[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D288-D292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
``WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES'' PROPOSED RULE AND ITS IMPACT ON RURAL 
AMERICA
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry 
held a hearing to review the definition of ``waters of the United 
States'' proposed rule and its impact on rural America. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Fish and Wildlife Service budget. 
Testimony was heard from Dan Ashe, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service; 
and Chris Nolan, Budget Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Agriculture Food, Nutrition, and

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Consumer Services budget. Testimony was heard from Kevin Concannon, 
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Audrey Rowe, 
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service; Angela Tagtow, Director, 
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; and Donald Bice, Associate 
Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
National Guard and Reserve budget. Testimony was heard from General 
Frank J. Grass, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General 
Stanley E. ``Sid'' 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--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, APPLIED ENERGY PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy, Applied Energy 
Programs budget. Testimony was heard from the following Department of 
Energy officials: Franklin Orr, Under Secretary, Science and Energy; 
David Danielson, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy; John Kotek, Deputy Principal, Assistant Secretary; Christopher 
Smith, Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy; and Patricia Hoffman, 
Assistant Secretary, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
APPROPRIATIONS--SECRET SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Secret Service budget. Testimony was heard from Joseph 
Clancy, Director, Secret Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Department of Labor budget. 
Testimony was heard from Thomas Perez, Secretary, Department of Labor.
APPROPRIATIONS--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Federal 
Aviation Administration budget. Testimony was heard from Michael 
Huerta, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on National Science 
Foundation budget. Testimony was heard from France A. Cordova, 
Director, National Science Foundation.
APPROPRIATIONS--GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on General Services Administration 
budget. Testimony was heard from Denise Turner Roth, Acting 
Administrator, General Services Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, OFFICE OF SCIENCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy, Office of Science 
budget. Testimony was heard from Franklin Orr, Under Secretary, Science 
and Energy, Department of Energy; and Patricia M. Dehmer, Deputy 
Director, Science Programs, Department of Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on National Park Service budget. 
Testimony was heard from Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park Service; 
and Bruce Sheaffer, Comptroller, National Park Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on U.S. Agency for International 
Development budget. Testimony was heard from Alfonso E. Lenhardt, 
Acting Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2016 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FROM 
THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Budget Request 
from the Military Departments''. Testimony was heard from John M. 
McHugh, Secretary of the Army; General Raymond T. Odierno, USA, Chief 
of Staff of the Army; Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy; Admiral 
Michelle Howard, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations;

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General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps; 
Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force; and General Mark A. 
Welsh III, USAF, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
ASSURING ASSURED ACCESS TO SPACE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Assuring Assured Access to Space''. Testimony was 
heard from Katrina G. McFarland, Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition, Department of Defense; William A. LaPlante, Assistant 
Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Department of Defense; 
General John E. Hyten, USAF, Commander, Air Force Space Command; Major 
General Howard J. ``Mitch'' Mitchell, USAF (Retired), Chairman, USAF-
Chartered RD-180 Availability Risk Mitigation Study; and public 
witnesses.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Higher 
Education and Workforce Training held a hearing entitled 
``Strengthening America's Higher Education System''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
EPA'S PROPOSED 111(d) RULE FOR EXISTING POWER PLANTS: LEGAL AND COST 
ISSUES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``EPA's Proposed 111(d) Rule for Existing Power 
Plants: Legal and Cost Issues''. Testimony was heard from Art Graham, 
Chairman, Florida Public Service Commission; Kelly Speakes-Backman, 
Commissioner, Maryland Public Service Commission; Craig Butler, 
Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency; and Donald van der 
Vaart, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources; and public witnesses.
THE ANNUAL TESTIMONY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY ON THE STATE OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of 
the International Financial System''. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. 
Lew, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.
THE FY 2016 BUDGET REQUEST: ASSESSING U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE 
EFFECTIVENESS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The FY 2016 Budget Request: Assessing U.S. Foreign Assistance 
Effectiveness''. Testimony was heard from Alfonso E. Lenhardt, Acting 
Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development; and a public 
witness.
NATIONAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH ASIA AND EUROPE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``National Security 
Benefits of Trade Agreements with Asia and Europe''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
COMBATING TERRORIST TRAVEL: DOES THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM KEEP OUR 
NATION SAFE?
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Combating Terrorist Travel: Does the 
Visa Waiver Program Keep Our Nation Safe?''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil 
Justice held a hearing on H.R. 758, the ``Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act 
of 2015''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND MISSIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARK 
SERVICE IN THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of 
the National Park Service in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposal''. 
Testimony was heard from Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director, National Park 
Service.
EXAMINING THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND MISSIONS OF THE BUREAU OF OCEAN 
ENERGY MANAGEMENT, THE BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT 
AND THE OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE IN THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 
BUDGET PROPOSALS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Spending Priorities 
and Missions of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of 
Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Office of Natural 
Resources Revenue in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposals''. 
Testimony was heard from Abby Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management; Vice Admiral Brian Salerno (USCG, Retired), Director, 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; and Gregory

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Gould, Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
FCC: PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``FCC: Process and Transparency''. Testimony was heard 
from Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission.
THE FISCAL COSTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security; and Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative 
Rules, held a joint hearing entitled ``The Fiscal Costs of the 
President's Executive Actions on Immigration''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER 
CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE 
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD RELATING TO REPRESENTATION CASE 
PROCEDURES; HOUSE RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN 
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ONE HUNDRED 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on S.J. Res. 8, 
providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, 
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor 
Relations Board relating to representation case procedures; and H. Res. 
132, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of 
Representatives in the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress. The committee 
granted, by record vote of 5-4, a closed rule for H. Res. 132. The rule 
provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration. 
The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the 
resolution. The rule provides that the amendment printed in the Rules 
Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the resolution, as 
amended, shall be considered as read and shall not be subject to a 
demand for division of the question. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit without instructions. The rule also grants a closed rule for 
S.J. Res. 8. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the joint resolution. The rule provides that 
the joint resolution shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions in the joint resolution. The rule 
provides one motion to commit. Testimony was heard from Chairman Miller 
of Michigan, Chairman Kline, and Representatives Brady of Pennsylvania 
and Scott of Virginia.
REALITY CHECK: THE IMPACT AND ACHIEVABILITY OF EPA'S PROPOSED OZONE 
STANDARDS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Reality Check: The Impact and Achievability of EPA's 
Proposed Ozone Standards''. Testimony was heard from Eldon Heaston, 
Executive Director, Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, 
Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District; and public witnesses.
CONTRACTING AND THE INDUSTRIAL BASE II: BUNDLING, GOALING, AND THE 
OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce 
held a hearing entitled ``Contracting and the Industrial Base II: 
Bundling, Goaling, and the Office of Hearings and Appeals''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION BILL: LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR 
U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION PART II
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: Laying 
the Foundation for U.S. Economic Growth and Job Creation Part II''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
A REVIEW OF HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEWEST GENERATION OF 
VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing entitled ``A Review of Higher Education Opportunities 
for the Newest Generation of Veterans''. Testimony was heard from Major 
General Robert M. Worley II, USAF (Retired), Director, Education 
Service, Veterans Benefit Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY BY FUNDING WHAT WORKS: USING EVIDENCE TO HELP 
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GET AHEAD
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing entitled ``Expanding Opportunity by Funding What Works: Using

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Evidence to Help Low-Income Individuals and Families Get Ahead''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Ongoing Intelligence Activities''. This hearing was 
closed.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.