[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D561-D565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                      CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD

                  Week of May 18 through May 22, 2015

                             Senate Chamber

  On Tuesday, Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 1314, Ensuring 
Tax Exempt Organizations the Right to Appeal Act.
  During the balance of the week, Senate may consider any cleared 
legislative and executive business.


                           Senate Committees

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: May 21, 
business meeting to consider pending legislation, and the nomination 
of Jeffrey Michael Prieto, of California, to be General Counsel of 
the Department of Agriculture, 10 a.m., SR-328A.
  Committee on Appropriations: May 19, Subcommittee on Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, business 
meeting to consider an original bill entitled, ``Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 2016'', 10:30 a.m., SD-124.
  May 19, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, business 
meeting to consider an original bill entitled, ``Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Act, 2016'', 2:30 p.m., SD-138.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Department of Defense, to receive a closed 
briefing on Syria, 11 a.m., SVC-217.
  May 21, Full Committee, business meeting to consider the fiscal 
year 2016 302(b) allocations, an original bill entitled, ``Energy 
and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2016'', and an original 
bill entitled, ``Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016'', 10:30 a.m., SH-216.
  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: May 21, business 
meeting to markup an original bill entitled, ``The Financial 
Regulatory Improvement Act of 2015'', 10 a.m., SD-538.
  Committee on the Budget: May 19, to hold an oversight hearing to 
examine the Congressional Budget Office, 10:30 a.m., SD-608.
  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: May 19, to 
hold hearings to examine Federal Aviation Administration 
reauthorization, focusing on air traffic control modernization and 
reform, 10 a.m., SR-253.
  May 20, Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 1331, to 
help enhance commerce through improved seasonal forecasts, S. 1297, 
to update the Commercial Space Launch Act by amending title 51, 
United States Code, to promote competitiveness of the U.S. 
commercial space sector, S. 1326, to amend certain maritime programs 
of the Department of Transportation, S. 1040, to direct the Consumer 
Product Safety Commission and the National Academy of Sciences to 
study the vehicle handling requirements proposed by the Commission 
for recreational off-highway vehicles and to prohibit the adoption 
of any such requirements until the completion of the study, S. 1359, 
to allow manufacturers to meet warranty and labeling requirements 
for consumer products by displaying the terms of warranties on 
Internet websites, S. 806, to amend section 31306 of title 49, 
United States Code, to recognize hair as an alternative specimen for 
preemployment and random controlled substances testing of commercial 
motor vehicle drivers and for other purposes, S. 1315, to protect 
the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, 
notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions, S. 
1334, to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, 
unreported, and unregulated fishing, to amend the Tuna Conventions 
Act of 1950 to implement the Antigua Convention, S. 1335, to 
implement the Convention on the Conservation and Management of the 
High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean, as adopted 
at Tokyo on February 24, 2012, S. 1251, to implement the Amendment 
to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the 
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, as adopted by Lisbon, Portugal on 
September 28, 2007, S. 1336, to implement the Convention on the 
Conservation and Management of the High Seas Fishery Resources in 
the South Pacific Ocean, as adopted at Auckland on November 14, 
2009, H.R. 1020, to define STEM education to include computer 
science, and to support existing STEM education programs at the 
National Science Foundation, H.R. 710, to require the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to prepare a comprehensive security assessment of 
the transportation security card program, and the nominations of 
Daniel R. Elliott III, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Surface 
Transportation Board for a term expiring December 31, 2018, Mario 
Cordero, of California, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner for 
the term expiring June 30, 2019, and a routine list in the Coast 
Guard, 10:30 a.m., SR-253.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast 
Guard, to hold hearings to examine improvements and innovations in 
fishery management and data collection, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
  Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: May 19, to hold 
hearings to examine S. 562, to promote exploration for geothermal 
resources, S. 822, to expand geothermal production, S. 1026, to 
amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal a 
provision prohibiting Federal agencies from procuring alternative 
fuels, S. 1057, to promote geothermal energy, S. 1058, to promote 
research, development, and demonstration of marine and hydrokinetic 
renewable energy technologies, S. 1103,

[[Page D562]]

to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project involving Clark Canyon Dam, 
S. 1104, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of 
a hydroelectric project involving the Gibson Dam, S. 1199, to 
authorize Federal agencies to provide alternative fuel to Federal 
employees on a reimbursable basis, S. 1215, to amend the Methane 
Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 to provide for the 
development of methane hydrate as a commercially viable source of 
energy, S. 1222, to amend the Federal Power Act to provide for 
reports relating to electric capacity resources of transmission 
organizations and the amendment of certain tariffs to address the 
procurement of electric capacity resources, S. 1224, to reconcile 
differing Federal approaches to condensate, S. 1226, to amend the 
Mineral Leasing Act and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands 
to promote a greater domestic helium supply, to establish a Federal 
helium leasing program for public land, and to secure a helium 
supply for national defense and Federal researchers, S. 1236, to 
amend the Federal Power Act to modify certain requirements relating 
to trial-type hearings with respect to certain license applications 
before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, S. 1264, to amend 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a 
renewable electricity standard, S. 1270, to amend the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 to reauthorize hydroelectric production incentives and 
hydroelectric efficiency improvement incentives, S. 1271, to require 
the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to prevent or 
minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production 
operations in the United States, S. 1272, to direct the Comptroller 
General of the United States to conduct a study on the effects of 
forward capacity auctions and other capacity mechanisms, S. 1276, to 
amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to increase 
energy exploration and production on the outer Continental Shelf in 
the Gulf of Mexico, S. 1278, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act to provide for the conduct of certain lease sales in the 
Alaska outer Continental Shelf region, to make certain modifications 
to the North Slope Science Initiative, S. 1279, to provide for 
revenue sharing of qualified revenues from leases in the South 
Atlantic planning area, S. 1280, to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish an annual production incentive fee with 
respect to Federal onshore and offshore land that is subject to a 
lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is 
not occurring, S. 1282, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to 
require the Secretary of Energy to consider the objective of 
improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide 
produced from fossil fuels in carrying out research and development 
programs under that Act, S. 1283, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 to repeal certain programs, to establish a coal technology 
program, S. 1285, to authorize the Secretary of Energy to enter into 
contracts to provide certain price stabilization support relating to 
electric generation units that use coal-based generation technology, 
S. 1294, to require the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of 
Agriculture to collaborate in promoting the development of 
efficient, economical, and environmentally sustainable thermally led 
wood energy systems, and S. 1304, to require the Secretary of Energy 
to establish a pilot competitive grant program for the development 
of a skilled energy workforce, 10 a.m., SD-366.
  May 21, Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining, to hold 
hearings to examine S. 160, and H.R. 373, to direct the Secretary of 
the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to 
certain Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of each 
Secretary for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, S. 365, 
to improve rangeland conditions and restore grazing levels within 
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, S. 472, to 
promote conservation, improve public land, and provide for sensible 
development in Douglas County, Nevada, S. 583, to establish certain 
wilderness areas in central Idaho and to authorize various land 
conveyances involving National Forest System land and Bureau of Land 
Management land in central Idaho, S. 814, to provide for the 
conveyance of certain Federal land in the State of Oregon to the 
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, S. 
815, to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in the 
State of Oregon to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, 
and S. 1240, to designate the Cerro del Yuta and Rio San Antonio 
Wilderness Areas in the State of New Mexico, 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works: May 19, Subcommittee on 
Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, to hold hearings to examine S. 1140, 
to require the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency to propose a regulation revising the 
definition of the term ``waters of the United States'', 10 a.m., SD-
406.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and 
Regulatory Oversight, to hold an oversight hearing to examine 
scientific advisory panels and processes at the Environmental 
Protection Agency, including S. 543, to amend the Environmental 
Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 
to provide for Scientific Advisory Board member qualifications, 
public participation, 9:30 a.m., SD-406.
  Committee on Finance: May 19, to hold hearings to examine how to 
safely reduce reliance on foster care group homes, 10 a.m., SD-215.
  Committee on Foreign Relations: May 19, to hold hearings to 
examine the nominations of Mileydi Guilarte, of the District of 
Columbia, to be United States Alternate Executive Director of the 
Inter-American Development Bank, Jennifer Ann Haverkamp, of Indiana, 
to be Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, and Brian James Egan, of Maryland, to be 
Legal Adviser, both of the Department of State, Marcia Denise 
Occomy, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Director of 
the African Development Bank for a term of five years, and Sunil 
Sabharwal, of California, to be United States Alternate Executive 
Director of the International Monetary Fund for a term of two years, 
2:45 p.m., SD-419.
  May 20, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine U.S. Cuban 
relations, focusing on the way forward, 10 a.m., SD-419.

[[Page D563]]


  May 20, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the 
nominations of Gregory T. Delawie, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Kosovo, Ian C. Kelly, of Illinois, to be Ambassador 
to Georgia, Nancy Bikoff Pettit, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of Latvia, and Azita Raji, of California, to be 
Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, all of the Department of State, 
2:30 p.m., SD-419.
  May 21, Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 802, to 
authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development to provide assistance to 
support the rights of women and girls in developing countries, S. 
868, to establish a fund to make payment to the Americans held 
hostage in Iran, and to members of their families, who are 
identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00-CV-
03110 (ESG) of the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia, S. Res. 87, to express the sense of the Senate regarding 
the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and to encourage greater 
cooperation with the European governments, the European Union, and 
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 
preventing and responding to anti-Semitism, the nominations of 
Charles C. Adams, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Finland, Cassandra Q. Butts, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Paul A. Folmsbee, of 
Oklahoma, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, Stafford 
Fitzgerald Haney, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Costa Rica, Mary Catherine Phee, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of South Sudan, and Gentry O. Smith, of North Carolina, 
to be Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, and to have the 
rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service, all of the 
Department of State, Matthew T. McGuire, of the District of 
Columbia, to be United States Executive Director of the 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of 
two years, and routine lists in the Foreign Service, 9:15 a.m., SD-
419.
  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: May 19, to 
hold an oversight hearing to examine the Equal Employment 
Opportunity Commission, focusing on examining EEOC's enforcement and 
litigation programs, 10 a.m., SD-430.
  May 20, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine reauthorizing 
the Higher Education Act, focusing on exploring institutional risk-
sharing, 10 a.m., SD-430.
  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: May 20, 
Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, to hold 
hearings to examine 21st century ideas for the 20th century Federal 
civil service, 10 a.m., SD-342.
  May 21, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine understanding 
America's long-term fiscal picture, 9:30 a.m., SD-342.
  Committee on Indian Affairs: May 20, to hold an oversight hearing 
to examine addressing the needs of Native communities through Indian 
Water Rights Settlements, 2:15 p.m., SD-628.
  Committee on the Judiciary: May 19, Subcommittee on Crime and 
Terrorism, to hold hearings to examine body cameras, focusing on 
whether technology can increase protection for law enforcement 
officers and the public, 2:30 p.m., SD-226.
  May 20, Subcommittee on the Constitution, to hold hearings to 
examine taking sexual assault seriously, focusing on the rape kit 
backlog and human rights, 2:30 p.m., SD-226.
  May 21, Full Committee, business meeting to consider pending 
calendar business, 10 a.m., SD-226.
  Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: May 19, to hold 
hearings to examine proposed environmental regulation's impacts on 
America's small businesses, 2 p.m., SR-428A.
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs: May 20, to hold a joint hearing 
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation of multiple veterans service organizations, 
10 a.m., SH-216.
  Select Committee on Intelligence: May 19, to receive a closed 
briefing on certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.
  May 21, Full Committee, to receive a closed briefing on certain 
intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.
  Special Committee on Aging: May 20, to hold hearings to examine 
solutions to the hospital observation stay crisis, 2:15 p.m., SD-
562.


                            House Committees

  Committee on Agriculture, May 20, Full Committee, markup on H.R. 
------, a legislative response to the WTO decision; and the 
``National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2015'', 10 a.m., 
1300 Longworth.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Nutrition, hearing entitled ``Past, 
Present, and Future of SNAP: The World of Nutrition, Government 
Duplication and Unmet Needs'', 1:30 p.m., 1300 Longworth.
  Committee on Appropriations, May 20, Subcommittee on Defense, 
markup on Defense Appropriations Bill, FY 2016, 9:30 a.m., H-140 
Capitol. This markup will be closed.
  May 20, Full Committee, markup on Commerce, Justice, and Science 
Appropriations Bill for FY 2016, 10:30 a.m., 2359 Rayburn.
  Committee on Education and the Workforce, May 20, Subcommittee on 
Workforce Protections, hearing entitled ``Reforming the Workers' 
Compensation Program for Federal Employees'', 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
  Committee on Energy and Commerce, May 20, Full Committee, markup 
on the ``21st Century Cures Act'' (continued), 10 a.m., 2123 
Rayburn.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, markup on 
the ``FCC Process Reform Act of 2015''; a bill to amend the 
Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications 
Commission to publish on its Internet website changes to the rules 
of the Commission not later than 24 hours after adoption; a bill to 
amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal 
Communications Commission to publish on the website of the 
Commission documents to be voted on by the Commission; a bill to 
amend the Communications

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Act of 1934 to require identification and description on the website 
of the Federal Communications Commission of items to be decided on 
authority delegated by the Commission; a bill to direct the Federal 
Communications Commission to submit to Congress a report on 
improving the participation of small businesses in the proceedings 
of the Commission; a bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to 
provide for a quarterly report on pending requests for action by the 
Federal Communications Commission and pending congressional 
investigations of the Commission; and a bill to amend the 
Communications Act of 1934 to provide for publication on the 
Internet website of the Federal Communications Commission of certain 
policies and procedures established by the chairman of the 
Commission, 2 p.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  May 21, Subcommittee on Energy and Power, hearing entitled 
``Quadrennial Energy Review and Related Discussion Drafts'', 10 
a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  May 21, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing 
entitled ``What are the State Governments Doing to Combat the Opioid 
Abuse Epidemic?'', 10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
  Committee on Financial Services, May 20, Full Committee, markup on 
H.R. 432, the ``SBIC Advisers Relief Act of 2015''; H.R. 686, the 
``Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage 
Simplification Act of 2015''; H.R. 1334, the ``Holding Company 
Registration Threshold Equalization Act of 2015''; H.R. 1525, the 
``Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2015''; H.R. 
1675, the ``Encouraging Employee Ownership Act of 2015''; H.R. 1723, 
the ``Small Company Simple Registration Act of 2015''; H.R. 1847, 
the ``Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification 
Correction Act of 2015''; H.R. 1965, the ``Small Company Disclosure 
Simplification Act''; H.R. 1975, the ``Securities and Exchange 
Commission Overpayment Credit Act''; H.R. 2064, the ``Improving 
Access to Capital for Emerging Growth Companies Act''; H.R. 2354, 
the ``Streamlining Excessive and Costly Regulations Review Act''; 
H.R. 2356, the ``Fair Access to Investment Research Act of 2015''; 
H.R. 2357, the ``Accelerating Access to Capital Act of 2015''; and a 
resolution to name a new Republican Member of the Committee to 
subcommittees, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  May 21, Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, hearing 
entitled ``A Dangerous Nexus: Terrorism, Crime, and Corruption'', 10 
a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  Committee on Foreign Affairs, May 20, Subcommittee on the Middle 
East and North Africa, hearing entitled ``Egypt Two Years After 
Morsi: Part I'', 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, markup on H.R. 1853, 
to direct the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer 
status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, 
and for other purposes; and H. Res. 235, expressing deepest 
condolences to and solidarity with the people of Nepal following the 
devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015; hearing entitled ``Everest 
Trembled: Lessons Learned from the Nepal Earthquake Response'', 2 
p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human 
Rights, and International Organizations, hearing entitled 
``Developments in Rwanda'', 2 p.m., 2200 Rayburn.
  May 21, Full Committee, markup on H.R. 2100, the ``Girls Count Act 
of 2015''; and H.R. 2323, the ``United States International 
Communications Reform Act of 2015'', 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on Homeland Security, May 20, Full Committee, H.R. 1300, 
the ``First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act''; H.R. 1615, the 
``DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015''; H.R. 1626, the ``DHS IT 
Duplication Reduction Act of 2015''; H.R. 1633, the ``DHS Paid 
Administrative Leave Accountability Act of 2015''; H.R. 1637, the 
``Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015''; 
H.R. 1640, the ``Department of Homeland Security Headquarters 
Consolidation Accountability Act of 2015''; H.R. 1646, the 
``Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act''; H.R. 1738, 
the ``Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act 
of 2015''; H.R. 2200, the ``CBRN Intelligence and Information 
Sharing Act of 2015''; H.R. 2206, the ``SWIC Enhancement Act''; and 
the ``Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act'', 11 
a.m., 311 Cannon.
  May 21, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, hearing 
entitled ``Admitting Syrian Refugees: The Intelligence Void and the 
Emerging Homeland Security Threat'', 9 a.m., 311 Cannon.
  Committee on House Administration, May 20, Full Committee, hearing 
on the United States Capitol Police, 2 p.m., 1310 Longworth.
  Committee on Natural Resources, May 20, Subcommittee on Federal 
Lands; and Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, joint hearing on 
a discussion draft of a bill to protect and enhance opportunities 
for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other 
purposes, 9:30 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, hearing on a 
discussion draft titled the ``National Energy Security Corridors 
Act'', 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, hearing on the 
``Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act'', 1:30 p.m., 
1324 Longworth.
  May 20, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing 
entitled ``State Perspectives on the Status of Cooperating Agencies 
for the Office of Surface Mining's Stream Protection Rule'', 2 p.m., 
1334 Longworth.
  Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, May 21, Subcommittee 
on Government Operations, hearing entitled ``Issues Facing Civilian 
and Postal Service Vehicle Fleet Procurement'', 10 a.m., 2247 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, May 20, Subcommittee 
on Environment, hearing entitled ``Advancing Commercial Weather 
Data: Collaborative Efforts to Improve Forecasts'', 10 a.m., 2318 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Small Business, May 20, Full Committee, hearing 
entitled ``Across Town, Across Oceans: Expanding

[[Page D565]]

the Role of Small Business in Global Commerce'', 11 a.m., 2360 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, May 20, Full 
Committee, markup on H.R. 2322, the ``Public Buildings Reform and 
Savings Act of 2015''; H.R. 2131, to designate the Federal building 
and United States courthouse located at 83 Meeting Street in 
Charleston, South Carolina, as the ``J. Waties Waring Judicial 
Center''; and two General Services Administration Resolutions, 10 
a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs, May 21, Full Committee, markup on 
pending legislation, 10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon.
  Committee on Ways and Means, May 20, Subcommittee on Oversight, 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Use of Administrative Actions in 
the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act'', 10 a.m., 1100 
Longworth.


                             Joint Meetings

  Joint Hearing: May 20, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to 
hold a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
to examine the legislative presentation of multiple veterans service 
organizations, 10 a.m., SH-216.