Nominations Hearing for FRA, Amtrak, and Commerce

Full committee hearing.

Nominees:

  • David Fink, of New Hampshire, to be Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
  • David Fogel, of Connecticut, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service
  • Pierre Gentin, of New York, to be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce
  • Robert Gleason, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors

David Armstrong Fink is a former president of Pan Am Railways and son of the late David Andrew Fink, a career railroader who worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Penn Central before serving as president of Guilford Transportation, later rebranded as Pan Am Railways. The younger Fink began his career with General Motors in the 1980s, and became Pan Am Railways president in 2006 after serving as executive vice president in 1998. He remained president through Pan Am’s acquisition by CSX Transportation.

In the 96-year history of McKinsey & Company, Pierre Gentin is the first senior partner not to have served as a management consultant. Hired into the partnership in 2019, Gentin is McKinsey’s global general counsel (GC), and his legal résumé includes tours as a federal prosecutor in New York, as the global head of litigation for Credit Suisse, and as a partner at the Wall Street firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel.

David Fogel served as Co-Founder, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of IndexIQ, an innovative indexing business and exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuer currently with over $4 billion in assets under management. In April 2015, New York Life, a Fortune 75 company, completed its acquisition of IndexIQ. Fogel began his career in 1997 as a corporate attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, securities, and private investment funds. In 1999, he co-founded SmartPortfolio.com, Inc., which became a leading email financial newsletter business with over 250,000 subscribers that was sold to TheStreet.com, Inc., a publicly-traded financial information company, in 2000. After the sale, Fogel joined TheStreet.com where he integrated his prior business and led new product development. In 2003, he helped launch Circle Peak Capital LLC, a private equity firm focused on investments in small-cap consumer product and financial services companies. In 2005, Fogel became Vice President at Groton Partners, a boutique merchant bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated private investments. In 2006, he left Groton Partners to start IndexIQ with two partners. In September 2020, Fogel was appointed by Trump Senior Advisor and Chief Business Development Officer in the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the United States Department of State. Prior to the State Department, he was appointed as Chief of Staff, the number two position, at The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

Rob Gleason was the chair of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party from 2006-2017. He was supposed to be part of an alternate slate of electors, as the former president attempted to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in 2020, but “refused to come to Harrisburg” to be a part of it. Gleason was one of the 19 electors for Trump in 2024 after his second successful campaign for the presidency.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
253 Russell

05/13/2025 at 10:00AM

A Review of the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security

Subcommittee hearing.

Witness:

  • Kristi Noem, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
"President Trump has been very clear since the beginning that he believes that FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people, and that FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated in empowering states to respond to disasters with federal government support."

Budget request:

Department of Homeland Security
Increases
Program$ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions)Description
DHS +43,800 Amounts for DHS in the 2026 Budget complement amounts that the Administration has requested as part of the reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the Congress. Reconciliation would allocate more than $175 billion in additional multiyear budget authority to implement the Administration’s priorities in the homeland security space of which at least an estimated $43.8 billion would be allocated in 2026. Reconciliation funding in 2026 would enable DHS to fully implement the President’s mass removal campaign, finish construction of the border wall on the Southwest border, procure advanced border security technology, modernize the fleet and facilities of the Coast Guard, and enhance Secret Service protective operations. Reconciliation would also provide funding to bolster State and local capacity to enhance security around key events and facilities, and prepare for upcoming special events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Program$ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions)Description
Non-Disaster Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs -646 The Budget reduces FEMA grant programs. FEMA under the previous administration made equity a top priority for emergency relief, which will end. The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium will be eliminated.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) -491 The Budget refocuses CISA on Federal network defense and enhancing the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. The Budget eliminates programs focused on misinformation and propaganda as well as external engagement offices such as international affairs.
Shelter and Services Program -650 The Budget proposes eliminating the Shelter and Services Program.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Screening -247 The Budget reduces Transportation Security Officer levels.
Senate Appropriations Committee
   Homeland Security Subcommittee
124 Dirksen

05/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Nominations of William Doffermyre to be Solicitor of Interior, Catherine Jereza to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity, Kyle Haustveit to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy

The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nominations of Mr. William Doffermyre to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, Ms. Catherine Jereza to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Electricity), and Mr. Kyle Haustveit to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Fossil Energy).

Held in conjunction with a business meeting to vote on previous nominees.

Witnesses:

Doffermyre reported earning $2.2 million in salary and bonuses last year as assistant general counsel and senior director of the Texas-based firm Energy Transfer’s Alternative Energy Group. He also reported a $790,000 severance payment from the company, which he joined in 2019. He left Energy Transfer in February to serve as a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as he awaits his Senate confirmation hearing to serve as the department’s solicitor. Doffermyre was general Counsel for Lake Charles LNG; and was former general counsel, Overseas Private Investment Corp.

Katie Jereza is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transmission Permitting & Technical Assistance (TPTA) in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity. She served as the Director for Infrastructure Resilience at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) where she co-led the smarter energy infrastructure initiative and helped launch the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council’s Cyber Mutual Assistance program. She was a management consultant with the McLeod Group, LLC and Energetics Incorporated and also worked for the Maryland Department of the Environment, GE Water and Process Technologies (formerly BetzDearborn), and the Lincoln Electric Company.

Kyle Haustveit is a professional petroleum engineer and geoscience manager with Devon Energy. He is the manager of Devon Energy Ventures, the newly formed corporate venturing arm of US-headquartered oil and gas supplier Devon Energy. He is experienced in unconventional reservoirs with a focus on completions design, diagnostics and field development. Devon Energy was an early-stage investor in US-based internet-of-things analytics software company Seeq Corporation, which received funding from Altira Group Fund VI. Seeq is also backed by Chevron Technology Ventures and Next47, part of energy group Chevron and industrial equipment manufacturer Siemens respectively.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen

05/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Votes on Nominations of Andrea Travnicek, Leslie Beyer, Theodore Garrish, and Tristan Abbey

Business meeting to vote on nominees. Their nomination hearing took place on April 30th.

Nominees:

  • Dr. Andrea Travnicek to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Water and Science).
  • Leslie Beyer to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Lands and Mineral Management).
  • Theodore Garrish to be Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy).
  • Tristan Abbey to be Administrator of Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy.

Heinrich announced his support for Travnicek, Beyer, and Garrish.

Travnicek and Beyer:

  • aye: Lee, Risch, Daines, Cotton, McCormack, Justice, Cassidy, Hyde-Smith, Murkowski, Hoeven
  • aye by proxy: Barrasso
  • aye: Heinrich
  • aye by proxy: King, Gallego
  • no: Cantwell, Hickenlooper, Padilla
  • no by proxy: Wyden, Hirono, Cortez Masto

ayes 14 - 6, 11 ayes present.

Garrish: same vote, but Barrasso is present.

Abbey:

  • aye: Lee, Barrasso, Risch, Daines, Cotton, McCormack, Justice, Cassidy, Hyde-Smith, Murkowski, Hoeven
  • aye by proxy: King
  • no: Heinrich, Cantwell, Hickenlooper, Padilla, Cortez Masto
  • no by proxy: Wyden, Hirono, Gallego

ayes 12-8

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen

05/08/2025 at 09:30AM

Rally at the Capitol: Stop Clean Energy Bans and Polluter Giveaways

Over the next few weeks, we’re watching the House closely as Republicans kick off voting on their budget reconciliation bill, which is chock-full of handouts to polluters and billionaires and is on track to be one of the most harmful, costly, and sweeping pieces of legislation in recent history.

On Wednesdays, May 7, 14, and 21st starting around 4pm we’re rallying at the U.S. Capitol steps to fight back against Republicans’ attempts to pass massive cuts to essential programs to provide handouts to billionaires and polluters. RSVP now.

League of Conservation Voters
Capitol
05/07/2025 at 04:00PM

Oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Subcommittee hearing

Witness:

  • Cam Hamilton, Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Hamilton testified in defense of FEMA:

As the senior advisor to the President on disasters and emergency management, and to the Secretary of Homeland Security, I do not believe it is in the best interest the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Having said that, I am not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the President of the United States and this governing body.
House Appropriations Committee
   Homeland Security Subcommittee
2008 Rayburn

05/07/2025 at 02:00PM

Tags:

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for U.S. Department of Agriculture

Subcommittee hearing.

Witness:

  • Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture

Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), Ranking Member Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.)

Budget request:

Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Increases
Program(millions of $)Description
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) +15 FSIS inspects meat, poultry, and egg product plants to ensure food safety nationwide. Several States have their own equivalent inspection program, and FSIS shares in the cost of these programs. Increases are needed to support increased production and demand for services.
Rental Assistance Grants +74 The Budget provides funding to renew the rental assistance grant contracts at $1.7 billion. This prevents the default of the $9 billion in USDA underwritten multifamily housing direct loans, that depend on the rental assistance grants for the debt service.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Program(millions of $)Description
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) -602 The Budget eliminates programming in NIFA, such as activities related to climate change, renewable energy, and promoting DEI in education that were prioritized under the Biden Administration. In addition, the Budget reduces funding for formula grants. Instead, the Budget focuses on the merit-based Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The Budget protects funding to youth and K-12 programs such as 4-H clubs, tribal colleges, and universities. This investment would help prepare future generations of farmers. It also ensures HBCUs are amply funded.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and USDA Research Statistical Agencies -159 The Budget reduces funding for research sites across the Nation and reduces funding for research projects. The Budget also makes small reductions to the Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service to stop climate research added by the Biden Administration while ensuring some analysis and data collection continues.
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)—Private Lands Conservation Operations -754 The Budget eliminates discretionary funding for conservation technical assistance. While funding has helped producers deploy conservation practices on their lands, many have been forced to participate in the program in order to comply with State environmental regulations such as California’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, which regulates agricultural runoff.
NRCS Watershed Operations -16 The Budget eliminates funding to renovate locally owned dams in the NRCS Watershed Programs. These programs received an influx of funding through IIJA. Currently, there is over $100 million in unobligated balances between the two programs.
Rural Development Programs -721 Infrastructure loans are prioritized for aging rural water and wastewater systems, as well as technical assistance through the “Circuit Rider” program balanced with reductions in the grants. Other specialty water grants and earmarks are not funded except where the tax base cannot support loans, including maintaining funding for Native American Tribes. Community facility grants are eliminated, as the Congress has been earmarking nearly 100 percent of them. No new USDA funding is needed for broadband expansion. The Budget would also eliminate rural business programs, single family housing direct loans, self-help housing grants, telecommunications loans, and rural housing vouchers. Rural Development salaries and expenses are reduced commensurately.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Salaries and Expenses: Farm Production and Conservation-Business Center (FPACBC) -358 The first Trump Administration placed the FSA, NRCS, and Risk Management Agency under one umbrella: FPAC-BC. The staff-heavy FSA struggles with hiring due in part because of labor market competition. The Budget reduces funding in order to reflect the Agency’s plans for efficiencies, which include improving online services.
National Forest System Management -392 The Budget reduces salaries and expenses by $342 million, and saves an additional $50 million by eliminating funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, and reducing funding for recreation, vegetation and watershed management, and land management regulation. The Budget fully supports the Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” to improve forest management and increase domestic timber production. The requested funding level supports timber sales, hazardous fuels removal, mineral extraction, grazing, and wildlife habitat management.
Forest Service Operations -391 The Budget reduces funding for expenses including salaries and facility leases to streamline the Agency’s management structure and reduce their real property footprint.
State, Local, Tribal, and NGO Conservation Programs -303 The Budget reduces grant programs that subsidize management of State and privately-owned forests. While the Budget provides reduced support for Federal wildland fire management activities, these partners should be encouraged to fund their own community preparedness and risk mitigation activities.
Forest and Rangeland Research (Except Forest Inventory and Analysis) -300 The President has pledged to manage national forests for their intended purpose of producing timber. The Budget reduces funding for the Forest and Rangeland Research program because it is out of step with timber production, but maintains funding for Forest Inventory and Analysis, a longstanding census of forest resources and conditions.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) -425 The Budget ends CSFP and replaces it with MAHA food boxes. The MAHA food boxes provide food directly to seniors. Unlike the current approach using food banks, which provide those in need with shelf-stable foods, MAHA boxes would be filled with commodities sourced from domestic farmers and given directly to American households.
McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program -240 The McGovern-Dole Food for Education program buys agricultural commodities from U.S. farmers and donates them in the form of foreign aid. Only a small portion of the program’s funding goes toward purchasing U.S. commodities, given the high transportation costs and large portion of funding provided for technical assistance. While these donated commodities totaled only $37 million in 2023 (0.01 percent of all U.S. crop sales), they undercut commodity prices in markets abroad. The elimination of this program is consistent with the elimination of other in-kind international food donation programs in the Budget, including Food for Progress and Food for Peace Title II Grants.
House Appropriations Committee
   Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
2362-A Rayburn

05/07/2025 at 10:00AM

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for U.S. Department of Energy

Subcommittee hearing.

Chair Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)

Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)

Witness:

  • Chris Wright, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Budget request:

Department of Energy
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Program(millions of $)Description
IIJA Cancellation -15,247 The Budget cancels over $15 billion in funds committed to build renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other technologies. The Budget also ends funding to electric vehicle and battery makers and cancels the Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) -2,572 The Budget reorients EERE programs to early-stage research and development programming, eliminating funding for climate change-related activities like the Biden Administration’s Justice40. This proposal would support technologies that promote fossil-fuel power and other priorities, such as bioenergy.
Office of Science -1,148 The Budget reduces funding for climate change and renewable energy research. The Budget maintains U.S. competitiveness in areas such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, fusion, and critical minerals.
Environmental Management (EM) -389 The EM program performs activities at 14 active cleanup sites and operates a geologic disposal facility (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico). The EM topline is being reduced by $389 million, which reflects a reduction of about $178 million for the transfer of responsibility from the EM program to the National Nuclear Security Administration for the Savannah River site in South Carolina, where plutonium pit production capabilities would be developed. The Budget maintains the Hanford site in Washington at the 2025 enacted level but reduces funding for various cleanup activities at other sites.
Advanced Research Project Agency‒ Energy (ARPA-E) -260 The Budget reduces funding for ARPA-E.
Office of Nuclear Energy -408 The Budget reduces funding for non-essential research on nuclear energy. Continued research priorities include developing innovative concepts for nuclear reactors, researching advanced nuclear fuels, and maintaining the capabilities of the Idaho National Laboratory.
Office of Fossil Energy (and Carbon Management) -270 The Budget renames the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management back to the Office of Fossil Energy, focusing on the research of technologies that could increase extraction of domestic fossil energy and critical minerals.
House Appropriations Committee
   Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee
2359 Rayburn

05/07/2025 at 10:00AM