Press Releases
Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of March 18, 2024
Washington,
March 23, 2024
Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:
Agriculture On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Agriculture held a full committee hearing called "The Danger China Poses to American Agriculture." Between 2010 and 2020, the Chinese Communist Party’s holdings of US agricultural land increased by 5,300%. Because growing foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, particularly by China, poses a direct threat to our food security and national security, this hearing provided an opportunity to dive deeper into the issue. Of particular note, the GAO report on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland requested by Chairmen Thompson and Comer found significant shortcomings in USDA’s ability to track and report the purchases. This hearing featured testimony from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Select Committee on the CCP Chairman Mike Gallagher, and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi as well as several experts in the field of Chinese aggression and food security. The hearing covered China’s purchase of American farmland, intellectual property theft, and hacking of critical cyber infrastructure.    Appropriations On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education held a hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Department of Health and Human Services." Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra testified before the Subcommittee on the Department’s Budget Request for the upcoming fiscal year, where Subcommittee Members highlighted the Department’s role in the border crisis.   On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Department of Energy." Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm testified before the Subcommittee on the Department’s Budget Request for the upcoming fiscal year.  On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing called "Quality of Life in the Military." The Subcommittee invited senior military leaders to discuss ways to improve the quality of life of our servicemembers and their families. On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration held a hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Department of Agriculture." Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the Subcommittee on the Department’s Budget Request for the upcoming fiscal year. On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a budget and oversight hearing called "President Biden's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request and Economic Outlook." Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, and Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein testified before the Subcommittee on the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request. Armed Services On Wednesday, March 20, the Armed Services Committee held a full committee hearing on U.S. military posture and national security challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region. China is the greatest threat our nation faces — deterring this threat must be our top priority. We must invest in modernizing our military and enhance our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.  On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations held a hearing on the goals, challenges, and priorities of U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. special operations forces. In his opening statement, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) said, “Spending each dollar more effectively than each Chinese Yuan is how we win Great Power Competition, and that is what our Special Operations Community can provide.” On Thursday, March 21, the Armed Services Committee held a full committee hearing on U.S. military posture and national security challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa. The policies of the Biden administration have failed to deter Iran and their terrorist proxies putting U.S. national security at risk. Members pressed witnesses on the threats posed by Iran, ISIS, and ISIS-K as well as China and Russia’s malign influence in Africa.  On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing on the United States’ strategic forces posture for fiscal year 2025 and assessing the related programs, capabilities, and priorities. In his opening statement, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said, “We are continuing to pursue a long overdue modernization of our nuclear enterprise while Russia and China grow their nuclear forces at a staggering pace.” On Friday, March 22, the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation held a hearing on priorities of the Department of Defense for digital modernization and transformation, artificial intelligence, information technology, and cybersecurity. In his opening statement, Rep. Gallagher (R-WI) said, “We’ve established that national security in this century is contingent on rapidly embracing technology and pivoting from platform-centric combat to network-centric warfare. And yet, there doesn’t appear to be any adversary as formidable as the change-resistant culture of the Department of Defense.” Budget On Thursday, March 21, the Budget Committee held a full committee hearing called "The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request."   Education and the Workforce On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing called "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation." This hearing was designed to shine a light on PBGC’s waste of taxpayer funds. Under Biden’s watch at PBGC, $127 in taxpayer money was sent to fund pensions for dead participants, Even worse, PBGC refused to claw back those funds when it was called out. Also, by ignoring Congress’s calculation instructions, PBGC saddled taxpayers with the bill for an additional $4.6 billion in pension bailouts.The Committee is committed to cutting all waste, fraud, and abuse in its jurisdiction, including at PBGC. On Thursday, March 21, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a full committee markup on the following legislation:
  Energy and Commerce On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a full committee markup of 28 bills. Communications and Technology Subcommittee:
On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing called "Timeout: Evaluating Safety Measures Implemented to Protect Athletes." Congress created SafeSport to protect young athletes so predators like Larry Nassar will never harm children again. However, there have been hurdles to implementing the safety measures provided by the SafeSport program, including a lack of transparency for athletes who have submitted claims. Members used the hearing to examine how best to protect athletes from abuse and what challenges the SafeSport program faces to accomplish that goal.  Financial Services Last week, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), the Vice Chairman of the Committee, French Hill (AR-02), and the Chairman of the National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee, Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen demanding that she push for new leadership at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As current Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva’s term ends, the lawmakers cited multiple ethical lapses including data manipulation, inattention to allegations of sexual harassment, and ineffectiveness at holding China accountable for its lack of debt transparency as evidence of her mismanagement. The Members strongly urge Secretary Yellen to reject the status quo by identifying a new managing director. On Monday, March 18, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led by Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04), held a field hearing entitled "Victims of Regulatory Overreach: How the SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rule Will Harm Americans." Lawmakers heard from witnesses in Lebanon, TN about the threats posed by the SEC’s disastrous climate disclosure rule to small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.  On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, led by Chairman Ann Wagner (MO-02), held a hearing titled "SEC Overreach: Examining the Need for Reform." Members addressed clear examples of regulatory overreach at the Securities and Exchange Commission including Chair Gensler’s frenetic, partisan rulemaking agenda at the SEC that threatens the health of U.S. capital markets and highlights the need for targeted institutional reform.  On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, led by Chairman Warren Davidson (OH-08), held a hearing titled "The Characteristics and Challenges of Today’s Homebuyers." Lawmakers convened a panel of our nation’s housing experts to delve into the challenges facing purchasers in markets across the country. On Thursday, March 21, the Financial Services Committee, led by Chairman McHenry, held a full committee hearing on the dangers of ceding authority over American financial regulation to opaque and unaccountable global governance bodies. Republicans held banking regulators accountable for their dealings with global governance groups, especially when their guidance weakens U.S. competitiveness.  Foreign Affairs On Tuesday, March 19, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "An Assessment of the Biden Administration’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan by America’s Generals." Hearing witnesses included Generals Mark A. Milley and Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who testified to the State Department’s failure to adequately plan for the evacuation of American civilians from Afghanistan - which created conditions on the ground to hasten the Taliban’s takeover and the disaster at Abbey Gate. On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia held a hearing called "Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship." Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, testified in front of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia on Wednesday. Members discussed the February 2024 elections in Pakistan and the future of democracy in Pakistan after the elections, CCP influence in Pakistan, and the future of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship. On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee markup on the following legislation:
On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific held a hearing called "Commerce as Statecraft: Better Leveraging U.S. Business to Advance our Economic and National Security Goals in the Indo-Pacific." In her opening statement, Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim noted that, “Indo-Pacific is a top U.S. market and vital to the strength of the U.S. economy.” The hearing examined pathways for the U.S. to increase exports and promote economic partnerships in the region. On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Oversight & Accountability held a hearing called "Assessing State Department Compliance with Oversight." The Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma, and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Naz Durakoğlu, testified before the committee to assess the State Department's compliance with Congressional oversight matters. The Committee analyzed the effectiveness of the Bureau in answering Congressional inquiries and identifying critical needs for change.    Homeland Security On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Homeland Security held a full committee hearing entitled "Examining the Current Status of Iran’s Axis of Resistance and the Implications for Homeland Security and U.S. Interests." This hearing examined the persistent, malicious, and growing activity by Iranian-backed terrorist groups, such as Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis, and the near- and long-term implications for homeland security. In addition, the Committee examined other threats, such as recent plots against U.S. officials and transnational repression by the regime on U.S. soil. Due to the classified nature of much of the information discussed, the hearing was moved to a closed session with witnesses from the DHS, FBI, DEA, and the Department of State following opening statements.  On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology held a hearing entitled "Securing Our Nation From WMDs: A Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office." The mission of the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is to safeguard America from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats by providing training, exercises, equipment, and operational support to stakeholders and partners nationwide. Witnesses discussed the CWMD Office’s strategies and partnerships, and how Congress can ensure the Office is doing its job effectively.  On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability held a joint hearing entitled "Examining CBP One: Functions, Features, Expansion, and Risks." Members examined the Department of Homeland Security’s unlawful use of the CBP One app to mass-parole hundreds of thousands of inadmissible aliens into the United States. In January 2024, DHS processed approximately 45,000 inadmissible aliens into the country using the CBP One app. Between January 2023 and the end of January 2024, over 450,000 inadmissible aliens “successfully scheduled appointments.”  House Administration On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Modernization held a hearing entitled "Legislative Proposals to Support Modernizing the Congressional Research Service and the Use of Federal Data." On Thursday, March 21, the Committee on House Administration held a full committee hearing entitled "Safety on Capitol Hill: DC Crime’s Impact on Congressional Operations and Visitors."    House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence On Tuesday, March 19, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner and Ranking Member Jim Himes received the Publius Award for leadership and bipartisan in government from the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.  Judiciary On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a hearing called "Reining in the Administrative State: Agency Adjudication and Other Agency Action," to examine problems that stem from how some federal agencies sue defendants in the agencies' own in-house courts. In addition to the defects of such in-house adjudication, the hearing explores ways Congress should improve the status quo. On Thursday, March 21, the Judiciary Committee held a markup session to consider the following legislation:
  Natural Resources On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on the following bills:
On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing titled "Advancing Tribal Self-Determination: Examining the opportunities and challenges of the 477 Program." In 1992, the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act enabled tribes to coordinate and integrate multiple federal programs focused on employment and related support services into one tribal program, with one budget and one annual report. During this hearing, committee members discussed these issues and questioned witnesses about opportunities for the 477 program to grow and improve, and what changes are necessary to increase the program’s ability to support tribal self-determination. On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing titled “Assessing Domestic Offshore Energy Reserves & Ensuring U.S. Energy Dominance.” On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on the following bills:
   Oversight and Accountability On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a full committee hearing called "Influence Peddling: Examining Joe Biden’s Abuse of Public Office." At the hearing, Biden family business associates Tony Bobulinski and Jason Galanis testified under oath Joe Biden knew about, participated in, and enabled his family’s corrupt influence peddling schemes. To date, the Oversight Committee has uncovered evidence showing the Bidens and their associates created over 20 shell companies, raked in over $24 million dollars from China and other foreign countries from 2014 to 2019, nine members of the Biden family participated or benefited from the business schemes, and Joe Biden closed business deals by attending meetings, speaking on speakerphone, and dining, and with his son’s foreign business associates.    On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a hearing titled “White House Overreach on AI.” Subcommittee members discussed how the Biden Administration’s executive order (EO) on AI will hamstring U.S. innovation and leadership. Subcommittee members highlighted provisions in the EO that lack statutory authority, undermine the role of Congress, and establish heavy-handed industry controls. On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing titled “Accountable Assistance: Reviewing Controls to Prevent Mismanagement of Foreign Aid.” The subcommittee hearing examined how the federal government, specifically USAID and the State Department, attempts to prevent foreign assistance from getting into the hands of terrorists or other nefarious actors. On Thursday, March 21, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled “Assessing America’s Vaccine Safety Systems, Part 2.” Members examined the federal government’s vaccine safety reporting and injury compensation systems and discussed ways that these systems could be improved. During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns arose regarding the ability of physicians to identify and report vaccine injuries to a safety surveillance system that was not structured to handle a massive influx of claims and that the federal government was not adequately following up on allegations of serious vaccine injuries. Rules During House Republican Energy Week, the Rules Committee met and considered several measures (H.R. 1023, H.R. 1121, H.R. 6009, H.R. 7023, H. Con. Res. 86, and H. Res. 987) to support American energy and counter President Biden's anti-domestic production agenda. Members highlighted how our nation produces energy better, safer, and cleaner than anywhere else in the world. Yet, President Biden and his administration have actively chosen to undercut U.S. energy and implemented policies and regulations that have left families to face higher costs, a weaker leadership posture, and increased reliance on foreign nations with much lower environmental standards. House Republicans are committed to an abundant, reliable, affordable, and all-of-the-above energy approach.    Science, Space, and Technology On Wednesday, March 20, the Science Committee held a full committee markup on the following legislation:
   On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing called "Advancing Scientific Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.” Witnesses discussed the current and future activity across NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, as well as explored the Agency’s management of these missions.The success of these programs is critical for our future science and space endeavors. Select Committee on the CCP On Wednesday, March 20, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party wrote to the Biden administration, calling for immediate action to counter the malign trade actions of drone manufacturers in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Companies like DJI and Autel Robotics receive immense subsidies from the Chinese government, enabling Chinese drone makers to overtake 77 percent of the U.S. hobby drone market and over 90 percent of the U.S. commercial drone market. On Wednesday, March 20, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party testified before the House Agriculture Committee at a hearing entitled 'The Danger China Poses to American Agriculture.' Select Committee Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem testified alongside Chairman Gallagher.   Small Business On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing called "Conducting Oversight: Testimony from the Small Business Administrator." During the hearing, members questioned the SBA Administrator regarding the SBA’s mismanagement and involvement in issues not related to small businesses such as voter registration. Members also highlighted the SBA’s failure to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, failing to collect on certain loans.    Transportation and Infrastructure On Wednesday, March 20, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a full committee markup where Members approved the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding for the United States Coast Guard, one of the Nation’s six armed services. The legislation supports the Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the Nation’s borders, facilitate maritime commerce, and ensure maritime safety. The bill includes new and updated provisions since last year’s Committee passage of Coast Guard legislation; updates include sexual assault and harassment protections for members of the Coast Guard and ensure greater accountability and transparency in the Coast Guard following the Committee’s investigation of the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor.   Additionally, the Committee approved the Facilitating Access to Swiftly Transport Goods during a Publicly Announced State of Emergency Situation Act (FAST PASS Act), introduced by Rep. Mike Ezell. The FAST PASS Act takes steps to avoid future supply chain crises by directing the Department of Transportation to study and report to Congress on expediting the movement of critical cargo through ports and marine terminals. On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing to examine the policies and programs impacting rural infrastructure. The hearing, entitled “Rural Transportation Challenges: Stakeholder Perspectives,” focused on the unique challenges facing rural communities and the implementation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) programs meant to aid them.  Veterans Affairs On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a legislative hearing on the following legislation:
On Wednesday, March 20, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing titled “Lost in Translation: How VA’s Disability Claims and Appeals Letters Should be Simplified.” The hearing examined whether VA’s notice letters to veterans and their families are understandable and contain the information veterans need to effectively navigate the VA claims and appeals process. Witness testimony revealed that letters are difficult for veterans to understand, unnecessarily lengthy, and filled with undecipherable legal jargon. Therefore, veterans are misdirected and confused by these letters; veterans experience anxiety and depression when trying to decode the letters; and, some veterans and survivors give up on their claims. GOP Members questioned VA about what efforts it has made to simplify and improve its notice letters. Though VA witnesses testified about some efforts to do so, including with feedback from veterans’ advocates, VA witnesses acknowledged that more work can be done. Veterans’ advocates testified as to specific recommendations for improving these letters and agreed with GOP members that further collaboration between VA and veterans’ advocates could help improve these notice letters. Chairman Luttrell called for a roundtable with VA and veterans’ advocates to review and improve VA’s notice letters, and all witnesses assented to participating. On Thursday, March 21, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing titled “Legislative Hearing on: Toxic Exposure Fund Improvement Act of 2024”. The Committee heard testimony from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Chairman Bost’s legislation that would clarify that the VA Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund is intended for implementation of the Honoring Our PACT Act, limit the Fund’s exemption from Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring to specified amounts, and solve another CBO scoring problem causing most VA authorizing legislation to carry inflated mandatory costs. This problem threatens to handcuff the Committee from advancing a wide range of legislation that is crucial for VA to keep pace with veterans, their families, and their survivors’ needs. Chairman Bost emphasized his commitment to working with VA or any member of Congress to solve the problem while preserving dedicated funding for the PACT Act. Chairman Bost also expressed his disappointment that VA and minority members of the Committee oppose the legislation while refusing to put forward any alternate proposals.  On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on the following legislation:
On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a legislative hearing on the following legislation:
Ways and Means On Monday, March 18, the Committee on Ways and Means held a full committee field hearing in Denton, Texas titled “Access to Health Care in America: Ensuring Resilient Emergency Medical Care.” On Wednesday, March 20, the Committee on Ways and Means held a full committee hearing called "Hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra." On Thursday, March 21, the Subcommittee on Social Security and the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare held a joint hearing called "Hearing with the Commissioner of Social Security, Martin O’Malley." |