The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Senate Committee Meetings” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Daily Digest section on pages D503-D505 on May 12.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN AMERICA
Committee on Appropriations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine domestic violent extremism in America, after receiving testimony from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Department of Justice; and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded a hearing to examine military and civilian personnel programs in the Department of Defense in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Lernes Herbert, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Terry Adirim, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, Elizabeth P. Van Winkle, Executive Director, Office of Force Resiliency, Lieutenant General Gary M. Brito, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, N-1 and Chief of Naval Personnel, Lieutenant General Brian T. Kelly, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Lieutenant General David A. Ottingnon, USMC, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Patricia Mulcahy, Chief Human Capital Officer, United States Space Force, all of the Department of Defense.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces concluded a hearing to examine the Department of Defense budget posture for nuclear forces in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, Director, Navy Strategic Systems Program, General Timothy Ray, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Andrew Walter, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Matters, and Leonor Tomero, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, all of the Department of Defense.
THE PENTAGON
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine waste, fraud, cost overruns, and auditing at the Pentagon, after receiving testimony from Lawrence J. Korb, Center for American Progress, William D. Hartung, Center for International Policy, Mandy Smithberger, Project on Government Oversight, Roger Zakheim, Ronald Reagan Institute, and Tom Spoehr, The Heritage Foundation, all of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 82, to require a joint task force on air travel during and after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency;
S. 116, to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on injuries and deaths associated with consumer products, with an amendment;
S. 140, to improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 316, to establish a temperature checks pilot program for air transportation, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 497, to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and development grants;
S. 516, to plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced air mobility aircraft into the national airspace system, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1037, to provide for the establishment of a section of the website of the Department of Commerce that shall serve as the primary hub for information relating to Federal manufacturing programs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 1289, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reauthorize and modify the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program;
The nominations of Leslie B. Kiernan, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce, and Lina M. Khan, of New York, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Shannon Aneal Estenoz, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, and Radhika Fox, of California, to be an Assistant Administrator, and Michal Ilana Freedhoff, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances, who was introduced by Senator Markey, both of the Environmental Protection Agency, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
PRESIDENT'S TRADE POLICY AGENDA
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's 2021 trade policy agenda, after receiving testimony from Katherine C. Tai, United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Health Care concluded a hearing to examine the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, focusing on improving mental health and addiction services in our communities, after receiving testimony from Victor Armstrong, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh; Stephanie Woodard, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Carson City; Lenette Kosovich, Rimrock Foundation, Billings, Montana; and Malkia Newman, CNS Healthcare Anti-Stigma Program, Waterford, Michigan.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine COVID-19 pandemic and the United States international response, after receiving testimony from Gayle E. Smith, Coordinator for Global COVID Response and Health Security, Department of State; and Jeremy M. Konyndyk, Executive Director of COVID-19 Task Force, Office of the Administrator, United States Agency for International Development.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1351, to strengthen the security and integrity of the United States scientific and research enterprise;
S. 1316, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make a declaration of a significant incident, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1097, to establish a Federal rotational cyber workforce program for the Federal cyber workforce;
S. 1353, to promote United States values and fulfill agency missions through the use of innovative applied artificial intelligence technologies, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 73, to ban the Federal procurement of certain drones and other unmanned aircraft systems;
S. 1143, to prohibit certain individuals from downloading or using TikTok on any device issued by the United States or a government corporation;
S. 1330, to facilitate the reskilling of Federal employees, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1350, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a national risk management cycle, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1306, to provide for domestic sourcing of personal protective equipment, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 732, to strengthen Buy American requirements, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 1303, to ensure that certain Federal infrastructure programs require the use of materials produced in the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
GAO REPORT ON DUPLICATION, OVERLAP, AND FRAGMENTATION
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight concluded a hearing to examine the findings and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office's 2021 report on duplication, overlap, fragmentation and opportunities to achieve financial benefits, after receiving testimony from Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Jocelyn Samuels, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Seema Nanda, of Virginia, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor.
COVID-19 RESPONSE IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES OVERSIGHT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the COVID-19 response in native communities, focusing on tourism economies one year later, after receiving testimony from Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Economic Development Administration; Anthony M. Rodman, Acting Director, Office of Indian Economic Development, Department of the Interior; John De Fries, Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Honolulu; Sherry L. Rupert, American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Russell Dick, Huna Totem Corporation, Juneau, Alaska.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Deborah L. Boardman, and Lydia Kay Griggsby, both to be a United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, both introduced by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen, and Ronald L. Davis, of California, to be Director of the United States Marshals Service, Department of Justice, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN AMERICA
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety concluded a hearing to examine the essential role of immigrant workers in America, including S. 747, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the adjustment of status of essential workers, after receiving testimony from Ronald D. Vitiello, former Chief, Border Patrol, and former Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Rose Michelle Tilus, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Bruce Goldstein, Farmworker Justice, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum, both of Washington, D.C.; and Tom K. Wong, University of California San Diego, La Jolla.
CLAIMS PROCESS DURING COVID
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine supporting disabled veterans, focusing on the state of claims processing during and after COVID-19, after receiving testimony from Thomas J. Murphy, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, and Willie C. Clark, Sr., Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, both of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and Toby T. Mathew, Chief Officer, Office of Disability and Medical Assessment, Veterans Health Administration, all of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Elizabeth Curda, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office; Ryan Gallucci, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Shane Liermann, Disabled American Veterans, and Carmen McGinnis, Disabled American Veterans, all of Washington, D.C.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
