Hearings

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 24, 2018

Preserving Opportunities for Grazing on Federal Land

PURPOSE: To examine challenges faced by ranchers seeking to graze livestock on federal land and to identify opportunities for more productive range management practices. BACKGROUND: Congress mandated both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) manage federal land under "multiple use and sustained yield" principles to include livestock grazing. Access to public lands for grazing ...
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 ...
Jul 24, 2018

Cyber-securing the Vote: Ensuring the Integrity of the U.S. Election System

PURPOSE: To assess the role of the federal government, states, and localities in safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. election system. To determine what actions must be taken ahead of the 2018 midterm elections to ensure the voting process is secure. BACKGROUND: On November 29, 2017, the Subcommittees on Information Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs held a
Jul 18, 2018

Regulatory Divergence: Failure of the Administrative State

PURPOSE: To identify challenges imposed by divergent regulatory standards and examine opportunities to harmonize regulations through ...
Jul 17, 2018

A New Horizon in U.S.-Israel Relations: From an American Embassy in Jerusalem to Potential Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty over the Golan Heights

PURPOSE: To discuss the potential for American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in furtherance of U.S. national security interests. BACKGROUND: The Golan Heights is a strategically significant region located along the Israel-Syria border. In 1981, Israel permanently brought the Golan Heights under its law, jurisdiction, and administration. In February 2017, Israel's Prime ...
Jul 17, 2018

Tribal Energy Resources: Reducing Barriers to Opportunity

PURPOSE: To explore management challenges imposed by the fragmented regulatory process for energy development on tribal ...
Jul 12, 2018

Oversight of FBI and DOJ Actions Surrounding the 2016 Election: Testimony by FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok
Jul 11, 2018

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Global Threat

PURPOSE: To examine the threat of Muslim Brotherhood to the United States and its interests and how to effectively counter it. BACKGROUND: The Muslim Brotherhood is a radical Islamist organization that has generated a network of affiliates in over 70 countries. The Brotherhood has been designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries including Eygpt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The ...
Jun 27, 2018

Examining the Administration’s Government-wide Reorganization Plan

PURPOSE: To examine the government-wide reorganization plan and to understand Congress' role in evaluating and enacting government reorganization proposals. BACKGROUND: In March 2017, the President issued an executive order directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to propose a plan to reorganize governmental functions if redundancy is present and eliminate unnecessary ...