[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D368-D371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
REVIEW THE STATE OF THE RURAL ECONOMY
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing to Review the 
State of the Rural Economy. Testimony was heard from Tom Vilsack, 
Secretary, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND RELATED 
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR FY 2015
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction and 
Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies held a markup on Military 
Construction and Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Bill for FY 2015. The bill was ordered reported, without amendment.
APPROPRIATIONS--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL FY 2015
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
markup on Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill FY 2015. The bill was 
ordered reported, without amendment.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on National Park Service FY 2015 
Budget. Testimony was heard from Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park 
Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--USDA FOOD SAFETY FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, FDA and Related Agencies held a hearing on USDA Food 
Safety FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from the following 
Department of Agriculture officials: Brian Ronholm, Acting Under 
Secretary, Food Safety; Phil Derfler, Deputy Administrator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Missile Defense Agency. This was a closed hearing.
APPROPRIATIONS--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Small Business Administration FY 
2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from Marianne O'Brien Markowitz, 
Acting Administrator, Small Business Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy, National Nuclear 
Security Administration FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from the 
following National Nuclear Security Administration Officials: Bruce 
Held, Acting Administrator; Don Cook, Deputy Administrator for Defense 
Programs, National Nuclear Security; and Brig. Gen. James C. Dawkins 
Jr., Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military 
Applications.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MODES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Oversight 
of Department of Transportation Modes. Testimony was heard from Michael 
Huerta, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; Greg Nadeau, 
Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration; Joseph Szabo, 
Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Therese McMillan, 
Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; Cynthia 
Quarterman, Administrator, Pipline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration; and Anne Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL GUARD AND U.S. ARMY RESERVE FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was 
heard from General Frank J. Grass, Chief National Guard Bureau, 
Lieutenant General Stanley E. Clarke III, Director, Air National Guard; 
Major General Judd H. Lyons, Acting Director, Army National Guard; and 
Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley, Chief, United States Army 
Reserve.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from Dan Ashe, Director, 
Fish and Wildlife Service.

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APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY 
ADMINISTRATION NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION AND NAVAL REACTORS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on the Department of Energy, National 
Nuclear Security Administration Nuclear Nonproliferation and Naval 
Reactors. Testimony was heard from Bruce Held, Action Administrator 
National Nuclear Security; Anne Harington, Deputy Administrator, 
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security; and 
Admiral John M. Richardson, Director, Naval Reactors, National Nuclear 
Security.
2014 QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE REVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on the 2014 
Quadrennial Defense Review. Testimony was heard from Admiral James A. 
``Sandy'' Winnefeld, Jr., USN, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Department of Defense; and Christine E. Wormuth, Deputy Under Secretary 
of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Force Development, Department of 
Defense.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR NATIONAL SECURITY 
SPACE ACTIVITIES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget 
Request for National Security Space Activities. Testimony was heard 
from Gil Klinger, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Space and 
Intelligence, Department of Defense; Douglas L. Loverro, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Defense, Space Policy, Department of Defense; 
Lieutenant General John W. ``Jay'' Raymond, U.S. Air Force Commander, 
United States Strategic Command, Joint Functional Component Command, 
Space; and Betty J. Sapp, Director, National Reconnaissance Office; 
General William L. Shelton, U.S. Air Force, Commander, U.S. Air Force 
Space Command.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee concluded markup on the 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2015. The 
concurrent resolution was ordered reported, without amendment.
FISCAL YEAR 2015 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Energy Budget''. 
Testimony was heard from Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, Department 
of Energy.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on H.R. 3717, the ``Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 
2013''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on the 
following legislation: H.R. 3548, the ``Improving Trauma Care Act of 
2013''; H.R. 4080, the ``Trauma Systems and Regionalization of 
Emergency Care Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 1281, the ``Newborn 
Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2013''; and H.R. 1528, the 
``Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2013''. H.R. 3548; H.R. 4080; 
H.R. 1528; and H.R. 1281 were ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; AND WOMEN'S EDUCATION: PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT, 
COUNTERING RADICALISM
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Women's Education: Promoting Development, Countering Radicalism''; 
and markup on H.R. 3583, the ``Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act''. H.R. 
3583 was ordered reported, as amended. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses on the hearing.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a markup on 
H.R. 4007, the ``Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program 
Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014''. The bill was forwarded 
to the Full Committee, as amended.
ASSESSING TERRORISM IN THE CAUCASUS AND THE THREAT TO THE HOMELAND
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Assessing Terrorism in the 
Caucasus and the Threat to the Homeland''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
STANDARD MERGER AND ACQUISITION REVIEWS THROUGH EQUAL RULES ACT OF 2014
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, 
Commercial and Antitrust Law held a hearing on legislation regarding 
the Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 
2014. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

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OVERTURNING 30 YEARS OF PRECEDENT: IS THE ADMINISTRATION IGNORING THE 
DANGERS OF TRAINING LIBYAN PILOTS AND NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS?
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Border 
Security; and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
Subcommittee on National Security held a joint hearing entitled 
``Overturning 30 Years of Precedent: Is the Administration Ignoring the 
Dangers of Training Libyan Pilots and Nuclear Scientists?''. Testimony 
was heard from Alan D. Bersin, Assistant Secretary for International 
Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer, Office of International Affairs, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SPENDING AND THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 
2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Department of the Interior, Spending and the President's Fiscal Year 
2015 Budget Proposal''. Testimony was heard from Sally Jewel, 
Secretary, Department of Interior.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing on the following legislation: 
H.R. 69, the ``Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement 
Act of 2013''; H.R. 2646, the ``REFI Pacific Act''; and legislation 
regarding the Pirate Fishing Elimination Act. Testimony was heard from 
David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, 
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs, Department of State; and Russell Smith, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for International Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
COBELL SETTLEMENT
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska 
Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Implementing the Cobell 
Settlement: Missed Opportunities and Lessons Learned''. Testimony was 
heard from Lawrence S. Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs, Department of Interior; and public witnesses.
AFGHANISTAN: IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING WASTEFUL U.S. GOVERNMENT 
SPENDING
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Afghanistan: Identifying and 
Addressing Wasteful U.S. Government Spending''. Testimony was heard 
from Donald L. Sampler, Assistant to the Administrator and Director, 
Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs; and John F. Sopko, Special 
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
EXAMINING OBAMACARE'S PROBLEM-FILLED STATE EXCHANGES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Economic 
Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs; and Subcommittee on Energy 
Policy, Health Care and Entitlements held a joint hearing entitled 
``Examining ObamaCare's Problem-Filled State Exchanges''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
BASELINE REFORM ACT OF 2013; BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 
2014; AND PR0-GROWTH BUDGETING ACT OF 2013
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on the following 
legislation: H.R. 1871, the ``Baseline Reform Act of 2013; H.R. 1872, 
the ``Budget and Accounting Transparency Act of 2014''; and H.R. 1874, 
the ``Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2013''. The Committee granted, by 
record vote of 8-3, a structured rule for H.R. 1874. The rule provides 
one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget. The rule 
waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides that the amendments recommended by the Committee on the Budget 
now printed in the bill and the amendment printed in part A of the 
Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as 
amended, shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule makes in 
order only those further amendments printed in part B of the Rules 
Committee report. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order 
printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in 
the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the 
time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall 
not be subject to a demand for division of the question. The rule 
waives all points of order against the amendments printed in part B of 
the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Additionally, the rule granted a closed rule for H.R. 
1871. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
the Budget. The rule waives all points of order against consideration 
of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment recommended by the 
Committee on the Budget now

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printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as 
amended, shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Lastly, the rule 
granted a closed rule for H.R. 1872. The rule provides one hour of 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on the Budget. The rule waives all points of 
order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
the Budget now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted and 
the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Ryan (WI).
DISASTER MITIGATION: REDUCING COSTS AND SAVING LIVES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a 
hearing entitled ``Disaster Mitigation: Reducing Costs and Saving 
Lives''. Testimony was heard from David Miller, Associate 
Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency; and public witnesses.
VA RESPONDING TO CONGRESSIONAL REQUESTS IN A TIMELY MANNER; AND 
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a business meeting 
to consider a resolution to assign Congressman David W. Jolly to HVAC 
Subcommittees; and hearing entitled ``Trials in Transparency II: Is VA 
Responding to Congressional Requests in a Timely Manner?''. Testimony 
was heard from Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee resolution assigning 
Representative Jolly to HVAC Subcommittees was agreed to.
TRADE POLICY AGENDA
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on President 
Obama's Trade Policy Agenda with U.S. Trade Representative Michael 
Froman. Testimony was heard from Michael Froman, United States Trade 
Representative, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Ongoing Intelligence Activities''. This was a closed 
hearing.

Joint Meetings

  No joint committee meetings were held.