[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 47 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D308-D311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 897, the 
``Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015''. H.R. 897 was ordered 
reported, without amendment.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Land Management budget. 
Testimony was heard from Neil Kornze, Director, Bureau of Land 
Management.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL 
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General oversight.

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Testimony was heard from Richard J. Griffin, Deputy Inspector General, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and John D. Daigh, Jr., Assistant 
Inspector General for Healthcare Inspection, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL 
SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Agriculture Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Service budget. Testimony was heard from the following Department of 
Agriculture officials: Michael T. Scuse, Under Secretary, Farm and 
Foreign Agriculture Service; Brandon Willis, Administrator, Risk 
Management Agency; Val Dolcini, Administrator, Farm Service Agency; 
Phil Karsting, Administrator, Foreign Agriculture Service; and Michael 
Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
United States European Command budget. Testimony was heard from General 
Philip M. Breedlove, United States Air Force, Supreme Allied Commander 
Europe (NATO), Commander, United States European Command. This hearing 
was closed.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Transportation Security Administration budget. Testimony was 
heard from Melvin Carraway, Acting Administrator, Transportation 
Security Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Consumer Product Safety Commission 
budget. Testimony was heard from Elliot F. Kaye, Chairman, Consumer 
Product Safety Commission; and Ann Marie Buerkle, Commissioner, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Surface 
Transportation Programs budget. Testimony was heard from the following 
Department of Transportation officials: Gregory G. Nadeau, Acting 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration; Therese W. McMillan, 
Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; Mark R. Rosekind, 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Paul 
N. Jaenichen Sr., Administrator, Maritime Administration.
FISCAL YEAR 2016 MISSILE DEFENSE HEARING
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2016 Missile Defense Hearing''. 
Testimony was heard from Brian P. McKeon, Principal Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense; Admiral Bill 
Gortney, USN, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. 
Northern Command; Vice Admiral James Syring, USN, Director, Missile 
Defense Agency; and Lieutenant General David L. Mann, USA, Commander, 
Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense.
FISCAL YEAR 2016 GROUND FORCE MODERNIZATION AND ROTORCRAFT 
MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2016 Ground Force 
Modernization and Rotorcraft Modernization Programs''. Testimony was 
heard from Lieutenant General Michael E. Williamson, USA, Military 
Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics 
and Technology); Major General Michael D. Lundy, USA, Commander, U.S. 
Army Aviation Center of Excellence; Vice Admiral Paul A. Grosklags, 
USN, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy 
(Research, Development and Acquisition); Lieutenant General Anthony R. 
Ierardi, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8; Brigadier General Joe 
Shrader, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Systems Command; and 
Bill Taylor, Program Executive Officer Land Systems, U.S. Marine Corps.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee concluded a markup on the 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2016. The 
concurrent resolution was ordered reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing on H.R. 906, to modify the efficiency standards for grid-
enabled water heaters. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D310]]


FCC REAUTHORIZATION: OVERSIGHT OF THE COMMISSION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``FCC Reauthorization: Oversight of 
the Commission''. Testimony was heard from the following Federal 
Communications Commission officials: Tom Wheeler, Chairman; Mignon 
Clyburn, Commissioner; Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner; Ajit Pai, 
Commissioner; and Michael O'Rielly, Commissioner.
OVERSIGHT OF THE SEC'S DIVISION OF ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets and 
Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of 
the SEC's Division of Enforcement''. Testimony was heard from Andrew J. 
Ceresney, Director, Division of Enforcement, Securities and Exchange 
Commission.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN: BLOCKING OR PAVING TEHRAN'S PATH TO NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS?
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Negotiations with Iran: Blocking or Paving Tehran's Path to Nuclear 
Weapons?''. Testimony was heard from Antony J. Blinken, Deputy 
Secretary of State, Department of State; Adam J. Szubin, Acting Under 
Secretary, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Department 
of the Treasury.
AGENTS OF OPPORTUNITY: RESPONDING TO THE THREAT OF CHEMICAL TERRORISM
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Agents of 
Opportunity: Responding to the Threat of Chemical Terrorism''. 
Testimony was heard from Mark Kirk, Director, Chemical Defense Program, 
Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; Armando B. 
Fontoura, Sheriff, Essex County, New Jersey; and public witnesses.
CHILD EXPLOITATION RESTITUTION FOLLOWING THE PAROLINE V. UNITED STATES 
DECISION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland 
Security, and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Child 
Exploitation Restitution Following the Paroline v. United States 
Decision''. Testimony was heard from Jill E. Steinberg, National 
Coordinator for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND MISSIONS OF THE U.S. FISH AND 
WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands; and 
Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, held a joint hearing entitled 
``Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposal''. Testimony 
was heard from Daniel M. Ashe, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service; and 
Kathryn D. Sullivan, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
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--PART II
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
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--Part II''. 
Testimony was heard from Sarah R. Saldanna, Director, Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement.
CONTRACTING AND THE INDUSTRIAL BASE III: REVERSE AUCTIONS, VERIFICATION 
AND THE SBA'S ROLE IN RULE MAKING
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce 
held a hearing entitled ``Contracting and the Industrial Base III: 
Reverse Auctions, Verification and the SBA's Role in Rule Making''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on H.R. 571, the ``Veterans Affairs 
Retaliation Prevention Act of 2015''; H.R. 593, the ``Aurora VA 
Hospital Financing and Construction Reform Act of 2015''; H.R. 1015, 
the ``Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2015''; 
H.R. 1016, the ``Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 
2015''; H.R. 1017, the ``Veterans Information Security Improvement 
Act''; H.R. 1128, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Cyber Security 
Protection Act''; and H.R. 1129, the ``Veterans' Whistleblower and 
Patient Protection Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard

[[Page D311]]

from Meghan Flanz, Director, Office of Accountability Review, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
THE GROWING CYBER THREAT AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN BUSINESS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``The Growing Cyber Threat and Its Impact on American 
Business''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.