[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D176-D179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
REVIEW OF THE SNAP PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing to review the 
past, present and future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE MILITARY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on quality 
of life in the military. Testimony was heard from Command Sergeant 
Major Daniel A. Dailey, United States Army; Master Chief Petty Officer 
Michael D. Stevens, United States Navy; Sergeant Major Ronald Green, 
United States Marine Corps; and Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cody, 
United States Air Force.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary budget. 
Testimony was heard from the following Department of Agriculture 
officials: Thomas Vilsack, Secretary; Robert Johansson, Chief 
Economist; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Internal Revenue Service 
oversight. Testimony was heard from J. Russell George, Treasury 
Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of the Treasury; 
and Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue 
Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Department of Health and 
Human Services budget. Testimony was heard from Sylvia Burwell, 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of Justice, 
Department of

[[Page D177]]

Commerce, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration oversight. 
Testimony was heard from Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, 
Department of Justice; Todd J. Zinser, Inspector General, Department of 
Commerce; and Paul K. Martin, Inspector General, National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of the Interior budget. 
Testimony was heard from Sally Jewell, Secretary, Department of the 
Interior; and Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary, Department of the 
Interior.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on 
Department of Housing and Urban Development budget. Testimony was heard 
from Julian Castro, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
APPROPRIATIONS--HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY 
OFFICE, AND UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on House of Representatives, Government Accountability Office, 
and United States Capitol Police budgets. Testimony was heard from Ed 
Cassidy, Chief Administrative Officer, House of Representatives; Karen 
L. Haas, Clerk, House of Representatives; Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at 
Arms, House of Representatives; Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General, 
Government Accountability Office; and Kim Dine, Chief of Police, United 
States Capitol.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on Department of State and Foreign 
Operations budget. Testimony was heard from John Kerry, Secretary, 
Department of State.
HOW IS DOD RESPONDING TO EMERGING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN EUROPE?
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``How Is DOD Responding to Emerging Security Challenges in Europe?''. 
Testimony was heard from General Philip Breedlove, USAF, Commander, 
Supreme Allied Command Europe and U.S. European Combatant Command; and 
Christine Wormuth, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
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 entitled ``Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 
2015 Budget Request for Seapower and Projection Forces''. Testimony was 
heard from Sean J. Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, 
Development and Acquisition); Vice Admiral Joseph P. Mulloy, Deputy 
Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources; 
and Lieutenant General Kenneth Glueck, Jr., USMC, Deputy Commandant for 
Combat Development, and Integration, and Commanding General, Marine 
Corps Combat Development Command.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS AND PROGRAMS: SUPPORTING CURRENT 
OPERATIONS AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE THREAT ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Information Technology 
Investments and Programs: Supporting Current Operations and Planning 
for the Future Threat Environment''. Testimony was heard from Terry 
Halvorsen, Acting Department of Defense Chief Information Officer; 
Lieutenant General Robert S. Ferrell, United States Army, Chief 
Information Officer/G-6; Lt Gen William J. Bender, United States Air 
Force, Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer; John 
Zangardi, Acting Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer, and 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Command, Control, 
Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information Operations and 
Space; and Brigadier General Kevin J. Nally, United States Marine 
Corps, Director, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4)/
Chief Information Officer of the Marine Corps.
MEMBERS' DAY
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Members' Day''. Testimony was heard from Chairman Goodlatte, and 
Representatives Nugent, Schweikert, Edwards, Wilson of South Carolina, 
Larsen of Washington, Gabbard, Foster, Hill, Salmon, Esty, Beatty, 
Barr, Posey, Kildee, Schakowsky, Jackson Lee, McGovern, Hoyer, Love, 
Hahn, Takai, Amodei, and Mooney of West Virginia.

[[Page D178]]


THE FISCAL YEAR 2016 EPA BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power; and 
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, held a joint hearing 
entitled ``The Fiscal Year 2016 EPA Budget''. Testimony was heard from 
Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF THE INTERNET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Uncertain Future of the 
Internet''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy''. Testimony was heard 
from Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System.
ADVANCING U.S. INTERESTS IN A TROUBLED WORLD: THE FY 2016 FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Advancing U.S. Interests in a Troubled World: The FY 2016 Foreign 
Affairs Budget''. Testimony was heard from John F. Kerry, Secretary of 
State, Department of State.
EXAMINING THE PRESIDENT'S CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION SHARING PROPOSAL
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the President's Cybersecurity Information Sharing 
Proposal''. Testimony was heard from Suzanne Spaulding, Under 
Secretary, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of 
Homeland Security; Phyllis Schneck, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Cybersecurity and Communications, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and Eric Fischer, Senior 
Specialist, Science and Technology, Congressional Research Service, 
Library of Congress.
THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF OBAMA'S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Unconstitutionality of Obama's Executive Actions on 
Immigration''. Testimony was heard from Adam Laxalt, Attorney General 
of Nevada; and public witnesses.
A REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S POLICIES AND 
PROCEDURES FOR THE APPREHENSION, DETENTION, AND RELEASE OF NON-CITIZENS 
UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security; and Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative 
Rules, held a joint hearing entitled ``A Review of the Department of 
Homeland Security's Policies and Procedures for the Apprehension, 
Detention, and Release of Non-Citizens Unlawfully Present in the United 
States''. Testimony was heard from Scott R. Jones, Sheriff, Sacramento 
County Sheriff's Department; and public witnesses.
PREVENTING ANOTHER MH370: SETTING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR AIRLINE 
FLIGHT TRACKING
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Transportation and Public Assets held a hearing entitled ``Preventing 
Another MH370: Setting International Standards for Airline Flight 
Tracking''. Testimony was heard from Christopher A. Hart, Acting 
Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board; Michael A. Lawson, 
Ambassador, United States Mission to the International Civil Aviation 
Organization; and a public witness.
STUDENT SUCCESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5, the 
``Student Success Act''. The committee granted, by voice vote, a rule 
providing for further consideration of H.R. 5 under a structured rule. 
The rule provides no additional general debate. The rule provides that 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of 
Rules Committee Print 114-8, modified by 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, may be withdrawn by its proponent at any 
time before action thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and 
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. The

[[Page D179]]

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. Testimony was heard from Representatives Scott of 
Virginia, Pocan, Jeffries, DeSaulnier, Garrett, Maxine Waters of 
California, Dold, Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Sewell of Alabama, 
Collins of Georgia, Polis, Bridenstine, Jackson Lee, Gibson, 
Butterfield, Walker, Tonko, Richmond, Titus, Bera, Castro of Texas, and 
Lawrence.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FISCAL 
YEAR 2016
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``An Overview of the Department of Energy's Budget 
Proposal for Fiscal Year 2016''. Testimony was heard from Ernest Moniz, 
Secretary, Department of Energy.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 1030, the ``Secret Science Reform Act of 2015''; and 
H.R. 1029, the ``EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015''. H.R. 
1030 and H.R. 1029 were both ordered reported, as amended.
THE SBA BUDGET FOR FY 2016: DOES IT MEET THE NEEDS OF AMERICA'S SMALL 
BUSINESSES?
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The SBA Budget for FY 2016: Does it Meet the Needs of America's Small 
Businesses?''. Testimony was heard from Maria Contreras-Sweet, 
Administrator, Small Business Administration.
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2016 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 2016 Budget Request for Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Programs''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Paul F. 
Zukunft, Commandant, United States Coast Guard; Paul ``Chip'' N. 
Jaenichen, Sr., Administrator, Maritime Administration; and Mario 
Cordero, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING; MAINTAINING THE DISABILITY INSURANCE TRUST 
FUND'S SOLVENCY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held an 
organizational meeting for the 114th Congress and a hearing on 
maintaining the Disability Insurance Trust Fund's solvency. The 
subcommittee successfully organized. Testimony was heard from Charles 
P. Blahous III, Public Trustee, Social Security and Medicare Boards of 
Trustees; and public witnesses.
WORLD WIDE THREATS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``World Wide Threats''. This hearing was closed.

Joint Meetings
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 Michael D. Helm, The American Legion, Washington, D.C.
SERBIA'S OSCE LEADERSHIP
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Serbia's leadership of the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), focusing on priorities and 
insights regarding the ongoing work of the OSCE, after receiving 
testimony from First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign 
Affairs, and Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Ivica Dacic, Belgrade, 
Serbia.