[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D795-D797] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings GENERATIONAL LEARNING LOSS: HOW PANDEMIC SCHOOL CLOSURES HURT STUDENTS Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled ``Generational Learning Loss: How Pandemic School Closures Hurt Students''. Testimony was heard from Catherine Truitt, Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina; and public witnesses. STOPPING THE EXPLOITATION OF MIGRANT CHILDREN: OVERSIGHT OF HHS' OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Stopping the Exploitation of Migrant Children: Oversight of HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement''. Testimony was heard from Xavier Becerra, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services. SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK: ENHANCING SAFETY, IMPROVING LIVES AND MOBILITY, AND BEATING CHINA Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing entitled ``Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4763, the ``Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act''; H.R. 1747, the ``Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act''; H.R. 3244, the ``Stop Fentanyl Money Laundering Act of 2023''; H.R. 4768, the ``No Russian Agriculture Act''; H.R. 4765, the ``Exposing China's Support for the Taliban Act''; and H.R. 2969, the ``Financial Technology Protection Act of 2023''. H.R. 4763 was ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 1747, H.R. 3244, H.R. 4768, H.R. 4765, and H.R. 2969 were ordered reported, without amendment. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4619, to authorize the sale of Virginia Class submarines to Australia in support of the [[Page D796]] trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and for other purposes; H.R. 4725, to conduct oversight and accountability of the State Department's implementation of AUKUS, and for other purposes; H.R. 4716, to amend the Arms Export Control Act in support of Australia and the AUKUS partnership; H.R. 4715, to amend the Arms Export Control Act in support of the United Kingdom and the AUKUS partnership; H.R. 1776, to prevent, treat, and cure tuberculosis globally; H.R. 4517, to require the Secretary of State to submit a plan for the reimbursement of personal funds expended to evacuate American citizens, American lawful permanent residents, and Afghan allies from Afghanistan, and for other purposes; H.R. 3152, to impose sanctions with respect to countries, individuals, and entities that engage in any effort to acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or deploy Iranian missiles and related goods and technology, including materials and equipment, and for other purposes; H.R. 4741, to require the development of a strategy to promote the use of secure telecommunications infrastructure worldwide, and for other purposes; H.R. 4691, to provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran; H.R. 1456, to limit the use of funds for the production of films using assets of the Department of State under certain circumstances, and for other purposes; H. Res. 578, calling for the immediate release of Eyvin Hernandez, a United States citizen and Los Angeles County public defender, who was wrongfully detained by the Venezuelan regime in March 2022; and H.R. 4825, to require the imposition of sanctions and other measures relating to the Russian oil price cap policy, and for other purposes. THE REAL COST OF AN OPEN BORDER: HOW AMERICANS ARE PAYING THE PRICE Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement; and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence held a joint hearing entitled ``The Real Cost of an Open Border: How Americans are Paying the Price''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security''. Testimony was heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 1318, the ``Women's Suffrage National Monument Location Act''; H.R. 1722, the ``Grand Ronde Reservation Act Amendment of 2023''; H.R. 2717, the ``Hershel `Woody' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act''; H.R. 2997, the ``CONVEY Act''; H.R. 3049, the ``Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration Exchange Act of 2023''; H.R. 3499, the ``Direct Hire to Fight Fires''; H.R. 3675, the ``Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act''; H.R. 4141, to provide that certain communications projects are not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes; and H.R. 4377, to amend the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 with respect to extensions, additions, and revisions to the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. H.R. 4141, H.R. 3675, H.R. 2717, H.R. 2997, and H.R. 3499 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 3049, H.R. 1318, H.R. 4377, H.R. 1722 were ordered reported, without amendment. UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA: IMPLICATIONS ON NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. GETTING NOWHERE: DOD'S FAILURE TO REPLACE THE DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a hearing entitled ``Getting Nowhere: DoD's Failure to Replace the Defense Travel System''. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Register, Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense; and Elizabeth Field, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Government Accountability Office. AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024 Committee on Rules: Full Committee began a hearing on H.R. 4368, the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Harris, Bishop of Georgia, Molinaro, Nunn, Spartz, and Jackson Lee. [[Page D797]] UNEARTHING INNOVATION: THE FUTURE OF SUBSURFACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``Unearthing Innovation: The Future of Subsurface Science and Technology in the United States''. Testimony was heard from Alexandra Hakala, Senior Fellow, Geologic and Environmental Systems, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy; and public witnesses. RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: EXAMINING THE CHALLENGES AND STATE OF RURAL SMALL BUSINESSES Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Rural Entrepreneurship: Examining the Challenges and State of Rural Small Businesses''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3848, the ``HOME Act''; H.R. 3943, the ``Servicemember Employment Protection Act of 2023''; H.R. 3874, the ``Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act''; H.R. 3933, the ``TAP Promotion Act''; H.R. 4278, the ``Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act''; H.R. 4461, the ``Modernizing Department of Veteran Affairs Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act''; H.R. 3581, the ``COPE Act''; H.R. 1767, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that educational assistance paid under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs to an individual who pursued a program or course of education that was suspended or terminated for certain reasons shall not be charged against the entitlement of the individual, and for other purposes; H.R. 3981, the ``Veterans Education Oversight Expansion Act''; H.R. 542, the ``Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023''; and H.R. 984, the ``Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act''. H.R. 3848, H.R. 3943, H.R. 3874, H.R. 4278, H.R. 4461, H.R. 3581, H.R. 1767, H.R. 3981, H.R. 542, and H.R. 984 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 3933 was ordered reported, without amendment. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4822, the ``Health Care Price Transparency Act of 2023''; and H.R. 3284, the ``Providers and Payers COMPETE Act''. H.R. 4822 and H.R. 3284 were ordered reported, as amended. COMMANDING HEIGHTS: ENSURING U.S. LEADERSHIP IN THE CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Commanding Heights: Ensuring U.S. Leadership in the Critical and Emerging Technologies of the 21st Century''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. Joint Meetings CAPITOL POLICE BOARD OVERSIGHT Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Rules and Administration concluded a joint oversight hearing with the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration to examine the Capitol Police Board, after receiving testimony from Karen H. Gibson, Chair, Capitol Police Board, and Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; William P. McFarland, Acting Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives; Chere Rexroat, Acting Architect and Chief Engineer, Architect of the Capitol; and Chief J. Thomas Manger, Capitol Police. RESCUING UKRAINIAN CHILDREN AND WOMEN Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Committee concluded a hearing to examine rescuing Ukrainian children and women from Russia's aggression, after receiving testimony from Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-At-Large for Global Criminal Justice, and Cindy Dyer, Ambassador-At-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, both of the Department of State; Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine; Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; Sebastian Stachowski, Lion Environmental; Mykola Kuleba, Save Ukraine; and James S. Gordon, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine.