[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D218-D220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of the 
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to 
examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 
2016 for the Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony from 
Sally Jewell, Secretary, and Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary, both of the 
Department of the Interior.
APPROPRIATIONS: NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Defense 
concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and 
justification for fiscal year 2016 for the Navy and Marine Corps, after 
receiving testimony from Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, Admiral 
Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, and General Joseph F. 
Dunford, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, all of the Department of 
Defense.
APPROPRIATIONS: NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates 
and justification for fiscal year 2016 for the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, after receiving testimony from Stephen G. Burns, Chairman, 
and Kristine L. Svinicki, William C. Ostendorff, and Jeff Baran, each a 
Commissioner, all of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST AND FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces concluded 
a hearing to examine United States nuclear weapons policy, programs, 
and strategy in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal 
year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving 
testimony from Frank Kendall III, Under Secretary for Acquisition, 
Technology, and Logistics, Brian P. McKeon, Principal Deputy Under 
Secretary for Policy, Michael S. Elliott, Deputy Director for Strategic 
Stability, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5), Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, Admiral Cecil D. Haney, USN, Commander, United States 
Strategic Command, all of the Department of Defense; and Lieutenant 
General

[[Page D219]]

Frank G. Klotz, USAF (Ret.), Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear 
Security, and Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
wasteful duplication in the Federal government, including opportunities 
to reduce fragmentation, overlap, duplication, and improper payments 
and achieve other financial benefits, after receiving testimony from 
Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Government 
Accountability Office.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and 
Security concluded a hearing to examine surface transportation 
reauthorization, focusing on oversight and reform of the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, including truck safety programs and 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, after 
receiving testimony from T. F. Scott Darling, III, Acting 
Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Joseph 
W. Come, Deputy Principal Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and 
Evaluation, both of the Department of Transportation; Susan A. Fleming, 
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability 
Office; and Christopher A. Hart, Acting Chairman, National 
Transportation Safety Board.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BUDGET
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded an 
oversight hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request 
for fiscal year 2016 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after 
receiving testimony from Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental 
Protection Agency.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee announced the 
following subcommittee assignments:
 Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Senators Vitter 
(Chair), Barrasso, Capito, Crapo, Boozman, Sessions, Wicker, Fischer, 
Inhofe (ex officio), Boxer, Carper, Cardin, Sanders, Whitehouse, 
Merkley, and Gillibrand.
  Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety: Senators Capito 
(Chair), Vitter, Barrasso, Crapo, Sessions, Wicker, Fischer, Inhofe (ex 
officio), Carper, Cardin, Sanders, Whitehouse, Merkley, Markey, and 
Boxer (ex officio).
  Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory 
Oversight: Senators Rounds (Chair), Vitter, Crapo, Boozman, Sullivan, 
Inhofe (ex officio), Markey, Carper, Merkley, Booker, and Boxer (ex 
officio).
   Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife: Senators Sullivan 
(Chair), Barrasso, Capito, Boozman, Sessions, Wicker, Fischer, Rounds, 
Inhofe (ex officio), Whitehouse, Carper, Cardin, Sanders, Gillibrand, 
Booker, Markey, and Boxer (ex officio).


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

  
  On page D219, March 4, 2015, the following language 
appears:Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife: 
SenatorsSullivan (Chair), Barrasso, Capito, Boozman,Sessions, 
Wicker, Rounds, Inhofe (ex officio), Whitehouse,Carper, Cardin, 
Sanders, Gillibrand, Booker,Markey, and Boxer (ex officio).
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read:Subcommittee on 
Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife: SenatorsSullivan (Chair), 
Barrasso, Capito, Boozman,Sessions, Wicker, Fischer, Rounds, 
Inhofe (ex officio), Whitehouse,Carper, Cardin, Sanders, 
Gillibrand, Booker,Markey, and Boxer (ex officio).


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

                              RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN EASTERN EUROPE
  Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Europe and Regional 
Security Cooperation concluded a hearing to examine Russian aggression 
in Eastern Europe, after receiving testimony from Mikheil Saakashvili, 
former President of Georgia, International Advisory Council on Reforms 
    of the President of Ukraine, Kiev; Garry Kasparov, Human Rights 
  Foundation, New York, New York; and Stephen Blank, American Foreign 
 Policy Council, Damon M. Wilson, Atlantic Council, and Steven Pifer, 
           The Brookings Institution, all of Washington, D.C.
                                                  BUSINESS MEETING
  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee 
        ordered favorably reported the following business items:
  S. 579, to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to strengthen the 
independence of the Inspectors General, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute;
  H.R. 460, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to train 
Department of Homeland Security personnel how to effectively deter, 
detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking during the course of 
their primary roles and responsibilities;
  H.R. 615, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the 
Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security 
to take administrative action to achieve and maintain interoperable 
communications capabilities among the components of the Department of 
Homeland Security, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 614, to provide access to and use of information by Federal 
agencies in order to reduce improper payments, S. 558, to amend title 
44, United States Code, to require information on contributors to 
Presidential library fundraising organizations;
  S. 565, to reduce the operation and maintenance costs associated with 
the Federal fleet by encouraging the use of remanufactured parts;

[[Page D220]]


  S. 546, to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, 
Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee under 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Advisory Council to 
provide recommendations on emergency responder training and resources 
relating to hazardous materials incidents involving railroads;
  S. 242, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide leave to any 
new Federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected 
disability rated at 30 percent or more for purposes of undergoing 
medical treatment for such disability; and
  S. 136, to amend chapter 21 of title 5, United States Code, to 
provide that fathers of certain permanently disabled or deceased 
veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference 
eligibles for treatment in the civil service.
                                                      IRRIGATE ACT
 Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
  S. 438, to provide for the repair, replacement, and maintenance of 
certain Indian irrigation projects, including deferred maintenance and 
 financial sustainability issues, after receiving testimony from Kevin 
Washburn, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Anne-
Marie Fennell, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government 
Accountability Office; Harry C. LaBonde Jr., Wyoming Water Development 
  Commission, Cheyenne; Charles Headdress, Sr., Assiniboine and Sioux 
 Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, Poplar, Montana; and Mitchel T. 
 Cottenoir, Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes Office of the 
             Tribal Water Engineer, Ft. Washakie, Wyoming.
                                         WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS
 Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
   whistleblower retaliation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
 focusing on improving protections and oversight, including additional 
   actions needed to improve Department of Justice's handling of FBI 
    retaliation complaints, after receiving testimony from Kevin L. 
   Perkins, Associate Deputy Director, and J. Richard Kiper, Special 
  Agent, both of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Michael E. 
 Horowitz, Inspector General, all of the Department of Justice; David 
      Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government 
 Accountability Office; Michael German, New York University Law School 
 Brennan Center for Justice, New York, New York; and Stephen M. Kohn, 
National Whistleblowers Center, Washington, D.C.