[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D298-D302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE TO U.S. AGRICULTURE
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
importance of trade to U.S. agriculture. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES PUBLIC AND 
OUTSIDE WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing for public and outside witnesses. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held an oversight hearing on closing the 
achievement gap in higher education. Testimony was heard from Aaron 
Thompson, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Kentucky 
Council on Postsecondary Education; and public witnesses.

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APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Agriculture Rural Development budget. 
Testimony was heard from Lisa Mensah, Under Secretary, Rural 
Development; Lillian Salerno, Administrator, Rural Business--
Cooperative Service; Tony Hernandez, Administrator, Rural Housing 
Service; Jasper Schneider, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities 
Service; and Michael Young, Budget Officer, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES PACIFIC COMMAND AND UNITED STATES FORCES 
KOREA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
United States Pacific Command and United States Forces Korea budget. 
Testimony was heard from Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, United States 
Navy, Commander, United States Pacific Command; and General Curtis M. 
Scaparrotti, Commander, United Nations Command, Commander, Republic of 
Korea, United States Combined Forces Command, Commander, United States 
Forces Korea. This hearing was closed.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy, Environmental 
Management budget. Testimony was heard from David Klaus, Deputy Under 
Secretary, Management and Performance, Department of Energy; and Mark 
Whitney, Acting Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management, 
Department of Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration budget. Testimony was heard from Kathryn 
Sullivan, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Internal Revenue Service budget. 
Testimony was heard from John A. Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal 
Revenue Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS RELATED 
AGENCIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on related 
agencies budget. Testimony was heard from Max Cleland, Secretary, 
American Battle Monuments Commission; Patrick K. Hallinan, Executive 
Director, Army National Military Cemeteries; Bruce E. Kasold, Chief 
Judge, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and Steven 
G. McManus, Chief Operating Officer, Armed Forces Retirement Home.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on Department of Treasury 
International Programs budget. Testimony was heard from Jack Lew, 
Secretary, Department of the Treasury.
THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE 
AGAINST ISIL AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2016 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION 
BUDGET REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The President's Proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force 
Against ISIL and the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization 
Budget Request from the Department of Defense''. Testimony was heard 
from Ashton B. Carter, Secretary of Defense; and General Martin E. 
Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
NAVAL COOPERATIVE STRATEGY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces; and Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, held a joint 
hearing entitled ``Naval Cooperative Strategy''. Testimony was heard 
from Vice Admiral Charles D. Michel, USCG, Deputy Commandant for 
Operations; Major General Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., USMC, Assistant 
Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration, and Deputy 
Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and Rear 
Admiral Upper Half Kevin M. ``Kid'' Donegan, USN, Acting Deputy Chief 
of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5).

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SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN AN UNCERTAIN THREAT ENVIRONMENT: A REVIEW 
OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET REQUEST FOR U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Special Operations Forces in an 
Uncertain Threat Environment: A Review of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget 
Request for U.S. Special Operations Command''. Testimony was heard from 
Michael D. Lumpkin, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations/
Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD/SOLIC); and General Joseph L. Votel, 
Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee began a markup on the 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2016.
REVIEWING THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE 
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Reviewing the President's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Proposal 
for the Department of Labor''. Testimony was heard from Thomas E. 
Perez, Secretary, Department of Labor.
DATA SECURITY AND BREACH NOTIFICATION ACT OF 2015
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing on a discussion draft of the 
``Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015''. Testimony was 
heard from Jessica Rich, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 
Federal Trade Commission; Clete Johnson, Chief Counsel for 
Cybersecurity, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal 
Communications Commission; Sara Cable, Assistant Attorney General, 
Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General; and public witnesses.
IMPROVING COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS REGULATION ACT OF 2015
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the 
Economy began a hearing on the ``Improving Coal Combustion Residuals 
Regulation Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PRESERVING CONSUMER CHOICE AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Preserving Consumer Choice and Financial Independence''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere; 
and Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, held a joint 
hearing entitled ``Iran and Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
U.S. ELECTION SUPPORT IN AFRICA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``U.S. Election Support in Africa''. Testimony was heard from 
Eric G. Postel, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. 
Agency for International Development; and public witnesses.
DOES THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 BUDGET REQUEST ADDRESS THE CRISES IN THE 
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA?
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``Does the President's FY 2016 Budget 
Request Address the Crises in the Middle East and North Africa?''. 
Testimony was heard from Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau 
of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; and Paige Alexander, 
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency for 
International Development.
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM THREATS: EXPLORING SECURITY IMPLICATIONS AND 
MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Management Efficiency held a hearing entitled ``Unmanned Aerial System 
Threats: Exploring Security Implications and Mitigation Technologies''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 1153, 
the ``Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015''; and H.R. 1148, 
the ``Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement 
Act''. The following bill was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1148. 
The following bill was ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 1153.

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EFFECT OF THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 BUDGET AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FOR 
THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING ON PRIVATE SECTOR JOB CREATION, DOMESTIC 
ENERGY PRODUCTION, STATE PROGRAMS AND DEFICIT REDUCTION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Effect of the President's FY 2016 
Budget and Legislative Proposals for the Office of Surface Mining on 
Private Sector Job Creation, Domestic Energy Production, State Programs 
and Deficit Reduction''. Testimony was heard from Joseph Pizarchik, 
Director, Office of Surface Mining, Department of the Interior.
FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR AND THE UNITED STATES' RESPONSIBILITIES 
CONCERNING INDIANS, ALASKA NATIVES, AND INSULAR AREAS IN THE 
PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, 
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS, AND OFFICE OF THE 
SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and 
Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Funding Priorities for 
and the United States' Responsibilities concerning Indians, Alaska 
Natives, and Insular Areas in the President's FY 2016 Budget Request 
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, Office of 
Insular Affairs, and Office of the Special Trustee for American 
Indians''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of the 
Interior officials: Kevin K. Washburn, Assistant Secretary, Indian 
Affairs; Esther Kia'aina, Assistant Secretary, Insular Areas; and 
Vincent G. Logan, Special Trustee, Office of Special Trustee for 
American Indians; and Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., Senior Adviser to the 
Secretary on Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Department of Health 
and Human Services.
CYBERSECURITY: THE EVOLVING NATURE OF CYBER THREATS FACING THE PRIVATE 
SECTOR
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Technology held a hearing entitled ``Cybersecurity: The 
Evolving Nature of Cyber Threats Facing the Private Sector''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
FEDERAL WORKFORCE TAX ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Operations held a hearing entitled ``Federal Workforce Tax 
Accountability''. Testimony was heard from Brad Huther, Chief Financial 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development; E.J. Holland, 
Jr., Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Health and 
Human Services; Seto Bagdoyan, Director, Audit Services, Forensic 
Audits and Investigative Service, Government Accountability Office; and 
public witnesses.
TANGLED IN RED TAPE: NEW CHALLENGES FOR SMALL MANUFACTURERS
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Tangled in Red Tape: New Challenges for Small Manufacturers''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET: ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES FOR 
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``The President's 
Fiscal Year 2016 Budget: Administration Priorities for the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency''. Testimony was heard from Ken 
Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, Environmental 
Protection Agency; and Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection 
Agency.
BURDENS FAMILY BUSINESSES AND FARMS FACE PLANNING FOR AND PAYING THE 
ESTATE TAX
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, 
held an organizational meeting for the 114th Congress and a hearing on 
the burdens family businesses and farms face planning for and paying 
the estate tax. The subcommittee successfully organized. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
Economic Report of the President 2015, after receiving testimony from 
Jason Furman, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers.
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senate Committee concluded a joint 
hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation from multiple veterans service organizations, 
after receiving testimony from Lonnie L.

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Wangen, North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner, 
Fargo, on behalf of the National Association of State Directors of 
Veterans Affairs; Colonel Maxwell S. Colon, USA (Ret.), Jewish War 
Veterans, Encinitas, California; CMSGT (Ret.) Robert L. Frank, Air 
Force Sergeants Association, Springfield, Virginia; USAF Senior Master 
Sergeant (Ret.) Larry Hyland, The Retired Enlisted Association, Palm 
Bay, Florida; Thomas J. Snee, Fleet Reserve Association, Burke, 
Virginia; Colonel Peter J. Duffy, USA (Ret.), National Guard 
Association of the United States, Washington, D.C.; Charles Susino, 
Jr., American Ex-Prisoners of War, Metuchen, New Jersey; Jeanette 
Early, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Aurora, Colorado; and Ryan 
Kules, Wounded Warrior Project, Severna Park, Maryland.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Northern Ireland, focusing on Stormont, collusion, 
and the Finucane inquiry, including other issues of accountability for 
past government collusion in paramilitary crimes, after receiving 
testimony from Anne Cadwallader, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in 
Ireland, Armagh, Northern Ireland; and Kieran McEvoy, Queen's 
University School of Law, and Geraldine Finucane, both of Belfast, 
Northern Ireland.