[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D396-D399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF SNAP: THE WORLD OF NUTRITION AND THE 
ROLE OF THE CHARITABLE SECTOR
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: The World of Nutrition and the Role 
of the Charitable Sector''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MEMBERS' DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing for 
Members of Congress. Testimony was heard from Chairman Miller of 
Florida and Representatives Lowenthal, Ted Lieu of California, Jolly, 
McGovern, Heck of Washington, Johnson of Georgia, Cook, Byrne, Carter 
of Georgia, Rothfus, Lawrence, and Wagner.
APPROPRIATIONS--SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Securities and Exchange Commission 
budget. Testimony was heard from Mary Jo White, Chair, Securities and 
Exchange Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--EBOLA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Ebola budget. Testimony was 
heard from Nicole Lurie, MD, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and 
Response, United States Public Health Service, Department of Health and 
Human Services; Thomas R. Frieden, MD, Director, Centers of Disease 
Control and Prevention; Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National 
Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, National Institutes of 
Health; and Robin Robinson, Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and 
Development, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a markup on appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016. 
The bill was forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.
APPROPRIATIONS--IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Immigration and Customs Enforcement budget. Testimony was 
heard from Sarah R. Saldanna, Director, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a markup on appropriations 
bill for fiscal year 2016. The bill was forwarded to the full 
committee, without amendment.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on United Nations and International 
Organizations budget. Testimony was heard from Samantha Power, United 
States Ambassador to the United Nations.
THE RISK OF LOSING MILITARY TECHNOLOGY SUPERIORITY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS 
FOR U.S. POLICY, STRATEGY, AND POSTURE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Risk of Losing Military Technology Superiority and Its 
Implications for U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture in the Asia-
Pacific''. Testimony was heard from Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, USN, 
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, USA, 
Commander, U.S. Forces Korea; and Christine E. Wormuth, Under Secretary 
of Defense for Policy.
THE ROLE OF SURFACE FORCES IN PRESENCE, DETERRENCE, AND WARFIGHTING
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``The Role of Surface Forces in 
Presence, Deterrence, and Warfighting''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
FISCAL YEAR 2016 NUCLEAR FORCES HEARING
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2016 Nuclear Forces Hearing''. Testimony 
was heard from the following Department of Defense officials: Vice 
Admiral Terry J. Benedict, USN, Director, Strategic Systems Programs; 
Major General Garrett Harencak, USAF, Assistant Chief of Staff for 
Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration; Arthur T. Hopkins, Acting 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, 
and Biological Defense Programs; and Robert M. Scher, Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities.

[[Page D397]]


SERVING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Serving Students and Families through Child Nutrition 
Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
1734, the ``Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 
2015''; H.R. 906, to modify the efficiency standards for grid-enabled 
water heaters; and H.R. 1770, the ``Data Security and Breach 
Notification Act of 2015''. The following bills were ordered reported, 
as amended: H.R. 906 and H.R. 1770. The following bill was ordered 
reported, without amendment: H.R. 1734.
EXAMINING REGULATORY BURDENS ON NON-DEPOSITORY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Examining Regulatory 
Burdens on Non-Depository Financial Institutions''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
CONFRONTING RUSSIA'S WEAPONIZATION OF INFORMATION
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Confronting Russia's Weaponization of Information''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a markup on 
H.R. 1150, to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to 
improve the ability of the United States to advance religious freedom 
globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and 
foreign assistance efforts, and through stronger and more flexible 
political responses to religious freedom violations and violent 
extremism worldwide, and for other purposes; and H. Res. 50, calling 
for the release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who was 
captured by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine and has been held 
illegally in a Russian prison since July 2014. H.R. 1150 was forwarded 
to the full committee, without amendment. H. Res. 50 was forwarded to 
the full committee, as amended.
THE CONTINUING THREAT OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``The Continuing Threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases''. 
Testimony was heard from Ariel Pablos-Meendez, M.D., Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International 
Development; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 427, 
the ``Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015''; 
H.R. 1759, the ``All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act of 
2015''; and H.R. 758, the ``Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2015''. The 
following bill was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 427. The 
following bill was ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 1759. The 
committee began consideration of H.R. 758.
ANALYZING MISCONDUCT IN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland 
Security, and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Analyzing 
Misconduct in Federal Law Enforcement''. Testimony was heard from 
Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, Department of Justice; John 
Roth, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security; Herman E. 
``Chuck'' Whaley, Deputy Chief Inspector, Office of Professional 
Responsibility, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice; 
and Mark Hughes, Chief Integrity Officer, Secret Service, Department of 
Homeland Security.
FEDERAL LAND ACQUISITION AND ITS IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES AND THE 
ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing entitled ``Federal Land Acquisition and its Impacts on 
Communities and the Environment''. Testimony was heard from Robert A. 
Lovingood, Supervisor, First District San Bernardino County; and public 
witnesses.
EXAMINING THE FUTURE IMPACTS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S OFFSHORE ENERGY PLAN
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Future Impacts of 
President Obama's Offshore Energy Plan''. Testimony was heard from Pat 
McCrory, Governor, State of North Carolina; Abigail Hopper, Director, 
Bureau of Ocean

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Energy Management, Department of the Interior; Emilie Swearingen, 
Commissioner, Town of Kure Beach, North Carolina; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF EFFORTS TO REFORM THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED 
STATES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Health 
Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules; and Subcommittee on Monetary 
Policy and Trade of the Committee on Financial Services, held a joint 
hearing entitled ``Oversight of Efforts to Reform the Export-Import 
Bank of the United States''. Testimony was heard from the following 
Export-Import Bank of the United States officials: Michael T. McCarthy, 
Acting Inspector General, Office of Inspector General; Mark S. Thorum, 
Assistant Inspector General for Inspections and Evaluations, Office of 
Inspector General; Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and President; and Nathan 
Sheets, Undersecretary for International Affairs, Department of 
Treasury; and Kimberly M. Gianopoulos, Director of Advocacy, 
International Affairs and Trade Team, Government Accountability Office.
THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE'S ANNUAL REPORT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Operations held a hearing entitled ``The Taxpayer Advocate's 
Annual Report''. Testimony was heard from Nina Olson, National Taxpayer 
Advocate, Internal Revenue Service.
THE PRESIDENT'S UN CLIMATE PLEDGE: SCIENTIFICALLY JUSTIFIED OR A NEW 
TAX ON AMERICANS?
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``The President's UN Climate Pledge: Scientifically 
Justified or a New Tax on Americans?''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
TAX REFORM: ENSURING THAT MAIN STREET ISN'T LEFT BEHIND
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Tax Reform: Ensuring that Main Street Isn't Left Behind''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 1732, the ``Regulatory Integrity Protection Act''; H.R. 
1471, the ``FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015''; H.R. 1472, 
the ``Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 
2015''; H.R. 1473, the ``John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 
2015''; H.R. 944, to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 336, to direct the Administrator of General 
Services, on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, to convey 
certain Federal property located in the State of Alaska to the 
Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska; H.R. 172, to designate the United 
States courthouse located at 501 East Court Street in Jackson, 
Mississippi, as the ``R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse''; H. Con. 
Res. 21, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater 
Washington Soap Box Derby; H. Con. Res. 25, authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and 
the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition; and H.R. 1690, to 
designate the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant Street in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States 
Courthouse''. The following bills were ordered reported, as amended: 
H.R. 1732 and H.R. 1471. The following legislation was ordered 
reported, without amendment: H.R. 1472, H.R. 944, H.R. 1473, H.R. 336, 
H.R. 172, H.R. 1690, H. Con. Res. 21, and H. Con. Res. 25.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD'S MISSIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``An Overview 
of the U.S. Coast Guard's Missions''. Testimony was heard from Vice 
Admiral Charles Michel, United States Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for 
Operations.
DENVER VA MEDICAL CENTER: CONSTRUCTING A WAY FORWARD
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Denver VA Medical Center: Constructing a Way Forward''. Testimony was 
heard from Lloyd C. Caldwell, Director of Military Programs, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; and Sloan D. Gibson, Deputy 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on the 
National Security Agency and Cybersecurity held a hearing on special 
activities. This hearing was closed.

Joint Meetings
SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine if 
taxes are holding back small business growth, after receiving testimony 
from Brian Reardon, S Corporation Association, and Holly

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Wade, National Federation of Independent Business, both of Washington, 
D.C.; Jody Fledderman, Batesville Tool and Die, Batesville, Indiana; 
Thomas A. Hoghaug, Signus Medical LLC, Chanhassen, Minnesota; and 
Martin A. Sullivan, Tax Analysts, Falls Church, Virginia.