We are holding this hearing virtually in compliance with the regulations for Remote Committee proceedings pursuant to House Resolution 965. This is the third virtual subCommittee Hearing and the ways and Means Committee. As with our previous hearings i want members to know that i plan to continue this committees long tradition of collegiality and substantial debate, substantive debate, even as we conduct our business from afar. I will continue to work with the Ranking Member, mr. Smith, and his staff to ensure that the rights of all members are resected in these new virtual formats. Before i turn to todays important topic i want to remind members of a few procedural to help you navigate this new platform. First, consistent with regulations the committee willfi keep microphones needed to limit background noise. Members are responsible for on meeting themselves when they seek recognition or when recognized for a fiveminute statement. Second, members and witnesses must have their cameras
I want members to know that i plan to continue this committees long tradition of collegiality and substantive substantive debate, even as we conduct our business from afar. I will continue to work with the Ranking Member mr. Smith and his staff to ensure that the rights of all members are respected in this new virtual format. Before i turn to todays important topic, i want to remind members of a few procedures to help you navigate this new platform. First, consistent with regulations the committee will keep microphones muted to limit background noise. Members are responsible for unmuting themselves when they seek recognition or when recognized for their fiveminute statement. Second, members and witnesses must have their cameras on at all times. If you need to step away from the proceedings, please leave your camera on rather than logging out. Finally, we have several members who are waving on to the subcommittee for todays hearing. Given the large number i will recognize members in an
[ bells tolling ] the faithful around the globe celebrate christmas. Pope francis used his Christmas Eve mass to urge the world not to ignore the plight of migrants. Parts of the country are enjoying a White Christmas, but snow and wind are also causing headaches across new england and the great plains. Merry christmas. President trump stayed busy in maralago taking aim at the Deputy Director of the fbi on twitter. Is he saying there are some bad apples at the fbi . Hes making a point we have to make sure. Rescuers are searching for survivors after a tycoon hit the philippines. A Small Plane Crash in florida. Five people are dead. A tragedy any of the day of the week. The worst tragedy on christmas. Winter enthusiasts trapped more on that. 103 yards Carolina Panthers went to the playoff spot. All that matters. Santa claus is coming to town. The president and first lady working the phones with norad, the agency that tracks santa. Santa is going to treat you well, okay . Really well. On
[ bells tolling ] the faithful around the globe celebrate christmas. Pope francis used his Christmas Eve mass to urge the world not to ignore the plight of migrants. Parts of the country are enjoying a White Christmas, but snow and wind are also causing headaches across new england and the great plains. Merry christmas. President trump stayed busy in maralago taking aim at the Deputy Director of the fbi on twitter. Is he saying there are some bad apples at the fbi . Hes making a point we have to make sure. Rescuers are searching for survivors after a tycoon hit the philippines. A Small Plane Crash in florida. Five people are dead. A tragedy any of the day of the week. The worst tragedy on christmas. Winter enthusiasts trapped in a ski lift in france. Luckily, no one got hurt. More on that. 103 yards Carolina Panthers went to the playoff spot. All that matters. Santa claus is coming to town. The president and first lady working the phones with norad, the agency that tracks santa. Santa
Headquarters in new york. Good to be with you. Im annemarie green. The damage to a large part of Southeast Texas from harvey is in the words of the National Weather service unprecedented and beyond anything experienced. Houston, the nations fourth largest city is all but under water. The mayor says most major roads are impassable. It is estimated that a quarter of the texas population is affected. And at least two deaths are blamed on the storm at this point. Parts of texas are expected to get nearly 50 inches of rain. A massive rescue operation is now under way. Thousands have been forced to evacuate. The head of fema says the recovery effort could take years and President Trump plans to visit the state tomorrow. Tropical storm harvey is stalled now, near the coast. Still pounding the houston area with heavy rain, which is expected to last through friday. Don champion is in houston. Good morning. Reporter good morning, annemarie. This region is still very much behind me, that might ea