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 in the Daily Digest section section on page D1119 on Nov. 16.
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)
U.S. POLICY IN THE CAUCASUS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine United States policy in the Caucasus, after receiving testimony from Karen Donfried, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, and Philip Reeker, Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, both of the Department of State.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
H.R. 3175, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 Main Street in Biloxi, Mississippi, as the
``Robert S. McKeithen Post Office Building''; and
The nominations of Robert Harley Shriver III, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and Richard L. Revesz, of New York, to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 3168, to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability date for certain provisions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 3308, to authorize the Colorado River Indian Tribes to enter into lease or exchange agreements and storage agreements relating to water of the Colorado River allocated to the Colorado River Indian Tribes, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 4104, to approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Hualapai Tribe and certain allottees in the State of Arizona, to authorize construction of a water project relating to those water rights claims, with an amendment; and
S. 5087, to amend the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to extend, and provide additional support for, the activities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians.
LEGISLATIVE HEARING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 4870, to approve the settlement of the water right claims of the Tule River Tribe, S. 4896, to approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the State of New Mexico, and S. 4898, to approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System in the State of New Mexico, after receiving testimony from Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Neil Peyron, Tule River Indian Tribe of California, Porterville; Raymond Loretto, Pueblo of Jemez, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico; Gabriel Galvan, Pueblo of Zia, Zia Pueblo, New Mexico; Randall Vicente, Pueblo of Acoma, Acoma, New Mexico; and Martin Kowemy, Jr., Pueblo of Laguna, Laguna, New Mexico.
SFC HEATH ROBINSON HONORING OUR PACT ACT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs implementation of the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act, after receiving testimony from Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health, Joshua Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy, performing the delegable duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits, Guy T. Kiyokawa, Assistant Secretary for Enterprise Integration, John W. Boerstler, Chief Veterans Experience Officer, Patricia R. Hastings, Chief Consultant, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Robert T. Reynolds, Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance, Veterans Benefits Administration, and Tracey Therit, Chief Human Capital Officer, all of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
