Press Releases
Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of November 18, 2024
Washington,
November 21, 2024
Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:
Appropriations On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing called "National Institutes of Health (NIH)." Healthy citizens are a vital aspect of a healthy country. Appropriators on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee pressed the National Institutes of Health Director, Monica Bertagnolli, on the agency’s ability to conduct reliable widespread clinical studies, produce nonpartisan data, and their role in ensuring taxpayer dollars are going to their intended purposes. Many Members discussed the loss of public trust, highlighting the agency’s urgent need to rebuild it.   On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing called "Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women." Indigenous women and girls face a murder rate that is ten times higher than the national average. In response, Members of the Interior and Environment Subcommittee invited Tribal witnesses to discuss ways to counter these jarring statistics. The first panel featured Native women who are at the forefront of advocating for change and raising awareness of their community's struggles. The second panel included Tribal leaders who outlined strategies for how Appropriators can directly contribute to finding solutions. In a unified, bipartisan effort, Members committed to bringing much-needed attention and resources to address this urgent and heartbreaking issue. On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing called "Assessing the Veterans Health Administration Fiscal Year 2025 Potential Shortfall." Due to repeated, avoidable budgeting errors at the Biden-Harris Department of Veterans Affairs, Appropriators questioned the agency’s budgeting practices. Lawmakers focused on understanding the agency’s budgeting process, expressing concerns about how Congress can trust future projections, and inquiring about the steps the agency plans to take to restore the trust of the veterans it serves. On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing called "Social Security Administration (SSA)." The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration responded to questions from Subcommittee Members, addressing concerns about employee overtime and paid leave policies. Lawmakers also raised issues regarding the agency’s poor customer service ratings, its struggles with modernization, the challenges of recalling employees back to the office, and delays in processing customer claims within a reasonable timeframe.  Financial Services On Friday, November 15, in advance of a hearing with prudential regulators, including Chairman Gruenberg, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04) and Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced H.Res. 1574, a measure calling for Chairman Gruenberg’s immediate removal. The resolution is co-sponsored by all Committee Republicans.  On Tuesday, November 19, House Financial Services Committee Republicans released their final staff report detailing the toxic workplace culture, including misconduct and harassment, at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under the failed leadership of disgraced Chairman Martin Gruenberg. This report is the culmination of Committee Republicans’ year-long investigation and supports the numerous calls for Chairman Gruenberg to resign or be removed immediately. On Tuesday, November 19, the bipartisan Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act, introduced in the House by Chairman McHenry (R-NC) and led in the Senate by Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), passed the Senate. The legislation now goes to the president to be signed into law. The bill would instruct the U.S. Mint to develop a commemorative coin series honoring the critical role working dogs play in our society, while providing financial support to help raise and train service dogs for veterans. On Wednesday, November 20, the Financial Services Committee, led by Chairman McHenry, held a full committee hearing to conduct oversight of President Biden’s prudential regulators. Republicans held Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Martin Gruenberg accountable for his continued efforts to stonewall Congressional oversight amid a staff report confirming allegations of a toxic workplace culture at the agency under his watch. Members also closely scrutinized other partisan regulatory initiatives pushed by President Biden’s federal banking regulators including the disastrous Basel III Endgame proposal.   Foreign Affairs On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing called "Meeting the Challenges of Global Brain Health: Diagnosis and Treatment for the 21st Century."   Homeland Security On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a hearing entitled “Impacts of Emergency Authority Cybersecurity Regulations on the Transportation Sector.” Witnesses from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Government Accountability Office, Association of American Railroads, and American Gas Association provided testimony about how TSA manages cybersecurity risks within the transportation sector, particularly following the recent release of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking affecting cybersecurity practices in rail, pipeline, and bus transportation.  On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Accountability, and Investigations held a joint hearing entitled “Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing: Migrant Children Victims of the Biden-Harris Administration.” Members heard shocking testimony from witnesses, including HHS whistleblower Tara Rodas, on the Biden-Harris administration’s deeply flawed, inadequate process by which HHS places unaccompanied alien children with unvetted and potentially dangerous “sponsors” around the country.   Judiciary On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing called "Oversight of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement" to examine the agency's failures, including fast-tracking the release of gang-affiliated and criminal unaccompanied alien children (UACs), such as the murderers of Kayla Hamilton and Maria Gonzalez. The hearing also examined the agency's prioritization of speed over safety in the placement of UACs with sponsors, resulting in HHS losing track of an estimated 150,000 UACs since January 20, 2021.   Natural Resources On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on the following bills:
On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:
On Wednesday, November 20, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full committee markup on the following bills:
On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:
   Oversight and Accountability On Tuesday, November 19, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a full committee hearing called "Oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency." During the hearing, members emphasized FEMA’s responsibility to use taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively. They questioned FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about the agency’s ongoing efforts to deliver assistance to Americans impacted by recent storms, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Following reports that at least one FEMA official engaged in political discrimination against supporters of President Donald Trump, members raised concerns about political bias within the agency and the broader impact of an unelected, unchecked federal workforce. The Oversight Committee remains committed to ensuring FEMA fulfills its mission of delivering aid promptly and plans to work with the incoming Trump Administration to hold poor performers and rogue federal employees accountable.    On Wednesday, November 20, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a full committee markup and passed the following legislation:
Rules On Monday, November 18, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:
  Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party On Wednesday, November 20, members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party participated in a bipartisan, interactive simulation run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the state of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Transportation and Infrastructure On Tuesday, November 19, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held a hearing with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell to discuss the Agency’s response to recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Members questioned Administrator Criswell about the slow response times to rural areas of the country and the amount of FEMA funding and resources dedicated to addressing the illegal migrant crisis at the Southern Border compared to the funds available for Americans impacted by impacted disasters. Additionally, Members demanded answers regarding the recent reports that FEMA supervisors provided guidance encouraging employees to avoid disaster victims’ homes that displayed Trump campaign signs or flags.    Veterans Affairs On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held an oversight hearing titled “VA Cybersecurity: Protecting Veteran Data from Evolving Threats.” During the hearing, subcommittee members examined the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) cybersecurity in light of recent audits by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the MITRE Corporation. Chairman Rosendale questioned VA Chief Information Officer Kurt DelBene about the reports’ findings that VA has significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities, some of which repeat year after year, and has made only limited progress remediating them. Mr. DelBene explained why he disputed many of the OIG and MITRE’s findings, principally that his risk-based cybersecurity approach is superior to their compliance-based approach. MITRE’s witness, Mr. David Power, argued that VA has no consistent cyber-risk management strategy. OIG’s witness, Mr. Michael Bowman, defended his recommendations. Representative Self pressed Mr. DelBene on how VA supervises its contractors’ handling of veterans’ data. Rep. Self and Rep. Luttrell questioned whether VA is demonstrating results from its cybersecurity budget. Finally, Chairman Rosendale agreed with the importance of the “Zero-Trust” cybersecurity defense that VA is pursuing, but emphasized that VA must demonstrate tangible improvements along the way, and that Zero-Trust cannot become a perpetual-motion machine producing an unending flow of taxpayer dollars to contractors.  On Wednesday, November 20, the Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing titled “Life After Limb Loss: Examining VA Amputee Prosthetics Care.” The hearing heard testimony from Dr. Michael Saslo, Chief of Prosthetics and Sensory Aids at the Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Matthew Brown, a U.S. Army veteran and amputee; Mr. Jose Ramos from Wounded Warrior Project; and Ashlie White with Amputee Coalition. The hearing examined delays in prosthetic care, barriers to advanced prosthetic technologies, and their impact on veterans’ mobility, independence, and quality of life. Testimony highlighted the unique challenges faced by Post-9/11 amputees, who often require specialized prosthetics to maintain active lifestyles and pursue their careers and family responsibilities. Mr. Brown, described his two-year struggle to receive a properly fitting prosthetic socket, calling the process demoralizing and overly bureaucratic. Mr. Ramos, an amputee himself, testified that he’s tried to work with VA for his prosthetic care but ultimately found it inadequate. He shared, "My care is better when left to DoD,” explaining that he is planning to return to Walter Reed for prosthetic services because the care provided by VA isn’t quality or timely. Chairwoman Miller-Meeks emphasized the critical importance of her legislation, H.R. 9478, the Veterans SPORT Act, which would expand access to adaptive prosthetics and recreational equipment for veterans. She stressed that VA must prioritize timely and effective prosthetic care to support veterans, particularly Post-9/11 amputees, in living full and independent lives. The hearing underscored the need for comprehensive reforms to VA’s prosthetic care system, ensuring veterans have access to the care and devices they need to thrive.  Ways and Means The U.S. House of Representatives overcame a Democrat blockade and passed bipartisan Ways and Means legislation that strengthens America’s national security and provides fair tax treatment to American hostages and those wrongfully detained abroad. Last week, House Democrats blocked the same legislation from passing even though it passed out of committee with unanimous support. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495) strips U.S.-based organizations of their tax-exempt status if they are found to be materially supporting terrorist organizations. For Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, the bill also prevents the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from charging penalties or assessing interest on taxes they owed while in captivity.    |