The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on reauthorizing the USA Freedom Act of 2015, which bans the bulk collection of private records. Among the witnesses testifying were officials from the FBI, Justice Department and National Security Agency (NSA). The USA Freedom Act also extended several government surveillance authorities including the "roving wiretap," "business records" and "lone wolf" provisions originally included in the USA Patriot Act. In addition, intelligence officials called on Congress to renew the NSA's call detail records program, which allows the government to obtain certain telephone metadata records from telecommunications providers in order to identify contacts of suspected terrorists. The NSA recently announced it was suspending the program for technical and operational reasons.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testified on monetary policy and the economy before the Joint Economic Committee. He said that he expects the U.S. economy to continue growing at a steady pace with a strong labor market, though "the federal budget is on an unsustainable path with high and rising debt."
President Trump and Turkish President Erdogan held a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House. They talked about U.S.-Turkey relations, combating terrorism in the Middle East, and renewed trade talks. President Trump also announced that Turkey will release Turkish-American NASA scientist Serkan Golge, who has been detained in a Turkish prison on terrorism charges since a 2016 failed military coup in the country. While taking a few questions from the press, President Trump was asked about the impeachments hearings, for which he called it a "sham."
In below freezing temperatures, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg spoke to a full crowd at a barn party in New Hampton, New Hampshire. The South Bend, Indiana mayor spoke on various topics, including term limits, military spending, and his relationship with African-American voters.
Deval Patrick, the former Democratic governor of Massachusetts from 2007-15, filed the paperwork needed to be a 2020 presidential candidate on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary ballot. He was greeted by the New Hampshire Secretary of State, who explained some of the history behind the process, and then Mr. Patrick signed his paperwork and submitted the necessary $1,000 filing fee.
Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) Ken Cuccinelli, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and others testified to the status of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The panel testified to the progress made in adjudicating immigration cases, the current levels of migrants held in detention centers compared to previous years, and what can be done to assist law enforcement at the border. They also talked about how organized crime organizations and cartels have been able to increase the flow of narcotics over the last few years, even though the migration numbers have decreased.
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing on affordable housing access and safety. Housing authority officials and policy experts testified on the importance of requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all affordable housing units nationwide. They also discussed the need for the Housing and Urban Development Department to issue guidelines for the inclusion of manufactured homes as an alternative for affordable housing, and to increase vouchers and assistance for youth aging out of the foster care system, specifically LGBTQ and minority youth who are more often prone to experience homelessness when they age out of the system.
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the difficulties in caring for aging Americans, including the lack of reasonably priced long term care for senior citizens and their caregivers.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testified on the U.S. economy and monetary policy before the House Budget Committee. Other topics discussed included trade policy, income inequality, the debt and deficit and community outreach.
Deval Patrick, the former Democratic governor of Massachusetts from 2007-15, filed the paperwork needed to be a 2020 presidential candidate on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary ballot. He was greeted by the New Hampshire Secretary of State, who explained some of the history behind the process, and then Mr. Patrick signed his paperwork and submitted the necessary $1,000 filing fee.
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the difficulties in caring for aging Americans, including the lack of reasonably priced long term care for senior citizens and their caregivers.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testified on the U.S. economy and monetary policy before the House Budget Committee. Other topics discussed included trade policy, income inequality, the debt and deficit and community outreach.
