Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:

Agriculture

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology held a hearing called "For the purpose of receiving testimony from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency." This hearing featured the chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and administrator of the Farm Service Agency. Members questioned the two leaders about ongoing conservation programs, and the need to “remove the climate restrictions” on $20 billion in funding given to the USDA to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resiliency” through the Inflation Reduction Act. (Note: we know it didn’t reduce inflation…) 

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Armed Services

HASC Republicans praised a U.S. Marine for springing into action to foil a human trafficking ring. In the tweet, HASC Republicans said, “Heroic work by this U.S. Marine who sprang into action to help foil a human trafficking ring.”
 
HASC Republicans warned of the motives of the CCP’s newest ambassador to the United States. In the tweet, HASC Republicans said, “Make no mistake, the Chinese Communist Party seeks the downfall of the United States. They have no interest in friendship or altruistic cooperation.”
 
Following reports of malicious cyber activity by China that targeted U.S. critical infrastructure, HASC Republicans highlighted the important role cybersecurity plays in our national security. In the tweet, HASC Republicans said, “Cybersecurity is a critical part of our national security. Interagency cooperation along with cooperation with our allies is key to countering China's malicious cyber activity.”

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Budget

On Wednesday, May 24, the Budget Committee held a full committee hearing titled "Reigniting American Growth and Prosperity Series: Removing the Burdens of Government Overreach." 

Democrats tried to paint an extremely rosy picture about President Biden’s cruel economy, but the reality is: 1) inflation has skyrocketed, reaching a 40-year high, 2) homeownership is increasingly becoming out-of-reach, and 3) Biden’s inflation crisis is crushing American pocketbooks. As Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) stressed in his opening remarks: “if we grow our economy while controlling spending, we can create a glide-path to a healthier balance sheet, a stronger economy, and a brighter future.”

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Education and Workforce

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing called “Protecting Employees's Rights: Ensuring Fair Elections at the NLRB." Members used the hearing to highlight the radicalization of Biden’s National Labor Relations Board and specific actions it has proposed which would restrict employer speech and essentially eliminate free choice for workers. During the hearing Rep. Banks rightly pointed out that labor unions are meant to represent the interest of workers, not act as political organizations. He went on to ask one of the Democrat witnesses: “Why are labor unions funding pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood?"

On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing called "Breaking the System Part II: Examining the Implications of Biden's Student Loan Policies for Students and Taxpayers." Members grilled two Biden administration officials with intimate knowledge of Biden’s radical free college agenda about forcing taxpayers who never went to college to foot the bill for those who did, the CCP’s foreign funding and influence on college campuses, the fraud and abuse that will arise from allowing borrowers to self-certify that they are eligible for loan cancellation, and more. During one of the more heated exchanges, one witness lied about responding to the Committee’s repeated requests to receive a report that shows taxpayers will be on the hook for the federal government’s disastrous student loan policy.

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Energy and Commerce

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a legislative hearing called "Oversight and Reauthorization of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration." In this hearing, Subcommittee Chair Latta said in his opening remarks: “With the billions of dollars available for broadband deployment being managed by a variety of federal agencies, coordination will be key to ensuring that money isn’t wasted.As the lead agency for broadband, NTIA should lead the development of a national broadband strategy.”

Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, testified. The following legislation was discussed:

• H.R. 1677, the Simplifying Management, Access, Reallocation, and Transfer of Spectrum Act, or the SMART Spectrum Act (Guthrie and Matsui)
• H.R. 1784, the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2023 (Hudson and Eshoo)
• H.R.___, the National Telecommunication and Information Administration Reauthorization Act of 2023 (Latta)
• H.R.___, the Commerce Spectrum Coordination Act of 2023 (Griffith)
• H.R.___, the Novel, Advanced Spectrum and Communications Technology Networks Promotion Act (Guthrie)
• H.R.___, the Public Safety Communications Act (Cammack)
• H.R.___, the NTIA Consolidated Reporting Act (Allen)
• H.R.___, the Timely Evaluation of Acquisitions, Mergers, or Transactions with External Lawful Entities to Clear Owners and Management Act, or the TEAM TELECOM Act (Johnson)
• H.Res.___, To express the sense of Congress with respect to WHOIS information accessibility, and for other purposes (Fulcher)
• H.R.___, the Digital Economy Cybersecurity Advisory Act of 2023 (Pfluger)
• H.R.___, the Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act, or the PLAN for Broadband Act (Walberg)
• H.R.___, the Spectrum Relocation Enhancement Act (Matsui)
• H.R.___, the Spectrum Coexistence Act (Matsui)
• H.R.___, the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, or the AI Accountability Act (Harder)
• H.R.___, the Diaspora Link Act (Plaskett)
• H.R.___, the FirstNet Reauthorization Act (Fletcher)
• H.R.___, To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to publish data from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, and for other purposes (Clarke)
• H.R.___, the Improving Broadband Mapping Act (Cardenas)

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing called “Growing the Domestic Energy Sector Supply Chain and Manufacturing Base: Are Federal Efforts Working?” to examine if the Department of Energy’s spending spree is weakening our supply chain security. This subcommittee hearing followed the Energy and Commerce Committee’s inquiry into the DOE’s $200 million grant to Microvast Holdings, a company that by its own admission is regulated and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. As Chair Rodgers shares below, the DOE notified the Committee on Monday of its decision to pull the Microvast grant.

• H.R. 1418, the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023, sponsored by Reps. Greg Pence and Kim Schrier, was favorably reported, without amendment, to the House by a bipartisan vote of 49-0. 
• H.R. 2544, the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, led by Reps. Larry Bucshon and Robin Kelly, was favorably reported, without amendment, to the House by a bipartisan vote of 48-0. 
• H.R. 2666, the Medicaid VBPs for Patients (MVP) Act, led by Reps. Brett Guthrie and Anna Eshoo, was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a bipartisan vote of 31-19. 
• H.R. 3284, the Providers and Payers COMPETE Act, led by Reps. Michael Burgess and Debbie Dingell, was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a bipartisan vote of 49-0. 
• H.R. 3290, To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to ensure transparency and oversight of the 340B drug discount program, led by Rep. Larry Bucshon, was favorably reported, as amended, to the House by a vote of 29-22. 
• H.R. 3561, the Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency Act of 2023 or the PATIENT Act of 2023, led by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone Jr., was favorably reported, as amended, to the House by a bipartisan vote of 49-0. 
• H.R. 3309, the Standard Fees to Expedite Evaluation and Streamlining Act or the Standard FEES Act, sponsored by Reps. Gary Palmer and Patrick Ryan, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 50-0. 
• H.R. 3293, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, sponsored by Reps. Jeff Duncan and Angie Craig, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 51-0. 
• H.R. 3299, the Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions and Legacy Applications Act or DIGITAL Applications Act, sponsored by Reps. Kat Cammack and Doris Matsui, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 51-0. 
• H.R. 3283, the Facilitating the Deployment of Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions and Legacy Applications Act or Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act, sponsored by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Debbie Dingell, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 51-0.  
• H.R. 3343, the Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act, sponsored by Reps. August Pfluger and Darren Soto, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 51-0. 
• H.R. 3565, the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023, sponsored by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone, Jr., was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a vote of 50-0. 
• H.R. 3557, the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023, sponsored by Rep. Buddy Carter, Nathaniel Moran, and Neal Dunn, was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a vote of 27-23. 
• H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act, sponsored by Reps. Tim Walberg and Kim Schrier, was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a vote of 49-1. 
• H.R. 3277, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, sponsored by Reps. Tim Walberg and Lisa Blunt Rochester, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 48-0. 
• H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, was reported favorably, as amended, to the House by a vote of 29-21. 
• H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Lesko, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 31-18.  
• H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Armstrong, was reported favorably, without amendment, to the House by a vote of 29-19.

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Financial Services

On Tuesday, May 23, the Financial Services Committee held a full committee hearing called "FHFA Oversight: Protecting Homeowners and Taxpayers" with FHFA Director Sandra Thompson testifying. Republicans slammed the Agency’s changes to the Loan Level Pricing Adjustment structure that acts as a tax on creditworthy homebuyers to subsidize the riskier loans of those with lower credit scores. Committee Republicans also warned Director Thompson against injecting excessive risk into our housing finance system in order to protect taxpayers from unnecessary exposure.
On Wednesday, May 24, the Financial Services Committee held a full committee markup on various measures to facilitate capital formation, reverse the FHFA’s socialist changes to the LLPA structure, and enhance accountability and transparency at our federal banking regulators following recent bank failures. The Committee advanced all legislation under consideration, including:

• H.R. 3556, the Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (Barr)
• H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023 (Davidson)
• H.R. 2622, a bill to amend the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to codify certain Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters that exclude brokers and dealers compensated for certain research services from the definition of investment adviser, and for other purposes, as amended (Sessions)
• H.R. 1553, the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act (Lawler)
• H.R. 3063, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act (Lucas)
• H.R. 2627, the Increasing Investor Opportunities Act (Wagner)

On Thursday, May 25, the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, led by Chairman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), held a hearing titled “International Financial Institutions in an Era of Great Power Competition.” Republican Members focused on how the U.S. can use multilateral financial institutions to combat the growing threat posed by the CCP.

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Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing called "Bring Abducted Children Home." International parental child abduction tears U.S. families apart, leaving trauma, heartbreak, and devastating legal debt. Left-behind parents, NGO leaders, research and legal experts, along with the Biden administration, joined the subcommittee to discuss the Department of State’s failed implementation of the Goldman Act. 

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing called "Examining the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe." State and USAID officials testified before the Europe Subcommittee on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe and Eurasia. Members questioned State Department and USAID officials about failing to sufficiently engage Congress about future assistance to Ukraine, the Biden Administration’s continued slow walking of critical weapons to Ukraine and the President’s failure to define victory. Members also discussed U.S. policy toward Armenia and Azerbaijan, the impact in Moldova of Putin’s war, and the need to build resilience to address China’s economic coercion and malign activities in the region.
On Wednesday, May 24, the Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing called "Modernizing U.S. Arms Exports and a Stronger AUKUS." State and Defense Department officials testified before the committee on the need for modernization of the U.S. arms export control system and strengthening the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. The success of the AUKUS partnership requires the development and interoperability of advanced military capabilities, and the failures of our arms export control system are obstructing the security needs of the US and its allies. 

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Homeland Security
 
On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence held a hearing entitled, “A Security Sprint: Assessing the U.S. Homeland’s Vulnerabilities to Chinese Communist Party Aggression.” Led by Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX), Members heard testimony from Iranga Kahangama, the Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Tyrone Durham, the Acting Director of the Nation State Threats Center at DHS; and Jill Murphy, the Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assess the U.S. homeland’s vulnerabilities to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression.

In the hearing, witnesses confirmed the CCP is the gravest long-term threat to the integrity of U.S. intellectual property and critical infrastructure, that it uses Confucius Institutes to steal American academic research, and the CCP uses a wide array of tactics, techniques, and procedures to spread its malign influence on U.S. soil.

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House Administration

On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Elections held a hearing titled, “American Confidence in Elections: Ensuring Every Eligible American has the Opportunity to Vote – and for their Vote to Count According to Law.” This hearing focused on reforms states can make to ensure it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat. Americans deserve complete confidence their ballot will count and not be diluted by non-citizens voting. 

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Judiciary

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing called "The Biden Border Crisis: Part III" to examine the causes and effects of the Biden Administration’s open-borders policies, including illegal aliens overwhelming American communities, criminal aliens harming Americans, and terrorists entering the country in record numbers.

• H.R. 277, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (Cammack)
• H.R. 357, the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act (Cline)
• H.R. 1505, the No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act of 2023 (Issa)
• H.R. 3571, To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions classified to title 2, title 50, and title 52, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors
• H.R. 3506, To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions classified to title 7, title 20, and title 43, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors
• H.R. 3496, To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions that were formerly classified to chapters 14 and 19 of title 25, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors
• H.R. 3578, To make technical amendments to update statutory references to provisions reclassified to title 34, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors

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Natural Resources

On Tuesday, May 23, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight budget hearing titled “Examining the President’s FY 2024 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Power Marketing Administrations." 

Over the past few years, Democrats have poured billions of dollars into these government agencies without a clear framework for ensuring these funds help reach their stated goals. This oversight hearing was another step by the Republican majority in conducting robust oversight to ensure these agencies are utilizing taxpayer resources in the most efficient possible manner.

On Tuesday, May 23, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 188, the Proven Forest Management Act of 2022 (McClintock)
• H.R. 934, To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes (McClintock)
• H.R. 1450, Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act (Fulcher)
• H.R. 1726, Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023 (Tokuda)
• H.R. _____, FIRESHEDS Act (Moore)
• H.R. _____, Direct Hire to Fight Fires (Issa)
• H.R. _____, Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023 (Valadao)
• H.R. _____, Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023 (Harder)
• H.R. _____, Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act of 2023 (Neguse)

Wildfires have catastrophic consequences for America's forests and have only grown stronger and more devastating in recent years. Decades of inadequate forest management created an unprecedented forest health crisis, and without significant change, wildfires will continue decimating America's forests, threatening lives and communities, endangering wildland firefighters and polluting our air and water. This hearing focused on legislation that would streamline the bureaucracy that is preventing active forest management, the adoption of new firefighting technologies and the hiring wildland firefighters.
On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing titled “Examining the Biden Administration’s Efforts to Limit Access to Public Lands.”

The Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress authority over the lands, territories and other property of the United States. Congress’s power over federal lands is “without limitation." However, recent actions by the Biden administration have circumvented congressional authority and indicated a lack of interest in stakeholders and local communities. The Biden administration has also consistently abused the power of executive authority through land grabs without the input of local communities and stakeholders. Local leaders and communities are now left in fear of future land grabs and new designations, without consideration for the impact new designations might have on these local communities. 
On Thursday, May 25, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight budget hearing titled “Examining the President’s FY 2024 Budget Request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office of Insular Affairs."

BIA has a great responsibility to support the economic, social and cultural well-being of tribal communities. Congress must continue its oversight of the agency and ensure limited taxpayer funds are being spent in ways that best serve the needs of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. OIA is charged with carrying out all duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior regarding all U.S. territories and the Freely Associated States (FAS). COVID-19 profoundly affected tourism in the territories, and while most travel restrictions on the islands have been lifted, businesses are still attempting to recover. This hearing was a start in the oversight process of the budget requests for these agencies. 

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Oversight and Accountability

On Tuesday, May 23, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a full committee hearing called “The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Prescription Drug Markets Part I: Self-Interest or Health Care?”

At the hearing, members and witnesses highlighted how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have an oversized role in the pharmaceutical marketplace and push anticompetitive practices that undermine patient health and drive up the cost of prescription drugs. Both Republicans and Democrats stressed there must be greater transparency in the PBM industry and Congress must address PBMs’ harmful tactics. The Oversight Committee will continue to examine PBM practices to inform legislative solutions that can greatly benefit patients and reduce drug costs.
On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing called “Consumer Choice on the Backburner: Examining the Biden Administration’s Regulatory Assault on Americans’ Gas Stoves.”

Subcommittee members discussed with witnesses how the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposed rule regulating gas stoves is a de facto ban through overregulation, would disrupt and further constrict U.S. consumer choice, and is the latest attempt by the Biden Administration to ram through radical climate policies. Subcommittee members also blasted Department of Energy officials for failing to appear before the subcommittee to answer questions. At the start of the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Fallon and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to a DOE official requesting her testimony at a hearing on the Biden Administration’s overregulation of home appliances in July 2023.
On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services held a hearing called "A Failure of Supervision: Bank Failures and The San Francisco Federal Reserve."

At the hearing, members asked questions about the San Francisco Federal Reserve’s (SF Fed) failed supervision and misplaced priorities that enabled the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. SF Fed failed to supervise SVB and did not take sufficient steps to ensure the bank addressed vulnerabilities. Members on both sides of the aisle agreed that federal bureaucrats failed to do their job to supervise Silicon Valley Bank, yet the Biden Administration has not held any actors accountable.

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Rules

This week, the House Rules Committee considered measures addressing the deadly fentanyl crisis (H.R. 467), overturning a misguided trucking emission rule (S.J. Res. 11), and nullifying the Biden Administration's unfair student loan bailout scheme (H.J. Res. 45).

Chairman Cole and Republican members made clear that we don’t need more stolen futures and devastated families. We must implement every tool to address the fentanyl crisis—which is now the leading cause of death of U.S. adults between 18-45 years old. The HALT Fentanyl Act equips law enforcement with the tools that they need to stop the drug trafficking that’s killing American citizens, while also ensuring life-saving research into beneficial compounds is not impacted. Representatives also reiterated support for S. J. Res 11, which overturns an unnecessary and burdensome Biden Administration regulation on the trucking industry, and H.J. Res. 45, which stops President Biden’s radical student debt transfer scheme. These items are fundamental to protecting American truckers, consumers, and taxpayers from onerous regulations and administrative overreach.

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Science, Space, and Technology

On Wednesday, May 24, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full committee markup on the following legislation:

• H.R. 3560, the National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development Act (Lucas)

The bill will provide for a coordinated federal initiative across research and mission agencies to support unmanned aerial systems (UAS) research and development activities and ensure U.S. leadership in UAS and advanced air mobility technologies (AAM).

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Transportation and Infrastructure

On Tuesday, May 23, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup on the following legislation:

• H.R. 3399, the Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. John James (R-MI), directs a federal study of potential security risks of the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan – a critical supply chain link between the United States and Canada – and the economic ramifications in the event of their operational failure. 
• H.R. 1836, the Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), builds upon the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, including by allowing the Federal Maritime Commission to review complaints about market manipulation and anti-competitive operations of maritime exchanges.
• H.R. 2367, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), addresses the significant lack of truck parking by increasing resources for the construction of new Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) parking, additional parking at current CMV parking areas, and improvements to existing CMV parking.  It also requires CMV parking spaces constructed to be accessible to all CMVs without charge.
• H.R. 3013, the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently Act of 2023 (LICENSE Act of 2023), introduced by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), eliminates regulatory barriers and addresses truck driver shortages by making permanent two commonsense waivers issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for more efficient Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing.
• H.R. 3318, To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish an axle weight tolerance for certain commercial motor vehicles transporting dry bulk goods, and for other purposes, introduced Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), allows for a 10 percent axle variance for dry bulk, without any increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit.  The bill makes an allowance for the fact that dry bulk – nonliquid cargos such as grains, plastic pellets, aggregates, etc. – can shift during transportation and redistribute a truck’s weight.  The bill ensures trucks don’t have to unnecessarily reduce their loads.
• H.R. 3316, To amend titles 46 and 49, United States Code, to streamline the environmental review process for major projects, and for other purposes, introduced by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), extends One Federal Decision (OFD) environmental review streamlining provisions – such as combining environmental documents among agencies, concurrent agency reviews, creating reasonable page limits for documents, and reasonable time limits for reviews – to port, aviation, and pipeline projects, as applicable. OFD was already approved in law for highway projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• H.R. 3365, the Supply Chain Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. John Duarte (R-CA), ensures that priority consideration is given to projects that would improve or build resiliency into the supply chain under the INFRA and MEGA discretionary grant programs.
• H.R. 1500, the Intelligent Transportation Integration Act, introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), directs the Secretary of Transportation to create and implement a program to bolster transportation management and the efficiency of Federal-aid highways by leveraging third-party data.
• H.R. 915, the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), increases efficiency and highway safety in the supply chain network by requiring the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to develop a new Safety Fitness Determination process to change the way a motor carrier is rated.
• H.R. 3317, the Rolling Stock Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), closes a legal loophole and prohibits four public transportation agencies from continuing to use Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to procure rolling stock from State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including a Communist Chinese-controlled manufacturer. 
• H.R. 3372, To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a safety data collection program for certain 6-axle vehicles, and for other purposes, introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), establishes a voluntary 10-year pilot program for states to increase truck weights on federal interstates up to 91,000 lbs. on six axles.
• H.R. 2948, the Carrying Automobiles Responsibly and Safely (CARS) Act, introduced by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), ensures continued efficiency in the supply chain by allowing automobile transporters to continue carrying the same number of vehicles as they currently do.  The bill addresses the increasing weight of newer vehicles, allowing a 10 percent weight increase for certain types of automobile transporters.

Additional measures passed by the Committee include:

• H.R. 3395, U.S. Supply Chain Security Review Act of 2023 (Auchincloss)
• H.R. 3447, To amend title 23, United States Code, to authorize a hydrogen powered vehicle to exceed certain weight limits on the Interstate Highway System, and for other purposes (Stanton)
• H.R. 886, Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act (Bonamici)
• H.R. 1796, Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2023 (Titus)
• H. Con. Res. 43, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (Hoyer)

On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing called “Never Ending Emergencies – An Examination of the National Emergencies Act.” Subcommittee Republicans reviewed ways in which presidential overreach and abuse of the National Emergencies Act can be reined in by Congress.

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Veterans' Affairs

On Tuesday, May 23, the Committee on Veterans Affairs held an oversight hearing titled “COVID-19 Supplemental Funding: Did It Protect and Improve Veteran Care?”

This hearing examined how VA spent its roughly $36.6 billion in COVID-19 funds. The Inspector General testified that VA struggled to account for CARES funds by failing to maintain audit trails for the majority of internal transfers and neglecting internal controls in 10,064 supply purchases or service contracts worth over $187 million. During the hearing, Chairman Bost and Committee Republicans held VA’s feet to the fire on their weak accounting practices and demonstrated how, under our leadership, we will defend veterans’ care and benefits to improve outcomes while holding VA accountable for properly handling taxpayers’ dollars. On Wednesday, May 24, the Technology Modernization Subcommittee held an oversight hearing titled "VA Information Technology Contracting: Challenges in Consolidation of Competition and Conflict of Interest." The Subcommittee held this hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) information technology contracting, including increasing spending, consolidating contractor/supplier base, and procurement methods that limit the pool of eligible companies. Chairman Rosendale and subcommittee members pressed VA on why VA IT projects, meant to modernize how services are delivered to our veterans, stumble again and again and why there is a lack of accountability regarding the VA contracting process as a whole.

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Ways and Means

On Wednesday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on the Social Security Administration’s Role in Combatting Identity Fraud to discuss the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) responsibility to do more to protect Americans from Social Security number-related (SSN) identity theft, as well as the government’s failure to help individuals whose SSNs have been compromised.
On Thursday, May 25, the Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on Modernizing Customs Policies to Protect American Workers and Secure Supply Chains. Witnesses testified that our customs law should hold China accountable for unfair trade practices, root out forced labor in our supply chain, and equip Customs and Border Protection to combat illicit goods shipped through American ports. Witnesses testified that enforcing de minimis rules could help address the rise of e-commerce packages coming to the United States and address the use of forced labor to make products that wind up in American stores and homes.