A Busy Congressional Action Week: Diversity in the Boardroom, Poverty in America, SNAP, Quality Family Planning Care, Veterans Survivors of Military Sexual Assault and Who Was Vera Rubin?

This Week 

Wilber Wilberforce by Karl Anton Hickel, c. 1794, member of the English Parliament and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade … (see the bill to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008)

The House is scheduled to complete consideration of H.R. 2740, a minibus bill that contains the FY2020 Defense; Energy and Water; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs spending bills.

Floor Action:

Mark-Ups:

Human Trafficking — On Thursday, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is scheduled to mark up S. 1494, the Secure and Protect Act of 2019; a Legislative Fix to the Crisis at the Southwest Border, a bill to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.

STEM —  On Thursday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is scheduled to mark up several bills, including H.R. 36, the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act; H.R. 2528, the STEM Opportunities Act; and H.R. 3196, a bill to designate the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as the “Vera Rubin Survey Telescope.”*

Hearings:

Employment – On Thursday, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing, “Diversity in the Boardroom: Examining Proposals to Increase the Diversity of America’s Boards.”

Also on Thursday, the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress will hold a hearing, “Cultivating Diversity and Improving Retention Among Congressional Staff.”

Family Support – On Wednesday, the House Committee on the Budget will hold a hearing, “Poverty in America: Economic Realities of Struggling Families.”

On Thursday, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations will hold a hearing,  “The Potential Implications of Eliminating Broad-based Categorical Eligibility for SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] Households.”

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing, “Protecting Title X and Safeguarding Quality Family Planning Care.”

Veterans – On Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will hold a hearing, “Ensuring Access to Disability Benefits for Veteran Survivors of Military Sexual Assault.”

Also on Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on several bills, including H.R. 2942, a bill to carry out the Women’s Health Transition Training pilot program through FY2020.

Violence Against Women – On Wednesday, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on several bills, including S. 227, Savanna’s Act; S. 288, the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act; and S. 982, the Not Invisible Act.