[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D317-D320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND RELATED LITIGATION ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM 
MANAGEMENT
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and 
Forestry held a hearing to Review the impacts of Endangered Species Act 
and related litigation on National Forest System management. Testimony 
was heard from Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Service; Eileen 
Larence, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government 
Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S POST 9/11 REFORM 
EFFORTS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Federal Bureau of 
Investigation's Post 9/11 Reform Efforts FY 2015 Budget and Oversight. 
Testimony was heard from James B. Comey, Director, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation; and public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, 
EDUCATION AND ECONOMICS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, FDA, and Related Agencies held a hearing on USDA Research, 
Education and Economic FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from 
Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary, USDA Research, Education and 
Economics; Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator, USDA Agriculture 
Research Service; Sonny Ramaswamy, Director, USDA National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture; Mary Bohman, Administrator, USDA Economic 
Research Service, Cynthia Clark, Administrator, USDA National 
Agriculture Statistics Service; and Donald K. Bice, USDA Associate 
Budget Director.
APPROPRIATIONS--AIR FORCE BUDGET FY 2015
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Air Force Budget FY 2015. Testimony was heard from Deborah Lee James, 
Secretary, United States Air Force; and General Mark A. Welsh III, 
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.

[[Page D318]]


APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY 2015 
Budget. Testimony was heard from Jo Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary, 
Army for Civil Works, United States Army Corps of Engineers; and Lt. 
General Thomas P. Bostick, Chief of Engineers, United States Army Corps 
of Engineers.
APPROPRIATIONS--FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Federal Emergency Management Agency FY 2015 Budget. 
Testimony was heard from Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency.
APPROPRIATIONS--FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held an oversight hearing entitled ``Future of 
Biomedical Research''. Testimony was heard from Francis S. Collins, 
M.D.; Director, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND AND U.S. FORCES KOREA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea. Testimony was heard from 
Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, Commander, United States Navy, United 
States Pacific Command; and General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Commander, 
United States Army, United Nations Command, Commander, Republic of 
Korea, United States Combined Forces Command, Commander, United States 
Forces Korea. This was a closed hearing.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Bureau of Reclamation FY 2015 Budget. 
Testimony was heard from Lowell Pimley, Acting Commissioner of 
Reclamation.



 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D318, March 26, 2014, in the first column, the following 
language appears: . . . heard from Lowell Pimley, Action 
Commissioner of Reclamation.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: . . . heard from 
Lowell Pimley, Acting Commissioner of Reclamation.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

APPROPRIATIONS--JUDICIARY FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on the Judiciary FY 2015 Budget. 
Testimony was heard from Julia S. Gibbons, Chair, Committee on the 
Budget, Judicial Conference of the United States; John Bates, Director, 
Administrative Office, United States Courts.
INTERIM REPORT OF THE ADVISORY PANEL ON THE GOVERNANCE OF THE NUCLEAR 
SECURITY ENTERPRISE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on Interim Report of the Advisory Panel on the Governance of 
the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
FISCAL YEAR 2015 NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND AIR FORCE COMBAT AVIATION 
PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2015 Navy, Marine Corps and Air 
Force Combat Aviation Programs. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant 
General Christopher C. Bogdan, USAF, Program Executive Officer, F-35 
Lightning II Joint Program Office, Department of Defense; Lieutenant 
General Burton M. Field, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, 
Plans, and Requirements, U.S. Air Force; Vice Admiral Paul A. 
Grosklags, USN, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of 
the Navy, Research, Development, and Acquisition, U.S. Navy; William A. 
LaPlante, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, U.S. 
Air Force; Rear Admiral Upper Half Michael C. Manazir, USN, Director of 
the Air Warfare Division, U.S. Navy, Lieutenant General Robert E. 
Schmidle, USMC, Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation, 
U.S. Marine Corps; and Michael J. Sullivan, Director of Acquisition and 
Sourcing, Government Accountability Office.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FISCAL YEAR 2015 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS: 
PURSUING TECHNOLOGY SUPERIORITY IN A CHANGING SECURITY ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on Department of Defense Fiscal 
Year 2015 Science and Technology Programs: Pursuing Technology 
Superiority in a Changing Security Environment. Testimony was heard 
from Rear Admiral Upper Half Matthew L. Klunder, USN, Chief of Naval 
Research, U.S. Navy; Mary Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the 
Army for Research and Technology, U.S. Army; Arati Prabhakar, Director, 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense; Alan 
Shaffer, Acting Assistant

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Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering, Department of Defense; 
David Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, 
Technology and Engineering, U.S. Air Force, Office of Assistant 
Secretary for Acquisition.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET REQUEST FOR SEAPOWER AND 
PROJECTION FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing on Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2015 Budget 
Request for Seapower and Projection Forces. Testimony was heard from 
Lieutenant General Kenneth Glueck Jr. USMC, Deputy Commandant for 
Combat Development and Integration, United States Marine Corps; Vice 
Admiral Joseph P. Mulloy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for 
Integration of Capabilities and Resources, United States Navy; and Sean 
J. Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development 
and Acquisition, Department of the Navy.
REVIEWING THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE 
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Reviewing the President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Proposal 
for the Department of Labor''. Testimony was heard from Thomas E. 
Perez, Secretary, Department of Labor.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE PATIENTS GONE? EXAMINING THE PSYCHIATRIC BED 
SHORTAGE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Where Have All the Patients 
Gone? Examining the Psychiatric Bed Shortage''. Testimony was heard 
from Michael C. Biasotti, Chief of Police, New Windsor, NY; Thomas J. 
Dart, Sheriff, Cook County, Illinois; Steve Leifman, Associate 
Administrative Judge, Miami-Dade County Court, Eleventh, Judicial 
Circuit of Florida; and public witnesses.
GEOPOLITICAL POTENTIAL OF THE U.S. ENERGY BOOM
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Geopolitical Potential of the U.S. Energy Boom''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT NORTH KOREAN TYRANNY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``The Shocking Truth about North Korean Tyranny''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Management Efficiency held a markup on H.R. 4228, the ``DHS Acquisition 
Accountability and Efficiency Act''. The bill was forwarded to the Full 
Committee, as amended.
INNOCENCE FOR SALE: DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland 
Security and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Innocence for 
Sale: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking''. Testimony was heard from 
Michael Harpster, Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal 
Investigative Division, Branch 1, Federal Bureau of Investigation; 
Corporal Chris Heid, Child Recovery Unit, Maryland State Police; Donna 
Quigley Groman, Supervising Judge, Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center, Los 
Angeles County Juvenile Delinquency Court; and public witnesses.
EXPLORING CHAPTER 11 REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, 
Commercial and Antitrust Law held a hearing entitled ``Exploring 
Chapter 11 Reform: Corporate and Financial Institution Insolvencies; 
Treatment of Derivatives''. Testimony was heard from Christopher 
Sontchi, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware; and public 
witnesses.
COLLISION COURSE: OVERSIGHT OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S ENFORCEMENT 
APPROACH FOR AMERICA'S WILDLIFE LAWS AND ITS IMPACT ON DOMESTIC ENERGY
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Collision Course: Oversight of the Obama Administration's Enforcement 
Approach for America's Wildlife Laws and Its Impact on Domestic 
Energy''. Testimony was heard from Daniel M. Ashe, Director, Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
EXAMINING THE IRS RESPONSE TO THE TARGETING SCANDAL
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the IRS Response to the Targeting 
Scandal''. Testimony was heard from John A. Koskinen, Commissioner, 
Internal Revenue Service.
REVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET REQUEST FOR SCIENCE 
AGENCIES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``A Review of the

[[Page D320]]

President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request for Science Agencies''. 
Testimony was heard from John Holdren, Director, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President.
BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY: DO OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING LAWS UNFAIRLY LIMIT 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOBS?
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce 
held a hearing entitled ``Barriers to Opportunity: Do Occupational 
Licensing Laws Unfairly Limit Entrepreneurship and Jobs?''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET REQUEST FOR COAST GUARD AND 
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``President's 
Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request for Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Programs''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Robert J. 
Papp, Jr., Commandant, United States Coast Guard; Master Chief Michael 
P. Leavitt, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, United 
States Coast Guard; Paul ``Chip'' N. Jaenichen, Sr., Acting 
Administrator, Maritime Administration; and Mario Cordero, Chairman, 
Federal Maritime Commission.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 
2018, the ``Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013''; H.R. 2088, to direct 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to 
establish claims adjudication centers of excellence; H.R. 2119, the 
``Veterans Access to Speedy Review Act''; H.R. 2529, the ``Veteran 
Spouses Equal Treatment Act''; H.R. 3671, to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to expand the eligibility for a medallion furnished by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to signify the veteran status of a 
deceased individual; H.R. 3876, the ``Burial with Dignity for Heroes 
Act of 2014''; H.R. 4095, the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 2014''; H.R. 4102, to amend title 38, United States 
Code, to clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive 
certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 4141, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into enhanced-use 
leases for excess property of the National Cemetery Administration that 
is unsuitable for burial purposes; and H.R. 4191, the ``Quicker 
Veterans Benefits Delivery Act''. Testimony was heard from the 
following Representatives: Green; Walz; Denham; and Stivers; and Thomas 
Murphy, Director, Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
QUANTITATIVE EASING
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
unwinding quantitative easing, focusing on how the Fed should promote 
stable prices, economic growth, and job creation, after receiving 
testimony from John B. Taylor, Stanford University Hoover Institution, 
Stanford, California; and Mark Zandi, Moody's Analytics, West Chester, 
Pennsylvania.
LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senate committee concluded a joint 
hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation of The American Legion, after receiving 
testimony from Daniel M. Dellinger, The American Legion, Vienna, 
Virginia.