Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of March 3, 2025
Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:
Agriculture
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing called “The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives.” This hearing provided Members with an opportunity to hear directly from representatives of the livestock and poultry sectors about the most pressing issues they face, including animal health, the cost of production, regulatory matters, and price trends, and their priorities for the inclusion in the new farm bill.
The Avian flu outbreak that began and went unanswered during the Biden Administration was a major topic of discussion, along with USDA Secretary Rollins’ five-step plan to combat the disease and address rising egg prices.
Appropriations
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a Members' Day hearing, and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a Members' Day hearing. Chaired by Congressman Dave Joyce, the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee held its FY26 Member Day hearing, where lawmakers outlined their key priorities and funding objectives. Additionally, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, led by Chairman Robert Aderholt, held its own Member Day hearing, providing representatives an opportunity to advocate for critical programs and investments.
Armed Services
Following President Trump’s address to Congress, HASC Republicans praised President Trump’s announcement that Muhammed Sharifullah will face justice for his role in the Abbey Gate terrorist attack that killed 13 brave U.S. servicemembers.
HASC Republicans also praised President Trump’s decision to create a White House office of shipbuilding to revitalize American shipbuilding.
Education & Workforce
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing called "Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America's Workforce." This hearing gave Members an opportunity to examine key federal legislation that gives jobseekers the skills to find employment and matches job creators with skilled workers. There are nearly 8 million U.S. jobs open but the nearly 7 million unemployed do not have the skills needed to fill these available jobs. The nation’s workforce development system needs less red tape and more accountability, flexibility, and innovation. Republicans are committed to passing legislation, like the A Stronger Workforce for America Act, to ensure workers and job creators can be successful.
Energy and Commerce
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing called "Moving the Goalposts: How NIL is Reshaping College Athletics." During this hearing, members heard from witnesses how the patchwork of state laws surrounding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has created a chaotic and unpredictable system. They also discussed ways to stabilize the environment, supporting student-athletes while preserving integrity of college sports.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a full committee markup on the following legislation:
- H.R. 1618, the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (Latta)
- H.R. 1455, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) Codification Act (Carter)
- H.R. 1766, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act (Obernolte)
- H.R. 1765, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2025 (Kean)
- H.R. 1737, To direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. (Plaskett)
- H.R. 1709, the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (Landsman)
- H.R. 1679, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act (Evans)
- H.R. 1770, the Consumer Safety Technology Act (Soto)
- H.R. 1721, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act (Miller-Meeks)
- H.R. 1767, the Awning Safety Act of 2025 (Balderson)
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Communications & Technology held a hearing called "Fixing Biden’s Broadband Blunder." During this hearing, members discussed how the Biden-Harris Administration saddled the Broadband Equity, and Access program with red tape, failing to connect Americans. Members heard from expert witnesses how we can address the issues impacting the broadband landscape and ensure that all Americans are connected.
Financial Services
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing called "Building Our Future: Increasing Housing Supply in America." The subcommittee examined opportunities to close the middle-income housing supply gap. Members explored how macroeconomic factors such as inflation, labor costs, and construction inputs drive up the price of new middle-income housing units for developers; analyzed how outdated regulations and red tape create significant barriers to bringing new units online; and explored bipartisan solutions to address housing supply challenges.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity held a hearing called “Examining Monetary Policy and Economic Opportunity.” The Task Force explored the current set of tools the Federal Reserve employs to conduct monetary policy and examined the interconnections between monetary policy and Americans’ economic prosperity. Members examined the effects of monetary policy on the U.S. economy for households and businesses, financial markets and the negative effects certain regulations can have on financial markets’ resilience and their role as the intermediator of monetary policy.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Committee on Financial Services held a full committee markup of the following legislation:
- H.J. Res. 59, Disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ‘‘Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions (Hill)
- H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025 (Barr)
- H.R. 910, the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 (Kim)
- H.R. 1474, the International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2025 (Hill)
- H.R. 1549, the China Financial Threat Mitigation Act of 2025 (Williams)
- H.R. 1577, the Stop Fentanyl Money Laundering Act of 2025 (Ogles)
- H.R. 1602, the Financial Privacy Act of 2025 (Davidson)
- H.R. 1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025 (Lucas)
- H.R. 1716, the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2025 (McClain)
- H.R. 1450, the OFAC Licensure for Investigators Act (Beatty)
- H.R. 1764, the Aligning SEC Regulations for the World Bank's International Development Act (Waters)
Foreign Affairs
On Wednesday, March 5, the Europe Subcommittee held a hearing called “Bridging the Gap: Turkey Between East and West.” In this hearing, members evaluated Turkey's geopolitical positioning between Europe and the Middle East, examining its role within NATO, its relations with the European Union, and its strategic engagements with Russia and the broader Middle East. Members assessed how the United States can navigate its partnership with Turkey to strengthen transatlantic security, address democratic backsliding, and enhance economic and defense cooperation while managing areas of divergence.
Homeland Security
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Future of FEMA: Perspectives from the Emergency Management Community.” In this hearing, members evaluated the current role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), particularly its handling of taxpayer dollars, expanding mission sets, and coordination with state and local governments during disaster or emergency response. Throughout the hearing, members assessed ways FEMA can better balance coordination with states in its disaster response, recovery, and community resilience mission.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a hearing entitled, “The Digital Battlefield: How Terrorists Use the Internet and Online Networks for Recruitment and Radicalization.” Witnesses provided testimony about how foreign terrorist organizations use the internet and emerging technology to recruit, radicalize, and inspire attacks in the homeland. Chairman Pfluger also introduced the “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act,” which would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats to the U.S. posed by terrorist organizations, like ISIS and al Qaeda, utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications for terroristic activity.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Homeland Security Committee held a full committee hearing entitled, “Countering Threats Posed by the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Security.” In this hearing, witnesses provided testimony on the growing threat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses to our national security. This hearing covered a wide range of topics including the CCP’s infiltration of American higher education, and use of cyber espionage and intellectual property theft tactics—all to attempt to establish its position as the dominant world power.
House Administration
On Tuesday, March 4, the Committee on House Administration held a full committee hearing entitled, “Member Day: Committee on House Administration.” In this hearing, Committee members heard from their fellow Representatives about different legislation that the Committee might consider, as well as suggestions on how to make the Capitol a better, more efficient place to work.
Judiciary
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held a hearing called "The Right to Self Defense," to examine an individual's right to self-defense, protected by the Second Amendment. The hearing also examined the efficacy of gun control policies and the related effect on public safety.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing called "Legislative Reforms to End Lawfare by State and Local Prosecutors," to examine the use of lawfare tactics by the Biden-Harris Administration to weaponize the rule of law against political opponents. It will further highlight legislative reforms to end politically motivated state and local prosecutions.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Judiciary Committee held a markup session to consider the following legislation:
- H.R. 1789, the Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act (Fry)
- H.R. 1526, the No Rogue Rulings Act (Issa)
- H.R. 1702, the JUDGES Act of 2025 (Issa)
- H.R. 1605, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025 (Fitzgerald)
Natural Resources
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing titled “Understanding the Consequences of Experimental Populations Under the Endangered Species Act.” Although well-intentioned, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been exploited by both the federal government and radical environmental organizations over the years to stifle development and hinder species conservation. Over time, previous administrations, acquiescing to radical environmental groups, have weaponized the 10(j) process while ignoring crucial local stakeholder input. To return to the ESA’s original intent, the FWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must prioritize local input from stakeholders on the ground rather than radical environmental groups with conflicting interests.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing titled “Examining the Office of Insular Affairs' Role in Fostering Prosperity in the Pacific Territories and Addressing External Threats to Peace and Security.” As part of the U.S. homeland, the U.S. Pacific territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands are on the frontlines against attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to undermine U.S. leadership and interests in the IndoPacific. It is critically important for national security that the U.S. government counter these activities of the PRC and the DPRK in the U.S. Pacific territories. Relevant federal agencies must coordinate to ensure the U.S. effectively counters these maligned activities.
Oversight & Government Reform
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a hearing called “Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement.” Subcommittee members discussed cutting-edge technologies that can be utilized by law enforcement officers to assist in tracking, identifying, and deporting illegal aliens within the United States. Subcommittee members also discussed the Biden Administration’s disastrous border policies and failure to adequately use technology solutions.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a full committee hearing called “A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors.” Members highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration created the worst border crisis in American history. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has acted swiftly to deliver on his promise to restore the rule of law and secure the border. During the hearing, the mayors of Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Boston refused to denounce their cities’ reckless policies that forbid their officials, including those in law enforcement and public safety roles, from sharing information with the federal government about criminal illegal aliens in local custody or transferring them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the secure confines of a custodial setting. Members stressed that Congress must not allow these policies to continue endangering American communities. They concluded that Congress should also begin evaluating federal funding allocated to sanctuary cities and ensure mayors who defy federal immigration law are held accountable.
Rules
On Monday, March 3, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:
- H.J. Res. 42, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions for Certain Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment" (Clyde)
- H.J. Res. 61, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing" (Griffith)
- S.J. Res. 11, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to ‘‘Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources’’ (Kennedy)
Science, Space, and Technology
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing called “Assessing the Threat to U.S. Funded Research.” Witnesses joined to discuss the current threat to the U.S. research enterprise posed by malign foreign actors, which includes the risk to federal, state, non-governmental institutions, and academia. Members also learned about the different trends and tactics used to steal, exploit, and undermine U.S. science, research, development, and deployment.
Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
On Wednesday, March 5, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing titled "End the Typhoons: How to Deter Beijing’s Cyber Actions and Enhance America’s Lackluster Cyber Defenses." Chairman Moolenaar expressed concern over the escalating cyber warfare campaign by the Chinese Communist Party against the United States, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced offensive and defensive measures to protect critical infrastructure and national security. The hearing effectively addressed these key issues: China's increasingly aggressive behavior in cyberspace, marked by both expanded scope and intensity, highlights a growing threat that the U.S. has failed to effectively counter. Despite possessing strong offensive cyber capabilities, the U.S. must urgently improve its defensive posture, shifting from a weak stance to a more competent one, in order to deter and challenge Chinese actions in the digital realm. The witnesses for the hearing included Mr. Rob Joyce, Dr. Emma M. Stewart, and Ms. Laura Galante, who provided expert insights on cybersecurity threats, and committee members questioned them on key issues surrounding the Chinese cyber threat and national security.
Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Ashley Hinson, other committee members, and the Coalition for a Prosperous America, held a press conference on Wednesday to address China’s unfair trade practices, including intellectual property theft and trade fraud. The event featured the introduction of Rep. Hinson's new bill on trade crimes as well as a legislative update on efforts to strengthen U.S. defenses against China’s economic coercion.
On Thursday, March 6, Chairman John Moolenaar sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting a briefing from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on export control restrictions regarding university supercomputers that use export-controlled chips, which may be accessed by Chinese entities. The letter expresses concerns about China's attempts to circumvent U.S. export controls and its efforts to gain access to advanced computing resources for military and technological advancements that threaten U.S. national security. It highlights the importance of safeguarding academic resources and urges BIS to provide clarity on the national security risks posed by PRC nationals accessing supercomputers at U.S. universities.
The Chairman also sent a letter to Hui Zhao of China Telecom, addressing serious national security concerns regarding the company's potential continued operations in the United States. The Committee requested detailed information about China Telecom’s infrastructure, agreements, and ties to the Chinese government, military, and intelligence agencies, emphasizing the risks of unauthorized data access, espionage, and violations of U.S. security.
Small Business
On Tuesday, March 4, the House Committee on Small Business hosted Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler for a meeting with the Republican members of the Committee.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee markup where all seven bills considered were passed by the Committee.
- H.R. 1642, the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025 (Williams)
- H.R. 789, the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act (Latimer)
- H.R. 787, the Plain Language in Contracting Act (LaLota)
- H.R. 1621, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2025 (McGarvey)
- H.R. 1634, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act (Stauber)
- H.R. 1816, the WOSB Accountability Act (Velazquez)
- H.R. 1804, the 7(a) Agent Oversight Act (Meuser)
Transportation and Infrastructure
This week, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee continued its America Builds hearing series with meetings of the Subcommittee on Aviation, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing to discuss the need for investments in the air traffic control (ATC) system and staffing. Recent tragic accidents have highlighted the need to improve the ATC system, and President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both voiced support for new investments in ATC hiring, facilities, and technologies. The FAA Reauthorization Act – signed into law last year – also included provisions to promote controller hiring and technology improvements. In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls said, “I want to be very clear: the reason that we are here today is that, in its current form, this country’s air traffic control system is unsustainable. That statement shouldn’t come as a surprise to those in this room. In fact, many of the panelists before us today have been ringing the alarm bell for decades on the need for ATC modernization, increased hiring of controllers, and stable funding streams for the FAA.”
On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation met to discuss the Coast Guard’s modernization efforts and what they need to continue performing their critical mission. The Coast Guard has continued to face funding issues while their responsibilities have continued to grow. Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell noted, “The Coast Guard’s ability to ‘do more with less’ has unfortunately encouraged years of underinvestment and ever-increasing mission demands that have pushed the Service to the breaking point.”
Wednesday afternoon the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing entitled, “America Builds: Making Federal Real Estate Work for the Taxpayer.” For years, too much of the taxpayers’ money has been wasted on the inefficient use of federally owned public buildings – from underutilized office spaces to federal properties that sit empty but cost money to maintain. This week’s hearing was a continuation of the Committee’s work overseeing federal real estate programs.
Veterans Affairs
On Tuesday, March 4th, the House and Senate Veteran Affairs Committees held a joint hearing entitled, "Legislative Presentation of The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. & Multi VSOs: Paralyzed Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and National Coalition for Homeless Veterans before the House and Senate VSO Joint Hearing.” Chairman Bost expressed support for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S for their efforts in assisting servicemembers transition to civilian life. GOP members questioned panelists about the barriers servicemembers face in getting to TAP on time and asked the panelists how Congress can best support veteran employment. Additionally, Chairman Bost raised several issues from the previous administration regarding VA’s alleged budget shortfall and ensuring veterans receive timely access to community care. The second panel included various witnesses from VSO stakeholders who expressed their desire to work with the incoming administration on the implementation of the PACT Act and the Elizabeth Dole Act.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a legislative hearing on the following legislation:
- Discussion Draft, the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act
- Discussion Draft, the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025
- Discussion Draft, To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for certain fee agreements for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of initial claims and supplemental claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes
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