Press Releases
Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of April 8, 2024
Washington,
April 12, 2024
Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:
Appropriations On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Government Accountability Office, the Government Publishing Office, and the Congressional Budget Office." The Subcommittee heard testimony from agency heads on their budget requests for this upcoming fiscal year. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request For The Department Of Homeland Security." Committee Members pressed Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the Administration's open-border policies. It’s clear the Biden Administration has facilitated a crisis at the southern border – not secured it.  On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United States Navy and Marine Corps." The Subcommittee invited Secretary of the Navy Carlos De Toro and other leaders of the Navy to discuss ways to ensure our military has the resources it needs to defend our nation. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies held a hearing called "Member Day." To ensure that Members have an opportunity to provide input into the annual appropriations process, the Committee held a Member Day hearing. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Department of Education." Committee Members pressed Secretary Miguel Cardona on the Administration's student loan cancellation efforts, with Congressman Chuck Edwards saying “forcing America’s working class to pay for the student loans of those who decide to go to college is unfair, plain and simple.”  On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United States Capitol Police." The Subcommittee invited Chief J. Thomas Manger to discuss ways Congress can support the United States Capitol Police and ensure it has the resources to protect the Capitol, Members, staff, and visitors. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United States Army." The Subcommittee invited Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and other leaders of the Army to discuss ways to ensure our military has the resources it needs to defend the nation. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing called "Member Day." To ensure that Members have an opportunity to provide input into the annual appropriations process, the Committee held a Member Day hearing. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the United States Agency for International Development." Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart invited Administrator Samantha Power to testify on USAID’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.  On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing called "Member Day." To ensure that Members have an opportunity to provide input into the annual appropriations process, the Committee held a Member Day hearing. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for Navy and Marine Corps Military Construction and Family Housing." The Subcommittee and senior members of our military discussed key investments in our military bases, barracks, and other efforts. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing called "Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Members of the Subcommittee used the hearing with Director Christopher Wray to focus attention on the southern border, with Congressman Mike Garcia noting “the crisis at our southern border is a man-made problem, and the men responsible need to start taking it seriously. Director Wray needs to get the president to secure the border now.” Armed Services On Thursday, April 11, the House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life Panel, led by Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), released its report and policy recommendations to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. No servicemember should ever struggle to feed their family, live in roach infested barracks, or miss work due to lack of childcare. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) made it clear that the Panel’s recommendations will serve as the foundation of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  On Wednesday, April 10, the Armed Services Committee held a full committee hearing on U.S. military posture and national security challenges in Europe. In the two years since Putin launched his brutal invasion, President Biden’s half measures and hesitation regarding U.S. support for Ukraine has prolonged the war. Committee Members pushed the administration on their plan for a Ukrainian victory and on their efforts to ensure all 32 NATO allies meet the minimum 2% of GDP defense spending commitment. Members also discussed how Vladimir Putin winning would embolden our adversaries from China, Iran to North Korea, while causing U.S. partners to question American resolve and credibility. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation held a hearing on military operations in cyberspace and building cyber capabilities across the Department of Defense. In his opening statement, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said, “Through this latest NDAA, we incorporated new requirements, reports, and mandates into each of those same categories. And yet, here we are: there are still significant issues with our force design, our civilian and military workforce issues remain as challenging as they have the past ten years, and several cyber incidents targeting the defense industrial base have demonstrated that we’re as vulnerable now as we were a decade ago.” On Thursday, April 11, the Armed Services Committee received testimony from members of Congress on their national defense priorities for the FY25 NDAA. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and the Subcommittee on Readiness held a joint hearing for TRANSCOM and MARAD to discuss the posture and readiness of the mobility enterprise. In his opening statement, Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) said, “we cannot take our logistics capability for granted. We must be prepared to meet the logistics demands of a conflict against peer competitors halfway around the world.” In his opening statement, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) said, “Effective planning for contested logistics operations is critical for any near-peer conflict.” On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations held a hearing on the U.S. defense intelligence enterprise’s posture and to examine current capabilities and efforts to counter the People’s Republic of China. In his opening statement, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) said, “The Department’s efforts are focused on China as the priority of the National Defense Strategy, but once again, as we hold this hearing, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been raging for more than two years; North Korea continues to test nuclear missiles; on October 7, Hamas conducted a surprise attack on Israel leading to a prolonged violent conflict that Iran has leveraged, using its proxies to attack U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria while supporting the Houthi attacks on international shipping; and threats from terrorist organizations are still persistent across the globe.” On Friday, April 12, the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing called to review the FY25 budget request for missile defense and missile defeat programs. In his opening statement, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said, “Overall, I am concerned that these decisions simply accept too much risk, and that missile defense appears to have become a bill-payer for other capabilities in this budget.” Budget On Tuesday, April 9, Chairman Arrington penned an op-ed in the Daily Caller calling for the end of budget gimmicks and bringing more transparency and accountability to the budget process. Education and the Workforce On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing called "FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families, and Schools." Republicans AND Democrats used the hearing to get answers about Biden’s unmitigated disaster: the FAFSA rollout. The FAFSA is designed to make college accessible and affordable for students. Instead of doing its job (implementing a bipartisan law to simplify the FAFSA process) the administration focused its time, energy, and resources on its illegal student loan scheme. Biden’s Education Department has made mistake after mistake and sent out erroneous FAFSA data; many of these mistakes have no timeline for correction. The result? Forty percent of students’ futures are now in FAFSA limbo due to the administration’s bungled rollout.    On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing called "Unlocking Opportunity: Allowing Independent Contractors to Access Benefits." The dynamics of America’s workforce are rapidly changing, and it’s critical that we keep up by developing innovative policies that support this evolving framework. With a growing independent contractor population of over 73 million, it is increasingly important that these workers be able to keep their preferred work arrangements while having access to benefits such as health care, employer-sponsored retirement, and child care. Members had the opportunity to learn from experts about portable benefits models and the flexibility that independent work provides. Energy and Commerce   On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing called "Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services." The hearing focused on supporting patients’ access to telehealth and ensuring patients continue to have the choice whether to go to a doctor in person or use telehealth when appropriate and more convenient for them.  On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing called "American Nuclear Energy Expansion: Spent Fuel Policy and Innovation." Members discussed ways to improve the management of spent nuclear fuel as we work to unleash American nuclear energy. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing called "Where Are We Now: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996." Members discussed the future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and how we can ensure our children are safe and free speech is defended. Financial Services On Wednesday, April 10, the Committee on Financial Services, led by Chairman Patrick McHenry (NC-10), held a full committee hearing titled "Beyond Scope: How the SEC’s Climate Rule Threatens American Markets" on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) disastrous climate risk disclosure final rule. Republicans examined the numerous consequences of this fatally flawed rule which exceeds the agency’s authority, threatens our economy, and overwhelms investors with non-economic information.   On Thursday, April 11, Chairman McHenry and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) introduced the bipartisan Ransomware and Financial Stability Act. This legislation will protect the critical financial infrastructure that makes daily economic activity possible by deterring hackers and setting commonsense guide rails for financial institutions to respond to ransomware attacks.  Foreign Affairs On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing called "The Chinese Communist Party’s Malign Influence at the United Nations — It’s Getting Worse." At the hearing, witnesses outlined how the CCP and malign actors abroad undermine global agencies like the UN and international efforts to strengthen human rights or promote stability in favor of authoritarianism and chaos. On Wednesday, April 10, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "USAID’s Foreign Policy and International Development Priorities in the Era of Great Power Competition." USAID Administrator Samantha Power testified regarding her agency’s priorities, while Republican members raised questions about the agency’s effectiveness; during his questioning, Chairman McCaul raised concerns about whether U.S. humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan was being siphoned to the Taliban as the regime continues to abuse Afghans and sideline women and girls.    Homeland Security On Wednesday, April 10, the Committee on Homeland Security held a full committee markup of the following legislation:
   House Administration On Thursday, April 11, the Modernization Subcommittee held a markup on the following legislation:
  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence In a vote of 273 to 147, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which stops FBI querying abuses, prevents another Carter Page/Russia Hoax, and fixes and opens up the FISA Court. Chairman Turner spoke in favor of the legislation and highlighted how it would be the largest reform to the FBI and FISA in a generation.  Judiciary On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held a hearing called "Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: Part III – IP Protection for AI-Assisted Inventions and Creative Works" to examine the standards and policy considerations that should be applied to whether intellectual property (IP) protection should be given to inventions (patents) or creative works (copyrights) generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), including whether current and proposed rules on inventorship and authorship need to be changed. On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing called "Fighting for a Free Press: Protecting Journalists and their Sources" to examine the federal government's infringement on the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press, as well as federal shield law proposals.    Natural Resources On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing titled “Biden’s Border Crisis: Examining the Impacts of International Cartels Targeting Indian Country.” Taking advantage of the Biden administration’s flawed border policies, criminal cartels blatantly target Indian Country, in states far from the Southern border, such as Montana and Wyoming. The cartels single out these areas due to the higher prices illicit drugs will command in these areas as compared to other parts of the U.S., the vast expanses of rural and often unpatrolled lands, as well as ongoing jurisdictional concerns that complicate law enforcement responses. This hearing was a chance for members to hear from tribal leaders, learn more about this ongoing crisis, and discuss potential solutions to curb this catastrophe. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing titled “The National Wildlife Refuge System at Risk: Impacts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Proposed BIDEH Rule.” On Feb. 2, 2024, the USFWS issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would make sweeping changes to the ability of refuge managers to utilize key management tools. The rule states that certain practices, such as native predator control and cooperative agriculture, are prohibited unless refuge managers fully evaluate the potential environmental effects of the management activity in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This hearing was an opportunity for members to hear from witnesses from the USFWS and conservation experts from around the country to learn more about the proposed rule On Thursday, April 11, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing titled “Energizing the Territories: Promoting Affordable and Reliable Energy Sources for the U.S. Insular Areas.” The Biden administration’s sole prioritization of renewable energy sources, along with restrictions on liquified natural gas (LNG) and other baseload energy sources, have driven up utility costs for Americans across the states and territories. Territory residents in particular feel the effects of these high costs, as they pay among the highest rates for utilities in the U.S. while having some of the lowest income levels. This hearing was an opportunity for members to hear from administration officials, representatives from Insular Areas, and energy policy experts to learn more on how the prioritization on renewables is limiting the territories from accessing affordable and reliable energy.    Oversight and Accountability On Wednesday, April 10, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a full committee markup on the following legislation:
   On Thursday, April 11, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic sent a letter to Boston University requesting Dr. Gerald Keusch’s documents and communications with Dr. David Morens who served as former Senior Scientific Advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci and EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak based on information obtained from a whistleblower. Rules This week, the Rules Committee advanced measures to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to prevent abuses and protect the civil liberties of Americans (H.R. 7888), strengthen the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to intercept and catch these lawbreakers and keep our communities safe (H.R. 529), condemn President Biden and his administration for their disastrous open border policies (H. Res. 1112), and make clear that the House of Representatives opposes the Biden Administration pressuring Israel into a one-sided ceasefire (H. Res. 1117). Members reiterated how keeping Americans safe and secure is an essential part of the House Republican Commitment to America and discussed how those objectives are met in these measures. Additionally, the Rules Committee also welcomed a new Chairman: Congressman Michael Burgess, MD and a new member: Congressman Austin Scott.    Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party On Thursday, April 11, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken and Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the officials to be cautious when approving new flights between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, citing unfair market practices and security concerns. Small Business On Wednesday, April 10, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing called "Tax Day: Exploring the Adverse Effects of High Taxes and a Complex Tax Code." Members heard from both small business owners and from a policy economist about tax policies which have been successful and helped small businesses to thrive and grow. It was also highlighted how Biden’s budget proposal would make life more difficult for small businesses, raising their taxes while leaving them with persistent inflation and a heavy regulatory burden.    Transportation and Infrastructure On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing called "From Headquarters Building to Field Offices: Examining the FBI’s Real Estate Needs and Strategy." The hearing focused on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) massive real estate portfolio, consisting of a headquarters building in downtown Washington, D.C., 56 field offices, and more than 350 satellite offices. Members asked witnesses from the General Service Administration (GSA) and FBI about the FBI’s overall real estate strategy and how to save the taxpayers money without compromising the FBI’s mission.   Veterans Affairs On Tuesday, April 9, the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held an oversight hearing titled “VA Supply Chain Modernization: Ready for Prime Time?” Witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) testified about their forthcoming Supply Chain Modernization information technology project. The subcommittee determined it was necessary to hold the hearing after VA refused to provide cost, schedule, and performance information about the project for nearly a year. Chairman Rosendale expressed his frustration with the witnesses’ continued evasiveness and his concerns that the project is wildly ambitious and expensive, attempting to knit together an all-encompassing system to manage every aspect of VA’s supply chain from tongue depressors to X-ray machines, printer paper, and headstones. Chairman Rosendale and Rep. Self questioned the witnesses about the risks of being locked into one contractor with unclear requirements and insufficient buy-in from the VA employees who will use the system. The witnesses assured the subcommittee members that VA’s financial liability would initially be limited, but the members were skeptical given VA’s multi-billion dollar cost estimate for the project. On Wednesday, April 10, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a legislative hearing on the following legislation:
 Secretary Denis McDonough presented the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget request and representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Paralyzed Veterans of America presented the VA Independent Budget. Chairman Bost expressed his concern that VA has not managed its budget effectively. Specifically, the Department has requested a 9.8% increase for fiscal year 2025, most of which has already been provided as advance appropriations, but is nonetheless making widespread cuts including hiring restrictions, reducing roughly 10,000 positions the majority of which involve direct patient care, slashing information technology investment by 99%, and undertaking only two major construction projects. Chairman Bost expressed his skepticism about VA’s budget not adding up. Secretary McDonough reassured Committee members that cuts to the community care budget, which appear to exceed $10 billion, will be avoided by carrying unspent dollars forward. Secretary McDonough attributed other cuts to the Fiscal Responsibility Act but declined to explain why this was the case, given the fact that the law specifically exempted VA health care. Rep. Van Orden admonished the Secretary and minority members of the Committee for alarmist, baseless rhetoric alleging VA funding reductions during last year’s budget season. Rep. Luttrell implored the Secretary to use the resources that Congress provides for veteran suicide reduction in more innovative ways. Rep. Self asked the Secretary to update the Committee on VA’s implementation of the recent appropriations restriction on reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System without a judicial determination; the Secretary explained that VA is following the law prospectively but has not removed any veterans’ names from the list. The representatives of the Independent Budget described their priorities, which include funding levels for most VA programs exceeding VA’s request. Chairman Bost reminded the Secretary that VA has been late or incomplete in responding to over a dozen formal requests from the Committee, including refusing to provide any documents regarding an internal investigation of a VA attorney who made outrageous anti-Semitic comments on social media. VFW Legislative Director Patrick Murray, DAV Deputy Legislative Director Shane Liermann, and PVA Senior Advisor Roscoe Butler expressed their belief that greater investments in key areas like facilities and information technology can eventually reduce costs by making VA more efficient, and early action to address veterans’ unique medical needs can reduce more costly interventions later. Chairman Bost thanked the Independent Budget representatives and asked for their help in identifying waste and ineffective programs in VA.   Ways and Means On Tuesday, April 9, the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare held a field hearing in Chicago, Illinois titled “The Dignity of Work: Lifting Individuals Out of Poverty.” The hearing made Congressional history as the first hearing held in a homeless shelter by a House committee. A common theme among witness testimony was the power of work to provide not just an income, but also dignity, purpose, and meaning. The nation’s more than 80 federal welfare programs, that collectively cost $1 trillion, largely ignore the importance of connecting those in need to meaningful work, resulting in a social safety net that creates dependency, diminishes the human spirit, and traps people in poverty. Connections to work help put Americans on track toward a better life.
  On Thursday, April 11, the Committee on Ways and Means held a full committee hearing called "Expanding on the Success of the 2017 Tax Relief to Help Hardworking Americans." Ahead of the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at the end of 2025, the Ways and Means Committee is examining the policies and the record to determine how best to build on its success. Under the Trump tax cuts, real median household income increased by $5,000 and two years after the legislation was signed into law by President Trump, real wages rose by 4.9 percent. The economy grew 1 percent faster than projected, and the trend of American companies leaving the United States to set up operations and headquarters around the world came to an end. If the Trump tax cuts are not extended, working Americans would face steep tax increases and the economy would suffer in the years to come:
 |