[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D392-D395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PUBLIC WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing for American Indian and Alaska Native 
public and outside witnesses. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--NASA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on NASA Request and 
Oversight of NASA Security. Testimony was heard from Charles F. Bolden 
Jr., Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FIELD AGENCIES FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Agriculture Field Agencies FY 2015 Budget. 
Testimony was heard from Michael Scuse, Under Secretary, Farm and 
Foreign Agriculture Services; Juan Garcia, Administrator, Farm Service 
Agency, Phil Karsting, Administrator, Foreign Agriculture Service; 
Brandon Willis, Administrator, Risk Management Agency; Jason Weller, 
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Michael Young, 
Budget Officer, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES AFRICA COMMAND FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
United States Africa Command FY 2015 Budget. This was a closed hearing.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FY 2015 
BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Energy, Environmental Management FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard 
from Dave Huizenga, Acting Assistant Secretary, Environmental 
Management, Department of Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department 
of Education FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from Arne Duncan, 
Secretary, Department of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FY 
2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on United States Agency for 
International Development FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from 
Rajiv Shah, Administrator, United States Agency for International 
Development.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
United States Special Forces Command FY 2015 Budget. This was a closed 
hearing.
APPROPRIATIONS--GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on General Services Administration FY 
2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from Dan Tangherlini, Administrator, 
General Services Administration.
RUSSIAN MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Russian Military Developments and Strategic Implications''. Testimony 
was heard from Derek Chollet, Assistant Secretary of Defense, 
International Security Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense for 
Policy, Department of Defense; Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe, USN, 
Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, Department of 
Defense.
THE FY15 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY AND THE 
CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE PROGRAM: COMBATING WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION IN A CHANGING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``The FY15 Budget 
Request for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Chemical 
Biological Defense Program: Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction in a 
Changing Global Environment''. Testimony was heard from Rebecca K. C. 
Hersman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons 
of Mass Destruction, Department of Defense; Kenneth Myers, Director, 
Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Carmen Spencer, Joint

[[Page D393]]

Program Executive Officer for Chemical and Biological Defense, 
Department of Defense; and Andy Weber, Assistant Secretary for Defense 
for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, Department of 
Defense.
RUSSIAN MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Russian Military Developments and Strategic 
Implications''. Testimony was heard from Vice Admiral Terry Joseph 
Benedict, U.S. Navy, Director, Strategic Systems Programs; M. Elaine 
Bunn, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile 
Defense Policy, Department of Defense; Major General Garrett Harencak, 
U.S. Air Force, Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and 
Nuclear Integration, U.S. Air Force; Edward Bruce Held, Acting 
Administrator and Acting Undersecretary for Nuclear Security, National 
Nuclear Security Administration; David G. Huizenga, Acting Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Environmental Management; Admiral John M. 
Richardson, U.S. Navy, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; 
Andrew C. Weber, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, 
and Biological Defense Programs, Department of Defense; and Peter S. 
Winokur, Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a markup 
on H.R. 4366, the ``Strengthening Education through Research Act''; and 
H.R. 10, the ``Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools 
Act''. The bills, H.R. 4366 and H.R. 10, were ordered reported, as 
amended.
TROLLING FOR A SOLUTION: ENDING ABUSIVE PATENT DEMAND LETTERS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Trolling for a 
Solution: Ending Abusive Patent Demand Letters''. Testimony was heard 
from William Sorrell, Attorney General, State of Vermont; and public 
witnesses.
EXAMINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOBACCO CONTROL ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Implementation of the Tobacco Control Act''. 
Testimony was heard from Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care, 
Government Accountability Office.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power 
began a markup on H.R. 6, the ``Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom 
Act''.
WHO'S IN YOUR WALLET: EXAMINING HOW WASHINGTON RED TAPE IMPAIRS 
ECONOMIC FREEDOM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Who's in Your Wallet: Examining How Washington Red Tape Impairs 
Economic Freedom''. Testimony was heard from Meredith Fuchs, General 
Counsel, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Richard J. Osterman, 
Jr., Acting General Counsel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 
Scott G. Alvarez, General Counsel, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System; Amy S. Friend, Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; and a public witness.
LEBANON'S SECURITY CHALLENGES AND U.S. INTERESTS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``Lebanon's Security Challenges and U.S. 
Interests''. Testimony was heard from Lawrence Silverman, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of 
State; and Matthew Spence, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Middle East Policy, Department of Defense.
IS AL-QAEDA WINNING? GRADING THE ADMINISTRATION'S COUNTERTERRORISM 
POLICY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Is al-Qaeda 
Winning? Grading the Administration's Counterterrorism Policy''. 
Testimony was heard from Joseph Lieberman, former United States 
Senator; and Jane Harman, former Member of Congress; and public 
witnesses.
AUTHORIZING CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS 
ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Authorizing Customs and Border 
Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement''. Testimony was 
heard from Kevin K. McAleenan, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Customs and 
Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; and Daniel D. 
Ragsdale; Acting Director, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security.

[[Page D394]]


OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice''. Testimony was heard 
from Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, Department of Justice.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
following legislation: H.R. 4315, the ``21st Century Endangered Species 
Transparency Act''; H.R. 4316, the ``Endangered Species Recovery 
Transparency Act''; H.R. 4317, the ``State, Tribal, and Local Species 
Transparency and Recovery Act''; and H.R. 4318, the ``Endangered 
Species Litigation Reasonableness Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Michael Bean, Counselor to the Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife 
and Parks, Department of Interior; Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Department of Commerce; Kel Seliger, State Senator, Amarillo, 
TX; Tom Jankovsky, Commissioner, Garfield County Colorado; and public 
witnesses.
AMERICAN ENERGY JOBS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``American Energy Jobs: Opportunities 
for Women and Minorities''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing on the following legislation: 
H.R. 187, to correct the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal 
Barrier Resources System Unit L06, Topsail, North Carolina; H.R. 277, 
to revise the boundaries of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Sachuest Point Unit RI-04P, Easton Beach Unit RI-05P, Almy Pond 
Unit RI-06, and Hazards Beach Unit RI-07 in Rhode Island; H.R. 1810, to 
revise the boundaries of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Gasparilla Island Unit in Florida; H.R. 1811, to remove from the 
John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System areas included in 
Florida System Unit P-16, and for other purposes; H.R. 2057, to remove 
from the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System the areas 
comprising Bay County Unit P-31P in Florida; H.R. 3226, to remove from 
the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System certain properties 
in South Carolina; H.R. 3227, to remove from the John H. Chafee Coastal 
Barrier Resources System certain properties in South Carolina; H.R. 
3572, to revise the boundaries of certain John H. Chafee Coastal 
Barrier Resources System units in North Carolina; and H.R. 4222, to 
correct the boundaries of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System in Gulf County Florida, and for other purposes. Testimony was 
heard from the following Representatives: Jones; McIntyre; and Rice 
(SC); and Gary Frazer, Assistant Director, Ecological Services, Fish 
and Wildlife Service; Thomas B. Evans, Jr., Former Member of Congress; 
Daniel Tuman, Mayor, Town of North Topsail Beach; Warren Yeager, Jr., 
Gulf County Commissioner, Florida; Terrell Arline, County Attorney, Bay 
County, Florida; and public witnesses.
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``The President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Proposal for 
the Postal Service. Testimony was heard from Brian Deese, Deputy 
Director, Office of Management and Budget.
REDUCING WASTE IN GOVERNMENT: ADDRESSING GAO'S 2014 REPORT ON 
DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Reducing Waste in Government: Addressing GAO's 2014 
Report on Duplicative Federal Programs''. Testimony was heard from Gene 
L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Government 
Accountability Office.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Panel on Public-Private 
Partnerships held a hearing entitled ``The International Experience 
with Public-Private Partnerships''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Delaney; and public witnesses.
BENEFITS OF PERMANENT TAX POLICY FOR AMERICA'S JOB CREATORS
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
Benefits of Permanent Tax Policy for America's Job Creators. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S FINAL EMPLOYER MANDATE AND EMPLOYER REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS REGULATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Treasury Department's Final Employer Mandate and Employer 
Reporting Requirements Regulations''. Testimony was

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heard from J. Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy, Department of 
Treasury.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.