[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D465-D468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM AND ACTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry 
held a hearing to review the National Forest System and active forest 
management. Testimony was heard from Tom Tidwell, Chief, Forest 
Service; and public witnesses.
PUBLIC AND OUTSIDE WITNESS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing for public and outside 
witnesses. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a markup on 
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
appropriations bill, FY 2016. The bill was forwarded to the full 
committee, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
1735, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016''.

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EXAMINING REFORMS TO MODERNIZE THE MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION SYSTEM
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, 
Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``Examining 
Reforms to Modernize the Multiemployer Pension System''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee concluded a markup on 
H.R. 2042, the ``Ratepayer Protection Act''; and H.R. 2045, the 
``Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters (TROL) Act''. H.R. 2042 and H.R. 
2045 were both ordered reported, without amendment.
THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY STANDARDS ON THE COMPETITIVENESS 
OF U.S. INSURERS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance 
held a hearing entitled ``The Impact of International Regulatory 
Standards on the Competitiveness of U.S. Insurers''. Testimony was 
heard from Michael McRaith, Director, Federal Insurance Office, 
Department of the Treasury; Mark Van Der Weide, Deputy Director, 
Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, Federal Reserve Board 
of Governors; and a public witness.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE CAPITAL FORMATION AND REDUCE 
REGULATORY BURDENS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets and 
Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled ``Legislative 
Proposals to Enhance Capital Formation and Reduce Regulatory Burdens''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE GLOBAL MAGNITSKY HUMAN RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ISIS: DEFINING THE ENEMY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``ISIS: Defining 
the Enemy''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and 
Emerging Threats held a hearing entitled ``Progress and Challenges in 
the Western Balkans''. Testimony was heard from Hoyt Brian Yee, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, 
Department of State; Susan Fritz, Acting Assistant Administrator, 
Europe and Eurasia Bureau; U.S. Agency for International Development; 
former Member Joseph J. DioGuardi; and a public witness.
TERRORISM IN AFRICA: THE IMMINENT THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Terrorism in Africa: The 
Imminent Threat to the United States''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
THE REGISTER'S PERSPECTIVE ON COPYRIGHT REVIEW
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Register's Perspective on Copyright Review''. Testimony was heard 
from Maria A. Pallante, Register of Copyrights and Director, U.S. 
Copyright Office.
BUSINESS MEETING; BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: IS IT THE RIGHT POLICY FOR 
AMERICA?
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Border 
Security held a business meeting to adopt rules of procedure and 
statement of policy for private immigration bills and statement of 
policy on Federal charters; and a hearing entitled ``Birthright 
Citizenship: Is it the Right Policy for America?''. The rules of 
procedure and statement of policy for private immigration bills and 
statement of policy on Federal charters were adopted. 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. 1927, the ``Fairness in Class Action 
Litigation Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY: THE CONSEQUENCES OF POLITICALLY DRIVEN SCIENCE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Zero Accountability: The 
Consequences of Politically Driven Science''. Testimony was heard from 
Clara Beckett, Commissioner, Bastrop County, Precinct 2, Bastrop, 
Texas; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
774, the ``Illegal, Unreported,

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and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015''; H.R. 1214, the 
``National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015''; H.R. 1335, 
the ``Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in 
Fisheries Management Act''; and H.R. 1991, the ``Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act Extension Act of 2015''.
FLYING UNDER THE RADAR: SECURING WASHINGTON D.C. AIRSPACE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington D.C. 
Airspace''. Testimony was heard from Admiral William Gortney, 
Commander, NORAD/USNORTHCOM; Michael Huerta, Administrator, Federal 
Aviation Administration; Joseph Clancy, Director, Secret Service; 
Robert MacLean, Chief, U.S. Park Police; Kim Dine, Chief of Police, 
Capitol Police; Paul Irving, Sergeant at Arms, House of 
Representatives; and Robert G. Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense, Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil 
Authorities, Department of Defense.
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF U.S. TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS ABROAD: ON-BUDGET 
ASSISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Following the Trail of U.S. 
Taxpayers' Dollars Abroad: On-Budget Assistance in Afghanistan''. 
Testimony was heard from John Sopko, Inspector General, Special 
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
ENCRYPTION TECHNOLOGY AND POTENTIAL U.S. POLICY RESPONSES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Technology held a hearing entitled ``Encryption Technology 
and Potential U.S. Policy Responses''. Testimony was heard from Amy 
Hess, Executive Assistant Director, Science and Technology Branch, 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; Daniel Conley, 
District Attorney, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; and public witnesses.
REGULATORY INTEGRITY PROTECTION ACT OF 2015; HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 
DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN 
APPROVING THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NON-DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 
2014; CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY S. CON. RES. 11
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 1732, the 
``Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015''; H.J. Res. 43, 
disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in 
approving the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 
2014; and conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 11, concurrent 
resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025. The committee 
granted, by record vote of 8-3, a structured rule for H.R. 1732. The 
rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order as original 
text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 114-13 
modified by the amendment printed in part A of the Rules Committee 
report, and provides that it shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against that amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. The rule makes in order only those further amendments 
printed in part B of the report. Each such further amendment may be 
offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by 
a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in part B of the report. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. In section 2, the rule provides 
for consideration of the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 
11. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report 
and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference 
report shall be considered as read. The rule provides that the previous 
question shall be considered as ordered without intervention of any 
motion except one hour of debate. The rule provides that debate on the 
conference report is divided pursuant to clause 8(d) of rule XXII. In 
section 3, the rule provides that section 604(g) of the District of 
Columbia Home Rule Act shall not apply in the case of H.J. Res. 43. 
Additionally, the rule grants a closed rule for H.J. Res. 43. The rule 
provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform or their respective designees. 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

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rule waives all points of order against provisions in the joint 
resolution. The rule provides that pursuant to section 604(h) of the 
Home Rule Act, a motion to recommit is not in order to the joint 
resolution if under consideration while the act of the D.C. Council is 
within the congressional review period prescribed in section 602 of 
such Act. Testimony was heard from Chairman Tom Price of Georgia and 
Representatives Gibbs, Edwards, Palmer, Yarmuth, Meadows, and Norton.
REALITY CHECK PART II: THE IMPACT OF EPA'S PROPOSED OZONE STANDARDS ON 
RURAL AMERICA
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``Reality Check Part II: The Impact 
of EPA's Proposed Ozone Standards on Rural America''. Testimony was 
heard from Jim Reese, Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture; Cara Keslar, Monitoring Section 
Supervisor, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality 
Division; and public witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY: TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY 
INITIATIVES, AND THE ROLE OF FEDERAL REGULATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Commercial 
Motor Vehicle Safety: Technology, Safety Initiatives, and the Role of 
Federal Regulation''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FILED
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of S. Con. Res. 11, setting forth 
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal 
year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
years 2017 through 2025.