accounting 
Agency to ensure they are meeting the requirement that the 
accounting effort achieve at least 200 identifications 
annually.

                      ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

    The committee will continue its oversight from the 116th 
Congress of Arlington National Cemetery. The John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115-232) directed the Secretary of the Army to establish 
revised eligibility criteria for interment at Arlington 
National Cemetery to ensure that the cemetery remains an active 
burial ground well into the future. The committee will monitor 
the criteria and changes to burial policy as they are 
structured.

                  Modernization and Investment Issues


                                OVERVIEW

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will conduct 
oversight of military equipment modernization strategies and 
programs and assess the effectiveness of those strategies to 
mitigate threats in the near- and long-term from near-peer and 
peer competitors. The committees' efforts will continue to 
focus on full-spectrum, combat-effective lethality and 
survivability through near-term modernization efforts that 
utilize acquisition reform initiatives to better streamline the 
development and fielding of solutions to the warfighter in a 
timely and efficient manner. The committee will devote 
attention to the military services' implementation and 
utilization of new, innovative agile acquisition reform 
authorities to recapitalize, upgrade, or enhance the 
performance of current and future combat systems. Concurrently, 
the committee will conduct oversight on the military services' 
ability to aggressively control development and procurement 
costs, implement reasonable, executable, and accountable 
sustainment strategies that preserve system affordability, as 
well as manage strategic risk in critical areas of the U.S. 
defense industrial base.
    The committee, through diligent oversight and legislative 
action, will implement actions and provide resources to help 
mitigate cost growth and schedule delays of modernization 
programs. The committee will assess the need for legislative 
action, if required, by: late determination of programmatic 
requirements; unjustified requirements growth and failure to 
properly mitigate requirements changes; insufficient analyses 
of alternatives; concurrency in test and evaluation master 
plans; military services proceeding prematurely with 
development of immature technology; poor cost estimating; 
inadequate funding profiles; over-estimation of potential 
production rates; program instability; and, improper use of new 
and agile acquisition reform authorities.

                     ARMORED VEHICLE MODERNIZATION

    The committee will focus on oversight of the Army and 
Marine Corps' evolving plans to improve the capability and 
extend the operating lives of its current heavy and medium-
weight armored combat vehicles, as well as lay the foundation 
for successful development, production, and timely fielding of 
its next generation of these systems. The committee will 
specifically monitor management and performance of these 
programs: research and development of the Optionally Manned 
Fighting Vehicle, the M1 Abrams tank, the M2 Bradley Fighting 
Vehicles, the family of Stryker Combat Vehicles, the family of 
Amphibious Combat Vehicles, the Light Armored Vehicle, the 
M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management, the Armored Multipurpose 
Vehicle, the Army's mobile protected firepower, and Active 
Protection Systems for combat vehicles.

                       TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES

    The committee will focus on oversight of the Army and 
Marine Corps' sustainment and modernization of their current 
and future tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) fleets, including 
their families of light, medium, and heavy TWVs, as well as 
other engineer and bridging vehicles. The committee will 
specifically oversee management of these programs: Family of 
Medium Tactical Vehicles, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical 
Truck, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Infantry Squad Vehicle, 
Palletized Load System, Heavy Equipment Transporters, Line Haul 
Tractor Trailers, and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled 
Vehicle. The committee will give particular interest to the 
Department of Defense's identification and management of risk 
in the TWV industrial base.

                          ROTORCRAFT PROGRAMS

    The committee will focus oversight efforts on rotorcraft 
modernization, force structure, and readiness, with an emphasis 
on how the military services are managing plans to accelerate 
development of next generation rotorcraft platforms while 
satisfying requirements to upgrade current rotorcraft 
platforms. Committee oversight will focus on, but not be 
limited to, the following rotorcraft programs: UH-60 Black Hawk 
utility rotorcraft, AH-64 Apache Attack rotorcraft, CH-47 
Chinook heavy lift rotorcraft, UH-1 Huey utility helicopters, 
AH-1 attack rotorcraft, the CH-53K heavy lift rotorcraft 
program, the MH-60 Seahawk rotorcraft program, the MH-139 
utility helicopter, Combat Rescue Helicopter, the TH-73A 
trainer helicopter replacement program, and the Future Vertical 
Lift (FVL) development program.
    The committee will also focus oversight efforts on the need 
for advanced aircraft survivability equipment upgrades to 
provide warning and protection against evolving threats, as 
well as monitor the Improved Turbine Engine program designed to 
improve lift capability on the AH-64, UH-60, and FVL platforms.

                  COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORK PROGRAMS

    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
research, development, and procurement of tactical battlefield 
communications networks. Specifically, the committee will 
conduct oversight of the Army's plans for future battlefield 
network research and development programs, the Army's Tactical 
Network Modernization roadmap, and efforts on the incremental 
development and fielding of the Integrated Tactical Network and 
other tactical radio programs.

    FIXED-WING TRAINING AND TACTICAL AIRCRAFT AND RELATED MUNITIONS

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue 
efforts overseeing the size, composition, capability, and 
capacity of the Department of Defense's tactical and training 
aircraft force structure and acquisition programs. The 
committee will continue engaging the Department to understand 
its aircraft force-mix strategy and composition regarding 
procurement of significantly advanced 4th, 5th and 6th 
generation tactical aircraft to replace existing tactical 
aircraft to ensure that mission areas related to air 
superiority, interdiction, and kinetic support to ground forces 
maintain combat effectiveness and lethality requirements. The 
committee will engage with the Air Force, Navy, and Marine 
Corps to understand the strategies to mitigate any potential 
tactical aircraft inventory shortfalls that would impact the 
Department's ability to meet the tenets and implementation of 
the National Defense Strategy. The committee will monitor the 
Department's efforts to improve capabilities and reliability 
among the existing fleets of aircraft to maintain, and where 
necessary, gain sufficient force-structure capacity and 
lethality that complements next-generation aircraft. The 
committee will continue to monitor the impact on aviation 
readiness related to procurement of initial spare or repaired 
parts, depot-standup activities and supplies and critical 
information necessary to meet warfighter requirements. In 
addition, the committee will have particular interest in the 
Air Force's newly implemented Digital Century Series 
acquisition strategy for aircraft and munitions. The committee 
will also continue monitoring Air Force and Navy execution of 
efforts for mitigating physiological episodes that were 
experienced by pilots operating various tactical and training 
aircraft.
    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue 
oversight of the F-35 program, particularly with regard to 
affordability issues and concerns related to program life-cycle 
cost, production and fielding schedules, aircraft and support 
system performance, and sustainment strategy planning and 
execution. The committee will also focus efforts on the F-35s' 
performance during the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation 
phase, Technical Refresh 3 hardware and Block 4 software 
development, and the follow-on modernization program known as 
Continuous Capability Development and Delivery. The committee's 
area of focus on the F-35 will include but not be limited to 
production efficiency, software development and testing related 
to the operational flight program and mission data files, 
addressing F135 engine problems and repair capacity, the 
Autonomic Logistics Information System development and 
transition to the Operational Data Integrated Network, fielding 
and integration into operational F-35 units, depot stand-up, 
and supply chain management required to support concurrent 
production and operational maintenance and sustainment 
requirements.
    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue 
engaging the Department of Defense to understand testing and 
war-reserve material requirements and subsequent production 
strategies to support and maintain sufficient inventories of 
air-launched preferred and precision-guided conventional 
missiles and munitions at an acceptable operational risk level. 
The committee will continue focusing its attention on the 
Department's identification, assessment, and strategies for 
effective management of risk in the associated defense 
industrial base and issues related to diminishing manufacturing 
sources, obsolescence issues, sole-source supply of components 
and major sub-systems, and production capabilities needed to 
support both annual production and occasional surge 
requirements for preferred and precision-guided conventional 
missiles and munitions.

                INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER AND MARINE EQUIPMENT

    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
research, development, and procurement of soldier and marine 
individual equipment, in addition to other complementary 
personal protective equipment programs. Focus areas will 
continue to include, but are not limited to: advances in weight 
reduction (``lightening the load'') in individual equipment; 
development and procurement of the Enhanced Night Vision 
Goggle-Binocular; small arms and small caliber ammunition 
modernization with particular emphasis on the Army's next 
generation squad weapon system; procurement and fielding of 
enhanced performance small caliber rounds; improved combat 
helmets to help mitigate traumatic brain injury; development of 
female-sized personal protective equipment; and the development 
and fielding of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System.

    LONG RANGE MUNITIONS, AMMUNITION, AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRIAL BASE

    The committee will continue to conduct oversight on the 
Army and Marine Corps Long Range Precision Fires and munitions 
modernization efforts, as well as other ammunition and 
ammunition industrial base concerns. Specifically, programs of 
interest to the committee include development, production and 
divestiture of ``smart'' munitions; ``critical'' munitions;'' 
and ``conventional'' ammunition programs. The committee will 
also continue to examine the management of the ammunition 
industrial base, specifically issues involving safety practices 
and production standards, supply chain concerns, and 
development of alternative ammunition production materials and 
sources.

   AIR FORCE AND ARMY INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE 
                                PROGRAMS

    The committee will focus oversight activities on cost, 
schedule, and performance of tactical manned and unmanned 
aerial (UAS) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance 
(ISR) systems. The committee will examine the ISR enterprise 
for sufficient capacity, satisfaction of military collection 
requirements, timeliness and redundancy of dissemination 
architecture, and modernization of analysis and exploitation 
capabilities for video and imagery. The committee will also 
scrutinize the Department of Defense's ISR policy development 
and implementation.
    In particular, the committee will evaluate the Army and Air 
Force long-term ISR architecture modernization and next-
generation acquisition strategies, the supporting analyses 
behind programmatic decisions, and the management of risk 
across ISR collection capabilities and capacities, and the 
corresponding resources to process, exploit, and disseminate 
raw data and finished analysis. The committee will monitor 
improvements made to ISR transmission and down-link 
architecture that provide rapid delivery of collected 
information supporting timely and effective defense operations.
    The committee's oversight efforts will focus on, but not be 
limited to, the following ISR programs: RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS 
Block 30 and Block 40, MQ-9 Reaper UAS, MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS, 
the Future Tactical UAS program, legacy E-8 JSTARS, E-3 AWACS, 
the family of RC-135 aircraft, U-2 Dragon Lady, and the 
Advanced Battle Management System.

             ELECTRONIC WARFARE EQUIPMENT AND MODERNIZATION

    The committee will focus oversight efforts on the 
Department of Defense's developing Electromagnetic Spectrum 
Operations (EMSO) strategy and associated electronic warfare 
(EW) systems. The committee will examine how the Department is 
identifying requirements, developing policies, and establishing 
the necessary governance structures to manage the EMSO 
enterprise. The committee will also evaluate the Department's 
ability to address emerging EMSO and EW threats and the 
military services' progress in developing and fielding next-
generation capabilities to counter these threats. The committee 
will assess airborne EW systems, including the EC-130H Compass 
Call aircraft, the EC-37B Compass Call re-host aircraft, the 
Navy's Next Generation Jammer airborne electronic attack 
capability, and the Army's Multi-Function EW Air, as well as 
ground-based EW capabilities including the Terrestrial Layer 
System.

                         BOMBER FORCE STRUCTURE

    During the 117th Congress, the committee anticipates that 
the Air Force will continue to propose significant investments 
for engineering, manufacturing, and development of the B-21A 
Raider long-range strike bomber aircraft. While many details 
regarding the specific requirements and capabilities of the new 
bomber remain classified, the committee will maintain oversight 
of the new bomber acquisition program to ensure that the Air 
Force develops an affordable aircraft to timely meet future 
requirements and partially recapitalize the long-range strike 
bomber fleet.
    As Global Strike Command's bomber road map continues to 
solidify, the committee will monitor how the Air Force chooses 
to invest and modernize its current fleet of bombers to ensure 
they can continue to effectively respond to current and future 
threats.

                       AERIAL REFUELING AIRCRAFT

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will review the 
Air Force aerial refueling aircraft modernization, 
recapitalization and retirement plans for the KC-10A, KC-46A 
and KC-135R/T.
    Currently, the Air Force requires 479 air refueling tankers 
to meet the National Military Strategy but only possesses 393 
KC-135R/T and 50 KC-10A tankers for a total of 443 legacy 
tankers. The addition of 42 KC-46A aircraft toward the future 
buy of 179 KC-46A will start replacing the legacy tanker fleet 
once the Remote Vision System on the KC-46A is fixed and the 
aircraft becomes operational. The committee is monitoring the 
KC-46A program closely. The committee will also monitor how the 
Air Force plans to modernize the KC-135R/T and conduct aerial 
refueling operations in a future contested airspace.
    The committee will also review the MQ-25 program as the 
Navy seeks to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle that provides 
aerial refueling to the carrier wing. The committee will also 
monitor the possibility to add additional capabilities to the 
MQ-25 should the Navy chooses to pursue them.

                            AIRLIFT PROGRAMS

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue to 
assess the risk in the Air Force's current plan to maintain the 
intratheater airlift aircraft inventory required by the 
Mobility Capability Requirements Study that was required by the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public 
Law 115-91). While pleased with Air Force efforts to modernize 
Air National Guard and Reserve C-130H aircraft with Avionics 
Modernization Programs, propulsion and propeller upgrades, the 
committee will continue to review the C-130H modernization 
program to ensure it is capable of meeting airlift 
requirements. The committee is committed in supporting 
technologies that increase capabilities, increase reliability 
and decrease overall life cycle costs.
    The committee will continue oversight of all airlift 
aircraft inventories and capabilities during the 117th Congress 
to ensure that a robust and effective fleet of airlift aircraft 
is maintained to meet mobility airlift requirements of the 
Department of Defense.

                        SURFACE WARFARE PROGRAMS

    The Department of the Navy must grow the fleet of surface 
combatants in order to support the National Security Strategy. 
The fleet must be capable of operating in contested areas such 
as the South China Sea. The committee will provide oversight of 
the composition, capacity, and capabilities of the surface 
fleet. The committee will also assess the large and small 
surface combatant requirements to ensure oversight of the force 
structure and the associated weapons and sensors employed on 
the surface force with a specific emphasis on Frigate 
capabilities. The committee will continue to conduct oversight 
of the Littoral Combat Ship and specifically look at what they 
will play in the future fleet. Further oversight of the 
amphibious forces will also be pursued to include amphibious 
assault in a contested environment, integration of advanced 
data capabilities and how these ships will be utilized to 
support expeditionary advanced basing operations. The committee 
will continue its oversight of the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class 
Destroyer program and it transitions to the Flight III variant 
that will incorporate the new air and missile defense radar. 
The committee will also monitor the requirements associated 
with the new large surface combatant DDG(X). In addition to the 
manned platforms, the committee will review options for the 
Navy to augment the surface force structure with both unmanned 
and potentially optionally manned platforms. Finally, the 
committee will review the combat logistics forces and the 
Maritime Security Program to ensure sufficient capacity is 
available to support national security objectives.
    As part of this oversight, the committee will continue to 
place a significant emphasis on improving affordability in 
shipbuilding programs through: ensuring stable requirements; 
the use of acquisition best practices; stability within the 
overall program; increased reliance on common systems and open 
architecture; and industrial base capacity, process, and 
facility improvements at the shipyards.

                       UNDERSEA WARFARE PROGRAMS

    The ability to operate freely at sea is one of the most 
important enablers of joint and interagency operations, and sea 
control requires capabilities in all aspects of the maritime 
domain. There are many challenges to our ability to exercise 
sea control, perhaps none as significant as the growing number 
of nations operating submarines, both advanced diesel-electric 
and nuclear propelled. Exercising sea control in the undersea 
domain is essential to maintaining the freedom of navigation in 
support of U.S. maritime interests. The committee will continue 
to review the undersea domain to ensure warfare dominance. 
Specifically, the committee will review short- and long-term 
options to reverse the decline in the attack submarine force 
structure as well as options to augment the undersea fleet with 
unmanned underwater vehicles. The committee will also assess 
whether sufficient resources and technological maturity are 
available for the recapitalization of the ballistic missile 
submarine force. The committee will continue to closely monitor 
the Virginia class acquisition program and will encourage the 
Navy to take all necessary measures to ensure we have a stable 
build rate of no fewer than two submarines per year. 
Additionally, the committee will monitor the development of the 
requirements associated with the follow-on attack submarine to 
the Virginia class. Finally, the committee will assess the 
weapons and sensors employed in the undersea domain to retain 
maritime dominance, to include the capacity and capabilities of 
unmanned undersea vehicles.
    As part of this oversight, the committee will place 
specific emphasis on the efficacy of multi-year procurement, 
rigorous assessment of requirements, and management of an 
expanding undersea industrial base capacity.

 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE 
                                PROGRAMS

    During the 117th Congress, the committee will continue 
oversight efforts on the size, composition, capability, and 
capacity of the Department of Defense's maritime intelligence, 
surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft force structure. The 
committee continues to monitor the recapitalization of the 
remaining P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with the P-8 
Poseidon aircraft. The committee continues to assess the risk 
in the Navy's current plan to maintain and procure the MQ-4 
Triton.
    The committee will monitor the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye 
Airborne Early Warning Command and Control aircraft as it gains 
inflight air refueling capability and continues to replace the 
E-2C Hawkeye.
    During the 117th Congress the committee will also review 
advanced unmanned capabilities provided by the MQ-8B/C 
Firescout and new MUX/MALE for the Marine Corps.

               STRATEGIC NUCLEAR AND CONVENTIONAL FORCES

    The committee will provide oversight of the U.S. nuclear 
policy, posture, and programs; extended deterrence policy; arms 
control activities; and nuclear force structure requirements. 
Particular emphasis will be placed on oversight of nuclear 
weapon employment and declaratory policies, force structure, 
arms control agreements, and modernization plans. In addition, 
the committee will continue oversight of nuclear command and 
control and strategic conventional strike programs. The 
committee will also continue to monitor the development of 
foreign nuclear programs and U.S. nonproliferation programs. 
Across all activities, the committee will pay particular 
attention to conducting oversight of nuclear enterprise 
personnel issues, including to ensure a world class, diverse 
workforce.
    The committee oversees the atomic energy defense activities 
of the Department of Energy and nuclear policies and programs 
of the Department of Defense to ensure the safety, security, 
reliability, and credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The 
committee will ensure that the United States maintains a safe, 
secure, and reliable nuclear arsenal to address current and 
future threats. The committee will conduct oversight of the 
Department of Energy and the Department of Defense's nuclear 
modernization and sustainment plans.
    In particular, the committee will oversee funding levels 
and requirements for the nuclear deterrence mission and nuclear 
enterprise, including relevant nuclear delivery platforms and 
their associated warheads to ensure resources are provided and 
allocated effectively and efficiently across Department of 
Energy and Department of Defense. With regard to the Department 
of Defense, the committee will emphasize oversight of major 
acquisition programs that will recapitalize U.S. nuclear forces 
and the supporting complex for decades into the future, 
including but not limited to the Ground-based Strategic 
Deterrent system, the Long-Range Standoff cruise missile, and 
missiles associated with the new Columbia-class submarine. The 
committee will also place particular emphasis on investments in 
nuclear enterprise programs that fall under the purview of the 
Department of Energy, including but not limited to 
infrastructure investments, warhead life extension programs, 
stockpile stewardship programs, stockpile management programs, 
cost savings and efficiency initiatives, safety and security, 
and progress on the nuclear clean-up activities.
    In addition, the committee will continue oversight of the 
nuclear command and control programs that underpin a reliable 
nuclear deterrent. The committee will also continue oversight 
of strategic conventional systems, such as the Common 
Hypersonic Glide Body program.
    The committee will continue to monitor the National Nuclear 
Security Administrations Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation 
activities. The threat of nuclear weapons-grade material, 
technology, and know-how remains a threat to the United States, 
particularly in light of new technological developments that 
may complicate the cost and the ability to detect such 
activity. The committee will focus on U.S. capabilities related 
to detection of proliferation to ensure their sustainability, 
and international cooperation on safeguarding and reducing the 
use of nuclear weapons grade materials. The spread of nuclear 
weapons and nuclear weapons-usable materials remain a grave 
threat to the United States, and as such, the committee is 
committed to ensuring oversight over these critical activities 
and leveraging new technologies and opportunities as they 
arise.

                            MISSILE DEFENSE

    The committee oversees the Department of Defense's efforts 
to develop, test, and field layered missile defense 
capabilities to protect the United States, its deployed forces, 
and allies and partners against missile threats.
    The committee will continue to place emphasis on cost-
effective and reliable missile defenses that contribute to 
strategic stability. The committee will continue to oversee 
U.S. homeland missile defense development, developmental and 
operational testing, cyber security to protect ballistic 
missile defense system data, force structure and inventory 
requirements, continued integration of ``left-of-launch'' 
capabilities, and science and technology investments (in areas 
such as boost-phase intercept, space sensor layer, and 
continuous improvements to discrimination). The committee will 
emphasize oversight of major acquisition programs that will 
recapitalize U.S. missile defenses, including but not limited 
to Ground-based Midcourse Defense, the Next Generation 
Interceptor program, and Layered Homeland Defense. The 
committee will also monitor progress of the Department of 
Defense Conventional Prompt Strike program as a potential 
``left-of-launch'' capability and related policies that 
minimize the risk of ambiguity and miscalculation.
    The committee will continue to oversee implementation of 
the 2019 Missile Defense Review by the Department of Defense 
and opportunities to strengthen international missile defense 
cooperation with allies and partners to defend against 
ballistic and cruise missiles.
    The committee will continue to provide oversight of the 
roles, responsibilities, and acquisition policies of the 
Missile Defense Agency and military services as they relate to 
integrated air and missile defense.
    The committee also intends to continue overseeing the 
Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System modernization 
efforts, including the Patriot weapon system, the Lower Tier 
Air and Missile Defense Sensor (as that program transitions to 
a rapid prototyping effort), and efforts to improve 
interoperability of Army and Ballistic Missile Defense System 
capabilities.

                        NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE

    The committee oversees the national security space policies 
and programs of the Department of Defense, including combat 
support agencies and elements of the Department of Defense that 
are also part of the intelligence community. The committee will 
place attention on current and projected foreign space threats 
and development of effective deterrence policies for space. The 
committee will also assess the Department's space security and 
defense programs to include space situational awareness, space 
protection, space control, resilience, operationally responsive 
space activities including capabilities for rapid constellation 
reconstitution and replenishment and use of commercial 
capabilities and international cooperation. The committee will 
initiate efforts with the Department of Defense in developing a 
policy framework to address how best to achieve rules-based 
order in space with allies, partners and adversaries.
    The committee will also focus on improving the organization 
and management of the Space Force, and related policies that 
support maintaining and improving the nation's space advantage, 
address new threats in space, elevate the focus within the 
Department on space as a warfighting domain, and create a 
culture that recognizes the importance of space for national 
security.
    The committee will continue oversight of national security 
space activities in support of warfighter operations and plans; 
improvement of space acquisition strategies that provide 
necessary warfighter capability while reducing cost and 
technical risk and supporting the industrial base; maintaining 
cost-effective and competitive assured access to space; efforts 
to address gaps in space capabilities for key warfighter needs; 
investments in science and technology to improve the 
capabilities of space systems; efforts to appropriately 
leverage commercial space capabilities; improvements of the 
synchronization between satellite, ground, and terminal 
acquisition programs; and efforts that develop and sustain an 
expert space workforce.

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CYBERSPACE ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    Military operations in cyberspace have become increasingly 
important as state and non-state actors seek to exploit the 
information environment to achieve political, military, and 
economic objectives. Cyber operations by threat actors below 
the level of conflict, such as Russian cyber intrusions to 
undermine democratic institutions or exfiltration of controlled 
unclassified information from the defense industrial base by 
cyber actors affiliated with the People's Republic of China, 
pose a dynamic challenge to U.S. national security. The 
Department of Defense, when appropriate, must be prepared to 
address cyber threats across the spectrum of operations and in 
all types of conflict.
    Significant progress in Congress' oversight over military 
operations in cyberspace has been enacted with the last two 
National Defense Authorization Acts, and the committee will 
leverage this progress in new actions for the 117th Congress. 
The committee will ensure that the Department of Defense 
adheres to both the spirit and intent of recently enacted 
legislation to ensure that Congress can conduct rigorous 
oversight. The committee will also ensure that new initiatives 
driven by legislation are thoroughly examined and acted upon to 
guarantee the United States' persistent advantage in 
cyberspace, including the expansion of tier one cyberspace 
operations organizations as part of the Cyber Mission Force and 
Cyber Operations Forces.
    The ability of the United States to maintain a comparative 
advantage in cyberspace is dependent on its ability to expand 
the Nation's cyber-proficient workforce through support and 
investment in primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. 
While the committee applauds efforts to date, significant work 
is required to harmonize and rationalize how these investments 
are executed. The committee will push the Department to 
inventory its existing programs and harmonize as appropriate.
    The committee remains concerned that cyberspace operations 
have long been considered a component divorced from the wider 
operational picture. To enable future success, the committee 
will continue in its efforts to break down stovepipes and push 
for greater integration between cyberspace operations and 
operations conducted in other recognized warfighting domains.

                         SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    The committee will ensure that the Department of Defense 
fosters a robust and balanced science and technology (S&T) 
ecosystem comprised of agencies; offices; laboratories; 
federally funded research and development centers; university 
affiliated research centers; academic partnerships; test and 
evaluation entities; and partnerships with the private sector, 
including small businesses; in order to deliver the best 
capabilities to the warfighter in the 
near-, mid-, and long-term. Specifically, the committee will 
conduct oversight of the Department's S&T activities to ensure 
planning and execution of investments are aligned with national 
strategies and other interagency efforts to maintain 
technological superiority. This includes examination of the 
Department's S&T annual investments and trends over time; the 
Department's efforts to advance technologies aligned with the 
National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Research and Engineering's (USD(R&E)'s) eleven 
modernization priorities; and how R&E, the military services, 
and the many innovation organizations in the Department advance 
these modernization priorities while protecting important 
science and technology investments.
    The committee will continue to oversee performance of the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Innovation 
Unit, and Strategic Capabilities Office, as well as other 
service-specific innovation centers and partnerships with 
private industry to ensure coordination, synchronization, 
transition of technology, and prudent use of fiscal resources. 
Further, the current global COVID-19 pandemic only underscores 
the importance of the subcommittee's oversight of S&T 
investments in countermeasures to adversary capabilities and 
emerging threats, such as infectious diseases, biotechnologies, 
and climate change.
    The committee will examine the Department's S&T strategy 
and doctrine, concepts of employment, and other organizing 
concepts pursued by the military services and the Office of 
Secretary of Defense. This includes examination of how 
capabilities contribute to new security strategies; how they 
are supported by rigorous technical analysis and relevant 
concepts of employment; and how the Department will develop 
plans to transition matured technologies to the field. The 
committee will review how the Department is strategically 
developing policies on how the U.S. should use and deploy 
future technologies, such as the rapid technological 
advancements outlined in the NDS, as well as the R&E 
modernization priorities, and how these emerging capabilities 
will contribute to new security strategies, as was directed in 
in the 116th Congress in section 232 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92).
    In the 117th Congress the committee will continue to 
examine the Department's level of use of the dozens of 
congressionally provided authorities together intended to 
improve the Department's S&T facilities, infrastructure, and 
access to small businesses, academia, and the tech sector. 
Congress has provided these authorities over a number of years 
in order to ensure that the Department and the country have the 
innovation base and technical workforce needed to maintain and 
strengthen the country's technological advantage. The committee 
will also continue its focus on science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education. Providing and 
maintaining infrastructure, both digital and brick and mortar, 
is paramount to attracting the best talent, and in the 117th 
Congress the committee will oversee the implementation plans 
for use of authorities and improvement of S&T infrastructure as 
was directed in the 116th Congress.

                        COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET

 OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS 
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                  COMMITTEE JURISDICTION AND OVERSIGHT

    Under clause 2(d) of House rule X, the Chair of each 
Committee is required to prepare, in consultation with the 
Ranking Member, and submit to the Committees on Oversight and 
Reform and House Administration an oversight plan by March 1 of 
the first session of each Congress.\18\ The Budget Committee's 
oversight responsibilities are determined by both the breadth 
of the federal budget and the relatively narrow focus of the 
Committee's legislative jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \18\Consistent with House rules, a copy of this plan was provided 
to each Member of the Committee at least seven calendar days before 
submission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Under clause 1(d)(1) of House rule X, the primary 
responsibility of the Budget Committee is to develop a 
concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This 
concurrent resolution sets spending and revenue levels in 
aggregate and across budget functions (a set of programs that 
serve a shared purpose or activity, such as agriculture, 
health, or national defense).
    Although the subject matter of the budget is inherently 
broad, the Committee's formal oversight responsibility focuses 
on laws governing the budget process and the agencies 
responsible for administering elements of those laws. Under 
clauses 1(d)(1)-(3) of House rule X, the major laws falling 
within its oversight include the Budget and Accounting Act of 
1921, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Budget 
Enforcement Act of 1990, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, the Budget Control Act of 2011, and the Bipartisan Budget 
Act of 2019. The two agencies with primary responsibility for 
administering elements of these laws and hence which fall under 
the Committee's jurisdiction are the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
    In addition to these general oversight responsibilities, 
the Budget Committee has the special oversight responsibility 
under clauses 3(c) and 4(b) of House rule X to study the effect 
on budget outlays of existing and proposed legislation and to 
request and evaluate continuing studies of tax expenditures.

                 OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

                           Budget Priorities

    In the process of developing the annual concurrent budget 
resolution, the Committee will hold hearings and receive 
testimony from Members of Congress, Cabinet-level and other 
federal officials, and expert witnesses to review the 
President's budget submissions, review other budget priorities, 
and evaluate evidence on the state of the economy and the role 
of federal investments on employment and the nation's long-term 
economic outlook.
    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will be active in its 
oversight duties. The Committee plans to focus on a range of 
issues, including rescuing an economy damaged by COVID, 
creating opportunities to combat and mitigate climate change, 
improving health care, ending poverty and systemic inequities, 
ensuring that communities are not left behind regardless of 
geographic location or density, and creating a fairer tax code. 
The Committee will focus on how these issues, in the broadest 
terms, impact the federal budget. In every area of inquiry, the 
Committee will examine how budgetary policies may affect people 
based on factors such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, and 
national origin. The Committee will explore how additional 
information could be provided through the budget process to 
better understand these distributional effects.
    The Committee will continue its efforts to strengthen 
Congress' power of the purse, through recommending specific 
reforms to ensure spending and revenue decisions are 
transparent and effectively carried out by the Executive 
Branch. This will include assessing OMB's legal authorities to 
manage federal spending, including the Impoundment Control Act 
of 1974. The Committee will also continually assess the 
performance of federal agencies in both administration and 
service delivery by reviewing performance data in the 
President's budget submissions and the relevant reports and 
audits of the Government Accountability Office and the Offices 
of the Inspectors General. It will also review budget rules and 
processes.
    The Committee will draw on the authorizing committees' 
Views and Estimates, which are submitted to it pursuant to 
section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, to 
coordinate development of the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

                           Budget Enforcement

    The Committee will provide ongoing oversight of OMB's 
implementation of budget submission, control, execution, and 
enforcement procedures under the Budget and Accounting Act of 
1921, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Budget 
Enforcement Act of 1990, the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, the Budget Control Act of 2011, and other applicable 
laws. It will also provide oversight of CBO's work, including 
scoring of legislation moving through Congress, production of 
baseline estimates, and longer-term projects on important 
budgetary issues.
    The Committee will work with the Appropriations and 
authorizing committees to ensure that spending and tax 
legislation does not breach the levels set in the budget 
resolution, as required under sections 302(f) and 311(a) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The Committee will also 
monitor compliance with the House Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rule 
requiring that direct spending increases and revenue losses be 
offset with either direct spending reductions or revenue 
increases.

                  Federal Spending and Tax Incentives

    The Committee will evaluate continuing studies of tax 
incentives and spending by the federal government and consider 
whether changes are warranted.

                           OVERSIGHT SCHEDULE

    The following are the Committee's initial plans for 
hearings and other oversight activities:
First Session (2021)
Spring 2021--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook: 
Director of CBO.

Spring 2021--Hearings on the President's Fiscal Year 2022 
Budget: Director of OMB; Secretary of the Treasury; Secretary 
of the Department of Health and Human Services; Secretary of 
the Department of Defense.

Spring 2021--Hearing on Budget Priorities for the 2022 Budget: 
Members of Congress.

Spring 2021--Receive Views and Estimates from other committees 
to coordinate development of the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

    Possible additional hearings on the view of the economy 
from the Federal Reserve, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic 
and the associated government response across all sectors of 
the U.S. economy, Article I and Congress's power of the purse, 
congressional budget process and enforcement, the shift in 
thinking on debt, including Modern Monetary Theory, 
opportunities for investments in climate action, and other 
topics to be announced.
Second Session (2022)
Winter 2022--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook: 
Director of CBO.

Winter 2022--Hearings on the President's Fiscal Year 2023 
Budget: Director of OMB; Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of 
the Department of Health and Human Services; Secretary of the 
Department of Defense.

Winter 2022--Hearing on Budget Priorities for the 2023 Budget: 
Members of Congress.

Winter 2022--Hearing on the economy, Chairman of the Federal 
Reserve Board.

Winter 2022--Receive Views and Estimates from other committees 
to coordinate development of the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

    Possible hearings on the causes, effects, and budgetary 
implications of rising income inequality, the long-term 
benefits of federal investments in building a stronger and 
fairer economy for all working families, future-oriented energy 
policies, solutions to increase the affordability of raising a 
family, the implications of demographic trends for the longer-
term budget and economic outlook, and other topics to be 
announced.

                             MINORITY VIEWS

  OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

    The Committee's oversight activities should be focused on 
ensuring both the Legislative and Executive Branches of the 
Federal Government are open, transparent, and forthcoming in 
providing information regarding their expenditure of taxpayer 
resources. The Committee should make sure relevant budgetary 
deadlines are adhered to by both branches of government and 
exert its proper authority when budget laws and precedent are 
not followed.

            Oversight of the Office of Management and Budget

    While the Majority's Committee Oversight Plan discusses 
oversight of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), these 
efforts should also include review of OMB's decision- making 
process and legal authorities, including budget execution and 
enforcement. We hope to join Committee Democrats in ensuring 
the President's budget submission is timely, complete, and 
transparent regarding the Administration's plans. Simply put, 
American taxpayers deserve to not only know what the White 
House's true agenda is, but also how much it will cost and 
whether it includes tax increases on the working-class. 
American families, taxpayers and small businesses should know 
the economic consequences of the Administration's policy 
priorities.
    Committee Republicans appreciate the continued interest in 
examining Congress's power of the purse. Given the critical 
role OMB plays in executing the Administration's policy 
priorities, Committee Republicans hope these oversight efforts 
verify the Executive Branch is transparent in implementing its 
budgetary decisions. Moreover, as Democrat leaders seek to use 
the reconciliation process to quickly enact another $1.9 
trillion in federal funding, Committee Republicans believe 
transparency and accountability at OMB is crucial, considering 
that approximately $1 trillion in similar, previously enacted 
funding is yet to be spent. Congress's power to make funding 
decisions plays a critical role in the checks and balances it 
has on the Executive Branch.
    The Budget Committee has a unique oversight responsibility 
to study the effects of existing and proposed legislation and 
policies. However, notably absent from the Committee's 
Oversight Plan are the budgetary impacts of executive actions 
by the Administration--such as terminating the southern border 
wall, canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline contract, and 
displacing thousands of American workers. Additionally, the 
removal of Administrative PAYGO will increase costs for 
Executive Branch agencies and taxpayers since those same 
agencies will no longer have to propose offsets for the costs 
associated with discretionary administrative actions. Since the 
Committee's Oversight Plan includes evaluating the impact of 
policy on protected classes, the Committee should also assess 
the impact of policies on the working-class, who will 
undoubtedly bear the adverse effects of costly executive 
actions, as well as how these policies impact different regions 
across our country--particularly rural Americans. Committee 
Republicans welcome the opportunity to work in a bipartisan 
manner to ensure transparency and accountability of the 
Executive Branch and in monitoring the far-reaching economic 
consequences of its actions.
    The Budget Committee should also work with our counterparts 
in the Senate to provide appropriate and necessary oversight of 
potential OMB nominees. Given its role in assisting the 
President in implementing the Administration's policies across 
the Executive Branch, it is crucial that Congress continue to 
have a bipartisan working relationship with OMB in order to 
best serve the American people.
    Additionally, the Budget Committee should be prepared to 
support authorizing committees in their oversight of respective 
federal agency spending to ensure programs within their 
jurisdiction are operating effectively and efficiently and that 
these programs fulfill their statutory intent. This Committee 
should work with authorizing committees to review government-
wide spending and implement programmatic changes that will 
maintain the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and 
address the looming debt crisis. Committee Republicans also 
support additional oversight efforts to review the expenditure 
of taxpayer dollars to verify they are not enriching corporate 
America and non-citizens at the expense of small businesses. To 
date, the Biden Administration has already issued 34 executive 
orders, many of which significantly impact the economy through 
lost jobs. Democrats' policies, including executive orders and 
additional stimulus spending, will impair the economy and lead 
to higher prices for goods and services for all Americans. The 
economy is already rapidly recovering, and unemployment 
continues to decline. This Committee should examine ways to 
support such economic growth and not serve as an impediment to 
it.

              Oversight of the Congressional Budget Office

    The primary responsibility of the Congressional Budget 
Office (CBO) is serving the House and Senate Committees on the 
Budget by providing information on the federal budget, 
legislation considered by Congress, federal spending and 
revenues--including cost estimates of legislation--and related 
matters. The Committee appreciates CBO's transparency and 
responsiveness.
    Although oversight of CBO is addressed in the Committee 
Oversight Plan, the plan fails to specifically address the 
availability of cost estimates of legislation in a timely 
manner. It is imperative for Congress to have prompt and 
expedient access to cost estimates of major legislation, 
especially before consideration of such legislation. The 
Committee should also review the accuracy of previous 
estimates. This informed decision-making will provide greater 
transparency and efficiency in the budget process.
    CBO operates on a permanent authorization, stemming from 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and therefore, has never 
been fully reauthorized. As the official budgetary agency for 
the Legislative Branch, it is important that this Committee 
conducts a comprehensive review and reauthorization of CBO.

              Congressional Budget Enforcement and Process

    We appreciate Committee Democrats' commitment to working 
with the Appropriations and authorizing committees to ensure 
legislation complies with the budget resolution's levels as 
required pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and 
the House Pay-As-You-Go rule. We are disappointed, however, 
that the Committee's Oversight Plan does not include any 
required consultation by the Chairman with the Ranking Member 
regarding the compliance of legislation with the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 and the House Pay-As-You-Go rule 
particularly the budgetary exemptions adopted in H. Res. 8 for 
the 117th Congress. A lack of consultation with the Ranking 
Member demonstrates the absence of transparency in 
congressional budget enforcement.
    The Committee's Oversight Plan also fails to examine the 
modern-day effectiveness of the congressional budget process, 
enforcement, and proper uses of reconciliation. Democrats 
failed to adopt a budget resolution all of last Congress. A 
Fiscal Year 2021 budget resolution was adopted by Congress this 
year after the deadline under law and after all funding for the 
fiscal year was appropriated. Democrats' efforts for a Fiscal 
Year 2021 budget resolution were driven by the desire to enact 
$1.9 trillion in stimulus spending through reconciliation. 
Moreover, the use of reconciliation by Democrats to enact 
funding for state and local governments based on both 
population and unemployment actually punishes states that have 
reopened and allowed businesses and Americans to return to 
work. It is important for this Committee to abide by both 
budget enforcement and the reconciliation process and its 
proper uses.
    Since its enactment, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
has been amended numerous times, which has led to Congress 
abandoning the process outlined in the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974 for ad hoc procedures. The Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 provides several budget enforcement tools. The use of ad 
hoc procedures for budgeting often results in a failure to 
enforce the budget. Consequently, failure to effectively 
enforce the budget resolution leads to increased costs to 
taxpayers because Congress fails to comply with its own budget 
by enacting legislation without offsets. As a result, it is 
imperative for this Committee to review budget enforcement to 
ensure it is effective and work together to adhere to strict 
budget enforcement.
    The implementation of COVID-19 related funding, review of 
congressional budget enforcement, and the budgetary impacts on 
small businesses and the working-class are examples of national 
priority issues that should be addressed from a federal budget 
context as well. It is disappointing that these issues were 
overlooked in the Committee's Oversight Plan, and Committee 
Republicans look forward to addressing these matters moving 
forward.

                    COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR

                             117TH CONGRESS

  SUBMISSION OF OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR

    Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Education and Labor, 
submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration the following.

              Preparation and Submission of Oversight Plan

    Each standing committee of the U.S. House of 
Representatives (other than the Committee on Appropriations, 
the Committee on Ethics, and the Committee on Rules) is 
required to prepare and submit an oversight plan at the 
beginning of each Congress. Specifically, clause 2(d)(1) of 
rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives states:

    (d)(1) Not later than March 1 of the first session of a 
Congress, the chair of each standing committee (other than the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Ethics, and the 
Committee on Rules) shall--
          (A) prepare, in consultation with the ranking 
        minority member, an oversight plan for that Congress;
          (B) provide a copy of that plan to each member of the 
        committee for at least seven calendar days before its 
        submission; and
          (C) submit that plan (including any supplemental, 
        minority, additional, or dissenting views submitted by 
        a member of the committee) simultaneously to the 
        Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on 
        House Administration.

          Jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor

    Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives vests 
in the Committee on Education and Labor (Committee) 
jurisdiction over issues dealing with students, education, 
workers, and labor policy. Specifically, clause 1(e) of rule X 
vests the Committee with jurisdiction over the following 
subject-matter:
          (1) Child labor.
          (2) Gallaudet University and Howard University and 
        Hospital.
          (3) Convict labor and the entry of goods made by 
        convicts into interstate commerce.
          (4) Food programs for children in schools.
          (5) Labor standards and statistics.
          (6) Education or labor generally.
          (7) Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes.
          (8) Regulation or prevention of importation of 
        foreign laborers under contract.
          (9) Workers' compensation.
          (10) Vocational rehabilitation.
          (11) Wages and hours of labor.
          (12) Welfare of miners.
          (13) Work incentive programs.
          (14) Organization, administration, and general 
        management of the Department of Education.
          (15) Organization, administration, and general 
        management of the Department of Labor.

                   General Oversight Responsibilities

    Clause 2 of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives provides in part:

    (a) The various standing committees shall have general 
oversight responsibilities as provided in paragraph (b) in 
order to assist the House in--
          (1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of--
                  (A) the application, administration, 
                execution, and effectiveness of Federal laws; 
                and
                  (B) conditions and circumstances that may 
                indicate the necessity or desirability of 
                enacting new or additional legislation; and
          (2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of 
        changes in Federal laws, and of such additional 
        legislation as may be necessary or appropriate.
    (b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within the jurisdiction of a committee are 
being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent 
of Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, or 
eliminated, each standing committee (other than the Committee 
on Appropriations) shall review and study on a continuing 
basis--
          (A) the application, administration, execution, and 
        effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects 
        within its jurisdiction;
          (B) the organization and operation of Federal 
        agencies and entities having responsibilities for the 
        administration and execution of laws and programs 
        addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
          (C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate 
        the necessity or desirability of enacting new or 
        additional legislation addressing subjects within its 
        jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has 
        been introduced with respect thereto); and
          (D) future research and forecasting on subjects 
        within its jurisdiction.
    (2) Each committee to which subparagraph (1) applies having 
more than 20 members shall establish an oversight subcommittee, 
or require its subcommittees to conduct oversight in their 
respective jurisdictions, to assist in carrying out its 
responsibilities under this clause. The establishment of an 
oversight subcommittee does not limit the responsibility of a 
subcommittee with legislative jurisdiction in carrying out its 
oversight responsibilities.

                    Addressing Issues of Inequities

    Pursuant to H. Res. 8, adopted by the House of 
Representatives in the 117th Congress, Clause 2(d)(2)(F) of 
rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives added the 
following new requirement to committee oversight plans:

          (F) give priority consideration to including in the 
        plan a discuss of how the committee's work will address 
        issues of inequities on the basis of race, color, 
        ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender 
        identity, disability, age, or national origin.

    This Committee has and will continue to work toward an 
America where everyone can succeed, not just the wealthy few, 
by conducting oversight to ensure that federal laws are applied 
without illegal discrimination and federal programs are 
implemented to improve the lives of all children, students, 
workers, retirees, and families. The Committee's commitment to 
realize equity in and access to quality education, achieve safe 
and inclusive workplaces where workers can earn a livable wage 
and collectively bargain, and expand access to quality and 
affordable health care are fundamental to its oversight 
activities.
    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
deliver on its promise to the people across this great nation 
by shedding light on longstanding inequities and achievement 
gaps in education, unsafe and exclusionary workplaces, and 
limited or no access to quality and affordable health care for 
those who need it most. As it has always done, the Committee 
will continue to use its oversight authority to ensure that the 
federal government and its partners are delivering for the 
people, and it is pleased that this provision has been added to 
the Rules to ensure that other committees are doing the same.

                 Exercise of Oversight Responsibilities

    The Constitution of the United States vests in Congress the 
authority and responsibility to make laws and ensure that those 
laws are properly enforced and enacted. Oversight is a 
constitutional prerogative, an important responsibility of the 
Congress, and a core objective of the Committee. Accordingly, 
the Committee will thoroughly oversee and investigate the 
various departments, agencies, and programs within its 
jurisdiction. In so doing, the Committee will actively consult 
with House committees that have concurrent or related 
jurisdiction.
    In its oversight proceedings, the Committee will make full 
use of hearings in Washington, DC and of regional field 
hearings to ensure all relevant voices are heard and included 
as part of the official record. Among other investigative 
techniques, the Committee will visit relevant sites, correspond 
with affected parties, request briefings by federal agencies 
and departments, review assessments and analyses by the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS), and review audits and 
investigations by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
and the Offices of the Inspectors General of the U.S. 
Departments of Education (ED), Labor (DOL), Health and Human 
Services (HHS), Agriculture (Ag), and Justice (DOJ).
    The Committee will lead aggressive oversight in its areas 
of jurisdiction, which include programs and statutes 
administered and enforced by ED, DOL, HHS, Ag, DOJ, and various 
independent agencies as well as the organization, 
administration, and general management of ED and DOL. The 
Committee will work to ensure that these programs and statutes 
are administered consistent with constitutional requirements of 
faithful execution of laws passed by Congress and long-
established principles of federalism. Additionally, the 
Committee will conduct oversight to ensure that they are 
operated and executed in an effective, efficient, and 
transparent manner as well as follow congressional intent in 
their scope, activities, and operations.
    The Committee has identified priority areas for oversight 
and investigation in the 117th Congress. These areas include, 
but are not limited to, the following:
           COVID-19 Relief: To respond to the COVID-19 
        pandemic, Congress appropriated significant resources 
        in the 116th Congress. The Committee will oversee the 
        implementation of these laws and future COVID-19 relief 
        legislation to ensure that students, teachers, 
        patients, workers, and their families are adequately 
        protected. As part of this work, the Committee will 
        continue to conduct oversight of ED's COVID-19 relief 
        efforts to ensure it appropriately distributes funds to 
        Puerto Rico.
           Civil Rights: The Committee will oversee the 
        implementation of civil rights laws pertaining to 
        education, labor and employment, and health to ensure 
        that such protections are sustained and robustly 
        enforced. Oversight shall include reviewing the 
        policies and priorities of ED's Office for Civil 
        Rights, DOL's Office of Federal Contract Compliance 
        Programs, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
        Commission. In addition, the Committee will investigate 
        the Trump Administration's rollback of civil rights 
        policies and ensure the Biden Administration works to 
        benefit all workers and students. The Committee will 
        assess the longstanding education gaps that have 
        deepened due to institutional educational inequities 
        rooted in racism. The Committee will also conduct 
        oversight on DOL's, ED's, and HHS' rules and use of 
        faith-based exemptions to ensure that they are not used 
        to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, 
        sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national 
        origin, disability, or any other protected class in 
        federal programs and contracts. Further, the Committee 
        will investigate maternal and infant issues, food 
        insecurity, and other institutional inequities that 
        impact access to quality health care and community 
        supports.
           Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds 
        Act: ED has not implemented the bipartisan Every 
        Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with fidelity. Accordingly, 
        the Committee will ensure ED fully and appropriately 
        implements ESSA, with a focus on ESSA's accountability 
        and supplement not supplant provisions.
           Restarting Student Loan Payments: Congress 
        and President Trump have suspended all payments and 
        collections on federally-held student loans since March 
        2020 due to the pandemic-induced recession. This will 
        present operational challenges when servicers are 
        charged with reinitiating collections and payments for 
        the entire student borrower portfolio. The Committee 
        will investigate whether servicers are sufficiently 
        prepared to resume collecting student loan payments 
        and, when payments resume, will conduct oversight to 
        ensure servicers are complying with all statutory and 
        contractual requirements.
           Student Aid: The Committee will conduct 
        oversight on the policies and priorities of the Office 
        of Federal Student Aid (FSA), especially as they relate 
        to institutional accountability, monitoring of the 
        incentive compensation ban, reducing abuse among 
        institutions reliant on online program management 
        companies, and monitoring institutional financial 
        solvency. Further, the Committee will continue to 
        investigate and monitor FSA's procurement of components 
        of the NextGen initiative, FSA's implementation of the 
        Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, and 
        FSA's implementation of the Teacher Education 
        Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) 
        grants program.
           For-Profit Institution Conversions: Over the 
        last decade, for-profit institutions have converted to 
        non-profit institutions at an accelerated rate and with 
        insufficient monitoring from ED. Some of these 
        conversions have allowed for-profit owners and 
        executives to improperly benefit from non-profit 
        organizations and have posed financial risks to 
        students and taxpayers. The Committee will investigate 
        recently converted institutions and those seeking new 
        conversions to evaluate and mitigate risks.
           Borrower Defense: The Trump Administration 
        repealed student borrower protections and replaced them 
        with corporate-friendly regulations that made obtaining 
        meaningful relief for defrauded borrowers nearly 
        impossible. The Committee will oversee ED's 
        implementation and re-regulation of these provisions to 
        ensure borrowers are protected from institutional 
        misconduct and made whole when evidence of fraud is 
        uncovered.
           Students and Workers with Disabilities: The 
        Committee will conduct oversight on ED's implementation 
        of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's 
        significant disproportionality requirements. Though 
        this requirement was meant to protect Black and Latino 
        students from overrepresentation in special education, 
        ED has failed to effectively enforce this provision. 
        The Committee also will monitor the activities of DOL's 
        Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to ensure 
        it is fulfilling its mission to improve educational 
        opportunities for people with disabilities and provide 
        technical assistance to employers to support people 
        with disabilities in the workplace.
           Department of Labor's Workforce Development 
        Programs: The Committee will conduct oversight on DOL's 
        workforce training programs. This includes reviewing 
        the policies and expenditures of apprenticeship 
        programs operated by DOL, and evaluating the various 
        programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
        Act, including Job Corps, the Dislocated Worker 
        program, and the Re-entry Employment Opportunity 
        program.
           Worker Wages: The Committee will conduct 
        oversight on the DOL's Wage and Hour Division's (WHD) 
        actions regarding overtime pay, protections for tipped 
        workers, and child labor protections under the Fair 
        Labor Standards Act. The Committee will evaluate the 
        WHD's enforcement of prevailing wage laws.
           Workplace Safety and Health: The Committee 
        will conduct oversight on the Occupational Safety and 
        Health Administration's (OSHA) actions regarding 
        workplace health and safety standards, including 
        infectious disease protections, occupational heat 
        stress, workplace violence in health care and social 
        service settings, and hazardous substances. The 
        Committee will assess the adequacy of OSHA's COVID-19 
        policies and the effectiveness of its enforcement 
        efforts at high-risk worksites, including warehouses, 
        meat packing plants, and nursing homes.
           Mine Safety and Health: The Committee will 
        evaluate the Mine Safety and Health Administration's 
        actions to stem the rising rates of black lung disease 
        and assess whether changes to its enforcement policies 
        have compromised miners' safety.
           Workers' Compensation Programs: The 
        Committee will evaluate risks to the solvency of the 
        Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund, review the 
        adequacy of COVID-19 compensation coverage under the 
        Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and the 
        Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and 
        evaluate DOL's implementation of recommendations issued 
        by the Government Accountability Office with respect to 
        the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
           Retirement Security and Pensions: The 
        Committee will examine the costs and consequences to 
        workers, retirees, businesses, and communities, as well 
        as to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, if 
        Congress does not address the multiemployer pension 
        crisis. The Committee also will continue to monitor the 
        impact of ``midnight'' rules (retirement investment 
        advice, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) 
        investing, and proxy voting) that were finalized by DOL 
        during the final months of the Trump Administration.
           International Labor Rights: The Committee 
        will investigate, where appropriate, international 
        labor issues, including those involving trade 
        agreements and labor rights abuses, and oversee the 
        management and operations of the International Labor 
        Affairs Bureau within DOL.
           Guestworker Programs: The Committee will 
        conduct oversight on the implementation of the 
        provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act that 
        protect the wages and working conditions of both U.S. 
        and foreign workers.
           Collective Bargaining Rights: The Committee 
        will conduct oversight and investigations to ensure 
        that the National Labor Relations Board is fairly and 
        ethically enforcing the National Labor Relations Act. 
        This includes ensuring that any structural changes to 
        the National Labor Relations Board are aligned with its 
        mission to protect workers.
           Child Nutrition: The Committee will monitor 
        and conduct oversight on the Department of 
        Agriculture's administration of child nutrition 
        programs within the Committee's jurisdiction and any 
        proposed policies and regulations that impact these 
        nutrition programs, including during the COVID-19 
        pandemic.
           Health Care: The Committee will conduct 
        oversight to ensure that all people are receiving 
        equitable and affordable access to health care, 
        including investigating inequities that prevent 
        individuals and communities from accessing needed 
        health care. This includes ensuring that all 
        individuals and families can access needed prescription 
        drugs.
           Supporting Communities: The Committee will 
        conduct oversight to ensure that community support 
        programs and federal funding targeted to improving 
        equity for vulnerable populations achieves that goal.
    The Committee reserves the right to review and investigate 
general legislative, administrative, and regulatory issues 
affecting its jurisdiction.

                             117TH CONGRESS

  SUBMISSION OF OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR

                             MINORITY VIEWS

    The American people deserve an open, accountable government 
that works efficiently, effectively, and in adherence to the 
law. Congress must use its constitutional authority to ensure 
that laws are properly enforced, taxpayer money is spent wisely 
in accordance with congressional intent, and government policy 
does not harm the American people. Congressional oversight of 
federal programs and activities is a critical part of this 
authority. Oversight is a constitutional prerogative, an 
important responsibility of the Congress, and a core objective 
of the Committee. Accordingly, the Committee should responsibly 
oversee, investigate, and hold accountable the various 
agencies, departments, and programs within its jurisdiction.
    As we said last Congress, oversight may not be glamorous or 
exciting, but it is important to be diligent, thoughtful, and 
responsible in its implementation. It is equally important to 
be objective. If the Committee's work is to be effective, then 
it is important for all Members to keep open minds, examine 
potential problems, assess the actual facts and evidence, and 
finally determine if there are concerns that need to be 
addressed.

                 Exercise of Oversight Responsibilities

    Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has jurisdiction over programs and statutes 
administered and enforced by the U.S. Departments of Education, 
Labor, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Justice, as 
well as various independent agencies. The Committee should 
continue to ensure these programs and statutes are implemented 
in an effective and efficient manner and consistent with the 
appropriate federal role following congressional intent. In so 
doing, the Committee should actively consult with House 
committees that have concurrent or related jurisdiction.
    The Committee should pursue several areas for oversight and 
investigation in the 117th Congress. These areas are discussed 
below:
           Coronavirus Relief. Significant waiver 
        authority has been authorized to allow secretaries to 
        waive legal requirements and limitations in federal 
        law. Additionally, billions of taxpayer dollars have 
        been provided over the past year to states to assist 
        students, schools, employees and employers, and other 
        entities. The Committee must ensure these funds are 
        being used effectively and in compliance with the law 
        and ensure the waiver authority granted is used 
        appropriately and fairly.
           Every Student Succeeds Act. In 2015, 
        Congress passed, and the President signed, a 
        bipartisan, bicameral bill to replace No Child Left 
        Behind with commonsense reforms to allow states and 
        communities the flexibility needed to provide all 
        students an excellent education. The Committee should 
        ensure the Biden administration continues the Trump 
        administration's commitment to follow the letter of the 
        law and congressional intent in its implementation of 
        the law.
           Student Aid. The U.S. Department of 
        Education oversees $1.5 trillion in outstanding federal 
        student loans and disburses billions in grants and 
        work-study funds each year. The Committee should 
        continue to monitor the costs and performance of these 
        programs. The Committee should also examine both the 
        Office of Federal Student Aid's internal reorganization 
        and its contracts with student loan servicers and 
        private collection agencies.
           Higher Education Regulations. Institutions 
        of higher education are subject to myriad federal 
        regulations and reporting requirements that are often 
        burdensome and costly. The Committee should continue 
        its oversight of regulatory policies and challenge 
        those that enlarge the federal footprint in 
        postsecondary education, which tends to interfere with 
        academic freedom, infringe on the authorities of the 
        states, limit student choice and freedom of expression, 
        and unfairly target particular sectors of higher 
        education.
           Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. In 
        2014, Congress passed, and the President signed, a 
        bipartisan, bicameral bill to fix the nation's broken 
        workforce development system. The Committee should 
        examine the impact of the pandemic on the programs 
        under the law and ensure the law is properly 
        implemented so that it continues to help workers attain 
        skills for 21st century jobs.
           Health Care. The Committee should continue 
        oversight of health care issues, including the 
        Affordable Care Act (ACA) and implementation of the No 
        Surprises Act. In particular, the Committee should 
        focus on how the ACA regulations and sub-regulatory 
        guidance have harmed employers' ability to provide high 
        quality, affordable health care to employees, including 
        educators and school staff. The Committee should also 
        support actions to provide relief from these costly and 
        burdensome requirements.
           Employer and Employee Protections. The 
        Committee should conduct oversight and investigations, 
        as appropriate, to ensure employee and employer rights 
        under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) are 
        protected and applied consistently without bias. 
        Additionally, the Committee should work to ensure the 
        NLRA is upheld during the Biden administration by 
        maintaining the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) 
        ability to operate independently and free from 
        political interference. The Committee should also 
        conduct oversight into President Biden's unprecedented 
        firing of the Senate-confirmed NLRB General Counsel 10 
        months before the expiration of his term.
           Workplace Safety. The Committee has a duty 
        to ensure that the Occupational Safety and Health 
        Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health 
        Administration (MSHA) are appropriately carrying out 
        their missions to protect the safety and health of 
        America's workers. The Committee should conduct 
        oversight on the rulemaking process by ensuring 
        agencies solicit necessary and required feedback from 
        stakeholders so that workplace safety regulations are 
        responsible and feasible. The Committee should also be 
        closely monitoring the Biden administration OSHA and 
        MSHA COVID-19 responses--including plans to issue 
        emergency temporary standards--to ensure that the 
        agencies' regulatory approach is legal, appropriate, 
        and does not hinder employers from protecting workers 
        from COVID-19 in the workplace.
           Retirement Security. The retirement system 
        works best when workers have access to voluntary, 
        robust, portable, and secure savings options. The 
        Committee should monitor the U.S. Department of Labor's 
        activities to ensure regulations and sub-regulatory 
        guidance benefit the long-term retirement security of 
        working families and do not restrict access to 
        affordable retirement advice.
           Multiemployer Pensions. Extreme and 
        continued underfunding in multiemployer defined benefit 
        pension plans threaten the Pension Benefit Guaranty 
        Corporation's (PBGC) solvency as well as benefits 
        promised to workers and retirees who participate in 
        these plans. To prevent further deterioration of the 
        plans' funding and protect the security of worker and 
        retiree benefits, the Committee should consider 
        meaningful, forward-looking and fiscally responsible 
        structural reforms consistent with the Employee 
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Legislation 
        should include meaningful compromises involving all 
        stakeholders, including unions and employers, to avoid 
        the moral hazard of open-ended taxpayer commitments. 
        Without systemic reforms, Congress would simply be 
        rewarding multiemployer plan trustees for years of poor 
        management. The Committee should also continue to 
        monitor the implementation of the Multiemployer Pension 
        Reform Act of 2014 and the activities of the PBGC to 
        develop needed bipartisan reforms that will protect 
        both taxpayers and workers.
           Regulatory Process. An open and transparent 
        process for revising and implementing regulations will 
        benefit students, institutions, employers, and workers 
        alike. The Committee should work to ensure that 
        stakeholders have sufficient time to review and provide 
        public comment on regulatory actions within the 
        Committee's jurisdiction.
           Wage and Hour Laws. Significant federal 
        labor laws were enacted more than 70 years ago for a 
        very different workforce from the one that exists 
        today. The Committee should continue to examine how 
        these outdated laws affect economic growth and job 
        creation. In addition, the Committee should continue to 
        encourage the agencies in its jurisdiction, especially 
        the U.S. Department of Labor, to focus on compliance 
        assistance, rather than punitive enforcement measures, 
        to help employers understand and follow federal labor 
        laws.
           Government Spending. The Committee should 
        closely monitor all agencies under its jurisdiction to 
        determine whether the expenditure of taxpayers' money 
        is leading to efficient, high-quality outcomes for 
        students and workers.
           Union Transparency. Workers who have chosen 
        to be represented by unions want to be sure their dues 
        are being properly managed. The Committee should 
        examine the efficacy of current union reporting 
        requirements and work to ensure that employees have 
        access to information that clearly shows how their dues 
        are spent. In particular, the Committee should conduct 
        oversight to investigate and examine notable cases of 
        union corruption involving the embezzlement of workers' 
        union dues.
           Executive Action. The Obama administration 
        took a number of executive actions that encroach on the 
        constitutional authority of Congress to write the law; 
        unfortunately, the Biden administration seems to have 
        adopted that flawed approach to governing. The 
        Committee should monitor and analyze these actions and 
        work together to reclaim Congress' role as the 
        legislative branch of government.
    Along with the oversight objectives already outlined, the 
Committee should examine the programs within its jurisdiction 
whose authorizations have expired or will soon expire. Based 
upon the results of that oversight, the Committee should 
determine the appropriate next steps.

                               Conclusion

    Committee Republicans believe responsible, fact-driven 
oversight of the agencies over which this Committee has 
jurisdiction is vitally important. The Committee must ensure 
that agencies are being good stewards of hard-working taxpayer 
dollars and are implementing the laws Congress passed with 
fidelity. Committee Republicans look forward to pursuing 
oversight opportunities that meet those goals and working with 
our majority colleagues in this endeavor.
            Signatories:
                                   Virginia Foxx,
                                           Ranking Member.
                                   Glenn ``GT'' Thompson.
                                   Tim Walberg.
                                   Glenn Grothman.
                                   Elise M. Stefanik.
                                   Rick W. Allen.
                                   Jim Banks.
                                   James Comer.
                                   Russ Fulcher.
                                   Fred Keller.
                                   Gregory F. Murphy.
                                   Mariannette Miller Meeks, M.D.
                                   Burgess Owens.
                                   Bob Good.
                                   Lisa C. McClain.
                                   Diana Harshbarger.
                                   Mary E. Miller.
                                   Victoria Spartz.
                                   Madison Cawthorn.

                    COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

         OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

              U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 117TH CONGRESS

               THE HONORABLE FRANK PALLONE, JR., CHAIRMAN

    Rule X, clause 2(d) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing Committee to develop an oversight plan for the two-
year period of the Congress and to submit the plan to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform and to the Committee on House 
Administration not later than March 1 of the first session of 
the Congress.
    This is the oversight plan of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce for the 117th Congress. It includes areas where the 
Committee expects to conduct oversight during the 117th 
Congress, subject to staff and resource limitations, but does 
not preclude oversight or investigation of additional matters. 
The Committee will continue to consult with other committees 
that have jurisdiction over the same or related laws, programs, 
or agencies with the objective of ensuring maximum coordination 
and cooperation. Specifically, the Committee will continue to 
work with other committees to facilitate expiring programs, 
coordinate with the Congressional Budget Office regarding 
lapsed authorizations and upcoming expirations, and hold member 
and staff-level meetings with relevant committees and House and 
Senate conferences.

                    ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

                             Climate Crisis

    Climate change is a crisis that affects every region of the 
country and threatens the economy, the environment, and public 
health. In the midst of a severe economic downturn, the 
Committee intends to examine opportunities and mechanisms for a 
green and just economic recovery for all Americans. The 
Committee will focus on the economic, environmental, and health 
effects of climate change, including the disproportionate 
impacts on low-income communities, communities of color, tribal 
communities, and other historically overburdened populations. 
The Committee will identify opportunities to reduce negative 
impacts, create new businesses and jobs, and make all 
communities safer and more resilient. The Committee will also 
review actions needed to meet our obligations under the Paris 
Climate Agreement and examine the climate impacts of regulatory 
efforts and programs by the Department of Energy (DOE), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS), and other agencies within the 
Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee plans to examine 
governmental and nongovernmental activities and policies to 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Committee will also assess 
state funding programs and other efforts by agencies within the 
Committee's jurisdiction to ensure states and local communities 
have the resources needed to prepare for and respond to severe 
weather events and natural disasters.

                             Clean Air Act

    The Committee expects to review significant rulemakings and 
program implementation under the Clean Air Act and associated 
public health and environmental benefits. The Committee will 
conduct oversight of EPA decisions, management strategies, and 
other actions affecting efforts to meet Clean Air Act 
standards, including EPA actions that affect state efforts to 
meet public health goals. This review will include a close 
examination of the costs and benefits of Clean Air Act actions, 
and the role these analyses have played in perpetuating 
disparate air pollution, for historically overburdened 
communities. Additionally, the Committee will examine the 
current role of and proposed changes to the accounting of cost, 
benefits, and feasibility in Clean Air Act rulemakings. The 
Committee will also continue to conduct oversight of EPA's 
implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, including 
program transparency and opportunities for that authority to 
address climate change and pollution disparities.

                Environmental Contamination and Cleanup

    The Committee will conduct oversight of EPA's 
implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response 
Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA). This will include the 
cleanup of sites vulnerable to the effects of climate change 
and sites that contribute to the disparate burden of pollution 
in historically overburdened communities. The Committee will 
also oversee implementation of recent updates to the 
Brownfields program. The Committee anticipates investigating 
the public health, environmental, and economic impacts of the 
expiration of Superfund taxes and EPA's decisions regarding 
financial responsibility requirements under CERCLA Section 
108(b).

                       Hazardous and Solid Waste

    The Committee will examine state and federal implementation 
of our waste laws, including the disparate impacts of unsafe 
waste disposal on historically overburdened communities. This 
review will focus on the public health and environmental 
impacts, including climate impacts, of plastic waste and 
recycling, coal ash, waste materials containing per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances, landfill gas, and various waste 
disposal methods.

              Regulation of Dangerous Chemical Substances

    The Committee will conduct oversight of EPA's 
implementation of the reformed Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) as EPA moves forward with the first risk management 
rules under the law and revises its framework rules in light of 
judicial decisions. This oversight will look at EPA's efforts 
to reexamine and incorporate into its regulatory framework 
previously excluded uses, exposures, vulnerable populations, 
and scientific studies. The Committee will examine the impacts 
these decisions are having on the most vulnerable and 
disproportionately impacted, including workers, infants and 
children, and historically overburdened communities. The 
Committee will also examine risk management activities and 
decisions related to pesticides and other non-TSCA regulated 
chemicals, as well as the actions of other agencies in the 
Committee's jurisdiction charged with addressing these issues, 
including DOE and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.

                    Drinking Water Risks and Safety

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the standard 
setting process under the Safe Drinking Water Act, including 
obstacles to timely action and to addressing disparate risks to 
historically overburdened communities. The Committee will also 
examine serious threats to the safety of our drinking water, 
including risks from lead service lines and per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances. In addition, the Committee will 
continue to review the impact on communities of regulatory 
ambiguity under the Safe Drinking Water Act regarding hydraulic 
fracturing, as well as transparency and potential risks to 
communities from the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.

                     EPA Management and Operations

    The Committee will conduct general oversight of EPA. This 
will include review of agency enforcement activities (including 
the use of those activities to address disparate pollution 
burdens in historically overburdened communities), funding 
decisions, staff and other resource allocations, office and 
program reorganization, grants, research activities, and 
contracts awarded to outside parties. The Committee will also 
conduct general oversight of EPA's relations with state, local, 
and tribal governments, as well as its public transparency, and 
adherence to economic, procedural, public health, and 
environmental standards in regulatory actions.

                         National Energy Policy

    The Committee will examine policies that relate to energy 
efficiency and conservation, and the exploration, production, 
transmission, distribution, and consumption of electricity, oil 
and natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and 
renewable energy. The Committee will continue to address 
associated climate issues as well as the impacts of such 
activities on safety, security, and public health. Further, the 
Committee will investigate the disparate costs, benefits, 
risks, and opportunities of these policies for historically 
overburdened communities. The Committee will also review the 
electrification of the transportation sector, and examine the 
electric grid needs for increased charging infrastructure. The 
Committee will inquire into the impact of government policies 
and programs--including those established in the recently 
enacted Energy Act of 2020--on the exploration, production, 
storage, supply, marketing, pricing, and regulation of domestic 
energy resources, including issues relating to the nation's 
energy infrastructure. The Committee will review existing 
federal interstate transmission policies and explore how they 
should be revised to facilitate increased integration of 
renewable energy resources and reduced costs to consumers. The 
Committee will also explore electric utility responses to the 
impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events to 
determine where improvements can be made to mitigate adverse 
impacts and expedite recovery. Additionally, the Committee will 
examine energy access, energy poverty, and the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as necessary.

           Electricity and Natural Gas Markets and Regulation

    The Committee will review the federal electricity and 
natural gas policies of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) related to 
competitive markets for compliance with relevant statutes. The 
Committee will also examine FERC and DOE activities relating to 
consumer protection and the environment with regard to 
electricity, natural gas, and hydroelectric power, including 
the development of efficient and vigorous wholesale markets for 
electricity. The Committee will explore ways to increase 
transparency into regulatory proceedings at FERC to ensure that 
members of the public, particularly landowners subject to 
pipeline-related eminent domain proceedings, have the ability 
to understand and actively engage with FERC on these matters. 
Similarly, the Committee will look specifically at tribal roles 
in statutes implemented by FERC. Additionally, the Committee 
will closely examine actions regarding pipeline safety by the 
Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration as well as actions regarding pipeline 
security by the Department of Homeland Security's 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Committee 
will also review the need for modernizing the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act.

                  Energy and Fuel Efficiency Mandates

    The Committee will continue to oversee federal programs 
setting energy efficiency standards for home appliances crafted 
by DOE, to ensure that the programs maximize the benefit to 
consumers, public health, and the environment. The Committee 
will also examine greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for 
motor vehicles developed by EPA and the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), respectively. 
Additionally, the Committee will review energy efficiency and 
carbon reduction efforts within the federal government and the 
Federal Energy Management Program, generally. The Committee 
will also continue its oversight of building energy efficiency 
codes, the process for setting those codes, and DOE's role in 
fostering their adoption.

  Management of the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories

    The Committee will continue to oversee governance, 
management, and operations issues at DOE, including the 
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the 
National Laboratories. This will include a continued focus on 
DOE's management of the contractors that operate the national 
laboratories. The Committee's oversight work will also include 
review of the implementation of management, security, and 
safety reforms at NNSA and DOE facilities, ongoing safety and 
security matters, as well as the work of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board. The Committee will continue to oversee 
the Office of Environmental Management's efforts to cleanup 
waste and contamination from nuclear weapons production and 
research, including the significant increases in environmental 
liabilities in recent years. This work will also include the 
Committee's oversight functions over DOE grant and loan 
guarantee programs as well as programs and activities relating 
to nonmilitary energy research and development.

                             Nuclear waste

    The Committee will continue to review the actions of DOE 
and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding 
obligations of these agencies under the Nuclear Waste Policy 
Act. The Committee will also examine other nuclear waste 
cleanup and disposal programs under its jurisdiction.

                   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    The Committee will continue to examine the programs and 
activities of NRC. The Committee will review NRC's budget 
requests and conduct oversight of the manner in which the 
Commission discharges its various responsibilities, including 
the Commission's regulatory actions, licensing activity, the 
safety and security of nuclear power facilities, and nuclear 
materials licensees.

                         21st Century Workforce

    The Committee will continue its longstanding oversight of 
the energy workforce. The Committee will focus attention on the 
transition to a clean energy economy, the impact on traditional 
energy employment, and the increased need for a skilled 
workforce in the growing areas of renewable energy, energy 
efficiency, and storage, among other things. The Committee will 
continue its ongoing examination of diversity in the energy 
workforce and pathways to ensure underrepresented groups 
including Native Americans, people of color, women and veterans 
are able to obtain employment and benefit from the transition 
to a clean energy economy.

                     HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE ISSUES


               The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19)

    The Committee will continue general oversight of the 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee will review 
pharmaceutical manufacturers' efforts to develop and produce 
COVID-19 vaccines, and the federal government's role in 
supporting those efforts and ensuring equitable distribution of 
the vaccines. The Committee will also continue to examine 
issues related to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) producing and disseminating reliable public 
health data and information, and efforts by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) to review, authorize, and approve drugs, 
vaccines, and devices in the fight against COVID-19.

                        The Affordable Care Act

    The Committee will continue to examine issues related to 
the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 
implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including 
decisions by the Trump Administration to administratively and 
illegally undermine the ACA. This oversight will also examine 
the effect the Trump Administration's decisions have had on 
access to comprehensive, affordable health care. The Committee 
will also examine the role the ACA has played in providing 
health insurance coverage during the COVID-19 crisis and 
associated economic downturn, as well as explore ways to 
strengthen the law in order to ensure all Americans have access 
to comprehensive, affordable health care.

                     HHS Management and Operations

    The Committee will conduct general oversight of HHS and its 
agencies to ensure it is fulfilling its mission to enhance and 
protect the health of all Americans. The Committee will also 
review HHS's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including 
actions taken by FDA, CDC, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS), and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness 
and Response (ASPR) related to the prevention of, preparation 
for, and response to COVID-19. The Committee will also review 
actions taken by political leadership at HHS during the Trump 
Administration that have undermined professional morale and the 
public health mission of the agency.

                Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

    The Committee will review the management, operations, and 
activities of CMS and the programs it administers. The 
Committee will study the positive economic effect of Medicaid 
expansion and impact of Medicaid expansion on access to care. 
The Committee will review insurance coverage rates for children 
and state outreach efforts to enroll uninsured children. The 
Committee will examine attempts by the Trump Administration to 
administratively and illegally undermine the Medicaid program, 
which provides critical services to over 70 million 
individuals, and the disparate impact that these illegal 
actions had on access to care for communities of color. The 
Committee will also continue to examine the increasing out-of-
pocket drug costs for seniors under the Medicare program, 
including drug therapies intended to treat COVID-19. The 
Committee will examine the positive effects of capping out-of-
pocket costs in Medicare Part D and providing the Secretary of 
HHS the authority to negotiate drug prices, particularly for 
drugs that lack robust market competition.

            Food and Drug Administration and Product Safety

    The Committee will review the management, operations, and 
activities of the FDA, including the ability of the agency to 
ensure the safety of the nation's food, drugs, devices, and 
cosmetics, as well as the impact of tobacco use on public 
health. The Committee will examine the agency's implementation 
of emergency use authorities during COVID-19 response, 
including authorizations for drugs, including vaccines and 
devices. The Committee will also investigate FDA's enforcement 
of current drug supply chain and safety laws and its foreign 
drug inspection program. The Committee will also oversee 
implementation of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, 
Innovation, and Reform Act, including the establishment and 
collection of user fees. Further, the Committee will review 
FDA's efforts to improve and modernize the regulatory framework 
for medical devices and medical device safety, as well as 
examine FDA oversight and evaluation of diagnostic tests, 
including laboratory-developed tests. The Committee will also 
continue to review the FDA's efforts to combat youth access to 
tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) 
products, as well as the agency's enforcement and 
implementation of the Tobacco Control Act, including the 
agency's review of premarket tobacco product applications of 
new tobacco products. The Committee intends to review the 
safety of cosmetics and personal care products in light of the 
substantial increase in cosmetic imports, one of FDA's larger 
categories of imports. The Committee will also examine FDA's 
statutory authorities for protecting the nation's food supply 
with a view towards identifying any gaps and whether FDA's 
financial and personnel resources are adequate to protect the 
public from unsafe food.

                Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness

    The Committee will examine the roles of various federal 
agencies responsible for protecting public health, including 
program management and implementation. Specifically, the 
Committee will continue to conduct oversight of federal efforts 
on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, including 
the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other infectious diseases. 
Oversight will include examination of resources and programs 
such as the Strategic National Stockpile, public health 
laboratory capacity, and disease surveillance, as well as the 
United States' response to additional emerging foreign 
infectious disease threats. The Committee will continue 
oversight of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, administration, and 
promotion, as well as activities to combat the underutilization 
of vaccines for other vaccine-preventable diseases. The 
Committee will also continue its review of efforts to combat 
the drug epidemic, including opioids and stimulants. The 
Committee will examine federal coordination carried out by the 
Office of National Drug Control Policy, state and local 
responses, and the roles of participants in the health care 
delivery chain. Additionally, the Committee will study the role 
our federal public health agencies play and the actions such 
agencies can take to reduce health disparities among racial and 
ethnic minorities, and to address the health impacts caused by 
gun violence in our communities. Further, the Committee will 
also review and monitor any efforts that stymie or hinder 
access to comprehensive women's health care and reproductive 
health care services, which disproportionately impact low-
income women and women of color. Finally, the Committee will 
also continue to monitor implementation of mental health 
reforms and the work done by the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
Health and Substance Use, the mental health impact of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues related to the health and 
safety of athletes, including youth athletes.

                       Health Care Affordability

    The Committee will examine the Administration's actions and 
policies related to the rising costs of health care and 
prescriptions drugs. This will include examining the role FDA 
and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) play in the 
discovery, development, and delivery of innovative medications. 
The Committee will also investigate the impacts higher health 
care costs, including rising out-of-pocket costs, are having on 
American families, including seniors, and what actions may be 
taken to improve affordability within our health care system. 
The Committee will conduct oversight on the implementation of 
legislative and administrative actions taken to end surprise 
billing practices. The Committee will also continue to review 
policies proposed by the Administration to lower the costs of 
prescription drugs and will investigate how actions taken by 
brand name and generic drug manufacturers have impacted such 
costs, including abuses and gaming of current regulatory 
requirements. Further, the Committee will study the role 
rebates play in the costs of prescription drugs and to our 
federal health care system and how changes to rebates may 
impact such costs.

                Reunification of Unaccompanied Children

    The Committee will continue to monitor and oversee HHS and 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement's efforts to provide 
appropriate care to unaccompanied children who are awaiting 
placement with sponsors in the United States. The Committee 
will also review HHS's role in significant policies that affect 
the placement and coordination of unaccompanied children, 
including changes to protocols that could delay the placement 
of unaccompanied children with sponsors. The Committee's review 
will also include monitoring HHS-contracted facilities' 
compliance with federal laws and regulations, as well as HHS's 
oversight of these facilities, including influx facilities.

                         Indian Health Service

    The Committee expects to investigate the availability, 
quality, and adequacy of health care prevention and treatment 
services provided by the Indian Health Service. The Committee 
will continue to review current implementation of the Indian 
Health Care Improvement Act and how this law and the care 
provided by the Indian Health Service is working for American 
Indians and Alaska Natives in order to inform the Committee on 
ways to improve care for those who rely on these services. The 
Committee will also review the disproportionate impact of 
COVID-19 on tribal communities, as well as the quality and 
adequacy of the Indian Health Service's response to the 
pandemic.

                         Health Care Inequality

    Despite overall improvements in population health over 
time, many health and health care disparities have persisted 
and, in some cases, worsened. Addressing these disparities is 
important not only from an equity standpoint, but also for 
improving overall quality of health care and population health. 
COVID-19 did not cause this country's health and health care 
disparities, rather, the pandemic laid bare these vast 
inequalities among our most vulnerable populations. The 
Committee will examine issues of inequities in our health care 
system on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or 
national origin. The Committee will also investigate the 
disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, 
racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality, and the 
appropriate collection of demographic data related to health 
and health care.

                  COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES


      Federal Communications Commission Management and Operations

    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
operations, management, and activities of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC), including the effect of its 
decisions on protecting consumers, promoting privacy and data 
security, encouraging universal broadband access and adoption, 
technologies and services, supply chain security, increasing 
diversity of ownership and competition, and ensuring adequate 
emergency communications capability. Additionally, the 
Committee will evaluate the effect of FCC actions on spectrum 
policy, network resiliency, and public safety, as well as data, 
video, voice, and audio services.

 National Telecommunciations and Information Adminstration Management 
                             and Operations

    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
operations, management, and activities of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within 
the Department of Commerce, including its efforts to promote 
cybersecurity, supply chain security, consumer privacy, 
efficient federal spectrum use, spectrum sharing, spectrum 
management, emergency communications, and network resiliency. 
The Committee will continue to oversee the NTIA's efforts to 
promote broadband deployment and adoption, including the 
establishment of two new offices, the Office of Internet 
Connectivity and Growth and the Office of Minority Broadband 
Initiatives, and the tribal and rural grant programs. 
Additionally, the Committee will evaluate the work of the NTIA 
in representing the interests of the United States in 
international meetings and negotiations relating to 
telecommunications and internet governance.

  Broadband Internet Deployment, Affordability Adoption, and Openness

    The Committee will conduct oversight of funding mechanisms 
for broadband deployment and adoption, including the Universal 
Service Fund, and whether such programs adequately and 
efficiently promote broadband deployment and adoption for 
consumers. The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction to 
oversee the process--and the effects on consumers, small 
businesses, and free speech--associated with the repeal of net 
neutrality. The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over 
broadband to ensure continued growth and investment in the 
internet. The Committee will also continue to exercise its 
jurisdiction over wireless and wired communications to ensure 
our nation's policies governing voice, video, audio, and data 
services are promoting investment, innovation, access, 
affordability, and job creation. The Committee will oversee the 
programs established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021 to increase internet access and affordability, including 
the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and the Secure and 
Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program at the 
FCC, and the tribal and broadband deployment grant programs and 
the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program at the NTIA.

                      Public Safety Communications

    The Committee will continue to examine the progress being 
made to ensure that first responders have interoperable 
communications capabilities with local, state, and federal 
public safety officials, including through the efforts of the 
Emergency Communications Division within the Department of 
Homeland Security. The Committee will also examine the progress 
being made by the First Responder Network Authority in carrying 
out the mandates of the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job 
Creation Act of 2012. In addition, the Committee will conduct 
oversight regarding the implementation of legacy 911 and Next 
Generation 911 (NG911) services. The Committee will review 
efforts to promote deployment of these advanced systems and 
challenges to realizing ubiquitous NG911.

                          Spectrum Management

    The Committee will continue to oversee FCC and NTIA 
management, allocation, and coordination of the nation's 
spectrum for government and commercial use to ensure the 
highest and best use of public airwaves for consumers and 
federal users. The Committee will further examine whether 
current plans for reallocating spectrum encourage competition, 
benefit consumers, and are in the public interest while 
continuing to protect national security. The Committee will 
oversee FCC and NTIA implementation of the Middle Class Tax 
Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, the Bipartisan Budget Act 
of 2015, the RAY BAUM's Act, the Spectrum IT Modernization Act, 
and the Beat China for 5G Act of 2020.

                          Media and Journalism

    The Committee will continue to oversee the FCC's efforts to 
diversify the broadcast and cable media landscape, including 
the quadrennial review of media ownership regulations and equal 
employment opportunity obligations. The Committee will also 
examine the role and decline of local journalism and the impact 
on the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

                              Section 230

    The Committee will continue to review the effects of 
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The Committee 
will review to what extent that liability shield promotes or 
discourages appropriate content moderation online that 
facilitates a healthy internet ecosystem. The Committee will 
review how online platforms are addressing the proliferation 
and amplification of disinformation and extremism online and 
what they can do to remedy such proliferation and 
amplification.

                CONSUMER PROTECTION AND COMMERCE ISSUES


                       Privacy and Data Security

    The Committee will examine issues relating to the privacy 
and security of consumers' personal information collected by 
businesses and the potential methods for improving privacy 
protections to benefit consumers. The Committee will also 
continue to investigate whether all companies that collect 
consumer data are fully implementing data security and privacy 
safeguards that ensure consumers' personal information is not 
stolen or misused.

   Consumer Product Safety Commission Management and Operations and 
                          Consumer Protection

    The Committee will continue to review the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission's (CPSC) overall operations, including the 
effectiveness of its rulemaking, compliance, and enforcement 
activities, engagement in voluntary standard-setting 
activities, and the modernization of its staff and information 
technology infrastructure. The Committee will also continue to 
monitor the CPSC's port surveillance program to evaluate its 
effectiveness in identifying and preventing unsafe consumer 
products entering the United States, especially products in e-
commerce shipments entering under the de minimis value 
exemption. The Committee will also exercise its jurisdiction to 
improve the safety of consumer products to prevent injuries and 
deaths.

NHTSA Management and Operations, Fuel Economy, and Motor Vehicle Safety

    The Committee will continue oversight of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including the 
effectiveness of the agency's regulations, investigations, 
structure, research activities, data collection, and 
enforcement actions pertaining to motor vehicle safety. The 
Committee will examine NHTSA's ability to effectively oversee 
and regulate advanced safety technologies including advanced 
driver assistance systems, partially automated vehicles, and 
highly automated vehicles. The Committee will also examine 
whether NHTSA effectively monitors and investigates safety 
issues, and whether it effectively manages recalls. The 
Committee will work to oversee manufacturers, automobile 
dealers, and other entities selling or deploying vehicles to 
improve motor vehicle safety to protect drivers, passengers, 
and all others who share the roadways. The Committee will 
continue oversight of fuel economy standards for motor vehicles 
developed by NHTSA.

    Federal Trade Commission Management and Operations and Consumer 
                               Protection

    The Committee will review the management, authorities, 
operations, investigative, rulemaking, and enforcement actions 
of the Federal Trade Commission. The Committee will review 
consumer protection activities related to privacy, data 
security, accountability of technology companies for unfair and 
deceptive practices, fraud, scams, and deceptive advertising.

     Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Management and Operations

    The Committee will review the management, operations, 
rulemaking, and enforcement actions of the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, and whether the Bureau is achieving its 
consumer protection mission.

Department of Commerce Management and Operations and Manufacturing and 
                                 Trade

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Commerce 
Department and its efforts to promote manufacturing and 
exports. The Committee will monitor and examine interstate 
commerce as well as bilateral agreements and multilateral trade 
agreements as those agreements relate to services, commodities, 
and industries within the Committee's jurisdiction, including 
energy, telecommunications, consumer products, e-commerce, 
food, and drugs. The Committee will examine whether these 
agreements adequately protect the interests of domestic and 
foreign workers, the environment, and consumers. The Committee 
will also explore the state of manufacturing in the United 
States to identify factors that are hampering or furthering the 
nation's competitiveness and factors that benefit or hurt 
American workers.

                   Technology Industry Accountability

    The Committee will monitor and examine how the technology 
industry, including social media and e-commerce platforms, is 
affecting diversity, product safety, interstate commerce, 
fraud, and the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, 
hate, and extremism.

                             MISCELLANEOUS


                             Cybersecurity

    The Committee will continue to examine the protection of 
information and technology vital to our national and economic 
security by examining vulnerabilities and paths to defend 
against future attacks. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
actions and programs of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology as well as efforts of relevant agencies to implement 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Additionally, the Committee 
will review the efforts of agencies within its jurisdiction to 
secure their networks. The Committee will also examine 
initiatives to improve cybersecurity both in the private and 
public sectors, and review efforts at agencies within the 
Committee's jurisdiction to regulate cybersecurity.

                 Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response

    The Committee will continue to monitor the roles of HHS 
agencies in assisting the nation's capability, detection, and 
response to possible biological attacks. The Committee will 
also evaluate the potential impact and preparedness of the 
nation's public health system. The Committee will continue to 
review the extent of the coordination between HHS and the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), especially as it relates 
to Project Bioshield, and implementation of the Public Health 
Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 
by HHS.

         Federal Oversight of High-Containment Bio Laboratories

    The Committee will conduct oversight of issues related to 
high-containment bio laboratories, which handle some of the 
most dangerous and exotic diseases, including anthrax, 
smallpox, Ebola virus, and foot and mouth disease. Among the 
issues under review will be the adequacy of the security and 
practices of high-containment bio laboratories and federal 
efforts to oversee the laboratories, and whether some of these 
efforts are overlapping and duplicative.

              Safety and Security for Chemical Facilities

    The Committee will conduct oversight of mandates across 
agencies to ensure the safety and security of chemical 
facilities, including implementation of DHS's Chemical 
Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program and EPA's Risk 
Management Planning Program. The Committee will also examine 
threats to these facilities from climate change and extreme 
weather. Additionally, the Committee will review the 
organization and activities of the Chemical Safety Board.

                Scientific and Risk Assessment Programs

    The Committee will review programs to assess the 
objectives, transparency, and integrity of scientific 
assessments that inform regulatory and public health policies. 
The Committee will examine issues relating to the numerous 
Federal science programs assessing public health risks, 
including the Integrated Risk Information System at the EPA, 
the Report on Carcinogens produced by the National Toxicology 
Program at HHS, and assessments proposed or ongoing in other 
Federal departments and agencies.

                         Waste, Fraud and Abuse

    The Committee will conduct oversight of departments and 
agencies under its jurisdiction to ensure adequate and prompt 
implementation of recommendations from the Government 
Accountability Office, Offices of Inspectors General, and other 
sources to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

                        Critical Infrastructure

    The Committee will examine DHS's activities with respect to 
identifying high-priority assets and implementing plans to 
protect these assets in areas within the Committee's 
jurisdiction. The Committee will also examine the activities of 
DOE, FERC, TSA, and other Federal agencies related the physical 
security and cybersecurity of the nation's energy 
infrastructure, including DOE's authorities and 
responsibilities as the sector-specific agency for energy 
security. The Committee will also conduct oversight of HHS and 
EPA's responsibilities and authorities as sector-specific 
agencies for activities related to the nation's critical 
infrastructure for communications, chemicals, emergency 
services, and others within the Committee's jurisdiction. 
Additionally, the Committee will examine the roles and 
responsibilities of other relevant agencies, such as the FCC, 
as well as the private sector.

                           Nuclear Smuggling

    The Committee will continue to monitor private sector and 
Federal government efforts at seaports, border crossings, and 
mail facilities. The Committee's review will examine and assess 
DOE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection efforts, including 
international efforts, aimed at detecting and preventing the 
smuggling of dangerous commerce, particularly radiological and 
nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

                Online Platform and Consumer Protection

    The Committee will examine the effect of online platform 
practices on the public good, free speech, and democratic 
principles, including through algorithmic bias. The Committee 
will also review the extent to which competition exists among 
online platforms, and how consolidation affects consumers.

  Diversity and Inclusion in Federally-Funded Entities and Activities

    The Committee will provide oversight over all agencies 
under its jurisdiction to promote policies of diversity and 
inclusion in order to ensure that these federally-funded 
agencies are representative of the nation as a whole and are 
working to support the interests of all communities and all 
segments of the overall population.

                    COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES

  OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR THE 117TH 
                                CONGRESS

    Pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the House of 
Representatives, the following constitutes the oversight plan 
of the Committee on Financial Services for the 117th Congress. 
It includes areas in which the Committee and its subcommittees 
expect to conduct oversight during the 117th Congress; it does 
not preclude oversight or investigation of additional matters 
or programs as they arise. The Committee will consult, as 
appropriate, with other Committees of the House that may share 
jurisdiction on any of the subjects listed below.

                       COVID-19 Pandemic Response

    Ensure Equitable Administration and Distribution of Housing 
Relief Funds. The Committee will conduct oversight of federal 
agencies', grantees', and industry's administration of, and 
compliance with, COVID-19 housing protections and relief 
programs to ensure proper implementation, including compliance 
with fair housing and fair lending laws, and equitable 
treatment of, and allocations of funds to, hardest hit 
communities. The Committee will also review the effectiveness 
of eviction and foreclosure moratoria and mortgage forbearance 
in keeping people safely housed during the pandemic.
    Support for Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) and 
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The 
Committee will examine opportunities to support community 
financial institutions such as MDIs and CDFIs to ensure that 
they can continue to assist minority entrepreneurs that are 
overlooked by traditional financial institutions, particularly 
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee will also review 
legislation that will direct critical sources of capital and 
investment to CDFIs and MDIs to ensure that these institutions 
have the tools they need to serve their communities.
    Protecting Consumers During the Pandemic. The Committee 
will examine how consumers have been affected by the pandemic, 
including to the degree financial institutions utilize the 
flexibility provided by Congress and regulators to provide 
forbearance and loan modifications for affected consumers. The 
Committee will also examine consumer impacts and protections 
relating to credit reporting and debt collection, and the 
degree to which unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or 
practices committed during the pandemic are combatted through 
robust enforcement.
    Global Response to the Pandemic. The Committee will 
continue to oversee the role international financial 
institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the 
World Bank, are playing in the international response to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to ensure an inclusive and 
sustainable recovery.
    Defense Production Act. The Committee will monitor the 
effectiveness of the Defense Production Act and its individual 
authorities in promoting national security and recovery from 
natural disasters. In particular, the Committee will monitor 
the use of the Act to boost production of medical supplies and 
equipment to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic.

                   Housing and Community Development

    Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Committee will examine 
the budget requests submitted by HUD and USDA for programs 
under the Committee's jurisdiction, including consideration of 
any legislative recommendations included in those requests. The 
Committee will also review HUD's and the Rural Housing 
Service's (RHS) general codes of conduct and other policies.
    Homelessness. The Committee will examine the current state 
of homelessness in the United States of America and the federal 
response to ending homelessness, including oversight of the 
Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) 
programs under the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD), the HUD Veteran Affairs Supported Housing program (HUD 
VASH), as well as efforts by the U.S. Interagency Council on 
Homelessness (USICH) to coordinate various federal agencies 
towards the national goals to end homelessness. The Committee 
will review the causes and possible solutions to address 
homelessness, including in parts of the country where 
homelessness has reached crisis levels. The Committee will also 
consider ways to better serve those who are experiencing or at 
risk of homelessness.
    Rental Housing Crisis. The Committee will examine the 
current rental housing crisis that is burdening families across 
the country with unaffordable rents. The Committee will examine 
the role of existing federal housing programs in addressing the 
rental housing crisis, including public housing, Section 8 
Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), Section 8 project-based rental 
assistance (PBRA), the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the 
Elderly program, the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons 
with Disabilities program, the HOME Investment Partnerships 
program (HOME), the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) 
program, and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). As part of its 
review, the Committee will examine the conduct of landlords 
participating in these programs as well as investigate HUD's 
oversight of landlord participants to ensure regulations are 
complied with. The Committee will also review the limitations 
of existing programs at current funding levels. The Committee 
will consider solutions to address the rental housing crisis, 
including proposals to enhance preservation of affordable 
rental housing, increase affordable rental housing 
opportunities through development of additional rental stock 
and robust rental assistance, and ensure that affordable rental 
housing is accessible and integrated for persons who are 
seniors and/or have a disability.
    Public Housing. The Committee will examine the rising 
maintenance and capital needs of the aging public housing stock 
and the limitations of current federal funding levels to 
address these needs. As part of its examination, the Committee 
will investigate the presence of lead, mold, and other health 
hazards in the nation's public housing system and seek ways to 
ensure capital repairs are made in order to improve the health 
and well-being of residents. The Committee will review the role 
of public housing as part of a federal strategy to address 
affordable housing needs and will monitor HUD's use of the 
Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and the demolition and 
disposition processes as they affect public housing and its 
residents. The Committee will monitor HUD's implementation and 
oversight of the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program and 
the effects of such programs on tenants.
    Rural Housing. The Committee will examine the affordable 
housing needs in rural communities and the limitations in 
meeting those needs through existing programs due to current 
funding levels. In particular, the Committee will examine the 
aging stock of properties with Section 515 Rural Rental Housing 
Loans and 516 Farm Labor Housing Loans, and USDA's strategy for 
preserving these properties and preventing tenant displacement. 
The Committee will consider legislation to help preserve these 
properties and prevent the displacement of tenants. The 
Committee will also monitor USDA's management of the Section 
521 Rental Assistance (RA) program, the Rural Development 
Voucher program, the Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed Loan 
programs the Multifamily Housing Preservation and 
Revitalization Demonstration Loans and Grants, and the Section 
523 Mutual Self-Help grant program.
    Community Development. The Committee will consider 
opportunities to better leverage and coordinate housing 
development with neighborhood resources such as transportation 
and community centers through programs like the Community 
Development Block Grant (CDBG).
    Climate Change and Green Housing. The Committee will 
examine proposals to address historic and emerging effects of 
climate change and environmental hazards in housing and on 
communities living in areas at disproportionate risk. The 
Committee will also consider opportunities to incentivize 
greener and more energy efficient measures across the housing 
market and industry, including through comprehensive risk and 
environmental assessments.
    Disaster Recovery, Resilience, and Sustainable Development. 
The Committee will conduct oversight of the Community 
Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and 
ongoing efforts to provide relief and bolster resilience in 
disaster-stricken areas. The Committee will review proposals to 
permanently authorize the CDBG-DR program and enhance our 
nation's ability to mitigate and withstand future disasters in 
the face of climate change, which is contributing to the 
frequency and magnitude of natural disasters.
    Fair Housing. The Committee will conduct oversight of fair 
housing enforcement under HUD, including the activities 
conducted by the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity 
(FHEO). The Committee will also monitor HUD's ongoing 
rulemaking processes on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair 
Housing (AFFH) mandate and the disparate impact standard under 
the Fair Housing Act. The Committee will also monitor other 
federal agencies' equitable implementation and administration 
of federal housing funds and programs, as mandated under the 
Fair Housing Act, such as the Department of the Treasury, the 
Department of Agriculture, and the Neighborhood Revitalization 
Corporation (NeighborWorks).
    Native American and Native Hawaiian Housing. The Committee 
will conduct oversight of programs under the Native American 
Housing and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) and 
consider proposals to reauthorize those programs and ensure 
inclusion of the descendants of Freedmen. The Committee will 
also monitor HUD's administration of the recent appropriation 
of an additional $100 million for the Native American Housing 
Block Grants program, which will be allocated through a 
competitive grant process.
    Housing Finance and Access to Homeownership. The Committee 
will examine the health of our housing finance system and the 
extent to which it is serving all creditworthy borrowers, 
especially low and moderate income (LMI) borrowers, borrowers 
of color, rural borrowers, and other underserved borrowers. The 
Committee will consider proposals to reform the housing finance 
system, including in real estate appraisals.
    Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal National 
Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
Corporation (Freddie Mac), Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). The 
Committee will monitor the operations, activities and 
initiatives of the FHFA, and review its general code of conduct 
and other agency policies. The Committee will monitor Fannie 
Mae and Freddie Mac's activities under conservatorship, 
including their response to ongoing pandemic-related housing 
needs. The Committee will also review the FHFA's initiatives 
related to capital held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 
especially as such initiatives affect access to credit. The 
Committee will monitor the capital requirements and financial 
stability of the FHLB system, as well as the FHLB system's 
ability to fulfill its housing and community economic 
development mission and provide liquidity to member banks in a 
safe and sound manner.
    Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). The 
Committee will examine Ginnie Mae to ensure that the agency has 
the necessary resources, procedures, and oversight to manage 
its portfolio, including Ginnie Mae's response to its growing 
exposure to nonbank risks.
    Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Committee will 
examine FHA to ensure that it has the necessary resources, 
procedures, and oversight to manage its portfolio, including 
ongoing challenges due to an aging technological 
infrastructure. The Committee will also review the FHA's 
premium rates.
    Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). The Committee will 
examine the role that private mortgage insurance plays in the 
housing finance system in providing access to homeownership and 
consider the effects of capital requirements placed on PMI 
companies by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
    Mortgage Servicing. The Committee will examine the adequacy 
of existing regulatory requirements and oversight of the 
servicing industry, including the adequacy of the federal 
response to the growing share of nonbank servicers. The 
Committee will consider whether FHFA needs additional authority 
to establish prudential management and operations standards for 
its servicers. The Committee will also consider legislative 
solutions to enhance FHA's oversight and enforcement of its 
loss mitigation requirements and to address policies that may 
cause unnecessary foreclosures, including foreclosures on 
seniors with reverse mortgages and on those who have been 
affected by natural disasters and national emergencies.

                               insurance

    National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Committee will 
examine the role of the NFIP in providing affordable insurance 
to homeowners, renters, and businesses, investing in 
mitigation, and providing maps to aid communities in their 
flood plain management efforts. The Committee will examine 
proposals to reauthorize and reform the NFIP to enhance 
affordability, mapping, and mitigation, and to improve the 
efficiency and transparency associated with the processing of 
claims submitted by policyholders. The NFIP is set to expire on 
September 30, 2021.
    Federal Insurance Office (FIO). The Committee will conduct 
oversight of FIO's work on domestic and international insurance 
policy, including the extent to which traditionally underserved 
communities and consumers have access to affordable insurance 
products.
    Climate Risk. The Committee will examine the extent to 
which insurance companies' exposure to the physical and 
transition risks of climate change is being adequately 
measured.
    Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. The Committee will 
conduct oversight over the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, 
which was reauthorized in the last Congress.
    Business Interruption Insurance. The Committee will monitor 
and examine the extent to which businesses were affected by a 
lack of business interruption coverage during the COVID-19 
crisis, and consider proposals aimed at supporting businesses 
disrupted by pandemics and other public health crises.
    Insurance Sector Supervision. The Committee will monitor 
the insurance sector generally, which may include examining the 
role of capital requirements in the insurance sector, including 
state, federal, and international efforts to revise capital 
requirements for insurance companies, the application of 
federal capital requirements for insurance companies that own 
depository institutions, the role of state guaranty funds, 
issues related to consumer protection and discrimination in the 
insurance sector, and issues or gaps in the regulation of 
insurers that could contribute to a systemic crisis in the 
insurance industry or the U.S. financial system. The Committee 
will also review implementation of the Military Personnel 
Financial Services Protection Act, which was passed in response 
to abuses in the marketing and sale of securities and life 
insurance products to servicemembers.
    International Insurance Developments. The Committee will 
monitor developments related to international regulatory 
standards for insurance companies, including actions taken by 
the Financial Stability Board, the International Association of 
Insurance Supervisors, and the Organization for Economic 
Cooperation and Development. The Committee will also monitor 
any developments related to covered agreements made pursuant to 
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act).
    Cyber Insurance. The Committee may examine developments 
related to the market for cyber insurance and the insurance 
industry's susceptibility to cybersecurity risks.
    Auto Insurance. The Committee may review the state of the 
automobile insurance market in America with a particular focus 
on issues of access and affordability for lower- and middle-
income Americans, minorities, and traditionally underserved 
communities.

             Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions

    Protecting Consumers and Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau. The Committee will monitor the current state of 
consumer financial protection by assessing the adequacy of 
protections for all consumers. The Committee will examine any 
unique challenges experienced in, and faced by, traditionally 
underserved communities and populations in obtaining mainstream 
consumer financial products and services, including the root 
causes for credit deserts in rural and urban communities that 
have resulted in millions of unbanked and underbanked 
consumers. The Committee will consider methods to improve the 
financial well-being of other vulnerable consumers such as 
older Americans, active- duty servicemembers, veterans, 
students, young adults, racial and ethnic minorities, and 
immigrants. The Committee will also closely examine the 
exercise of the regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement power 
of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Consumer Bureau). 
The Committee will conduct oversight to ensure that the 
Consumer Bureau is fully complying with both the spirit and 
letter of its purpose, objectives, and mission articulated 
under title X of the Dodd-Frank Act to combat unfair, 
deceptive, abusive acts and practices in the offering and 
provision of consumer financial products.
    Student Debt Crisis. The Committee will examine the 
financial and economic implications of the growing student debt 
crisis, including how a borrower's inability to repay student 
debt can serve as a barrier to homeownership, entrepreneurship, 
and other economic activities. The Committee will also examine 
the disproportionate impact the student debt crisis has on 
borrowers of color and low-income borrowers. The Committee will 
monitor the effectiveness of student borrower protections, 
including as it relates to private education loan servicing 
standards.
    Consumer Protections for Military Servicemembers. The 
Committee will examine the adequacy, supervision, and 
enforcement of all consumer financial protections, including 
those provided through the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), afforded to active-duty 
servicemembers and their families.
    High Cost Short-Term Credit and Debt Collection. The 
Committee will review the effectiveness and extent to which 
consumer protections are implemented and enforced with respect 
to payday lending, other forms of short-term credit, and debt 
collection. The Committee will also review the use of overdraft 
services, and its impact on consumers.
    Mandatory Arbitration. The Committee will monitor the use 
and effect of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements, and 
similar provisions, that limit consumers' ability to 
participate in a class action case against financial 
institutions when they have been harmed.
    Fair Access to Affordable Consumer Financial Products and 
Services. The Committee will consider ways to expand access to 
mainstream financial services among traditionally underserved 
segments of the U.S. population. The Committee will evaluate 
proposals to update certain Federal consumer financial laws to 
ensure that they are meeting the evolving financial needs of 
consumers.
    Discrimination in Lending. The Committee will examine the 
effectiveness of regulators' fair lending oversight and 
enforcement efforts to ensure that the Federal government does 
not tolerate discrimination. The Committee will also examine 
the quantity and quality of data, including that provided under 
the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), to ensure 
discriminatory policies practices can be identified and 
addressed.
    Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Committee will 
monitor any legislative and regulatory proposals to reform the 
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
    Department of the Treasury, Financial Stability Oversight 
Council (FSOC) and Office of Financial Research (OFR). The 
Committee will review the operations and resources of the 
Department of the Treasury, as well as its code of conduct and 
other policies. The Committee will monitor financial stability 
and systemic risk issues, including all matters relating to the 
operations, activities, and initiatives of the FSOC and OFR to 
identify and mitigate threats to financial stability in the 
United States. This will also include a review of risks posed 
by nonbank financial institutions, including hedge funds, and 
shifts in the mortgage market, including the subprime market, 
from bank financing to non-bank financing.
    Supervision and Enforcement of Financial Institutions. The 
Committee will review the operations, activities, initiatives, 
codes of conduct and other agency policies of the Federal 
Reserve Board of Governors, the Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
(FDIC), and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This 
work will include examining financial regulators' supervision 
of the banking, thrift and credit union industries for safety 
and soundness and compliance with laws and regulations. The 
Committee will also monitor their enforcement activities, 
including ensuring the compliance of regulated institutions 
with existing consent orders, settlement agreements, deferred 
prosecution agreements, or similar arrangements. The Committee 
will also evaluate the supervision of nonbank financial 
companies by the Consumer Bureau.
    Enhanced Prudential Standards for Large Banks. The 
Committee will monitor how enhanced prudential standards are 
being applied to the largest banks operating in the United 
States, including foreign-based institutions. This will include 
oversight of the adequacy of capital, liquidity, leverage and 
stress testing requirements. The Committee will oversee efforts 
to promote the orderly resolution of any large financial 
institution operating in the United States that fails, 
including through Dodd-Frank Act's living wills requirements 
and the Orderly Liquidity Authority. The Committee will examine 
the financial regulators' implementation of Section 619 of the 
Dodd-Frank Act, known as the ``Volcker Rule.'' The Committee 
will also monitor the structure, ownership, activities and 
risk-taking by large depository institutions and their holding 
companies.
    Bank Mergers and Market Concentration. The Committee will 
monitor market concentration and merger activity involving 
banks and other financial companies. The Committee will examine 
the standards for regulatory review of such mergers, and 
consider the impacts of ongoing merger activity, especially as 
it relates to larger financial institutions, including the 
impact that mergers have on competition, consumers, workers, 
communities, and financial stability.
    Residential and Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Loans. The 
Committee will monitor the residential and commercial real 
estate mortgage markets, including examining access to 
affordable and fair home mortgage lending, and the 
effectiveness of disclosures provided to borrowers about the 
terms and conditions of these loans. The Committee will also 
review proposals related to home improvement loans for 
improving the energy efficiency of a house.
    Community Financial Institutions, including CDFIs and MDIs. 
The Committee will review issues related to the health, growth, 
safety, and soundness of community banks and credit unions, as 
well as their role in lending to small businesses and promoting 
economic growth. This will include examining the status of MDIs 
and CDFIs, and the important role they play in providing access 
to credit for consumers as well as small and minority-owned 
businesses.
    Access to Credit and Borrower Protections for Small 
Businesses. The Committee will consider proposals that 
facilitate access to affordable credit for small businesses, 
and will examine the ability for the public, regulators, and 
Congress to monitor trends in small business lending. The 
Committee will also review the effectiveness of the State Small 
Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), and consider proposals to 
reauthorize the SSBCI in response to the pandemic. Moreover, 
the Committee will examine and consider proposals to strengthen 
borrower protections for small businesses.
    Cybersecurity and Privacy. The Committee will monitor the 
effectiveness of cybersecurity in the U.S. financial system. 
The Committee will evaluate the current level of safeguards 
relating to protecting the security and confidentiality of 
personally identifiable information from loss, unauthorized 
access, or misuse. The Committee will also examine the 
effectiveness of data breach notifications and issues related 
to consumer privacy and consumer control of their own data, 
including sensitive financial and credit information.
    Credit Scores and Credit Reports. The Committee will 
examine the state of the credit reporting system, including the 
accuracy of credit scores to assess creditworthiness, the 
impact medical debt can have on credit scores, and the 
difficulties consumers face in correcting inaccurate 
information in their credit file. The Committee will also 
examine additional data and methods that have the potential to 
improve assessing the creditworthiness of borrowers with 
appropriate safeguards and protections.
    Payments System. The Committee will review government and 
private sector efforts to improve the timeliness and 
effectiveness of the payments system in the United States, and 
its potential effect on consumers and small businesses.
    Credit and other Payment Cards. The Committee will monitor 
payment card industry practices, including consumer protections 
with respect to the use of credit cards, debit cards, and 
prepaid cards. The Committee will also examine the 
effectiveness of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility 
and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009.
    Money Services Businesses, Remittances, and De-risking. The 
Committee will examine the operations of money services 
businesses and the role they play in the financial system. The 
Committee will also oversee the ability of consumers to utilize 
financial services to affordably remit cross-border payments, 
as well as consider proposals to mitigate financial 
institutions engaged in de-risking that results in unnecessary 
account closures.
    Financial Education. The Committee will review efforts to 
promote greater financial literacy among consumers, 
particularly matters affecting traditionally underserved 
communities and populations.
    Cannabis Banking. The Committee will examine the 
difficulties, including public safety concerns, that cannabis-
related businesses experience as a result of being unable to 
access basic banking services. The Committee will also review 
legislative proposals that alleviate legal and compliance risks 
for financial institutions related to providing such services 
to cannabis-related businesses in states where cannabis use, 
sale, or distribution is authorized.
    Climate Risk. The Committee will monitor and evaluate 
efforts by the Treasury Department, Financial Stability 
Oversight Council (FSOC), Federal Reserve and other prudential 
regulators to integrate risks associated with climate change 
into their supervisory framework.

                            Monetary Policy

    The Federal Reserve System. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the operations and activities of the Federal 
Reserve System, including its conduct of monetary policy, its 
regulation and supervision of the financial services sector, 
its role in the payment system, and its susceptibility to 
cybersecurity threats and other security risks. The Committee 
will convene hearings to receive the testimony of the Chair of 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and 
related semi-annual reports on the conduct of monetary policy. 
As part of this effort, the Committee will review issues 
associated with monetary policy and the state of the economy, 
including implementation of the updated monetary policy 
framework adopted by the Federal Open Market Committee in 2020, 
and whether the current path of monetary policy is consistent 
with the Federal Reserve's dual mandate of price stability and 
maximum employment. The Committee will continue to conduct 
oversight of the Federal Reserve's extraordinary actions to 
stimulate economic recovery in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic, including through quarterly hearings on the CARES Act 
from the Treasury Secretary and Federal Reserve Chair, and 
oversight over any emergency lending facilities set up to 
respond to economic conditions. The Committee will examine the 
implications of the Fed's emergency lending and large-scale 
asset purchases have for economic recovery, financial 
stability, and the mechanics of monetary policy.
    The Economy and its Impact on Living Standards. The 
Committee will examine the extent to which changes in the 
economy, and in particular, changes in labor and capital 
markets, public policy, and trade have altered the way in which 
policymakers should think about the relationship between 
economic growth, productivity growth, and growth in employment 
and incomes. The Committee will examine these relationships to 
determine policy responses that will increase our ability to 
improve the standard of living for American families.
    Coins and Currency. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
the printing and minting of U.S. currency and coins, including 
the activities of the Bureau of the Mint and the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing, and of the operation of programs 
administered by the U.S. Mint for producing congressionally 
authorized commemorative coins, bullion coins for investors, 
and Congressional gold medals. The Committee will review 
efforts to detect and combat the counterfeiting of U.S. coins 
and currency in the United States and abroad. The Committee 
will also examine methods to reduce the cost of minting coins 
using alternative metals and will examine efforts to make 
currency more accessible to the visually impaired. The 
Committee will also consider how to ensure that depictions and 
representations on coins and currency fully represent the 
diversity of the United States. The Committee will also monitor 
and evaluate the Federal Reserve's research and potential 
development of a central bank digital currency.

                Investor Protection and Entrepreneurship

    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Committee 
will examine the budget, operations and organizational 
structure of the SEC, and review any new rulemakings.
    Investor Confidence. The Committee will examine the factors 
affecting investor confidence in U.S. capital markets, 
including investor perspectives on the quality, quantity, and 
utility of investment-related disclosures; the effectiveness of 
public companies' internal controls over financial reporting; 
corporate accountability to shareholders; and, the costs of 
trading securities. The Committee will also review the effect 
on investor confidence of fraud and other misconduct and the 
SEC's efforts to hold bad actors accountable.
    Standard of Care Owed by Financial Advisers and Broker 
Dealers. The Committee will examine the SEC's rulemaking 
package and interpretations surrounding Regulation Best 
Interest and Form CRS Relationship Summary. The Committee will 
review the SEC's efforts to revise those regulations and 
interpretations consistent with Section 913(g) of the Dodd-
Frank Act, to protect investors and reduce confusion by 
requiring investment advisers and broker dealers to comply with 
the same fiduciary standard of care. The Committee will also 
consider legislation related to the standard of care owed to 
investors by financial advisers.
    Mandatory Arbitration. The Committee will examine the 
effect of mandatory arbitration requirements on securities 
investors, as well as the balance, fairness, and efficiency of 
the current arbitration system.
    Entrepreneurship. The Committee will monitor market 
conditions affecting entrepreneurs' access to capital, with 
emphasis on the capital formation efforts of small businesses, 
including any unique challenges faced by minority-, women-, and 
veteran-owned small businesses. Additionally, the Committee 
will examine the conduct of intermediaries in the capital 
formation process, such as anti-competitive behavior among 
underwriters of initial public offerings (IPOs). The Committee 
will also consider legislative proposals to promote 
entrepreneurship and enhance the attractiveness of U.S. public 
equity markets to investors and businesses.
    Corporate Governance. The Committee will review 
developments and issues concerning corporate governance of 
public companies, including proposals to increase 
accountability to shareholders through improved shareholder 
access to management's proxy, shareholder nomination of 
directors, and majority voting. The Committee will also examine 
ways to improve the integrity of the shareholder voting process 
and corporate sustainability disclosures, including those 
related to the effects of climate change.
    Executive Compensation. The Committee will review the SEC's 
implementation of regulations requiring greater transparency in 
disclosures of executive compensation arrangements, including 
the SEC's and the other federal financial agencies' progress in 
completing related rulemakings mandated under the Dodd-Frank 
Act.
    Capital Formation in Private and Public Markets. The 
Committee will examine the private and public capital markets 
and the factors U.S. companies evaluate when deciding to go 
public, such as underwriting fees. The Committee will monitor 
the use of new and expanded private offering exemptions from 
the JOBS Act, including Regulation D, Regulation A+, and 
Regulation Crowdfunding, and examine ways to improve investor 
protections in private offerings. The Committee will examine 
the current definition of ``accredited investors'' and ways to 
improve that definition to ensure that those investors have the 
financial sophistication and wherewithal to invest in private 
offerings.

                            Capital Markets

    Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs). The Committee will 
monitor the operations, initiatives, and activities of SROs, 
including the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) and 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). The 
Committee also will consider limitations or regulatory gaps in 
the current SRO system and ways to streamline and strengthen 
the regulatory, compliance, examination, and enforcement 
structure.
    Hedge Funds and Private Pools of Capital. The Committee 
will examine the current state of the hedge fund, private 
equity and alternative investment industry. The Committee will 
review the role hedge funds and private pools of capital serve 
in the capital markets, and their interaction with investors, 
financial intermediaries, and public companies. The Committee 
will also examine hedge funds and private equity funds as 
investment vehicles for pension funds.
    Investment Companies. The Committee will review the current 
state of regulation of investment companies and their advisers 
with respect to mutual fund operations, governance, disclosure, 
and sales in the States and Territories. The Committee also 
will review the effectiveness and efficiency of the approval 
process for new products, such as exchange-traded funds, and 
the SEC's efforts to standardize that process. The Committee 
will also review the role investment companies played in Puerto 
Rico's fiscal crisis. The Committee will review Real Estate 
Investment Trusts (REITs) as investment vehicles and how the 
industry uses REITs to finance various projects, including the 
financing of private prisons and immigration detention centers.
    Credit Rating Agencies. The Committee will examine the role 
that Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations 
(NRSROs), also known as credit rating agencies, play in the 
U.S. capital markets, and review the effectiveness of the SEC's 
regulation and oversight of NRSROs. The Committee will also 
examine ways to limit conflicts associated with NRSROs 
compensation, approaches to increase their accountability, and 
the possibility of regulatory fee assessments.
    Financial Accounting and Auditing. The Committee will 
review the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's 
(PCAOB's) oversight of auditors of public companies and broker-
dealers, including standard-setting and the results of the 
PCAOB's inspection programs. The Committee will also monitor 
the impact of exemptions to the scope of the auditing and 
internal controls requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002, and the adequacy of investor protections applicable to 
exempt entities. The Committee will also monitor the work of 
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and 
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
    Cybersecurity. The Committee will examine the risks that 
cybersecurity threats pose to the U.S. capital markets, 
including investment and operational risks associated with 
public companies. The Committee will also monitor the efforts 
of the SEC, SROs, and SEC-registered firms to guard against 
cybersecurity risks and protect sensitive, market-moving data 
and personally identifiable information (PII) of investors. The 
Committee will investigate the cybersecurity implications of 
the creation, movement, and management of cryptocurrencies and 
the usage of blockchain technology.
    Fixed income markets. The Committee will review recent 
developments in the U.S. corporate and municipal bond markets 
and the SEC's response to those developments.
    Derivatives Markets. The Committee will review recent 
developments in the U.S. derivatives markets and efforts to 
harmonize rules governing those markets domestically and 
internationally. The Committee will also examine the SEC's 
progress in implementing the remaining regulations of the 
security-based swaps markets as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act.
    Equity and options markets. The Committee will review 
recent developments in the U.S. equity and options markets and 
the SEC's response to those developments. The Committee will 
also examine brokers' conflicts of interest arising from 
rebates and fees paid for client orders and the SEC's efforts 
to address those conflicts through, for example, an access fee 
pilot. The Committee will monitor the development, 
implementation, and maintenance of the Consolidated Audit Trail 
(CAT), a market surveillance tool that tracks order events, 
including quotes, orders, executions, allocations, and 
associated customer data, and identifies the broker-dealer 
handling them.
    Trade Policy Impact. The Committee will examine the impact 
of U.S. trade policy proclamations, announcements, decisions, 
and actions by the executive branch on U.S. securities markets, 
including market volatility, capital formation, corporate 
reinvestment, and investor confidence.

                           National Security

    Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). The 
Committee will examine the operations and organizational 
structure of TFI and its component parts including OFAC and 
FinCEN. The Committee will monitor U.S. government strategies 
and programs to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, 
and other financial crimes, both domestic and international.
    Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The 
Committee will monitor the operations of FinCEN and its ongoing 
efforts to implement its regulatory mandates, pursuant to the 
Bank Secrecy Act, to safeguard the integrity of the financial 
system and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and 
other illicit finance. This includes oversight of the execution 
of the mandates created by the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 
2020 and the Corporate Transparency Act.
    Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Sanctions. The 
Committee will examine the efficacy of economic and trade 
sanctions designations and enforcement, as well as the 
capabilities and resources within OFAC to perform its work. 
This will include the monitoring of sanctions programs to 
ensure that they are fully implemented consistent with 
Congressional intent and in alignment with U.S. foreign policy 
and national security goals. Particular attention will be paid 
to maximizing the effect of existing programs through 
multilateral cooperation, the possible risks associated with 
the use of sanctions over the short and long term, and the 
capacity of financial technology and innovation to both enable 
and undermine traditional tools of U.S. economic coercion. The 
Committee will examine methods of sanctions evasion and 
efficacy of sanctions compliance programs.
    Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. The Committee 
will examine the implementation, effectiveness, and enforcement 
of anti-money laundering/counter-financing of terrorism (AML/
CFT) laws and regulations. The Committee will examine patterns 
and trends of money laundering and terrorist finance, both 
domestic and international, and consider proposals to prevent 
and detect abuses of the financial system.
    Counterterrorism Financing Policy. The Committee will 
examine the enforcement, effectiveness, and implementation of 
AML/CFT law and regulations as well as the role of the Treasury 
in promoting the adoption and implementation of such standards 
around the globe. The Committee will explore opportunities to 
enhance compliance and will work with international 
organizations and partners, such as Financial Action Task Force 
(FATF) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and 
Development (OECD), to accomplish this goal.
    Transparency and Anti-Corruption. The Committee will 
consider proposals to strengthen AML/CFT laws to combat 
corruption and kleptocracy at home and abroad. This will 
include oversight over the execution of the mandates in the 
Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and the Corporate 
Transparency Act.
    Trafficking. The Committee will examine efforts to 
dismantle the underlying enablers of trafficking and will 
review potential solutions related to the often-overlapping 
categories of trafficking, including human trafficking, 
narcotics trafficking, and natural resource trafficking. The 
Committee will examine the converging attributes of 
transnational trafficking networks and the outflow of illicit 
proceeds.
    De-Risking at Financial Institutions. The Committee will 
review the practices by which broad categories of customers, 
such as non-profit organizations or countries, are denied 
access to the financial system, often due to risk or perceived 
risk.
    Fraud and Cyber Intrusion. The Committee will examine 
efforts to counter fraud, including cyber-enabled fraud and 
increased fraudulent activity associated with the COVID-19 
pandemic.
    Information Sharing. The Committee will examine methods to 
improve information sharing among financial institutions, 
federal agencies, and other entities, while balancing the 
safeguards required to ensure that civil liberties and consumer 
privacy are preserved.
    Emerging Technologies. The Committee will examine 
innovative technologies, such as virtual assets, distributed 
ledgers, non-traditional financial platforms, machine learning 
and artificial intelligence in regulatory technology (RegTech), 
and decentralized finance. The Committee will monitor how these 
technologies affect and interact with the U.S. financial system 
and how the technologies could be used to combat or assist 
those who aim to harm the financial system.
    Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States 
(CFIUS). The Committee will continue to monitor implementation 
of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 
(FIRRMA) and actions taken by CFIUS to identify and address 
foreign investments that pose threats to national security, 
while preserving the U.S. commitment to an open investment 
environment.

                  International Development and Trade

    Global Economic Cooperation. The Committee will monitor the 
role of United States leadership in the governance of the 
global economic system and the degree to which sustained 
international cooperation helps advance U.S. national security, 
economic interests, and values.
    Oversight of the Multilateral Development Banks. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of U.S. participation in the 
multilateral development banks and their role in helping 
developing and emerging market countries address the health and 
economic effects of the global pandemic. The Committee will 
continue to monitor implementation of policy reforms to which 
the World Bank Group committed last Congress in areas relating 
to public subsidies, resource mobilization, labor markets, 
private education, and human rights. The Committee will 
consider any Administration request for congressional 
authorization for additional U.S. contributions to these 
institutions, including replenishment of the Asian Development 
Fund.
    International Financial Architecture. The Committee will 
review the annual report to Congress and testimony by the 
Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the international 
financial system and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The 
Committee will examine the degree to which the IMF is focused 
on fighting corruption in its surveillance and program work, as 
well as its efforts, through technical assistance, to 
strengthen the capacity of Fund members to prevent money 
laundering and terrorist financing.
    The International Development Association and the 
International Finance Corporation. The Committee will continue 
to examine financial transfers between the International 
Development Association (IDA) and the International Finance 
Corporation (IFC) with respect to transparency, competitive 
bidding, and development impact. The Committee will monitor the 
ability of IDA to maintain its current level of concessional 
lending to low-income countries in light of its new financing 
model that allows IDA to raise a significant portion of its 
replenishment resources by issuing bonds on the capital markets 
to supplement donor contributions.
    Food Security and Climate Finance. The Committee will 
examine U.S. support for international agricultural development 
programs and multilateral cooperation on the global climate 
finance agenda, including how the international financial 
institutions are supporting efforts to address climate change 
in developing countries.
    Developing Countries at Risk of Debt Distress. The 
Committee will monitor the rising levels of unsustainable debt 
in developing countries and examine proposals and mechanisms to 
create legal frameworks to help provide for orderly sovereign 
debt restructuring processes. The Committee will monitor 
efforts by the U.S. to engage with other members of the IMF to 
pressure China to adopt global standards and practices on 
sustainable debt financing for developing countries, including 
a commitment to lending transparency.
    Trade in Financial Services. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of trade negotiations and discussions as they pertain 
to investment and trade in financial services and will monitor 
U.S. trade objectives and multilateral policies on the 
regulation of global capital flows and their effects on global 
financial stability.
    Exchange Rates. The Committee will review the semi-annual 
report to Congress from the Secretary of the Treasury on 
international economic and exchange rate policies pursuant to 
the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988.
    Export-Import Bank of the United States. The Committee will 
oversee the operations of the Export-Import Bank and its 
mission to support U.S. jobs through increased exports, 
including the Bank's policy on domestic content, its financing 
of fossil fuel projects, and its systems of accountability.
    Extractive Industries. The Committee will examine the 
establishment of a global standard for the public disclosure of 
payments that extractive companies make to governments, as well 
as the effectiveness of these revenue transparency laws in the 
United States and abroad.
    Supply Chain Due Diligence. The Committee will examine 
supply chain due diligence laws in the U.S and abroad, their 
enforcement, and the effects of such laws on the ability of 
companies to responsibly manage risk associated with the 
financing of conflict, human trafficking, and child labor.

                  Financial Technology and Innovation

    Updating Regulatory Approach to Fintech. The Committee will 
continue to review the existing regulatory framework for 
licensing and overseeing fintech products and services, and 
will examine what legislation may be needed to properly oversee 
fintech companies operating within the rapidly evolving 
intersection of technology and finance.
    Cryptocurrencies. The Committee will review the rise of 
``initial coin offerings''' (ICO) as a means of raising capital 
for blockchain-based enterprises. The Committee will examine 
concerns of increased risks of fraud and manipulation in the 
ICO markets. The Committee will also review the SEC's oversight 
of the ICO markets and will consider legislative proposals to 
improve regulatory clarity for ICO issuers and investors. 
Additionally, the Committee will look at the need for clear 
guidelines and regulations for crypto assets, stable coins, 
digital currencies, and related products.
    Faster Payments. The Committee will examine the progress of 
the Federal Reserve's real-time payments proposal called 
FedNow, as well as the consumer protection, data privacy, and 
cyber-security implications of faster payment approaches led by 
the private sector. Additionally, the Committee will consider 
how federal regulation over bank and nonbanks operating in the 
payments space may need to be updated, and whether faster 
payments will increase financial inclusion for unbanked and 
underbanked consumers.
    Algorithmic Bias and Artificial Intelligence. The Committee 
will evaluate the challenge of how to assess, identify, and 
regulate bias in algorithms used by financial institutions for 
consumer loans and other products. The Committee will examine 
the decision-making processes utilized in these technologies, 
and how the ``Black Box'' problem, resulting in a lack of 
transparency can be addressed. The Committee will consider how 
the use of artificial intelligence may complicate the efforts 
of human programmers and data scientists to predict how certain 
programs utilizing machine learning or deep learning will 
operate in real life.
    Cybersecurity, Digital Data, and Privacy. The Committee 
will study the implications of AI-enabled automation in 
monitoring and reporting activities, and how they affect our 
cybersecurity and data privacy. The Committee will investigate 
the role of regulators in ensuring that information gathered on 
individuals and used by AI to make decisions appropriately 
respects individuals' privacy. Additionally, the Committee will 
consider how much autonomy AI programs should have in decision-
making over individuals' financial transactions, especially 
when it can lead to adverse actions against consumers, such as 
closing an account because of a determination that a customer 
poses too much of a money laundering risk.

                        Diversity and Inclusion

    Racial and Economic Justice. The Committee will review 
historic and systemic racism in the housing and financial 
system, and consider legislation to provide targeted 
investments to remedy such injustices that have resulted in the 
marginalization of people of color and an unconscionable racial 
wealth gap. The Committee will press every sector under its 
jurisdiction to strengthen diversity and inclusion. The 
Committee will also consider legislation to provide 
opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals that face 
barriers to full participation in the financial services 
industry and in obtaining affordable housing.
    Financial and Economic Inclusion. The Committee will 
monitor the availability and affordability of financial 
products and services to communities such as underserved rural, 
urban, Tribal, indigenous and other minority communities, and 
certain populations such as immigrants, active-duty 
servicemembers and veterans and their families, older 
(including retired) Americans, young adults and college 
students, state- and federally-recognized Tribes, indigenous 
peoples, and low- and moderate-income consumers. The Committee 
will evaluate methods to expand access to the traditional 
financial services system to people in different social, 
income, and economic segments in this country, including 
methods to broaden homeownership, increase wages, promote 
employment within high-growth industries, encourage savings 
(including retirement savings), and investments.
    Wealth and Income Inequality, and Income Mobility. The 
Committee will examine the existing differences in wealth and 
income among American households across the country. The 
Committee will evaluate proposals to reduce disparities in 
opportunity that continue to persist across different segments 
of our society and that were exacerbated in the run-up to, and 
the fallout from, the 2008 financial crisis, and exacerbated by 
the ongoing pandemic. The Committee will consider how the 
economic disparities in this country compare with other 
countries and whether successful approaches by other countries 
to reduce such disparities could serve as models for the U.S. 
The Committee will also monitor, among other things, whether 
economic opportunity zones have been successful in promoting 
intra and intergenerational income mobility. This review will 
include an assessment of the effect on employment and income 
mobility of factory and manual workers from trade agreements 
and the increasing use of automation by companies.
    Diversity Data. The Committee will review regulated 
entities' diversity data, including whether and how such 
companies are: tracking internal and external workforce and 
supplier diversity activities to identify and mitigate 
vulnerable moments along the talent lifecycles; tying 
executives' performances to their ability to meet tangible 
diversity and inclusion goals; and, using such data to inform 
the composition of their boards of directors.
    Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWIs). The 
Committee will examine all matters relating to the diversity 
and inclusion activities within the agencies under the 
Committee's jurisdiction, including the implementation of 
Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Act and Section 1116 of the 
Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) by the OMWIs, which 
are responsible for handling all matters relating to diversity 
in management, employment, and business activities within most 
federal financial agencies. This review will include, among 
other things, monitoring whether the agencies have allocated 
appropriate resources for their OMWIs, maintained frequent 
interaction with and direct reporting lines between the heads 
of the agencies and their OMWI Directors, and established 
tangible and measurable outcomes within their long-term 
strategic plans and daily operations to achieve a diverse and 
inclusive culture throughout all levels of their agencies.
    Workforce, Supplier, and Business Diversity Efforts Within 
Agencies and their Regulated Entities. The Committee will 
consider measures to further leverage diverse and inclusive 
perspectives, skills, and talents within the workforces of 
agencies under the Committee's jurisdiction, particularly at 
the middle- and senior- management level, executive, and C-
suite positions, to help improve the agencies' services, foster 
greater innovation, and develop novel solutions. The Committee 
will also monitor agencies' policies and practices, as well 
those of their regulated entities, to ensure that workplace 
environments operate in a fair, transparent, and non- 
discriminatory manner for all their employees by ensuring that 
racial, ethnic, and gender minorities, without regard to their 
sex--including sexual orientation, gender identity, sex 
stereotypes, and pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical 
condition--have equal opportunities.
    Recruitment, Retention and Promotion. The Committee will 
review the policies and practices of all the agencies under the 
Committee's jurisdiction, and of their regulated entities, to 
promote the recruitment, retention, and promotion of a diverse 
pool of employees, throughout all levels, of each organization 
but particularly at the middle- and senior-management level, 
executive, C-suite, and board of director positions. The 
Committee will review the commitment and behavior of leaders, 
as well as consider measures, to ensure that diversity and 
inclusion goals are effectively transmitted throughout their 
organizations, including holding managers accountable for 
achieving diverse and inclusive environments.
    The Rooney Rule. The Committee will consider policies that 
mandate the consideration of diverse employment candidates 
(such as ``the Rooney Rule''), and whether and how such 
policies have affected diversity and inclusion efforts, 
including efforts by the Federal Reserve to identify and select 
a diverse pool of candidates for senior- management positions 
throughout the entire Federal Reserve System.
    Vendor, Contractor, and Business Diversity. The Committee 
will monitor the agencies' efforts to increase diversity within 
their vendor and contractor pools, and may consider methods to 
address any challenges, or other barriers, to the agencies' 
capacity to enhance their supplier and business diversity. The 
Committee will also consider changes to increase the 
transparency of the diversity practices of the FHFA's regulated 
entities, including requiring public reporting of the total 
dollar amounts these entities spend on third party vendors and 
service providers and the amounts paid to firms that are 
minority-owned, women-owned, disability-owned, and other 
diverse-owned businesses on a regular basis.
    Public Companies. The Committee will consider proposals to 
enhance diversity and inclusion practices and policies at 
public companies, including by more transparently reporting 
information regarding the equitable inclusion of women and 
people of color in the workforce including compensation equity, 
and the selection process of those who serve in middle- and 
senior- management level, executive, C-suite positions, and 
boards of directors.
    Diverse Entrepreneurs and Access to Capital. The Committee 
will monitor challenges faced by, and consider solutions to, 
encouraging the creation and growth of diverse entrepreneurs' 
businesses, particularly any unique challenges faced by 
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-
owned businesses, Native-owned businesses, disability-owned 
businesses, and small businesses in obtaining access to capital 
and opportunities to obtain a fair allocation of federal funds 
and participation in federal programs. The Committee will also 
review how corporations collaborate with minority-owned, women-
owned and other diverse- owned firms in their capital markets 
activities, including but not limited to, the investment of 
pension, union, and retirement funds; externally managed 
investment and non-indexed funds; and alternative investments. 
The Committee will also monitor the implementation of data 
collection measures that could more effectively and efficiently 
inform the public, investors, regulators, and Congress about 
patterns and trends of business lending and other types of 
financing.

  OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR THE 117TH 
                                CONGRESS

                             MINORITY VIEWS

    Republicans' top priority remains safely reopening our 
economy and getting Americans back to work. This can be 
accomplished by ensuring more vaccines and testing are 
available to our communities. With the extraordinary effort to 
provide support to those impacted by COVID-19, comes the need 
for diligent oversight of the CARES Act and related relief 
programs. Additionally, Committee Republicans remain committed 
to carrying out commonsense oversight priorities, to not only 
ensure the safety and soundness of our financial system, but 
its full recovery as well. Committee Republicans expect to 
conduct oversight of the following areas during the 117th 
Congress, as well as oversight and investigations of additional 
matters or programs as they arise.

                        Addressing Systemic Risk

     Cybersecurity. The coronavirus pandemic and 
related relief programs have created an environment ripe for 
cybercriminal activity. Committee Republicans will continue to 
conduct oversight of cybersecurity in the public and private 
sectors to protect the financial system from cybercrime. 
Republicans will facilitate information sharing and identify 
best practices among financial regulators and industry 
participants, especially for threats related to COVID-19 and 
related federal relief programs.
     Digitization. Regulators must continue to digitize 
their operations and interactions with regulated entities. 
These changes should be made permanent even after the pandemic 
subsides. It is necessary to ensure that new and modernized 
digital infrastructure is in place to allow for efficient and 
secure digital operations. The minority will continue to 
conduct oversight of financial regulators as they transition to 
increased digital interactions with regulated entities on a 
more permanent basis.
     Democratization of Finance. Increased retail 
participation in the stock market has allowed more Americans to 
generate wealth and provided new sources of capital for 
companies to hire workers and invest in research and 
development, among other things. Republicans will conduct 
oversight of the retail marketplace to ensure the regulatory 
environment, including the accredited investor rule, is 
favorable for investors. Within that context, Republicans will 
make findings and recommendations related to trading in 
GameStop and other stocks in late January 2021.
     Politicization of Access to Capital. Republicans 
support fair access to financing for legally operating 
businesses, which supports jobs and promotes long-term economic 
growth. Financial regulators have committed to addressing 
social causes unrelated to their regulatory authorities and 
financial firms continue to limit access to capital to certain 
politically unpopular industries. Republicans will conduct 
oversight of the federal financial regulators to determine 
whether their activities are outside their mandates, and of 
regulated firms within the committee's jurisdiction to 
determine whether they limit access to capital for legally 
operating businesses based on non-pecuniary factors to 
accomplish unrelated social or political goals.
     Role of Proxy Advisory Firms. SEC guidance states 
that advisers who vote proxies must do so in a manner 
consistent with their fiduciary obligations and, to the extent 
they rely on voting advice from proxy advisory firms they must 
take reasonable steps to ensure the use of that advice is 
consistent with their fiduciary duties. Republicans will 
conduct oversight of the regulatory environment that covers the 
relationship between proxy advisory firms, their clients, and 
corporate boards of directors, to ensure boards are positioned 
to meet their fiduciary obligations and determine the most 
situationally appropriate course for companies to take.

                 Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness

     Federal Housing Assistance. Despite significant 
federal investment over the past several years, homelessness 
persists as an issue. Data from the Department of Education 
shows two million children experience homelessness at some 
point during the school year. Republicans will conduct 
oversight of homelessness programs and uses of funding intended 
for that purpose to ensure resources are directed toward those 
in greatest need.
     Implementation of Recommendations from the 
Community of Inspectors General. The audits and investigative 
work of the IG community provides a roadmap for congressional 
oversight of agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction. The 
minority will review the inventory of open and unimplemented 
recommendations from the inspectors general within the 
committee's jurisdiction to identify opportunities for cost 
savings and areas of common concern. The minority will also 
seek to hold quarterly hearings with IGs to highlight some of 
the most urgent areas for oversight.
     Rulemaking Process. The regulatory rulemaking 
process has gone relatively unchanged for decades. Technology 
tools including AI could improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the notice and comment process. Republicans 
will continue to conduct oversight of agencies as they develop 
new strategies and further integrate technology into the 
rulemaking process.
     Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae and Freddie 
Mac have been operating under federal conservatorship since 
being bailed out for nearly $200 billion at the height of the 
financial crisis. The minority will conduct oversight of the 
government-sponsored enterprises and assess the role of the 
federal government in mortgage finance to ensure the 
administration remains on track to end government 
conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

                       Preventing Waste and Fraud

     Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Impact 
Payment Program Fraud. The minority will continue to monitor 
and investigate fraud associated with COVID-19 relief programs, 
specifically whether internal program controls effectively 
balance the need to distribute relief quickly against fraud 
prevention. The minority will seek data from relevant agencies, 
inspectors general, GAO, and private sector participants, to 
identify potential systemic risk concerns, among other things.
     CARES Act. The CARES Act provided trillions of 
dollars to the Treasury and Federal Reserve to stabilize the 
economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The minority will 
continue to conduct oversight to ensure loan recipients and 
other program participants comply with the terms of the 
programs in conformity with congressional intent and to protect 
against waste, fraud, and abuse.
     Abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program by 
Political Organizations. The Paycheck Protection Program was 
designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to 
keep their workers on the payroll. The Small Business 
Administration released data that shows political organizations 
may have taken advantage of the program's expedited nature to 
obtain funds for which they were ineligible. The minority will 
partner with relevant agencies, inspectors general, and the 
Justice Department to ensure ineligible political organizations 
are held accountable.
     CFPB Oversight. The Dodd-Frank Act created a CFPB 
that was unaccountable to Congress. Republicans supported a 
successful legal challenge to the Bureau's unconstitutional 
structure that made the CFPB Director removable at will by the 
President. Still, the Bureau is funded outside of the 
congressional appropriations process, which positions the 
Federal Reserve Board of Governors to act as a rubber stamp for 
the Director's funding request. The fact that the Board has no 
statutory mechanism to scrutinize the Bureau's funding request 
has raised concerns that the CFPB's budget process is exposed 
to waste, fraud, and abuse. In light of CFPB's continued 
operation outside the congressional appropriations process, 
Republicans will conduct oversight to ensure the Director does 
not abuse the Bureau's vast enforcement authority to punish 
industries disfavored by the Administration.
     Elder Fraud. As the United States' elder 
population continues to grow, financial fraud targeting that 
community will have massive implications for financial 
institutions. Evidence suggests that one in every five elder 
Americans has been a victim of some form of financial fraud. 
These numbers have increased due to the amount of COVID-related 
fraud cases. Republicans will investigate how regulators and 
the financial services industry are addressing elder fraud.

                           National Security

     Terrorism Finance. Republicans will continue to 
conduct oversight of the growing network of non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), primarily in Western countries, including 
the United States, which, in recent years, has engaged in an 
organized and well-coordinated boycott, divestment and 
sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Documents show 
connections between that network and groups that operate in the 
Middle east with known connections to terrorist activities. 
Republicans will ensure the administration uses the full range 
of tools to prevent money from moving between domestic BDS 
groups and terrorist groups abroad. Republicans will also 
examine whether entities that do business with government 
agencies provide goods and services to state sponsors of 
terrorism.
     Money Laundering. Financial institutions and law 
enforcement agencies face constantly evolving tactics from 
sophisticated criminals and terrorists attempting to leverage 
the global financial system. Republicans will continue to 
assess the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) 
regulatory regime to investigate the effectiveness of the 
current rules, highlight the need to modernize the reporting 
system in the digital era, and prevent criminal activity.
     North Korean Sanctions. North Korea uses 
corporations with opaque ownership structures to move money 
through American banks. The current enforcement of 
international sanctions intended to block Pyongyang's access to 
the global financial system appear insufficient to prevent 
these transactions. The minority will investigate how agencies 
and financial institutions are combating money laundering 
schemes like this and assess whether new legislation in 
necessary.
     China. Analysts have observed China offering 
funding for international projects to secure Chinese access to 
resources or local markets, causing countries to become 
ensnared in a debt trap that leaves them vulnerable to China's 
influence. The minority will examine China's debt trap and 
Chinese resistance to transparent disclosure in its lending and 
discuss the implications of China's financing decisions in 
terms of the IMF, World Bank, and global systemic risk.

                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                             Oversight Plan

                             117th Congress

1. INTRODUCTION
    Pursuant to the requirements of clause 2(d) of House Rule 
X, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (``the 
Committee'') has prepared this oversight plan for the 117th 
Congress, which will be submitted to the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform and the Committee on House Administration. This plan 
summarizes the Committee's oversight priorities for the next 
two years, subject to the understanding that new developments 
will undoubtedly affect priorities and work assignments in the 
months ahead.
    Agency and program oversight are key responsibilities of 
the legislative branch. Committee Rule 15 requires each 
Subcommittee to hold regular oversight hearings that, according 
to usual practice, include an annual hearing on the portions of 
the Administration's budget request within that Subcommittee's 
jurisdiction. Oversight activities will be coordinated between 
the Committee and the Subcommittees in order to facilitate 
comprehensive and strategic review of the programs and agencies 
within the Committee's jurisdiction.
    These Committee activities may include hearings, briefings, 
reports, and investigations, Member or staff-level meetings, 
correspondence, fact-finding and oversight travel, reports, and 
public statements. They may also include effective use and 
review of reports by the Government Accountability Office and 
by statutory Inspectors General, as well as Congressional 
Notifications submitted by executive branch agencies. The 
Committee will consult, as appropriate, with other committees 
of the House that may share jurisdiction over relevant issues 
and activities.
    The Committee's authorization and oversight activities will 
emphasize:
           effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy;
           effective implementation of U.S. law;
           the review of agencies and programs in the 
        Committee's jurisdiction;
           effective management and administration, and 
        institutional modernization;
           appropriate resourcing of U.S. foreign 
        policy and programs.
           How the Committee's work will address issues 
        of inequities on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, 
        religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
        disability, age, or national origin.
2. PRIORITY OVERSIGHT MATTERS
    a. Russia: The Committee will address the impact of 
Russia's foreign and domestic policy on U.S. security, 
political, and economic interests, as a result of its continued 
aggression and related hostile actions regarding NATO, the EU, 
Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, the United States, and other 
countries. It will also examine Kremlin-driven efforts to 
undermine western democratic governments and institutions 
through cyber intrusions and attacks, disinformation campaigns, 
malign influence activities, propaganda, and other hybrid 
warfare tools. The Committee will examine the range of options 
available to the United States. to respond to these actions. 
The Committee will also review the deteriorating domestic 
situation in Russia regarding democracy, civil society, the 
rule of law, the free exercise of fundamental freedoms, and 
human rights, including its attacks on opposition leader Alexei 
Navalny and other prominent critics of President Putin and the 
Kremlin. In addition, the Committee will closely assess 
strategic stability and related arms control agreements with 
Russia to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. The Committee 
will consult widely with experts and allies to inform the 
measures the U.S. Government should pursue on these matters.
    b. Ukraine/Georgia: The Committee will closely monitor 
Russian-supported separatist activity and other aggressive 
actions aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty, including 
the forcible and attempted annexation of Crimea. The Committee 
will continue to examine the U.S. response to this aggression 
in light of the long-standing U.S. foreign policy doctrine of 
non-recognition of territorial changes effected by force alone. 
The Committee will assess Russia's ongoing agression in Georgia 
and consider measures the U.S. Government can take to continue 
to promote effective, democratic governance in these while 
turning back Russian intrusion. In addition, the Committee will 
actively oversee efforts of the U.S. Government, working 
alongside allies and partners, to assist these countries in 
strengthening their defense capabilities, promoting economic 
growth, combating corruption, and promoting an effective and 
democratic government.
    c. Europe/Eurasia: The Committee will review U.S. relations 
with the European Union, individual European countries and 
relevant regional groupings and multilateral bodies such as the 
OSCE, and NATO. Key issues include continued reassurance and 
support the security of our NATO allies, particularly in 
Central and Eastern Europe; rule of law and border security; 
U.S.-European cooperative efforts to combat terrorism, white 
nationalism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of extremism; and 
diversification of energy sources to reduce reliance on Russian 
energy. The Committee will focus on strengthening our important 
strategic and economic relationships with allies and partners 
in order to bolster American security and promote greater 
economic growth across the transatlantic community. The 
Committee will also scrutinize the nexus of populism, alignment 
of far left and far right political forces and increasingly 
autocratic governments. Similarly, the Committee will continue 
to work with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, 
and other allies and partners to hold the illegitimate 
Lukashenko regime accountable for its theft of the August 2020 
presidential election in Belarus and its continued crackdown on 
peaceful protestors. The Committee will also continue oversight 
of U.S. political, security and economic policy in Central Asia 
and Western Balkans, with a particular focus on strengthening 
partnerships to advance mutual security interests and European 
integration where appropriate, including countering violent 
extremism, as well as efforts to promote economic development 
with the DFC, human rights, and good governance.
    d. Turkey: The Committee will examine Turkey's evolving 
foreign policy orientation and its domestic political trends--
including but not limited to its crackdown on domestic freedoms 
and the rights of minorities, the LGBTQ community, and others; 
its persecution of U.S. Embassy and Consulate staff in Turkey; 
its efforts to combat ISIS and the spread of extremism; its 
role as it pertains to conflict and refugees in Syria; its 
aggression against the Kurds and in Nagorno-Karabakh; its 
purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system; its 
relationship with the European Union; its continued occupation 
of the Republic of Cyprus and aggressive actions in the Eastern 
Mediterranean; and the health of the long term U.S.-Turkey 
strategic relationship.
    e. Afghanistan: The Committee will comprehensively review 
U.S. policy toward Afghanistan. Particular focus will be paid 
to the Administration's efforts to bring the war in Afghanistan 
to an end through an intra-Afghan dialogue. The Committee will 
also pay close attention to the Afghan government's various 
reform efforts related to addressing corruption, improving 
governance, electoral reforms, and strengthening security. This 
review will assess the effectiveness of international aid and 
U.S. assistance programs, the broader political-military and 
associated counterterrorism strategies, and the full range of 
policies related to the post-2020 US Taliban peace framework 
agreement.
    f. Pakistan: The Committee will review all elements of U.S. 
policy toward Pakistan, including efforts to eliminate safe 
havens for violent extremists and establish a stable, 
democratic country. This review will encompass both U.S. 
civilian and security assistance to Pakistan, in order to 
assess the extent to which such programs effectively advance 
U.S. national interests. The Committee will also conduct 
ongoing oversight of matters relating to Pakistan's nuclear 
program, including issues relating to nonproliferation, such as 
the legacy of the A.Q. Khan network and Pakistan's advancing of 
tactical nuclear weapons
    g. North Korea: The Committee will review and work to 
address the threat posed by North Korea. Particular focus will 
be paid to North Korea's nuclear, chemical and biological 
weapons programs, its ballistic missile program, and the 
possible proliferation of these weapons and delivery systems. 
The Committee will also examine North Korea's conventional 
weapon sales, other illicit activities, cyber-attacks, human 
rights violations, as well as U.S. efforts to assist North 
Korean refugees. The Committee will review U.S. diplomatic 
efforts, U.S. information dissemination efforts, the 
implementation of U.S. and international sanctions, the impact 
of current negotiations on U.S. alliances in Asia, whether the 
executive branch is keeping the legislative branch fully 
informed of regional developments and U.S. policy toward North 
Korea, and consider next steps in U.S. policy to address the 
North Korean threat.
    h. Indo-Pacific: The Committee will review the U.S.'s 
significant political, economic, and security interests in the 
Indo-Pacific, including East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, 
and the Pacific Islands. The Committee will conduct oversight 
of U.S. relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific, including 
foreign policy, foreign assistance, human rights and democracy, 
the strength of U.S. relationships with and among alliances and 
partners, security cooperation, territorial disputes, influence 
operations and trade. The Committee will evaluate the State 
Department's participation in multilateral organizations such 
as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East 
Asia Summit, and closely monitor any discussion of future trade 
agreements in Asia. The Committee will monitor the totality of 
the U.S. relationship with Taiwan as provided for in the Taiwan 
Relations Act.
    i. India: The Committee will review U.S. policy towards 
India and the continued expansion of bilateral cooperation. 
Particular attention will be paid to the U.S.-India security 
relationship, including cooperation on counterterrorism efforts 
and developments since the 2015 defense framework agreement and 
India's designation as a ``Major Defense Partner.'' The 
Committee will also focus on efforts to enhance U.S.-India 
economic and trade relations, and collaboration on efforts to 
address global climate change and support for human rights and 
the international rules-based order, stalled efforts to 
initiate civil nuclear cooperation and the implications of 
India's rapidly growing energy demands will also be reviewed.
    j. China: The Committee will examine China's role in the 
Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Particular focus will be placed 
on China's influence operations globally, its assertiveness in 
territorial disputes, military modernization, and human rights 
abuses, including treatment of Tibetans, Uyghurs and other 
religious and ethnic minorities. The Committee will review U.S. 
export controls related to China. The Committee will also 
continue to examine policy options with respect to Hong Kong 
given China's violation of its international obligations under 
the Sino-British Joint Declaration and commitments enshrined in 
the Basic Law. In addition, the Committee will examine China's 
use of economic coercion and role in the global economy, 
including trade, technology, energy, infrastructure, and its 
approach to development and foreign assistance, including 
through China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Committee will 
review China's cooperation on international nonproliferation 
efforts against North Korea. The Committee will investigate 
China's increasing use of cyber and economic espionage to 
affect foreign trade, and other policy outcomes.
    k. Sub-Saharan Africa: The Committee will review political, 
economic and security developments on the African continent, 
including the rise of geopolitical competition with Russia, 
China, and among the Gulf Arab States on the continent, and 
risk of democratic backsliding. Key issues will include efforts 
to strengthen democratic institutions, advance human rights, 
promote peace and security, and stimulate investment and 
equitable economic growth--including through the implementation 
of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Electrify 
Africa Act. The Committee will also focus on strengthening ties 
to the African Union and its regional economic communities, 
which are key partners in facilitating regional economic 
integration, protecting human rights, and advancing peace and 
security on the continent. Particular attention is to be paid 
to developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, South 
Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Mali, and Niger.
    l. Western Hemisphere: The Committee will assess the 
effectiveness of U.S. policy towards the countries of the 
Western Hemisphere and the strategic importance of a positive 
U.S. agenda in the Americas, including for those who have been 
typically excluded including Afro-descendant and indigenous 
populations. Special emphasis will be placed on developments in 
political, security and economic cooperation with our partners 
in Canada and Mexico. Efforts for further collaboration with 
Argentina and Brazil will also be explored. The Committee will 
address the security challenges posed by transnational criminal 
organizations and other illegal armed actors. Challenges to 
democracy, human rights, the rule of law, anti-corruption 
efforts and press freedom in the Americas also will be 
examined. The Committee will closely monitor the humanitarian 
crisis in Venezuela and its impact on the Venezuelan people and 
countries throughout the region, as well as U.S. efforts to 
hold government actors in the country accountable. In the 
Northern Triangle countries of Central America, the Committee 
will assess the conditions that drive child and family 
migration and the appropriate response from the State 
Department, USAID and other international affairs agencies. In 
Nicaragua, the Committee will assess appropriate actions to 
continue to hold the country's government and security forces 
accountable for human rights abuses. In Colombia, the Committee 
will evaluate the implementation of the country's peace accords 
and ongoing counternarcotics efforts. The Committee will 
continue to closely monitor U.S.-Cuba relations and the health 
incidents impacting U.S. government personnel serving in Cuba. 
In Haiti, the Committee will continue its oversight of State 
Department and USAID assistance for reconstruction efforts, as 
well as investigate concerns of human rights abuses and help 
support efforts towards free, fair, and inclusive elections 
with buy-in from both the Haitian government and opposition. In 
the Caribbean, the Committee will continue efforts to enhance 
U.S. energy, security and diplomatic cooperation with the 
countries of the region.
    m. Syria: The Committee will scrutinize U.S. efforts to 
address Syria's ongoing civil war, the war crimes committed by 
the Assad regime and other parties, and the role of Iran, 
Russia, Turkey and our Kurdish partners in the conflict. 
Particular attention will be paid to the Administration's new 
strategy for Syria including regional diplomacy, security 
coordination, and humanitarian assistance. The Committee will 
also examine the lasting consequences of the Trump 
Administration's decision to suspend stabilization assistance 
in Syria and evaluate U.S. efforts to prevent international 
reconstruction funds from assisting the Assad regime until a 
sustainable political solution is achieved and the regime 
allows for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of the 
outstanding six million displaced Syrians. The Committee will 
examine the impact of Syria's refugee crisis on regional states 
including Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon and the continued pattern 
of human rights violations by the Assad regime, ISIS and its 
affiliates, and Turkish-supported militias.
    n. Countering Violent Extremism: The Committee will examine 
the current status of al-Qaeda and its affiliates, with a 
specific focus on recruitment efforts, evolving save havens, 
and efforts to obtain WMDs. The Committee will also scrutinize 
the Administration's efforts to defeat ISIS in the Middle East 
and around the world, including authorizations for such 
efforts, leveraging other countries' commitments, evaluating 
U.S. leadership in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and 
determining the success of U.S. policies that seek to address 
the socio-economic challenges that led to the initial 
establishment and growth of ISIS. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the State Department's various counterterrorism 
programs, including those designed to counter violent extremism 
(CVE), as well as agreements with foreign governments relating 
to the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay.
    o. U.S. Policies and Actions in the Arabian Peninsula: The 
Committee will evaluate the U.S. role in the Gulf, particularly 
the role that the United States plays in Yemen, as well as ways 
that the United States can help bring the conflict to an end 
and address the serious security and economic concerns that 
have plagued Yemen for decades. The Committee will also review 
the U.S. relationship with members of the Saudi-led coalition 
in Yemen as well as U.S. policy options to build leverage with 
the Houthis in order to encourage compromise and a lasting 
resolution to the conflict. The Committee will also critically 
evaluate ongoing U.S. arms transfers and security cooperation 
with Gulf governments and the extent to which changes in U.S. 
policy in these areas can support an end to the Yemen conflict. 
The Committee will examine the status of rights of women, 
journalists, political dissidents and bloggers in the Gulf, and 
the extent to which current U.S. policy prioritizes human 
rights, the core of U.S. values.
    p. Iran: The Committee will continue to closely review U.S. 
policy toward Iran, with a special focus on evaluating how the 
U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA impacts the interests of the 
United States and our allies and how re-engagement in the JCPOA 
would tangibly benefit U.S. national security and that of our 
allies. The Committee will also review and work to address the 
threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile development, state 
sponsorship of terrorism and growing influence in Iraq, Syria, 
Yemen, and Lebanon, as well as the regime's ongoing human 
rights abuses, including the continued prolonged detention of 
Americans.
    q. Israel and Palestinian Issues/Middle East Peace: The 
Committee will evaluate the lasting consequences of the Trump 
administration's efforts to advance peace between Israelis and 
Palestinians and will examine the current Administration's 
strategy and recent policy changes in light of a needed return 
to work towards a two-state solution. The Committee will 
examine the enduring consequences of changes to U.S. assistance 
to Palestinians and the implications of these decisions for our 
allies and interests as well as the basic human rights of the 
Palestinian people. The Committee will look at the various ways 
that the Administration can continue building cooperation with 
Israel in an effort to expand this mutually beneficial 
relationship.
    r. Middle East and North Africa: The Committee will 
carefully review overall U.S. policy toward the Middle East and 
North Africa, to include: the extent to which U.S. foreign 
assistance is being utilized in Iraq to help address the 
inequities that brought about the initial rise of ISIS; the 
democratic transition in Tunisia; the status of political 
negotiations in Libya; the impact of Chinese economic and 
diplomatic investment in the Middle East; the consequences of 
low oil prices for various oil-producing states; human rights 
and challenges to the rule of law throughout the region; and 
United States policies, programs, authorities and funding to 
address these challenges.
    s. State Department and U.S. Agency for International 
Development Oversight, Authorization, and Modernization: The 
Committee will seek to pass a State Department Authorization 
bill as one has not been enacted since 2002. Emphasis will also 
be placed on modernizing personnel systems and practices, 
increasing workforce flexibility and improving recruitment, 
retention, and promotion processes, with a focus on ensuring 
that Department of State personnel better represent the 
diversity of the United States. The Committee will continue to 
monitor and examine the operations, budget, programs, planning, 
workforce training, building, and security policies with an eye 
toward authorization for Fiscal Year 2021. In addition to 
hearings with the Secretary of State and other Administration 
officials regarding their budget proposals for the upcoming 
year, such efforts may include: revisions to the Foreign 
Service Act; the Foreign Assistance Act; efforts to improve 
diversity and inclusion, with an emphasis on addressing 
barriers to retention and promotion at the mid and senior 
levels, consideration of reforms to Executive Branch reporting 
requirements; and a reduction or consolidation of offices with 
duplicative mandates and overlapping responsibilities. In the 
wake of increasing threats to U.S. personnel serving overseas, 
the Committee will continue to evaluate the security of our 
embassies and consulates, along with proposed reforms to the 
State Department's diplomatic security service to promote the 
personnel safety in the context of appropriate evaluation of 
risk.
    t. Employee Retaliation: The Committee will pursue 
legislative changes to address the results of its investigation 
during the 116th Congress into politically-motivated 
retaliation against State Department and USAID employees during 
the Trump Administration, including individuals who have 
alleged they were subjected to prohibited personnel practices 
on account of their national origin, sexual identity, perceived 
political views, or in response to whistleblowing.
    u. Foreign Assistance: The Committee will review the 
underlying authorities for U.S. foreign assistance with an eye 
towards reducing duplication, increasing transparency and 
effectiveness, and modernizing the foreign assistance 
workforce. It will also review issues related to the 
implementation of U.S. foreign assistance programs and 
projects, including the role of U.S. missions and embassies in 
overseeing grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. In 
addition, the Committee will review issues related to 
coordination between the U.S. Agency for International 
Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government agencies and 
departments involved in carrying out U.S. foreign assistance. 
Among a broad range of issues, the Committee will review U.S. 
foreign assistance initiatives aimed at providing life-saving 
humanitarian assistance, catalyzing economic growth, supporting 
sustainable development approaches, reducing state fragility, 
and addressing food security and global health challenges, and 
increasing resilience of developing communities to weather 
shocks and stresses, including climate change. The Committee 
will also exercise oversight over the initial investments and 
growth of the newly created International Development Finance 
Corporation. Assistance provided through the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation will also receive close scrutiny.
    v. Global Health: The Committee will examine key global 
health issues, in particular the ongoing effects of COVID-19, 
both directly and on broader global health efforts. The 
Committee will also conduct oversight on global health security 
efforts, including infectious disease surveillance and control 
and strengthening of health care systems. Additionally, the 
Committee will examine the impacts of the previous 
Administration's reimposition of the Global Gag Rule and 
elimination of funding to UNFPA on women's health services and 
access to reproductive health. Additionally, the Committee's 
oversight will include reviewing PEPFAR's efforts to date, as 
well as, progress on global malnutrition elimination, support 
for maternal and child health, and the U.S. engagement with the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
    w. Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment: The 
Committee will examine the effectiveness of U.S. policy on 
climate change, including the impact of the past 
Administration's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord on 
our diplomatic relations, our development assistance, and 
multilateral engagement. We will explore the impacts of climate 
change on national security, its contributions to displacement 
and social unrest across the globe, and how we can advance a 
path toward climate stabilization. We will consider the 
evolution of the global energy landscape, emphasize good 
governance of existing resources, and work to assure energy 
security for the US and our allies. The Committee will also 
oversee engagement on environmental issues including wildlife 
trafficking, international conservation efforts, and the role 
and safety of environmental activists across the globe.
    x. Economic Policy and Trade: The Committee will oversee 
international economic policy, including U.S. leadership in 
trade, finance, energy, technology, and development policy to 
promote economic prosperity and national security.
    y. The Committee will continue to oversee the 
administration of defense export controls under the Arms Export 
Control Act.
    z. U.S. Nonproliferation Policy: The Committee will examine 
the effectiveness of U.S. nonproliferation policy and the 
international nonproliferation regime in preventing the spread 
of weapons of mass destruction. The Committee will address 
opportunities to strengthen existing nonproliferation 
organizations, especially the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, increase cooperation with other countries, and enhance 
international nonproliferation agreements and mechanisms 
including the international regulation of civil nuclear power 
and the potential spread of technology, equipment and material 
useful in the development of nuclear weapons capabilities. The 
Committee will closely examine proposed and existing bilateral 
nuclear cooperation agreements with other countries, including 
their potential to promote U.S. nonproliferation objectives and 
commercial interests.
    aa. Export Controls, Arms Transfers and Security 
Assistance: The Committee will assess the effectiveness of 
export controls under the Export Control Reform Act, regulation 
of defense transfers under the Arms Export Control Act and 
security assistance programs authorized under the Foreign 
Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act in advancing 
U.S. national interests. In addition, the Committee will review 
those security cooperation programs funded by the Department of 
Defense, but which require concurrence of the Secretary of 
State, or otherwise give rise to the Committee's jurisdiction.
    bb. U.S. International Broadcasting: The Committee will 
continue to actively monitor and review the operations and 
organization of U.S. government-supported, civilian 
international broadcasting to respond more effectively to the 
challenges presented by state and non-state actors using modern 
communication platforms. The Committee will closely oversee 
efforts by USAGM to rebuild from the brief, destructive tenure 
of former CEO Michael Pack, and return USAGM to its proper 
position of being independent and non-partisan.
    cc. Human Rights and Democracy: The Committee will examine 
and monitor human rights abuses around the world and the 
deterioration of democracy and democratic norms globally. The 
Committee will also review the Administration's recentering of 
human rights and democracy as a key parts of U.S. foreign 
policy, with an added emphasis on addressing issues of 
inequities on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or 
national origin. The Committee will also assess U.S. 
involvement with multilateral human rights organizations, to 
ensure that U.S. diplomacy serves to promote human rights and 
freedoms.
    dd. United Nations and International Organizations: The 
Committee will closely review all aspects of U.S. participation 
in international organizations and seek to ensure the US is 
accountable for its funding commitments, as well as advocating 
for equitable obligations from all UN member states. The 
Committee will closely monitor the work of the United Nations 
Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Department of Field 
Support, and particularly efforts to improve performance and 
enhance accountability. The Committee will seek to ensure 
America's engagement with UN institutions will support 
international diplomatic and development goals, including the 
Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee will also assess 
and address foreign adversaries' attempts to expand influence 
in UN institutions to coopt these organizations in service of 
private political agendas. Close attention will be paid to the 
extent to which the Administration's strategies in 
international organizations has led to greater engagement and 
improved outcomes on human rights issues, as well as its 
support for and accountability of the World Health 
Organization, now that the United States has reentered.
    ee. Cyberpolicy: The Committee will conduct oversight over 
U.S. efforts to examine and devise appropriate responses to 
cyber threats from foreign governments, non-state actors, and 
criminal networks that target the United States. The Committee 
will also examine efforts by U.S. adversaries to undermine the 
government, democratic and other institutions of the United 
States and other nations through cyber intrusions.

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

    In addition to the oversight priorities outlined regarding 
Turkey, the Committee should also pay close attention to 
Turkey's continued persecution of religious minorities, in 
clear violation of its own Constitution, and to its 
antagonistic actions against Greece, a NATO ally, in the Aegean 
Sea.

                                   Dina Titus (NV-1).

                     COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

                           OVERSIGHT PLAN OF

                     COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

                         FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

    The following is the Oversight Plan of the Committee on 
Homeland Security for the 117th Congress. The Oversight Plan 
consists of topics designated for review by Chairman Bennie G. 
Thompson, in consultation with Ranking Member John Katko. Below 
are descriptions of some of the significant issues the 
Committee intends to conduct oversight on this Congress. The 
Committee continues to be committed to addressing in the course 
of its work inequities in homeland security related to race, 
color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender 
identity, disability, age, or national origin, and to ensuring 
witness and stakeholder input from a diverse array of 
Americans.

               OVERSIGHT, MANAGEMENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

    During the 117th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) 
activities relating to human capital recruitment and retention, 
acquisition practices, systems modernization and other 
functions essential to the Department effectively and 
efficiently fulfilling its critical missions. The Committee 
will also examine the Department's ongoing efforts to 
consolidate its headquarters at the St. Elizabeths campus. 
Additionally, the Committee plans to oversee the Department's 
development of its capstone strategy document, the Quadrennial 
Homeland Security Review (QHSR). Finally, the Committee will 
investigate homeland security programs and practices, as 
warranted.

                        Human Capital Management

    The Committee will monitor the Department's efforts to plan 
and implement strategic human capital management programs that 
address current and emerging human capital challenges, 
including persistently low morale among the Department's 
workforce; lack of diversity in the Department's leadership 
cadre; and ongoing difficulties with recruiting, hiring, and 
retaining employees at components and offices across the 
Department. Additionally, the Committee will examine the 
authorities and activities of the Chief Human Capital Officer 
(CHCO) and the coordination of policy between and among the 
Department's CHCOs.

           Acquisition, Procurement, and Contract Management

    The Committee will review the Department's major 
acquisition programs and procurement and contracting practices 
to promote the delivery of critical capabilities and prevent 
waste, fraud, and abuse. The Committee will also examine the 
Department's oversight of acquisitions and procurement, 
including components' compliance with associated policy and 
guidance. Further, the Committee will review the activities and 
authorities of the Under Secretary for Management and the Chief 
Procurement Officer to ensure the effective management of these 
key functions.

                 Systems Modernization and Integration

    The Committee will examine the Department's efforts to 
modernize and integrate its systems, including information 
technology and financial management systems. The Committee will 
monitor the development, implementation, and integration of new 
systems across components as well as management of the 
Department-wide portfolio of systems.

                  Policy Development and Coordination

    The Committee will monitor the efforts of the Department's 
Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans to ensure coordination 
and integration of policy between headquarters and the 
components. The Committee will examine the Department's efforts 
to take a longer-term, strategic view of threats and hazards to 
the homeland, including through the publication of the QHSR. 
Additionally, the Committee will oversee the activities of the 
Office of Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, including 
the implementation of the Department's Strategic Framework to 
Counter Terrorism and Targeted Violence.

          Departmental Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Mismanagement

    Pursuant to rule X, clause 2 (n)(1) of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee will work to identify 
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in the Department's 
programs that may undermine its vital missions.

                      Privacy and Civil Liberties

    The Committee will continue to monitor the Department's 
efforts under Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-296), which created a Privacy Officer for the 
Department of Homeland Security, and Section 705 of the Act 
which established an Officer for Civil Rights and Liberties.

             BORDER SECURITY, FACILITATION, AND OPERATIONS

    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will examine how the 
Department can continue to enhance the security of America's 
borders by preventing the entry of terrorists and their 
weapons, stemming the flow of illegal drugs, and addressing 
unauthorized entries while also facilitating legitimate trade 
and travel to this country. Additionally, the Committee will 
review the Department's treatment of individuals--particularly 
families and children, the elderly, those with disabilities, 
and other vulnerable populations--at the border, conditions in 
immigration detention facilities, and regional approaches to 
managing migration flows in the Western Hemisphere.

       Border Security Infrastructure, Technology, and Personnel

    The Committee will examine efforts to enhance situational 
awareness and security of the borders of the United States. The 
Committee seeks to understand the metrics used by the 
Department to assess effectiveness of border security 
infrastructure, technology, and operations, to include costs to 
the taxpayers and impacts on nearby communities, which may be 
marginalized or underserved in some cases. Furthermore, the 
Committee will review the infrastructure, technology, and 
personnel needs at land, sea, and airports of entry, which 
currently limit the Department's ability to detect illegal 
narcotics and contraband entering the country and may slow the 
processing of individuals and goods.

                       Border Screening Programs

    The Committee intends to review efforts to assist border 
and consular officials in identifying, intercepting, and 
disrupting terrorists attempting to enter the United States. 
The Committee will examine the continued integration, security, 
and reliability of various law enforcement and intelligence-
based databases used to screen persons seeking to enter this 
country, operations at the Department's National Vetting 
Center, and progress toward implementing a biometric entry and 
exit system at ports of entry. Particular focus will be on 
ensuring the prevention of discrimination and protection of 
civil rights and liberties for individuals subject to those 
programs.

                  TRANSPORTATION AND MARITIME SECURITY

    During the 117th Congress, the Committee plans to examine 
the Department's efforts to develop and implement strategies to 
address terrorist threats in varied transportation 
environments, including both air and surface transportation. 
The Committee will review the effectiveness of the 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) passenger, 
baggage, and cargo screening programs and operations. The 
Committee will also examine the challenges facing the TSA 
workforce, including limited protections for TSA agents, 
persistent low morale, and the need to increase diversity among 
its leadership ranks. Additionally, the Committee will examine 
the use of transportation security grants to better secure 
America's transportation system.

                           Aviation Security

    The Committee intends to review TSA's progress in 
developing and deploying passenger and baggage screening 
technologies, including the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of 
such technologies. The Committee will examine TSA's use of 
explosives detection canines to ensure that canine teams are 
utilized effectively. The Committee will also look at 
management of the agency's Screening Partnership Program. 
Additionally, the Committee also will review TSA's passenger 
search policies and practices, passenger pre-screening programs 
including the use of no-fly and selectee lists, and protocols 
for ensuring that passengers designated high-risk are receiving 
enhanced screening at the checkpoint. The Committee will assess 
whether there are additional ways for TSA to enhance security 
and improve risk-based strategies throughout the aviation 
system.
    As part of this oversight, the Committee plans to examine 
TSA's staffing needs and related matters affecting the TSA 
workforce, such as continued low morale and high attrition 
among transportation security officers. The Committee will also 
examine privacy and civil rights protections for the traveling 
public. Additionally, the Committee will examine the threats to 
aviation and other targets posed by unmanned aircraft or 
``drones.''

                    Surface Transportation Security

    The Committee will review TSA's efforts to secure surface 
transit systems, including the highest- risk mass transit and 
rail systems. The Committee's oversight will include a review 
of the Transit Security Grant Program to determine if it is 
supporting surface transportation security adequately. The 
Committee will also review the extent to which TSA effectively 
coordinates with its Federal, State, local, and private sector 
partners to secure our Nation's transportation systems. 
Additionally, the Committee will assess the effectiveness of 
TSA's efforts to secure the Nation's pipeline systems through 
TSA's oversight and inspection activities.

                         Stakeholder Engagement

    The Committee will help ensure that TSA works appropriately 
with transportation sector stakeholders and labor through the 
Aviation Security Advisory Committee, the Surface 
Transportation Security Advisory Committee, collective 
bargaining, or other means. The Committee will also encourage 
TSA to find new ways to leverage private sector expertise, 
innovation, and technologies, including from small businesses, 
in its mission to secure the Nation's critical transportation 
systems in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

                           Maritime Security

    The Committee will examine various aspects of maritime 
security, including the security of port facilities and the 
screening of vessels, passengers, cargo, and crew, for 
potential terrorists, terrorist weapons, and contraband. The 
Committee plans to review the Coast Guard's statutorily defined 
homeland security missions, to include ports, waterways, and 
coastal security; drug interdiction; migrant interdiction; law 
enforcement; and defense readiness. The Committee will also 
review resource and asset needs within the Coast Guard to 
determine whether the service is operationally ready to address 
the varied threats to America's ports and waterways while 
pursuing a long-term sustainable path of fleet 
recapitalization. Additionally, the Committee will conduct 
oversight on the Transportation Worker Identification 
Credential (TWIC) program.

                   Intelligence and Counterterrorism

    During the 117th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight to inform Congress and the public on current and 
evolving intelligence and counterterrorism threats; identify 
policy to best empower communities, support stakeholders, and 
protect the homeland; and enhance trust between the Department 
and all of its partners, including the American public, to 
ensure intelligence and counterterrorism efforts are effective.
    The Committee's oversight will specifically examine the 
capabilities and efforts of the Office of Intelligence and 
Analysis, the Department of Homeland Security Intelligence 
Enterprise, the United States Secret Service, civil rights 
oversight offices, along with Federal, state, and local 
partners, to identify, prevent, deter, and respond to 
intelligence and terrorism threats to the homeland. This work 
will examine domestic and international terrorism threats to 
the homeland. As 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the 
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Committee will review 
the authorities granted to and efforts undertaken by the 
Department since its creation and assess a path forward, 
including a strategic vision for the Department to create a 
secure homeland through its intelligence and counterterrorism 
programs and activities. The Committee will also explore the 
growing effort to further integrate cyber-threat intelligence 
reporting with intelligence about the physical world to create 
a more holistic intelligence picture. Additionally, the 
Committee will review civil unrest that has recently occurred 
across the country.

                           Domestic Terrorism

    Committee will review the persistent, growing threat to the 
U.S. from domestic terrorism movements. As part of that effort, 
the Committee will investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol 
on January 6, 2021, including the involvement of domestic 
terrorist groups, the use of online platforms by the 
perpetrators in carrying out the attack, and any intelligence 
and information sharing lapses that may have occurred.

             Intelligence Enterprise & Information Sharing

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Department's 
Intelligence Enterprise, including intelligence activities 
throughout the Department and component agencies. The Committee 
will review efforts to build the intelligence, analytical, and 
assessment capabilities of the Department and to ensure its 
full participation in the Intelligence Community as part of its 
homeland security mission. This will include a specific look at 
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis' current and future 
capabilities, including its mission and specific means to 
adjust to a fluid threat landscape and build expertise and fill 
gaps within the intelligence community.
    The Committee will also examine the Department's role in 
managing, distributing, and using intelligence and threat 
information in furtherance of its homeland security mission. 
This will include current and future information sharing 
efforts within the Department, between the Department and other 
Federal agencies, and between the Department and the Committee. 
Furthermore, the Committee will monitor the extent to which the 
Department effectively coordinates and collaborates with other 
Federal, State, and local agencies to mitigate threats to the 
homeland. Specifically, the Committee will assess the degree to 
which the Office of Intelligence and Analysis effectively 
supports State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial law enforcement 
partners and other stakeholders. The Committee will also review 
how the Department collects and shares information, including 
through vital security vetting programs and Federal terrorist 
or criminal watchlists.
    The Committee will continue to assess the development of 
the Department's counterintelligence and insider threat 
programs, including Departmental organizational changes, 
resources, monitoring programs, and training initiatives. 
Specifically, the Committee will examine the Department's 
counterintelligence efforts to prevent adversaries from 
penetrating the Department to exploit sensitive information, 
operations, programs, personnel, and resources.

               Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

    The Committee will monitor the Department's efforts to 
ensure appropriate privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties 
protections in its intelligence, counterterrorism, and 
information sharing programs and activities. Specifically, the 
Committee will examine and evaluate such programs and 
activities with regard to protected categories, such as race 
and religion, as well as constitutional rights, such as freedom 
of speech. Moreover, the Committee will seek to ensure that 
intelligence and counterterrorism oversight, including any 
legislative fixes, are appropriately scoped to build trust, 
bolster resilience, and empower minority and other historically 
marginalized communities who are often targeted by acts of 
extremism.

                      United States Secret Service

    The Committee will examine the operations of the United 
States Secret Service, including its efforts to protect the 
President of the United States and other Executive branch 
officials and to investigate financial and cybercrime. The 
Committee will also review the agency's staffing model to 
determine whether it has adequate resources to meet its current 
and projected needs. The Committee will examine the Secret 
Service's lead role in planning and executing security 
operations for National Special Security Events. Additionally, 
the Committee will conduct oversight into whether the agency is 
taking steps to address persistent concerns about hiring 
practices, promotion policies, and morale, including increasing 
diversity in leadership positions.

                            Online Extremism

    The Committee will examine the exploitation of online 
platforms by extremists to incite violence, plan violent acts, 
and cause harm in the offline world. The Committee will conduct 
oversight on Departmental programs and activities with online 
platforms to counter extremism online; efforts by technology 
platforms and service providers in moderating extremist content 
on their platforms; and the maturation of the Global Internet 
Forum to Counter Terrorism; and policy to combat online 
extremist content while respecting free expression, civil 
rights, and civil liberties.

        CYBERSECURITY, INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION, AND INNOVATION

    During the 117th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and 
science and technology activities of the Department.

                             Cybersecurity

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) 
implementation of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
Agency Act of 2018, which operationalized CISA. Additionally, 
the Committee will examine implementation of cybersecurity 
related provisions of H.R. 6395, the National Defense 
Authorization Act of FY 2021 and the Federal government's 
response to recent malicious cyber campaigns targeting Federal 
networks. Toward that end, the Committee will continue to its 
oversight of the deployment and maturation of CISA's EINSTEIN 
and Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) programs for 
securing Federal networks. Additionally, the Committee will 
conduct oversight of strategic initiatives carried out by the 
new National Risk Management Center to identify 
interdependencies and mitigate vulnerabilities across critical 
infrastructure sectors. The Committee will also examine ways to 
further build the Department's cybersecurity capability and 
capacity to implement its cyber statutory authorities.
    Additionally, the Committee will continue its work 
examining the implementation of cybersecurity legislation, 
including the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014, 
(Pub. L. 113-282) (authorizing the National Cybersecurity 
Communications and Integration Center, or NCCIC); the Federal 
Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, (Pub. L. 113-
283 (authorizing DHS to carry out Federal information security 
activities); the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, (Pub. 
L. 113-274) (providing for improvements to cybersecurity 
through public-private partnerships, education, awareness, and 
development of standards and best practices); and the 
Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act, (Pub. L. 113-246) 
(calling for a comprehensive cyber workforce strategy with 
workforce assessments every three years). The Committee will 
also examine CISA's election security activities.

                       Infrastructure Protection

    The Committee will examine CISA's programs to protect 
critical infrastructure, with key focus on internal 
coordination mechanisms to ensure that expertise can be 
leveraged efficiently and effectively and encourage CISA to 
proactively respond to new and emerging threats, such as the 
threat of unmanned aerial vehicles detected in sensitive 
airspace and soft targets. The Committee will also review how 
DHS, through CISA, works with the various critical 
infrastructure sectors pursuant to Presidential Policy 
Directive 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience 
(PPD-21).
    The Committee will oversee CISA's ongoing administration of 
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS) program, 
which requires high risk chemical facility owners and operators 
to report chemical holdings, perform vulnerability assessments, 
and adopt risk-based security measures to protect against the 
threat of a terrorist attack. Further, the Committee will 
continue to monitor the Department's efforts to establish a 
program to secure the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate, as 
required by the Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 
2008, and potentially develop new access controls to prevent 
the illicit flow of other precursor chemicals commonly used in 
Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs).

                   Science and Technology Directorate

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the coordination of 
homeland security-related research, development, testing, and 
evaluation (RDT&E) within the Department and the adequacy of 
mission support provided by the Directorate to operational 
elements of the Department, state and local authorities, and 
the private sector. The Committee will also review the 
Department's efforts to attract the Nation's most talented 
scientists and build partnerships with the academic community 
through its Homeland Security Centers of Excellence and 
University Programs.

             EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY

    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
conduct oversight of the Department's efforts to prevent, 
prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, 
natural disasters, and other major emergencies, including the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

                  Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

    The Committee will examine the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency's (FEMA) response and recovery efforts for declared 
disasters to ensure capabilities incorporate lessons learned 
and Federal resources are used appropriately. Focus will 
include lesson learned from recent disasters and recovery 
efforts, addressing the needs of underserved and vulnerable 
populations, and the impact of global warming on disasters. The 
Committee will also review the Department's training and 
exercise programs. Further, the Committee will monitor the 
extent to which FEMA is incorporating information from national 
exercises into future training, planning, and response, 
recovery, and mitigation activities. Additionally, the 
Committee will conduct oversight of the Department's Countering 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Office efforts to counter threats 
from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.

                                COVID-19

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the Federal 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the role of FEMA 
in responding to the disaster. Particular focus will be on 
monitoring FEMA's work with the Centers for Disease Control and 
other Federal agencies to coordinate with State, local, and 
tribal, and territorial entities and the private sector to 
assist with COVID-19 vaccine distribution, as well as 
addressing inequitable access to vaccine and disparate outcomes 
for minority and underserved communities.

     Assistance to State and Local Governments and First Responders

    The Committee will examine FEMA's allocation and 
administration of grants to state and local governments and 
emergency response providers to prevent, prepare for, respond 
to, mitigate, and recover from a terrorist attack or other 
disaster. The Committee will review the coordination of grant 
programs within the Department in developing guidance and 
administering grants; the ability of state and local 
governments to access, obligate, and expend funds; the strength 
of regional partnerships developed through grants; and the 
risk-based distribution and expenditure of such grants at the 
state and local levels.

                        Emergency Communications

    The Committee will examine the coordination of various 
communications programs and offices within the Department, 
including the achievement and maintenance of interoperable 
communications capabilities among the Department's components, 
as required by the Department of Homeland Security 
Interoperable Communications Act (Pub. Law 114-29). The 
Committee will monitor activities of the First Responder 
Network Authority (FirstNet) and the development of the public 
safety interoperable wireless broadband network. In addition, 
the Committee will review the Department's Integrated Public 
Alert and Warning System to ensure timely and effective alerts 
and warnings are provided to the public in the event of an 
emergency.

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                 Oversight Plan for the 117th Congress

                   Committee on House Administration

    The Committee on House Administration (Committee) has 
developed the following oversight plan pursuant to clause 2(d) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The 
Committee's oversight activities are key to the operations of 
the Legislative Branch, including the House and House Officers, 
Legislative Branch agencies, and other related entities. The 
Committee's responsibilities also include oversight of federal 
elections. The jurisdiction of the Committee, pursuant to 
clause House Rule X, clause 1(k), is as follows:
    (1) Appropriations from accounts for committee salaries and 
expenses (except for the Committee on Appropriations); House 
Information Resources; and allowance and expenses of Members, 
Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and 
administrative offices of the House.
    (2) Auditing and settling of all accounts described in 
subparagraph (1).
    (3) Employment of persons by the House, including staff for 
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and committees; 
and reporters of debates, subject to rule VI.
    (4) Except as provided in paragraph (r)(11), the Library of 
Congress, including management thereof; the House Library; 
statuary and pictures; acceptance or purchase of works of art 
for the Capitol; the Botanic Garden; and purchase of books and 
manuscripts,
    (5) The Smithsonian Institution and the incorporation of 
similar institutions (except as provided in paragraph (r)(11)).
    (6) Expenditure of accounts described in subparagraph (1).
    (7) Franking Commission;\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \19\The name of the House Commission on Congressional Mailing 
Standards, also known as the Franking Commission, was recently changed 
to the House Communications Standards Commission. COMMS Act., P.L. 116-
260.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (8) Printing and correction of the Congressional Record.
    (9) Accounts of the House generally.
    (10) Assignment of office space for Members, Delegates, the 
Resident Commissioner, and committees.
    (11) Disposition of useless executive papers.
    (12) Election of the President, Vice President, Members, 
Senators, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner; corrupt 
practices; contested elections; credentials and qualifications; 
and Federal elections generally.
    (13) Services to the House, including the House Restaurant, 
parking facilities, and administration of the House Office 
Buildings and of the House wing of the Capitol.
    (14) Travel of Members, Delegates, and the Resident 
Commissioner.
    (15) Raising, reporting, and use of campaign contributions 
for candidates for office of Representative, of Delegate, and 
of Resident Commissioner; and
    (16) Compensation, retirement, and other benefits of the 
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and 
employees of Congress.
    The Committee will continue its oversight of operations of 
the House, Legislative Branch agencies, and federal elections 
in the 117th Congress. This oversight work will include various 
forms of Committee activity, including, but not limited to, 
regular oversight meetings with Committee staff, Member-level 
meetings, briefings, hearings, correspondence, studies, 
reports, and cooperation with relevant inspectors general. The 
Committee intends to continue and expand its practice of 
holding both monthly general oversight meetings for House 
Officers and agencies and project-specific recurring oversight 
meetings for Legislative Branch programs and activities that 
require extra Committee attention.
    The Committee's oversight activities will emphasize:
           House Officers and operations;
           Legislative Branch agencies and related 
        entities;
           Security of the Capitol and throughout the 
        legislative branch, including the January 6, 2021, 
        domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol;
           Operations of the Legislative Branch during 
        the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;
           Member services;
           Committee funding and activities;
           The Congressional Accountability Act of 
        1995;
           Official communications;
           House technology use and modernization; and
           Federal election law and procedures.

                     HOUSE OFFICERS AND OPERATIONS

    The Committee intends to work with the House Officers to 
develop and implement long term plans to ensure that they are 
well positioned to serve the House community effectively. These 
plans will focus on increasing efficiency, improving management 
practices, diversifying the workforce, promoting physical and 
cyber security, and facilitating interoffice cooperation.
House Officers and Operations, Generally
     Oversee collaboration among House Officers and 
other Legislative Branch entities with respect to the 
institutional response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
     Provide general policy guidance to the House 
Officers.
     Provide policy guidance and conduct oversight of 
security and safety issues and congressional entities charged 
with such roles, ensuring coordination among the various 
entities, with an emphasis on the January 6, 2021, domestic 
terrorist attack at the Capitol.
     Review proposals and oversee efforts to recruit 
and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
     Analyze management improvement proposals and other 
initiatives submitted by the House Officers and relevant 
Inspectors General.
     Assure coordination among House Officers and other 
Legislative Branch entities on the continued development and 
implementation of a comprehensive district office support 
program.
     Coordinate with House Officers and officials to 
develop and implement long term plans and goals for the 
financial and administrative functions of the House.
     Coordinate with the Subcommittee on Legislative 
Branch Appropriations on matters impacting operations of the 
House and other Legislative Branch entities.
     Ensure coordination among House Officers and other 
Legislative Branch entities on administrative and technology 
matters, including reviewing and improving existing IT security 
policies.
     Oversee compliance with the House Employees 
Position Classification Act (2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  291 et seq.).
     Review relevant rules, regulations, and statutes 
and, in consultation with the House Officers, revise where 
necessary.
     Work with House Officers to create more cost 
effective and efficient operations within the House, including, 
but not limited to, elimination of any duplicative programs or 
activities.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
     Provide policy direction for the Chief 
Administrative Officer (CAO). Continue the review of functions 
and administrative operations assigned to the CAO.
     Review ongoing process and technology upgrades to 
the House financial management system, ensuring appropriate 
internal controls are in place.
     Oversee the CAO's role in assuring accessibility 
to the House wing of the Capitol, the House Office Buildings, 
and other House facilities consistent with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA).
     Oversee the House Child Care Center, including 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to reduce the 
waitlist and expand admissions.
     Oversee the House Recording Studio, with a focus 
on the execution of remote proceedings.
     Oversee the use of electronic consent forms for 
casework.
     Review of the House's new equipment program.
     Oversee efforts to improve customer service and 
communications across all CAO functions and business units.
     Oversee development and implementation of 
strategies to increase House staff retention.
     Oversee House restaurant operations.
     Oversee the Office of Employee Assistance and 
House Wellness Center, including efforts to increase capacity 
and address the trauma among Members and staff associated with 
the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol.
     Oversee operations and management of the office 
supply store and gift shop.
     Oversee the CAO's customer advocate program.
     Oversee the Student Loan Repayment program and 
recent reforms thereto.
     Oversee House Creative Services.
     Review alternatives to the current mail delivery 
process to strengthen the services and tools available to 
Members and staff.
     Review and provide direction on the CAO's actions 
in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
     Review and help to facilitate efforts to diversify 
the CAO workforce.
     Review existing asset management processes.
     Review House furniture policy, inventory, and 
selection.
     Review House procurement policies and monitor the 
effectiveness of the CAO's procurement and contract management 
functions.
     Review issues related to district office leases.
     Review new technology initiatives to better serve 
Members, committees, and the public.
     Review procedures for processing contracts with 
the House that exceed the threshold of $350,000.
     Review proposals and oversee corresponding efforts 
to convert certain services provided by contractors to in-house 
services.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; oversee implementation of changes in operations 
to improve services and increase efficiencies.
     Review staff benefits offered by the House and 
proposals to modify benefits.
     Review the officially sanctioned ``Congressional 
App Challenge.''
     Review the Wounded Warrior Program and develop 
recommendations, in consultation with veteran's organizations, 
about improvements to the program.
     Review the SFC Sean Cooley and SPC Christopher 
Horton Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship Program and 
develop recommendations, in consultation with veteran's 
organizations, about improvements to the program.
     Review training offerings available to Members and 
staff through the Congressional Staff Academy, identifying 
additional programming opportunities.
     Review and oversee information technology services 
provided, maintained or hosted by House Information Resources:
            Review of the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist 
        attack at the Capitol, including cybersecurity 
        implications and response.
            Oversee failsafe procedures to guarantee continuity 
        of operations.
            Oversee House cybersecurity practices, including 
        network security and threat prevention.
            Review of the House Disaster Recovery Program.
            Review of House IT configuration and redundancy 
        posture.
            Oversee web services activities, including new 
        Member website development.
            Oversee pilot and rollout of Quill letter signing 
        platform.
            Oversee development of improvements to CMS 
        experience for Member offices.
            Oversee the Technology Partner Program, including 
        the marketing thereof.
            Oversee efforts to continue movement toward cloud 
        computing.

Clerk of the House

     Review functions and administrative operations 
assigned to the Clerk.
     Oversee official reporter participation in field 
hearings.
     Coordinate on matters under the jurisdiction of 
the House Fine Arts Board and the Capitol Preservation Board.
     Oversee efforts to implement digital signatures in 
the House.
     Oversee legislative process adjustments 
necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited proxy 
voting and the electronic hopper.
     Oversee participation in the Bulk Data Task Force.
     Oversee preparation of congressionally authorized 
publications.
     Oversee the House document repository.
     Oversee the lobbying disclosure process, including 
ways to make data more easily accessible for the general 
public.
     Review and approve contracts and requests for 
proposals by the Clerk that exceed the $350,000 spending 
threshold.
     Review of semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review other issues related to the COVID-19 
pandemic, including staff vaccination.
     Review standards for the electronic exchange of 
legislative information among the chambers of Congress and 
Legislative Branch agencies.
     Review the application programming interface 
incorporated in the Clerk's website.
     Review the Clerk's current IT configuration and 
redundancy posture.
     Review the printing needs of the Clerk to evaluate 
the potential for eliminating duplication.

House Inspector General

     Review of functions and administrative operations 
assigned to the Inspector General.
     Direct Inspector General to conduct management 
advisories to improve implementation and operation of key House 
functions.
     Ensure that audit prioritization is based upon the 
assessment of risk to the operations of the House.
     Monitor progress of House audits.
     Review and approve proposed audit plan and audit 
reports, including the annual financial statements audit.
     Review comprehensive financial and operational 
audits of the House, investigate any irregularities uncovered, 
and monitor necessary improvements.

House Office of Diversity and Inclusion

     Oversee and support efforts to direct and guide 
House employing offices to recruit, hire, train, develop, 
advance, promote, and retain a diverse workforce.
     Oversee and ensure compliance with the diversity 
survey requirement set forth in House Rule II, clause 
(9)(b)(2).
     Oversee and ensure compliance with the diversity 
report requirement set forth in House Rule II, clause 
(9)(b)(3).

House Office of Whistleblower Ombuds

     Oversee efforts to promulgate best practices for 
whistleblower intake for offices of the House set forth in 
House Rule II, clause 10(b)(1).
     Oversee the provision of whistleblower intake 
trainings for offices of the House set forth in House Rule II, 
clause 10(b)(2).

House Sergeant at Arms (HSAA)

     Review and oversee security operations in the 
House, including the House Chamber, the galleries, the Capitol, 
House Office Buildings, Capitol Grounds, and district offices.
     Review of the events of January 6, 2021, including 
consideration and facilitation of security recommendations made 
by Lt. General Russel Honore (Ret.) and his task force studying 
the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol.
     Consult with the HSAA on policies adopted by the 
Capitol Police Board and other relevant oversight entities.
     Review of functions and administrative operations 
assigned to the HSAA.
     Examine Sergeant at Arms' role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the House 
Office Buildings, and other House facilities consistent with 
the ADA.
     Review and monitor the HSAA amendments to 
protocols to ensure the safety of Members' Washington, D.C., 
and district offices and homes.
     Review and monitor the HSAA emergency preparedness 
and training of all Members, staff, and employees.
     Review and monitor the HSAA implementation of new 
Member, staff, employee, and visitor tracking protocols and 
electronic systems.
     Review and monitor the repair/improvement of 
Capitol security entry and exit pedestrian points.
     Review and oversee initiatives designed to 
increase security and security awareness for Members and staff 
in district offices.
     Review annual financial and operational status 
reports; recommend changes in operations to improve services 
and increase efficiencies.
     Review any and all HSAA improvements to the 
identification and badging of Members, staff, employees, 
contractors, and visitors.
     Review emergency continuity of operations and 
continuity of government plans of action, including plans to 
communicate to Members and staff.
     Review impact of electronic access to controlled 
spaces.
     Review short and long-term crisis mental health 
support for HSAA employees.
     Review the effectiveness of district office 
security program, including the law enforcement coordinator 
program, enterprise-wide security system contract, and 
processes for mail sent to the district offices.
     Review the policies and procedures for visitor 
access to the Capitol.
     Review the security operation of House parking 
facilities, regulations, and allocation of parking spaces.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.

                 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND OTHER ENTITIES

Architect of the Capitol (AOC)

     Oversee the Cannon House Office Building 
renovation, with an emphasis on Phase III progress.
     Review lessons learned from Phase II of the Cannon 
House Office Building renovation and monitor application to 
Phase III.
     Oversee the closeout of punch list items in the 
Cannon House Office Building renovation, including earlier 
phases.
     Oversee life safety measures, accessibility 
measures, and improved evacuation mechanisms in House 
buildings.
     Oversee restoration and repairs necessitated by 
the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack at the Capitol, 
including, but not limited to review of any proposed 
infrastructure security recommendations made by Lt. General 
Russel Honore (Ret.).
     Oversee efforts to improve diversity within the 
office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), with an emphasis 
on senior levels of the agency.
     Oversee hiring practices, with an emphasis on 
increasing diversity and inclusion at the senior levels of the 
agency.
     Oversee the continued institutional response to 
the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Oversee the AOC's role in assuring accessibility 
to the House wing of the Capitol and the House Office 
Buildings.
     Oversee the pest management practices of the AOC.
     Oversee AOC's maintenance of House Buildings and 
the House side of the Capitol.
     Oversee caucus and meeting room renovations.
     Oversee efforts to create and maintain a 
professional workplace culture.
     Oversee National Statuary Hall.
     Oversee operations of the Capitol Visitor Center, 
including public tours, the re-design of Exhibition Hall, 
contracting practices and revolving fund status, in conjunction 
with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
     Oversee other capital projects, including the 
Rayburn Garage refurbishment.
     Review AOC efforts to improve discipline program 
and accountability systems, including those applicable to 
exempt personnel.
     Review plans and proposals for future projects in 
the House Office Buildings and on the House side of the 
Capitol.
     Review reports by the AOC Inspector General and 
implementation of audit recommendations. Examine options to 
improve operation and structure of the AOC Inspector General's 
office.
     Review the AOC Office of Sustainability's efforts 
to reduce energy and waste consumption in the Capitol Complex 
by, for example, use of waterless and low-flow plumbing 
fixtures in restroom facilities.
     Review relevant rules, regulations, and statutes 
and, in consultation with the agency, revise where necessary.
     Review the electronic and procured services 
provided by the Architect.
     Review the operations and organizational structure 
of the Office of the Architect, considering proposals for 
reorganization provided to the Committee by the Architect.
     Review workplace safety and health efforts.

Government Publishing Office (GPO)

     Continue efforts to reform title 44, United States 
Code, particularly provisions related to the Federal Depository 
Library Program.
     Examine current Government Publishing Office (GPO) 
printing and binding regulations to determine advisability of 
change.
     Monitor implementation of remedial actions taken 
by management to address audit issues identified by the GPO 
Inspector General and outside financial auditors.
     Monitor progress of the GPO committee print 
project.
     Oversee GPO response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Oversee operations of the GPO, including the 
Superintendent of Documents.
     Oversee Secure and Intelligent Document (SID) 
production, including production of passports.
     Oversee Superintendent of Documents' sales and 
depository library programs.
     Review agency efforts to recruit a diverse and 
inclusive workforce.
     Review and adopt legislative proposals to reform 
government printing by eliminating redundancies and unnecessary 
printing, increasing efficiency, and enhancing public access to 
government publications.
     Review GPO labor practices and labor agreements.
     Review the printing needs of the House of 
Representatives to identify the potential for eliminating 
duplication.
     Review use of GPO facilities and other assets to 
identify possible alternatives that enhance value to the 
Congress and the public.
     Under the authority set forth in 44 U.S.C. 
Sec. Sec.  101 et seq, review rules and regulations promulgated 
by the Joint Committee on Printing, updating where prudent.

Library of Congress

     Conduct detailed oversight of Congressional 
Research Service operations and consider any need to modify 
management and organizational structure of the service. Areas 
of focus to include:
            Diversity and inclusion;
            Staff morale and attrition rates;
            Work environment;
            Resource allocation; and
            Administrative support for subject matter experts.
     Conduct detailed oversight the Copyright Office:
            Review the use of technology generally in Copyright 
        Office operations, and specifically the office's 
        modernization efforts. This includes continued 
        oversight of the development and implementation of the 
        Enterprise Copyright System, including the recordation 
        and registration systems, updated application process 
        and updated user experience platform.
            Review the Copyright Office's efforts to 
        communicate its modernization efforts to stakeholders.
            Review security measures and processes for e-
        deposits submitted to both the Copyright Office and 
        Library of Congress.
            Review the Copyright Office's spending authority 
        and its ability to budget for multi-year capital 
        projects.
     Conduct a review of the progress that the Library 
has made in providing public access to government information, 
especially in electronic form.
     Consider legislation proposed by the Library.
     Oversee collection development programs and 
digital collection plans.
     Oversee Law Library operations.
     Oversee Library capital projects.
     Oversee Library IT modernization consistent with 
the guidance from the Government Accountability Office, 
including efforts to overhaul records storage, utilize the 
cloud, stabilize the core IT structure, improve IT governance 
and develop a more centralized and professional IT workforce.
     Oversee the Contracts and Grants Directorate, 
including acquisition workforce training and acquisition 
planning.
     Oversee the implementation of the Library of 
Congress Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-
481, 114 Stat. 2187), the Veterans' Oral History Project Act 
(P.L. 106-380, 114 Stat. 1447), the National Recording 
Preservation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-474, 114 Stat. 2085), and 
the History of the House Awareness and Preservation Act (P.L. 
106-99, 113 Stat. 1330).
     Oversee the Library's technology hosting 
environment transition.
     Oversee the National Library Service's efforts to 
provide the most effective service to their library partners, 
explore ways to increase the number of users under 65, review 
the format and content for those users, and oversee plans to 
move to a new physical headquarters.
     Oversee Library of Congress operations, including 
inventory cataloguing systems, preservation efforts, and plans 
to grow collections.
     Oversee the Library's Visitor Experience 
Initiative, including the Thomas Jefferson Building 
renovations.
     Ensure the continued compilation of educational 
websites and materials tailored for students going to school 
remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Oversee gift shop financial management and 
accounting.
     Oversee improvements to the Legislation 
Information Service.
     Oversee Library storage facilities, including the 
shelving replacement project in the Law Library.
     Oversee supervisor and employee conduct, workplace 
environment and culture, discipline, and other human resources 
matters.
     Oversee the Library's Overseas Offices program.
     Oversee the operation of the Library's various 
websites, including Congress.gov and Copyright.gov.
     Review and propose changes to the rules and 
regulations promulgated by the Joint Committee on the Library.
     Review customer order processing procedures.
     Review relevant rules, regulations, and statutes 
and, in consultation with the agency, revise where necessary.
     Review reports by Library of Congress Inspector 
General and implementation of audit recommendations. Examine 
options to improve operation and structure of the Library of 
Congress Inspector General's office.
     Review the use of technology generally in Library 
of Congress operations, and specifically the ongoing work to 
centralize technology operations.

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS)

     Oversee management and operations of Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services, such as the 
implementation of the ADA, in conjunction with Senate Committee 
on Rules and Administration.

Smithsonian Institution

     Oversee efforts to increase collections storage 
capacity, including review of proposed legislation to expand 
collections storage capacity.
     Oversee efforts to publish educational materials 
tailored toward students participating in virtual learning due 
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Oversee efforts to reduce the Smithsonian 
Institution's deferred maintenance backlog.
     Oversee general museum and research facility 
operations of the Smithsonian Institution.
     Oversee response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
including museum operations and workplace safety.
     Oversee Smithsonian science and research 
facilities, including the work being conducted in Panama, 
Hawaii and around the world.
     Oversee the partnership with the Victoria and 
Albert Museum in London.
     Oversee the planning for newly authorized 
Smithsonian facilities, including the National Women's History 
Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino.
     Review and evaluate the Smithsonian Institution's 
use of federally appropriated funds.
     Review relevant rules, regulations and statutes 
and, in consultation with the agency, revise where necessary.
     Review any proposals to charge fees for admission 
to any Smithsonian exhibits.
     Review COVID-19 impacts to Trust finances and 
labor outlook.
     Review efforts to improve diversity and inclusion 
within the Smithsonian, including, diversity in exhibits/
collections and diversity in the workforce, with an emphasis on 
senior levels of the Smithsonian.
     Review operations and conduct oversight of 
Smithsonian Enterprises.
     Review operations of the National Zoo.
     Review proposed appointments of citizen regents to 
the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.
     Review Smithsonian policies regarding initiation 
of planning, design, and construction of projects.
     Review the Smithsonian Inspector General reports 
on the status of the Smithsonian, with a focus on cybersecurity 
and deferred maintenance issues.

United States Capitol Police

     Review the events of and related to the January 6, 
2021, domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol including 
consideration and facilitation of security recommendations made 
by Lt. General Russel Honore (Ret.) and his task force studying 
attack.
     Review and oversee implementation of Inspector 
General recommendations
     Authorize and oversee of the installation and 
maintenance of new security systems and devices proposed by the 
Capitol Police Board and other relevant security entities.
     Oversee national search for a new permanent 
Department leadership, including a new Department Chief.
     Oversee any potential structural reforms to the 
Department.
     Review and monitor the Department's implementation 
of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action (IDEA) with 
recruitment, training, and development of all Department 
employees and leadership, with a focus on diversifying the 
ranks of the department.
     Review and monitor the Department's plan of action 
to implement mandatory basic, immediate, and advanced 
leadership training of all supervisory personnel.
     Review short and long-term crisis mental health 
support for Department officers and Civilian Personnel.
     Conduct oversight of the effectiveness of 
Department pre-screeners.
     Conduct oversight of House garages security 
implementation.
     Continually review physical security requirements 
for Members of Congress.
     Examine the Department's role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings and other facilities consistent with the ADA.
     Monitor administrative operations of the agency, 
including budgetary management, over-time use, civilian 
components, attrition rates, recruitment efforts and incentive 
programs for officers and civilian employees.
     Oversee efforts to improve Department 
transparency.
     Review all reports authored by the Department 
Inspector General, along with operations and structure of the 
Inspector General's Office.
     Review analysis of uniformed officer post/duty 
assignments to determine and authorize force levels to meet the 
agency's security requirements within the Capitol complex to 
include the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress, 
and U.S. Botanic Garden.
     Review and consider proposals to improve USCP 
training program, especially to counter bias, for new recruits 
and in-service training, including the Department's use of 
programs at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.
     Review and monitor the Department IG's immediate 
recommendations to address insider threats within the 
Department.
     Review relevant rules, regulations, and statutes 
and, in consultation with the agency, revise where necessary.
     Review and monitor the revision of the 
Department's Use of Force policy.
     Review and oversee revisions of all Department 
Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and Memorandums of Agreement 
(MOA) with certain federal, state, local, and Department of 
Defense entities.
     Review Department COVID-19 enhanced testing and 
vaccination programs.
     Review Department security clearance policy.
     Review proposals for additional USCP authorities, 
facilities, and equipment.

Member Services

     Oversee Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), 
including amounts, structure, regulations, and calculations to 
ensure that all Members have sufficient resources to 
effectively represent their constituents.
     Oversee the processing of vouchers and direct 
payments, including those for payroll. Continue to monitor the 
implementation of the electronic vouchering system.
     Provide guidance and outreach to congressional 
offices to ensure compliance with Committee regulations.
     Review and, if appropriate, revise the Guide to 
Outfitting and Maintaining an Office, a set of regulations 
governing the acquisition, transfer, and disposal of 
furnishings, equipment, software, and related services.
     Review and, if appropriate, revise the Members' 
Congressional Handbook, a set of regulations governing the 
appropriate use of the Members' Representational Allowance.
     Work with the Officers of the House, the AOC, and 
other Legislative Branch agencies to provide meaningful 
outreach to Member offices and provide that the views of member 
offices are incorporated into their ongoing work.

New Member Orientation

     Plan, implement, and oversee the New Member 
Orientation program for newly elected Members of Congress.
     Oversee the planning and implementation of the 
Congressional Research Service's New Member Issues Seminar.
     Oversee continued implementation of the Transition 
Aide program.
     Oversee implementation of new technologies to help 
facilitate New Member Orientation.
     Work with the Congressional Research Service and 
other support agencies to make available additional on-going 
professional development services for new Members and staff.

Intern Program

     Continue and expand the Gregg and Livingston 
Harper Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with 
Intellectual Disabilities.
     Oversee the House Paid Internship program, 
including oversight of paid interns in district offices.
     In coordination with the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration, organize, administer, and oversee the 
intern lecture series.
     Review and consider revising the intern handbook 
and other publications and communication materials used in 
support of the intern program.

                    COMMITTEE FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT

     Review monthly reports on committee activities and 
expenditures.
     Review and, as necessary, revise the Committees' 
Congressional Handbook.
     Review primary and any secondary expense 
resolutions and approve authorization of committee funding 
levels.
     Review committees' franking expenditures.
     Review committees' requests for the use of 
consultant contracts.

                CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

     Conduct general oversight of the office of Office 
of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR).
     Conduct specific oversight of the OCWR IT system.
     Ensure compliance with requirements concerning the 
posting of workplace rights and procedures for filing claims.
     Evaluate resources available to OCWR and House 
employing offices to facilitate implementation of the 
Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1, 109 Stat. 3) 
(CAA).
     Monitor any relevant judicial proceedings to 
determine the impact on the CAA.
     Monitor implementation of the CAA and the reforms 
provided for in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 
Reform Act (P.L. 115-397, 132 Stat. 5297).
     Monitor the development and deployment of the 
biannual climate survey.
     Oversee updates to the anti-harassment and anti-
discrimination training curriculum, including for district 
offices.
     Oversee the Office of Employee Advocacy.
     Review and introduce, as appropriate, OCWR 
proposed regulations for paid family leave for the Legislative 
Branch.
     Review data on workplace rights information.
     Review model harassment and discrimination 
policies.
     Review regulations adopted by OCWR.
     Review suggestions from OCWR regarding potential 
updates to employment laws, as set forth in OCWR's Section 
102(b) Reports.

                        OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

     Coordinate with the Clerk of the House and CAO to 
identify and implement new applications, resources, and 
procedures for the House to be more transparent, accountable, 
accessible, and to meet Member and Committee offices' 
obligations related to official communications.
     Coordinate with the Member Services team to 
continue to update, refine, and modernize policies related to 
the official use of communications resources.
     Implement approved procedures to increase 
transparency and improve the accounting of franked mail costs.
     Oversee compliance with current prohibition on 
mass mailings 60 days before a primary or general election.
     Oversee implementation of the regulations 
governing unsolicited mass communications as set forth in the 
COMMS Act (P.L. 116 260) and the House of Representatives 
Communications Standards Manual.
     Oversee the Members' use of the congressional 
frank and other unsolicited mass communications by providing 
guidance, advice, and counsel through consultation or advisory 
opinions.

                 HOUSE TECHNOLOGY USE AND MODERNIZATION

     Continue to consult with the Select Committee on 
the Modernization of Congress and implement recommendations as 
appropriate.
     Oversight of House Information Resources and other 
technology functions of the House to improve technology 
governance, services, and the electronic dissemination of 
information.
     Review and consideration of recommendations made 
by the National Academy of Public Administration regarding 
enhancing technology assessment capabilities within the 
Legislative Branch.
     In cooperation with Member Services team, review 
available technology necessary to support New Member 
Orientation.
     Oversee and continue to implement an enterprise 
House disaster recovery program for House offices, standing and 
select Committees, and Member offices.
     Oversee continuation and streamlining of House 
technology assessment in both new media and cloud services.
     Oversee plan for deployment of 5G (the fifth-
generation technology standard for broadband cellular 
networks).
     Review cybersecurity measures and develop 
strategic plans to improve policies.
     Review procedures and standards for technology 
services provided by outside vendors, individuals, and other 
entities.
     Review technology standards for hearing rooms as 
they relate to the committee broadcast program.
     Work with Legislative Branch agencies to 
communicate available technology services to all Member, 
Committee, and Leadership Offices.

                  FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND PROCEDURES

     Build the congressional record in support of a 
reauthorized national Voting Rights Act.
     Examine all aspects of election security practices 
and consider proposals to improve and strengthen election 
integrity.
     Examine the impact of amendments made by the Help 
America Vote Act (HAVA) and the Military and Overseas Voter 
Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) to the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and consider proposals to 
improve voting methods for those serving and living abroad.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency and improve implementation of HAVA.
     Examine the role and impact of political 
organizations and non-profit organizations on federal 
elections.
     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the committee; monitor any disputed election 
counts.
     Review all aspects of registration and voting 
practices in federal elections. Monitor allegations of fraud 
and misconduct during all phases of federal elections and 
evaluate measures to improve the integrity of the electoral 
process.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including presidential and congressional public 
financing, and consider potential reforms.
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, and improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures. Consider authorization issues 
and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.
     Review state and federal activities under the 
National Voter Registration Act to identify potential for 
improvement to voter registration and education programs and 
reducing costs of compliance for state and local government.
     Use authority under Article 1, Section 4 of the 
United States Constitution to provide equivalent opportunities 
for voters to participate in federal elections.

                   MINORITY OVERSIGHT PRIORITIES 2021

    The Minority appreciates the oversight plan developed by 
the Majority and looks forward to working on many of the issues 
outlined. It was important to also note specific topics and 
areas of interest that the Minority will continue to focus on.
House Officers and Operations, Generally
     The Committee must coordinate with House Officers 
and Legislative Branch entities to develop a detailed plan to 
physically re-open the campus post COVID-19 pandemic. This plan 
should be tiered and establish clear benchmarks for progress.
     The Committee should work to encourage the 
Architect of the Capitol, United States Capitol Police, Capitol 
Police Board and other Legislative Branch entities to quickly 
move forward, in a coordinated manner, with plans to enhance 
the security of the Capitol campus.
Chief Administrative Office [CAO]
     The Committee is encouraged by the CAO's plan to 
move forward with exploring an enterprise-wide CMS procurement, 
development, and launch.
     Based on feedback from Members offices and 
recommendations from the Select Committee on Modernization, the 
Committee believes the roll-out of an office dedicated to 
providing Human Resource support for offices is needed.
     The Congressional Staff Academy has the 
opportunity to be the gold-standard of in-house training and 
development staff needs. The Committee encourages the CAO to 
continue to expand its offerings, and hire instructors that 
have Member office experience.
     The Committee believes that there is a more cost-
effective way to offer the required workplace rights training.
Sergeant at Arms [SAA]
     The Committee believes we must further 
professionalize and independently empower the security experts 
to make security related decisions. Politics currently play too 
much of a role in security related decision making.
     The Committee supports expanding the tracking and 
badging system for visitors on campus.
Clerk
     The Committee is supportive of the Clerk's 
Comparative Print Tool initiative and encourages expanding the 
initiative to all Member offices.
Legislative Counsel
     There continues to be a need to increase the 
bandwidth of the services to support the drafting of 
legislation for Member, Committee and Leadership Offices.

                 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND OTHER ENTITIES

Architect of the Capitol [AOC]
     The Cannon House Office Building renovation 
continues to be a top priority of oversight. The project is 
improving our oldest House Office Building which needed life 
cycle replacement of all building systems. However, cost over-
runs continue to be an area of concern for the Committee and 
encourages the AOC to incorporate lessons learned from 
completed phases with the goal of limiting total project cost.
     The Committee continues to be frustrated with the 
lack of progress of the Cannon Caucus Room renovation. The 
space is more than two years behind schedule. The AOC and CAO 
must do everything they can do get the space functioning.
     Overall project and contract management within the 
AOC continues to be something the Committee needs to work with 
the Appropriations Committee to monitor.
     CVC Emancipation Hall is an initiative that will 
impact millions of annual visitors, and the Committee 
encourages the AOC to continue to work with stakeholders in 
order to ensure the content of the displays are accurate and 
have bipartisan support.
US Capitol Police [USCP]
     The Committee recognizes that in the wake of the 
January 6th attack on the Capitol there will need to be a 
renewed focus on adjusting the mission and resources of the 
department. That is a top priority for the Committee.
     The Committee supports the proposed regional 
approach to cross-country security. This proposal approved by 
the Capitol Police Board will allow the department to more 
efficiently respond to security threats in the various 
congressional districts across the country.
     The Committee believes that despite the pandemic 
and the events of January 6th, the collective bargaining 
agreement negotiations must continue. The current agreement is 
out of date and in need of updating.

Library of Congress

     The Committee believes there needs to be a focus 
on services offered by the Congressional Research Service. In 
the 116th Congress, the Committee held a hearing to understand 
some of the management challenges faced by CRS. More needs to 
be done in this space and hopefully can be supported in a 
bipartisan way in the current Congress.
     The future of the NLS Headquarters continues to be 
a priority for the Committee.
     The Committee strongly supports the efforts to 
continue to modernize the information technology systems that 
are the backbone of the United States Copyright Office.

Government Publishing Office [GPO]

     Title 44 reform, specifically the Federal Deposit 
Library Program is a top priority for the Committee. The 
program is in need to statutory changes to make it more 
beneficial for local libraries to participate, which in turn 
serves GPO's goal of providing greater access of government 
information by citizens.
     The Committee believes that the current process of 
posting legislation online needs to be reviewed to identify 
ways to speed up the process. Delays result in offices waiting 
several weeks in many instances to read the actual text of 
introduced legislation.

Office of Attending Physician [OAP]

     The Committee believes the OAP needs to develop a 
comprehensive vaccine distribution plan that would make 
available a vaccine for all front-line workers within Congress.
     The Committee looks forward to OAP developing a 
reopening plan with agreed upon criteria for the House's 
physical reopening.

                  FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS AND PROCEDURES

     Examine all aspects of election security practices 
and consider proposals to improve and strengthen election 
integrity.
     Examine the impact of amendments made by HAVA and 
the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) to 
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
(UOCAVA) and consider proposals to improve voting methods for 
those serving and living abroad.
     Examine the role and impact of political 
organizations and non-profit organizations on federal 
elections.
     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the committee; monitor any disputed election 
counts.
     Review all aspects of registration and voting 
practices in federal elections. Monitor allegations of fraud 
and misconduct during all phases of federal elections and 
evaluate measures to improve the integrity of the electoral 
process.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including presidential and congressional public 
financing, and consider potential reforms.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency and improve implementation of the Help America Vote 
Act (HAVA).
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, and improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures. Consider authorization issues 
and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.

  ADDITIONAL MINORITY VIEWS ON OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND 
                               PROCEDURES

    The Majority election oversight plan covers the 
jurisdiction of the Committee and we share in most of these 
objectives. However, we differ in the priority of these 
objectives and wish to include additional items. As the 117th 
Congress progresses, we hope to work with the Majority also to 
address:
     The protection and conservation of the primary, 
constitutional role of States with respect to determining the 
``the Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for 
Senators and Representatives'', as provided for in Article I, 
Section 4, of the Constitution, without undue federal 
regulation or interference.
     The protection and conservation of the States' 
constitutional role to appoint members of the Electoral College 
as their Legislatures best determine, as provided for in 
Article II, Section 1.
     Committee Minority Members continue to believe a 
prohibition against predatory election tactics such as ballot 
harvesting is warranted. The Committee should investigate these 
tactics.
     The examination of burdensome, unfunded, federal 
elections mandates during a time when local government budgets 
are under strain from the fiscal effects of the COVID-19 
pandemic.
     Methods to improve the enforcement of existing 
federal law that requires States to maintain their voter 
registration lists in order to improve the accuracy and 
integrity of the elections process.
     Investigate and monitor HAVA waste, fraud, and 
abuse (including, but without limitation, allegations of 
official funds going towards partisan ``get-out-the-vote'' 
efforts, lack of transparency in the contract bidding process, 
and ex parte communications between vendors and state 
contracting officials).
     Consideration of a national standard for 
transparent HAVA bidding processes and review should be 
established to prevent corruption.
     Study the appropriate role of partisan firms 
engaged in ``get-out-the-vote'' efforts in contracts funded 
using HAVA grants.

                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                 OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

    Submitted Pursuant to Clause 2(d) of House Rule X, March 1, 2021

    The Rules of the House of Representatives assign to the 
Committee on the Judiciary jurisdiction over: (1) the judiciary 
and judicial proceedings, civil and criminal; (2) 
administrative practice and procedure; (3) apportionment of 
Representatives; (4) bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and 
counterfeiting; (5) civil liberties; (6) Constitutional 
amendments; (7) criminal law enforcement and criminalization; 
(8) Federal courts and judges, and local courts in the 
Territories and possessions; (9) immigration policy and non-
border enforcement; (10) interstate compacts generally; (11) 
claims against the United States; (12) meetings of Congress; 
attendance of Members, Delegates, and the Resident 
Commissioner; and their acceptance of incompatible offices; 
(13) national penitentiaries; (14) patents, the Patent and 
Trademark Office, copyrights, and trademarks; (15) Presidential 
succession; (16) protection of trade and commerce against 
unlawful restraints and monopolies; (17) revision and 
codification of the Statutes of the United States; (18) State 
and territorial boundary lines; and (19) subversive activities 
affecting the internal security of the United States.
    The Committee's work on oversight and investigations will 
be coordinated across the Full Committee and each of the 
Subcommittees. Oversight activities may include hearings, 
briefings, correspondence, reports, public statements, and site 
visits. In the 117th Congress, this work may address any of the 
following issues, agencies, or legislative matters under the 
Committee's jurisdiction.

                             FULL COMMITTEE

    U.S. Department of Justice: In conjunction with the 
Subcommittees, the Committee will conduct oversight of the U.S. 
Department of Justice, including all Department components and 
agencies. This effort will include the investigation of threats 
to the integrity and independence of the Department of Justice, 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law 
enforcement agencies.
    National Security: The Committee will conduct oversight of 
the national security missions of the Law Enforcement and 
Intelligence Communities and assess the impact of government 
surveillance on privacy and civil liberties. This work will 
include reform and reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act.
    Executive Authority and Separation of Powers: The Committee 
will conduct oversight of executive orders, memoranda, and 
court filings issued by the White House, the Office of Legal 
Counsel, and other components of the Department of Justice, 
particularly as they may relate to an assertion of executive 
authority.
    The U.S. Copyright Office: The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Copyright Office. Oversight will include 
review of its recordation system, public access to its 
registration records, implementation of the Music Modernization 
Act and the CASE Act, and the Office's other modernization 
efforts.
    Copyright Law and Policy: The Committee will examine the 
provisions of the Copyright Act to ensure it addresses the 
challenges faced by copyright owners, users, and consumers in 
the digital environment. This work may include oversight of the 
Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement 
Coordinator.
    Intellectual Property Enforcement Agencies: The Committee 
will review the intellectual property enforcement efforts of 
the Department of Justice and U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection. To the extent it involves non-copyright-related 
intellectual property issues, this work will be closely 
coordinated with Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, 
and the Internet.

        SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY

    U.S. Department of Justice: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the law enforcement agencies of the U.S. 
Department of Justice, including:
          the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
          the Drug Enforcement Administration;
          the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
        Explosives;
          the U.S. Marshals Service;
          the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee;
          the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and
          Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
    In addition, the Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
Office of Justice Programs, the Office on Violence Against 
Women, the Community Oriented Policing Services Office, and the 
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, as well as 
the substantive statutes associated with these offices.
    Implementation of the FIRST STEP Act: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of various reforms to federal sentencing laws 
and the operation of federal prisons enacted by the FIRST STEP 
Act of 2018, as well as various additional reforms with regard 
to criminal justice.
    Federal Grants: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight on 
law enforcement assistance grants, Violence Against Women Act 
grants, community policing grants, and other grants 
administered by the Department of Justice.
    Office of the Pardon Attorney: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of DHS law enforcement 
components, including:
         the U.S. Secret Service;
         U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
         U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
         the U.S. Coast Guard; and
         the Federal Air Marshals Service.
    U.S. Sentencing Commission: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
    Policing Strategies: The Subcommittee will continue working 
with state and local governments and groups to foster positive 
police-community relations, and ensure law enforcement has the 
tools it needs to do its job.
    Gun Violence: The Subcommittee will continue to examine 
ways to reduce firearms-related violence.
    Encryption and Handheld Electronic Devices: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on both the benefits of 
strong encryption and efforts by law enforcement agencies to 
access encrypted information.
    Electronic Communications Privacy Act: The Subcommittee 
will continue its work to update this 1986 statute in light of 
the digital revolution that has taken place since the statute's 
enactment.
    Cybersecurity: The Subcommittee will review the laws and 
law enforcement tools designed to combat and prevent cyber-
attacks, particularly attacks on the independence and integrity 
of U.S. elections.
    Domestic Violent Extremism: The Subcommittee will continue 
to examine domestic violent extremism and the perpetration of 
acts of domestic terrorism in our country.
    Marijuana: The Subcommittee will review the laws related to 
the possession of marijuana and the impact of those laws on our 
communities.

  SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

    Protection of U.S. Citizens' Constitutional and Civil 
Rights: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Civil 
Rights Division of the Department of Justice and will examine 
the adequacy of current protections for U.S. citizens' 
constitutional and civil rights.
    Voting Rights: The Subcommittee will examine ways to 
enhance the ability of citizens to participate in federal 
elections by removing unnecessary barriers to access to the 
polls, addressing voter suppression efforts, and other means to 
fully guarantee the right to vote for all eligible individuals.
    Foreign Influence: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
on the influence of foreign governments, foreign corporations, 
and other foreign entities on the federal government. The 
Subcommittee will also examine the adequacy of current law to 
prevent non-United States persons from making financial 
contributions to federal campaigns.
    The Scope of Executive Authority: The Subcommittee will 
examine the proper scope and application of executive 
authority. This work may include a review of current ethics 
rules, the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, 
and pardons granted by the President.
    Religious Freedom: The Subcommittee will consider the 
protection of Americans' rights under the Free Exercise and 
Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment.
    LGBTQ Equality: The Subcommittee will examine laws and 
enforcement actions with respect to the equal treatment of 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.
    Reproductive Rights: The Subcommittee will examine laws and 
enforcement actions with respect to women's equality and 
reproductive choice.
    Free Speech and Free Press: The Subcommittee will examine 
the state of free speech and the freedom of the press in the 
United States.
    Detention of Suspected Terrorists: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on matters related to the long-term detention 
of suspected terrorists.
    United States Commission on Civil Rights: The Subcommittee 
will review the work of the Commission, its management, and its 
implementation.

              SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP

    Executive Orders: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of Executive Orders regarding immigration and border security 
signed by President Biden.
    Family Separation: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the Biden Administration's efforts to reunify families who 
were separated at the southern border.
    Immigration Detention and Custodial Arrangements: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of conditions in 
immigration detention facilities, including State and local 
jails, private prisons, and short-term Customs and Border 
Protection facilities, as well as the use of alternatives to 
detention. The Subcommittee will also conduct oversight of the 
care of unaccompanied minors in the custody of the Office of 
Refugee Resettlement.
    Access to Asylum: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the Biden Administration's attempts to restore access to 
asylum along the southern border including the winding down of 
the Migrant Protection Protocols, metering at ports of entry, 
and the Centers for Disease Control's use of Title 42 of the 
U.S. Code to expel migrants.
    Enforcement Priorities: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
adherence to the Biden Administration's enforcement priorities.
    Department of Homeland Security: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the components within DHS that are 
responsible for administering and enforcing United States 
immigration laws, including ICE and U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (USCIS).
    Nonimmigrant Worker Visa Programs: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the H-1B, H-2A, H-2B and various other 
nonimmigrant worker visa programs.
    Student Visa Programs: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the F, J, and M visa programs.
    Immigrant Investor Visa Program: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the immigrant investor visa program.
    Refugee Program: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of 
the refugee program and the Office of Refugee Resettlement 
within the Department of Health and Human Services.
    Visa Security: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of 
the screening of visa applicants.
    Executive Office for Immigration Review: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the Department of Justice's 
adjudication of immigration cases.

    SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND THE INTERNET

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 
(USPTO). This work may include the status of pending patent and 
trademark applications, patent and trademark quality, 
implementation of the America Invents Act and Trademark 
Modernization Act, and the USPTO's fee-setting authority.
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Global Intellectual 
Property Rights Attach Program: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on the Global Intellectual Property Rights Attach 
program's efforts to promote high international standards for 
protection and enforcement.
    International Intellectual Property Laws: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the impact of international 
intellectual property laws, regulations, and policies upon 
American interests. This work may include oversight of 
international trade agreements.
    Federal Judiciary: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the federal judiciary, including judicial ethics and 
disclosure, the PACER system, and the operation of the federal 
court system. In addition, the Subcommittee will examine the 
resources available to Article III courts, including judicial 
salaries and security for federal judges, and whether the 
number of existing judgeships is adequate for increases in 
caseloads.
    Technology Issues: The Subcommittee will examine 
developments in technology and the Internet affecting public 
policy, including issues surrounding Internet governance.
    Legal Services Corporation: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the Legal Services Corporation.

     SUBCOMMITTEE ON ANTITRUST, COMMERCIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

    Administrative Process and Procedure: The Subcommittee will 
examine specific regulations and proposed regulations, as well 
as issues related to the implementation of the Administrative 
Procedure Act and other federal statutes. The Subcommittee will 
also conduct oversight of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget.
    Bankruptcy: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
Bankruptcy Code, bankruptcy judgeships, and the federal 
bankruptcy system.
    Department of Justice: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Civil Division, the Environment and Natural 
Resources Division, the Antitrust Division, the Tax Division, 
the Executive Office for United States Trustees and the U.S. 
Trustee Program, and the Office of the Solicitor General.
    Federal Trade Commission: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Federal Trade Commission Act and the relevant 
components of the FTC.
    Administrative Conference of the United States: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Administrative 
Conference of the United States.
    Antitrust and Competition Policy: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on a range of antitrust issues, including 
specific mergers, enforcement of federal antitrust laws, and 
enforcement of antitrust laws overseas, and matters involving 
competition policy.
    Arbitration: The Subcommittee will review the operation of 
the Federal Arbitration Act.

                            REPUBLICAN VIEWS

                      Committee on the Judiciary 

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                     117th Congress Oversight Plan

    The Republican Members of the House Committee on the 
Judiciary intend to conduct objective, fact-based oversight of 
the Biden Administration and its dangerous left-wing agenda 
designed to reshape American society, the American economy, and 
our way of life. The Democrat majority seems intent on using 
the Committee to push significant and radical changes to 
federal law with limited, if any, Committee consideration and 
to continue Chairman Jerrold Nadler's oddly personal obsession 
with attacking former President Donald Trump. The Republican 
Members, however, will conduct legitimate oversight to make the 
federal agencies and programs within the Committee's 
jurisdiction more effective and more accountable to the 
American people.

        Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

     DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

    Republican Members will continue to oversee Special Counsel 
John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation's lawless investigation of alleged 
links between President Trump and Russia. Republicans will work 
to ensure that the Department of Justice appropriately 
continues its ongoing investigations concerning President 
Biden's son, Hunter Biden, including potential conflicts of 
interest and any nexus of the Biden family in foreign business 
dealings. Republican Members will also oversee the Department 
of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal 
agencies in their investigation and prosecution of left-wing 
violent anarchic extremists, including federal property damage 
and federal officer injuries in Portland, Oregon, and 
elsewhere. Finally, Republican Members will conduct oversight 
of Department of Justice grant programs to identify programs 
that should be streamlined or eliminated.

                        SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

    The Republican Members will conduct oversight of attempts 
to restrict Americans' fundamental Second Amendment rights. In 
District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court declared that 
the Second Amendment ``guarantee[s] the individual right to 
possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation'' and that 
``central'' to this right is ``the inherent right of self-
defense.''\20\ Republican Members will oppose any Biden 
Administration attempt to enact regulations or rules that would 
abridge the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. 
Republican Members will work to protect, preserve, and promote 
Americans' Second Amendment rights.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \20\ 554 U.S. 570, 592, 628 (2008)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      VIOLENT LEFT WING EXTREMISM

    Committee Democrats have dismissed and minimized the threat 
of violent left-wing extremism. Chairman Nadler called the 
radical leftist group Antifa an ``imaginary thing'' and Antifa 
violence a ``myth that's only spread in Washington, D.C.''\21\ 
When former Attorney General William Barr urged the Committee 
to condemn left-wing mob violence and destruction of federal 
property in his testimony in July 2020, not a single Democrat 
spoke up.\22\ Republican Members will continue to conduct 
oversight of the threat posed by violent left-wing extremists.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\166 Cong. Rec. H2423, H2457 (June 25, 2020) (statement of Rep. 
Jerrold Nadler); Yaron Steinbuch, Rep. Jerry Nadler calls violence from 
Antifa in Portland a `myth,' N.Y. Post (July 27, 2020).
    \22\Oversight of the Department of Justice: Hearing Before the H. 
Comm. on the Judiciary. 116th Cong. (2020) (question and answer with 
Rep. Debbie Lesko).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME

    Republican Members will conduct oversight to ensure that 
law-enforcement officers at all levels have the appropriate 
resources and support necessary to do their jobs, while also 
ensuring that law-enforcement agencies are accountable to the 
citizens they serve. An effective and accountable law-
enforcement community ensures that communities across the 
nation are safe and secure. Republican Members will continue to 
examine ways to address the problem of over-criminalization and 
over-federalization of our criminal laws. Republican Members 
also will conduct oversight to address the illicit narcotics 
activity of Mexican and Asian Transnational Criminal 
Organizations, including the trafficking of drugs through U.S. 
border states and the U.S. mail system.

  Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

                     CANCEL CULTURE AND FREE SPEECH

    Republican Members will examine the dangers of cancel 
culture and continue to support free speech and protections for 
political speech. Republican Members will also investigate 
institutions of higher learning and other entities to ensure 
that they respect the civil rights and civil liberties of their 
students and employees, with a focus on their right to speak 
and associate freely. In recent years, colleges and 
universities have implemented increasingly anti-democratic 
policies to limit the free speech rights of their students.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \23\See, e.g., FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, 
COLLEGE FREE SPEECH RANKINGS: WHAT'S THE CLIMATE FOR FREE SPEECH ON 
AMERICA'S COLLEGE CAMPUSES? (2020)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             VOTING RIGHTS

    In a number of states in 2020, state executive and judicial 
officials implemented last-minute changes to voting laws that 
fundamentally altered state voting laws.\24\ This activity not 
only leads to confusion among voters but also denies the 
people's representatives in the state legislatures of their 
constitutional authority to determine the manner of their 
elections. Republican Members will monitor changes to state 
voting laws and encourage state legislatures to improve state 
voting laws to ensure free and fair elections in which all 
Americans may have confidence.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \24\See Staff Report, H. Comm. on the Judiciary, How Democrats are 
Attempting to Sow Uncertainty, Inaccuracy, and Delay in the 2020 
Election (Sept. 23, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            SUPPORTING LIFE

    Republican Members will oversee any Biden Administration 
attempt to enact policies concerning abortion to ensure that 
the sincerely held religious, moral, and ethical beliefs of 
medical professionals and healthcare entities are respected. 
Republican Members will always defend life.

              Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship

    United States immigration law and policy should benefit 
American citizens and lawful permanent residents. Our borders 
must be secure, criminal aliens must be deported, and foreign 
nationals who want to come to the U.S. must be vetted. 
Immigration programs must not be subject to fraud and abuse. 
The immigration court system should operate fairly and 
efficiently. Most importantly, our laws and policies must not 
incentivize illegal immigration.

                          IMMIGRATION AGENCIES

    Republican Members will conduct robust oversight of all 
immigration-related agencies and components, including the 
Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
(USCIS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Department 
of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs and Bureau of Population, 
Refugees and Migration; the Department of Justice's Executive 
Office for Immigration Review; and the Department of Health and 
Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement to ensure that 
the Biden Administration properly implements U.S. immigration 
law and policy.
    Republican Members will conduct oversight to ensure that 
rulemakings and other executive actions by the Biden 
Administration adhere to the rule of law and do not result in 
radical policies that incentive illegal immigration.

                           IMMIGRATION POLICY

    Republican Members will examine whether ICE policies under 
the Biden Administration will result in dangerous criminal 
aliens and other deportable aliens failing to be removed from 
the United States. Republican Members will also conduct 
oversight of the use of detainers by ICE to ensure that 
criminal aliens are removed and whether mechanisms for 
alternatives to detention are effective in ensuring that aliens 
show up for immigration court proceedings and, where 
applicable, removal.
    Republican Members will conduct oversight to determine how 
the Biden Administration's policies incentivize sanctuary 
jurisdictions and make Americans less safe. Republican Members 
will examine whether policy changes made by USCIS fail to 
prevent fraud in the asylum and other immigration benefits 
processes. Republican Members will also assess USCIS's issuance 
of employment authorization documents to determine whether 
aliens are taking jobs from Americans. Republican Members will 
assess whether changes made to vetting procedures at the Bureau 
of Consular Affairs and USCIS fail to prevent abuse of 
immigration programs and prevent bad actors from accessing the 
country. Republican Members will conduct oversight of the 
immigration court process and Department of Justice policies 
affecting immigration policy to ensure the law is being applied 
as written.

    Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet

           CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

    Republican Members will continue to examine the conduct of 
the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) relating to the intellectual 
property (IP) rights of American businesses and citizens. In 
the 116th Congress, after a lengthy investigation, the House 
Republican Conference's China Task Force released a report 
summarizing its findings, which uncovered a range of Chinese 
misconduct attacking the IP rights of Americans as well as the 
American IP system. Republican Members will scrutinize China's 
theft of American IP and technology, facilitation of massive 
counterfeiting of American goods, attempted sabotage of the 
U.S. trademark registry, and other misconduct.
    Republican Members will evaluate potential solutions and 
countermeasures to hold the CCP accountable for its misconduct 
relating to IP. These solutions may include enforcement of the 
IP provisions of the Phase 1 trade agreement negotiated by the 
Trump Administration, expanding support to the law enforcement 
entities responsible for protecting American IP and 
counteracting Chinese misconduct, providing greater resources 
to American businesses to protect their IP from Chinese theft 
and industrial espionage, and robust oversight of relevant 
federal agencies.
    Republican Members will examine the extent to which the CCP 
utilizes cyberattacks to steal American IP and attack our IP 
system, harming American businesses and their ability to 
compete against Chinese companies. Republican Members will 
evaluate potential measures to better protect the country from 
cyberattacks from China and other wrongdoers.

                           FEDERAL JUDICIARY

    Republican Members will conduct oversight of the federal 
judiciary, including evidence issues and civil and appellate 
procedures. Republican Members will also examine the resources 
available to Article III courts, including security for federal 
judges, the sufficiency of current transparency measures, and 
the use of funding streams from PACER and filing fees.
    Republican Members will oppose any effort by Democrats to 
pack the Supreme Court and lower federal courts with radical 
left-wing activist judges.

     Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law

                 BIG TECH'S BIAS AGAINST CONSERVATIVES

    The Big Tech giants are out to get conservatives and stifle 
the free speech rights of conservative Americans. Republican 
Members will continue to conduct robust, objective oversight of 
Big Tech's censorship of free speech. Republican Members will 
consider all options to stop Big Tech's attacks on 
conservatives.

 REINING IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE AND STRENGTHENING THE RULE OF LAW

    Republicans Members will conduct oversight of any of the 
Biden Administration's efforts to drastically expand the 
administrative state. Members will continue to examine how the 
practice of allowing judicial deference to federal agency 
interpretations of law unjustly empowers agencies at the 
expense of private parties and undermines fundamental 
separation of powers. Republican Members will evaluate how the 
Biden Administration's effort to reverse the Trump 
Administration's deregulatory successes harm American job 
creators and small businesses. Republican Members will examine 
whether Congress should improve the Administrative Procedure 
Act and the Congressional Review Act to further enhance the 
rule of law, rein in the unwieldy administrative state, and 
restore authorities that the Founders entrusted to officials 
elected by the American people.

                     COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

                     OVERSIGHT PLAN 117TH CONGRESS

                       Chairman Raul M. Grijalva

                              INTRODUCTION

    Under clause 2 of rule X of the House of Representatives, 
each standing committee of the House has general oversight 
responsibilities to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within its jurisdiction are being 
implemented in accordance with the intent of Congress and to 
determine whether they should be continued, curtailed or 
eliminated. The Committee intends to review the following laws, 
programs, and issues within the Committee's jurisdiction during 
the 117th Congress:
Justice and Equity
    Federal policy can and should seek to achieve justice, 
health equity, and climate and environmental justice for all 
communities, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or 
national origin. Equitable treatment of all communities and a 
focus on environmental justice will underpin the Committee's 
oversight and legislative work.
    The previous administration eroded many fundamental 
protections for frontline and under-resourced communities. This 
agenda took many forms: undermining tribal sovereignty by 
destroying sacred sites and pushing forward with mineral 
extraction in ancestral hunting grounds, relaxing federal air 
and water pollution rules, ignoring the recovery needs of 
insular areas after hurricanes and tsunamis, and eroding 
implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
a critical law for environmental justice that ensures that the 
public has a voice in federal decisions. The Committee will 
work with the new administration to reestablish NEPA as a 
safeguard for environmental justice and will continue to 
elevate the importance of meaningful federal consultation with 
tribes.
    The Committee will also work with the new administration to 
restore and defend the basic rights of those communities. We 
will conduct legislative and oversight activities to ensure 
tribes and insular areas receive the resources needed to 
address the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies; reduce 
pollution; address the climate crisis; and identify and address 
obstacles for under-resourced communities that reasonably 
desire clean water, climate resilient infrastructure and 
ecosystems, renewable energy, and public access to nature. 
Recognizing the benefits of including diverse voices in 
policymaking, the Committee is committed to inviting diverse 
witnesses to testify in Committee hearings, continuing to work 
to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the 
agencies under the Committee's jurisdiction, and continuing its 
engagement with environmental justice communities and other 
under-represented groups.
Insular Affairs
    Budget Oversight: The Committee will oversee the portion of 
the president's budget request that relates to the insular 
areas of the United States, including five principal U.S. 
Territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands) and three Freely Associated States (Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic 
of Palau).
    Climate Change: The Committee intends to advance 
legislation, sponsored by the Chair, to reduce climate crisis 
impacts on U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States.
    Puerto Rico Self-Determination: In the 116th Congress, the 
Committee received several bills designed to advance Puerto 
Rico's political status. The Committee will examine legislation 
to resolve Puerto Rico's political status and hold hearings on 
competing bills to fulfill this objective.
    Infrastructure and Alternative Energy Development: The 
Committee plans to explore initiatives to increase and expedite 
infrastructure development in all U.S. Territories. In 
addition, the Committee anticipates reviewing alternative 
energy proposals to reduce reliance on imported fuel and 
maximize the use of alternative and indigenous sources of 
energy.
    Compacts of Free Association: The Committee will exercise 
its oversight authority related to negotiations to extend the 
funding and program assistance to the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in 
accordance with the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act 
of 2003 (P.L.108-188) and with Public Law 99-658, which 
established the free association relationship between the 
United States and the Republic of Palau. The Committee intends 
to monitor pending formal negotiations to extend the Compacts 
beyond 2023 for the FSM and the RMI, and 2024 for the Republic 
of Palau.
    Territorial Debt and the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, 
and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA): The Committee will 
continue to exercise its oversight authority over the 
implementation of PROMESA, and review the current level and 
long-term trends of public debt in each of the five U.S. 
Territories.
    Puerto Rico Post-Disaster Reconstruction: Continued 
oversight of Puerto Rico's efforts to rebuild after the 
devastation of Hurricane Maria and the island's need for 
federal assistance remains a priority for the Committee. The 
Committee intends to hold an oversight hearing early in the 
117th Congress to this effect.
Indigenous Peoples of the United States
    Budget Oversight: The Committee will review the budget 
requests for programs and activities related to the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), Indian 
Health Service (IHS), and Bureau of Trust Funds Administration 
(formerly the Office of the Special Trustee for American 
Indians (OST)) to ensure that Tribal communities have adequate 
resources.
    Indian Health Care: Under the terms of the federal trust 
responsibility, the federal government is legally obligated to 
provide health care services to American Indian tribes, Alaska 
Native villages, and Native Hawaiians. Unfortunately, the 
federal government has not lived up to this responsibility 
during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to decades of chronic 
underfunding and historical trauma, Indigenous Peoples have 
contracted COVID-19 at higher rates than all other population 
groups, which has also resulted in higher rates of coronavirus-
related deaths. The Indian Health Service (IHS) has faced 
significant backlogs in health care facility construction, and 
the maintenance of existing facilities remains a limiting 
factor in the agency's pandemic response. As the pandemic 
continues to unfold, the Committee will examine IHS's status in 
planning, mitigating, and treating the virus, including the 
agency's distribution of the vaccine. The Committee will review 
IHS' ability to maintain the health and well-being of tribal 
communities, and Native Hawaiian Health Centers during the 
pandemic and beyond.
    Climate Change: The Committee believes that climate 
change's threat to the livelihoods and economies of tribal 
communities must not be underestimated. Indigenous Peoples 
remain on the front lines of climate change due to the 
disproportionate impacts that it has had on tribal lands, 
Native Hawaiian homelands, water, traditional foods, plants, 
and endangered species. The Committee will review the ongoing 
effects of climate change on tribal communities, incorporate 
environmental justice strategies, discuss the adaption 
strategies employed in those communities, and address any unmet 
needs.
    Renewable Energy Development: Many of the best locations to 
develop renewable energy, such as wind and solar, exist on 
tribal lands. However, many barriers still limit tribal 
governments' ability to develop these resources. The Committee 
intends to review how the federal government can assist tribal 
governments, and Native Hawaiian organizations in these efforts 
and incentivize renewable and sustainable energy resources 
best. The Committee will facilitate the inclusion of 
sustainable resources for tribal communities in the energy 
initiatives proposed in the 117th Congress.
    Sanitation and Clean Water: More than half million 
individuals in tribal communities across the United States--
comprising nearly 48 percent of all homes--do not have access 
to reliable water sources, clean drinking water, or basic 
sanitation facilities. Insufficient water and sanitation 
systems facilitate the spread of public health crises, impede 
economic development, and hinder infrastructure capacities on 
reservations. The Committee will examine the detrimental 
effects of inadequate water and sanitation systems and provide 
solutions to ensure that tribal communities can access these 
essential services.
    Tribal Justice and Public Safety: The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that murder remains 
the third leading cause of death among American Indian and 
Alaska Native women. Known as the Missing and Murdered 
Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis, this trend has continued 
throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Tribal justice 
systems are often at odds with state jurisdictions and 
depending on their status as a Public Law 280 state, some 
tribal governments have had their legal authority transferred 
from the federal government to the state. When an Indigenous 
woman is murdered or deemed missing on tribal lands, these 
layered jurisdictions result in inefficient and uncollaborative 
investigations with low prosecution rates. The Committee will 
continue to gather information from tribal communities to 
develop comprehensive legislation that reviews and resolves 
hindrances in tribal justice systems.
    Economic Development: The Committee will examine what 
circumstances are required to spur economic development on 
tribal lands. Such circumstances include: establishing tribal 
infrastructure conducive to business development; creating 
tribal plans, laws, and regulations that support business 
operations; identifying incentives that encourage existing 
businesses to relocate to tribal lands; and increasing tribal 
access to financial capital seed money. The Committee's goal is 
to ensure the creation of strong, stable tribal government 
structures that are prepared to engage in business development 
and foster relationships with outside enterprises to improve 
the lives of all involved.
    Indian Education: The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) 
manages a school system of 169 elementary and secondary schools 
and 14 dormitories to provide educational services to 48,000 
tribal students. Unfortunately, BIE faces a backlog of school 
maintenance and construction projects and has not adequately 
transitioned to a distance learning model during the ongoing 
pandemic. The Committee will look into BIE's overall ability to 
function to ensure that American Indian and Alaska Native 
children receive equitable educations in safe and healthy 
environments.
    Tribal Consultation: Under the terms of the federal trust 
responsibility, the federal government is legally obligated to 
ensure that meaningful tribal consultation remains an integral 
part of the federal decision-making process, yet Congress has 
never codified the standards for this intergovernmental 
relationship. Consultation with tribal governments demands more 
than merely notifying a tribal government about a planned 
undertaking that may affect them. Tribal consultation must be 
the collaborative process of seeking, discussing, and, wherever 
feasible, seeking agreement for proposed federal activities and 
other matters. As it stands now, the mandate for federal 
agencies to engage in tribal consultation is upheld only by an 
executive order that can be rescinded or ignored, depending on 
the administration. The tribal consultation process has varied 
among each agency and has produced widely differing 
consultation protocols. While the variance in federal 
consultation procedures has always concerned tribal 
governments, the difficulties presented during the coronavirus 
pandemic have heightened the need for set-in-stone procedures. 
The Committee will introduce legislation to address the current 
federal consultation framework's shortfalls and establish 
agency-wide standards to guarantee that meaningful and 
effective tribal consultation occurs in perpetuity.
    Trust Lands: Acquisition of trust lands for the benefit of 
tribal governments is essential to tribal self-determination, 
economic development, and the protection of tribal lands for 
future generations. Tribal governments can acquire trust lands 
through acts of Congress or by participating in the ``Part 
151'' process at the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). 
Until 2009, DOI had consistently construed the Indian 
Reorganization Act (IRA) to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to place land into trust for any tribal government, so 
long as the tribe was federally recognized at the time of the 
trust application. However, the Supreme Court held in Carcieri 
v. Salazar that the Secretary's authority to place land into 
trust under the IRA applies only to the tribal governments that 
were ``under federal jurisdiction'' at the time of its 
passage--1934. This decision overturned 75 years of precedent 
and created dangerous legal ambiguities related to both current 
land-into-trust requests and previously established trust 
lands. The uncertainty the Carcieri decision created continues 
to threaten tribal sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency, and 
self- determination. The Committee will examine the original 
intent of the IRA to identify a solution to the land-into-trust 
circumstances created by the Carcieri decision.
    Sacred Sites: The ongoing protection and restoration of 
tribal sacred sites is a major priority for the Committee. The 
desecration and destruction of sacred sites and ancestral 
lands, without prior tribal consultation, remains a deep 
concern. The Committee will continue to work with tribal 
leaders and Native Hawaiian organizations to ensure that sacred 
sites are protected and, where necessary, the damage arising 
from the previous administration's actions is remediated.

Water

    Budget Oversight: The Committee will oversee the portions 
of the president's budget that relate to the programs and 
activities of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the 
Water Resources Mission Area of the U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS).
    Indian Water Rights Settlements: Many Native communities 
across the United States still do not have access to reliable 
water sources, safe drinking water, or basic sanitation even 
though the federal government has a trust responsibility to 
help secure the water supplies needed for a viable homeland. 
These water supply challenges have historically been alleviated 
through the negotiation and implementation of Indian water 
rights settlements, which supply Native communities with water 
to which they are legally entitled. The Committee will closely 
follow Indian water rights settlement negotiations between the 
administration and tribes and will seek to expedite and advance 
water settlement negotiations and congressional approval of 
negotiated settlements.
    Addressing Climate Change and Drought Impacts: Climate 
change-induced drought imperils our nation's ecosystems and 
threatens to dramatically reduce our nation's water supplies, 
especially through reduced precipitation and shrinking 
snowpack. These water supply impacts disproportionately impact 
tribal and rural communities. The Committee will continue to 
support and advance policies that address climate change-
related water shortages, including investment and support for 
new water infrastructure, well-designed water storage, 
desalination, water reuse and recycling, water-use efficiency, 
conservation, technological development and investment in 
watershed health.
    Colorado River Management: The Colorado River, which 
supplies water to 40 million people, is in its twenty-first 
year of prolonged drought. The Committee will focus on the 
long-term resiliency of the Colorado River and implementation 
of the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, a set of 
agreements designed to avoid severe shortages through voluntary 
water conservation and reservoir management strategies. As 
states and water managers begin to plan for the management of 
the Colorado River after the expiration of the Drought 
Contingency Plan in 2026, the Committee will work to ensure 
that discussions include a meaningful role for tribes and full 
consideration of climate change impacts.
    California Water: Persistent drought conditions will 
continue to exacerbate existing water management challenges in 
California. The Committee will monitor efforts by the Biden 
administration to restore Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
protections associated with California water projects. The 
Committee will also monitor implementation of Public Law 114-
322, with a particular focus on implementation of the statute's 
operational provisions and spending on desalination, reuse, and 
water storage projects.
    Water Research and Data: The Committee will work to advance 
the use and development of modern water management tools, data, 
research, and technologies. Significant investment is needed to 
maintain and improve USGS water data and modeling capacity. The 
Committee will explore opportunities for the development of 
innovative water technologies, including new opportunities 
related to water reuse and recycling and desalination methods 
that reduce costs, energy consumption and environmental 
effects.
    Investing in Resilient Water Supplies: Modern approaches to 
water management and infrastructure can help address western 
water supply challenges. The Committee will work to advance 
legislation to support the development of desalination, water 
reuse and recycling, well-designed storage, water-use 
efficiency, and natural water infrastructure. The Committee 
will support the development of more resilient water 
infrastructure, expanded reliance on modern water management 
technologies, and investments in watershed health to benefit 
fish, wildlife, and downstream communities.
    Columbia River Treaty Negotiations: The Columbia River 
Treaty is currently being renegotiated by the United States and 
Canada. The Treaty governs how water projects on the Columbia 
River are operated in both countries. Water project operations 
have an impact on numerous stakeholders and the environment, 
and significantly affect tribal fisheries in the Pacific 
Northwest. The Committee will closely track ongoing 
negotiations and seek to ensure that tribal interests are 
protected during the negotiation process.
    Hydropower Licensing: Congress has provided agencies like 
FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with broad 
authority to develop requirements for hydropower licensees that 
help protect public resources and the environment. Given the 
long duration of hydropower licenses issued by the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), many projects up for 
relicensing are operating on permits granted prior to the 
passage of modern environmental laws. The Committee will 
conduct oversight on the impact of aging hydropower facilities 
that are seeking new long-term licenses, with a particular 
focus on the impacts on tribes, fish and wildlife, water 
quality, and other natural resources and cultural values. The 
Committee will also examine whether federal natural resource 
agencies like FWS and NMFS are fully meeting their 
responsibilities under the Federal Power Act.
    Power Marketing Administrations: The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the four Power Marketing Administrations that sell 
hydroelectricity used by millions of retail electricity 
customers. The Committee will pay particular attention to 
environmental mitigation programs and ongoing efforts to update 
and modify hydropower operations to ensure that environmental 
harm is appropriately mitigated.

Oceans and Wildlife

    Budget Oversight: The Committee will review the president's 
budget requests for the programs and activities of NOAA and 
FWS.
    Climate Crisis: Addressing the climate crisis involves 
strategies to reduce pollution and improve the resilience of 
ecosystems and communities to the impacts of climate change. 
The Committee expects to consider and promote legislation that 
reduces carbon pollution and implements natural resource 
adaptation strategies to help mitigate the impacts of climate 
change on our coasts and oceans, and the communities affected 
by the climate crisis. Legislation could include comprehensive 
ocean-based climate solutions, establishing wildlife corridors, 
expanding funding for state and tribal wildlife conservation 
plan implementation, and several coastal resilience bills.
    Endangered Species: In 2019, scientists warned of an 
ongoing biodiversity crisis due to climate change, human 
activities, and other causes. Unfortunately, the previous 
administration spent four years undermining the ESA, the best 
tool available for the protection of our nation's most 
imperiled species. Political appointees used their positions 
and influence to meddle in scientific decisions under the ESA 
and alter policy outcomes, potentially harming species and 
undermining the integrity of the law and the morale and 
reputation of the agencies charged with its implementation. The 
Committee will work closely with the new administration to 
restore transparency, consistency, and accountability in the 
implementation of the ESA, ensuring that sound science is the 
basis for decision-making under the law.
    Strengthening the U.S. Commitment to International Wildlife 
Conservation: The Committee invested substantial time during 
the 116th Congress conducting oversight into human rights 
abuses by park rangers in international conservation reserves 
funded in part by U.S. government grants, including through the 
Multinational Species Conservation Fund. A GAO report found 
inconsistent oversight and safeguards in Department of the 
Interior grantmaking. The Committee intends to advance 
legislation to improve oversight and accountability of 
international conservation projects funded by the U.S. 
government. The Committee may also consider legislation to 
support conservation efforts of other species outside of the 
Multinational Species Conservation Funds that would help the 
U.S. carry out its objectives under the ESA and the Convention 
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
Flora, and will continue to monitor the expansion of FWS's 
attache program to serve in additional countries at high risk 
of wildlife trafficking.
    Preventing Future Pandemics: Research shows that COVID-19 
is likely a wildlife-borne disease that jumped the species 
barrier to humans. Wildlife-borne diseases are a growing threat 
to human health, the global economy, and international 
security. Other examples include Avian and Swine flu, Lyme 
disease, and Ebola. Chronic wasting disease--a disease with the 
same infection mechanism as mad cow disease--has not yet jumped 
the species barrier but is rapidly spreading across the deer 
and elk population in the United States and Canada. Robust 
disease surveillance, early detection, rapid response, and 
science-based management are critical to managing wildlife-
borne diseases before they result in another pandemic. The 
Committee will work with the administration to build upon 
existing expertise and capacity in the federal government to 
better prevent, detect, and manage future wildlife-borne 
disease outbreaks.
    International Fisheries Management and Illegal, 
Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) Fishing: Internationally, IUU 
fishing is a significant marine resource conservation problem 
with serious impacts on U.S. fishermen and economies around the 
globe. IUU fishing practices have strong links to human 
trafficking. NMFS publishes a biennial report on the status of 
IUU fishing (including the occurrence of unacceptable levels of 
bycatch) to establish certification procedures and evaluate 
subsequent progress to reduce the impacts of such fishing 
practices on protected living marine resources. In 2021, the 
U.S. State Department and NOAA released a report detailing 29 
countries most at risk for human trafficking in the seafood 
supply chain. The Committee intends to advance legislation to 
strengthen enforcement and traceability mechanisms to 
discourage IUU fishing and address human trafficking in the 
seafood supply chain.
    Coastal Management: Several bills were introduced during 
the 116th Congress that offered potential amendments to the 
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), specifically regarding 
coastal climate change adaptation, retention of working 
waterfronts, preserving coastal open space and wildlife 
habitat, giving tribes access to CZMA funding, and 
strengthening our system of National Estuarine Research 
Reserves. Legislation was also considered to facilitate and 
promote regional ocean partnerships and to provide funding for 
wetland restoration, living shorelines, blue carbon projects, 
and updates to the National Coastal Resilience Fund. The 
Committee plans to refine these ideas and further collaborate 
with NOAA, coastal states, and other stakeholders to shape CZMA 
and other coastal legislation to provide the necessary tools to 
manage our dynamic ocean and coastal resources and ensure 
equitable treatment for tribes, insular areas, and communities 
with high social vulnerability to climate impacts in the 
coastal zone.
    Injurious and Invasive Species: Invasive, nonnative species 
can harm the economy, the environment, other animal species' 
health and human health. The Committee's ongoing evaluation of 
these negative impacts, and the inadequacies of the current 
injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act Amendments of 
1981, has clearly identified the need for a proactive approach. 
The Committee expects to advance legislation authorizing the 
FWS to establish a risk assessment process and improve 
surveillance to control the importation and transportation of 
injurious wildlife species, including species that pose a risk 
to human health.
    Advancing Bird Conservation: The Committee remains 
concerned that many bird populations around the world, 
including some populations of popular waterfowl species that 
are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), are 
depleted or in rapid decline due to factors related to climate 
change, habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, and incidental 
mortality. The previous administration undermined the MBTA by 
determining that it would not hold companies liable for 
incidental take of birds protected by the MBTA, and in January 
2021 finalized regulations enforcing that new policy. The 
Committee will work with the new administration to review the 
regulatory changes under the MBTA and anticipates advancing 
legislation authorizing a general permit program for incidental 
take, which would provide certainty for industry and strengthen 
protections for migratory birds.
    Enhancing Our Use of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The 
science justifying the use of marine protected areas as a 
resource management tool--including the use of no-take marine 
reserves--has matured in recent years, and the use of MPAs has 
become more widespread. The best available science demonstrates 
that establishing protected areas is critical to preserving 
biodiversity, promoting healthy fisheries, and enhancing 
climate resilience. In the 116th Congress, the Committee 
advanced legislation that would implement more MPAs and include 
a stakeholder-driven process for determining protections. The 
Committee is committed to working with the administration to 
implement President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order to 
protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.
    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 
(CITES): 182 countries are party to this international 
agreement, which provides worldwide protection for endangered 
plants and animals by ensuring that trade does not threaten 
their survival. The Committee intends to monitor the 
implementation of CITES by the United States and other 
countries and will examine the strategies that the United 
States plans to pursue to achieve and promote species 
conservation.
    Implementation of the Magnuson Act: Among other changes to 
our federal fishery management system, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA) 
of 2006 mandated the implementation of annual catch limits and 
accountability measures to end overfishing. The Committee will 
continue to conduct oversight regarding policies, rules, and 
fishery management plan amendments designed to fulfill these 
and other mandates under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to ensure 
that the law is being implemented as Congress intended. The 
Committee will also examine the appropriate levels of funding 
needed to implement the law effectively and whether updates to 
the law would improve fishery management and science.
    Marine Mammals: During the 116th Congress several bills 
were introduced to address marine mammal issues, including the 
dwindling North Atlantic right whale population, the 
sensitivity of marine mammals to climate change, marine mammal 
stranding and rescue, ocean noise, and the threats of vessel 
collisions with whales and marine life. The previous 
administration allowed destructive activities, such as seismic 
testing in the Atlantic Ocean, to proceed despite the 
scientific evidence of grave risk to endangered marine mammals. 
The Committee intends to conduct oversight hearings and advance 
legislation to improve marine mammal conservation.
    Marine Aquaculture in Federal Waters: No comprehensive 
federal permitting and regulatory system for the siting of 
aquaculture facilities in the Exclusive Economic Zone exists. 
Under the previous administration, NOAA sought legislation to 
establish this authority. The Committee intends to conduct 
oversight to determine whether such legislation is necessary, 
including questions of environmental reviews, permitting and 
site selection, and properly monitoring and mitigating the 
potential, specific and cumulative ecological impacts of 
offshore aquaculture.
    International Whaling Commission: The Committee will 
monitor the activities of the U.S. Delegation as it engages in 
negotiations on the future of the International Whaling 
Commission.
    Reaffirming U.S. Global Leadership in Coral Reef 
Conservation and Science: In recognition of the persistent 
threats to, and tenuous health of, global coral reef resources, 
several bills to reauthorize and strengthen the Coral Reef 
Conservation Act were introduced in the previous Congress. The 
Committee will look to pass legislation in the 117th Congress 
to increase support for local coral reef action strategies, to 
strengthen international cooperation and enforcement of coral 
reef protections, to enhance effective federal coordination by 
giving statutory authority to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, 
and to explicitly authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
protect coral reef resources under the Department's 
jurisdiction.
    Addressing U.S. Needs for Advancement and Innovation in 
U.S. Ocean Science, Research and Technologies: Recognizing the 
need to jumpstart efforts to address the declining investments 
in and attention to U.S. ocean science, research, and 
technology, a number of Committee-led bills were signed into 
law in the 116th Congress, including reauthorizing integrated 
ocean observations, the National Sea Grant College Program, 
National Oceanographic Partnership Program and the NOAA 
Commissioned Officer Corps, and authorizing NOAA's Digital 
Coast activities, the Ocean Policy Committee, and more. In the 
117th Congress, the Committee intends to advance more 
legislation that will improve science and management of our 
ocean resources, including Regional Ocean Partnerships and 
legislation on blue carbon.

National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands

    In the 117th Congress, the Committee plans to continue its 
focus on: understanding the impacts of climate change on public 
lands and ensuring that public lands serve as a key part of the 
climate solution; ensuring that public lands serve all 
Americans through equitable access and increased 
representation; ensuring fair taxpayer returns for the use of 
public lands and their resources; and assessing opportunities 
to protect public land and water for the enjoyment and benefit 
of all Americans.
    Budget Oversight: The Committee will review the President's 
budget requests for the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. 
Forest Service (USFS), and Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 
programs and activities, ensuring that they appropriately 
address issues of interest to the Committee and responsibly 
steward federal resources.
    Climate Change: Global climate change poses an existential 
threat to America's national parks, forests, and public lands, 
as well as the communities that depend upon them. In order to 
address this threat, Congress will need to work alongside the 
executive branch to ensure federal leadership on an all-lands 
climate response. The Committee will review the impacts of 
climate change on public lands to understand options for 
enhancing their resiliency and mitigation potential. This will 
include the review of existing land management systems and 
practices, and the consideration of new land management 
programs. The Committee will also consider the role of 
protected landscapes in helping preserve and protect ecosystem 
services, land use values, and functional ecosystems, all of 
which aid in climate change adaptation.
    Economic Stimulus and Public Lands: The coronavirus 
pandemic has created acute economic difficulties for many 
Americans. While Congress may act to address these immediate 
difficulties and support Americans in the midst of the 
pandemic, it is likely that additional actions will be 
necessary to bolster the economy in the long term. Any such 
effort must include funding to address the climate and nature 
crises and must put Americans to work in well-paying jobs. The 
Committee will review opportunities to increase funding for 
existing programs and consider new programs that support the 
stewardship and restoration of public lands and wildlife, while 
supporting American workers and local economies in transition.
    Lands Restoration and the Public Land Corps: The Trump 
administration's race to open public lands to extractive uses 
has increased the acreage in need of restoration. There is 
ample opportunity for Congress to increase restoration 
spending, support communities in transition and those hurt by 
the coronavirus pandemic and ensure that healthy public lands 
are part of the climate solution. The Committee will review 
proposals and work with the Biden administration to plan for a 
civilian climate corps that employs young Americans and teaches 
jobs training skills while restoring public lands and waters. 
Congress recently authorized the Indian Youth Service Corps, 
and the Committee will examine opportunities to ensure this 
program is appropriately prioritized.
    Urban Parks: Our public lands encompass countless natural 
wonders to visit and explore but, for many families, these 
places can feel a world away. Ample opportunities exist to 
leverage federal expertise and resources to invest in local and 
urban parks. The Committee will consider how state, local, and 
urban parks programs can be expanded in order to provide 
outdoor recreational spaces in environmental justice 
communities while promoting expanded access through pedestrian, 
bicycle, and public transit connectivity to more distant parks 
and public lands.
    Recreation: Public lands outdoor recreation is an 
undeniably growing use of our national parks, forests, and 
public lands. Increased use brings new challenges and 
opportunities for federal land management agencies and 
multiple-use groups. The Committee will continue to consider 
the economic and job creation potential of outdoor recreation 
on public lands as well as ways to enhance recreational 
opportunities, including through reforms to special use 
permitting, concessions contracting, funding for land 
acquisition, and designation of recreational areas.
    Outreach and Representation: National parks, forests, and 
public lands belong to all Americans. National Park Service 
theme studies analyze existing efforts and identify 
opportunities for increased representation of Asian American 
and Pacific Islander heritage, LGBTQ+ Americans, and American 
Latino heritage, among others. The Committee looks forward to 
working with the Biden administration to advance policies and 
efforts to diversify outreach and representation of underserved 
communities. The Committee will also explore legislative 
opportunities to increase outreach and representation 
throughout America's public lands.
    Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation: National 
parks, forests, and public lands contain an array of valuable 
cultural resources, including many considered sacred by Native 
American communities. Programs like the Historic Preservation 
Fund (HPF) provide critical funding for heritage preservation 
that states, and tribal communities rely on to fund local, 
regional, and national historic preservation efforts. The 
Committee will look for opportunities to strengthen the HPF and 
other related programs and spotlight the need to inventory 
cultural and historic resources on public land, exploring 
opportunities to create additional protections for cultural 
sites.
    Wildfire: Climate change, increased development near 
wildlands, funding and workforce challenges, and misplaced 
management priorities have put a record number of people and 
communities at risk from wildfire. The Committee will examine 
how federal land management agencies can better account for 
climate change, adapt to year-round wildfire risk, and leverage 
federal resources and partnerships to prepare vulnerable 
communities and populations. The Committee will assess the 
effectiveness of current federal programs, policies, and 
funding levels to determine how legislation or administrative 
actions could more effectively address issues related to 
wildfire, climate change, and community protection.
    Wildfire Suppression Costs: Federal wildfire suppression 
efforts cost billions of dollars annually and are anticipated 
to continue growing in the face of climate change and other 
factors. The urgent need to protect people and communities from 
this growing wildfire risk has led to doubling down on costly 
suppression tactics, which contributes to a long-term lack of 
investment in other land management programs and priorities. 
The Committee will examine the effectiveness of annual fire 
suppression efforts and consider how federal land management 
agencies can better align fire and non-fire objectives in order 
to reduce costs, promote fire-adapted ecosystems, and direct 
resources to the highest need and most vulnerable communities.
    Land Acquisition: The enactment of the Great American 
Outdoors Act made an historic investment in the future of 
American conversation, providing full and permanent funding for 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Despite that success, the 
Trump administration put forward policies designed to limit 
federal land acquisition by the Bureau of Land Management and 
divert funds away from urban and underserved communities. The 
Committee will highlight the need to restore programs like the 
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership to enhance outdoor 
recreation opportunities in park-poor communities while 
continuing to support land acquisition to connect ecosystems 
through wildlife migration corridors, promote access for 
outdoor recreation, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
    Land Management Planning: While Congress designates certain 
lands for management as national parks, monuments, and 
wilderness areas, the land management agencies themselves have 
a key role in setting out the parameters of management for the 
majority of public lands. Under the Trump administration, they 
exercised this responsibility to weaken federal conservation 
efforts and open lands to extractive uses. The Committee will 
examine these efforts to reduce federal conservation efforts, 
and consider options to update land management planning to 
ensure that climate change mitigation and resilience, wildlife 
protection, recreation access, and other key considerations are 
at the heart of land use planning and management.
    Wilderness and Protected Public Lands: Protected public 
lands are one of our most valuable tools in the fight against 
climate change. They can limit carbon intensive activities, 
naturally sequester carbon, provide areas where natural 
wildfire can help restore the landscape, provide buffering for 
inhabited areas, encourage non-motorized recreation, and 
provide clean air, clean water and critical wildlife habitat. 
The Committee plans to reconsider place-based legislation to 
protect public lands through wilderness and other congressional 
designations, while working to identify new high- conservation 
value areas deserving of protection. The Committee will examine 
opportunities to increase conservation across U.S. public 
lands, including the role of public lands in achieving 
President Biden's objective of conserving 30 percent of our 
lands and waters by 2030.
    National Environmental Policy Act: The Committee remains 
concerned about the Trump administration's efforts to undermine 
science and public participation in agency decision-making. The 
Committee will review how Counsel on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) NEPA procedures and directives are being implemented at 
the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, 
including the increased tendency to categorically exclude major 
decisions from stronger environmental analysis. We will also 
explore implementation of recently enacted land management 
authorities and other laws, policies, and directives relating 
to NEPA.
    Roadless Area Conservation: The Committee will continue 
examining the decision to provide an Alaska Roadless Exemption 
for the Tongass National Forest and consider options to reverse 
this decision, ensuring the integrity of roadless area 
protections for National Forest System lands nationally.
    Addressing the BLM Reorganization: The Trump 
administration's effort to reorganize and relocate the Bureau 
of Land Management's (BLM) headquarters away from Washington, 
D.C., led to the loss of up to 80 percent of the agency's 
senior career staff. The Government Accountability Office found 
this reorganization poorly planned and hastily executed, and 
reported that it lacked clear and measurable goals. The 
Committee intends to review the impacts of this reorganization 
effort on BLM staffing and work product and consider options 
for addressing any issues identified. This review will provide 
the Committee with an opportunity to consider how BLM, the 
largest federal land management agency by acreage, might be 
better utilized to support public lands conservation, wildlife 
protection, and climate mitigation and resilience efforts.
    National Heritage Areas: National Heritage Areas (NHA) 
preserve unique aspects of the American story, supporting 
historic preservation efforts while bolstering local economies. 
However, these sites lack a clear and consistent system to 
standardize management and oversight of NPS's heritage area 
program. The Committee will examine efforts to establish a 
system for heritage area management and consider proposals for 
the designation of NHAs, while seeking to address the pending 
loss of authorization for 31 NHAs before January 1, 2022.
    National Monuments and the Antiquities Act: The Antiquities 
Act has protected some of our nation's most iconic places, 
including the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and the 
Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. Unfortunately, the Trump 
administration's illegal reduction of two previously 
established national monuments threatens this historic, 
bipartisan commitment to preservation. The Committee intends to 
continue exploring the impacts of the previous administration's 
decision to eliminate protections at the Bears Ears and Grand 
Staircase--Escalante national monuments and the Biden 
administration's response to this illegal action.
    Grazing: The vast majority of public lands are open to some 
form of livestock grazing, with BLM managing more than 150 
million acres of grazing permits and the USFS managing more 
than 90 million acres. Due to staffing and funding shortages, 
these agencies lack the ability to effectively manage their 
grazing programs, often relying on outdated information 
regarding the health and capacity of these grazing lands. GAO 
acknowledges that BLM and USFS lack a comprehensive system to 
track and monitor unauthorized grazing on federal land. 
Moreover, the fee for grazing on federal land is well below 
market rate. The Committee will explore opportunities to 
improve oversight of federal grazing programs and consider 
opportunities to improve these programs, including through 
options for voluntary permit retirement.

Energy and Mineral Resources

    Budget Oversight: The Committee will examine the budgets 
and priorities of the USGS, the Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, the Bureau of Land Management, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the Minerals and 
Geology program of the U.S. Forest Service.
    Climate Change: The urgent need to address climate change 
demands a rapid transition away from fossil fuel development on 
America's public lands and waters. Coal, oil, and gas extracted 
from U.S. federal lands are responsible for nearly a quarter of 
the nation's carbon dioxide emissions each year, and the 
Committee plans to vigorously work to reduce these emissions 
through legislation and oversight activities. In the 117th 
Congress, the Committee will hear from expert witnesses and 
environmental justice leaders as it develops legislation to 
achieve net-zero emissions from public lands and waters as soon 
as possible. As part of these efforts, the Committee will work 
to develop strategies to aid local communities that will need 
to transition away from economic dependence on fossil fuel 
extraction.
    Onshore Oil and Gas Development: In 2019, roughly 22 
percent of U.S. oil production and 12 percent of gas production 
came from federal land. In addition to harming the climate, the 
extraction, processing, and transportation of oil and gas 
resources on public lands degrades air quality, damages water 
resources, fragments wildlife habitat, and impairs the health 
of local communities. Over the last four years, the Trump 
administration weakened and eliminated safeguards that 
protected local communities from the harmful impacts of oil and 
gas development on public lands. In the 117th Congress, the 
Committee plans to carry out aggressive oversight over all 
aspects of BLM's oil and gas program, including the need to 
reform the leasing process, update fiscal terms, regulate 
methane emissions, and strengthen financial assurance policies. 
The Committee will work to restore health and environmental 
safeguards and press the Biden administration to protect 
Americans from the pollution that results from fossil fuel 
extraction.
    Offshore Drilling: Protecting coastal communities from oil 
and gas drilling in federal waters will be a major focus for 
the Committee in the 117th Congress. Over the last four years, 
the Trump administration tried to open more than 90 percent of 
U.S. waters to new leasing, tried to eliminate protections for 
U.S. Arctic waters, and weakened two critical offshore oil and 
gas safety rules created in response to the Deepwater Horizon 
disaster. Last Congress, the House passed two bipartisan bills 
(H.R. 1941 and H.R. 205) to prevent drilling along the Atlantic 
and Pacific coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. In the 
117th Congress, the Committee will work to enact bills that 
protect coastal communities from offshore drilling and examine 
the regulations and policies that govern existing offshore oil 
and gas production.
    Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: A provision inserted in 
the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act opened the Arctic National 
Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Refuge) to oil and gas development. The 
language signed into law required two lease sales offering no 
fewer than 400,000 acres be held, one within four years of 
enactment and one within seven years. In 2017, the 
Congressional Budget Office estimated opening the Arctic Refuge 
to drilling would raise more than $1 billion in federal 
revenues, a figure Republicans used to help offset a portion of 
the $1.4 trillion costs of their tax cuts. In early January 
2021, the Department of the Interior (DOI) rushed to hold the 
first lease sale before President Trump left office. The lease 
sale resulted in little interest from industry and raised only 
$7 million in federal revenues. The Committee will examine the 
impacts of oil and gas activities on land, wildlife, and local 
communities, the shortcuts DOI took to lease areas of the 
Arctic Refuge, and legislative options for permanently 
protecting the Arctic Refuge.
    Onshore and Offshore Renewable Energy Programs: Renewable 
energy resources on public lands and waters can and must play a 
leading role in driving the transition to a clean-energy 
economy. The Committee plans to perform oversight on programs 
and policies for renewable energy development on federal lands 
and waters, including reviewing agency staffing levels to 
ensure that permitting processes are responsible and efficient 
and that fees and rental rates charged to renewable energy 
developers are appropriate. The Committee also plans to perform 
oversight of the Department's implementation of new 
requirements passed into law as part of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021, including the new goal of 
permitting at least 25 GW of renewable energy projects on 
public lands by 2025.
    Federal Coal: Production and consumption of coal has fallen 
dramatically over the past decade. As coal is replaced by 
renewable energy and cheap natural gas, coal plants and mines 
are shutting down and coal companies are falling into 
bankruptcy. In the 117th Congress, the Committee will focus on 
oversight and reform of BLM's federal coal program and ensuring 
a smooth economic transition for communities currently reliant 
on coal mining.
    Abandoned Mine Lands: The Surface Mine Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 established a system for reclaiming 
Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) using fees paid by coal companies, 
but the AML fee is set to expire in September 2021. There are 
an estimated $11 billion in remaining abandoned coal mine 
cleanup costs, with abandoned mine sites across the country 
posing significant and ongoing risks to public health and 
safety. In the 117th Congress, the Committee will consider 
legislation to reauthorize the AML program. The Committee also 
intends to consider legislation to help states and tribes 
accelerate the cleanup of high priority abandoned coal mine 
sites while promoting economic development in distressed 
communities in Appalachia, and will conduct oversight into the 
functionality of the AML Program.
    1872 Mining Law: The Committee will again consider 
legislation to reform the nation's antiquated mining law and 
examine ways to bring the nation's hardrock minerals policy 
into the 21st century. Unlike nearly every other country in the 
world, the United States operates on an open-access policy for 
hardrock minerals on public lands rather than a leasing system, 
and development occurs without any royalty being paid to the 
American taxpayers. Unlike for coal, the hardrock mining 
industry does not contribute toward cleaning up abandoned 
hardrock mines that have no responsible parties, forcing 
taxpayers to bear the entire remediation cost and exposing 
communities throughout the nation to serious environmental and 
safety hazards. As part of its efforts to reform America's 
hardrock mining system, the Committee will examine ways to make 
the hardrock industry address its own legacy of contamination.
    Critical Minerals: Minerals are considered ``critical'' if 
they satisfy two conditions: they are at high risk of a 
potential supply disruption, and they perform essential 
functions for which there are few if any satisfactory 
substitutes. The Committee will examine the need for critical 
minerals in advanced energy technologies and will conduct 
oversight on the potential to enhance critical mineral 
substitution and secondary recovery. The Committee will also 
conduct oversight of the process behind the Trump 
administration's dubious inclusion of uranium on its recently 
issued Critical Minerals list.

Oversight & Investigations

    The Committee will conduct oversight of and investigations 
into matters within the full Committee's jurisdiction. These 
activities will hold polluting industries accountable to the 
American people through transparency and the exposure of 
corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse. The Committee will also 
work with the Biden administration at the Department of the 
Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and the U.S. Forest Service to hold our federal agencies to the 
highest standards. In addition to supporting the areas of 
oversight already outlined in this plan, the Committee will 
prioritize the issue areas below.
    National Environmental Policy Act: The National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of our nation's most 
consequential laws. It gives American communities the right to 
know about federal actions in advance and have a say in 
government decisions that impact their local communities and 
our nation's public resources. The Committee will continue its 
work to reverse the previous administration's extensive efforts 
to gut environmental and public health protections under NEPA 
that protect our air, water, and local communities.
    Polluting Industries' Outsized Influence and Science 
Denial: Polluting and extractive industries frequently go to 
great lengths to make working families pay for the hidden costs 
of their unsustainable practices. This includes the costs of 
carbon pollution from fossil fuel industries that radically 
change our climate and economy. These companies often propose 
development in areas where the natural resources are unable to 
survive the demand and engage in heavy chemical usage that puts 
human health and the existence of more than 1,000 different 
species in jeopardy. Economists call these costs, and others 
like them, ``externalities.'' Americans experience these 
externalities as chronic health problems, loss of life, loss of 
livelihood, loss of biodiversity and loss of living space. 
Polluters looking to defend their ability to continue polluting 
often question valid scientific evidence that directly 
establishes the causes and effects of their pollution. The 
fossil fuel industry's support for a decades-long campaign to 
distort science and manufacture uncertainty around the broad 
scientific consensus that climate change is caused by humans is 
now well documented. The Committee will work to expose these 
externalities, introduce accountability measures to account for 
their costs to the public, and seek to end the public bearing 
of these costs.
    Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Federal 
Workforce: The professional fields of environmentalism and 
conservation in the United States continue to lack diversity, 
and the federal agencies under the Committee's jurisdiction 
have a long history of failing to recruit, retain, and promote 
a diverse workforce. The National Park Service, often 
considered the ``face'' of our public lands, has been 
repeatedly identified as having a white, male-dominated 
culture, especially among park rangers and law enforcement. The 
Committee will work to promote effective policies, procedures, 
and resources that protect agency employees and prospective 
applicants in hiring processes and the workplace. The Committee 
will also work with agency leadership to shift the workplace 
culture to one that promotes justice, equity, diversity, and 
inclusion.
    Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Harassment: The 
agencies and bureaus within the Committee's jurisdiction have a 
number of organizational risk factors that put their employees 
at increased risk for harassment, including sexual harassment. 
These risk factors include geographically isolated workplaces, 
homogenous workforces, and gendered power disparities, among 
others. Addressing the cultural issues that underpin persistent 
organizational harassment problems requires a major commitment 
of resources and leadership over a period of years. The 
Committee will work to promote effective policies, procedures, 
and resources that protect agency employees and prospective 
applicants in hiring processes and the workplace. The Committee 
will also work to support the agencies in making rapid, 
meaningful progress to address harassment issues.
    Scientific Integrity in Federal Agencies: Sound, objective 
science is the backbone of decision- making in the agencies and 
bureaus under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee will 
work to eliminate political and industry influence within 
scientific research and programs, including those related to 
the climate crisis. The Committee will work to strengthen the 
safeguards protecting the independence and objectivity of 
federal agency science and scientists.
    Federal Law Enforcement: On June 1, 2020, the U.S. Park 
Police (USPP) were principally involved in an attack on 
peaceful protestors at Lafayette Square, just before President 
Trump walked to St. John's Church for a public appearance. 
Acting USPP Chief Gregory Monahan testified at a Committee 
hearing that the use of force was justified, which conflicts 
with extensive evidence, including testimony from a National 
Guard whistleblower, that law enforcement's actions were 
excessive. The USPP's actions separately came under scrutiny 
after the 2017 shooting of Bijan Ghaisar, an unarmed man, by 
two USPP officers. Incidents involving the USPP and other law 
enforcement units of DOI demonstrate that body worn cameras and 
fair body worn camera policies are warranted. The USPP's 
actions, as well as other use-of-force incidents and testimony 
from law enforcement experts that have worked with the USPP, 
have raised serious concerns about the agency's lack of 
accountability. The Committee will work with the administration 
to ensure transparency and accountability among these entities.
    Damage Caused by the Border Wall: The Trump administration 
repeatedly used racist, xenophobic rhetoric to falsely justify 
needless construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and 
militarization of border communities. To expedite border wall 
construction, the Trump administration's Department of Homeland 
Security abused its authority in order to waive all laws and 
legal requirements standing in the way of construction, many of 
which are among the nation's most critical environmental, 
public health, and safety protections. As a result, the border 
wall and the process of its construction have inflicted 
significant environmental, economic, and social harm on border 
lands and communities, which disproportionately include 
communities of color.
    The Committee will support efforts to cease border wall 
construction, assess the extent of the damage caused by 
previous construction, and determine the most prudent course of 
action to mitigate further harm.

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                                                 February 26, 2021.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chair, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chair Grijalva: As you know, on the first day of the 
116th Congress, House Democrats eliminated the requirement that 
Committees mark up oversight plans, thus avoiding any 
meaningful debate or amendment to those plans in a public 
setting. I believe that meaningful deliberation on the 
Committee's oversight plans would ultimately benefit the 
Committee's effectiveness and the stakeholders impacted within 
our jurisdictional bounds.
    While I concur with your oversight pursuit on some matters, 
the included views also incorporate neglected areas that 
warrant examination as well as a refreshed oversight focus on 
some continued areas of oversight. Some proposed oversight 
topics in the Majority's 117th Congress oversight plan, 
however, are outside the Committee on Natural Resources' 
jurisdiction under House Rules.
    Your adherence to clause 2 of Rule X of the House of 
Representatives, which requires you to circulate your plan 
among the members of the Committee and incorporate Minority 
views, is appreciated. Minority views are attached to this 
letter.
            Sincerely,
                                   Bruce Westerman,
                                            Ranking Member,
                                    Committee on Natural Resources.

                             MINORITY VIEWS

Insular Affairs
    Budget Oversight: The Ranking Member supports a continued 
review of the Administration's budget proposals and activities 
related to the Office of Insular Affairs. A review of the 
Administration's budget is a Committee function that should 
occur annually.
    General Oversight of the Office of Insular Affairs: The 
Committee should review the fundamental issues facing each of 
the territories and freely associated states. These issues 
include supporting development of self-government and self-
determination, economic development and self-sufficiency 
through the private sector, accountability of federal funds, 
implementation and enforcement of federal law, implementation 
and funding for the Compacts of Free Association, and 
management of limited land and water resources.
    Puerto Rico: The Committee should continue to conduct 
oversight over the implementation of the Puerto Rico Oversight, 
Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and review any 
actions conducted by the Oversight Board established under the 
Act. Further, the Committee should continue to monitor the 
results of any plebiscites held expressing the preference of 
the populace as it relates to the relationship status between 
the Commonwealth and the United States.
Indigenous Peoples of the United States
    Budget Oversight: The Ranking Member supports a continued 
review of the Administration's budget proposals and activities 
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Trust Funds 
Administration and the Indian Health Service. This function of 
the Committee should occur annually. The Chair should be 
conscious of the need to work closely with the bipartisan 
staffs of the Committee on Education and Labor, which has 
primary jurisdiction over the Bureau of Indian Education.
    Infrastructure and Economic Development: Oversight of 
infrastructure development on tribal lands is imperative. The 
Committee previously explored potential improvements to Indian 
health care facilities. While the Committee may be supportive 
of infrastructure projects to improve roads and bridges, 
however, the Chair should be mindful of the Committee' 
jurisdictional limits on these matters. Additionally, the 
Committee should review the tools available for tribes that 
will provide them greater control over their lands.
    Indian Healthcare: Committee Republicans have spent 
considerable time analyzing the state of the Indian health care 
delivery system after record funding increases to the Indian 
Health Service (IHS). The Committee determined that despite 
considerable funding increases, the health care system is in a 
dire need of reform. Massive funding increases or moving the 
IHS budget into mandatory spending fails to address the 
problems plaguing the agency. The Committee should increase IHS 
oversight and accountability.
    Tribal Consultation: The Ranking Member applauds the 
Chair's prioritization of tribal consultation. To enact full 
tribal consultation, the Committee should be cautious, however, 
not to continue conducting selective or biased oversight 
favoring one tribe over others. The Committee should seek the 
consultation of a variety of tribal viewpoints in its 
oversight.
    Tribal Sovereignty: Unfortunately, some in Congress use 
partisan politics to undermine tribal rights. While the Chair's 
previous public sentiments to address tribal sovereignty are 
laudable, many in the Majority have continuously voted against 
policies that promote sovereignty, especially relating to a 
tribe's labor force. The Committee should review mechanisms for 
an improved government to government relationship with tribes.
    Tribal Energy Development: The Committee's narrow focus on 
only renewable energy development on tribal lands in the 117th 
Congress is disappointing. Reviews of how the federal 
government can assist tribal governments, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations in energy development should encompass all 
potential forms of energy resources. Many tribes have 
developable resources on their lands that they choose to 
produce. The Committee should not inhibit tribes' development 
of all energy resources.
    Indian Education: While the Ranking Member applauds the 
sentiments behind the Chair's desires to review the Bureau of 
Indian Education school system and its backlog of maintenance 
and construction projects, these matters fall outside the 
Committee's jurisdiction and any action of this Committee 
should be closely coordinated with the bipartisan staffs of the 
Committee of jurisdiction.
Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
    While the Ranking Member agrees with the Chair on some 
areas of water policy, the Majority is focused on bringing back 
unbalanced and non-transparent regulatory policies that failed 
to protect both people and species. For example, the Majority 
seemingly intends to reverse progress made on California's 
integrated Central Valley Project/State Water Projects, which 
are now under operating plans and biological opinions that 
incorporate updated science and were independently peer-
reviewed.Returning to the days of regulatory drought is not 
sustainable, as the people of California know all too well.
    Instead, the Committee should focus on new and ongoing 
projects, such as water storage, that bring multi-purpose 
benefits to communities, the environment, and fish and 
wildlife. Sadly, major federal water storage has not been added 
in California since 1979, while in the intervening 42 years, 
California's population has nearly doubled. The Committee 
should also focus on updating the Endangered Species Act 
through transparency, common sense, and accountability, not a 
one-size-fits all regulatory regime that utterly fails to 
recover species.
    The Majority also seems to highlight their need to drive up 
the cost of hydropower and electricity transmission facilities 
through ``mitigation'' and other means. In some cases, 
mandatory conditioning authorities found under federal law have 
allowed for the imposition of non-hydropower project related 
costs that impose higher bills on ratepayers and can make 
current and future hydropower and electricity transmission 
facilities uneconomical. There is ample room for growth in the 
hydropower sector as outlined by prior Republican and Democrat 
administrations. Hydropower is a clean, emissions-free 
renewable resource that the Committee should generally embrace, 
not punish.
    Strengthening the U.S. Commitment to International Wildlife 
Conservation: During the 116th Congress, a bipartisan 
investigation was conducted into whether taxpayer dollars had 
inadvertently funded international human rights abuses.As a 
result, the Department of the Interior (DOI), under the Trump 
Administration, halted funding of certain grants until 
oversight and accountability mechanisms were implemented.The 
Committee should work with the Biden Administration to ensure 
these funds remain frozen until DOI can adequately monitor its 
international grants to prevent U.S. support of human rights 
abusers. The Committee's oversight activity should also include 
examination of DOI's other grant programs to determine if funds 
are appropriately monitored and safeguarded from abuse.
    Advancing Bird Conservation: Under the Trump 
Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service updated the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) regulations to exclude 
incidental take of migratory birds.The rule was designed to 
protect farmers, agriculture and industry workers, and other 
private citizens who accidentally harm a migratory bird while 
performing daily operations.As the Committee works to address 
this issue, it should review and propose commonsense solutions, 
like the rule issued by the Trump Administration, that account 
for the everyday activities occurring in rural America.
    Fisheries and Oceans: The Majority indicates that it will 
conduct oversight of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other laws 
governing fisheries in off-shore waters.The Majority should 
consider Republican legislation aimed at re-authorizing and 
updating this statute to better support fish and fishing 
communities. Ocean conservation is not mutually exclusive to 
ensuring that our federal offshore waters simultaneously remain 
a vital, sustainable, working and recreational resource for 
communities and fishermen.
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
    Forest Health & Wildfires: The health of many of our 
national forests, particularly in Western states, continues to 
decline as they become more overgrown and susceptible to 
insects, disease, and catastrophic wildfire. 2020 sadly 
produced yet another record-breaking wildfire season as the 
National Forest System (NFS) saw more acres burn than any year 
since 1910. Roughly 80 million acres of NFS land are in urgent 
need of treatment to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, 
the spread of invasive species, and threats to watershed 
health.
    The poor health of the NFS has many adverse effects on 
rural communities. These adverse effects can include danger to 
life and property posed by catastrophic wildfire, the closure 
of sawmills and loss of jobs and economic opportunity due to a 
lack of proper forest management, and degradation of drinking 
water quality and quantity due to the flooding and mudslides 
that often follow a wildfire. Effective, science-based 
management of our forests continues to be hampered by frivolous 
litigation from extreme special interest groups and cumbersome 
agency regulations. The combination of frivolous litigation and 
excessive regulations impede efforts to eradicate devastating 
insect infestations, conduct much needed fire mitigation, and 
harvest timber.
    Over the last several Congresses, the Committee heard 
repeated testimony about how needless litigation and the fear 
of litigation caused USFS to avoid engaging in necessary 
stewardship activities. If properly managed, national forests 
can contribute to our national well-being, while providing 
economic opportunities that flow to surrounding communities and 
keep the forests healthy and productive. Prior oversight 
hearings on effective forest management have clearly 
demonstrated the wisdom of facilitating environmentally-
responsible harvesting and re-planting of forest lands, which 
not only produce useful timber products, but continuously 
improve forest soils and its carrying capacity, preserve 
watersheds, maximize carbon capture, and reduce the build-up of 
fuel loads that lead to mega-fires. The Committee should 
examine ways to streamline the environmental review process 
through policies such as categorical exclusions to facilitate 
these scientifically-sound forest management practices.
    National Monuments and the Antiquities Act: The Antiquities 
Act of 1906 pre-dates the creation of every land management 
agency except the U.S. Forest Service, five states, and nearly 
every major environmental protection and resource management 
law. Despite this, it is still used as a tool by presidents of 
both parties to lock away increasingly larger areas of land and 
water with little to no input from local and state officials 
and state congressional delegations. Currently, the Biden 
administration is more than half way finished with a review 
conducted by the Acting Secretary of the Interior of three 
national monuments that were reduced or modified by President 
Trump, despite the fact that there is no Senate-confirmed 
Secretary in place.
    The Committee should continue to examine responsible 
modifications to the Antiquities Act to ensure greater public 
and stakeholder input, particularly by elected local and state 
officials. President Trump's executive actions to review 27 
national monuments and to include local input in rightsizing 
the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears 
National Monuments to the ``smallest area compatible with the 
proper care and management of the objects to be protected'' 
should serve as a model to guide responsible future permanent 
legislative modifications of the Act. The Committee should also 
review any modifications to boundaries made without proper 
review and in the face of opposition from local and state 
officials.
    Access and Recreation: More Americans than ever have 
started to rediscover our public lands during the COVID-19 
crisis. Ensuring proper access to our public lands and an 
abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities should be a top 
priority of the Committee. Too often, the federal government's 
management policy is overly restrictive and requires excessive 
permitting, which has disenfranchised the American people from 
some of their greatest treasures. The Committee should conduct 
oversight of restrictive land designations harmful to local 
economies which limit recreational opportunities like mountain 
biking and e-biking, off-highway vehicle use, snowmobiling, and 
a host of other outdoors activities. In particular, the 
Committee can examine ways to increase access for hunters and 
anglers to enjoy our public lands and ensure the next 
generation of sportsmen and women can fully utilize public 
lands.
    Natural Climate Solutions: Based on recent studies, natural 
climate solutions could sequester an amount of carbon 
equivalent to over 20 percent of domestic annual emissions. 
From planting trees to incentivizing innovative grazing 
practices, public and private lands must play a large role in 
future discussions on responsible, commonsense solutions to 
climate change. For example, planting one trillion trees could 
sequester 205 gigatons of carbon, an amount equal to two-thirds 
of all anthropogenic carbon remaining in the atmosphere and the 
same amount of carbon emitted through global deforestation 
since 1850. Solutions this impactful cannot be ignored and must 
be a focal point of the Committee's oversight and legislative 
efforts.
    The Committee should continue to review new innovative 
practices that benefit the environment without sacrificing 
rural jobs and our overall economic health. This should include 
engaging with stakeholders to identify new frontiers in 
research and development that could be explored and further 
opportunities for American innovation.
    Grazing: When managed properly, grazing of federal lands 
consistently enhances the health of rangelands and reduces the 
fuel-build up which contribute to extreme wildfires. As one of 
the most effective wildfire-reduction tools, grazing can also 
help preserve the habitat for wildlife species such as the 
Greater Sage Grouse. The Committee should examine ways in which 
grazing can be used to benefit the economy and the health of 
federal range lands and ecosystems, and to preserve the 
practice against frivolous litigation and unnecessary 
regulation.
    Park Partnerships: To truly enter the 21st Century, the 
National Park Service (NPS) should adopt more market-based 
solutions and engage in public-private partnerships to maximize 
park resources and enhance visitor services. Examples that the 
Committee has previously reviewed include historic leasing of 
bathhouses at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. Smart, 
thoughtful public-private partnerships like these not only 
allow NPS to focus its resources and avoid maintenance costs, 
but also improve the overall experience for visitors to the 
park. The Committee should continue to seek out additional 
examples of successful partnerships and encourage the NPS to 
actively promote these partnership opportunities.
    Alaska Roadless Rule: The economy in Southeast Alaska, 
where less than one percent of the land is privately owned, is 
closely tied to natural resources including fishing, timber 
harvesting, mining and tourism. All of those uses are dependent 
on reasonable access to the Tongass National Forest. Access was 
significantly reduced two decades ago, and the regional economy 
suffered immensely. The Trump Administration's granting of an 
exemption from the Clinton-era Roadless Rule has provided 
Alaskans the ability to seek responsible opportunities to 
create jobs, increase connectivity, and grow the economy. As 
the Majority examines the Alaska Roadless Rule exemption, 
members of the Committee and the public will once again learn 
about the unnecessary and burdensome regulation that was 
inappropriately applied to the Tongass National Forest and the 
necessary relief provided to the State of Alaska by the Trump 
Administration.
    Great American Outdoors Act: In 2020, Congress passed the 
Great American Outdoors Act with bipartisan support, which 
provided permanent, mandatory funding for the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund (LWCF) as well as $1.9 billion annually for 
the next five years to address crumbling and deteriorating 
infrastructure at our national parks and public lands. The 
Committee should ensure that funding dedicated to our parks 
through the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration 
Fund are being used appropriately to fund the highest priority 
projects on the deferred maintenance backlog that impact 
visitor experiences, public access, and safety. The Committee 
should also conduct oversight on the use of LWCF funding and 
gather additional information on historic uses of LWCF funding.
    In addition, it is crucial to conduct oversight on the 
longevity of revenue streams for these conservation funds in 
light of recent efforts to ban new oil and gas leases on 
federal lands and waters. These bans will unquestionably 
undercut the Great American Outdoors Act and threaten the long-
term solvency of these important conservation programs. Without 
proper funding, these critical conservation programs will cease 
to exist. The Committee should conduct oversight on the 
misguided attacks against these revenue streams to protect 
these programs from jeopardy.
Energy and Mineral Resources
    Energy Poverty and Environmental Justice: The Majority aims 
to achieve these goals in ways that may have severe, unintended 
consequences if not thoroughly reviewed. For instance, the 
Majority refers to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
as a ``critical law for environmental justice.'' Public input 
and environmental considerations are, of course, integral 
aspects of federal decision-making. As the Committee balances 
its priorities, it is important to acknowledge that 
exacerbating already lengthy timelines for federal approvals 
for important projects would hinder, not help, our country's 
most vulnerable communities as they seek to modernize their 
infrastructure. A longer and more cumbersome NEPA process, for 
example, could drastically delay community improvements or 
disincentivize development altogether. Instead, the Committee 
should consider legislative efforts to address the vast 
economic impacts of overly burdensome energy and environmental 
policies, as well as the disproportionate impact such policies 
may have on vulnerable communities.
    Climate: A healthy economy and a healthy environment are 
linked. The Committee Minority supports the responsible 
development of all energy resources that federal lands and 
waters have to offer, including renewable sources of energy. 
Domestic production of both conventional and alternative energy 
sources ensures that the best global standards will be used to 
power our nation and our allies abroad, as the United States 
has some of the most stringent environmental and labor 
standards in the world. Even assuming renewable energy 
continues its recent growth trajectory, global demand for oil 
and natural gas is not expected to fade in the foreseeable 
future. The Energy Information Administration predicts a 40 
percent growth in global natural gas consumption by 2050. The 
Majority's attempts to abruptly stop conventional energy 
production on federal lands will not stop market forces but 
instead will outsource our demand to countries with inferior 
emissions trends and human rights standards. Oversight of the 
Biden Administration's attempts to impede energy development on 
federal lands and waters is a critical priority for the 117th 
Congress.
    Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Development: The Biden 
Administration has made its plans to halt oil and gas 
development on federal lands and waters explicit in Secretarial 
Order 3395 and the Executive Orders titled, ``Protecting Public 
Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the 
Climate Crisis''' and ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and 
Abroad.'' These administrative actions endanger the livelihoods 
of hundreds of thousands of American workers across the 
country. The Majority's promise to ``transition away'' from 
conventional energy industries through new unemployment funds 
and retraining programs is an unacceptable and unrealistic 
replacement for the well-paying careers of nearly half a 
million Americans over the next two decades. Further, energy-
producing states receive billions of dollars in mineral 
revenues to fund vital services such as public safety and local 
schools. Eliminating this revenue stream would significantly 
jeopardize state budgets and public services. Many bipartisan 
conservation programs, such as the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund, are also funded by oil and gas development. Offshore oil 
and gas specifically funds critical coastal resiliency programs 
and environmental restoration in the Gulf. The Committee should 
examine the vast economic impacts of the Administration's 
Executive Orders and other harmful actions in this sector.
    Onshore and Offshore Renewable Energy Programs: To support 
an all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Committee should 
pursue legislative efforts to increase renewable energy 
development, as well as conventional energy development, on 
federal lands and waters. Exhaustive environmental review and 
other regulatory hurdles have historically impeded renewable 
development on federal lands. To improve these processes, the 
Committee should consider statutory changes to the National 
Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and 
similar laws to ease federal permitting for renewable energy 
projects.
    Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: The Committee's desire to 
discuss the Department of the Interior's opening of less than 
ten percent of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to 
development presents an opportunity to examine the bountiful 
resources that exist in the region and the economic benefits 
that the oil and gas industry has brought to Alaska's native 
population. The Majority has stressed the need to discuss 
tribal sovereignty and economic development. Conversations 
about ANWR highlight the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, 
which has maximized the economic benefits of resource 
development while maintaining their cultural and ethnic 
heritage. Further, legislative attempts to permanently close 
this region to development would expressly ignore certain 
tribal interests, which voiced their opinions on the record 
during Committee hearings last Congress. An examination of this 
region will also enable a discussion of new drilling 
techniques, such as those that allow a single, 12-acre well pad 
to reach 154 square miles, whereas in 1970 a similarly sized 
well pad could only reach 3 square miles.
    Fair Return for Taxpayers: The Majority has acknowledged 
that federal resource production should provide a fair return 
to the American taxpayer. Certainly then, the Committee should 
commend and favorably highlight the previous Administration's 
efforts to reverse the handicapping regulations and policies 
that limited development of these federal resources, in turn 
diminishing revenues. For example, in 2018 the Department of 
the Interior tripled the previous record set in 2008 for 
revenues raised from onshore oil and gas lease sales alone to 
an astounding $1.1 billion, of which $550 million will be used 
by states to fund education and public services. The Committee 
should continue holding legislative hearings on bills that 
would codify the efforts of the previous Administration that 
have reduced red tape, maximized revenues returned to the 
federal and state governments, and ensured our federal lands 
are being used in the most efficient and productive ways 
possible.
    Offshore Drilling: As the Majority considers policies 
affecting offshore oil and natural gas development, the 
Committee will discover the overwhelming economic and 
conservation benefits the offshore industry provides to this 
country. Without offshore drilling, bipartisan programs such as 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund would be underfunded, and 
the nation's Gulf states would have less funding to protect 
against the threats of climate change. The Committee should 
examine the expansion of offshore drilling and revenue sharing 
programs and the economic benefits and accompanying coastal 
resiliency that would occur because of such expansion.
    Federal Coal Program: The Majority expresses interest in 
``oversight and reform of BLM's federal coal program'' this 
Congress. Coal continues to be a valuable source of baseload 
power that is particularly important in extreme weather 
conditions. Attempts to curtail federal coal leasing through 
``reform'' of the program would only handicap domestic sourcing 
of this important energy resource and distort energy markets. 
It would also threaten coal communities across the nation, many 
of which are already experiencing economic downturns. The 
Committee should examine ways in which the Federal Coal Program 
can provide reliable, low cost energy, and support economic 
growth in coal country.
    Abandoned Mine Lands: As noted by the Majority, the fee 
authorized by the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 to fund the reclamation of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) 
expires in September 2021. AML sites are hazardous to 
surrounding communities. Reclamation of such sites provides 
jobs and economic opportunities. In considering reauthorization 
of the fee, the Committee should engage all interested Members 
and stakeholders and seek to balance the needs of the program 
with the economics of the coal industry.
    Critical Minerals: The Majority correctly defines a 
critical mineral as one that is at high risk of a potential 
supply disruption, and performs essential functions for which 
there are few, if any, satisfactory substitutes. With the 
desire to examine the ``need for critical minerals in advanced 
energy technologies,'' presumably including critical minerals 
such as lithium, cobalt, copper, and tellurium needed for wind 
turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, the Committee 
should focus on lessening the nation's dependence on foreign 
sources for these materials.
    The Minority welcomes the Majority's suggestion to enhance 
substitution and secondary recovery of minerals. Given the 
major discrepancy between U.S. demand and domestic supply, 
however, additional measures to secure mineral supply chains 
are needed. The Committee should, therefore, consider 
legislation to reduce redundancies in the regulatory process 
for domestic mining without weakening environmental safeguards. 
Aggressive legislation to ``reform'' domestic mining laws, as 
suggested by the Majority, would do the opposite, hurting U.S. 
critical mineral development and creating even greater import 
reliance on foreign nations to meet domestic demand.
Oversight and Investigations
    The Committee should conduct oversight and investigations 
to ensure that taxpayers are protected from government waste, 
fraud, and abuse. Taxpayers deserve thorough oversight of the 
Biden Administration's Department of the Interior, Department 
of Agriculture, and Department of Commerce regardless of which 
party is in power in Congress. The Committee should use the 
oversight and legislative tools of Congress to address the 
federal government's inefficiencies and harmful regulatory 
schemes that adversely impact insular areas, the indigenous 
peoples of the United States, water, oceans, and wildlife 
resources, federal lands, and energy and minerals development.
    In its pursuit of addressing these matters, the Committee 
should remain cognizant of its jurisdiction as outlined in rule 
X(1)(m) of the House of Representatives.
    National Environmental Policy Act: Under the Trump 
Administration, comprehensive updates to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) were made for the first time in 
over 40 years. These updates facilitate more effective NEPA 
reviews by simplifying regulatory requirements, eliminating 
obsolete provisions, and updating guidance to reflect current 
technologies and agency practices. The Majority plans to 
conduct oversight in an effort to reverse these changes. Their 
reversals are unwise and misguided, and the Committee should 
also examine the benefits of these updates during its oversight 
activity, including improved coordination between states and 
tribes and more timely completion of paperwork and reviews.
    Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Federal 
Workforce: The Committee should continue oversight activity of 
the diversity of the federal workforce. Efforts to promote 
diversity should build upon policies implemented under the 
previous Administration. President Trump appointed many 
``firsts'' at the Department of the Interior (DOI), including 
Brenda Burman, as the first woman to lead the Bureau of 
Reclamation, Tara Mac Lean Sweeney, as the first female Alaska 
Native to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, and 
Aurelia Skipwith, as the first African American Director of the 
Fish and Wildlife Services. The Committee's oversight efforts 
of DOI's ability to recruit, retain, and promote a diverse 
workforce should include the lessons learned from the previous 
Administration's successes. Additionally, the Committee should 
work with the Biden Administration and DOI to continue the work 
of the Workplace Culture Transformation Advisory Council.
    Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Harassment: Through 
work in prior Congresses, the Committee has established a 
record of oversight of employee misconduct, as well as hiring 
practices and policies at agencies. The Committee should 
continue this examination to ensure employees have a safe 
workplace. The review should include an analysis of the impact 
the Department of the Interior's first comprehensive policy on 
the Prevention and Elimination of Harassing Conduct, 
implemented in 2018, has had on the workplace environment. The 
Committee should work to make meaningful progress in addressing 
harassment issues, which have plagued the Department of the 
Interior for several decades. Examination of these issues 
should include a balanced deliberation and objective fact-
finding.
    Federal Lands and Border Protection: In prior congresses, 
the Committee investigated challenges faced by Border Patrol 
agents on federal borderlands and the environmental impact of 
illegal border crossings and drug smuggling. The remote 
location of large portions of federally-owned borderland make 
them a popular location for cross-border violators (CBVs), such 
as drug and human smugglers. Moreover, stakeholders reported 
that bureaucratic regulations and policies related to federal 
natural resources laws slow or impede Border Patrol operations 
on federally- owned land. The violence associated with high 
levels of CBVs deprives the public of access to federally-owned 
lands and causes significant damage to local environments. The 
Committee should continue to examine the significant 
environmental, economic, and social consequences on federal 
borderlands by CBVs and work with relevant committees to 
enhance border security.
    Undue Influence and Scientific Integrity: Sound, objective 
science is the backbone of decision-making in the agencies and 
bureaus under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee 
should work to eliminate foreign political influence from 
global adversaries that seek to hinder our domestic resources 
development and land management. Additionally, the Committee 
should work to strengthen the safeguards to protect 
independence and objectivity of federal agency science and 
scientists from excessively litigious organizations, whose 
questionable objectives can hinder sound decision-making.
    The need to ensure scientific integrity at the agencies and 
bureaus within the Committee's jurisdiction should also include 
the oversight of various government funding recipients. 
Therefore, the Committee should conduct oversight of federal 
grants awarded by the agencies and bureaus within the 
Committee's jurisdiction to ensure efficiency, fairness, and 
transparency of the grantmaking process.
    Federal Law Enforcement: The Committee should carefully 
examine the proper uses of law enforcement power and procedures 
by Department of the Interior agencies to ensure that prior 
abuses by rogue Interior law enforcement personnel, 
particularly in the Bureau of Land Management, do not recur. 
The Committee should also seek to make mandatory the 
notification and cooperation by the federal government with 
state and local law enforcement officials.
    Regulatory Review of Natural Resources Laws: Committee 
oversight activities should collect relevant information to 
support the Committee's ability to develop legislation, monitor 
the implementation of public policy, and transparently ensure 
the government's performance in subject matters within the 
Committee's jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Committee should 
conduct oversight on the effectiveness of major natural 
resources laws within the Committee's jurisdiction. Focus 
should be provided on how laws such as the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Wilderness Act, the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act of 1972. and the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966 may exceed their regulatory purposes 
resulting in costly litigation and other adverse consequences 
for the environment, proper management of federal natural 
resources, and to American taxpayers.

                                   Bruce Westerman,
                                            Ranking Member,
                                    Committee on Natural Resources.

                   COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                   Committee on Oversight and Reform

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                             117th Congress

              The Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman

    Rule X, Clause 2(d) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each committee of the House to submit 
an oversight plan to the Committee on Oversight and Reform and 
the Committee on House Administration by March 1 of the first 
session of Congress.
    The following is the oversight plan for the Committee on 
Oversight and Reform for the 117th Congress. This plan consists 
of topics designated for investigation, evaluation, and review 
by Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, in consultation with Ranking 
Member James R. Comer, other Committee Members, and other 
committees.
    In the beginning of March, the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) is expected to issue its biannual ``High Risk'' 
report, which identifies government programs that are 
particularly vulnerable to waste, fraud, or abuse.\25\ The 
Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on that report on 
March 2, 2021. In addition, the Inspectors General from various 
agencies have submitted audit plans to the Committee.\26\ The 
Committee will review GAO's report and the Inspectors General 
plans and investigate areas of concern as appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \25\See, e.g., Government Accountability Office, High Risk Series: 
Substantial Efforts Needed to Achieve Greater Progress on High-Risk 
Areas, (GAO-19-157SP) (Mar. 6, 2019) (online at www.gao.gov/assets/700/
697245.pdf).
    \26\See, e.g., Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor, 
Office of Audit Workplan Fiscal Year 2021 (October 2020) (online at 
www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2021/
FY%202021%20OIG%20Audit%20Workplan%20-%20Final.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee has received, and will continue to receive, 
information from whistleblowers regarding waste, fraud, and 
abuse. Whistleblowers perform an essential service to the 
Committee, flagging critical issues that otherwise might go 
unnoticed and unaddressed.
    Below are descriptions of some of the issues the Committee 
intends to investigate during the 117th Congress. This list is 
not exhaustive but highlights significant areas for Committee 
oversight. Some investigations listed below specifically focus 
on inequities related to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or 
national origin. The Committee will also seek to identify and 
address inequities across investigations and oversight topics. 
The Committee will retain the flexibility to investigate 
emerging issues as appropriate.

                              HEALTH CARE

    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue its work 
on several pressing health care issues facing the American 
people.
    In response to the coronavirus outbreak in the middle of 
the 116th Congress, the House established the Select 
Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis within the Committee to 
conduct oversight and investigations related to the pandemic. 
The Committee, in cooperation with the Select Subcommittee, 
will examine the effectiveness and equity of our national 
response to the coronavirus pandemic and ensure the appropriate 
expenditure of taxpayer funds. The Committee will also examine 
whether federal resources are being used to promote 
transparency into the pandemic's disproportionate impact on 
marginalized populations--including people with disabilities--
and to prioritize science in health policymaking in order to 
better prepare our country to confront future pandemics.
    Starting in the beginning of the 116th Congress, the full 
Committee's top health care priority was to investigate the 
actions of drug companies in aggressively raising the prices of 
prescription drugs in the United States and the effects of 
these actions on individuals, families, and federal and state 
budgets. As part of this investigation, the Committee released 
five staff reports and held two hearings with pharmaceutical 
executives. The Committee will continue this investigation in 
the 117th Congress and will launch additional inquiries as 
appropriate to further examine aggressive pricing practices in 
the U.S., tactics to limit competition, and actions the federal 
government can take to lower drug prices.
    The Committee will continue to examine the origins of the 
opioid crisis and the need for robust, sustained federal 
funding to expand access to treatment and support services for 
those with opioid and other substance use disorders, 
particularly in light of the increase in substance misuse as a 
result of the coronavirus pandemic.\27\ The Committee will 
review the federal government's actions to address the opioid 
epidemic--including those taken by the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy, which the Committee reauthorized in the 115th 
Congress--to ensure that they are equitable and rooted in 
public health.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \27\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Overdose Deaths 
Accelerating During Covid-19 (Dec. 17, 2020) (online at www.cdc.gov/
media/releases/2020/p1218-overdose-deaths-covid-19.html); Kaiser Family 
Foundation, The Implications of Covid-19 for Mental Health and 
Substance Use (Feb. 10, 2021) (online at www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-
19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-
substance-use/).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As part of the Committee's commitment to pursuing reforms 
that promote racial equity in all aspects of American life, it 
will examine systemic discrimination in health care settings, 
health inequities, and other barriers that prevent Black 
people, Indigenous people, and people of color from accessing 
high-quality, nondiscriminatory medical care in the U.S.
    The Committee will also examine barriers to access to 
comprehensive reproductive health care in the U.S., including 
restrictions that prevent historically underserved communities 
from accessing abortion care. Among these barriers are 
discriminatory refusals of care to people seeking abortion 
services and LGBTQ+ people seeking care that affirms their 
sexual orientation and gender identity.

                             POSTAL SERVICE

    The Committee will continue to oversee the operations of 
the United States Postal Service, over which the Committee 
exercises legislative and oversight jurisdiction. The Postal 
Service is an essential public institution that connects every 
family, business, and community in the nation by providing 
service to more than 157 million delivery points across the 
United States. The Committee will examine the urgent need for 
reform legislation to address the Postal Service's deepening 
financial challenges while guaranteeing universal service. The 
Committee will also seek ways to facilitate the Postal 
Service's adoption of a greener infrastructure, including a 
green vehicle fleet.
    The Committee will continue its investigation into the root 
causes of the widespread delays and service deterioration at 
the Postal Service that began shortly after the current 
Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, took office in the summer of 
2020, and that continue to persist. The delays held up millions 
of pieces of mail during a global pandemic, including 
prescription medication and other critical supplies. In 
September 2020, the Committee issued a subpoena to the Postal 
Service seeking documents and information related to, among 
other things, actions or proposals made by the Postmaster 
General that may have resulted in the service deterioration. 
The Committee will continue this investigation in the 117th 
Congress and will expand the investigation if necessary to 
combat the persistent service delays.

                                 CENSUS

    The Committee will continue to monitor data production from 
the 2020 Census for congressional apportionment and state 
redistricting and conduct ongoing oversight of the Census 
Bureau. The Committee will also continue its investigation into 
the Trump Administration's attempt to politicize the 2020 
Census. This includes enforcing the Committee's subpoenas 
concerning the Trump Administration's attempt to add a 
citizenship question to the 2020 Census and to rush the 
production of potentially inaccurate data prior to the 2021 
inauguration, which the Committee reauthorized on January 13, 
2021.

                FEDERAL WORKERS' RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

    The Committee will continue to examine and remedy the 
impacts of the Trump Administration's repeated attacks on the 
federal workforce and collective bargaining. The Trump 
Administration froze federal pay; issued executive orders that 
undermined collective bargaining rights and practices; prompted 
the longest government shutdown in our nation's history; 
attempted to eliminate the Office of Personnel Management 
(OPM); and sought to abandon merit system principles.
    The Committee will examine the effects of the Trump 
Administration's efforts to weaken the federal civil service 
and will work to revitalize the federal workforce through the 
bolstering of merit-based principles and a focus on expertise 
over partisanship. The Committee will examine the impact of 
federal agency vacancies at all levels, staffing reductions, 
and diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce.
    The Committee will also examine ways to improve the 
operations of OPM, helping the agency become the entity that 
all of government can use to improve its Human Resources 
operations, train its future leaders, and provide data and 
evidence to distill best practices that will help managers 
effectively lead the federal workforce. In addition, the 
Committee will work to strengthen whistleblower protections and 
federal employee appeal rights.

        INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CYBERSECURITY, AND DATA PRIVACY

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the Federal 
Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), which 
requires federal agencies to implement security controls on 
their information systems. The Committee will examine 
compliance with FISMA throughout the Executive Branch and 
explore ways to improve the law.
    The Committee will also continue to conduct oversight of 
the increasing number of cyberattacks affecting federal 
agencies and the private sector. In particular, the Committee 
is investigating the significant compromise of multiple federal 
government and private sector information technology networks 
resulting from the compromise of the widely deployed networking 
software called SolarWinds Orion, and other cyberattacks. The 
Committee intends to examine ways to ensure that agencies and 
corporate entities take appropriate steps to protect government 
and business entity networks and systems that are critical to 
the nation's infrastructure and security, and the personal 
information of American consumers. The Committee also will 
continue its oversight of government-wide cybersecurity tools 
and support provided to federal agencies by the Executive 
Branch, including, but not limited to, the Continuous 
Diagnostics and Mitigation program.
    The Committee will continue to examine the use of facial 
recognition technology by public and private entities to inform 
legislative efforts.
    The Committee, through the Subcommittee on Government 
Operations, will continue to hold semiannual hearings on the 
Federal Information Technology Acquisition and Reform Act 
(FITARA) scorecard, which holds federal Chief Information 
Officers accountable for continuously improving their agencies' 
IT security and operations.

                              ENVIRONMENT

    The Committee will continue to examine government and 
private sector policies and actions related to the environment, 
natural resources, and public health. In particular, the 
Committee will review how current policies and actions affect 
marginalized communities, which often lack public health 
infrastructure and bear the brunt of the consequences of 
climate change, including the social and environmental 
determinants of health.

                     HOMELAND AND NATIONAL SECURITY

    In the 116th Congress, the Committee investigated the 
security clearance process at the White House and across 
federal agencies, which included specific examinations of 
individuals at the White House who were granted access to 
classified information despite significant security concerns 
expressed by career officials. The Committee also conducted 
oversight of the Trump Administration's restructuring of the 
majority of federal background investigation functions, which 
were removed from OPM and placed in the Department of Defense 
under the newly-formed Defense Counterintelligence and Security 
Agency.
    In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue 
oversight regarding procedures for granting clearances and 
safeguarding classified information. This will include 
continued oversight of the new agency to ensure efficient and 
appropriate security clearance practices.
    The Committee has also taken steps to examine the January 
6, 2021, insurrectionist attack on the Capitol, which was an 
act of domestic terrorism to prevent Congress from performing 
its Constitutional duty to affirm Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 
as the next President and Vice President of the United States. 
The Committee will continue to support efforts to examine the 
events that led to this attack, as well as the ongoing impacts 
of the attack and the rise in domestic extremism.
    The Committee also intends to conduct oversight of multiple 
agencies charged with securing the homeland, enhancing national 
security, and promoting American interests overseas.
    The Committee will also examine management at the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA), continuing its 
focus on implementation of unfulfilled security recommendations 
made by the Inspector General, GAO, and TSA's own internal 
testing teams.

                  STRUCTURAL RACISM AND RACIAL EQUITY

    The Committee intends to examine government and private 
sector policies that perpetuate structural and institutional 
racism and racial inequality in the United States. People of 
color have been harmed by discrimination and structural 
inequalities in many areas of life, including education, 
criminal justice, health care, employment, and wealth building. 
Despite incremental advances in criminal justice reform, people 
of color are still disproportionately arrested, prosecuted, and 
sentenced, and there is evidence of white supremacist domestic 
extremist infiltration of law enforcement agencies. The 
coronavirus pandemic offers another recent example, with racial 
and ethnic minorities dying from the coronavirus at higher 
rates.
    The Committee intends to conduct oversight of government 
and nongovernment activities related to the sources of 
institutional and structural racism and inequality, as well as 
the need for legislative reforms to ensure that people of color 
in the U.S. are protected from discrimination and treated 
equally under the law.

                             GENDER EQUITY

    The Committee will examine structural barriers to gender 
equity, as well as the need for reforms to promote equity 
domestically and abroad for people of all genders. The 
Committee will place particular emphasis on the experiences of 
those who have historically faced gender-based and race-based 
discrimination.
    Among the reforms the Committee will examine is the Equal 
Rights Amendment, which would help to ensure that women and 
people of marginalized genders in the United States are equal 
under the law in matters of health care, employment, education, 
property, family law, and more.
    The Committee will also review the expansion of paid family 
and medical leave, which allows women--who disproportionately 
fulfill caregiving responsibilities--and people of marginalized 
genders to better access economic opportunity while taking care 
of themselves and their loved ones.
    The Committee will examine the need for comprehensive 
legislative reforms to ensure that LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. 
are protected from discrimination and treated equally under the 
law.

                             VOTING RIGHTS

    The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. The 
Committee will continue conducting oversight of the development 
and impact of laws and policies that have hindered eligible 
individuals from registering to vote and casting their ballots. 
The Committee will conduct robust oversight to support the 
Voting Rights Act and other laws aimed at preventing barriers 
to those seeking to exercise their right to vote. State and 
local elections officials did a heroic job of conducting the 
2020 election safely and securely in the middle of a pandemic. 
However, since the election, several states have begun 
considering increased restrictions on voting.\28\ The Committee 
will continue to examine efforts to restrict the right to vote.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \28\State Republicans Push New Voting Restrictions After Trump's 
Loss, Politico (Jan. 24, 2021) (online at www.politico.com/news/2021/
01/24/republicans-voter-id-laws-461707).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              IMMIGRATION

    The Committee intends to conduct oversight of the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the 
Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies 
tasked with developing and implementing federal immigration 
policies. In the 116th Congress, the Committee conducted robust 
oversight of the Trump Administration's immigration policies, 
including policies separating thousands of children from their 
families and policies related to the immigration detention 
facilities. The Committee will continue to examine the 
persisting results of the Trump Administration's immigration 
policies to provide accountability, and it will work with the 
Biden Administration in its efforts to reunify separated 
families and address harms from the separations. The Committee 
will also continue to examine the immigration detention system, 
as well as the use of secret Facebook groups by Border Patrol 
employees to post offensive and inappropriate comments.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of other immigration 
issues to ensure that the Administration's immigration policy 
meets U.S. security needs and provides humane and equitable 
treatment to people in the U.S.'s care and custody.

                              GUN VIOLENCE

    The Committee will evaluate the public health impacts of 
the gun violence epidemic in the United States. Tens of 
thousands of Americans die every year from firearms and gun 
violence. Yet due to aggressive lobbying by organizations like 
the National Rifle Association, gun manufacturers operate 
largely free from oversight. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives, which is charged with overseeing gun 
manufacturers, has been stripped of many of its most effective 
oversight tools and is prevented by law from publicly 
disclosing much of its data about gun manufacturers and dealers 
to the public.
    As a result of focused efforts by the gun lobby, gun 
manufacturers and dealers also enjoy broad immunity from legal 
liability in federal and state courts. The Committee will 
examine the impact of allowing gun manufacturers to operate 
with impunity and how oversight of gun manufacturers and 
dealers can be strengthened.

                        CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

    The Committee will continue to examine the role of the 
private sector in facilitating societal ills, including 
examining how private entities may have undermined human 
rights, facilitated corruption, contributed to the opioid 
epidemic, injured consumers, and engaged in other activity that 
harms the public. As part of this work, the Committee will also 
investigate how such entities attempt to avoid accountability 
for their conduct and leverage the United States tax system to 
maximize profits.

 EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROCUREMENT

    The Committee will continue conducting oversight over 
compliance with the Ethics in Government Act, regulations 
issued by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Executive 
Orders, and other laws, regulations, and guidance, to determine 
whether legislative reforms are needed to enhance our ethics 
laws or to prevent abuses.
    The Committee will conduct oversight over implementation of 
the Hatch Act. The Committee will review efforts to implement 
and enforce the Hatch Act by the Office of Special Counsel.
    The Committee will conduct oversight over compliance with 
the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act. The 
Committee will investigate compliance with the Freedom of 
Information Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and other 
transparency laws. The Committee will investigate the 
presidential transition and consider whether additional 
legislative reforms are necessary for future presidential 
transitions.
    The Committee will support the passage of H.R. 1, the For 
the People Act. This sweeping legislation is intended to clean 
up corruption in government, fight secret money in politics, 
and make it easier for American citizens across this country to 
vote.
    The Committee will investigate allegations of retaliation 
against whistleblowers and will seek legislative reforms to 
ensure that whistleblowers are adequately protected under the 
law. The Committee will also investigate compliance with GAO 
audits, evaluations, and investigations, and compliance with 
agency Inspectors General.
    The Committee will continue conducting oversight over 
government procurement. The Committee will evaluate whether 
additional legislative reforms are necessary to make the 
procurement process more effective and efficient. The Committee 
will continue to conduct oversight over the F-35 Joint Strike 
Fighter program including issues related to an inadequate 
information technology system for the F-35.

           PRESIDENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND EMOLUMENTS

    The Committee will continue to examine presidential 
conflicts of interests. Although President Trump is no longer 
in office, many unresolved questions remain regarding the 
former president's business interests and whether current 
ethics laws and regulations are sufficient to ensure 
accountability and transparency in government.
    After Donald Trump was elected in 2016, he defied the 
advice of bipartisan ethics experts and retained financial 
interests in businesses across the United States and around the 
world that posed both perceived and actual conflicts of 
interest. Those business interests raised grave questions about 
whether President Trump received emoluments that are prohibited 
by the U.S. Constitution ``without the consent of 
Congress.''\29\ President Trump also chose to defy decades of 
precedent by concealing his tax returns from the public so 
Congress and the American people could not fully evaluate his 
global financial interests.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \29\U.S. Const. art. I, Sec.  9, cl. 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Recognizing the unprecedented nature of President Trump's 
actions, in the 116th Congress, the Committee conducted robust 
and independent oversight of then-President Trump and his 
multiple business interests to thoroughly examine weaknesses in 
current ethics laws and regulations. The Committee will 
continue this important investigative and oversight work in the 
117th Congress to obtain accurate and relevant information to 
inform legislative actions going forward.
    The Committee will continue its investigation of former 
President Trump's federal financial disclosures to OGE to 
develop 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.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
General Services Administration's (GSA) management of the lease 
for the Old Post Office Building to develop legislation to 
ensure that GSA administers federal contracts in a fair and 
transparent manner, to prevent future presidents from engaging 
in and maintaining self-dealing contracts with the U.S. 
government, and to close loopholes in government contracting.
    The Committee will continue its investigation of former 
President Trump's receipt of funds from foreign governments, 
federal officials, or state officials through his business 
holdings while in office, resulting in the receipt of 
emoluments. The goal of this investigation will be to obtain 
accurate and relevant information to inform legislation to 
prohibit taxpayer funds from flowing to a president's business, 
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.
    In the 116th Congress, the Committee issued a subpoena to 
Mazars USA LLP for then-President Trump's personal financial 
records that were relevant to the Committee's investigations 
into financial disclosure, GSA oversight, and emoluments, and 
necessary to help the Committee define areas that require 
legislative reform. President Trump and his businesses filed a 
lawsuit seeking to prevent Mazars from complying with the 
Committee's lawful subpoena. 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 a sitting 
President's personal information. The case has been remanded to 
the district court. The Committee intends to vigorously pursue 
the litigation.
    The Committee will also continue its investigation of 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation 
from its current site in Washington, D.C. to a suburban 
location, allowing developers to build on the existing site 
just blocks from then-President Trump's hotel, and replace this 
plan with a more costly proposal to demolish the existing 
building and construct a new facility on the same site. The 
Committee will continue to examine whether proposals for the 
expenditure of taxpayer funds protect against waste, fraud, and 
abuse and whether any officials inappropriately interfered in 
the decision to cancel the procurement in favor of a costlier 
option.

             SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

    The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis was 
established by Congress in April 2020 and reauthorized in the 
117th Congress to ``conduct a full and complete investigation'' 
of ``the use of taxpayer funds and relief programs to address 
the coronavirus crisis,'' ``preparedness for and response to 
the coronavirus crisis,'' ``the economic impact of the 
coronavirus crisis,'' and other issues related to the 
pandemic.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \30\ H. Res. 935, 116th Cong. (2020); H. Res. 8, sec. 4(f), 117th 
Cong. (2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue to conduct 
robust oversight to ensure the nation's ongoing response to the 
coronavirus pandemic is effective, efficient, and equitable. 
The Select Subcommittee intends to identify lessons from the 
Trump Administration's failure to control the virus, with the 
goal of identifying and correcting errors and preventing these 
problems from recurring. The Select Subcommittee also intends 
to continue to detect and root out waste, fraud, and abuse in 
pandemic-related relief programs, contracts, and loans.

          Development and Distribution of Coronavirus Vaccines

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue to review the 
development and distribution of coronavirus vaccines, including 
efforts to ensure these vaccines are equitably distributed and 
administered.

         Role of Political Appointees in Public Health Response

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue to investigate 
political interference during the Trump Administration that may 
have undermined the nation's pandemic response, putting 
Americans at further risk of infection and death during the 
pandemic. The Select Subcommittee intends to conduct oversight 
of potential interference related to Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention scientific reports, public health 
guidance, testing, and other topics.

                Acquisition and Distribution of Supplies

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue to conduct 
oversight of efforts to acquire and distribute personal 
protective equipment and other critical supplies necessary to 
protect Americans during the pandemic, including efforts to 
address shortages as well as contracts awarded by federal 
agencies that may be subject to waste, fraud, and abuse.

            Impact of the Pandemic on Nursing Home Residents

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue to examine how 
nursing homes have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, 
including investigating infections and deaths among staff and 
residents. This review will include an assessment of how for-
profit nursing homes fared during the crisis and how these 
entities used federal emergency relief funds.

                      Paycheck Protection Program

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue oversight of 
the Small Business Administration's implementation of the 
Paycheck Protection Program, including whether the program has 
favored large companies over the neediest small businesses, 
whether underserved markets have been prioritized as Congress 
intended, and efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in this 
relief program.

                      Emergency Lending Facilities

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue examining the 
emergency lending facilities implemented by the Federal Reserve 
and the Treasury Department using CARES Act funds. This review 
will include assessing the efficacy of the loan programs and 
the steps the Federal Reserve is taking to fulfill its maximum 
employment mandate.

                       Treasury Lending Programs

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue oversight over 
direct lending programs implemented by the Treasury Department, 
including the aviation industry Payroll Support Program. This 
review will examine whether federal funds were used as intended 
and whether the Treasury Department appropriately considered 
the risk of default and taxpayer protections, consistent with 
congressional intent.

            Coronavirus Protections for Meatpacking Workers

    The Select Subcommittee will investigate coronavirus 
outbreaks at meatpacking plants, including the actions of 
meatpacking companies and the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, which is responsible for establishing and 
enforcing worker safety laws.

                  Farmers to Families Food Box Program

    Millions of Americans have faced hunger and food insecurity 
during the pandemic. The Select Subcommittee intends to 
continue its review of the Farmers to Families Food Box 
Program, a Department of Agriculture program intended to 
provide food assistance to Americans in need during the 
coronavirus crisis. The Select Subcommittee is examining 
whether the program achieved its goal of delivering food to 
communities experiencing food insecurity and is investigating 
reported problems with program management and accountability.

         Protecting Homeowners and Renters During the Pandemic

    The Select Subcommittee intends to continue its oversight 
of housing hardships during the pandemic, including efforts by 
the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac 
to prevent Americans from losing their homes and provide 
financial relief for renters and homeowners.

                   SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY

    The Subcommittee on National Security intends to conduct 
robust oversight of United States national security and foreign 
policy, including, but not limited to:
           Implementation of the National Security 
        Strategy;
           Global force posture of U.S. military 
        personnel, assets, equipment, and resources;
           U.S. counterterrorism operations against al 
        Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and 
        affiliated terrorist organizations;
           U.S. diplomatic and foreign assistance 
        programs, including stabilization and reconstruction 
        activities in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria;
           Overseas construction and security of U.S. 
        embassies, consulates, and diplomatic facilities;
           U.S. support to multilateral institutions, 
        including United Nations peacekeeping operations;
           Matters related to homeland security and 
        defense, including, but not limited to:
                    State and non-state physical and cyber 
                threats to U.S. critical infrastructure;
                    Defending the integrity of U.S. election 
                systems;
                    Protecting U.S. federal information 
                technology networks;
                    Climate change;
                    U.S. biodefense preparedness;
                    Domestic terrorism and homegrown violent 
                extremism; and
                    Security of U.S. government property and 
                employees;
           Military readiness, including matters 
        related to the health, safety, and nondiscriminatory 
        treatment of U.S. servicemembers;
           Matters related to military veterans and 
        their families, including the provision of medical and 
        disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic and 
        environmental hazards;
           The recovery and repatriation of U.S. 
        servicemember remains from overseas conflicts; and
           Federal acquisition policy related to 
        national security.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Department 
of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland 
Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, Intelligence 
Community, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, U.S. Agency for 
International Development, and other entities within its 
jurisdiction.

                 SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

    The Subcommittee on Government Operations intends to 
conduct robust oversight of many aspects of the Executive 
Branch, including, but not limited to:
           Restoring OPM after the Trump 
        Administration's attempts to eliminate it;
           Revitalizing the federal workforce, 
        improving compensation and benefits, and finding ways 
        to recruit and retain expert talent;
           Bolstering the independence and 
        effectiveness of federal Inspectors General;
           Overseeing the proper expenditure of federal 
        funding, including aid to counter the economic effects 
        of the coronavirus pandemic;
           Restoring effective leadership and financial 
        stability at the U.S. Postal Service;
           Documenting the ramifications of the 
        SolarWinds data breach for more effective federal 
        procurement of information technology (IT) and improved 
        cybersecurity;
           Facilitating the creation and operations of 
        the Technology Modernization Fund to allow for multi-
        year IT modernization projects that will improve the 
        operations of government and delivery of federal 
        services;
           Strengthening federal information technology 
        and cybersecurity policy, including compliance with the 
        requirements of FITARA and reviewing FISMA for 
        potential amendment;
           Improving the effectiveness of future 
        presidential administration transitions;
           Ensuring the safe and efficient return to 
        federal office space at the conclusion of the pandemic, 
        including consideration of greater use of telework and 
        other vital tools;
           Strengthening whistleblower protections;
           Restoring the effective operation of the 
        Merit System Protection Board to resolve its years-long 
        backlog of employee appeals;
           Examining the safety, infrastructure, 
        finances and performance of the Washington Metropolitan 
        Area Transit Authority;
           Improving intergovernmental affairs, 
        particularly through continued efforts to implement the 
        work of the bipartisan Speaker's Task Force on 
        Intergovernmental Affairs and the re-establishment of 
        the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; 
        and
           Continuing efforts to investigate improper 
        management and procurement of federal property, 
        including working with the full Committee to 
        investigate political interference in relocating FBI 
        Headquarters.
    The Subcommittee will conduct regular and robust oversight 
of OPM, the Office of Management and Budget, the GSA, and 
government operations within its jurisdiction.

              SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND CONSUMER POLICY

    The Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy intends to 
conduct robust oversight and investigations of consumer 
protection matters and of the role that public policy plays in 
the lives of the American people, including, but not limited 
to:
           Protection of personal care products users;
           Prevention of illegal marketing of vaping 
        products to young people;
           Regulation of toxic heavy metals in baby 
        foods;
           Financial consumer protection in banking, 
        education, housing, and telecommunications;
           Prevention of harm to health and well-being, 
        particularly matters affecting infants and children;
           The causes of income inequality, including 
        the disproportionate impact of economic policies on 
        people of color, and the policies required to promote 
        the growth and prosperity of the middle class;
           The economic and social impact of federal 
        policies relating to labor, workers' rights, 
        intellectual property, taxes, trade, small business, 
        agriculture, and investor protections;
           The federal response to the economic effects 
        of the coronavirus pandemic in cooperation with the 
        Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis;
           The extent to which federal agencies 
        responsible for public health and consumer protection 
        are fulfilling their statutory missions;
           Cybersecurity and digital privacy in the 
        private sector;
           Free market and commerce regulations that 
        affect the safety and well-being of Americans; and
           Federal acquisition policy unrelated to 
        national security and information technology.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Food and 
Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 
Department of the Treasury, Department of Education, Small 
Business Administration, Department of Labor, Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, and 
other entities within its jurisdiction.

                      SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT

    The Subcommittee on Environment intends to conduct robust 
oversight of our nation's environmental protection policies, 
with a focus on job creation in the transition to clean energy 
and a green economy, environmental justice, and the harmful 
effects of disinformation in the fight against climate change, 
including, but not limited to:
           Examining the Executive Branch's 
        effectiveness in addressing the impacts of climate 
        change and implementing mitigation and resiliency 
        strategies;
           Examining the spread and perpetuation of 
        climate denialism and online climate disinformation;
           Advocating for a just and green recovery 
        from the coronavirus pandemic;
           Promoting job creation and equity in a 
        transition to a green workforce and clean technologies;
           Documenting the disproportionate burden of 
        pollution affecting rural, low-income, and minority 
        communities; and
           Examining the federal government's 
        preparation for, and response to, natural disasters in 
        the United States and its territories.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, 
Department of Energy, and other entities within its 
jurisdiction.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

    The Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
intends to continue to conduct robust oversight of federal, 
state, and local governments--as well as private entities--that 
are violating the civil rights and civil liberties of the 
American people, including, but not limited to:
           The spread of violent white supremacy and 
        similar extremist ideologies;
           The rise of hate crimes against minority 
        communities;
           Use of federal and state law enforcement to 
        respond to peaceful demonstrations;
           The rights of immigrants, including any 
        abuses of persons detained by the federal government, 
        the lack of due process for undocumented immigrants, 
        refugee asylum seeker, and their families;
           LGBTQ+ rights;
           Voting rights and other attempts to 
        undermine the democratic process and perpetuate voter 
        suppression;
           Criminal justice reform policies, including 
        the reform of the death penalty;
           The implementation of the 2020 Census 
        results and other investigations related to the census;
           The enforcement of laws ensuring equal 
        employment and the use of non-disclosure agreements in 
        employment and other contexts; and
           Other efforts throughout society to 
        undermine Equal Protection and core civil liberties 
        such as freedom of religion, speech, press, and 
        assembly.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Department 
of Justice, Census Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, 
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, federal and state 
voting authorities, and other entities within its jurisdiction.

                   Committee on Oversight and Reform

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                     117th Congress Oversight Plan

                            REPUBLICAN VIEWS

    The Republican Members of the House Committee on Oversight 
and Reform intend to conduct objective, fact-based oversight of 
the Executive Branch. The Members will continue to work closely 
with the Government Accountability Office, the community of 
Inspectors General (IG), good-government groups, 
whistleblowers, and others to improve the efficiency and 
transparency of the federal government. The Democrat majority 
seems intent on continuing to investigate the Trump 
Administration, tearing down any positive policy gains from his 
presidency, and advancing far left policies that kill jobs and 
keep schools shuttered. In contrast, the Republican Members 
will conduct responsible oversight to make the federal 
government more effective and more accountable to the American 
people.

                      DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ABUSES

    The Republican Members will continue their oversight into 
wrongdoing at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In the 115th and 116th 
Congresses, the Committee began a wide-ranging investigation 
into actions taken by the DOJ and FBI in 2016 and 2017. The 
Members will continue to examine the conduct of the DOJ and FBI 
personnel in departing from the norms of impartial justice and 
fairness, the political bias of DOJ and FBI personnel, 
departures from traditional investigative and prosecutorial 
practices, and insufficient adherence to the Foreign 
Intelligence Surveillance Act.
    Republicans will continue to conduct oversight of the FBI 
to ensure the agency is not abusing its law enforcement tools 
particularly in light of the unrest across America.

                    OBAMACARE AND HEALTH CARE REFORM

    The Republican Members will continue to examine the 
consequences of Obamacare to America's healthcare system.
    The Republican Members will continue to seek to bringing 
transparency to the federal government's increased role in 
health care markets, with an emphasis on assessing Obamacare's 
effect on consumer choice and insurance premiums.
    The Members will continue to examine efforts by the Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reduce waste, fraud, and 
abuse in the Medicaid program. The GAO has consistently 
classified Medicaid as a ``high risk'' program due to its 
increasing size and expense, stressing the need for enhanced 
oversight and data quality. The Members will also assess the 
incentives created by the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid 
expansion for states to obtain more federal funding by 
artificially changing their state share. Additionally, we must 
conduct oversight of the effects of the COVID related spending 
on our nation's health care system. The Republican Members will 
also examine the opioid crisis, its effects on states and 
localities, and how the federal government can best assist 
state and local jurisdictions
    The Republican Members will also conduct oversight of the 
Food and Drug Administration's implementation of Right to Try 
and its enforcement actions relating to e-cigarettes.

              BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

    The Republican Members will continue to oversee the 
Executive Branch's enforcement of border security and 
immigration laws. President Biden in his short time in office 
has incentivized illegal immigration and there is now a crisis 
at the Southern border. Republicans have sought information on 
border security, interior enforcement, and construction of the 
barrier on the Southern border. Republicans will continue to 
highlight this administration's flawed policies that seek to 
reward those to break our immigration laws. According to media 
reports, to date, approximately 700 unaccompanied minors are 
being held by the Customs and Border Patrol. President Biden's 
empty promises and unraveling of our enforcement mechanisms has 
caused the current unprecedented crisis at the border. The 
Republican Members will examine how violent transnational 
criminal organizations exploit loopholes in our immigration 
laws for drug smuggling and human trafficking as well as the 
Biden Administration's weak treatment of gangs in the U.S. 
Finally, the Republican Members will conduct oversight of the 
1997 Flores Settlement Agreement.

              FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

    The Republican Members will continue to conduct oversight 
of attempts to restrict Americans' freedoms of speech and 
assembly by compelling the disclosure of the organizations to 
which they donate. Republicans have repeatedly requested 
documents and information from social media companies related 
to the silencing of conservative voices. Republicans will 
continue to fight the ``cancel culture'' perpetuated by 
Democrats engaged in identity politics. All voices should be 
heard in a free and tolerant society. On December 15, 2020, 
Republicans called on Chairwoman Maloney to hold an emergency 
hearing to review social media companies' censorship of a news 
articles regarding then-candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter 
Biden. Social media companies suppressed this news which we 
later learned was true--going so far as to lock the New York 
Post's Twitter account. In the wake of the events of January 6, 
2021, the largely conservative leaning platform, Parler, was 
essentially barred from the Internet even though we now know 
much of the planning of the events of January 6 actually 
occurred on more widely used social media platforms.
    The Republican Members will also continue to conduct this 
important oversight of allegations that social media companies 
reduced the visibility of conservative social media accounts, 
effectively silencing those individuals' right to free speech.

                           REGULATORY REFORM

    The Republican Members will continue to examine the effect 
of burdensome regulations on small businesses and job creators. 
Republicans will also endeavor to track and point out actions 
by President Biden to reverse actions by the Trump 
Administration to cut red tape. President Biden has already 
banned energy production on federal lands, and he has halted 
the Keystone Pipeline. Fourteen attorneys general sent a letter 
to President Biden explaining the devastating costs of his 
action on Keystone. In Montana, for example, the state will 
lose approximately $58 million in tax revenue.
    In the summer 2020, Republicans undertook a project to 
understand what reforms would help the private sector grow and 
promote jobs. The Members will continue to not only look for 
regulations to curb but point out regulatory actions taken by 
the Biden Administration that kill jobs, negatively affect the 
associated school districts, and interrupt innovation.

             AN EFFECTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

    The Republican Members will continue to encourage a federal 
workforce that is efficient, effective, and accountable to the 
American taxpayers. The Members will assess the 
Administration's efforts to undue the prior administrations' 
efforts to make federal workers more accountable for poor 
performance or misconduct, including sexual misconduct. The 
Members will assess the use of taxpayer-funded official time by 
federal workers, some of whom perform exclusively union 
business during work hours.
    In addition, the Members will support the work of the 
Office of Special Counsel and will examine findings of systemic 
Hatch Act violations in the United States Postal Service. The 
Members will support the work of the IG community and strive 
that IGs have the resources they need to carry out their duties 
responsibly.

                             CYBERSECURITY

    The Republican Members will continue to examine 
implementation of federal laws to enhance cybersecurity at 
federal agencies, including the Federal Information Management 
Act of 2002 and the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 
2015. Members will continue to conduct oversight of the massive 
cyber attack that was discovered in December 2020. The Members 
will focus on the state of cybersecurity practices at federal 
agencies, as well as federal agencies' policies and regulations 
affecting cybersecurity technology.

             SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

    Early on in the pandemic it became clear that certain 
states were fairing better than others in combatting COVID and 
protecting the most vulnerable. Select Subcommittee Republicans 
have highlighted the work of the leaders in Florida to safely 
reopen that state, keep its economy going, and protect its most 
vulnerable. In contrast, Governor Cuomo in New York failed to 
protect nursing home residents, has crushed his state's 
economy, and is struggling to reopen schools. In at least three 
separate letters, Select Subcommittee Republicans have called 
on Governor Cuomo to be transparent and to provide the true 
data on nursing home fatalities in his state. Here is a link to 
the Republican's work in this area. The Republican Members will 
continue to press Governor Cuomo to stop playing politics.
    Since this summer Republican Members of the Select 
Subcommittee have called on Chairman Clyburn to join in the 
call to safely reopen schools. Republicans pledge to all 
parents to continue to press for full five days in person for 
every child. The science supports reopening and we must quell 
the knowledge loss. A whole generation of children--who are the 
least vulnerable to COVID-19--are being punished by Democrat 
leaders cow towing to the teachers' union.

              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                    Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

                     117th Congress Oversight Plan

    This oversight plan is filed pursuant to rule X, clause 
2(d)(1) of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.

                 OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY & OVERSIGHT THEMES

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology was first 
established as the Committee on Science and Astronautics on 
July 21, 1958 in a direct response to the Soviet Union's 1957 
launch of Sputnik 1, the world's first satellite. The Science 
Committee was created to help the United States foster 
innovation and stay globally competitive in the science and 
technology domains. House Rule X, clause 1 (p) sets forth the 
legislative jurisdiction of the Committee. However, rule X, 
clause 3 (k) grants the Committee ``special oversight 
functions'' that stretches beyond its legislative jurisdiction. 
As this clause sets out: ``The Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology shall review and study on a continuing basis laws, 
programs, and Government activities relating to nonmilitary 
research and development.''\31\ This provides the Committee 
with wide-ranging oversight authority over science and 
technology issues throughout the government.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \31\House rule X, clause 3, (k)--attached as Appendix A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Each of the Committee's five subcommittees, as well as the 
full Committee, engage in oversight work as authorized by House 
rules. These five subcommittees include the Subcommittee on 
Energy, Subcommittee on Environment, Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and the 
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. In general the 
Investigations and Oversight (I&O) Subcommittee coordinates and 
directs oversight activities across the Committee.
    Emerging issues not previously planned or anticipated will 
require Congressional investigation and oversight and will 
necessarily affect the Committee's oversight agenda as they 
evolve. However, there are several general themes the Committee 
intends to focus its oversight resources on during the 117th 
Congress.
       Scientific Integrity: Ensure federal science 
activities, including environmental and climate sciences, are 
free from political or industry interference and undue 
influence.
       Public Accountability: Hold public officials and 
federal agencies accountable for efficient, cost-effective, 
ethical program management.
       Safety & Security: Consistently review science 
and technology activities that can have an impact on the safety 
and security of the American people.
       Emerging Technology: Examine potential societal 
consequences of emerging technologies.
    The Committee will consult as appropriate with other 
Committees of the House where we share common oversight 
priorities.

                                GENERAL

    The federal response to COVID-19. As of this writing, 
COVID-19 has killed nearly 500,000 Americans over the course of 
the year. The Committee will consider how scientific integrity 
failures may have contributed to the pandemic's severity in the 
United States to date and evaluate strategies for addressing 
future outbreaks of infectious disease.
    Science Integrity. The Committee will continue to collect 
and examine allegations of intimidation of scientists in 
federal agencies or suppression or revisions of scientific 
findings because of political or other pressures. The Committee 
will also consider policy changes to prevent recurrence of the 
types of scientific integrity violations our Members have 
observed within Federal agencies in recent years.
    Scientific advisory committees. Federal agencies receive 
scientific advice and analysis from independent science 
advisory committees to help inform policymaking. The Committee 
will examine the structure, independence, functionality and 
ethical requirements of these committees to ensure that they 
are able to deliver sound expertise without undue influence by 
special interests.
    Whistleblowers. The Committee maintains an open door policy 
for any whistleblower who would like to alert Congress to 
issues of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement at agencies 
under the Committee's jurisdiction or within other activities 
within the Committee's broad oversight authority. The Committee 
takes confidentiality issues seriously and will help to protect 
the identity of any individual who approaches the Committee 
with issues of concern.
    GAO & OIGs. The Committee will coordinate with the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the various Offices 
of Inspectors General (OIGs) within agencies under the 
Committee's legislative jurisdiction to ensure Departments, 
programs, and agencies are being transparent and implementing 
GAO and OIG recommendations. The Committee will also utilize 
the resources of the GAO and IG community to steer them towards 
oversight issues of concern to the Committee. In addition, the 
Committee will ensure the IG offices within the agencies under 
the Committee's jurisdiction are being managed appropriately 
and effectively.
    Cybersecurity. The Committee will continue its work to help 
ensure federal agencies are complying with cybersecurity 
standards across the government, consider the quality and 
adequacy of the standards and best practices themselves, and 
investigate reported breaches of government and private sector 
computer systems when they endanger the public's privacy, 
safety, or security.
    Voting system design and integrity. A multitude of election 
system vulnerabilities in the diffuse voting infrastructure in 
the United States were following the 2016 and 2018 elections. 
The 2020 election cycle then saw state election officials 
marshalling an unprecedented shift to mail-in and early voting 
in order reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Committee will 
continue to conduct oversight on the cyber and physical 
security standards and best practices for the complete supply 
chain of voting system technologies to help ensure elections 
are secure and resilient.
    Identifying and mitigating influence operations. The use of 
social media platforms for influence operations against the 
American public by both domestic and foreign actors has become 
an area of intense interest. The Committee will examine what 
tools and technologies are being developed by the scientific 
and technical community to help identify these threats to 
mitigate their impact.
    Unauthorized use of private data. The unauthorized use of 
private data for commercial or political purposes is a growing 
concern. The Committee will investigate such cases wherein 
public trust is breached, whether the perpetrator be a 
government or commercial entity and whether the intended use of 
the data is for financial, political, or other purposes. In an 
increasingly digital world, the Committee has a responsibility 
to expose Internet privacy failures and deliberate on potential 
solutions.
    DHS Science & Technology Directorate. The Committee will 
reassert its oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's 
Science & Technology Directorate in the 117th Congress. The 
Committee will examine the S&T Directorate's programs and 
activities to ensure they are being managed efficiently and 
effectively.
    Sexual harassment in the sciences. Sexual harassment in 
academia drives talented scientists out of the field as some 
perpetrators continue to hold high-status positions and receive 
federal grant money. The Committee will continue its bipartisan 
oversight of federal science agencies to ensure they have clear 
policies in place and are handling reports of sexual harassment 
effectively and efficiently.
    Academic espionage. The Committee will continue to conduct 
bipartisan oversight into the coordination and collaboration 
between law enforcement, the intelligence community, and 
institutions of higher education regarding the protection of 
sensitive, often government-funded research. The Committee will 
consider strategies to ensure the United States remains a 
global science leader while respecting the international 
collaborations that help foster U.S. innovation.
    STEM Education. The Committee will continue to review 
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 
education related subjects, particularly the need to increase 
the diversity of individuals who have access to STEM education. 
The Committee will examine the effectiveness of federal 
programs in improving the recruitment and retention of a 
diverse pool of individuals pursuing STEM-related degrees and 
careers.
    Arctic Research. The Committee will examine the scientific 
issues related to the warming of the Arctic and the 
environmental, social, public health, and safety and security 
implications that represents for the United States and the 
world.
    Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The 
Committee will ensure that OSTP is functioning as effectively 
as possible to confront national science priorities, including 
COVID-19, and is fulfilling its statutorily mandated 
responsibilities.
    Public Access to Federally Funded Research. Currently, 
federally funded research papers can be locked behind paywalls 
for twelve months. The revenues from paywalls are used in part 
to support the peer review and hosting services provided by the 
major science publishers. The Committee will explore how this 
model is functioning to maximize both academic rigor in science 
publishing and public access to a taxpayer funded resource.
    Facial recognition technology. Facial recognition 
applications are growing widely around the globe, creating 
privacy concerns and enabling misidentification of individuals 
by law enforcement, particularly people of color. The Committee 
will continue to explore the role of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology and other federal science agencies in 
evaluating and validating the performance of facial recognition 
technologies.
    Critical infrastructure and electricity grid security. The 
Committee will continue to conduct oversight over the state of 
the nation's critical infrastructure to ensure that 
vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, physical attacks, and natural 
hazards are identified and remedied to the extent possible, and 
to ensure the government has the capability to respond to such 
threats efficiently and effectively.
    Clean energy technologies in general. The Committee will 
conduct oversight to ensure that the newly enacted 
authorizations for DOE energy research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application (RDD&CA) programs in 
the Energy Act of 2020 as part of the FY2021 Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, P.L. 116-260, are being executed 
faithfully. The Committee will examine whether the Department's 
energy technology offices are supporting the full range of high 
value RDD&CA activities that the private sector is unable or 
unwilling to support on its own. The Committee will also 
evaluate potentially transformational clean energy technologies 
that currently receive little federal support.
    DOE Laboratory Complex. The management, upkeep, and 
security of the Department's aging facilities remains a 
continuing concern of the Committee. Efforts will continue to 
assure that the Department meets its responsibilities to 
control risks in and around these facilities.
    Nuclear waste cleanup. Remediation and site management of 
legacy weapons sites accounts for over $6 billion annually from 
the Department of Energy. The Committee will examine whether 
the Department is leveraging its science and technology 
capabilities to their maximum potential in order to achieve 
site cleanups more quickly and at less cost.
    Nuclear energy R&D spending. The Committee will examine how 
the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy informs its 
decisions for financial assistance to private companies.
    DOE Loan Programs Office. The Committee will continue to 
provide oversight of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs 
Office, which the prior Administration sought to terminate, to 
ensure that the Office is diligently carrying out its statutory 
mission.
    Fusion research. The Committee will provide oversight of 
the Department of Energy's fusion energy research activities to 
ensure that direction provided in the Department of Energy 
Research and Innovation Act, P.L. 115-246, and the Energy Act 
of 2020, a Division of P.L. 116 260, is being faithfully 
executed, including the establishment of programs to advance 
inertial fusion for energy applications and to advance other 
innovative fusion energy concepts. The Committee will also 
oversee the U.S. contribution to the ITER fusion project to 
ensure that the Department is actually providing the resources 
that it has projected are required to minimize the project's 
schedule and total cost.
    Emerging technologies. The Committee will examine emerging 
technologies such as autonomous vehicles, artificial 
intelligence, deep fakes, and gene editing. The positive use 
cases of each of these are well-documented, as are their high-
profile failures and misapplications. Where they are 
commercializing faster than the technical standards, 
cybersecurity standards and applicable public policies, 
emerging technologies may threaten the safety, security and 
privacy of the American people. The Committee intends to 
examine their potential social, public health, economic, and 
security consequences.
    Climate science. The Committee will aggressively track 
emerging issues and scientific studies regarding global warming 
and climate science and eliciting thoughtful science-based 
discussions on potential solutions and remedies to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the role of federally 
funded research and innovative technology demonstration and 
development related to cutting-edge mitigation and adaptation 
strategies.
    Environmental effects of COVID-19. The Committee will 
examine how the vast societal and economic changes forced by 
COVID-19 have temporarily affected global environmental air 
quality and consider implications for environmental management 
strategies going forward.
    Extreme weather hazards. The severity of storms, floods, 
fires, and hurricanes has increased tremendously over the past 
few years, leaving a path of death and multi-billion dollar 
destruction in their wake. The Committee will examine various 
issues surrounding these extreme weather events, including the 
science behind these hazards and how climate change has 
increased the frequency and severity of these events, 
improvements to forecasting and warning, and proposed methods 
to reduce their impact.
    IRIS Program Oversight. The Committee will continue its 
long-standing oversight of the EPA's Integrated Risk 
Information System (IRIS). IRIS develops critical toxicological 
assessments of environmental contaminants, providing the 
science that underpins regulations of toxic chemicals. Since a 
2011 National Academies of Sciences (NAS) report on process 
issues at IRIS, the program has come a long way, and has 
received praise from NAS and EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) 
on its progress. The Committee is concerned that limited 
resources and political interference are restricting the IRIS 
program's productivity, and that critical assessments are being 
held up.
    EPA chemicals. The Committee will work to ensure the public 
is being protected from the release of toxic chemicals, that 
EPA is using the best available science in its chemical policy 
decisions, and that it is not unduly influenced by the 
industries it is legally mandated to regulate.
    Deregulatory actions at EPA. The Trump administration made 
rollbacks of environmental protection a hallmark of its policy 
agenda. The Committee will examine incidents where principles 
of scientific and analytical integrity were not met in the 
effort to promulgate these policy measures and evaluate 
strategies for ensuring EPA adheres to its mission of 
protecting human health and the environment in the future.
    Methane leak detection. Methane is a powerful greenhouse 
gas. Methane emissions in the U.S. are systemically 
underestimated by the EPA, largely due to poorly quantified 
leaks in the oil and natural gas sector. The Committee will 
review the effectiveness of current leak detection technologies 
and the need for additional data, research and development.
    Earth observations satellite oversight. The Committee will 
continue to review the federal government's development, 
management, and operation of its earth observations satellites 
at both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA). These satellites provide critical data that feed into 
weather forecasting and climate models. The current and future 
planning of the satellite architecture is crucial to ensuring 
continuity of data collection.
    National Weather Service workforce issues. The Committee 
has been concerned with workforce issues at NOAA and the 
National Weather Service (NWS), which the GAO is currently 
investigating. The Committee will continue to monitor these 
issues and work with the GAO to ensure workforce issues are 
handled effectively and efficiently in a manner that does not 
jeopardize the ability of NWS or NOAA to perform their crucial 
life-saving missions.
    Access to the International Space Station (ISS). The 
Committee will conduct oversight into NASA's oversight of 
contracted commercial crewed flights and the certification of 
commercial crew providers to ensure U.S. access to the ISS will 
continue safely and without a gap, as well as NASA's 
contingency plan should commercial crew certification or 
operational flights experience delays.
    ISS research priorities. The International Space Station, 
and its crew and facilities, are precious and limited 
resources. The Committee will conduct oversight of the use of 
the ISS, the prioritization of ISS resources to meet and enable 
key objectives, and plans for meeting such objectives once the 
ISS reaches the end of its operational life.
    Oversight of NASA's flagship science missions. The 
Committee will oversee the management of major flagship science 
mission development projects, including the James Webb Space 
Telescope, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Telescope, and the 
Europa Clipper spacecraft.
    NASA Earth Science programs. NASA's Earth science programs 
offer valuable insights into Earth systems, climate change, 
severe weather, land change, and more. The Committee will 
conduct oversight of NASA's Earth science program, its progress 
in implementing the priorities of the 2018 National Academies' 
Earth science decadal survey, and its contributions climate 
change research.
    Orbital Debris. Hundreds of thousands of debris objects 
orbit the Earth. Travelling at very high velocities, debris of 
any size can pose significant risk to active space systems and 
human spaceflight operations. Mega constellation deployments 
comprising thousands of small satellites increase potential 
collision risk. The Committee will conduct oversight of NASA's 
activities in orbital debris monitoring, mitigation, and 
modeling, as well as its efforts to coordinate with other 
Federal agencies and internationally on orbital debris 
mitigation standards and guidelines.
    Human spaceflight schedule pressure. The Space Shuttle 
Challenger accident in 1986 made clear that launch pressure can 
lead to catastrophic consequences. In all expeditions, but 
particularly human space flight, oversight must be conducted to 
ensure that schedule pressures do not influence decisions that 
have implications for the overall safety of human spaceflight 
systems and operations.
    Lunar Campaign. The Trump Administration prioritized a 
return to lunar expeditions at NASA. Lunar missions could 
ostensibly contribute to the mission of getting humans to Mars. 
However, without clear objectives as part of a human 
exploration roadmap, significant investments in a lunar 
campaign could delay the United States' efforts to send humans 
to the surface of Mars by the 2030s. The Committee will examine 
the status of lunar activities, NASA's management of 
development projects, and how they would contribute toward the 
goal of a manned mission to Mars.
    Civil Aeronautics Research and Development. The Committee 
will evaluate research and development activities at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NASA's aeronautics 
research into topics including the next generation air 
transportation system (NextGen), the integration of unmanned 
aviation systems into the national airspace system, safety of 
civil aviation and aeronautics, and efforts to mitigate the 
environmental impacts of civil aviation.
    FAA Commercial Space Transportation. FAA's Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation licenses commercial launch and 
reentry vehicles and commercial spaceports. The Committee will 
conduct oversight on the FAA's AST, its licensing activities, 
and the implementation of the FAA's updated launch and reentry 
licensing regulations. In addition, the Committee will examine 
the growing commercial launch industry, including the emerging 
commercial human space flight industry, and the challenges 
facing it.

                   CONSULTATION WITH OTHER COMMITTEES

    The Committee may coordinate on the following oversight 
priorities with other House Committees as follows:
           With Administration on election security 
        technologies
           With Agriculture on integrity in cost-
        benefit analysis, biofuels, and climate change
           With Energy & Commerce on environmental 
        policy, including climate change, emerging trends in 
        technology that may affect American consumers, and 
        public health research priorities
           With Homeland Security on facial recognition 
        technology, advanced technology strategies for national 
        security, including cybersecurity, and for addressing 
        chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats
           With Natural Resources on climate change 
        science, advanced energy technologies, and geological 
        sciences
           With Oversight and Reform on ensuring the 
        effectiveness and independence of Inspectors General at 
        federal science agencies, on scientific integrity in 
        the federal response to COVID-19, cybersecurity in 
        federal agencies, the federal science workforce, and 
        other general oversight priorities
           With Transportation & Infrastructure on 
        advanced infrastructure materials and technologies, 
        strategies for reducing aircraft emissions and climate 
        resiliency of transportation infrastructure
           With the Select Committee on the Climate 
        Crisis on climate science priorities
                               Appendix A


                              HOUSE RULE X


                       ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES

Committees and their legislative jurisdictions

    1. There shall be in the House the following standing 
committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and 
related functions assigned by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 
4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to 
subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing committees 
listed in this clause shall be referred to those committees, in 
accordance withclause 2 of rule XII, as follows:
    (p) Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    (1) All energy research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated 
nonmilitary energy laboratories.
    (2) Astronautical research and development, including 
resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
    (3) Civil aviation research and development.
    (4) Environmental research and development.
    (5) Marine research.
    (6) Commercial application of energy technology.
    (7) National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
standardization of weights and measures, and the metric system.
    (8) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    (9) National Space Council.
    (10) National Science Foundation.
    (11) National Weather Service.
    (12) Outer space, including exploration and control 
thereof.
    (13) Science scholarships.
    (14) Scientific research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor.

Special oversight functions

    3(k) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall 
review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and 
Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and 
development.

                      COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

    Oversight Plan of the Committee on Small Business for the 117th 
                                Congress

    Ms. Velazquez, from the Committee on Small Business, 
submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration the following

                                 REPORT

    Rule X, cl. 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing Committee to adopt an oversight plan for the two-year 
period of the Congress and to submit the plan to the Committees 
on Oversight and Reform and House Administration not later than 
March 1 of the first session of the Congress. Under rule X, the 
Committee has oversight authority to investigate and examine 
any matter affecting small business. This Report reflects that 
broad oversight jurisdiction.

              OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal 
agencies that provide capital to America's entrepreneurs that 
may include any or all of the following, as well as matters 
brought to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the 
filing of this Report:
     Effectiveness of the capital access programs to 
generate jobs in the fastest growing small businesses.
     Effectiveness of the capital access programs to 
assist and create jobs in underserved businesses, including 
minority, women, immigrant, veteran, and rural owners.
     Effectiveness of the Small Business 
Administration's outreach and structure as it pertains to 
increasing assistance to underserved and rural businesses and 
entrepreneurs.
     Whether lenders are meeting their goals to lend to 
small businesses and create jobs.
     Adequacy of SBA oversight of its lending partners 
to ensure that federal taxpayers are properly protected.
     Capabilities of the SBA information technology to 
manage the loan portfolio.
     Whether SBA rules, regulations, and guidance 
result in transparent and reasoned decision making with respect 
to capital access programs.
     Assessment of credit-scoring algorithms as a 
replacement for individual credit assessment by SBA and its 
lending partners.
     The exercise of discretion by SBA to create pilot 
programs and the risk they pose to the taxpayer and whether 
such authority should be curtailed or eliminated.
     Whether SBA disaster loan program and its 
oversight ensures that small businesses are able to revive and 
rebuild communities.
     Review the recent change by SBA for fee waivers 
and the impact moving from a dollar limitation to a geographic 
determination will have on small businesses.
     Efficacy and duplication of federal capital access 
programs offered by the Department of Agriculture to small 
businesses in rural areas.
     Adequacy of capital access in underserved rural 
areas.
     Utilization by small businesses of export capital 
programs at the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation.
     Study the need to enhance the 7(a) and Certified 
Development Company programs so that they are more effective in 
reaching borrowers unable to secure conventional loans.
     Analyze the Microloan program to enhance 
utilization of the program by small businesses.
     Examine methods to enhance equity financing to 
meet the needs of small business borrowers wherein debt 
financing is not appropriate and how SBA programs may be used 
to increase equity financing.
     Continued examination of the Paycheck Protection 
Program (PPP), EIDL Advance program, debt relief, and other 
small business programs established by Pub. L. No. 116 136, the 
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in 
providing emergency stimulative capital to small businesses.
     Implementation of program clarifications and 
enhancements made to PPP, EIDL, Microloan, 504/CDC, 7(a), and 
other SBA programs, including debt relief and fee reductions 
established by Pub. L. No. 116-260, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021, to provide stimulative capital to 
small businesses to retain and create jobs.
     Continued examination of the Small Business 
Lending Fund and State Small Business Credit Initiative 
established by Pub. L. No. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act 
of 2010, in creating jobs and providing capital to small 
businesses.
     Implementation of crowdfunding and other 
provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, Pub. L. 
No. 112-106.
     Implementation of program clarifications made to 
encourage more cooperative and employee stock ownership plan 
lending through SBA programs established by the Main Street 
Employee Ownership Act of 2018, passed into law by the John S. 
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, 
Pub. L. No. 115-232.
     Implementation of changes made to increase 
oversight of the 7(a) loan program established by Pub. L. No. 
115-189, the Small Business 7(a) Lending Oversight Reform Act 
of 2018.
     Examination of the Express Bridge Loan Pilot 
Program for disaster recovery lending for small businesses and 
its performance after recent disasters, such as Hurricanes 
Harvey, Irma, and Maria, numerous wildfires and flooding.
     Examine the franchise model to learn how SBA loans 
are being utilized, including whether improvements in the SBA 
franchise directory can be made.
     The effectiveness of SBA in minimizing risk to the 
taxpayer in the SBA capital access programs.
    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus on all 
aspects of lending, along with those that may increase risk of 
financial assistance programs including, but not limited to, 
commercial real estate refinancing, premier certified lenders, 
participating security small business investment companies, 
small business lending companies, express lenders, and loan 
programs utilizing simplified lending applications.

OVERSIGHT OF SBA AND OTHER FEDERAL ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
SBA programs that provide training and advice to small 
businesses that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Examining effectiveness of SBA entrepreneurial 
development programs in creating jobs at startups and 
traditional firms.
     Examining effectiveness of enhancements to SBA 
entrepreneurial development programs established by Pub. L. No. 
116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act and Pub. L. No. 116-260, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021, in assisting small businesses access 
to federal pandemic support resources.
     Suggesting methods for enhancing coordination 
among federal agencies in aiding entrepreneurs, including, but 
not limited to, businesses located in underserved areas, such 
as rural and low-income communities and those seeking to 
provide goods and services in the federal procurement 
marketplace.
     Enhancing the efficacy and utilization of the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the Department of 
Commerce.

          OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING MATTERS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal procurement system that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Whether fraud or other problems exist in the 
federal government contracting programs overseen by the SBA 
including the 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran, women-
owned contracting, and Small Business Innovation Research 
programs.
     Effectiveness of SBA contracting programs to 
increase participation by small businesses in federal 
procurement.
     Effectiveness of federal agency protections 
against contract bundling and consolidation.
     The accuracy and utility of SBA size standards and 
federal procurement databases.
     Operation and effectiveness of federal agency 
assistance provided to small businesses interested in federal 
procurement, including that provided by the SBA, Offices of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Procurement 
Technical Assistance Centers.
     Development of federal acquisition policies and 
whether small businesses have sufficiently effective voice in 
development of such policies.
     Cost-effectiveness of outsourcing government work 
to private enterprise rather than expanding the government to 
provide the good or service internally (i.e., government 
insourcing).
     Examining effectiveness of 8(a) small business 
federal procurement extension established by Pub. L. No. 116-
260, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
     Implementation and efficacy of changes made in 
small business federal procurement programs arising from the 
enactment of the National Defense Authorization Acts for FYs 
2012-2021.
     Examination of the Small Business Innovation 
Research Program as modified by the National Defense 
Authorization Act for FY 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-81, including, 
but not limited to, increased efforts at commercializing 
federally-funded technology.
     Implementation and efficacy of changes made to the 
Small Business Innovation Research Program arising from the 
enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Pub. L. No. 115-232.
     Implementation and efficacy of changes made to the 
HUBZone program arising from the enactment of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Pub. L. No. 
115-91.
     Implementation and efficacy of changes made to 
small business programs from enactment of the William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021. Pub. L. No. 116-283.
     Monitor the migration of the veteran certification 
program from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Small 
Business Administration.
     Examine the effects on the supply chain as they 
relate to the pandemic and analyze the impact relief programs 
have had on small government contractors.
    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus its 
efforts on uncovering abuse and misuse of the small business 
designation to obtain federal government contracts.

                      OVERSIGHT OF SBA MANAGEMENT

    The Committee will conduct the hearings and investigations 
into the management of the SBA that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     The appropriate mission of the SBA.
     Whether agency employees in the field are 
empowered to assist small businesses.
     Organizational structure of the agency to ensure 
it is meeting its mission, prevent duplication of offices, 
modernize the agency to meet the needs of the business 
community, particularly underserved and rural entrepreneurs.
     Effectiveness of personnel management to ensure 
that employees are rewarded for assisting small businesses.
     Capabilities of SBA employees to provide proper 
assistance to small business owners.
     Review the agency's cooperative agreements, 
partnerships and co-sponsorships.
     Continue to assess the adequacy of the agency's 
budgetary requests, financial management, and reporting goals.
     Agency personnel capabilities to properly manage 
loan defaults to maximize recovery of collateral.
     Whether SBA improperly utilizes statutory 
authority to create untested initiatives and the procedures by 
which the agency develops such programs.
     Monitor the agency's spending and efforts as it 
relates to the pandemic response and fully account for Covid-
19-provided appropriations.
     Review the SBA's technology and data systems in an 
effort to modernize, strengthen, and improve interoperability 
between platforms.
     Assess the agency's efforts to secure their 
networks and data systems.
     Examine the SBA's Office of Inspector General's 
funding and personnel levels, given COVID legislation and 
increasing reports of fraud within COVID specific programs.
    In carrying out this oversight, the Committee will focus 
particularly on streamlining and reorganizing of the agency's 
operations to provide maximum assistance to small business 
owners. Offices that primarily provide assistance or advice to 
headquarters staff that do not promote the interests of small 
businesses or protect the federal government as a guarantor of 
loans will be recommended for cuts or elimination.

         OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL REGULATORY AND PAPERWORK BURDENS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
burdensome federal rules and reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements affecting small businesses that may include any or 
all of the following, as well as matters brought to the 
attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of this 
Report:
     Examine agency compliance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and Paperwork Reduction Act.
     Oversee, to the extent relevant, the work of the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of 
Management and Budget and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the 
Small Business Administration to ensure that they are 
fulfilling their mission to advocate vigorously on behalf of 
America's small business owners in regulatory matters at 
federal agencies.
     Assess whether small businesses are provided 
sufficient compliance assistance, including small entity 
compliance guides issued by agencies as mandated by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.
     Identify specific rules and regulations issued 
that impact small businesses.
     Evaluate the need to amend and further strengthen 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act 
to improve agency compliance with the laws and ensure that 
small businesses are not unnecessarily burdened by regulations.

                    OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL TAX POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal tax code, its impact on small business, and 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) collection of taxes that may 
include any or all of the following, as well as matters brought 
to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of 
this Report:
     Identification of tax code provisions and proposed 
rules that hinder the ability of small businesses to create 
jobs and recommendations for modifying those provisions to 
boost small business job growth.
     Examination of the structure of the tax code in 
order to simplify compliance for small businesses.
     Assessment of the recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements associated with tax compliance and suggestions for 
reducing such burdens on small businesses.
     Impact of the tax reform law, Pub. L. No. 115-97, 
on small business.
     Examining effectiveness of small business tax 
provisions established by Pub. L. No. 116-136, the Coronavirus 
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Pub. L. No. 
116-260, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
     Efficiencies at the IRS that improve the 
interaction between the government and small business owners.
     Inefficiencies at the IRS that force small 
businesses to divert capital from job growth to tax compliance.
     Investigate incentives that may be used to support 
the growth of the micro-entrepreneur.
     Analyze tax code restructuring to enhance the 
ability of small businesses to offer retirement benefits 
through lowering their costs.

                    OVERSIGHT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
federal health care policy (such as Medicare and Medicaid), as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     The cost and availability of health insurance to 
small businesses and their employees.
     Implementation and efficacy of changes made to 
health care policy through various laws enacted throughout the 
116th Congress, including but not limited to the tax reform 
law, Pub. L. No. 115-97.
     Examination of increases in efficiencies that will 
improve the provision of health care while reducing costs to 
small businesses that offer their workers' health insurance.

                       OVERSIGHT OF ENERGY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
energy policy to reduce the cost of energy and increase 
alternative energy sources that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Innovations developed by small businesses that 
create greater energy independence.
     Federal policies that impact small business 
dependence on renewable and clean energy and decrease energy 
costs
     Policies needed to incentivize production of 
energy in the United States.
     Examination of commercialization of research in 
renewable and clean energy.
     Federal initiatives to streamline business 
operations and reduce energy costs for small firms.

          OVERSIGHT OF TRADE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
international trade and intellectual property policies of 
America and its trading partners that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Impact of free trade agreements to increase 
exports by American small businesses.
     Oversight of SBA's Office of International Trade 
and the agency's efforts to promote small business exports.
     Examination of the impact of actions by foreign 
entities on small businesses and whether the federal government 
is doing enough to protect their interests.
     Whether the federal government is doing enough to 
protect the intellectual property rights of small businesses by 
foreign competitors.
     The impact of federal intellectual property 
policies, particularly patents and copyrights, to protect the 
innovations of American entrepreneurs.
     Efforts to increase exports by small businesses.
     Whether the United States Trade Representative and 
Department of Commerce sufficiently protect the interests of 
small businesses in the negotiation of free trade agreements.
     Whether the United States Trade Representative 
takes positions at the World Trade Organization that 
sufficiently promote the interests of American small 
businesses.
     Measure the performance of federal trade programs, 
which seek to reduce small firms' costs of expanding into 
international markets, including those administered by the SBA, 
Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Export-Import 
Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
     Examine methods to increase the representation of 
small business interests in the negotiation of new trade 
agreements and enforcement of existing agreements and treaties.
     Assess current trade duties and tariffs, both 
domestic and foreign, to evaluate their impact on American 
small businesses, economic growth, and job creation.
     Conduct analysis on the importance of intellectual 
property rights to entrepreneurs.

                    OVERSIGHT OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
agriculture policies that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Examine the impact of federal policies on family 
farms, ranchers, and rural small businesses.
     Evaluate the impact of access to capital issues 
facing rural areas, farmers and agribusinesses.
     Analyze the extent to which SBA programs and 
United States Department of Agriculture programs overlap and 
how they can better coordinate to provide better services and 
streamlines assistance to the agriculture community.
     Oversee federal activities to spur economic 
development and job creation in rural communities.
     Examine efforts to expand small farm, producer, 
and ranch operations and encourage more women, minorities, 
young people, and other non-traditional owners to start and 
invest in small agricultural ventures.
     Investigate the federal government's response to 
agricultural and rural business needs during the pandemic to 
ensure such firms receive the necessary assistance to continue 
operations.

             OVERSIGHT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
technology and telecommunications policies that may include any 
or all of the following, as well as matters brought to the 
attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of this 
Report:
     Examine the impact of federal policies on 
broadband deployment, particularly in underserved and rural 
areas.
     Assess the economic benefits of increasing the 
speed of broadband and the Universal Service Fund.
     Examine the cost and benefits of proposed reforms 
to the United States patent system and their impact on small 
innovators.
     Evaluate the need to increase IP education and 
services to innovators, especially underserved innovators.
     Monitor efforts to assist small businesses in 
cybersecurity hygiene and evaluate the role the SBA has in the 
process to collect and disseminate information and educate 
small businesses.
     Assess the current government-wide initiative to 
ensure small technology firms have adequate contracting 
opportunities while also protecting government systems through 
rigorous cybersecurity requirements.
     Examine ways in which the federal government can 
enhance the use of next-generation technologies in small 
agriculture businesses.
     Investigate and strengthen the vulnerability of 
small business cybersecurity and its impact on the broader 
federal government's ability to protect itself against 
cyberattacks and breaches.

            OVERSIGHT OF VETERAN'S ENTREPRENEURISHIP POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
veterans' policies that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Examine how current entrepreneurial and capital 
assistance programs are accommodating the growing veteran 
population.
     Review federal actions to assist veteran 
entrepreneurs and ensure they are consistent with federal small 
business policy.
     Evaluate the effectiveness of federal programs 
that seek to improve veterans' access to markets and training.
     Assess whether the federal government is 
sufficiently coordinating activities and allocating resources 
appropriately with regard to veteran entrepreneurship 
activities and initiatives.
     Monitor the transition of federal entrepreneurial 
programs from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the SBA.

                OVERSIGHT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
labor and workforce policies that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
     Review federal actions to assist employers in 
workforce training and analyze ways to meet the growing need 
for more skilled workers.
     Study the effectiveness of efforts to encourage 
more underserved workers to enter fields where skilled labor is 
needed.
     Study the effectiveness of career and technical 
education and its impact on small businesses.
     Evaluate the role immigration policy on small 
businesses, including an examination of workforce needs and the 
existing visa system.
     Investigate policies to encourage more 
participation in labor market through initiatives that can be 
offered by small businesses, such as paid sick leave, paid 
parental leave, and flexible work arrangements.
     Study the role student loan debt plays in 
entrepreneurship and methods to address the crisis.
     Assess the effect of an increase in the minimum 
wage and its impact on small businesses and job creation.

             COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

             COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

                             117TH CONGRESS

    In accordance with rule X clause 2(d) of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure is responsible for determining whether laws and 
programs within its jurisdiction are being implemented 
according to Congressional intent and whether they should be 
continued, changed, or eliminated. In the 117th Congress, the 
Committee will review the administration and effectiveness of 
laws and programs within its jurisdiction, the organization and 
activities of government agencies and entities within its 
jurisdiction, and examine whether new or additional legislation 
is needed to address subjects in its jurisdiction. As 
appropriate, the Committee will investigate options to improve 
the overall performance and operation of the agencies and 
entities it oversees, address inequities, promote cost savings, 
and eliminate fraud, wasteful spending, abuse and mismanagement 
where possible. The Committee will also evaluate the 
administration's yearly budget requests with respect to 
programs and activities within the Committee's jurisdiction.
    The oversight and investigation functions are vested at the 
Full Committee level. Oversight and investigation activities 
will be coordinated between the Full Committee and the 
Subcommittees. This structure will facilitate oversight of 
issues that cut across the jurisdiction of several 
Subcommittees. The Committee will continue to exercise its 
oversight duties through its own staff, as well as through work 
performed at the Committee's request by the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) and the various Inspectors General 
(IG) within their respective agencies and departments. 
Oversight activities will include hearings, briefings, 
interviews, correspondence, reports, media releases, and public 
statements.
    The GAO provides Congress a biennial update on high-risk 
programs, which are federal programs and operations that the 
GAO considers to be at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse, 
mismanagement, or in need of broad reform. Consistent with the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee will hold 
hearings on the programs within the Committee's jurisdiction on 
GAO's ``high-risk'' list. The rules also require the Committee 
to hold at least one hearing every 120 days on ``waste, fraud, 
abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs which that 
committee may authorize.'' These hearings will focus on ``the 
most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse, or 
mismanagement,'' as documented by any report that the Committee 
has received from an IG or GAO. Finally, the Committee will 
hold hearings if any agency has received disclaimers on its 
agency financial statements.

                        SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION

    1. Addressing COVID-19 in the U.S. Aviation Industry. The 
COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to the U.S. 
aviation industry. In the months following the initial spread 
of the novel coronavirus within the United States in 2020, 
commercial air travel plummeted by as much as 90 percent from 
the same periods in 2019,\32\ and many companies were forced to 
furlough tens of thousands of aviation employees due to the 
harsh economic effects. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 
Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136; CARES) and the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (P.L. 116-260) provided 
tens of billions of dollars in financial and regulatory relief 
for airlines, airports, and other aviation stakeholders in 
order to mitigate the pandemic's effects on their workforces; 
maintain air service and support necessary for the movement of 
consumers and goods across the country; and help ensure the 
survival of the aviation industry throughout this crisis. The 
Subcommittee will closely oversee the implementation of these 
relief programs; the aviation industry's use of financial 
relief awarded under the Acts; and awardees' compliance with 
any conditions contained therein. The Subcommittee will also 
evaluate the potential for future financial and regulatory 
pandemic relief and explore legislative changes that may be 
necessary to support the aviation industry's recovery and to 
ensure the industry is prepared for future pandemics and other 
unforeseen events of a similar magnitude and effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \32\Transp. Sec. Admin., TSA Checkpoint Travel Numbers (Current 
Year(s) Versus Prior Year/Same Weekday), https://www.tsa.gov/
coronavirus/passenger-throughput.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2. Implementation of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, 
and Accountability Act. The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and 
Accountability Act (P.L. 116-260; Division V) was signed into 
law on December 27, 2020. This Act strengthens the Federal 
Aviation Administration's (FAA) aircraft certification process; 
ensures transparency, accountability, and integrity in FAA 
regulation of U.S. aircraft manufacturers; addresses issues 
identified related to human factors, automation in the cockpit, 
and international pilot training; and authorizes nearly $275 
million over five years in robust FAA oversight, staffing 
increases, and aviation safety-improving programs and 
initiatives, among other things. The Subcommittee will closely 
oversee the efforts of the FAA to implement the provisions in 
the Act as well as the effects this Act has on safety and the 
U.S. aerospace industry.
    3. Implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. 
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-254; FAARA) was 
signed into law on October 5, 2018. This Act authorizes funding 
for the FAA through fiscal year 2023, and contains numerous 
provisions to enhance aviation safety; strengthen consumer 
protections for airline passengers; support U.S. aviation 
manufacturing; improve airport infrastructure; increase and 
develop the U.S. aviation workforce; and advance the safe and 
efficient integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into 
the National Airspace System, among other things. The 
Subcommittee will continue to closely oversee the efforts of 
the FAA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement 
the provisions of FAARA.
    4. Implementation of the FAA Extension, Safety, and 
Security Act of 2016. The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security 
Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-190) was signed into law on July 15, 
2016. This short-term extension of FAA programs contained 
several safety-critical and time-sensitive reforms, several of 
which the FAA has yet to implement. The Subcommittee will 
continue to closely oversee the FAA's efforts to implement the 
remaining mandates contained in this Act.
    5. Implementation of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 
112-95; FMRA) was signed into law on February 14, 2012. This 
Act reformed and revised FAA safety programs, air traffic 
control modernization efforts, and operations of the FAA. The 
Subcommittee will continue to closely oversee the FAA's efforts 
to implement the remaining mandates contained in the FMRA.
    6. Safety Programs. During the last several Congresses, the 
Subcommittee held numerous safety hearings and will continue 
this oversight in the 117th Congress. Maintaining a safe and 
efficient airspace system is critical to the aerospace 
industry, passengers, and the U.S. economy, including job 
creation and U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace. 
Issues to be addressed include: commercial airline safety, 
general aviation safety, aircraft design and manufacturing, 
repair stations, the FAA's drug and alcohol and medical testing 
programs, key safety agreements, the safe integration of UAS 
and advanced air mobility concepts, commercial space 
transportation safety, civil supersonic aircraft safety, pilot 
and controller training, airport and runway safety, losses of 
separation between aircraft, the FAA's enforcement and 
certification activities, the transportation of hazardous 
materials and dangerous goods, and the FAA's voluntary 
reporting and data-sharing and assessment programs.
    7. Investment in Airport Infrastructure. U.S. airports are 
part of a global aerospace system, and as such they must remain 
safe and efficient in order to compete as global hubs of 
commerce. It is also critical for airports to develop 
infrastructure designed to reduce pollution and be more 
resilient in order to mitigate and protect against the effects 
of climate change. Over the next five years, the FAA estimates 
a need for $43.6 billion in projects eligible for Airport 
Improvement Program (AIP) grants--an increase of twenty-four 
percent (or $8.5 billion) since the agency's 2019 estimate. 
Congress has authorized $3.35 billion in annual AIP funding 
since fiscal year 2012. The FAARA extended that same 
authorization level through fiscal year 2023, meaning the 
program will not have received additional authorized funding 
for 12 years. AIP grants meet less than half of the FAA's 
identified annual airport development needs. The statutorily 
authorized passenger facility charge (PFC) is a user fee that 
an airport sponsor, subject to FAA-approval, may choose to levy 
on most enplaned passengers. PFCs generated an additional $3.6 
billion for airport development in 2018. The PFC has been 
capped at $4.50 per segment and $18 per round trip since 2000. 
PFC collections for calendar year 2017 were $3.286 billion; in 
2018 they were $3.514 billion; and in 2019 they were $3.630 
billion.\33\ Given that airports have capital needs and debt 
servicing costs beyond those identified by the FAA, airports 
must supplement their AIP grants and PFC receipts through other 
sources of revenue or financing. The significant drop in 
passenger traffic due to COVID-19 has only further affected 
airports' financial health. The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight regarding airport financing and the FAA's 
administration of the AIP, including the distribution of 
supplemental AIP funds authorized in recent appropriations 
acts, and will explore legislative options for increasing 
financial investment to address airports' current and 
anticipated needs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \33\FAA, Key Passenger Facility Charge Statistics as of December 
31, 2020, available at https://www.faa.gov/airports/pfc/
monthly_reports/media/stats.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    8. Airline Competition, Financial Position, and Customer 
Service. The aviation marketplace has gone through many 
changes, including a period of consolidation resulting in the 
four largest U.S. carriers representing more than two-thirds of 
the total U.S. domestic market.\34\ The Office of the Secretary 
at the DOT is responsible for economic oversight of the airline 
industry, including ensuring that air carriers do not engage in 
unfair and deceptive practices and that certain business 
agreements among air carriers do not result in harmful effects. 
The Subcommittee will continue to examine opportunities to 
improve the airline industry's competitiveness, review recently 
established regulations to ensure the aviation system remains 
safe and accessible to the traveling public, and provide 
oversight of Congressionally mandated consumer protections for 
airline passengers. The Subcommittee will also review acts or 
events in air transportation that arise due to an individual's 
race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 
gender identity, disability, age, or national origin.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \34\DOT, Bureau of Transp. Statistics, Revenue by Airline 2019, 
https://www.bts.gov/airline-rankings-2019 (indicating the four largest 
U.S. carriers in 2019--Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United 
Airlines, and Southwest Airlines--had a combined 80.7 percent of total 
operating revenue of all reporting U.S. carriers).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9. U.S. Aerospace Workforce. The U.S. aerospace industry 
has identified projected workforce shortages and experienced 
difficulties in recruiting the next generation of aerospace 
workers, including pilots, flight attendants, maintenance 
technicians, aerospace engineers, and other aviation 
professions. The Subcommittee will examine whether these 
difficulties have been compounded by COVID-19. Language similar 
to the Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training 
(PARTT) 147Act of 2019 was passed as part of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021 (P.L. 116-260) to modernize aviation 
maintenance and technician (AMT) schools and address workforce 
shortages within the AMT industry. To ensure the United States 
remains globally competitive, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of FAA implementation of the requirements in P.L. 
116-260, monitor the levels and anticipated levels of 
employment in other aerospace sectors; and explore ways to 
encourage or facilitate the recruitment, development, 
maintenance, and diversification of the U.S. aerospace 
workforce, while maintaining or improving safety. The 
Subcommittee will also explore ways to address inequities on 
the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual 
orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or national 
origin in the composition of the U.S. aerospace workforce and 
barriers to entry.
    10. Oversight of the Commercial Space Industry. The mission 
of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation is to 
ensure protection of the public, property, and the national 
security and foreign policy interests of the United States 
during commercial launch or reentry activities, and to 
encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space 
transportation. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the 
status and future of the U.S. commercial space transportation 
industry and the role of the FAA in providing safety oversight 
of the industry. The Subcommittee will also oversee the 
effectiveness of the FAA's Streamlined Launch and Reentry 
License Requirements final rule (85 Fed. Reg. 79566) issued in 
October 2020 to streamline and reform the agency's commercial 
space launch and reentry licensing regime.
    11. Evaluation of FAA's NextGen Air Traffic Control 
Modernization. The FAA continues its work to modernize the air 
traffic control system through implementation of the Next 
Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). NextGen is 
intended to increase airspace system efficiency; reduce noise 
exposure, pollution, and fuel burn; improve safety; increase 
accuracy and reliability in equipment and software used for 
navigation and air traffic control; and maintain the capacity 
for future technology enhancements. As the FAA continues to 
implement NextGen, the Subcommittee will continue to closely 
monitor and examine the FAA's efforts to implement NextGen, 
including the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the 
agency's implementation, and the agency's efforts to establish 
performance metrics, meet deadlines, stay within budget, ensure 
an appropriate level of aircraft equipage with NextGen 
avionics, and pursue solutions to identified challenges.
    12. Cybersecurity of the National Airspace System. The 
FAA's modernization of air traffic control technology and the 
aerospace industry's increasing use of innovative new 
technologies in its aircraft fleet necessitates robust 
cybersecurity efforts. Ensuring the cybersecurity of aerospace 
systems is of critical importance to the safety of aircraft and 
air traffic control. The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security 
Act of 2016 directed the FAA to implement a strategic framework 
for cybersecurity and the FAARA requires the FAA to review and 
assess, and update as appropriate, this strategic framework. 
The Subcommittee will continue its oversight of the 
cybersecurity activities of the FAA and other relevant 
stakeholders to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to 
address cyber-threats, to confirm the FAA's strategic framework 
for cybersecurity is effectively employed, and to ensure that 
the supremacy of the FAA in aerospace safety matters is 
maintained.
    13. Oversight of Implementation and Deployment of Counter-
UAS Authority. Congress authorized the Department of Defense 
and Department of Energy to operate counter-UAS equipment to 
detect, interdict, or neutralize UAS that pose a threat to the 
safety or security of certain facilities and assets in the 
United States in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (P.L. 114-328) and the NDAA for Fiscal 
Year 2018 (P.L. 115-91). The FAARA granted similar authority to 
the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and 
United States Coast Guard to deploy counter-UAS equipment to 
protect critical assets and facilities within the agencies' 
purview. The introduction of systems originally designed for 
use in combat areas into the National Airspace System poses 
unique safety challenges, particularly in complex or crowded 
airspace. The Subcommittee will closely oversee the agencies' 
implementation of their respective counter-UAS authorities to 
ensure close and continued coordination with the FAA to reduce 
impacts on U.S. airspace and to ensure the safety of civil 
aviation.
    14. National Transportation Safety Board. The FAARA also 
authorizes National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) programs 
through fiscal year 2022. The bill includes, among other 
things, provisions aimed at improving transparency of the 
NTSB's investigations and enhancing public understanding of the 
Board's safety recommendations. The Subcommittee will closely 
oversee NTSB's efforts to implement the provisions of the FAARA 
and evaluate whether the changes to NTSB's programs and 
practices achieve their intended objectives.

        SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

    1. Maritime Transportation Programs Budget Oversight. The 
Subcommittee has broad authority over the programs and 
activities of the U.S. Coast Guard codified under titles 14 and 
46, United States Code, and other statutes. The Elijah E. 
Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-283; 
Division G) authorized discretionary Coast Guard funding levels 
of $11.1 billion in fiscal year 2020 and $11.9 billion in 
fiscal year 2021. For fiscal year 2019, specific funding lines 
for the Coast Guard Reserve and the Coast Guard's environmental 
compliance and restoration activities were consolidated within 
the overall operations account to conform to the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) budget requirements. Section 8515 of 
the Elijah E. Cummings Act made additional modifications to 
title 14 to complete all remaining conforming changes to meet 
DHS requirements.
    The Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the Federal 
Maritime Commission (FMC) and the non-defense programs of the 
Maritime Administration (MARAD). The FMC is responsible for the 
economic regulation of U.S. waterborne foreign commerce and 
unfair shipping practices. The MARAD oversees several programs 
related to defense readiness, as well as programs designed to 
promote and develop the domestic merchant marine and 
shipbuilding industries. Title LVXXXVI of Division G of P.L. 
116-283 authorized funding for the FMC of $29.01 million in 
fiscal year 2020 and $29.6 million in fiscal year 2021. 
Subtitle A of title XXXV of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (P.L. 
116-283) authorized $1.89 billion for fiscal year 2021 to 
support MARAD's activities, including $750 million for the Port 
and Intermodal Improvement Program, $494 million for the 
Maritime Security Program, $20 million for the Small Shipyard 
Grant Program, $9.775 million for the Marine Highway program, 
and $388 million for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel 
Program to recapitalize the fleet of state maritime academy 
training vessels.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will hold hearings 
on the President's fiscal year 2022 and 2023 budget requests 
and consider legislation to authorize the Coast Guard for 
fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The Subcommittee will continue its 
efforts to explore options to improve Coast Guard operations; 
to address the estimated $2.6 billion backlog in Coast Guard 
unmet needs for shoreside infrastructure and deferred 
maintenance; to instill and ensure a culture of respect and 
inclusion throughout the entire Coast Guard active duty, 
reserves, and civilian workforce; and to make improvements to 
laws governing maritime transportation and the U.S. merchant 
marine. The Subcommittee also will focus on the Coast Guard's 
implementation of new measures contained in the Coast Guard 
Academy Improvement Act (Subtitle E of Title LVXXXV of the 
Elijah E. Cummings Act) to prevent discrimination and 
harassment of any individuals based upon their race, ethnicity, 
gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, 
or geographic origin at the Coast Guard Academy. In order to 
ensure the Coast Guard can continue to address its ever 
expanding suite of missions, the Subcommittee will also 
continue to examine the needed mix of Coast Guard surface 
asset; the required recapitalization of Coast Guard rotary wing 
assets; the increased use of unmanned systems; and the 
recapitalization of obsolete stoved piped Coast Guard 
information technology systems.
    In addition, the Subcommittee will continue to conduct 
oversight of the functions and activities of the FMC and MARAD, 
especially the FMC's ongoing implementation of amendments to 
the Shipping Act contained in title VII of P.L. 115-282, 
MARAD's activities to promote job growth in the maritime and 
shipbuilding sectors and expansion in the U.S. flag fleet, and 
the resilience, efficiency and needs of the U.S. maritime 
transportation system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    2. Coast Guard Acquisitions. The Coast Guard is currently 
undergoing a major recapitalization of its oceangoing assets. 
The recapitalization will replace or modernize more than 90 
ships and 200 aircraft used to carry out the Service's missions 
beyond near coastal waters. It will also replace antiquated 
command, control, and communications systems, although that 
portion of the program has been scaled back in lieu of funding 
constraints. The program continues to face serious challenges 
related to schedule and budget, although recent appropriations 
bills have provided additional resources, including new funding 
for initiation of the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Program and 
to support construction of Polar Security Cutters to 
recapitalize the Service's aged heavy icebreaker fleet. The 
longer these acquisition programs drag out, the longer existing 
legacy assets--especially the Medium Endurance Cutter fleet--
must remain in service. In many cases, these assets are at or 
well beyond their projected service lives and are increasingly 
more difficult and expensive to maintain. The Subcommittee is 
concerned that delays in new asset acquisition, competing 
demands from shore side infrastructure and other Coast Guard 
cutter capital needs--including ever-increasing costs to 
maintain less reliable legacy assets--threaten the ability of 
the Service to complete this recapitalization and avoid serious 
gaps in readiness and operational capability. The Subcommittee 
will examine whether existing production lines should continue 
to meet the Service's expanding suite of missions, particularly 
those related to the national defense missions.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to 
review closely the ongoing programs of record, especially the 
status of the $12.1 billion OPC acquisition--the most expensive 
segment. Specifically, the OPC program was granted 
extraordinary financial relief under P.L. 84-805 to modify the 
contract awarded to Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG). The 
Subcommittee intends to examine the revised delivery schedule 
for the lead ship and other financial oversight controls 
imposed on ESG. In addition, the Subcommittee will consider a 
2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report regarding 
recommended changes to the OPC program to ensure that the men 
and women of the Coast Guard have the best equipment possible 
at the best value for the taxpayer.
    The Subcommittee will examine how to meet the Coast Guard's 
operating needs for which no program of record yet exists. 
Also, the Subcommittee expects to review a 2020 fleet mix 
analysis of Coast Guard rotary aircraft needs completed by the 
RAND Corporation's Homeland Security Operational Analysis 
Center, to evaluate the status of the Coast Guard's Waterway 
Commerce Cutter recapitalization program and service life 
extension program for the Coast Guard's fleet of 49 foot motor 
life boats, and to look at the recapitalization of Coast Guard 
IT programs.
    3. Arctic. The U.S. Arctic, as defined in statute, include 
the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) north of the Aleutian 
Islands. Three Arctic seas--the Bering, the Chukchi, and the 
Beaufort--border Alaska. Historically, these seas have been 
frozen and non-navigable for more than half the year. The U.S. 
Arctic contains 568,000 square nautical miles for which less 
than half is considered ``navigationally significant.'' Vessel 
traffic between the North Atlantic and the North Pacific 
through the Arctic requires transit through the Bering Strait, 
located along the U.S. boundary with Russia. The Coast Guard 
has been gathering data on vessel transits in the U.S. Arctic 
since 2008, and the Service uses the annual transit count as a 
general indicator of Arctic vessel activity. In the past 
decade, the overall trend is towards increasing maritime 
activity. While all areas of the Arctic are seeing increased 
vessel activity, the Northern Sea Route along the Eurasian 
Arctic coast continues to account for the bulk of Arctic 
shipping activity. Northern Sea Route traffic must pass through 
the Bering Strait adjacent to Alaska.
    While U.S. agencies have a physical presence and 
substantial interests in the Arctic, the Coast Guard's unique 
experience in both Polar regions, and the Service's material 
assets and installations located throughout Alaska, establish 
it as a key maritime operational presence in the U.S. Arctic. 
However, with no assets permanently stationed in the Arctic, 
the Service must operate seasonally, usually by employing 
mobile command and control platforms and establishing seasonal 
air and communications capabilities by deploying and/or leasing 
assets and facilities. In 2018, the RAND Corporation's Homeland 
Security Operational Analysis Center viewed this strategy as 
inadequate. The RAND Center identified four major gaps in Coast 
Guard Arctic Capabilities, including unreliable communications, 
lack of adequate maritime domain awareness, scarcity of 
available assets and supporting infrastructure, and 
institutional difficulty to identify, articulate, and close 
capability gaps. The GAO reported similar conclusions.
    The Subcommittee remains concerned that the Coast Guard is 
ill-prepared to cope with current operational demands in the 
Arctic, let alone react quickly should operational activities 
in the region need to surge suddenly or if warming accelerates 
at a rate more rapid than climate model projections.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of maritime transportation related activities and 
challenges in the evolving Arctic maritime environment. In 
addition to the aforementioned oversight of heavy icebreaker 
recapitalization, the Subcommittee will focus on implementation 
of several new Arctic provisions contained in title LVXXXIV of 
the Elijah E. Cummings Act, most notably a report on Arctic 
search and rescue capabilities, and development of Coast Guard 
Arctic priorities. The Subcommittee will also investigate the 
status of the two U.S. polar icebreakers which remain 
operational (USCGC Polar Star and USCGC Healy), with particular 
interest in the status of replacement and repairs to one of 
Healy's propulsion systems stemming from an onboard fire in 
2020.
    4. Coast Guard Mission Balance/Performance. The 
Subcommittee continues to have concerns regarding the Coast 
Guard's ability to carry out its traditional transportation-
related missions, including marine safety; search and rescue; 
aids to navigation; living marine resources; marine 
environmental protection; and ice operations. Since September 
11, 2001, significant additional resources have gone to the 
Service's homeland security activities, including ports, 
waterways, and coastal security; drug interdiction; migrant 
interdiction; defense readiness; and other law enforcement. 
Traditional transportation related missions, though they have 
grown as maritime commerce has grown, have not fared as well 
and have been under-resourced. Resources and man-hours devoted 
to these missions remain well below pre-September 11, 2001, 
funding levels, and in the case of marine safety, lack of 
funding has substantially reduced the Service's core 
competence. If anything, growing geopolitical tension in South 
Asia and the China Sea, and numerous calls for the Coast Guard 
to play a more active role in the region, might further 
exacerbate the current imbalance, if not make it far worse.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of Coast Guard mission balance to ensure the Service 
qualitatively and quantitatively reviews its many missions; 
establishes and justifies performance measures; identifies and 
responds to exigencies that divert resources among missions; 
and plans how best to allocate limited resources appropriately 
among its many missions. Specifically, the Subcommittee will 
probe opportunities to increase funding for Coast Guard 
operations, especially operations in support of Department of 
Defense initiatives.
    5. Maritime Domain Awareness. Maritime Domain Awareness 
(MDA) is the effort to know what is happening at all times on 
the ocean, coastal, and interior waters of the United States, 
and aboard the vessels that transit in or through waters under 
U.S. jurisdiction. The successful gathering, interpretation, 
and distribution of MDA data is critical to promote and ensure 
maritime safety, homeland security, and the efficiency and 
reliability of the U.S. maritime supply chain. In the current 
COVID-19 pandemic, MDA is even more vital in identifying, 
tracing, and preventing community spread of the virus via ocean 
transportation networks.
    The Coast Guard relies on several new and developing 
technologies to acquire, manage, and disseminate interoperable 
MDA information. The Subcommittee remains concerned with the 
Coast Guard's apparent inability to assess, or disinterest in, 
new technologies, such as unmanned autonomous aerial and 
underwater vehicles, to acquire MDA information in a more cost-
effective manner with greater accuracy and efficiency. Building 
on progress made during the 115th Congress when the 
Subcommittee successfully passed legislation to establish a 
Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise (title III of 
P.L. 115-265), the Subcommittee will continue to track efforts 
by the Coast Guard to use this new Center to assess and test 
the range and diversity of Blue Technologies and their 
potential to enhance Coast Guard mission readiness, operational 
performance, and regulation of such technologies.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of the Service's ongoing efforts to assess, develop, 
and implement new MDA technologies, including the Service's 
progress in implementing the two MDA initiatives passed by the 
115th Congress. The Subcommittee will continue its oversight to 
ensure that Coast Guard operations utilize the best available 
MDA information, and that MDA data are gathered in a timely, 
reliable manner, to provide a high return on investment for the 
taxpayer and maritime stakeholders. Additionally, now that the 
National Academy of Sciences has completed its congressionally-
directed assessment of available unmanned, autonomous, or 
remotely controlled maritime domain awareness technologies 
(referred to as UsX), for use by the Coast Guard (P.L. 115-282; 
section 812), the Subcommittee will investigate promising UsX 
systems that could be incorporated into Coast Guard operations.
    6. Coast Guard Prevention and Response Activities. The 
Coast Guard plays major roles in response to oil spills and 
natural disasters such as hurricanes and flood events. The 
Service was the federal On-Scene Coordinator and National 
Incident Commander for the 2010 DEEPWATER HORIZON spill in the 
Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard was a first responder to 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which devastated New Orleans and 
the Mississippi River Delta in 2005, and in 2016, the Coast 
Guard responded to severe flood events in Louisiana and North 
Carolina. More recently, in 2017 the Coast Guard responded to a 
series of three devastating hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, and 
Maria) that ravaged portions of the Southeast United States, 
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and according to the 
National Weather Service, in 2020 there were no less than seven 
severe cyclonic storms impacting the Southeast United States at 
a cost of $1 billion, or more. Clearly, this Coast Guard 
mission responsibility will continue to strain existing 
operating budgets and response assets.
    In addition to its emergency response obligations, the 
Coast Guard enforces domestically the implementation of the 
National Invasive Species Act, and internationally, U.S. 
compliance with a convention to prevent vessels from dumping 
invasive species inadvertently into U.S. waters through the 
discharge of ballast water. Due to a 2008 federal court 
decision, discharge of ballast water and other ``discharges 
incidental to the normal operation of vessels''' such as bilge 
water, deck wash, and air conditioning condensate, are now 
regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA) by the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA). Title IX of P.L. 115-282 (the Vessel 
Incidental Discharge Act or VIDA) amended the CWA to establish 
a new comprehensive authority to allow both the EPA and the 
Coast Guard to regulate vessel discharges, finally providing a 
uniform national standard for ballast water discharges in U.S. 
waters, including the Great Lakes.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on the Coast Guard's crisis prevention and response 
capabilities. Oil spills, natural disasters, and mass migration 
events each can over-extend the Coast Guard's prevention and 
response capabilities. The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
on Coast Guard prevention and response programs under the Oil 
Pollution Act (Chapter 40, title 33, United States Code), 
including its existing regulations authorizing the use of 
Alternative Planning Criteria and adequacy and availability of 
oil spill response or marine firefighting assets identified in 
required vessel response plans. The Subcommittee also will work 
with the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee to 
conduct oversight of the EPA's and the Coast Guard's 
implementation of the VIDA authority. Moreover, the 
Subcommittee will work to determine if existing response vessel 
requirements included in vessel response plans are sufficient 
to meet all contingencies, or whether there is a need for 
further revisions to tighten requirements to protect the marine 
environment or whether alternatives which include additional 
prevention measures are required in areas where the size and 
low population density make it unrealistic to meet National 
Planning Criteria.
    7. Marine Highways. Marine Highways, (also referred to as 
``short sea shipping'') is the waterborne movement of 
commercial freight between coastal and river ports which does 
not involve a sans ocean movement. At present, the most highly 
developed water freight transportation systems in the U.S. 
operate on the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and along 
the international St. Lawrence Seaway, most often carrying 
agricultural products and other raw bulk materials. However, 
the MARAD has found these routes are under-utilized and carry 
approximately 13 percent of total freight tonnage in the U.S. 
By comparison, nearly 70 percent of freight tonnage transported 
in the U.S. travels across roadways. To promote short sea 
shipping in the U.S., Congress established the Marine Highway 
Program under section 1121 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act (P.L. 110-140) and is now codified as Chapter 556 
of title 46, United States Code.
    The Subcommittee continues to recognize that revitalization 
of our marine highways has the potential to reduce congestion 
on our highways, improve air quality, and create new maritime 
industry jobs for Americans.
    The Subcommittee in the 117th Congress will examine 
potential options for addressing factors inhibiting the cost-
competitiveness and expanded use of marine highways in the 
United States. Further, the Subcommittee will evaluate how 
marine highways could stimulate job creation for maritime 
workers, both those who work on vessels and on the waterfront, 
reduce overall air emissions, and stimulate growth in the U.S. 
coastwise shipbuilding market.
    8. Coast Guard Marine Safety Activities. Stemming from the 
tragic sinking of the U.S. flag commercial vessel El Faro on 
October 15, 2015, in the 115th Congress, the Subcommittee was 
successful in enacting the Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 
2018 (P.L. 115-265; title II). This legislation made several 
important maritime safety improvements to rebuild the Coast 
Guard's marine safety proficiencies and policy framework. 
Moreover, it included a new requirement to guarantee a more 
transparent and accountable vessel inspection and survey 
process, especially the Coast Guard's oversight of 3rd party 
inspectors, such as classification societies, that participate 
under the Coast Guard's Alternate Compliance Program (ACP). 
Since passage of that marine safety legislation, subsequent 
high profile marine casualties, including the 2018 sinking of 
the Stretch Duck 7, a 33, DUKW (``duck boat'') amphibious small 
passenger vessel in Branson, MO, the 2019 tragic fire and 
sinking of a 77' commercial dive vessel, M/V Conception, off of 
Santa Cruz Island, CA, and the capsizing and total loss of the 
656' Ro-Ro cargo vessel, M/V Golden Ray, off of Brunswick, GA, 
have occurred. None of the Coast Guard's Marine Boards of 
Investigation established for these casualties has completed 
their work and filed recommendations for corrective actions.
    During the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Coast Guard to determine the progress made in 
implementing requirements under the Hamm Alert Act. Of 
particular concern, the Subcommittee will assess the Coast 
Guard's oversight of recognized organizations operating on 
behalf of the Coast Guard under the ACP to determine if 
additional changes are required to ensure accountability and 
transparency, and the Coast Guard's delegation and oversight of 
this vital marine safety function. Moreover, when the 
individual Marine Boards of Investigation referenced above 
complete their work, the Subcommittee intends to review their 
recommendations, especially those for improving small passenger 
vessel safety, to determine if new small passenger vessel 
safety requirements enacted in section 8441 of the Elijah E. 
Cummings Act need further strengthening.
    9. National Maritime Strategy. Section 603 of the Howard 
Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (P.L. 
114-120) directed the Secretary of Transportation, in 
consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, to develop 
and transmit to Congress a National Maritime Strategy 
(Strategy) no later than 60 days after the date of enactment. 
The law directed this comprehensive strategy to include 
recommendations to increase the competitiveness and use of 
U.S.-flag vessels in the U.S. foreign trade; enhance 
shipbuilding; ensure federal agency compliance with cargo 
preference requirements; and increase the use of marine 
highways in the United States. After almost two years of delay, 
on March 4, 2020, the Secretary of Transportation submitted a 
report entitled, ``Goals and Objectives for a Stronger Maritime 
Nation: A Report to Congress''. This report, while generally 
helpful in identifying four goals and thirty-nine objectives, 
fell far short of the intent of the Subcommittee in providing 
the granular details for a comprehensive strategy to rebuild 
and reinvigorate the U.S. maritime industry.
    The new administration has publicly expressed its support 
for the Jones Act, and the Subcommittee in the 117th Congress 
will continue its oversight of the MARAD and other 
jurisdictions within the Committee on the Marine Transportation 
System (established under 46 U.S.C. chapter 555), to ascertain 
the status of the new administration's interest in developing a 
National Maritime Strategy that fulfills congressional intent. 
In addition, the Subcommittee will seek to work with MARAD to 
identify new opportunities to reutilize existing maritime 
assistance authorities (e.g., Cargo Preference, Title XI 
Maritime Loan Guarantees, Capital Construction Funds, etc.) and 
to review MARAD's progress in implementing its competitive 
grant programs for port infrastructure development and small 
shipyards. The Subcommittee also intends to examine MARAD's 
Maritime and Environmental Technical Assistance Program to 
determine how this program might be expanded to support more 
rapid development of industrial technologies and systems to 
support U.S. ``green shipping'' initiatives.
    10. Status of the U.S. Merchant Marine. The Subcommittee 
remains concerned with the downward trend in the number of 
licensed and unlicensed U.S. mariners and a potential spike in 
attrition when many seafarers soon reach retirement age. The 
recruitment, training, and retention of credentialed U.S. 
mariners is necessary to not only maintain a U.S. flag presence 
on the high seas and in the U.S. domestic coastwise trade, but 
also to maintain a sufficient number of seafarers to operate 
vessels deployed for military sealift during times of national 
emergency. An ongoing investigation by the Coast Guard 
regarding private training institutions that are issuing 
fraudulent mariner credentials or ratings which has resulted in 
criminal indictments, has raised serious concerns regarding the 
adequacy of oversight of private maritime training facilities.
    In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of the issues involved in the current estimated 
deficit of 1,800 licensed merchant mariners and explore 
potential options to expand the U.S. maritime workforce. The 
Subcommittee will also look at credentialing requirements for 
U.S. seafarers, including recent Coast Guard enforcement of 
mariner credential requirements for non-maritime, industrial, 
and technical workers on vessels. Furthermore, the Subcommittee 
will strengthen viable pathways for separating service members 
to enter the commercial maritime workforce, either at sea, on 
the docks, or in the shipyards through the existing Military to 
Mariner initiative.

 SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND EMERGENCY 
                               MANAGEMENT

    1. Emergency Management. The Subcommittee will continue to 
examine and evaluate the nation's ability to prevent, prepare 
for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from disasters 
and emergencies of all types, including health crises and 
terrorism. In the 117th Congress, oversight will be necessary 
as states, tribes, and territories continue to be affected by, 
and recover from, prior disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 
addition, the Subcommittee will continue its oversight of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) implementation of 
reforms and additional authorities to the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act, 
P.L. 93-288 as amended) under the Disaster Recovery Reform Act 
(DRRA, Division D of P.L. 115-254), the Sandy Recovery 
Improvement Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-2), and the Post-Katrina 
Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-295).
    The Subcommittee will continue its comprehensive review and 
assessment of how federal disaster assistance has evolved over 
the past several decades and its continued effectiveness. The 
purpose is to examine how to make the U.S. more resilient to 
future disasters in consideration of the changing climate, 
which agencies provide assistance and how that money is spent, 
what guidance or controls are in place for the effective use of 
assistance, and the appropriate role for federal, state, 
tribal, and local governments. The Subcommittee will also 
examine FEMA's roles and authorities related to earthquake 
hazards, flooding, and wildfires to ensure that the U.S. is 
prepared for the risks that it faces.
    In the 116th Congress, full Committee Chair DeFazio, 
Subcommittee Chair Titus, full Committee Ranking Member Sam 
Graves, and then Subcommittee Ranking Member Katko urged FEMA 
and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to set aside the 
full six percent of Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) spending for 
pre-disaster mitigation allowed pursuant to Sec. 1234 of DRRA. 
The Subcommittee will continue to oversee FEMA's efforts to 
advance and enhance resilience and mitigation measures, 
including FEMA's re-branded pre-disaster mitigation program, 
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC; 
section 203 of the Stafford Act). Through increased pre-
disaster mitigation, the Subcommittee will also seek 
opportunities to address potential inequities in communities 
that may be disproportionately affected by the effects of 
climate change.
    On March 13, 2020, President Trump formally tapped FEMA to 
join the federal response to COVID-19, invoking the Stafford 
Act and declaring a national emergency.\35\ During the 116th 
Congress, the Subcommittee organized multiple briefings on 
FEMA's progress in acquiring and distributing personal 
protective equipment (PPE) and in-demand medical equipment, 
such as ventilators, as well as working to advance statutory 
cost share relief for state, local, tribal, and territorial 
governments' efforts to mitigate and defeat the pandemic. In 
the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue oversight of 
FEMA's COVID-19 response efforts and vaccine distribution 
support.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \35\Letter from President Donald J. Trump on ``Emergency 
Determination Under the Stafford Act''. March 13, 2020. Available at 
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/letter-
president-donald-j-trump-emergency-determination-stafford-act/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2. Border Security. The Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) construction projects 
and reexamine public-private partnership programs created as 
part of the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act 
(P.L. 113-76), with the goal of finding additional ways in 
which private sector dollars can be leveraged.
    3. Leasing. The General Services Administration (GSA) 
currently leases 183.5 million rentable square feet--about half 
of the GSA's total space inventory.\36\ The cost of leasing 
space accounts for greater than half of the GSA's Federal 
Buildings Fund's (FBF) annual expenses. While commercial 
leasing may be advisable in many cases, the GSA is often driven 
to costly operating leases when ownership may be less costly to 
the taxpayer. In the next few years, more than 50 percent of 
the GSA's leased space will expire, creating an opportunity to 
significantly reduce leasing costs of the federal government, 
that would hopefully be passed on as savings to the taxpayer. 
The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) interpretation of 
its budget scorekeeping rules are key drivers of ``own versus 
lease'' asset decision-making. The Subcommittee will continue 
its oversight of GSA leasing and how it manages the replacement 
of expiring leases with quantifiable value for the taxpayer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \36\See U.S. General Services Administration Fiscal Year 2021 
Congressional Budget Justifications, available at https://www.gsa.gov/
cdnstatic/GSA_FY2021_Congressional_Justification.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. Real Property Management. The management of federal real 
property has been on the GAO's ``High Risk'' list since 2003 
due to several mismanagement issues, including the overreliance 
on costly leasing to meet long-term space needs and underused 
or vacant space.\37\ With nearly half of the GSA's assets over 
50 years old, the agency has faced challenges maintaining a 
balanced inventory, draining federal resources and costing more 
to maintain old buildings that are often inefficient. This 
level of deterioration could have catastrophic consequences for 
tenant agency missions and taxpayer costs. The Subcommittee 
will examine how GSA manages its maintenance portfolio and 
whether GSA is sufficiently prioritizing maintenance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \37\U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional 
Committees, High Risk Series: Substantial Efforts Needed on Others 
(GAO-19-157SP, March 2019), available at GAO-19-157SP, HIGH-RISK 
SERIES: Substantial Efforts Needed to Achieve Greater Progress on High-
Risk Areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    During the 116th Congress the Subcommittee held a hearing 
on the efficiency and sustainability of GSA's public buildings. 
In the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will examine the extent 
to which GSA's processes incorporate real estate industry 
guiding principles and enable the agency to ensure 
sustainability in the design, construction, and operation of 
its buildings portfolio as well as potential actions GSA can 
take to improve building performance and reduce energy 
consumption.
    The Subcommittee will continue oversight of the Public 
Buildings Reform Board created by the Federal Assets Sale and 
Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA) which is charged with developing 
recommendations for the sale or redevelopment of high value 
real estate assets. The Subcommittee will examine the potential 
impact of COVID-19 on the level of unneeded properties as well 
as examine whether improvements are needed for the Federal Real 
Property Profile database codified in FASTA to help facilitate 
better management of real estate.
    The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way 
federal workers utilize real property. The Subcommittee will 
examine how the pandemic has affected the amount and type of 
space GSA tenants need and will oversee the GSA's work with 
federal tenants to understand the lasting changes the pandemic 
will have on federal workspace and what that means for future 
project funding.
    5. Capital Investment and Leasing Program (CILP). As part 
of the Committee's annual work to review and authorize the 
GSA's requests for authority to repair, alter, construct, and 
lease property for use by federal agencies, the Subcommittee 
will review each prospectus presented to the Committee and 
recommend approval only after the Subcommittee is satisfied 
that the requests are cost-effective and in the best interest 
of the federal government and taxpayer. The Subcommittee will 
work with the GSA and tenant agencies to reduce the space 
footprint and associated costs as appropriate.
    6. Federal Courthouses. The Subcommittee will closely 
oversee the progress made on authorized courthouses to ensure 
they are constructed within the limitations placed upon them by 
the Committee and the U.S. Courts Design Guide, including 
courtroom sharing by judges and staying below or within budget.
    7. Federal Protective Service (FPS). The Subcommittee will 
continue to monitor and review the policies, procedures, and 
requirements of security at public buildings. The Subcommittee 
will also continue to monitor the use of the FPS's law 
enforcement authority, including delegations of such authority 
to other agencies, to ensure resources are appropriately 
focused on securing federal buildings. The Subcommittee will 
also examine impacts of reduction of federal office space on 
FPS and building security funding--derived largely from fees 
collected from GSA's tenant agencies.
    8. Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The Subcommittee will 
continue ongoing oversight of projects being undertaken by the 
Architect of the Capitol (AOC) pursuant to the Master Plan for 
the Capitol Complex, including renovation of the Cannon House 
Office building and the Rayburn House Office Building Garage 
Rehabilitation. The Subcommittee will also examine the AOC's 
assessment of damage inflicted during the insurrection at the 
U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as logistical support 
provided by the AOC for the 2021 inauguration, and the 
discussion of possible enhancements to physical security around 
the Capitol Complex.
    9. Smithsonian Institution Facilities. During the 116th 
Congress, the Subcommittee invited Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie 
Bunch III to testify on operational challenges and space needs 
at the Smithsonian Institution. The Subcommittee will continue 
its oversight of projects undertaken by the Smithsonian 
Institution, including the renovation, acquisition, 
construction, and use of local and remote museums, research, 
and storage facilities of the Institution as well as future 
needs for new museums authorized by Congress, including the 
National Women's History Museum and National Museum of the 
American Latino. The Subcommittee will continue to oversee 
cost-effective solutions to address the Smithsonian's space 
needs such as leveraging private dollars and disposal or 
effective reuse of underused assets.
    10. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a 
part of its ongoing oversight of the Kennedy Center's programs, 
the Subcommittee will regularly review the construction, 
alteration, and modernization activities of the Kennedy Center 
that are conducted using federal funds to ensure appropriate 
management and cost savings. Given the cancellation of 
currently a year's worth of in-person performances at the 
Kennedy Center, the Subcommittee will continue review of the 
disaster relief funds appropriated and challenges associated 
with re-opening the facility to the public in the wake of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, as well as exploring options the Center may 
have to further expand the reach of virtual performances and 
educational offerings.
    11. Economic Development. In the 116th Congress, the 
Subcommittee held a hearing on the importance of reauthorizing 
the Economic Development Administration (EDA), its programs and 
activities supporting economic growth in distressed 
communities, and the role EDA plays in disaster recovery. For 
the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to work to 
reauthorize the EDA and enhance additional programs to ensure 
these efforts are targeted, effective, and remain focused on 
their core missions. In addition, the Subcommittee will 
continue its oversight of the disaster relief funds 
appropriated for EDA programs to assist communities impacted by 
natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the 
Subcommittee will continue to conduct oversight of regional 
economic development agencies such as the Appalachian Regional 
Commission.
    12. Old Post Office Building. In the 116th Congress, the 
Subcommittee held two hearings on the GSA's management of the 
Old Post Office Building lease agreement with the Trump 
Organization, focusing on conflicts of interest and an alleged 
violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. 
Constitution (Article I, Sec. 9, Clause 8). The Subcommittee 
will continue to engage with the GSA regarding how the agency 
plans to address potential future conflicts of interest 
associated with other federal property.

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT

    1. Surface Transportation Investment and Program 
Authorizations. Bringing the nation's crumbling transportation 
infrastructure to a state of good repair, upgrading bridges, 
improving road quality, addressing road user safety, and 
ensuring access to active transportation and reliable transit 
options will require substantial investment. According to the 
latest Department of Transportation (DOT) Conditions and 
Performance report, we need to invest $2.7 trillion at all 
levels of government over the next 20 years to bring roads, 
bridges, and transit systems to a state of good repair and to 
expand capacity. At the same time, transportation investments 
made today must meet the needs of the future while considering 
the impacts on all impacted communities. This includes 
utilizing new technologies and incorporating innovative 
mobility solutions to move people and goods more safely, 
efficiently, and equitably. This also includes reducing carbon 
pollution and building stronger, more resilient, and adaptive 
transportation networks. The Subcommittee will probe surface 
transportation investment needs and policy as part of its work 
on a long-term reauthorization bill. The authorization for 
highway, transit, and safety programs expires on September 30, 
2021.
    2. Surface Transportation Funding. Federal highway, highway 
safety, and public transportation programs are funded out of 
the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which is funded by federal excise 
taxes levied on motor fuels and on various highway-related 
products such as tires and heavy trucks. Revenues from these 
taxes may be used only for eligible transportation projects and 
activities. By fiscal year (FY) 2022, revenues credited to the 
Highway Account and Mass Transit Account of the HTF will be 
insufficient to meet its obligations, according to projections 
by the Congressional Budget Office. Congress has not raised 
these federal excise taxes in 28 years, and improved vehicle 
fuel efficiency and the advent of electric vehicles have 
further eroded federal revenues. Since FY 2008, this 
combination has led to a gap in the HTF between revenues and 
expenditures. As a result, Congress has transferred 
approximately $157 billion from the general fund of the 
Treasury and other sources into the HTF to maintain the 
solvency of the HTF. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor 
the status and solvency of the HTF, its ability to fund 
currently authorized programs and to meet future surface 
transportation investment needs while also examining other 
future funding options.
    3. Addressing the Threat of Climate Change. Light-duty 
vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for 82 
percent of the U.S. transportation sector's greenhouse gas 
emissions and the transportation sector generates the largest 
share of greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts of climate 
change can pose risks to our infrastructure, the economy, and 
communities nationwide. At the same time, transitioning to a 
more sustainable surface transportation system may bring the 
opportunity for new U.S. job bases and a more competitive 
position in the global economy. The Subcommittee will examine 
means of reducing the impacts of carbon pollution from the 
transportation sector.
    4. Ensuring a Qualified Transportation Workforce. The 
Subcommittee will examine workforce trends in the 
transportation and construction industries, as well as evaluate 
policies to invest in human capital through worker training and 
other programs within its jurisdiction to prepare the next 
generation of transportation workers. As more automation occurs 
in transportation, the Subcommittee will also monitor the 
potential impact on workers that will be affected.
    5. Motor Carrier Oversight. The Subcommittee will continue 
to monitor motor carrier safety issues including assessing the 
safety fitness of truck and bus companies, compliance with 
hours of service regulations, and considering options to 
improve safety of commercial motor vehicles. The Subcommittee 
will also examine issues related to or affecting commercial 
motor vehicle drivers including attracting and retaining 
qualified drivers, the impacts of congestion and detention 
time, supply chain accountability, and training requirements 
for new drivers entering the industry.
    6. Improving the Safety of U.S. Roadways. The National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA) provide grants to states to help 
address highway safety challenges. This includes specific NHTSA 
programs to address high risk factors such as alcohol and drug 
impaired driving, pedestrian and bicycling fatalities, and 
distracted driving. The Subcommittee will examine the 
performance of these programs, as well as their effect on 
enforcing transportation safety equitably, and consider changes 
to boost the effectiveness of federal dollars at reducing 
fatalities.
    7. Effects of COVID-19 on Surface Transportation. The 
Subcommittee will continue to monitor the effect of COVID-19 on 
the surface transportation network. This includes overseeing 
the impacts of the pandemic on state and territorial 
Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning 
Organizations, transit agencies, local governments, and tribal 
governments. The Subcommittee's oversight will include safety 
issues such as monitoring workplace protections for essential 
transportation workers and assessing states' ability to meet 
highway safety grant requirements. It will also include 
oversight into the ability of transportation providers to 
maintain reliable and efficient transportation options for 
essential workers and the general public. The Subcommittee will 
monitor actions by the federal agencies within its jurisdiction 
to ensure appropriate stewardship of relief funding and 
assistance for transportation providers to better deal with the 
effects of COVID-19.
    8. Surface Transportation Innovation. The Subcommittee will 
continue to monitor the use of federal dollars used for the 
research, development, and implementation of innovative 
technologies and solutions on the surface transportation 
system. The Subcommittee will probe the impact that the 
development and deployment of these innovative technologies 
have on safety, congestion, mobility, pollution, equity, and 
surface transportation workers and users. The Subcommittee will 
include in its work oversight of the proposed reallocation of 
the 5.9 gigahertz radio frequency band, and impacts to the 
safe, efficient operation of connected vehicles and intelligent 
transportation systems.

     SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROADS, PIPELINES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

    1. Rail Infrastructure Investment and Financing. The 
nation's passenger rail network is in need of significant 
federal funding. Grants, loans, and tax benefits to Amtrak, 
other intercity passenger, and commuter rail systems are 
important to safely delivering passengers on time. Amtrak alone 
received $1.941 billion in fiscal year 2019 appropriations. Yet 
the needs to replace rail bridges and tunnels, some of them 
dating to the civil war, remain substantial. Amtrak's state of 
good of repair needs exceed $33 billion.\38\ Commuter rail 
faces a state of good repair total backlog that exceeds $23.5 
billion, according to the Department of Transportation's 
Performance and Conditions report. At the same time, proposals 
for high speed rail and technologies like hyperloop and 
magnetic levitation are seeking federal support for multi-
billion-dollar projects. The Subcommittee will continue to 
monitor future rail investment needs and examine additional 
options to provide funding to support Amtrak, promote passenger 
rail expansion, and spur rail safety investments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \38\2019 Amtrak Five Year Infrastructure Asset Line Plan, available 
at https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/
documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Infrastructure-Asset-Line-
Plan-FY20-24.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing 
(RRIF) program provides long-term, low-interest loans and loan 
guarantees for railroad-related improvements. While this 
program is authorized to provide up to $35 billion in lending, 
the DOT has executed only about $6.29 billion in loans; leaving 
$30.2 billion currently available in credit authority.\39\ The 
Subcommittee will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the 
RRIF loan program, assess the credit authority balance, and 
examine ways to increase accessibility to RRIF loans while 
limiting risk to the taxpayer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \39\ https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/financing/rrif/
railroad-rehabilitation-improvement-financing-rrif.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition to Amtrak's operating grants, the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) administers competitive grants 
that support rail investments. The Consolidated Rail 
Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant funds 
projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of 
freight and passenger rail transportation systems; the Federal-
State Partnership for State of Good Repair grant funds capital 
projects to replace or rehabilitate qualified railroad assets 
to reduce the state of good repair backlog; and the Restoration 
and Enhancement program provides operating assistance grants to 
initiate, restore, or enhance intercity rail passenger 
transportation. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor FRA's 
grant performance.
    2. Amtrak. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 
known as ``Amtrak,'' was created by the Rail Passenger Service 
Act of 1970, and its operations were significantly restructured 
by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 
(PRIIA 2008; P.L. 110-432). Amtrak operates three types of 
routes: the Northeast Corridor (operated on mostly Amtrak-owned 
track with costs allocated between Amtrak and commuter rail 
partners in accordance with Section 213 of PRIIA 2008), long-
distance routes operated directly by Amtrak, and ``state-
supported'' routes less than 750 miles (partially financed by 
states with costs allocated in accordance with Section 209 of 
PRIIA 2008). Because Amtrak relies on federal funding, the 
Subcommittee exercises extensive oversight of the railroad to 
ensure that it is serving passengers reliably in accordance 
with statutory mandates. Specific areas of concern include food 
and beverage service, station agent staffing levels, issues 
with contracting out work, ADA compliance, and policing.
    In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted Amtrak's 
operations and reduced its ridership and revenue. Amtrak 
experienced challenges in maintaining service levels across all 
three business lines, protecting the safety and livelihood of 
its workers, and continuing infrastructure investments. The 
Subcommittee expects to continue oversight of Amtrak's 
recovery, with a particular focus on protecting the health and 
safety of Amtrak workers, monitoring Amtrak's compliance with 
statutory and contractual labor provisions, and tracking 
Amtrak's recovery plans and use of government appropriations.
    3. Rail Safety. The FRA has broad statutory authority over 
rail safety, administered through its Office of Rail Safety. 
FRA also has uncompleted rail safety mandates from the Rail 
Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA; P.L. 110-432), and the 
Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA 2015), 
enacted as title XI of the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation Infrastructure (FAST) Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-94).
    RSIA's outstanding mandates include: regulations requiring 
railroad carriers to providing emergency escape breathing 
apparatuses for crewmembers in locomotive cabs on certain 
freight trains; regulations to improve the establishment of 
pilot programs to analyze practices that may be used to reduce 
fatigue for certain railroad workers; and finalization of 
requirements that railroad carriers develop and implement 
fatigue risk management programs. PRRIA 2015 included an FRA 
rulemaking requiring the installation of inward and outward 
facing locomotive image recording devices on all lead 
locomotives in passenger trains--FRA has also yet to complete 
this rulemaking.
    Beyond the specific outstanding statutory mandates, the 
Subcommittee monitors FRA's safety programs and industry trends 
for potential safety improvements. Recently, the Subcommittee 
identified areas of potential concern that warrant further 
review: industry-wide trends towards longer freight trains, 
precision scheduled railroading, and the National 
Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) rail accident 
investigations.
    Long Trains. Average freight train length is increasing, 
and anecdotal reports indicate that maximum train length--the 
longest trains that carriers run on their networks--has 
increased. In May 2019, the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) issued a report finding that freight train length has 
increased in recent years, according to all seven Class I 
railroads operating in the U.S. While data on train length is 
not publicly reported, GAO verified data provided by two Class 
I railroads and found that trains they operated have increased 
in length by an average of about 25 percent from 2008 through 
2017. Potential impacts identified by GAO's May 2019 report 
include issues related to train makeup and handling; impacts to 
operating crews; and impacts to grade crossing safety in 
communities, such as delayed emergency response and effects on 
driver and pedestrian behavior. The Subcommittee will continue 
to conduct oversight regarding the potential impacts that long 
freight trains may have across the rail network.
    Precision Scheduled Railroading. Precision scheduled 
railroading (PSR) is a widely adopted freight railroad 
management framework that relies upon several concepts, 
including controlling costs and optimizing asset use to improve 
the efficiency of operations across the network. PSR challenges 
the view that more locomotives, cars, and crews allow for 
greater traffic volume, instead viewing more equipment as a 
contributor to congestion that slows down the system. As 
railroads have implemented PSR concepts, some railroads have 
closed rail yards, removed locomotives from their networks, and 
downsized their workforce. According to employment data from 
the Surface Transportation Board, the seven Class I railroads 
and Amtrak employment levels have been in a steady decline in 
the U.S. since 2015. In light of these developments, the 
Subcommittee will continue to monitor safety and network 
sustainability.
    National Transportation Safety Board Rail Investigations. 
The NTSB is required to investigate a railroad accident in 
which there is a fatality or substantial property damage, or 
that involves a passenger train (in addition to its authorities 
related to other transportation modes) (49 U.S.C. 1131(a)). 
Such investigations are critical to establishing the facts, 
circumstances, and cause or probable cause of railroad 
accidents. The NTSB's 2019 annual investigation report 
identified a large number of railroad accidents that it was 
statutorily required to investigate but did not pursue, mostly 
using ``limited resources''' as an explanation.\40\ The 
Subcommittee will monitor whether NTSB has sufficient resources 
to conduct NTSB rail investigations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \40\ https://www.ntsb.gov/about/reports/Documents/2019-NTSB-ARC-
Appendices.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. Surface Transportation Board. The Surface Transportation 
Board (STB) enforces the ``common carrier'' obligation, under 
which railroads must provide ``transportation or service on 
reasonable request'' (49 U.S.C. 11101(a)). A railroad may not 
refuse to provide service merely because to do so would be 
inconvenient or unprofitable. Railroad shippers have raised 
concerns regarding the quality and level of service provided by 
railroads since the adoption of PSR. The STB sought information 
from stakeholders about this issue, including a May 2019 public 
hearing in Docket No. EP 754 during which railroad shippers 
stated that several Class I railroads had made changes to 
tariffs governing demurrage and accessorial charges or began 
enforcing longstanding tariffs on demurrage and accessorial 
charges without providing adequate prior notice, resulting in 
substantial costs to the shipper.\41\ The Subcommittee will 
continue to conduct oversight of STB's efforts to ensure that 
railroads adhere to the common carrier obligation, particularly 
in relation to PSR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \41\Oversight Hearing on Demurrage & Accessorial Charges, Docket 
No. EP 754.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In 2019, the STB solicited information on integrating cost-
benefit analysis into STB's rulemaking process (Docket No. EP 
752). To date, STB has not issued a final action on this issue. 
The Subcommittee will continue to track STB efforts to impose 
additional cost-benefit analysis requirements on its regulatory 
process.
    Amtrak's right of preference to dispatching services on 
freight-owned lines is also within STB's jurisdiction (49 U.S.C 
24308(c)). Under Section 24308(f) of chapter 49, United States 
Code, the STB has the authority to investigate substandard 
performance of Amtrak. The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the STB, including substandard performance investigations 
and enforcement of Amtrak preference.
    5. Pipeline Safety. The 116th Congress reauthorized the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's 
(PHMSA) pipeline safety program through fiscal year 2023 in the 
Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety 
Act of 2020 (PIPES Act; P.L. 116-260). The PIPES Act authorized 
increases to PHMSA's pipeline safety inspection and enforcement 
personnel; enabled PHMSA to offer key employees additional 
recruitment and retention bonuses; directed PHMSA to update its 
regulations on large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
facilities; directed PHMSA to issue a final rule governing gas 
gathering lines; extended whistleblower protections for 
disclosure of pipeline safety concerns; directed companies to 
conduct leak detection and repair programs that protect the 
environment and pipeline safety; required PHMSA to study and 
implement best available technologies or practices to prevent 
or mitigate the release of natural gas when making planned 
repairs or maintenance; provided PHMSA clear definitions of 
``coastal beaches'' and ``certain coastal waters''; created a 
new technology pilot program; mandated PHMSA issue regulations 
prescribing the applicability of pipeline safety requirements 
to certain idled pipelines; and required PHMSA to report to 
Congress on its progress on outstanding Congressional mandates, 
among other items. Title II of the bill (``The Leonel Rondon 
Pipeline Safety Act'') responded to the tragic gas distribution 
explosions in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts, by 
directing improvements in distribution integrity management 
plans; mandating that emergency response plans address timely 
communications with first responders and the general public as 
highlighted by the NTSB; directing improvements to operations 
and maintenance manuals and pipeline safety management systems; 
and requiring that pipeline safety practices safeguard pressure 
controls. The Subcommittee will monitor PHMSA's overall work on 
pipeline safety and its implementation of PIPES 2020, as well 
as any outstanding mandates from the 2011 and 2016 pipeline 
safety bills.
    6. Hazardous Materials Safety. The Hazardous Material 
Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015, enacted as Title 
VII of the FAST Act (P.L. 114-94), reauthorized the hazardous 
materials safety program administered by PHMSA. The Act 
included provisions to enhance the safety of hazardous 
materials transportation, with a significant focus on the 
transportation of flammable liquids, including crude oil and 
ethanol, by rail. In 2019, PHMSA authorized the transportation 
of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail tank car by special 
permit. The special permit was followed by a July 2020 final 
rule permanently authorizing LNG by DOT 113 specification tank 
cars.\42\ These actions were spurred in part by a Trump 
administration Executive Order which directed PHMSA to allow 
LNG via tank car on a delineated schedule.\43\ The Subcommittee 
will review the integrity and independence of PHMSA's safety 
evaluation of LNG in rail tank cars. The Subcommittee will also 
continue oversight of the PHMSA's hazardous materials safety 
program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \42\Hazardous Materials: Liquefied Natural Gas by Rail, 85 Fed. 
Reg. 44994, (July 24, 2020), available at https://www.govinfo.gov/
content/pkg/FR-2020-07-24/pdf/2020-13604.pdf.
    \43\Executive Order 13868, Promoting Energy Infrastructure and 
Economic Growth, (April 10, 2019), available at https://
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-04-15/pdf/2019-07656.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    7. PHMSA Safety Culture. On January 13, 2021, the DOT 
Office of Inspector General released a report that examined 
PHMSA's safety culture and found ``opportunities to further 
enhance'' the agency's safety culture.\44\ Areas identified for 
improvement included: transparency, communication, employee 
perceptions of undue influence on agency decision-making, and 
retaliation concerns. The Subcommittee will monitor PHMSA's 
efforts to improve its safety culture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \44\DOT Office of Inspector General, PHMSA Safety Culture Efforts, 
(January 13, 2021), available at https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/
files/PHMSA%20Safety%20Culture%20Final%20
Report%5E01.13.2021.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    8. Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits. Eligible 
railroad employees are not covered by traditional state-
administered unemployment programs; rather, qualifying railroad 
workers receive unemployment and sickness benefits under the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). Unlike benefits 
paid through state-operated unemployment compensation programs, 
RUIA unemployment and sickness benefits are subject to 
sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act. As a result, amounts payable to qualifying 
beneficiaries for both sickness and unemployment benefits are 
typically reduced each year by an arbitrary amount. While 
emergency unemployment relief under the Coronavirus Aid, 
Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES; P.L. 116-136) and the 
Continued Assistance to Rail Workers Act of 2020 (section 231 
of P.L. 116-260) included provisions to temporarily avoid 
sequestration of essential benefits.
    The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers railroad 
unemployment and sickness benefits, as well as other railroad-
specific employment benefit programs. The RRB meets its 
responsibilities of administering benefits to hundreds of 
thousands of beneficiaries using legacy computer systems that 
were built 40 years ago and are increasingly difficult to 
maintain. As a result, RRB's essential functions are strained 
by these outdated systems, and the agency may require more 
resources to assure the system's continued effectiveness. The 
Subcommittee will evaluate potential measures to improve the 
RRB's effectiveness and avoid unfair sequestration of benefits.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

    1. Clean Water Act and Water Infrastructure Programs. The 
Clean Water Act (Act) was enacted in 1972 to ``restore and 
maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of 
the Nation's waters.'' The Act established the basic structure 
for regulating the discharge of pollutants into the waters of 
the U.S., provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
with authority to establish nationwide standards for water 
pollution control programs that are implemented either by the 
EPA or approved states, funded the construction of wastewater 
treatment projects, and recognized the need to address nonpoint 
sources of pollution.
    While the Act has made significant progress in addressing 
water quality impairments, continued improvement of water 
quality will likely require a combination of regulatory and 
non-regulatory approaches, as well as continued and increased 
investment in the implementation of water quality-related and 
water infrastructure programs. The Subcommittee's oversight 
will focus on issues related to implementation of the Act, both 
by federal agencies and approved states, as well as the need 
for additional water infrastructure investment.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
implementation of various regulatory and non-regulatory 
programs under the Act, including how the EPA and the Army 
Corps of Engineers (Corps) implement and enforce these programs 
in conjunction with approved states, and trends on the 
effectiveness of the Act to improve local water quality. This 
includes oversight of issues involving the establishment and 
implementation of water quality standards and total maximum 
daily loads; the development and application of new or revised 
effluent limitations; compliance with and enforcement of the 
permitting programs of the Act under section 402 (point source 
discharges of pollutants under the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES permit program) and section 404 
(permitting of discharges of dredged or fill materials)); and 
how the EPA and the Corps assert federal jurisdiction and make 
jurisdictional determinations under the Act. Oversight also 
will include an examination of federal and state policies and 
efforts to address the presence of (or reduce or eliminate the 
discharge of) nutrients and other contaminants in waters under 
the Act and other federal statutes, the impact of permitted and 
unpermitted releases on waters that may be used as a source of 
drinking water, as well as combined and sanitary sewer 
overflows, stormwater, certain agricultural activities, and 
nonpoint sources of pollution.
    Continued investments in U.S. water-related infrastructure 
should: (1) prioritize the creation of American jobs and the 
utilization of American-made products; (2) support a healthy 
and sustainable economy and environment; and (3) protect public 
health and safety. In furtherance of these points, the 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of wastewater treatment and 
water pollution control funding issues, including levels and 
sources of funding and management of grant and loan programs; 
opportunities for utilities to increase their overall 
efficiency and resiliency; wastewater security; and 
infrastructure needs. The Subcommittee will also examine local 
affordability concerns, including whether and how existing 
clean water infrastructure financing authorities are utilized 
by different types of communities, and whether additional 
federal resources can and should be targeted to address local 
affordability concerns. The Subcommittee may also examine how 
existing and new clean water financing authorities serve to 
address the water infrastructure needs of small, rural, tribal, 
and low-income communities.
    The Subcommittee will continue to review changes and 
proposed changes of previous administrations related to their 
interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of the Clean 
Water Act, and whether these changes are consistent with the 
Act, with judicial interpretations of the Act, and with the 
science of protecting and restoring the chemical, physical, and 
biological integrity of the nation's waters.
    Further, the Subcommittee will continue to review the EPA's 
implementation of integrated approaches to municipal stormwater 
and wastewater management, the utilization of green 
infrastructure and nature-based approaches to addressing local 
water quality concerns and infrastructure resiliency, and 
providing of technical, financial, and integrated planning 
assistance to disadvantaged communities for achieving and 
maintaining clean water compliance, as well as other local 
quality-of-life benefits. The Subcommittee may investigate 
whether non-regulatory approaches, such as water quality 
trading and other market-based approaches, and other innovative 
approaches undertaken by state and local governments, could 
result in improvements to the environment.
    2. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Program. The 
Subcommittee will review efforts to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the civil works program of the Corps, 
including the planning, authorization, and implementation of 
water resources development projects, and the Corps' efforts to 
improve the affordability, resiliency, and sustainability of 
civil works projects in the short- and long-term. The 
Subcommittee will oversee changes made by the Water Resources 
Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 (P.L. 116-260) related to the 
financing and maintenance of harbor and inland waterways 
infrastructure and efforts towards full-utilization of annual 
harbor maintenance trust fund collections for the maintenance 
of large, medium, and small (emerging) harbors. The 
Subcommittee will also ensure the expeditious implementation of 
other provisions of WRDA 2020 (and other recently enacted 
WRDAs), including provisions related to use of natural- and 
nature-based approaches to addressing water resources 
development projects; implementation of the Principles, 
Requirements, and Guidelines (PR&G) for the development of 
future water resources development projects; provisions related 
to environmental justice and the affordability of future Corps' 
projects and studies; provisions related to quickly addressing 
emergency flooding events; and project specific provisions 
related to several comprehensive, watershed-level studies. The 
Subcommittee will also continue to oversee the backlog of 
authorized, but uninitiated Corps construction projects or 
deferred Corps maintenance projects, and asset management of 
projects in the Corps' operation and maintenance account, 
including existing and future levels of service.
    Continued investments in U.S. water-related infrastructure 
should: (1) prioritize the creation of American jobs and the 
utilization of American-made products; (2) support a healthy 
and sustainable economy and environment; and (3) protect public 
health and safety. The Subcommittee will focus on getting 
projects built efficiently, cost effectively, and in a 
resilient and sustainable manner, delivering long-term project 
benefits to the public while also ensuring compliance with 
existing planning and environmental laws, and examining any 
disproportionate and adverse health or environmental effects on 
minority communities, low-income communities, and Indian 
Tribes.
    The Subcommittee will also conduct oversight of the 
implementation of various regulatory programs under the Clean 
Water Act carried out by the Corps (in conjunction with EPA). 
In addition to the issues related to the interpretation, 
implementation, and enforcement of the Clean Water Act within 
the Corps' responsibilities (also noted in the EPA-related 
section), the Subcommittee will continue to oversee the Corps' 
project-related and programmatic implementation of section 404 
of the Act.
    3. EPA--Superfund/Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act and Brownfields. The Superfund 
program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA; P.L. 96-510) is aimed 
at cleaning up land in the U.S. that has been contaminated by 
hazardous waste and poses a risk to human health and/or the 
environment. The Brownfields program was authorized under the 
Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act 
(title II of P.L. 107-118, which amended CERCLA). The 
Brownfields program is aimed at enhancing state, local, and 
private-sector cleanups of properties, the redevelopment or 
reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential 
presence of a contaminant. Unaddressed brownfields and 
Superfund sites drive down property values and tax revenues, 
pose potential human health concerns, and can deter 
reinvestment in cities and towns. The Brownfields program 
protects from Superfund liability many parties engaged in 
voluntary brownfields cleanups and supports state and local 
brownfields assessment and cleanup activities, and state 
voluntary cleanup programs. The Subcommittee's oversight will 
focus on issues related to implementation of the Superfund and 
Brownfields programs.
    The Subcommittee will also review efforts to improve the 
efficiency and effectiveness of the contaminated site cleanup 
process, the process of assessing natural resources damages, 
and the efforts to hold responsible parties accountable, 
consistent with federal law. In addition, the Subcommittee will 
review the liability, financing, and settlement mechanisms and 
procedures under the current Superfund program, including the 
relation of funding sources and levels for the Superfund and 
Brownfields programs to current demands and needs. The 
Subcommittee will continue reviewing implementation of the 
EPA's brownfields program, including changes to the program 
enacted in the BUILD Act (P.L. 115-141).
    The Subcommittee also will review the role of the states in 
conducting and financing cleanups, and review the relationships 
among the states, the EPA, and other federal entities in 
implementing the Superfund and Brownfields programs.
    In addition, the GAO in 2017 added to its high-risk list 
the U.S. Government's environmental liabilities for cleaning up 
areas where federal activities have contaminated the 
environment.\45\ Various federal laws, including the Superfund 
law, agreements with States, and court decisions require the 
federal government to clean up environmental hazards at federal 
sites and facilities. According to GAO, in fiscal year 2016, 
the federal government's estimated environmental liability was 
$447 billion; however, this estimate does not reflect all of 
the future cleanup responsibilities federal agencies may 
face.\46\ The Committee will conduct oversight of the federal 
government's actions to assess, quantify, and address its 
environmental liabilities as they relate to those federal 
agencies and laws under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \45\U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional 
Committees, High Risk Series: Progress on Many High-Risk Areas, While 
Substantial Efforts Needed on Others (GAO-17-317, February 2017), 
available at https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-317 and https://
www.gao.gov/assets/690/682765.pdf.
    \46\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. Tennessee Valley Authority. The Subcommittee will review 
the management of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and its 
programs, including its energy program, operations in the 
current marketplace, its long-term management of the TVA 
assets, properties, and byproducts of energy generation, and 
the impact of the TVA debt on its long-term goals. The 
Subcommittee may also examine issues related to its management 
of the TVA workforce and the TVA's responsibilities in meeting 
its employee pension and retirement obligations.
    5. Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation. The Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway 
Development Corporation (SLSDC) is a wholly-owned government 
enterprise created in 1954 to construct, operate, and develop 
jointly with Canada a seaway between Montreal and Lake Erie. 
The SLSDC is operated under the Secretary of Transportation's 
general direction and supervision. The Subcommittee will review 
the overall operations of the SLSDC, the management of 
commercial traffic through the St. Lawrence Seaway in 
coordination with Canada's Saint Lawrence Seaway Authority, and 
the progress made by the SLSDC in meeting its 10-year asset 
renewal effort for U.S.-controlled assets of the Seaway.
    6. Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the Department of 
Agriculture is authorized to give technical and financial help 
to local organizations planning and carrying out watershed 
projects for flood protection, agricultural water management, 
recreation, municipal and industrial water supply, and wildlife 
enhancement. The Subcommittee will review the overall 
operations of the NRCS as they relate to implementation of the 
Watershed and Flood Prevention programs and Watershed 
Rehabilitation Program, which are under the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee.
    7. International Boundary and Water Commission. The 
International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) was 
established in 1889 with the responsibility for applying the 
boundary and water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico and 
settling any disputes over their application. The body is 
comprised of both U.S. and Mexican sections, headed by an 
Engineer-Commissioner who is appointed by the President. The 
U.S. section is headquartered in El Paso, TX, and operates 
under the guidance of the State Department. The IBWC carries 
out, in accordance with their governing treaties, the 
distribution, regulation, and conservation of water in the Rio 
Grande and Colorado Rivers for use by both countries; joint 
construction, operations, and maintenance of international 
storage dams and reservoirs; and hydroelectric plants, flood 
protection, and sanitation projects for border water quality 
problems, as well as demarcating the boundary between the U.S. 
and Mexico.
    The Subcommittee will review the overall operations of the 
IBWC, including its management and financing of several flood 
damage reduction and water- and wastewater-related 
infrastructure projects under the authority of the Commission.

                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                 OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS

    Pursuant to rule X of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs is responsible for determining 
whether laws and programs within its jurisdiction are being 
implemented according to congressional intent. The Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs conducts its oversight with the help of five 
subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and 
Memorial Affairs; the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity; the 
Subcommittee on Health; the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations; and the Subcommittee on Technology 
Modernization. It is expected that oversight of the issues 
outlined below will be a shared responsibility of both the full 
Committee and the subcommittees.

       Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

    Compensation and Pension Exams. To assess a veterans' 
claimed disability and determine the level of disability, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefits 
Administration (VBA) provides a medical disability examination 
for Compensation and Pension (C&P) purposes. During a September 
29, 2019, Subcommittee hearing, VBA reported that it requested 
about 35% of C&P exams from the Veterans Health 
Administration's (VHA) Office of Disability and Medical 
Assessment. Additionally, 65% of disability exams were 
performed by contract physicians. In previous Congresses, 
Congress expanded the law authorizing VA to use private 
contract vendors to provide C&P exams. This authority provided 
necessary relief to VHA, which struggled to provide timely 
exams under growing demands. During the September 2019 
Subcommittee hearing, the Subcommittee assessed concerns raised 
in a 2018 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report 
outlining deficiencies in VA's oversight of the contract 
vendors, including lack of compliance with its own contract 
terms for quality and timeliness. VBA also testified that 
contracted disability exams were intended to supplement the VHA 
C&P program, not replace it.
    At the onset of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) 
pandemic in March 2020, VA decided to suspend all in-person C&P 
exams. VHA stated all its C&P examiners would either be 
redirected to clinical care during the crisis, or would provide 
tele-C&P exams and medical opinions without a physical exam. 
VBA and VHA jointly decided VHA would not attempt to resume any 
C&P exams post-pandemic and would phase out all activity. The 
temporary shutdown of in-person C&P exams left a massive 
pending exam backlog of more than 350,000, as of January 2021, 
which has not improved since the summer of 2020 despite 
resumption of most face-to-face exams. VBA's Medical Disability 
Exam Office hopes to have this backlog resolved by summer of 
2021 but has not provided specific information or plans. 
Despite the lingering backlog, VBA insists it will shutter its 
VHA C&P program and migrate almost entirely to contract 
examiners, except where legally required. The Committee will 
closely monitor VBA's progress toward eliminating the backlog 
and addressing public concerns about VA's near-exclusive 
reliance on non-VA employees and physicians to conduct C&P 
exams.
    COVID-19 Claims Backlog. Amidst the pandemic, VA's backlog 
of claims has grown significantly, creating delays in 
adjudication of benefits decisions. At the beginning of 2020, 
only 17.3% of claims waited longer than 125 days for a 
decision. At the beginning of 2021, 44.8% of claims wait more 
than 125 days for a decision. This increase is partly due to 
the delays caused by the temporary stoppage of in-person C&P 
exams, partly due to an influx of Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
claims that were all added into the inventory when the law 
became effective in January 2020, and partly due to delays in 
personnel records requests from the National Archive and 
Records Administration, which has experienced a large backlog 
as a result of pandemic-related shut downs. The Committee will 
continue to monitor VBA's growing backlog.
    Deported Veterans. VBA typically processes roughly one-
million disability claims a year, including claims from 
veterans living outside of the United States. While some 
veterans living abroad are expatriates, some were deported by 
the U.S. after serving in the armed forces. Regardless of 
deportation, veterans living abroad are eligible for the same 
disability compensation benefits as domestic veterans. A 2020 
GAO report found that while VBA improved processing times and 
access for veterans living abroad, it recommended ways for VBA 
to improve efficiency and quality, as well as how to better 
compensate veterans for travel costs. The Committee intends to 
monitor VA's progress toward implementing these 
recommendations, as well as look for ways VBA can take a larger 
role in providing information and support for deported 
veterans.
    VBA Training. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) 
consistently finds that VA employees have had inadequate 
guidance and training, particularly claims developers and 
raters. For instance, a recent OIG report from December 2020 
found that a sample of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
claims (unrelated to Military Sexual Trauma) determined between 
October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019, showed that roughly 
16% were inaccurate because the processors either did not 
verify an in-service stressor or did not obtain a C&P exam. 
Additional OIG reports showed improper claims processing for 
heart diseases and disability ratings and found that the 
quality review team failed to identify 35% of errors in 
reviewed decisions. VBA has poorly trained new raters through 
its Challenge Training, leaving raters unprepared for the job. 
Further, the VA Adjudication Manual is frequently updated 
without sufficient guidance to raters on implementation of new 
procedures or policies. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
the quality of current VBA training, implementation of new 
training, and consider potential improvements.
    Toxic Exposure. For many decades, Congress has created and 
expanded coverage of benefits for veterans with illnesses as a 
result of toxic exposure. Typically, the law establishes a 
presumption of service connection which allows a veteran or 
survivor to easily establish eligibility to service connection. 
As more veterans come forward publicly to speak about their 
exposures during deployment, federal and private entities have 
openly investigated various circumstances of deployment and 
toxic exposures. Reporting has not always drawn clear 
conclusions, and research has relied on variable data and 
methods. With a mounting body of evidence, sometimes anecdotal, 
suggesting illness and disease in veteran populations and 
subpopulations, the Committee will examine how to best provide 
benefits to these veterans. In particular, the Committee will 
look at ways to establish a consistent standard for assessment, 
consistent solicitation of research, and transparency in the 
decision-making process.
    Military Sexual Trauma. Concerns raised nearly four years 
ago in a 2018 VA OIG report are unresolved. The OIG found that 
nearly half of claims for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) were not 
processed according to VBA policy, resulting in some erroneous 
denials. While VA sought to improve its training for VA raters 
responsible for developing claims for MST, and improved grant 
rates for MST claims, VA has not implemented all of the OIG's 
recommendations. Further, VA's rules currently provide relaxed 
evidentiary standards for veterans with PTSD resulting from 
MST. These same relaxed standards are not, however, available 
to veterans with any other mental health diagnosis resulting 
from MST. In addition, many parts of the MST claims process are 
unnecessarily retraumatizing to survivors. The process could 
benefit from bureaucratic changes and incorporation of best 
practices from VHA. The Committee will review implementation of 
methods to achieve equitable application of law amongst all 
veterans who have suffered MST.
    National Cemeteries. The Committee will continue oversight 
of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Arlington 
National Cemetery (ANC), and the American Battle Monuments 
Commission (ABMC), to include each organization's mission, 
operations, and inquiries into matters of unclaimed remains, 
access, and the methodology for determining veteran 
satisfaction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCA temporarily 
suspended interments at some national cemeteries. At cemeteries 
authorized to conduct burials, VA imposed crowd limitations and 
social distancing measures, including the suspension of 
military funeral honors. This caused some families to delay 
interment until normal operations resumed or opt for a ceremony 
without military honors. The Committee will continue to monitor 
NCA's progress conducting burial services during the pandemic. 
The Committee will also examine implementation of newly created 
burial benefits. At the end of the 116th Congress, H.R. 7105 
was signed into law, greatly expanding veterans' burial 
benefits and eligibility for state veterans cemeteries. The 
Committee will oversee VA's implementation of eligibility and 
these benefit programs.

                  Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

    Effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). 
The Committee continues to be concerned about the effectiveness 
of TAP which is intended to prepare servicemembers for their 
return to civilian life. The Department of Defense (DoD), VA, 
and Department of Labor (DoL) jointly manage and provide 
content to the five-day course that focuses on skills needed to 
obtain gainful employment as well as an understanding of the 
benefits that are available to servicemembers from VA and DoL. 
The Committee will conduct oversight regarding the 
implementation of the recent changes made to TAP in the Fiscal 
Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and the Johnny 
Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and 
Benefits Improvement Act, and discuss how TAP can continue to 
be enhanced for transitioning servicemembers and their 
families.
    Effectiveness and Outcomes of Education and Training 
Programs for Returning Veterans. The Post-9/11 GI bill, which 
is administered by VA, is the most generous education program 
for veterans since the original World War II GI Bill. Based on 
the length of service, the program funds up to full tuition and 
fees at public institutions of higher learning and about 
$24,476 per year at private institutions as well as a monthly 
living stipend based on the housing allowance paid to 
servicemembers at the rank of E-5 (with dependents) and the zip 
code of the location where the veteran is taking the majority 
of their classes. The Committee will continue oversight of the 
implementation of Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational 
Assistance Act of 2017, and the Johnny Isakson and David P. 
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2020. Further, as avenues for learning and training continue to 
evolve and modernize, the Committee will examine these new 
programs and the effectiveness of institutions of higher 
learning in providing quality education to servicemembers, 
veterans, and survivors. In addition, the Committee will 
examine outcome measures for users of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to 
ensure the effectiveness of taxpayers' investment in our 
veterans' education benefits and identify predatory 
institutions targeting servicemembers, veterans, and survivors. 
The Committee will continue to examine how the COVID-19 
pandemic has impacted student's ability to successfully use 
their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
    Vocational Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. VA's 
VR&E program provides education and training benefits for 
service-connected disabled veterans with barriers to 
employment. The program funds all costs related to long and 
short-term education and training as well as immediate job 
placement services. VR&E also manages the Independent Living 
(IL) program designed to enable the most severely disabled 
veterans to live as independently as possible and the Veteran 
Success on Campus program, which currently stations VR&E staff 
at institutions of higher learning. The Committee will monitor 
counselor caseloads and outcomes of VR&E programs as well as 
the administration of the self-employment track of the VR&E 
program, which can often result in high costs. The Committee 
will also conduct oversight over the management and overall 
effectiveness of the VR&E program as well as the recently 
introduced ``eVA'' IT system and how it will affect outcomes 
for veterans.
    Loan Guaranty Service. VA's Loan Guaranty Service provides 
a loan guaranty benefit to eligible veterans and 
servicemembers, which enables them to purchase a home at a 
competitive interest rate, without private mortgage insurance, 
and often without requiring a down payment. This benefit is 
highly beneficial to veterans, servicemembers, and their 
families, and therefore, the Committee plans to continue 
oversight of the numerous improvements to the home loan program 
that have been enacted in previous Congresses. The Loan 
Guaranty Service also administers grants under the Specially 
Adapted Housing (SAH) program and the Special Housing 
Adaptation (SHA) program. These grants, provided to eligible 
veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, provide 
the funding to adapt their home or construct a new home so they 
are able to live in a home that is not obstructive to them due 
to their disabilities. These grants are beneficial for the most 
severely injured veterans, and the Committee intends to 
evaluate the improvements made by the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne 
Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019 that 
increased overall grant amounts and the number of times a 
veteran can use the grant. Finally, the Committee intends to 
evaluate the impact COVID-19 had on homeowners and prospective 
home buyers.
    Adaptive Sports Program. This VA-administered program 
provides grants to qualifying organizations who provide 
adaptive sports activities and opportunities at the local, 
regional, and national levels, including Paralympic activities, 
to disabled veterans and servicemembers. This program is 
authorized at $16 million. The authorization for the Adaptive 
Sports Program expires on December 31, 2022. The Committee will 
continue to examine how VA awards grants under this program and 
the organizations who are receiving funding, as well as how VA 
is working with local communities and the Paralympic community 
to promote and enhance adaptive sports programs for disabled 
veterans and servicemembers.
    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU). VA's OSDBU is responsible for promoting small business 
contracting in the Department. OSDBU is also responsible for 
overseeing the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) 
that adjudicates the applications of veteran and service-
disabled veteran owned small businesses wanting to participate 
in the Veterans First Contracting program. The Veterans First 
Contracting program is designed to increase the amount of 
procurement dollars spent with veteran and service-connected 
disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The Committee will 
review OSDBU's performance and coordinate with the Committee on 
Small Business for the planned transfer of CVE to the Small 
Business Administration in two years.
    Licensing and Credentialing Issues. DoD spends billions of 
tax dollars to provide servicemembers with the skills needed to 
complete DoD's mission. Many of those skills translate well to 
civilian jobs. Unfortunately, not all states and institutions 
of higher learning recognize and give credit for military 
training to qualify for state-licensed positions and therefore, 
the training provided by DoD is essentially wasted for veterans 
looking for employment in the same field. The Committee will 
review efforts by states and other entities to provide 
appropriate licenses and credentials to qualified veterans 
whose military training make them eligible for such credentials 
or licenses, as well as the progress that states are making to 
make certain licenses and credentials transferable across state 
lines.
    Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP). HVRP is a 
program administered by DoL's Veteran Employment and Training 
Service (VETS), which provides grants to state and local 
workforce investment boards, local public agencies, and 
nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments, including 
faith-based and community organizations. The organizations that 
compete and receive these grants provide homeless veterans with 
occupational, classroom and on-the-job training as well as job 
search and placement assistance. The authorization for HVRP 
expires on September 30, 2022. The Committee will examine the 
organizations that are receiving these grants as well as 
conduct oversight of VETS awarding of these grants, and how the 
program can be enhanced at the federal and state levels to 
place more homeless veterans in careers. The Committee's 
oversight of these programs is especially important to address 
the economic impact of COVID-19.
    VETS Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program--Disabled 
Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS)/Local Veterans 
Employment Representatives (LVER). The DVOPS/LVER program is 
administered by DoL VETS and funds state employment service 
staff who are dedicated to placing veterans in well-paying 
jobs. There are significant issues regarding the inconsistent 
performance of this program and the outcome measures used to 
determine performance continue to be inadequate. The Committee 
will continue to review this program and the performance 
outcomes of DVOPS and LVERs as well as conduct oversight of the 
National Veterans' Training Institute (NVTI), which trains 
DVOPS and LVERs on job placement and training skills for 
veterans. The performance of these programs will be especially 
important to veterans who are under employed and unemployed as 
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Homeless Veterans. The Committee will examine the actions 
VA has taken to help reduce homelessness among veterans by 
providing homeless and at-risk veterans with appropriate 
housing and supportive services. The Committee will examine the 
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and Housing and 
Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD 
VASH) programs and VA's progress toward reducing veteran 
homelessness, as well as addressing the myriad factors that 
underlie veteran homelessness, rather than just increasing 
housing opportunities. The Committee will continue to oversee 
VA's integration efforts to support vulnerable veterans by 
facilitating access to benefits, care, and services. Finally, 
the Committee will evaluate temporary measures passed in 
response to the pandemic to support employment and homelessness 
programs at VA that are serving more individuals due to COVID-
19. This also includes overseeing the National Personnel 
Records Center recovery from delays caused by COVID-19 which 
has created a significant backlog of veteran requests.

                         Subcommittee on Health

    Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicide Prevention. The 
Committee will continue to closely monitor VA's mental health, 
substance use, and suicide prevention efforts, particularly its 
new programs and its involvement with the ongoing work of the 
White House PREVENTS Task Force. In 2020, two large veterans' 
mental health and suicide prevention legislative packages 
became law (the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental 
Health Care Improvement Act and the Veterans Comprehensive 
Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act), 
necessitating rigorous oversight. The Committee will also 
closely monitor and provide recommendations on VA's use of 
community providers and organizations to deliver mental health, 
substance use, and suicide prevention services to veterans, 
when VA cannot provide these services directly and when at-risk 
veterans are outside VA's reach. VA must ensure that such 
providers and organizations deliver culturally competent, 
evidence-based treatment. The Committee will also examine how 
women veterans are impacted by this issue, including access to 
residential treatment programs, differences in suicide risk, 
and connections with experiences affecting the women veteran 
population such as military sexual trauma and intimate partner 
violence. Given ongoing issues with timely veteran suicide data 
collection, analysis, and reporting from VA, the Committee also 
will work with VA and stakeholders to evaluate VA's use and 
dissemination of best practices in real-time veteran suicide 
surveillance. The Committee will also examine VA's substance 
use and addiction treatment capacity and programming, with a 
focus on the overlapping mental health issues.
    VA Medical Research. The Committee will oversee VA's 
medical and prosthetic research program, including its broad 
portfolio of veteran-centric research and its partnerships 
developed in 2020 to include veterans in clinical trials for 
COVID-19. VA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) was 
established in 1925 to fulfill VA's mission to ``to discover 
knowledge and create innovations that advance healthcare for 
veterans and the Nation.'' The Committee will examine how VA 
supports research into those areas most likely to enhance the 
quality and delivery of healthcare to veterans, such as the 
effects of hazardous exposures on veterans and their families, 
service-connected infertility among women veterans, and 
efficacy of medicinal cannabis to treat medical conditions 
specific and non-specific to the veteran population. In 
addition, the Committee will review whether ORD has the 
appropriate infrastructure and technology to support world-
class research to include genetic approaches to disease 
treatment and the ability to utilize the wealth of genetic data 
presented through the Million Veteran Program. The Committee 
also will conduct oversight of ORD's new authorities enacted 
through the Commander John Scott Hannon Veteran Mental Health 
Care Improvement Act, including a new precision medicine brain 
research program, the use of commercial institutional review 
boards, and improved data security requirements.
    Community Care. Eligibility for care in the community was 
significantly expanded through VA regulations designating 
access standards for the Veterans Community Care Program 
(VCCP), as mandated by the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and 
Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 
2018. As we have learned from VA's transitions between previous 
iterations of community care programs, including the Veterans 
Choice Program, roughly 18 months are needed to fully 
understand utilization and costs associated with that care. 
While VCCP has now been in place for more than 18 months, there 
are several factors that suggest the program is still maturing, 
and we still may not have a comprehensive picture of 
utilization or costs to date. The COVID-19 pandemic affected 
VA's referral patterns and veterans' utilization of community 
care. Therefore, it will take additional time for VCCP to 
stabilize. Aside from the financial implications, the Committee 
remains broadly focused on oversight regarding VA's increasing 
reliance on care in the community, which was trending upward 
year after year, even before the pandemic.
    As VA completes the transition from its Veterans Choice 
Program contracts to the Community Care Network contracts it is 
using to administer VCCP, concerns have arisen about network 
adequacy and continuity of care. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the extent to which veterans' access to care has been 
affected by the transition to these new contracts. In addition, 
the Committee will examine VA's processes for monitoring the 
performance of the third-party administrators it has contracted 
with to build networks of community providers and process 
payments to these providers. VA's administratively burdensome 
appointment scheduling process for VCCP also needs reform, and 
the Committee will continue to conduct oversight to ensure VA 
improves its administrative efficiency and adequacy in the U.S. 
territories, with particular emphasis on the highly remote 
islands within the Pacific region. Finally, the Committee will 
monitor VA's efforts to provide veterans greater insight into 
community care appointment wait times, so veterans can make 
informed decisions about whether to seek care in the community.
    Market Assessments and Asset and Infrastructure Review. 
Following the wait-time crisis in 2014, it became clear that VA 
needed to establish a continuous review process to help inform 
its make-versus-buy decisions related to health care delivery. 
A subsequent review by the Commission on Care, issued in 2016, 
found that an independent commission could be a useful 
mechanism for assessing and making recommendations related to 
VHA's infrastructure needs. Within the MISSION Act, Congress 
established mandates to carry out those two objectives, both of 
which have pending deadlines. The Committee is especially 
concerned with the status of Section 106 of the MISSION Act, 
which calls for VA to conduct market assessments. These 
assessments have largely occurred behind closed doors. The 
Committee is deeply concerned that the underlying methodology 
being used may no longer be appropriate, especially given how 
the COVID-19 pandemic has made lasting changes to the delivery 
of care and reshaped the healthcare delivery infrastructure 
across the country. These assessments are meant to feed into 
the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission required under 
Title II of the MISSION Act. The Committee will examine VA's 
assessments and their methodology.
    Caregivers. Following the expansion of the Program of 
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) in 
October 2020 to the first cohort of pre-9/11 veterans and their 
caregivers, VA has indicated this program may not be adequately 
funded. The Committee has long been skeptical of VA's budgetary 
assumptions around expansion of this program and preliminary 
data regarding new applicants seem to bear out those concerns. 
Without proper funding, pre-9/11 veterans and their caregivers 
may once again face exclusion. Aside from these budgetary 
concerns, the Committee will also closely monitor VA's 
implementation of the numerous changes it made to the program 
through regulation, as VA attempts to standardize the program 
and expand it to the second cohort of pre-9/11 veterans and 
their caregivers.
    Long-Term Services and Supports. The Committee will assess 
VA's broad array of Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) to 
determine whether veterans have access to the methods of care 
delivery that best suit their needs. Over the years, VA has 
relied primarily upon a network of institution-based services 
consisting of VA Community Living Centers (CLCs), State 
Veterans Homes (SVHs), and contracted community nursing homes; 
however, VA must do more to develop a robust network of home 
and community-based services (HCBS) to meet the growing demand 
for non-institutional care among its aging veteran population. 
The Committee will monitor VA's progress in this area. 
Moreover, given the impact COVID-19 has had on long-term care 
facilities nationwide, serious re-evaluations of this industry 
and the extent to which these facilities offer high-quality, 
safe care to residents need to occur. While many of these re-
evaluations are outside the Committee's immediate jurisdiction, 
lessons can be learned from VA's CLCs. As of early 2021, there 
have been no widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 in any of VA's 
134 CLCs, largely because of VA's extensive expertise in 
geriatrics, infection control, and emergency response. The 
Committee will work to identify VA's best practices and ensure 
they help inform the discussions had by the committees of 
jurisdiction as they undertake the much-needed review of the 
long-term care in America. The Committee will also examine VA's 
role in monitoring the quality of care and patient safety at 
SVHs, and VA's role in supporting the cost of care for veteran 
residents, along with SVH construction, renovation, and 
maintenance. The COVID-19 pandemic and the comparatively higher 
incidence of COVID-19 outbreaks at SVHs, as compared to VA's 
CLCs, suggests the need for the Committee to reexamine the 
existing scope of VA's oversight authority over these state 
facilities, and re-evaluate the nature of VA's financial 
relationship with SVHs.
    Provider Clinical Competence. In recent years, VA OIG, GAO, 
and media reports documented a string of incidents of patient 
harm within VHA medical facilities. These have called into 
question whether VHA medical facilities are carrying out all of 
their credentialing, privileging, and quality management 
responsibilities. Specifically, the Committee is concerned 
about whether VHA and its Veterans Integrated Service Networks 
(VISNs) are doing enough to ensure that their medical 
facilities are appropriately screening clinicians prior to 
hire, monitoring providers' clinical competence while they are 
employed, conducting timely investigations when concerns arise, 
and reporting serious concerns about provider performance to 
the National Practitioner Data Bank and state licensing boards, 
as required by VHA's own policy. The Committee will evaluate 
gaps in VHA policy and processes for continuously monitoring 
provider clinical competence and consider measures to improve 
these policies and processes. The Committee is also concerned 
about VA's implementation of Section 108 of the MISSION Act 
which would exclude from participation in the VCCP networks 
those providers who have lost medical licenses in any state due 
to concerns about poor quality of care, or who were removed or 
suspended from VA employment for quality of care concerns. The 
Committee will monitor VA's progress in addressing weaknesses 
in VCCP credentialing and monitoring policies.
    Prescription of Opioids and Treatment for Pain. The 
Committee will scrutinize VA's medication prescription program, 
its opioid safety initiative, substance abuse treatment 
programs, and access to alternative chronic and acute pain 
treatments. The Committee will continue to monitor access to 
medication assisted treatment at VA medical facilities, 
adherence to the opioid safety initiative and best practices 
for reducing the prescription of opioids, training of 
clinicians on safe prescribing practices, and monitor agency 
participation in states' prescription drug monitoring programs. 
The Committee will also continue its oversight work to prevent 
drug diversion within medical facilities, including reviewing 
policies for tracking and managing controlled substances and 
compliance with inspection requirements.
    COVID-19 Response. VHA was able to use its experience in 
healthcare and emergency management in its response to the 
pandemic. The Department quickly mobilized to expand inpatient 
beds and laboratory testing capacity; expanded the delivery of 
services via telehealth wherever possible; obtained temporary 
authorities that helped expedite hiring of medical personnel; 
restricted access to CLCs and spinal cord injury units (which 
serve medically vulnerable veterans); and established veteran, 
employee, and visitor screening processes at the entrances of 
all facilities. However, there were also missteps with 
acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE), and VA's overall 
management of telework for non-medical staff was haphazard and 
may have unnecessarily exposed staff to COVID-19. The response 
is by no means complete, and as the virus continues to present 
nationwide challenges, the Committee is monitoring VHA's 
efforts to ramp up vaccination of veterans, their caregivers, 
and staff. The Committee will continue to closely monitor VHA's 
response, including certain vulnerabilities that have been 
exposed by the pandemic, the long-term health of veterans who 
were diagnosed with COVID-19, and potential ongoing impacts of 
delays in care, and mental strain due to the increased stress 
and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    VA's Fourth Mission and Participation in the National 
Disaster Medical System. VA's Fourth Mission, to assist federal 
and civilian partners in the event of an emergency, received 
relatively little attention before the pandemic. This role has 
proven critical as the American healthcare system endured the 
catastrophic impact of COVID-19, while at the same time, rural 
hospitals and clinics continue to close at an alarming rate. 
The current process for VA to pursue a ``Fourth Mission'' is 
overly bureaucratic, requiring the approval of multiple federal 
agencies. Congress must reconsider the current structure of the 
disaster response framework to reflect the sheer scale of VHA's 
potential. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the current 
national response structure will not meet the needs of states, 
localities, tribes, and territories when the next public health 
emergency or natural disaster occurs. VHA has had to take on a 
larger role to compensate for DoD's absence by taking on 
mission assignments from FEMA that DoD has refused. At the same 
time, the Mission Assignments DoD is accepting are not 
coordinated with VHA. DoD has refused to coordinate efforts 
with VHA even in areas with overlapping Mission Assignments. 
The Committee will review potential measures that will elevate 
VHA's role to the one DoD is abdicating. This may require the 
creation of a dedicated response program, budget, and personnel 
to make up response teams and a potential restructuring of 
federal disaster medical response systems, which will need to 
be discussed and coordinated with other committees of 
jurisdiction. Additionally, the Committee will review potential 
partnerships with the Indian Health Service and Public Health 
Service as well as increases of deployable nursing personnel to 
staff the mobile medical units VHA already possesses.
    Reproductive Health. Providing greater access to 
reproductive services through VA ensures veterans can have a 
full quality of life that they may otherwise be denied. The 
Committee will review proposed measures concerning veterans 
access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. The 
Committee will further examine proposed steps to address the 
needs of women veterans whose conditions prevent a full-term 
pregnancy as well as increase access to contraception. In 
addition, the Committee will further examine improving maternal 
health outcomes, including maternal mental health, and maternal 
mortality and morbidity.
    Health Equity. On almost all available metrics, racial and 
minority veterans have lower life expectancies and higher 
prevalence of diseases than white veterans. The impact of 
COVID-19 on communities of color has exacerbated these existing 
disparities. In 2020, racial and ethnic minority veterans made 
up 22% of the total veteran population. VA projects that number 
to reach 35% by 2040. Furthermore, the lack of data on LGBTQ+ 
veterans hinders the ability to address their unique health 
needs. All veterans must have access to culturally competent 
healthcare from the very system charged with caring for them. 
The types of services, the competencies VA develops, and the 
manner of outreach it conducts must meet the unique needs of 
its patients. This is particularly true as VA works to 
establish relationships with tribal communities and increase 
access to care through partnerships with Indian Health Service, 
Urban Indian Organizations, and Tribal Health Systems. This is 
crucially important as American Indians and Alaska Natives 
serve in the military at a higher rate than any other cohort 
yet are the least likely to use VA healthcare. VA should be the 
leader in American healthcare that can dynamically meet the 
needs of an increasingly diverse and intersectional patient 
population. The Committee is also committed to addressing the 
data and research gaps that make race health inequities among 
minority veterans so difficult to address. Furthermore, the 
pandemic has also illustrated the need to ensure VA is 
implementing language inclusivity in its written materials and 
educating personnel on the necessary cultural competencies for 
working with tribal veteran communities and communities whom VA 
has historically excluded. The Committee will review proposals 
to improve the health status of minority veterans. The 
Committee will examine VA's fulfilling of its role in the 
federal government's relationships with tribes.
    Increasing the Visibility of Women Veterans. The two 
million women who have served in the U.S. military comprise the 
fastest growing subpopulation of both the military and veteran 
populations. In fact, women comprise 10% of the current veteran 
population and 17% of currently serving military personnel. The 
women veteran population is also increasingly diverse, and 
oversight should take an intersectional approach to serve women 
veterans who are also minority veterans, LGBTQ+ veterans, 
Native veterans, or otherwise underserved. It is critical that 
Congress promote inclusivity and equitable access to 
comprehensive healthcare, benefits, education and economic 
opportunity, and other federal resources for women veterans, 
particularly at VA. In 2020, Congress passed the Deborah 
Sampson Act. The bill was the most comprehensive legislation 
serving women veterans in more than a decade, and its 
implementation will require close oversight by the Committee. 
The Committee's examination of issues impacting women veterans 
includes, but is not limited to, four key policy priorities 
areas for VA: 1) Ensuring a welcoming and inclusive VA, 
including eradicating sexual harassment and assault; 2) 
Providing equitable access to VA healthcare, including gender-
specific care, such as mammography, gynecology and obstetrics; 
3) Improving economic opportunities for women veterans and 
their families; and 4) Guaranteeing that women veterans have 
equal access to VA benefits, including education, disability, 
and pension benefits.
    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) 
Veterans. LGBTQ+ people are represented in a higher proportion 
in the military than in the general population and have been 
both historically and systematically discriminated against 
during their services by policies, including ``Don't Ask-Don't 
Tell'' and the prior Administration's transgender service ban. 
Lesbian and bisexual women are overrepresented among women 
veterans, and transgender veterans frequently use the women's 
health services either by choice or to meet specific 
preventative health needs. However, LGBTQ+ veterans are not 
mentioned in title 38, and VA has no single entity for 
addressing their needs. The Committee will examine necessary 
steps to address inequities for LGBQT+ veterans.
    Access to Care for Veterans with Toxic Exposure. Veterans, 
particularly those of Iraq and Afghanistan, are increasingly 
reporting serious health conditions that they believe were 
caused by exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards in 
the military. The Committee will work to provide a pathway to 
care in the VA healthcare system for these and future 
generations of veterans and improve research into the long-term 
effects of toxic exposure.
    Access to Care for Homeless Veterans. The Committee remains 
concerned about the health and well-being of veterans who are 
homeless or insecurely housed. The Committee is also concerned 
that the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused 
more veterans to be at-risk of homelessness, which could result 
in a host of negative physical and mental health impacts. The 
Committee will conduct oversight to ensure that the VA 
healthcare system is accessible and responsive to the needs of 
homeless or at-risk veterans and providing wraparound services 
and support to address underlying factors that may lead to 
homelessness.
    Telehealth. The VA healthcare system has been a long-time 
leader with respect to telehealth. That afforded VA a leg up in 
expanding opportunities for virtual care during the COVID-19 
pandemic, which allowed VA to continue providing needed care to 
veteran patients while reducing exposure concerns and other 
risks. The Committee will examine the role of telehealth in the 
VA healthcare system to ensure veterans are given the option to 
choose the care setting that best meets their needs and that 
access, outcomes, and satisfaction rates for telehealth 
services are commensurate with in-person services. The 
Committee will also work to address connectivity concerns for 
veterans in rural and remote areas and those who are homebound 
so that they have the same access to telehealth as other 
veterans.
    Workforce. Ensuring that VA employs a robust workforce of 
well-qualified and highly trained clinicians and support staff 
is key to ensuring timely access to high-quality care for 
veterans. Nevertheless, VA has historically had significant 
recruitment and retention challenges. Those challenges are 
exacerbated by multiple, complex hiring authorities that VA 
uses to staff medical facilities. Despite that, VA has made 
tremendous progress during the COVID-19 pandemic to shorten the 
hiring process and on-board needed medical staff. The Committee 
will evaluate that work to determine how it can be sustained 
and consider other action to address VA staffing shortages 
where they may exist.
    Emergency Care. In 1999, the Veterans Millennium Health 
Care and Benefits Act (commonly known as the ``Mill Bill'') 
established criteria to govern VA's reimbursement of costs 
related to emergency care provided to veterans in non-VA 
facilities for non-service-connected conditions. Those criteria 
are outdated and increasingly complicated for veterans, VA 
staff, and emergency care providers outside of the VA 
healthcare system to understand and administer, which has led 
to a backlog of emergency care claims and resulted in costly 
judicial proceedings. The Committee will work to simplify and 
modernize these criteria to ensure the appropriate provision of 
care to veterans in crisis and timely and appropriate 
reimbursements to emergency care providers in the community.
    Foreign Medical Program. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of VA's Foreign Medical Program to ensure that 
veterans residing outside of the United States continue to 
receive needed care for service-connected conditions and that 
the foreign medical providers treating them receive timely, 
appropriate reimbursement from VA for their services.
    Eligibility for Care in the VA Healthcare System. The 
current VA enrollment priority group system was created in 
1996. Veteran eligibility for VA care has been minimally 
changed since then, despite the fact that military service, the 
veteran population, the delivery of care, and the VA healthcare 
system have changed significantly and many of the most pressing 
issues facing veterans today concern eligibility. The Committee 
will examine the appropriateness of the current eligibility 
system for today's veteran population, particularly those with 
toxic exposure and character of discharge concerns to ensure 
that all veterans can receive the care that they need.
    Construction. The Committee will continue to monitor those 
construction projects designed or commenced before the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) involvement through 
completion. The Committee will also monitor the relationship 
between VA and USACE to ensure cooperation and coordination 
between the agencies and improve VA's activation of newly built 
hospitals.
    Leasing. Leasing land and buildings for new VHA facilities 
is fraught with delays and challenges. Leasing is carried out 
through a complicated interplay of VA Central Office, the 
Government Services Administration, local offices, and real 
estate broker contractors. Jurisdictional battles within VA, 
poor management of broker contracts, and previous delays in 
congressional authorization have contributed to inefficiencies 
and delays in the system. The Committee will continue to 
uncover the root causes of these problems and well as explore 
options that allow for expeditious authorization of new 
projects.

              Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

    GAO High Risk List. VA is responsible for addressing three 
areas on GAO's High Risk List: federal disability programs 
(added in 2003), VA health care (added in 2015), and VA 
acquisition management (added in 2019). Within these three 
issue areas, GAO has further identified weaknesses that include 
ambiguous policies and inconsistent processes, inadequate 
oversight and accountability, severe problems with information 
technology, inadequate training for VA staff, and shortfalls in 
effective acquisition of medical and surgical supplies. The 
Committee is concerned that root causes identified by GAO have 
yet to be appropriately addressed, action plans to address high 
risk designations are not sufficiently developed, and VA 
leadership's professed commitment to addressing all three areas 
on GAO's High Risk List has not been operationalized. 
Similarly, the Committee will examine agency plans to address 
the priority recommendations of the VA OIG.
    VA Inspector General Budget and Performance. The VA OIG 
provides vital oversight. However, there are concerns as to how 
VA uses the recommendations of the OIG to increase efficiency 
and effectiveness in providing services to veterans. The 
Committee will examine the OIG's current workload to confirm 
that the OIG has the resources to investigate hotline 
complaints, congressional requests, and conduct routine 
inspections and audits. The Committee will also closely monitor 
whether OIG is granted access to VA documents, information, and 
employees when requested, and act to ensure the OIG has the 
access and authority to conduct its investigations, 
inspections, and audits.
    Agency Accountability and Transparency. Veterans deserve an 
accountable agency that functions in a transparent manner. 
However, the agency has seen shortfalls in this area, such as 
the continuing backlog in fulfilling requests under the Freedom 
of Information Act. The Committee will examine VA's adherence 
to federal laws regarding political appointments and vacancy of 
confirmed positions, government ethics, and the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, as well as government transparency 
laws.
    Whistleblowers. Whistleblowers continue to be a vital 
source of information. Protecting an employee's legal right to 
communicate with Congress and report alleged violations of 
laws, rules or regulations, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and 
safety issues is essential for effective oversight. The 
Committee will examine the implementation of relevant laws and 
requirements, including the implementation and operations of 
the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.
    Racial Disparities in the Workforce. VA has not made enough 
progress toward reducing racial, gender, and other disparities 
among the Department's management, as well as addressing 
challenges faced by many classes of employees protected by law. 
The Department could bolster diversity and inclusion efforts by 
supporting the development and implementation of a robust 
Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, as well as taking other 
steps to address the challenges facing protected employee 
classes. The Committee will examine these plans and progress 
toward implementation.
    VA Procurement and Acquisition. VA continues to spend tens 
of billions of dollars annually for the procurement of 
pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical supplies, prosthetic 
devices, information technology, construction, and services. 
However, VA faces long-standing and serious organizational and 
workforce challenges in acquisition and procurement resulting 
in inefficiencies and shortages. The consequences of the 
problems have become stark during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
Committee will continue to examine these challenges and the 
agency's plans for improvement to ensure adequate supplies are 
available during regional and national emergencies.
    Preventing Improper Payments and Ensuring Financial 
Accountability. Independent assessments by the OIG detail 
specific shortfalls by VA in complying with federal financial 
management laws. The Department's financial systems remain 
antiquated. In addition, billions of dollars of agency spending 
are classified as improper payments, millions of which 
constitute overpayments and underpayments. The Committee will 
examine VA financial management, compliance with relevant laws, 
and its plans for improvement.
    VA Police. The OIG found that governance of the VA police 
program at medical facilities was inadequate. VA lacks central 
oversight of its police programs and mechanisms to prevent or 
address civil rights violations, abuse, or misconduct caused by 
VA police. The OIG also found significant understaffing and 
inadequate staffing models at VA medical facilities. The 
Committee will conduct oversight to determine whether remedies 
are needed to bring greater accountability to the VA police 
force, prevent conflicts of interest, and ensure existing 
avenues of redress are functioning appropriately for those 
whose rights have been violated by VA police.
    Sexual Harassment at VA. VA has one of the highest rates of 
employees experiencing sexual harassment in the federal 
government. However, agency leadership has not fully addressed 
this rampant problem. The Department should take action to 
prevent and address sexual harassment, facilitate an 
environment in which victims feel comfortable reporting sexual 
harassment, empower employees and supervisors to intervene when 
sexual harassment is witnessed or reported, and hold VA leaders 
accountable for non-action. The Committee will continue to 
oversee VA's actions in this area.
    Employee Adverse Actions and Federal Labor Protections. 
VA's workforce deserves the ability to bring legitimate 
grievances forward without risk of retaliation, and have the 
assurance that laws governing federal workers are applied fully 
and fairly. However, collective bargaining rights for VA 
employees have been undercut, diminishing these rights. 
Further, many VA employees, such as registered nurses, 
physicians, dentists, and physician assistants, fall under an 
exception to Title 5 collective bargaining rights and therefore 
do not receive the same workforce protections as other federal 
employees. The Committee will continue its oversight of the 
collective bargaining processes that are in place with labor 
partners. The Committee will also review disciplinary actions 
taken against VA employees, to ensure they are completed fairly 
and in accordance with current law. The Committee will also 
review whether VA employees subject to adverse actions receive 
due process--including access to representation
    Payment of Community Providers. VA continues to struggle 
with its failure to promptly pay community providers. This is 
caused in part by a failure to implement updates to its 
software, reliance on dozens of decentralized claims processing 
centers, complicated emergency care procedures and regulations, 
and inefficient manual adjudication processes. The Committee 
will continue to evaluate VA's payment deficiencies and oversee 
actions to improve efficiency.
    Reform of Bureaucracy. The Committee will analyze the 
structure and performance of VA offices based on data and 
outcomes focusing on management functions (human resources, 
supply chain, IT, finance) and headquarters staff offices (such 
as general counsel, enterprise integration, veterans' 
experience, human resources/administration, public affairs) 
which have largely escaped scrutiny in the past. The Committee 
will also consider holding hearings with individual offices to 
assess performance, and sending recurring, uniform letters to 
all such offices to collect performance data.

                Subcommittee on Technology Modernization

    Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM). VA signed a 
contract in May 2018 to procure the Cerner Millennium EHR 
system. The implementation is expected to take at least ten 
years, cost over $16 billion, and be interoperable with the 
Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) 
Genesis system and community providers' systems. VA deployed 
the first of at least two capability sets at the Initial 
Operating Capability sites on October 24, 2020. The Committee 
will continue to monitor all aspects of implementing EHRM, 
including governance and accountability, cost, schedule, 
clinical impact, training, testing and evaluation, and 
interoperability.
    IT Infrastructure/Enterprise Investments. VA information 
technology (IT) has been on GAO's High RiskList since 2015. 
Many modernization initiatives are underway but appear to be 
siloed among individual projects (e.g. Electronic Health Record 
Modernization (EHRM), Financial Management Business 
Transformation (FMBT), and Defense Medical Logistics Standard 
Support (DMLSS)) and not sufficiently coordinated or evaluated 
on an enterprise-wide level despite dependencies between all 
programs. The Office of Enterprise Integration is attempting to 
address these shortcomings but its role is not wholly defined. 
The Committee will evaluate modernization plans to assess how 
they address GAO's concerns, as well as gauging whether VA's 
modernization efforts address enterprise-wide technology 
deficits. The Committee will also evaluate the presence of 
``shadow IT,'' which is the use of systems, devices, software, 
applications without approval, and VA's plans to address it.
    Veteran Health Portal. VA has relied on a veteran-facing 
health portal, called My HealtheVet, to connect veterans with 
their care. The portal enables veterans who receive care at VA 
facilities to manage appointments, order prescription refills, 
and communicate with their care team, among other capabilities. 
VA's transition to Cerner Millennium has brought the future of 
My HealtheVet into question, as Cerner has its own patient 
portal, branded MY VAHealth. The Committee will monitor VA's 
decision-making processes to ensure, regardless of which 
product is ultimately selected, that considerations of cost, 
clinical impact, opportunities to realize improvements, and 
efficiencies are included, and that veterans' needs are being 
met.
    Scheduling System Acquisition. A new scheduling solution 
has been touted as crucial to improve VA's wait times. In 
January 2019, VA announced a decision to not move forward with 
its Epic Medical Appointment Scheduling System pilot that was 
described as very successful, and instead acquired a Cerner 
scheduling system, which was to be implemented on an 
accelerated schedule independent of EHRM. In August 2020, VA 
successfully deployed its new Cerner Centralized Scheduling 
Solution (CSS) in Columbus, OH. Following that implementation, 
VA halted future deployments of CSS, presumably due to the 
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. VA officials have provided little 
information about any plans for future expedited deployments of 
CSS. The Committee will assess the VA's decision-making 
process, plans for CSS implementation across the enterprise, 
and its impacts on the EHRM program.
    Legacy System and VistA Sustainment. VA's significant 
modernization activities require that it plan for the 
sustainment and eventual retirement of certain information 
technology legacy systems, including most elements of the 
VistAsystem, which is a backbone system that supports many 
other systems. Because the EHRM implementation is expected to 
take over a decade to complete, VA will need to sustain modules 
of the existing VistA system at a projected cost of nearly $20 
billion over ten years. VA has yet to produce a comprehensive 
plan for the management of VistA and other legacy IT systems. 
The Committee will monitor efforts to create sustainment plans, 
particularly how VA manages VistA during EHRM implementation.
    Financial Management System Modernization. VA continues to 
move forward with the FMBT project, although significant work 
remains. The project, estimated to cost $2.3 billion over ten 
years, will replace VA's legacy financial management, internal 
accounting, acquisition management, and related systems. FMBT 
was deployed at a limited number of NCA sites in 2020. The 
Committee will continue to monitor the program as it moves 
through implementation. The Committee prioritizes achieving a 
successful implementation of the system as quickly as possible 
to demonstrate its viability.
    IT Governance. In 2002, VAIT was centralized under the 
Chief Information Officer (CIO), and in 2007, the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (OIT) was 
created. This structure has left various administrations within 
VA without dedicated IT resources and funding and led to 
internal lobbying for projects being prioritized. The 
complicated dynamic between OIT, VA' three administrations, and 
program offices has created some ambiguity regarding 
``ownership'' of certain IT infrastructure updates/upgrades. 
The Committee will evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of the 
centralized IT structure and its resourcing. The Committee will 
also continue oversight of other governance structures, 
including the Federal Electronic Health Record Management 
(FEHRM) program office.
    IT Workforce Investments.VA has lost internal capacity to 
develop and manage its technology portfolio and has become 
heavily reliant on contractor support. VA officials have plans 
to staff up program offices to address some of this deficit. 
However, it is not clear if there is a comprehensive workforce 
plan and whether future budget submissions will address this 
shortfall. The impact of temporary hiring during the COVID-19 
pandemic also needs to be assessed. The Committee will monitor 
VA's efforts to rebuild its technology expertise and assess 
whether workforce staffing plans will meet technology 
implementation needs and modernization plans.
    Cybersecurity and Privacy. The acquisition of new IT 
systems by VA, and recent high-profile breaches within the 
federal government, highlight questions about cybersecurity and 
data management. VA has also received numerous repeat material 
weaknesses in Federal Information Security Management Act 
(FISMA) audits over the last several years. The implementation 
of EHRM has implications for the protection of veteran health 
information and will require further assessment for cyber risks 
due to the system's interoperable environment. VA has yet to 
deliver a cybersecurity strategy for EHRM to the Committee. The 
Committee will monitor and review the development of strategies 
and governance plans related to cybersecurity, especially as 
the Department expands its work with third party hardware and 
software vendors.
    Data Management. VA has yet to develop a comprehensive data 
management strategy that will identify gaps in VA's data and 
data management infrastructure. VA's strategy should include 
how data is stored, transferred, and accessed by disparate 
systems, and by specific user roles (e.g. frontline clinicians. 
researchers, benefit administrators, etc.). There are also 
considerations regarding what type of data VA collects, 
including long-standing gaps in VA's demographic data, 
specifically related to race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ identity. 
This data is crucial in the care and treatment of veterans in 
these populations and in the evaluation of possible gaps in 
healthcare and benefits for those veterans. The Committee will 
conduct oversight of VA's policies and how they are being 
applied, especially related to what data is, and is not, 
collected, and how that data is being used to inform VA's 
policies.
    Technology Equity. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted, 
and exacerbated, the digital divide (the gap between those who 
have access to technology, especially broadband internet, and 
those who do not). VA has relied heavily on tele-technologies 
to facilitate services such as primary/specialty care 
appointments and scheduling appeals hearings during the 
pandemic. However, those services are limited when veterans do 
not have regular and reliable access to appropriate hardware 
and internet resources, including broadband connectivity. The 
Committee will evaluate VA's plans to address the digital 
divide, especially as it pertains to racial minority, low 
income, tribal, and other underserved veteran populations.

                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                                  House of Representatives,
                                                    Washington, DC.
Matters under the Committee's Federal Budget Jurisdiction
     Economic and Budget Outlook. Oversight hearings 
and other activities with various Administration officials to 
discuss the President's budget proposals, current economic and 
budget conditions, and limits on the public debt.
Matters under the Committee's Tax Jurisdiction
     Tax Reform. Hearings and other activities related 
to reforming the tax code to create a more equitable tax code 
that provides for appropriate tax relief for low- and moderate-
income families.
     Priorities of the Department of the Treasury. 
Hearings with the Treasury Secretary and other Administration 
officials to receive information regarding the Administration's 
tax-related priorities for the 117th Congress. Specifically, 
hearings to discuss and consider legislative and administrative 
proposals contained in the President's fiscal year 2022 and 
2023 budgets.
     Tax Provisions Contained in COVID-related Public 
Laws. Hearings and other activities regarding implementation of 
and provisions in public laws designed to address the COVID-19 
pandemic, including: the Families First Coronavirus Response 
Act, Public Law 116 127; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116 136; Paycheck Protection 
Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, Public Law 116 139; 
and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116 
260.
     Infrastructure. Hearings and other activities 
related to robust investment in American infrastructure 
directed at modernizing how Americans travel, how the American 
economy grows, and creating good jobs and meaningful economic 
development at the local, state, and federal levels. 
Examination of provisions within the Committee's jurisdiction 
to create jobs in a green economy and invest in underdeveloped 
areas, including bond-financing programs and tax credit 
incentives.
     Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Operations/
Administration of Tax Laws. Oversight of major IRS programs, 
including enforcement, collection, taxpayer services, returns 
processing, and information systems. Continue oversight over 
major operating areas of the agency to ensure the nation's tax 
laws are being administered in a fair and impartial manner, 
including implementation of the Taxpayer First Act, Public Law 
116 25, and issuance of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). 
Consider analyses and reports provided to Congress by the IRS 
National Taxpayer Advocate, Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration (TIGTA), and the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO). Oversight of IRS funding and staffing levels 
needed to provide taxpayer assistance, enforce Federal tax laws 
effectively and efficiently, and modernize IRS information 
technology systems. Evaluate tax return filing seasons, 
including returns processing, availability of taxpayer 
services, and the revision and issuance of forms and guidance. 
Examine proposals and programs to address the ``tax gap'' and 
improve tax law compliance.
     Tax-Exempt Organizations. Oversight of Federal tax 
laws, regulations, and filing requirements that affect tax-
exempt organizations. Evaluate overall IRS efforts to assist 
and monitor tax-exempt organizations, identify areas of non-
compliance, prevent abuse, and ensure timely disclosure to the 
public about tax-exempt organization activities and finances.
     Tax Code Simplification. Oversight of tax code 
complexity, particularly for individuals, with the goal of 
legislative or administrative simplification. Review areas 
where taxpayers and professional return preparers have 
difficulty, including areas where they make the most errors, 
and consider solutions. Evaluate simplification of information 
returns to assist taxpayers in determining taxable income.
     Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Oversight of the 
refundable Federal income tax credits designed to assist low- 
to moderate-income working individuals and families. Evaluate 
EITC participation rates and administration of the credit.
     Tax Scams and Improper Payments. Oversight of the 
latest tax scams and tax fraud activities with a goal of 
protecting taxpayers and preventing identity theft, including 
oversight of resources available to taxpayers that were victims 
of identity theft involving unemployment compensation. Examine 
IRS programs designed to identify and remedy identity theft and 
tax fraud. Consult and review analyses of GAO and TIGTA on this 
subject.
     Federal Excise Taxes and Related Trust Funds. 
Oversight review of Federal excise taxes, including credits and 
refunds, and the trust funds financed by these taxes.
     Pensions and Retirement Security. Oversight review 
of the financial condition, operations, and governance of the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), including the 
financial exposure of the PBGC.
     Reducing Inequities. Oversight review of the 
implementation of Federal tax laws by the IRS to address issues 
of Federal tax inequities based on race, color, ethnicity, 
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, 
age, or national origin.
     Mandatory Audit Program. Oversight of legislative 
proposals and tax law related to Presidential and Vice-
Presidential mandatory tax audits.
Matters under the Committee's Health Jurisdiction
     Health Reform. Hearings and other activities 
related to reform of the health care system to reduce costs, 
lower premiums, expand choices, and ensure access to affordable 
coverage.
     Health Provisions Contained in the COVID-19 
Response. Hearings and other activities related to the 
implementation of the national response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. This oversight includes review of, among other 
priorities: inequalities in COVID-19 infections and responses; 
the intended effect of funds provided by the Federal government 
on helping test, treat, and vaccinate the American people and 
helping the economy recover and reopen; and the effect of 
COVID-19 in health care settings, including nursing homes.
     Health Inequities. Oversight of inequities in 
geography, physical environments, clinical care resources and 
networks, and health behaviors--along with social, political, 
cultural, and economic factors--that influence health and 
inequities in health.
     Priorities of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. Oversight hearings with the Health and Human Services 
Secretary to discuss priorities for the 117th Congress and 
concerns related to the delivery of health services and payment 
under Medicare. Specifically, hearings to discuss and consider 
legislative and administrative proposals contained in the 
President's fiscal year 2022 budget.
     Health Provisions Contained in the Affordable Care 
Act (ACA). Hearings and other activities regarding various 
health provisions contained in the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, and the Health Care 
and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152, 
known collectively as the ACA. Oversight and other activities 
relating to ACA health provisions, including its changes to the 
annual updates to Medicare Fee-For-Service payment rates, 
changes to Medicare Advantage's payment rates, benefit changes 
to fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage, and the Center for 
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
     Medicare Part A and Part B (Fee-for-Service 
Providers). Oversight of Medicare to ensure efficient use of 
resources, quality of care, and access to providers for 
Medicare beneficiaries. Specific topics include: adequacy and 
appropriateness of provider payments, including incentive 
payments and implementation of reforms to physician payment 
systems; ownership trends; program benefits; patient out-of-
pocket costs; workforce supply; treatment of specific 
populations, such as people with disabilities and low-income 
beneficiaries; social determinants of health and health 
disparities; prescription drug costs; quality improvement 
efforts; and waste, fraud, and abuse activities.
     Medicare Advantage. Oversight of Medicare 
Advantage health plans, including: enrollment; benefit 
packages; quality; beneficiary choice; risk adjustment coding 
and payment accuracy; and submission of Encounter Data and 
health risk assessments.
     Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans). 
Oversight of the Medicare prescription drug program, including: 
costs of and access to prescription drugs; beneficiary premiums 
and cost-sharing; the risk sharing structure and reinsurance; 
improvements to the low-income subsidy program; impacts of 
recently enacted legislation and regulations on the Part D 
program; access to retiree prescription drug coverage; and 
negotiation in Medicare.
     Medicare Trust Fund Stewardship. Oversight of 
program changes on the Medicare Trust Funds; premium and copay 
levels; provider payments; benefit design; and improvements to 
the program's long-term sustainability.
     CMS Administration. Oversight of Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), including: issuance of 
regulations and their impact on Medicare beneficiaries and 
providers; the adequacy and use of CMS' budget and staff; 
contracting activities; communications with beneficiaries; 
adherence to the Administrative Procedure Act; and general 
agency accountability.
     Private Health Insurance Coverage. Oversight and 
review of private health coverage, including: cost, access, and 
subsidies to purchase insurance; benefit design, coverage 
options, pooling mechanisms, and employer-sponsored benefits; 
group health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act (COBRA); the Health Coverage Tax Credit 
(HCTC); health savings accounts, flexible spending 
arrangements, and qualified small employer health reimbursement 
arrangements; options to reduce the cost of health coverage, 
expand coverage, and address the rate of increase in health 
care costs; the impact of the ACA and related regulations on 
those with private insurance, the uninsured, employers, the 
economy, and state budgets; and adherence to the Administrative 
Procedures Act.
     Surprise Billing. Oversight of the surprise 
billing ban that was included in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, to ensure 
consumers are protected from paying more than their appropriate 
level of cost-sharing based on their insurer's in-network rates 
for care and to ensure that the arbitration process is 
implemented fairly and in a timely manner.
     Prescription Drugs. Oversight of the landscape of 
federal policies that can be changed to lower prescription drug 
prices and improve domestic manufacturing and supply chains 
including tax incentives, payment incentives, misaligned 
incentives among various entities in the health system, and 
ways to directly lower patient costs, overall costs in health 
care, and costs to taxpayers.
     Skilled Nursing Facilities. Oversight of the 
quality of care delivered to nursing home patients; infection 
control and reporting (particularly related to COVID-19); 
patient safety; ownership trends; cost transparency; and equity 
concerns.
Matters under the Committee's Worker and Family Support Jurisdiction
     Worker Support. Review proposals designed to 
better assist workers with families, including childcare, paid 
family and medical leave, and other supports to help 
individuals enter the workforce, retain employment, and move up 
the economic ladder.
     Unemployment Compensation. Provide oversight of 
the nation's unemployment compensation benefits and financing 
systems, including the temporary programs enacted during the 
COVID-19 pandemic and proposals for short- and long-term 
reform.
     Child Welfare. Provide oversight of the nation's 
child welfare programs, including foster care, adoption 
assistance, and child and family service programs under Titles 
IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. Review state efforts 
to promote adoption, provide prevention services, decrease the 
inappropriate use of congregate care settings, strengthen 
family connections, and successfully address the health and 
educational needs of foster children.
     Home Visiting. Provide oversight of the Maternal, 
Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program (MIECHV) and 
review proposals to strengthen it and build on its success in 
improving child and maternal outcomes.
     At-Risk Children, Adults, and Families. Review 
proposals in the Committee's jurisdiction to assist custodial 
and non-custodial parents, reduce child poverty, and protect 
at-risk seniors and people with disabilities.
Matters under the Committee's Social Security Jurisdiction
     Adequacy of Benefits and Options for Strengthening 
Social Security. Examine the role of Social Security benefits 
in ensuring economic security for retirees, persons with 
career-ending disabilities, and survivors, and in reducing 
disparities in economic security for disadvantaged groups 
including people of color, women, and others. Examine how well 
the program is meeting the needs of current and future 
beneficiaries and financing challenges facing Social Security. 
In addition, compare options to strengthen Social Security.
     Ability of Social Security Administration (SSA) to 
Serve the Public and Effectively Administer Benefits. Examine 
SSA's ability to serve the public, including: the effects of 
the COVID-19 pandemic on SSA services, the safety and 
accessibility of SSA services during the pandemic; office 
closures and other barriers to assistance, including barriers 
created by the COVID-19 pandemic; and the problems of backlogs 
and service delays, including delays in the disability 
application and appeals process. Examine SSA's ability to 
identify, prevent, and reduce inequities in access to services 
on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual 
orientation, gender identity, disability, age, and national 
origin. Evaluate SSA's ability to prevent errors and detect 
fraud. Examine the adequacy of SSA's administrative budget.
     Access to Earned Disability Benefits. Examine the 
extent to which SSA's policies and procedures ensure due 
process and access to benefits for individuals who meet 
eligibility criteria in the law, including potential racial 
disparities in disability adjudication.
     Implementation of Recent Legislation. Oversee 
SSA's implementation of recent legislation, including reforms 
in the collection and distribution of death data, reforms in 
the representative payee program, and the agency's role in 
assisting the Treasury Department with implementation of EIPs. 
Oversee the Congressionally mandated death data report from the 
National Academy of Public Administration.
     Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Identity 
Theft, and Telephone Scams. Oversee SSA's investments in 
information technology, including its modernization program, 
cybersecurity at SSA, and the prevention of identity theft 
involving Social Security numbers. Monitor robocalls and 
imposter scams involving SSA.
Matters under the Committee's Trade Jurisdiction
     Trade Negotiations. Fully exercise Congress' 
constitutional role and oversight responsibilities regarding 
existing and new trade negotiations. Ensure the 
Administration's compliance with statutory Congressional 
notification, consultation, and transparency requirements for 
all trade negotiations, with particular focus on: addressing 
long-standing structural and competitively consequential 
challenges with China; the European Union; Asia-Pacific; and 
other relevant trading partners or topical issues. Oversight of 
the Administration's approach to negotiations with the United 
Kingdom and Kenya.
     Enforcement. Oversight of enforcement of trade 
agreements, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
(USMCA), other bilateral and regional free trade agreements, 
and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements, to hold U.S. 
trading partners accountable and render commitments secured 
from trading partners meaningful. Oversight of the 
implementation of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement 
Act of 2015 to ensure that the enforcement tools in the bill 
are being fully utilized, particularly with respect to evasion 
of trade remedies, forced labor, intellectual property rights 
violations, currency policy, and violations of trade 
agreements. Particular oversight of enforcement activities 
related to China's WTO commitments, as well as the continuing 
barriers imposed by other countries and economies, including 
digital services taxes. Oversight of the Administration on 
compliance with U.S. trade remedy laws, as well as enforcement 
related to U.S. intellectual property rights, import safety, 
and illegal transshipment.
     Implemented Trade Agreements and Agreements in the 
Process of Implementation. Oversight of implemented agreements 
with: Colombia; Panama; Peru; Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (CAFTA DR); 
Oman; Bahrain; Singapore; Chile; Australia; Morocco; Jordan; 
Mexico and Canada (USMCA); and Israel. Oversight of implemented 
elements of: the agreement with Korea and provisions of the 
2018 renegotiation; the U.S.-Japan Phase One Trade Agreement; 
the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement; and the U.S.-China 
Phase One Trade Agreement that trading partners are still in 
the process of implementing. Continued analysis of the impact 
of these trade agreements for American workers, manufacturers, 
businesses, farmers, and ranchers to identify provisions of 
such trade agreements that should be improved or updated.
     Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Oversight and 
review of the procedures set forth in the American 
Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016, including ensuring 
that the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Executive 
Branch perform their roles within the timeframe set forth in 
the bill, maintain an open and transparent process, and produce 
a legislative package of noncontroversial provisions for 
consideration by the House.
     Impact of Trade on U.S. Job Creation. Oversight of 
the impact of trade on U.S. jobs, wages, communities, and 
economic growth or displacement, with particular attention to 
whether trade has a disparate impact on underprivileged groups, 
including disparities based on economic status, race, color, 
ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
disability, age, or national origin.
     Equities and Inclusion in Trade. Oversight of the 
ways in which all trade policies and programs promote equitable 
outcomes and inclusive participation from underserved and 
disadvantaged groups in policymaking processes, data collection 
and analysis, and accessing benefits. Oversight of trade 
disparities based on socioeconomic status, race, color, 
ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
disability, age, or national origin.
     Trade Remedies. Oversight and promotion of the 
enforcement of the trade remedy laws, in compliance with the 
legal and evidentiary requirements established by Congress. 
Oversight of implementation of the Enforce and Protect Act of 
2015 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to address 
trade remedy evasion and ensure CBP's compliance with the law 
as written. Support of Administration efforts to defend the use 
of the criteria established by Congress to identify non-market 
economy countries for the purposes of antidumping cases.
     China. Oversight of Administration strategies to 
respond to or counteract continued high level of government 
intervention in China's economy. Oversight of systemic problems 
in U.S.-China trade relations, including issues related to 
China's compliance with its commitments and adoption of norms 
reflected in the rules of the WTO; labor and environmental 
standards; consistent lack of protection and enforcement of 
U.S. intellectual property rights; excess production capacity 
for steel, aluminum, and many other commodities; indigenous 
innovation requirements; use of subsidies to advance industrial 
policies; and currency policies. Oversight of enforcement 
issues including ensuring that implementation of U.S. trade 
remedy laws appropriately accounts for China's state 
intervention in its economy. Oversight of Administrative and 
legislative efforts to address China's use of forced labor.
     Preference Programs. Oversight, reform, and 
renewal of major U.S. trade preference programs, including the 
Generalized System of Preferences and the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act, that incentivize more equitable economic 
outcomes and benefits for disadvantaged groups.
     Labor. Oversight and promotion of Administration 
efforts to enforce labor obligations that promote more 
equitable outcomes and benefits for workers in U.S. trade 
agreements, including the rapid response labor enforcement 
mechanism in the USMCA, preference programs, and the ban on 
imports produced as a result of forced labor. Continued 
oversight of U.S. trade agreements under which a petition has 
been filed alleging that the country is not complying with the 
labor obligations in the agreement, including Colombia, Peru, 
Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.
     Environment. Oversight and promotion of 
Administration efforts to enforce environmental obligations in 
U.S. trade agreements, including the U.S.-Mexico Environment 
Cooperation and Customs Verification Agreement. Oversight of 
efforts to address the impact of climate change through use of 
trade tools. Continued oversight of the U.S.--Peru Trade 
Promotion Agreement, which provides for specific, additional 
obligations to address forestry management and trade in 
illegally harvested timber.
     Agriculture. Oversight of Administration efforts 
to enforce agriculture-related obligations of U.S. trade 
agreements and negotiations to remove tariff and unjustified 
non-tariff barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. Continued 
analysis and assessment of the benefits of agriculture trade to 
U.S. farmers, ranchers, workers, rural communities, and 
businesses, and the need to increase U.S. agricultural exports. 
Particular attention on trade impacts on small and specialty 
agriculture producers and those from historically underserved 
communities.
     Manufacturing. Oversight and promotion of 
Administration efforts to enforce provisions relating to and to 
remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. manufacturing, 
with particular focus on effectively addressing global excess 
production capacity for steel, aluminum, and other commodities. 
Continued analysis and assessment of the impact of 
manufacturing exports to U.S. manufacturers and their 
employees, and the need to increase U.S. manufacturing exports 
that also promote jobs and economic opportunities for diverse 
and multiracial communities.
     Services. Oversight and promotion of 
Administration efforts to enforce provisions relating to and to 
remove barriers to the U.S. services sector. Analysis and 
assessment of the benefits of services to all sectors of the 
U.S. economy and the need to increase U.S. exports. Oversight 
over ``covered agreement'' insurance negotiations.
     Digital Trade and E-commerce. Oversight regarding 
trade barriers faced by U.S. workers, manufacturers, service 
providers, and the agriculture sector in the areas of digital 
trade and e-commerce, particularly with respect to data issues 
(localization measures and dataflows). Oversight regarding how 
to address these issues through enforcement and trade 
negotiations.
     World Trade Organization (WTO). Oversight of U.S. 
goals in the WTO, including: reform proposals; negotiations 
(including efforts such as the Environmental Goods Agreement, 
Trade in Services Agreement, fisheries subsidies, and e-
commerce); the functioning and reform of the dispute settlement 
system; and WTO accessions (including consideration of 
legislation granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations status 
and graduation from the Jackson-Vanik amendment's 
requirements). Analysis of the impact of WTO membership for the 
United States, including the U.S. experience and record in WTO 
dispute settlement, the role of a rules-based system for U.S. 
producers, workers, businesses, and consumers, and the cost of 
non-compliance or lack of compliance by other WTO members with 
WTO rules. Monitor the progress of WTO members in implementing 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
     Trade Sanctions. Oversight concerning import 
sanctions with, among others, Iran, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, 
Syria, and Venezuela.
     Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Continued 
oversight concerning the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs 
for workers, firms, communities, and farmers, to monitor the 
effectiveness of these programs in providing training and new 
jobs for displaced workers and determine the parameters for 
effective reform and improvement. Oversight concerning whether 
TAA programs effectively reach disproportionately impacted 
worker populations or communities where trade-impacted job loss 
has occurred.
     Priorities of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR). Oversight over USTR to evaluate 
priorities for the 117th Congress and the trade agenda, and to 
assure its statutory role with respect to trade policy. 
Possible consideration of authorization, at the earliest 
opportunity. Oversight over trade advisory committees, 
including the role of these committees in advising both the 
Administration and Congress.
     Priorities of CBP. Oversight over CBP and 
implementation of Customs revenue functions. Oversight of the 
implementation of the Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 to ensure 
that the new enforcement tools provided in the bill are being 
fully utilized by CBP, including provisions relating to evasion 
of trade remedy laws and forced labor.
     Priorities of the United States International 
Trade Commission (Commission). Oversight over the Commission 
concerning overall priorities and operations. Possible 
consideration of authorization, at the earliest opportunity.
    This list is not intended to be exclusive. The Committee 
anticipates that additional oversight hearings and activities 
will be scheduled as issues arise and as time permits. Also, 
the Committee's oversight priorities and particular concerns 
may change as the 117th Congress progresses over the coming two 
years.
            Sincerely,
                                           Richard E. Neal,
                                                          Chairman.

                                  [all]