Hill Heat

On Monday, May 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (CDT), the Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold an oversight field hearing titled “Improving Access and Opportunities for Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation on America’s Federal Lands.” The hearing will examine barriers that sportsmen and women face to accessing our federal lands and commonsense solutions that promote greater hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

This hearing will be held at The Steakhouse and Lodge, 15860 T Bone Lane, Hayward, Wisconsin.

Witnesses:

• Rob Stafsholt, State Senator, New Richmond, Wisconsin
• Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
• Luke Hilgemann, Executive Director, International Order of T. Roosevelt
• Tom Dougherty, President, Voyageur Country Houseboat Operators Association, International Falls, Minnesota
• Duane Taylor, Director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs, Motorcycle Industry Council, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association

A subcommittee hearing on the FY 2025 budget for the Department of Labor. The budget request is $13.9 billion, $10.3 billion of which is for the Employment and Training Administration.

Chair Tammy Baldwin

Witness:

• Julie Su, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor

The Department of Labor is not directly funding the Climate Corps program. However, the Budget provides an increase of $50 million in apprenticeship programs, for a total of $335 million. This funding would expand access to existing Registered Apprenticeship programs in support of clean energy and climate-related industries and occupations.

The Budget provides $50 million as a set-aside within the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to launch the SECTOR program, which would seed and scale a comprehensive approach to sector partnerships, needed wraparound services, and training programs for underserved workers, with a particular focus on clean energy sectors, in support of Inflation Reduction Act implementation.

Nomination hearing.

Nominees:

• John N. Nkengasong, of Georgia, to be Ambassador-At-Large for Global Health Security and Diplomacy
• Kristen Sarri, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

Kris Sarri, former president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, consulting firm Go Blue

“To address the climate crisis, we must build partnerships and coalitions across diverse stakeholders and sectors, find shared interests, translate policy into impact and effectively communicate why it matters.”

Subcommittee hearing on member requests for the FY2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies budget.

Subcommittee hearing on member requests for the FY2025 budget for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

A subcommittee hearing on the GAO, CBO, and GPO FY2025 budget.

Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.)

Witnesses:

• Phillip Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office
• Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General, U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Hugh N. Halpern, Director, Government Publishing Office

The Government Accountability Office placed climate change on its High Risk list in 2013, and has a comprehensive list of recommendations for improving federal climate resilience.

The Congressional Budget Office assesses the costs and benefits of climate policy and of the costs of inaction.

Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2025 budget request for the Department of the Interior.

Chair Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)

Witness:

• Deb Haaland, Secretary, Department of the Interior

The Department’s 2025 budget totals $18.0 billion in current authority ($17.8 billion in net discretionary authority)—an increase of $575.9 million, or 3 percent, from the 2024 continuing resolution (CR) level. An additional $360.0 million is accessible through a budget cap adjustment for wildfire suppression to ensure funds are available in the event the regular annual appropriation is inadequate to meet suppression needs. The budget also includes an estimated $14.8 billion in permanent funding available in 2025.

Subcommittee hearing of the $7.2 billion Food and Drug Administration budget request.

Chair Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)

Witness:

• Dr. Robert M. Califf, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration

The FY 2025 President’s Budget provides $8.0 million for Modernization of Cosmetics Implementation, for the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS). These resources will be used to hire additional staff for continued strategic coordination and implementation of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA). Resources will be used for activities to develop proposed and/or final regulations (for Good Manufacturing Practices, asbestos testing of talc-containing cosmetics products, and disclosing fragrance allergens on labeling) and compliance policies. Funds will also be used to maintain and update submission platforms to address MoCRA provisions for registration, product listing, and adverse event reporting, as well as review of such information to ensure industry compliance with those requirements. The new funding would also support hiring additional experts to manage critical projects such as assessments of the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetic products. FDA will hire staff across OCS and the Office of Cosmetics and Colors to enable FDA to work toward a modernized cosmetics regulatory program.

Subcommittee hearing on the FY2025 budget request for the Department of Defense. The budget request is $849.8 billion.

Chair Jon Tester (D-Mont.)

Witnesses

• Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense
• General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Subcommittee hearing on member requests for the FY2025 budget for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies.