Hearings

Sep 26, 2018

Examining Misconduct and Retaliation at TSA

PURPOSE: To examine the Committee's findings into senior level misconduct and whistleblower retaliation at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). BACKGROUND: For several years, the Committee has been investigating senior level misconduct, mismanagement, whistleblower retaliation, and lack of transparency at TSA. The investigation found senior-level misconduct and retaliation against ...
Sep 26, 2018

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Fraud

PURPOSE: To discuss how to combat Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud from both a federal and state perspective. To explore how Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) can more effectively assist states in the program's administration. BACKGROUND: SNAP is a federal aid program administered through the Department of ...
Sep 26, 2018

Countering China: Ensuring America Remains the World Leader in Advanced Technologies and Innovation

PURPOSE: To discuss the effects Chinese trade practices have on American companies working to enter Chinese markets and to examine how to protect American economic and security interests. BACKGROUND: China has aggressively acquired American intellectual property through legal and illegal means, including espionage, state-sponsored theft, forced ...
Sep 6, 2018

Permitting: Finding a Path Forward

PURPOSE: To examine the economic cost of delays and inefficiencies in the federal environmental review and permitting system for infrastructure projects. BACKGROUND: On average, it takes eight to ten years to obtain permit approval for large infrastructure construction projects in the United States. These delays increase the overall project costs and directly harm communities while they wait for vital projects like safe ...
Aug 7, 2018

FIELD BRIEFING: Wildfire Management and Response: Challenges and Opportunities

To watch the livestream, please click here.
Jul 27, 2018

FIELD BRIEFING: Protecting our Waterways: Examining Federal Efforts to Control Asian Carp in Kentucky
Jul 26, 2018

The Federal Trade Commission’s Enforcement of Operation Chokepoint-Related Businesses

PURPOSE: To explore whether there may be links between Federal Trade Commission investigative targets and those pursued by Operation Chokepoint. BACKGROUND: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded. In 2012, the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) proposed an initiative ...
Jul 25, 2018

GAO High Risk Focus: Cybersecurity

PURPOSE: To review cybersecurity challenge areas highlighted by the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) High Risk interim report and discuss actions to resolve these challenges. To examine how the Federal Chief Information Officer intends to coordinate a government-wide response to address cybersecurity challenges. BACKGROUND: On July 25, 2018, GAO will release an interim report identifying four ...
Jul 25, 2018

Federal Grant Management

PURPOSE: To examine opportunities to modernize the federal grantmaking process. BACKGROUND: The federal government awards more than $700 billion in grants each year, of which nearly $600 billion is distributed to state and local governments. A complex grant management structure detracts from the ...
Jul 24, 2018

Shielding Sources: Safeguarding the Public’s Right to Know

PURPOSE: To discuss H.R. 4382, the Free Flow of Information Act, a shield law that conditions the federally compelled disclosure of information by journalists. BACKGROUND: In November 2017, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced the Free Flow of Information Act to protect the exercise of freely reporting critical ...