[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D583-D586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 2393, to 
amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to repeal country of 
origin labeling requirements with respect to beef, pork, and chicken, 
and for other purposes; and H.R. 2394, the ``National Forest Foundation 
Reauthorization Act of 2015''. H.R. 2393 and H.R. 2394 were ordered 
reported, as amended.
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF SNAP: THE WORLD OF NUTRITION, GOVERNMENT 
DUPLICATION AND UNMET NEEDS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Nutrition held a hearing 
entitled ``Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: The World of Nutrition, 
Government Duplication and Unmet Needs''. Testimony was heard from Kay 
Brown, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government 
Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a markup on 
Defense Appropriations Bill, FY

[[Page D584]]

2016. The Defense Appropriations Bill, FY 2016 was forwarded to the 
full committee, without amendment. This markup was closed.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Full Committee held a markup on Commerce, 
Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill for FY 2016. The Commerce, 
Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill for FY 2016 was ordered 
reported, as amended.
REFORMING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Reforming the Workers' 
Compensation Program for Federal Employees''. Testimony was heard from 
Scott Dahl, Inspector General, Department of Labor; Leonard Howie III, 
Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of 
Labor; Andrew Sherrill, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income 
Security, Government Accountability Office; a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a markup on a discussion draft of 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 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. The 
following bills were forwarded to the full committee, without 
amendment: 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 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; 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. The following bills were 
forwarded to the full committee, as amended: 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; and 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.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a 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. The following bills were ordered reported, 
without amendment: H.R. 432, H.R. 686, H.R. 1334, H.R. 1525, H.R. 1675, 
H.R. 1723, H.R. 1847, H.R. 1965, H.R. 1975, H.R. 2064, H.R. 2354, H.R. 
2356, and H.R. 2357.

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The resolution to name a new Republican Member of the Committee to 
subcommittees was adopted.
EGYPT TWO YEARS AFTER MORSI: PART I
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``Egypt Two Years After Morsi: Part I''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; EVEREST TREMBLED: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a 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; and a hearing 
entitled ``Everest Trembled: Lessons Learned from the Nepal Earthquake 
Response''. H.R. 1853 was forwarded to the full committee, without 
amendment. H. Res. 235 was forwarded to the full committee, as amended. 
Testimony was heard from Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Department of State; 
Jonathan Stivers, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia, U.S. Agency 
for International Development; Thomas H. Staal, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian 
Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Anne A. 
Witkowsky, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Stability and 
Humanitarian Affairs, Department of Defense.
DEVELOPMENTS IN RWANDA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``Developments in Rwanda''. Testimony was heard from Robert P. 
Jackson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African 
Affairs, Department of State; Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a markup on 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 H.R. 2390, the 
``Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act''. The 
following bills were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1300, H.R. 
1615, H.R. 1626, H.R. 1633, H.R. 1640, H.R. 1646, H.R. 1738, H.R. 2200, 
and H.R. 2206. The following bills were ordered reported, without 
amendment: H.R. 2390 and H.R. 1637.
UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
United States Capitol Police. Testimony was heard from Kim Dine, Chief, 
Capitol Police.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands; and 
Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, held a joint hearing on a 
discussion draft of a bill to protect and enhance opportunities for 
recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes. 
Testimony was heard from Steve Ellis, Deputy Director for Operations, 
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Leslie Weldon, 
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department 
of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on a discussion draft titled the ``National 
Energy Security Corridors Act''. Testimony was heard from Linwood 
Parker, Mayor, Town of Four Oaks, Four Oaks, North Carolina; Tim 
Spisak, Senior Advisor for Minerals and Realty Management, Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY AND FOREST PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans 
held a hearing on the ``Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection 
Act''. Testimony was heard from Karen E. Mouritsen, Deputy Assistant 
Director, Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of Interior; Greg Smith, Director of Lands, U.S. 
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and public witnesses.

[[Page D586]]


STATE PERSPECTIVES ON THE STATUS OF COOPERATING AGENCIES FOR THE OFFICE 
OF SURFACE MINING'S STREAM PROTECTION RULE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``State Perspectives on the 
Status of Cooperating Agencies for the Office of Surface Mining's 
Stream Protection Rule''. Testimony was heard from Randall Johnson, 
Director, Alabama Surface Mining Commission; Gregory F. Baker, 
Reclamation Program Manager, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and 
Energy; Russell M. Hunter, Counsel, Division of Mining and Reclamation, 
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection; and a public 
witness.
ADVANCING COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA: COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE 
FORECASTS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``Advancing Commercial Weather 
Data: Collaborative Efforts to Improve Forecasts''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
ACROSS TOWN, ACROSS OCEANS: EXPANDING THE ROLE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN 
GLOBAL COMMERCE
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Across Town, Across Oceans: Expanding the Role of Small Business in 
Global Commerce''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
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. H.R. 2322 was ordered reported, as amended. 
H.R. 2131 was ordered reported, without amendment. The General Services 
Administration resolutions were approved.
EXAMINING THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Use of Administrative Actions in the 
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a joint hearing 
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation of multiple veterans service organizations, 
after receiving testimony from Al Kovach, Paralyzed Veterans of 
America, Larry E. Via, AMVETS, and J. Patrick Little, Military Order of 
the Purple Heart, all of Washington, D.C.; Colonel Robert F. Norton, 
USA (Ret.), Military Officers Association of America, and Glenn Minney, 
Blinded Veterans Association, both of Alexandria, Virginia; John Rowan, 
Vietnam Veterans of America, and Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq and Afghanistan 
Veterans of America, both of New York, New York; and Gene Overstreet, 
Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America, 
Seguin, Texas.